Book Review of What the CFO Wants You to Know – How You Create Value by Charles Asubonten

*Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links which means that I will receive a tiny commission for purchases made through the link. This is at no cost to you.*

 

What the CFO Wants You to Know – How You Create Value by Charles Asubonten

 

Book Description:

Unless a business provides value, it will fail. We all know this, and yet many of us, whether employees or business leaders, do not have a clear idea of who creates value and how. What the CFO Wants You to Know is an indispensable guide to creating value in an enterprise, drawing on the extensive experience of serial CFO and author Charles Asubonten. While many books focus on the CFO as a financial engineer, Asubonten’s compelling thesis is that the CFO is a catalyst who inspires employees to get on board in the value-creation process and that every employee needs to be cognizant of and committed to their role in value-creation. When employees know what the CFO must do to create value and how each employee affects that process, a more lasting, resonant, and energized workforce is the exciting result. Focused not only on value-creation, this book also shows how value is sustained. From the novice who has always wondered about the CFO’s role to the seasoned CFO who needs a refresher in today’s changing business climate, What the CFO Wants You to Know is a resource for business leadership, employees, shareholders, the Board of Directors, and the community.

My Thoughts:

The author shares knowledge to help others understand the CFO’s (chief financial officer) function and how it impacts an organization. There’s no one better to help explain this than the author himself who has also helped companies such as the Dow Chemical Company, Ford Motor Company, and DTE Energy, and others to create value. The CFO has a hand in every facet of the company from working closely with human resources to holding townhall meetings for employees. They are anywhere in a company where value can be added and he goes on to explain how to create value.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I’m glad that the author broke everything down in a way for the average person to understand. The book reminds me of a textbook almost in how it reads; yet, I still find the information it contains interesting. I give this 4 out of 5 stars.

 

Find Out More About the Author and Where to Buy:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

*Note: I was unable to find this book listed on Goodreads. If it pops up for anyone, please kindly post it in the comments section. I’ll gladly update this post with the link. 😊

Book Review of Just Get Up and Manifest Your Inner Genius by Isaac Samuel Miller

*Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links which means that I will receive a tiny commission for purchases made through the link. This is at no cost to you.*

 

Just Get Up and Manifest Your Inner Genius by Isaac Samuel Miller

 

Book Description:

Abandoned by his father at the age of seven, Isaac Miller embarks upon a thirteen-year journey to fight his way out of a life of crime, drugs, mediocrity, and poverty. Using his teenage imagination and work ethic as his guide, Isaac provides for his family, including his schizophrenic mother, and fights his way to becoming an entrepreneur at the age of seventeen. Through his story, Isaac demonstrates how you can start with nothing and still live your dreams. Just Get Up teaches you how to capture your own life’s dreams through exposing your inner genius. This guided tour of self-development will teach you how to unlock your life’s true treasures. It will appeal to all people seeking a real-life inspirational story of overcoming adversities. Along your journey you will find The Limelight Spot Effect, The 27-Month Plan, and The Octagon Way as you build your own success through his Just Get Up program. Isaac invites you to Just Get Up and tap into your unlimited potential as you discover your inner genius one chapter at a time.

 

My Thoughts:

Before reading this book, I would highly recommend you to grab pen and paper to take notes. I didn’t do that so I will be rereading this book a second time and take notes. This book has many questions and statements that will help you find out what your interests are and to get on the path to achieving your dreams. Isaac Samuel Miller writes about overcoming adversity and obstacles to manifest your inner genius. I love how in the book the author talks about his childhood of living in poverty and being abandoned by his father. It shows vulnerability and that no matter what obstacles you face in life, you can overcome and still achieve your dreams.

I firmly believe that this statement is true that the author includes in his book: “As a child, you had gifts given to you, and all you have to do is simply develop the gifts you were born with.” While I was in high school, I was on office staff. I answered phone calls and left messages for people who called the school. I did other tasks as well but the first task stood out to me the most. I graduated high school and went on to college and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Studies. Anyone who knows me from high school or even those close to me, know that I was a huge fan of Kimora Lee Simmons and her Phat Fashions brand and I wanted my own fashion brand. However, where I live there are not many jobs related to fashion unless you are a store manager or work as a sales associate in a clothing store. I began working in call centers and found that I actually enjoy it. I enjoy helping people. I am patient and I also know how to deescalate angry customers. That doesn’t mean I’m giving up on my fashion dream. Customer service is something that I learned I had a knack for. I didn’t know I would make a career out of it until after I graduated from college.
I also found the questions in the book to be very helpful. Please note: the questions I’m listing are not a list of all the questions contained in the book, just some of them.
1. What are my gifts?
2. What are some of the things I enjoy doing?
3. What are my strengths regarding my perception of others?
4. What are my weaknesses regarding people’s perception of me?
5. What are my strengths mentally, spiritually, socially, emotionally, physically, and financially? (If you’re lacking any necessary strengths in one of these domains, then set some goals to develop the strengths you will need in your weaker domains.)
6. What are your weaknesses in the six domains listed above? What positive things do you do every day to work on yourself?
7. Who do you know personally who is striving to be balanced in some or all of the six domains? (Search for individuals who are succeeding in one or all of the six domains and befriend them.)
8. Say this to yourself every day: “Someone’s perception of me is their opinion, but how I see myself is the only fact.” (Research someone who has accomplished what you desire to do, and learn from them. Also, start attending seminars and hire a motivational and personal development coach. Listen to my podcast show on my Youtube channel on Fridays at 1:30 p.m. central time zone and feel free to contact me for coaching by going to my website www. isaacsmiller.com)

 

Here are 3 of my favorite quotes from the book that I found motivational:

1)Your dream’s survival depends on you unleashing your will, and it will be obvious when you’re manifesting your inner genius because you won’t be able to stop.

2)The more you believe in your dreams, the more you will fight for your dreams.
When your belief in yourself becomes unstoppable, you won’t be able to stop until you’re living your dreams.

3)Failure is only a teaching experience to allow you to understand what you need to do differently so you can be successful.

Overall, I give this book 5 stars. I normally don’t read self-help books but this one really touched my heart. The story is moving. After reading it, I felt inspired and it made me want to Just Get Up! I highly recommend this story to any and everyone.

 

Find Out More About the Author and Where to Buy:

Author’s Website

Goodreads Page

Amazon

Barnes & Noble