New Book Reveals How Data Can Drive Profitability for Businesses

Business has started from ‘data up’ and needs to start again from ‘value down’

The Fifth Phase: An Insight-Driven Approach to Business Transformation, by leading data and analytics specialist Mark Powell, aims to answer the big business question that many companies are still struggling with. How to use data in a manner that will truly drive profitability?

The connected world offers the potential for radical new business insights gleaned from previously unimaginable volumes of data. But business has got bogged down in the process of collecting and storing that data. Money has been wasted on data lakes in which many IT departments have drowned without being able to deliver useful insights to business leaders. Data has long been regarded as the new oil, but to date, we have only built oil depots.

In The Fifth Phase, Powell analyses the new phase of business transformation, which will build the refineries that turn data into useful products. It helps the reader focus on the big business questions that drive real value for their company and use data in a manner that will truly drive profitability and business performance.

Mark Powell says why he wrote The Fifth Phase: “I have spent many years grappling with the challenges organizations face in achieving the genuinely transformative benefits that data analytics and AI have the potential to deliver. As more and more concerns are raised about the potential impact of AI on business and society, there is a risk that we lose sight of the power AI-driven data analytics have to change our world for the better. The Fifth Phase is a reminder of this potential and, I hope, a map to help us navigate the issues and challenges we face in delivering these outcomes."

Powell argues business has started from ‘data up’ and needs to start again from ‘value down’, going back to the drivers of real business value and deciding what insights would help realize that value. Only then can we begin to interrogate data with purpose.

Catriona Campbell, Partner and CTIO at EY says about the book: “The Fifth Phase is a captivating read on the evolution of data and its pivotal role in reshaping business. It charts the growth, use and misuse of data and how data has fuelled innovation, decision-making, and market disruption. I loved the storytelling that brings data to life, from Taylor’s industrial revolution shovel sizes to cutting-edge situation rooms assessing and mitigating national security threats. It shares some great lessons on how to make data work and is super-relevant for today’s AI challenges.”

Mark Powell is a Partner at EY, a world-leading consultancy firm. He specializes in the application of data and analytics to drive business transformation.

The Fifth Phase is published on 5 October 2023 by LID Publishing, available as a paperback and e-book.

For more information about LID Publishing, please visit www.lidpublishing.com

The Ten Questions to Ask For Success

The Ten Questions to Ask For Success is a very lively and helpful book by acknowledged expert Phil Parker.

What use is a self help book that doesn't give you any answers?

In his latest book, Phil points out that the most important discovery he has made in over two decades of working in the field of personal development is this: providing solutions, advice suggestions or answers does not always help everyone.

Phil opines that there can be a problem with just providing the answer to a particular problem, or set of problems. Because if people do not go through the process of finding their own solution, the next time they are faced with another problem, they will tend to turn for help again. (EDITOR: I think it is also referred to as 'learned helplessness'.)

Parker takes the position that learning the skill of creating our own solutions lets us become more independent and skilled at finding and making the right choices and decisions for ourselves, not merely relying on other people for the answers all the time.

Parker points out that it is all about learning to ask what he describes as the key questions, at the right time in order for us to reach the right solution.

He has distilled these to a list of ten key questions. Questions which will, argues Parker, prove to be powerful tools to enable you to draw on the fields of personal and spiritual development, business, psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, hostage negotiation (yes, really!) that should see you equipped to make "great decisions" in all aspects  of your life.

Parker has used these techniques to help thousands of his clients to help themselves or other people to rid them of stress, worry, feeling dis-empowered, unmotivated or frustrated and can help them identify and counter self-sabotage.

Parker feels that if you read his book you will be able to feel more motivated, be better able to motivate others, find solutions in a calm, collected manner, even when under extreme stress, design your dreams and achieve them, ensure all the relationships in your life (be they work or life related) work well, flourish and fulfil you.

You'll also be able to manage your business affairs in a more effective way. Whilst also offering assistance to others to help them, too.

The book is out now. It is published by Hay House in paperback at £10.99.

The author Phil Parker is a qualified NLP practitioner, osteopath, hypnotherapist and an executive coach.

He operates a private practice in London. You can visit his website at www.philparker.org

Australian Entrepreneur-Author Opens His Bookshelf & Shares His “Best of The Best”

In an effort to save his readers and followers time and give them the ability to look over the shoulder of a successful marketer and business owner, Australian celebrated and award winning entrepreneur and author Pete Williams has today opened up his book shelf and shared his best of the best.

