Bøger af Martina Sprague

Democratic socialism is a branch of politics that is built on certain core values, the first of which is the development of a society that openly embraces equality and social justice through powerful action. But the pendulum's swing between Utopia and the apocalypse has always been short, and every belief in a predestined future is dangerous. To retain vitality, a democratic nation must constantly press the frontier forward, and the first responsibility of a political leader is a desire to listen to the voices of the masses.In light of the fiery political debates since President Barack Obama took executive office in the United States, particularly with respect to social issues such as universal healthcare, affordable education, and the rights of workers to organize, this brief analysis sheds light on a subject that many Americans do not understand and even fear, or at least have failed to examine in depth. It defines our understanding of democratic socialism and also discusses what it means to the ordinary citizen when we say that we want to be free of government interference. It builds on the ideology of former prime minister of Sweden, Olof Palme, who many view as the epitome of social justice, and questions the extent to which his ideas have merit and can be implemented in modern American society.The book is of interest to scholars of political ideologies and popular social movements; people with left-leaning views; and lay persons wishing to learn about the forces that stir politics in America today. The value of a society is a direct measurement of the value we place on our people, along with the recognition that everybody travels essentially the same road from birth to death. It is in this spirit that I present We the People: New Socialism for a Modern World.

Reality in leadership is often what your gut tells you and not what you wish for, nor what some mathematical equation or scientific principle suggests. The logic of leadership is grounded in empirical evidence of right or wrong behavior, and, yes, the leader must face a level of personal risk. Successful leadership requires a holistic approach supported by innovative ideas. Knowing how to think rather than what to think may be the leader's greatest asset. Knowing how to think involves a conscious element of skepticism. It requires awareness of biases related to previous experiences, strong personal views, or current ambitions.This book explores the strengths and weaknesses of team leadership from a scientific/logic perspective and analyzes different ways to Lead with Science. It breaks down the parts that make up a team, and demonstrates elusive concepts such as why the team is not for everybody, and why there is in fact an "I" in team. It discusses logic argumentation, the importance of using proper definitions when communicating, and getting the employees to agree with the premises. It also debunks common motivational ideas and explores factors that increase motivation. It ends by recognizing the selfish needs of the team, and demonstrates how to achieve positive results when critiquing and evaluating performance.The material in this book is excerpted from the previously published book, Leadership, It Ain't Rocket Science: A Critical Analysis of Moving with the Cheese and Other Motivational Leadership Bullshit, also by Martina Sprague.

Who becomes a leader? The leader is set apart from the rest; you are in your position because you have worked hard and are committed, and because you have certain qualities that prove helpful to the workers and the company. At least this is the way it is supposed to be. But in reality the people choose their leader regardless of his or her title. You don't become a leader by placing a "supervisor" patch on your shirt; you become a leader by exercising a set of qualities that make others want to follow.This book is an easy reference that the leader can use every day to seek inspiration on a number of topics, including leader integrity, communication, establishing and maintaining vision, creating a winning team, delegation of duties, and critique and evaluation.Good leadership requires maintenance. It is not enough to tell your team what you want them to do. You must also follow up, give feedback, and give each member an opportunity to voice his or her concerns. To have a positive and lasting impact on the members of your team, you must respect the fact that people are different. When you and your team meet this way, you may feel invincible. This is what makes consistent victory possible. There is no greater feeling!This concise study makes an excellent gift to the aspiring and field tested leader alike.

Become a Better Martial Artist by Applying Lessons from the World's Greatest Military Strategists from Sun Tzu to Von ClausewitzLessons in the Art of War investigates the theories and philosophies of the most prominent military thinkers in Asia and Europe and examines the combat roots of a variety of fighting styles from traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean martial arts to the fighting arts of the ancient Greeks and modern Israelis. It also demonstrates how the martial arts, whether Asian or Western in origin, were historically about brutal fighting, often to the death, and how ancient attitudes and beliefs can be adapted for success in today's MMA steel cage, judo or karate tournament as they were in ancient armies.Including an introduction to Asian and Western military thought, chapters include:The Nature and Conduct of CombatWhat is Combat?Preparing for BattleElements of Tactics and StrategyImposing Your WillDestroying the Enemy ForceStrength of the Defensive PositionFailureMoral Quality of CourageSecuring Victory