Magazine Resources

FC NOW: The Fast Company Weblog

September 19, 2003

Guest Blogger: Charles Decker

Next week, Fast Company Now's contributors will be joined by special guest Charles Decker, co-author of Beans: Four Principles for Running a Business in Good Times or Bad, a publishing consultant, and the host of Fast Company's new book club.

Beans, a "business fable taken from real life," is a quick read -- I read it in one day earlier this week (perfect for airplane reading!) -- and focuses on the lessons learned by an independent coffee company in Seattle. Concentrating on four principles -- passion, people, personal connections, and quality product -- the book is a breezy read written in the conversational style of other business fables such as Fish! and Who Moved My Cheese?

I find the form of the business fable or parable -- which might date back to Og Mandino's The Greatest Salesman in the World -- fascinating. And I look forward to Charles' contributions to FC Now.

Posted by Heath Row at September 19, 2003 12:01 PM | Category: book discussions | 14 Comments

14 COMMENTS

Posted by: Shawnie Benda at September 19, 2003 5:59 PM

Right on, Heath! And I believe that the true value of parables is that they allow the reader to experience the principles in their mind's eye, as opposed to the printed page. And by keeping the story simple and engaging - like Fish! and my favorite "Sandbox Wisdom" by Tom Asacker, everyone in the organization is allowed to discuss and debate the obvious parallels to their own organization and its culture. Power to the parable!

Posted by: Charles Decker at September 19, 2003 7:08 PM

Thanks, Heath. And thanks to John Byrne and the entire team at the magazine for the invite. I look forward to talking about the concept for the new book club, books that just barely missed the cut, and books that have stood the test of time.

I'll also be asking for readers to talk about how the principles in my book resonate in their own offices and cubicles. I hope you'll share the good, the bad, and the ugly in your workplace. Who knows? It might end up in the storyline for my next book, WICKS & STICKS.

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