 His readers and followers, who are primarily entrepreneurs, internet marketers, and marketers in general, are all accustomed to checking out the notes of this award winning entrepreneur makes as he reads at https://kindle.amazon.com/profile/Peter-Williams/1154035.

They are also regular visitors to Peter’s weekly podcast show, PreneurCast, where his business books for beginners episode was one of the most listened to from all of 2011.

FACTFILE:

As an entrepreneur, internet marketer, speaker and author, Pete Williams is a 21-year-old Melbourne native who has sold Australia’s version of the Yankee Stadium, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, for under $500. He went on to write a number of books (How to Turn Your Million-Dollar Idea Into a Reality, Media Strategies for Internet Marketers, The Ultimate Press Release Swipe File and It’s Not About the Product) and create a bunch of companies (Infiniti Telecommunications, On Hold Advertising, Simply Headsets and Preneur Group to name a few). He’s also an avid outdoor adventurer. He completed this year’s Ironman Western Australia in less than 12 hours.

'How to Make Millions Without a Degree'. -This book could change your life. Seriously.

I have just finished reading Simon Dolan's book: “How to Make Millions without a Degree” and it is fair to say that this book could change my life. And it could change yours, too.

It has reinforced several things I already knew and it has given me ideas that could help me change my working life for the better.

Simon Dolan was -politely, it must be said- invited to leave his grammar school at the age of 16 by his headmaster. He hadn't been a bad boy, he just didn't see the point of learning what the school wanted to teach him. Such as Latin. So he left without any real qualifications.

But now Simon is a millionaire many times over, runs a highly successful nationwide accountancy firm, has invested in an airline, is involved in publishing and also has a motor racing team. But Simon is certain of one thing, had he got a degree, he does not believe any of the above could have been possible.

I found his writing style irresistible. Several times I made the mistake of wanting to read a few more pages of his book on retiring for bed, only to find that I had read it until 1.15am and I had to get up at 6am!

Simon makes some very interesting and telling points. For example, whilst a degree might not be essential for business success, learning and gaining knowledge is almost certainly vital. 

He points out why trying to get on to Dragon's Den is a waste of time. He also points out a fatal flaw in the approach of many people who do appear on the programme and why, in his opinion, they are wasting their time. That made for very sobering reading.

Simon tells you exactly how he started his accountancy business. He points out certain pitfalls that you can avoid when you start your business (you don't have to start up an accountancy service, but one gets the impression that Simon would not mind if you did) and reveals an interesting and telling fact. 

The only reason why he started a bookkeeping and accountancy business was because he was good at doing books and realised that many small businesses just did not have the time to do their books. And he hit upon a method of easily duplicating his business so that it became a highly successful nationwide concern with clients  all over the country.

He points out that the technique of NLP can also be usefully and fruitfully employed to help boost your earning potential.

He tells you why you need a website and how you can use it, and Google, to encourage people to beat a pathway to your door and become customers.

He makes it sound simple and perhaps that is because it is simple. I only wish that I had been able to read this book when I was 16. However, even at my fairly advanced age, I believe that I will be able to learn from Simon's book and earn more money from my business efforts. 

Parts of the book had "Wow!" moments, and made the hair on the back of my neck stand up,  so connected with the message had I become.

If I follow what I gleaned from this book, will I make a million? Perhaps I will. But even if I don't, I believe I shall certainly make a damn sight more money than if I had not read this remarkable book!

The book costs £9.99 and is published by Troubadour. It is available from the Amazon link on That's Books.

Even if you do not intend on starting your own business, this highly readable book could still teach you a few new tricks! It will make an ideal Chirstmas present, too.

Warwickshire Entrepreneur Becomes #1 Amazon Bestseller

Coventry Entrepreneur and businessman Sean McPheat out sold the likes of Sir Alan Sugar, Sir Richard Branson and Duncan Bannatyne with the launch of his new book which became an instant July #1 bestseller in Amazon.

Sean’s latest book “eselling® - How to use the internet for prospecting, personal branding, networking and for engaging the c-suite decision maker” rocketed up the ranks and beat all comers as business owners and sales professionals alike ordered the eagerly anticipated release.

