High Impact Middle Management Thanks

Thanks to Phil over at the Make it Great blog for endorsing my book, High Impact Middle Management. I love this line:

If you are looking to stay mediocre, don't buy this book. It's too good, and provides too much actionable information that if you buy this book and you implement even ONE idea, you won't be mediocre for long.

Much appreciate the nod!

I get asked how the book is doing a lot. People are curious. They know this was my first book (#4 comes out in June). Well, here is my response.

I would have to honestly say that my expectations were higher for this book. I hired a great publicity firm and got a good amount of press. The book did quite poorly at first, and is now selling at a constant trickle. It seems as though the life cycle is more flat than hill shaped.

In other words, it is taking its sweet time getting noticed. It's a word of mouth type book.

And I think the title hurt me. "Middle management" conjures up such negative emotions that I think people found the title repelling (not a good thing).

It was much more stressful right after the release because my hopes far outpaced performance. Looking back, however, I feel positive and grateful. I have had several memorable experiences (example, Thailand) thanks to the book. And its sales are slowly picking up. It might just do well after all!

I am proud of the book AND I would do a few things differently if I were to do it all over again. First, I would change the title and fight for a better cover. Second, I would have put more personality into it. The information is still relevant, and I would not change much about that. And I love the overall message - that middle management CAN and SHOULD be the engine for organization success. Sure, there might be fewer layers, and this is all the more reason that the function must be improved.

I am trying not to forget about HIMM as my attention turns to my latest book, Focus Like a Laser Beam. It's like having a new baby - you have to make sure the older one does not feel ignored while everyone goo goos and gaa gaas over the new arrival.

For all of you out there who have supported HIMM - thanks so much! I love hearing your feedback about the book. HIMM will always be special to me.

Comments

[Dick Richards]

Lisa - you just never know about books. I keep Julia Cameron's experience in mind. The Artist's Way did absolutely *nothing* for several years until a friend gave a copy to the editor of a national magazine as a Christams gift. You just never know.

[Lisa Haneberg]

Dick - Great point. There are many such stories of delayed success. I embrace and jump into the ambiguity and possibilities!