Pivotal

Pivotalicon

Creating Stability in an Uncertain World

by Stephen M. Shapiro

Publisher
Amplify Publishing Group
Publication
Jun 18, 2024
Format
Hardback
Illustrated
No
Price
$26.95
Dimensions
5.5 x 8.25 x 0.75 in
ISBN
979-8891380028
ASIN
B0CXQ6LL2L
Pages
216
Age
Adult 18+

Rights Sold

*DropCap does not represent Greek Print (Greece), Hindi Print (India), English Print (India), Chinese (Simplified) Print (China), Chinese (Traditional) Print (China) language rights

Description

KNOWING WHAT SHOULDN’T CHANGE MIGHT BE YOUR KEY TO SUCCESS

In our fast-paced modern world, uncertainty and confusion have become the norm.

But it doesn’t need to be this way.

Pivotal offers a powerful antidote to the dizzying spinning and relentless chaos overwhelming countless organizations (and individuals) today.

Through tools that enable you to discern genuine opportunities from mere distractions, you can create stability in both your professional and personal life.

The concept of stability is akin to a basketball player executing a pivot. While one foot moves in a circular motion, the other remains anchored to the ground.

The unsung hero is the foot that doesn’t move, as it provides the solid foundation and stability needed for future shifts.

This book champions the planted foot. By focusing on what doesn’t—and shouldn’t—change, you can build a robust foundation that supports future shifts without wasting valuable resources on bright, shiny objects or fleeting fads.

The emphasis has always been on what’s next. But sometimes, we need to focus on what’s now.

↵

Being pivotal emerges from a place of power—today. It involves knowing where to channel your resources for the greatest impact, allowing you to offer clarity and direction to your employees—and in the process, becoming irreplaceable to your customers.

Stop the spinning and start winning.

Awards & Endorsements

Review
"Shapiro has written a grounded book for dizzying times. His simple yet profound framework combines stability and agility to offer a wise alternative to perpetual pivoting that can help you build an iconic, enduring business.” —DANIEL H. PINK, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Drive, The Power of Regret, and To Sell Is Human

“Innovation has become the default—but what happens when innovation becomes the enemy of quality and focus? Steve Shapiro’s
Pivotal focuses on not just what it takes to change the game, but when and if change is even necessary. Rethinking the efficacy of the terminology and practices that maintain the status quo, Shapiro encourages a future that thinks more critically and keeps substance at the forefront.” —DR. MARSHALL GOLDSMITH, Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

“‘Read not the Times. Read the Eternities.’ Henry David Thoreau wrote that bit of timeless advice in 1863, a good 150 years before social media and today’s hustle culture took over. Like Thoreau, Stephen Shapiro understands that in a future obsessed with the next big thing,
Pivotal readers will differentiate themselves by rejecting the cult of distraction and doubling down on substance and depth.” —MIKE BECHTEL, Chief Futurist, Deloitte Consulting; Adjunct Professor of Corporate Innovation, University of Notre Dame

“Pivoting is all the rage among start-ups. But Shapiro makes clear that pivoting without differentiation and stable capabilities is a fast turn to nowhere. If your business environment is changing—and whose isn’t?—you need to read this book.”
—THOMAS H. DAVENPORT, Distinguished Professor, Babson College; MIT Research Fellow; author of Competing on Analytics and All-in on AI

“Technology and AI are changing the game for every organization, and Shapiro’s important insight is the power of focusing on what doesn’t and shouldn’t change. His mantra, ‘innovate where you differentiate,’ is not just advice; it’s a strategic imperative for thriving in today’s dynamic, turbulent world.
Pivotal provides a road map for leaders seeking to drive reinvention while holding fast to what is truly unchangeable.” —PAUL DAUGHERTY, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, Accenture

“In today’s fiercely competitive entrepreneurial landscape, standing out is not just important—it’s essential. Shapiro’s
Pivotal elevates the conversation from mere differentiation to a masterclass on becoming irreplaceable. This book is more than a read; it’s a potent cataly...

Author(s)

Stephen M. Shapiro

Stephen M. Shapiro

Stephen Shapiro started his innovation work over 20 years ago while leading a 20,000-person innovation practice at the consulting firm Accenture.

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