Dare to Prepare: How to Win Before You Begin by Ronald M. Shapiro and Gregory Jordan

Most everyone I know talks about the importance of preparation. And most everyone I know also can think of times they wish they had been better prepared.

I fit into both categories. As a consultant, speaker and trainer, I talk about the importance of preparation and planning in a variety of situations. In my own experience I can recount situations where my preparation made a difference, and times when I know my results would have been better with more preparation.

It is from this perspective that I bought and read this book.

What I found was an interesting book written by a talented and very experienced guy. Shapiro has been a top lawyer and negotiator for a long time, which leads to one of the strengths of this book - captivating stories and profiles of interesting people. The profiles are designed to expand on the organizing principles of the book.

There is no rocket science here, but the authors do provide a valuable framework for thinking about preparation. I believe this framework will apply to most any situation - making the book valuable to a broad range of people.

If you are looking for an earth-shattering answer to being more prepared, you may not find it here. But you will find many reminders, a rationale and a roadmap to help you become more prepared in any situation - as an individual and as a leader.

Learn more and purchase at Amazon.com.