O Great One!
By David Novak
By David Novak and Christa Bourg
-
$24.00
Published on Jan 07, 2025 | 240 Pages
Published on Jan 07, 2025 | 240 Pages
Rather than explain the power of recognition in a typical business book, acclaimed CEO David Novak wrote a fun story that draws on his real-world experiences at Pepsi and Yum! Brands, as well as his personal life.
When was the last time you told your colleagues how much you value them? It sounds like a trivial thing in the middle of a busy work day. But as Novak discovered during his years as a hard charging executive, there’s nothing trivial about recognition. It can make a life-or-death difference to any organization, when people see that someone important really notices and appreciates their contributions.
The story of O Great One! opens when Jeff Johnson becomes the third-generation CEO of his family business, after the sudden death of his father. The Happy Face Toy Company had many hits in the 1950s and 60s, including Crazy Paste, but its results have been declining for more than a decade. The board has given Jeff just one year to turn the business around, or else they’ll have to sell it to the highest bidder.
As Jeff races to save his family’s legacy by getting the company back on track, he meets downtrodden factory workers and an uninspired executive team. Then a birthday gift from his grandson gives Jeff an important insight into why Happy Face lost its culture of innovation and excitement, along with its profitability. He comes up with an idea that seems crazy… But is it crazy enough to work?
Whether you’re trying to lead a small department, a Fortune 500 company, a non-profit, or your own family, the story and lessons of O Great One! can help you make everyone around you happier and more effective.
Author
David Novak
David Novak is the chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, Inc., which operates in more than 120 countries and employs 1.4 million people. All three of the company’s restaurant chains—KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell—are global leaders in fast food. Prior to leading Yum!, he was president of both KFC and Pizza Hut and held senior management positions at PepsiCo. Novak has been recognized as “2012 CEO of the Year” by Chief Executive magazine, one of the world’s “30 Best CEOs” by Barron’s for two years, one of the “Top People in Business” by Fortune, and one of the “100 Best-Performing CEOs in the World” by Harvard Business Review. He is also the recipient of the national 2008 Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship. He is the author of The Education of an Accidental CEO.
Learn More about David NovakAuthor
Christa Bourg
Christa Bourg is a writer, editor, and book packager who lives in Los Angeles.
Learn More about Christa Bourg