Recently I made the acquaintance of a business blogger on Twitter (@businessfit) who offers remarkable content related to business development, leadership, organizational development, and employee supervision. She shared a book with me that she had published called Business Fitness.
Business Fitness is written by Dawn Lennon, an expert in organizational development and business coaching. Lennon defines being “business fit” by “developing intellectual strength and steady nerves so that you are positioned to handle any circumstances at anytime, anywhere” (p. 7). The book is divided into four parts: Business Fitness, Private Moves, Public Moves, and Lifelong Success. Each chapter comes complete with thought-provoking “do-it-yourself” inventories to complete to help you on the way to better define personal and professional goals related to career moves and entrepreneurship.
Business Fitness is written in a format in the conversational style of a thoughtful coach. It captures the essence of John Maxwell’s leadership and teamwork books. Although the book is is geared toward entrepreneurs, it is also appropriate for goal-minded achievers and leaders of all types. While the book does not illustrate how to incorporate a business or other operational means by which to run a business (i.e., taxes, insurance, etc.), it does coach the reader how to prepare to become a leader within your chosen career. The book is rife with inspirational quotes throughout each chapter and also includes stories of success and shortcomings of individuals to illustrate the ideas taught.
I recommend Business Fitness for all student affairs professionals and student leaders alike. The text would be appropriate to use for staff development activities, supervision meetings, and team conversations.
Lennon, D. G. (2007). Business fitness: The power to succeed – your way. Centennial, CO: Glenbridge.
Helfrich Advisory Services, LLC 
Thanks for your great review and recommendation, Scott. As a 20 year senior manager at a Fortune 500, I wrote Business Fitness to help employees and leaders at every level to successfully navigate the challenges of a business career. That means entry level folks too!
I once heard Steven Covey speak about the importance of each employee seeing him/herself as an entrepreneur, meaning we should see our jobs as micro-business ventures that we control. That stuck with me and gave me a framework for my corporate career and my experiences as an entrepreneur.
The smart moves of business fitness that I write about transfer to all career ventures and even to our personal lives.
I so appreciate the time you’ve taken to read my book and for your generous review. Continued good luck with your blog and again congratulations on your advanced degree. Many thanks, ~Dawn
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Thank you Dawn. I am glad that you enjoyed the review! Your book offers great insight for all leaders, including those who are just looking to start out. Repurposing some of your inventories to include into a separate “Business Fit Workbook” as a companion piece to the book would be great. Just a friendly suggestion!
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One of the most commonly held beliefs by humans is that we are right. People at all levels in an organization are often muttering, “If they would listen to me, they would see I’m right.” Or, “If they had followed my advice we wouldn’t be having this problem.” Leadership in business means that we can’t be right all the time. In fact, if we were right all the time, all we would need is a bunch of good soldiers who implement. Yet when I talk to leaders, the comment I often here is How come I can’t get people to think outside the box and step up? If we want people to think like entrepreneurs instead of employees, we have to get over the need to be right.
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Thank you for your thoughts. I agree that leaders should need to humble themselves and be able to hear differing opinions. As I always tell my own staffers, if you have a suggestion or a better way to do things, I want to hear it! Unfortunately, many individuals in charge simply want to be in charge rather than mining the strengths and thoughts of their employees.
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