Sean is regarded as a 'thought leader' within the sales and business improvement arena and is the founder of Coventry based, international training firm MTD Training who have trained over 40,000 staff worldwide.

“This book covers an alternative approach to prospecting and selling as most business owners don’t like making cold calls and the traditional methods of developing new business” added McPheat.

eselling® is due to kick start a new method of selling within the UK and Sean has already had speaking requests from around the world to spread the word including speaking engagements closer to home as well when he speaks at the coveted Institute Of Sales & Marketing conference at the Ricoh Arena in October.

Self-Published “Business Cook Book” to be Stocked at Waterstones

Self-published book ‘Business Cookery: Tried and tested recipes for business success’ is to be stocked at Waterstones.

Hot on the heels of best-selling Kindle authors John Locke, Louise Voss and Mark Edwards two UK authors are using their business experience to self-publish and promote their own paperback and e-book.

The quirky novel/business book hybrid is selling well on Amazon (both in paperback and on Kindle) and now Waterstones have agreed to stock the title in their high street stores. It’s also available online from Blackwells, WHSmith and Foyles.

Entrepreneurs Hannah McNamara and Patrick White decided to go down the route of self-publishing, even though McNamara had worked with a publisher on her first book, ‘Niche Marketing for Coaches’.

McNamara says, “Many authors don’t realise the amount of marketing publishers expect you to do for your own book. They assume that their job is just to write a good book and the publishers will take care of making it sell.

“My experience first time around taught me that there were so many aspects of publishing a book we could easily handle ourselves and be in complete control of. Most self-published authors focus on e-books but it was important for us to be published in print as well and be stocked in book stores. As business people we’re always focused on the profit margin, so doing it ourselves means that we could make publishing a book very profitable. It’s also been a lot of fun!”

This emphasis on making a profit is very apt given the topic of their book. Business Cookery uses cookery analogies to teach business principles and it’s already receiving acclaim from entrepreneurs and foodies alike.

‘Secret Millionaire’ property investor Caroline Marsh says, “I heartily endorse Business Cookery, Clear, easy-to-read. I like the stories that guide you through the fundamentals on how to start, run and manage a successful business. Follow the recipe and make a great pie!”

Sejal Sukhadwala of LoveFood.com describes the book as “a modern classic, this unique tome gives business and personal development advice via cookery-themed storytelling, recipes and food analogies.”

For a limited time, the authors are making the first 2 chapters available free from www.businesscookerybook.com.

Do YOU struggle with staff, colleagues? There might be a reason! And there's a solution, too

Managers who are technically and functionally competent might not be getting the best results out of their staff. So says a top business consultant.

Many managers who lack important communication skills are struggling to build rapport with staff, which in turn is impacting on business results. Recent internal research by Google looking at the top eight management skills in the eyes of employees, saw 'technical skills' languishing at number eight.

Managers who demonstrated a genuine interest in their employees, who communicate well, and conveyed a clear vision and goals were held in higher regard by employees and produced superior results than those with purely technical skills.

Experienced executive coach and consultant Gill Graves of Iridium HRD Consulting Limited based in Northamptonshire, believes the recent research by Google confirms management communication skills and the ability to build rapport with staff leads to significant improvements in organisational performance through better employee engagement.

Gill points out: "This research highlights the need for highly professional technical and functional managers to hone their communication skills.

"Managers require a range of skills - providing feedback, coaching, listening, building rapport, setting goals, handling meetings and asking questions.

"At a time when many organisations are trying to do more with less, a low cost solution for enhancing productivity is to equip managers with the so-called 'soft skills' they need to become highly effective."

Gill's book, 'Presenting Yourself With IMPACT at work' provides a toolbox of techniques, hints and tips for people who are looking to kick start or further their careers through better communication and presentation.

Andrew Brodie, Head of HR at Faccenda Group says the book provides "an excellent framework for any business leader or manager interested in improving their ability to deliver key messages and engage people effectively".

Gill Graves is an experienced executive coach and consultant in leadership and team development and a recognised leader in the field of business communications. She works with professionals in organisations both large and small including Vodafone, the Open University, BAE Systems and the NHS. Visit www.iridiumconsulting.co.uk for more details.

'Presenting Yourself with Impact at Work' by Gill Graves is available for £12 at www.amazon.co.uk.