Defy Gravity: Propel Your Business to High-Velocity Growth is not a book you read, it’s one that you devour. True to her name, Rebel talks about challenging businesses to think differently and continuously reconsider long ingrained beliefs to respond to the needs of today’s situations.
Rebel Brown brings to the table over twenty years of expertise in business strategy and leadership. Whether the main concern is start up, growth or turning the business around, she has successfully helped over 100 global clients create optimized solutions they needed to put their companies on track to sustainable growth. In this book, she talks about defying gravity–the gravity that keeps you and your business chained down by the conventional way of doing things. Written in clear prose and wit, she provides real life examples of companies like Nu Skin, JetBlue, Netflix and Southwest Airlines to show what can work and what can go wrong in different situations. While every organization is unique, these examples demonstrate how herd thinking and conventional practices can ruin organizations. By the end of the chapter, she also points out the “anti-gravity”, the change that needs to be factored into push a company forward.
Instead of being filled with fluff and rhetoric, Defy Gravity is a book that has actionable steps and processes that will help any business owner or budding entrepreneur to think in different and more innovative ways to structure your business. With this book in your arsenal, you can face your internal and external challenges head on and steer your business in the right direction.
About the Book
Defy Gravity: Propel Your Business to High-Velocity Growth (Business Strategy) by management consultant Rebel Brown is a compelling book that is a sharp kick in the gut every business owner and potential owner needs to help his business soar. Rebel Brown not only shows you why you need to break away from the status quo but also how you can do it for your company.
About the Author
Rebel Brown started out thirty years ago selling computing systems against IBM and selling software and networking services to mid-size and large scale businesses. She’s had a lot of experience in seeing how an integrated effort among sales, marketing and product organizations can fuel the growth and success of a company. She has since become a management consultant and turnaround specialist who has worked with over 100 global clients on a variety of business concerns and has been named one of the Top 100 Women in Computing. She has served as a member on numerous boards of directors and is is an advisor to the most widely recognized Venture Capital Firms. Defy Gravity: Propel Your Business to High-Velocity Growth is her first book. Visit her website http://rebelbrown.com
Michelle Vandepas started Talking Books TV as a site to help authors and their books get more exposure. She teaches authentic marketing for on and offline marketing campaigns and specializes in working with people who want to live their Conscious Livelihood (R). Â Find out more about how to work with Michelle on her site, MichelleVandepas.com 
7 Comments
10:47 am
Corinne Edwards
Dear Rebel -
Biggest point here for me is that sometimes you have to let go an employee you really like personally.
The business comes first.
I had a employee whose production dropped radically. She worked on commisssion and was getting a divorce. Her attorney told her not to show income.
What? She was done.
Corinne Edwards´s last [type] ..LOVE LETTER TO SOMEONE – SOMEWHERE
8:10 am
Rebel Brown
Corinne
Thanks so much for your comments. I’ve seen so many leader who are afraid to deal with employee issues – especially when folks have been with a company for a long time. It’s one of the biggest Gravity Bricks we deal with in many turnaround or startaround situations.
As I tell all my clients – and say in the book – popularity is not in a leader’s job description – nor is business a democracy.
Thanks much for your thoughts!
reb
2:06 pm
Joel
Great interview Michelle as always. I don’t have any employees as such but I do find it difficult to terminate a relationship with a service provider when things are not going well. I need to focus more on my business needs and not theirs I think.
Happy Holidays!
Joel´s last [type] ..Wishing You All The Best This Holiday Season
12:09 pm
Rebel Brown
Thanks for stopping by Joel.
I think moving on is one of the hardest things we have to do as business owners. Its certainly one of the toughest things for me. And I’m also always surprised by how often service provider will latch onto their own Gravity instead of adapting to meet the needs of a client. I’ve learned the hard way – if it’s not working and you have a chat and they don’t shift – sometimes it’s best to move on quickly – especially if you’re asking them to stretch. Lots of times people don’t want to stretch – they’d prefer to stay in the comfort of their status quo. Sad but true.
Focus on what you need to be successful – and if others can’t deliver that, then move on. Its not fair to either one of you…
reb
11:54 pm
Amy LeForge
Wow, Rebel really knows her stuff! That looks like a book I need to read.
I’m hoping to expand more than one site into a serious business this year so I will be dealing with service providers and perhaps even employees. Thanks for sharing Rebel’s wisdom with us!
Amy LeForge´s last [type] ..Guest Post- How the Internet Makes Parenting Easier
6:41 am
David Rogers
I think any business has to start thinking differently to survive and thrive. And those of us who are employees rather than business owners still need to be more creative and unconventional to keep our organisation afloat. Loved the interview, another book for my wish list!
David Rogers´s last [type] ..People are Awesome
12:11 pm
Rebel Brown
THANKS so much David – for stopping by and for the kind words!
The way we’ve always done it will cuse us to crash and burn in the new economy. Fresh thinking, new perspectives and Zero Gravity is the key to success – in any economy!
Glad you liked the interview. PLEASE let me know what you think of the book – you can write a note here… http://rebelbrown.com/share-your-flight-stories/. I love to hear from readers!
Have a soaring beginning to 2011!
reb