Tag Archives: Geoff Colvin

An evening with Geoff Colvin, author of TALENT IS OVERRATED

We’re thrilled to announce that the Alan Flusser Custom Shop will be hosting a book signing event with Portfolio author Geoff Colvin on Thursday, November 19th in NYC.

Colvin is a Senior Editor at Large of Fortune Magazine and the author of TALENT IS OVERRATED: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else (a Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek bestseller).

The event is open to the public and will be held from 6:00-8:00pm at the Alan Flusser Custom Shop at 3 East 48th Street.

Talent Is OverratedIf you’re not already familiar with TALENT IS OVERRATED, Colvin offers a new way to think about high performance in all fields – from parenting, music, and sports to academics, investing, and managing. He argues that ANYONE can become an extraordinary performer, regardless of their background.  He highlights the stories of people like Tiger Woods, Chris Rock, Monica Seles, Warren Buffett, Yo-Yo Ma, and Michael Phelps to explain that the key to their success wasn’t some natural gift.  Nor was it just plain old hard work.  It was something Colvin calls “deliberate practice” – a specific type of practice that we can all apply.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out:

* A short video of Colvin discussing this big idea
* A free excerpt from the book
* Colvin’s conversation with Charlie Rose about high performance
* The Wall Street Journal’s review of the book

For more details on the event and venue, visit the Alan Flusser Custom Shop events page

We hope to see you there!

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When crisis creates opportunity

Next week, we’re publishing THE UPSIDE OF THE DOWNTURN — the new book from Geoff Colvin, Senior Editor at Large of FORTUNE Magazine and the author of TALENT IS OVERRATED.

Here’s a great video of Colvin discussing why some businesses – and some people – will emerge from this downturn stronger and more dominant than when it started.

The book doesn’t go on sale until next week, but you can click here to read a free excerpt.

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Corporate layoffs: Closing a door, but opening a window?

Here’s an interesting column from yesterday’s Wall Street Journal about how lots of companies hire as they fire – including Microsoft, AT&T, and Time Warner.

WSJ reporter Cari Tuna explains that while layoffs mount, many of the same employers also are hiring – in other business units, in other places, or for other skills.

She writes:  “The simultaneous hiring and firing highlights the dynamism of the economy and shows how employers are trying to adapt to changing needs.   It also offers hints on how the recession is changing the work force, with some employers placing more emphasis on worker skills.”

If you’re interested in the long-term impact of layoffs – keep an eye out for our forthcoming book by Geoff Colvin, The Upside of the Downturn (June 2009).

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Wanted: Talented People

In the wake of the current recession, many businesses have rushed  to cut employees as a way to quickly and drastically cut costs. But, as George Anders notes in The New York Times, certain savvy companies in the entertainment, venture capital, and medical research fields are actually using these tough times as an opportunity to recruit talent to help them stay ahead of the curve while their competitors struggle to stay alive.

And Anders is not the first to espouse the idea that people are the lifeblood of an organization, rather than disposable cogs in the wheel. Portfolio author and Fortune Senior Editor at Large Geoff Colvin wrote an article in January about how to manage your business in a recession, which suggested the same thing. It might be counter intuitive, but maybe that’s why it’s such a good idea.

The New York Times: The Secrets of the Talent Scouts

Fortune: How to Manage Your Business in a Recession

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