Adaptability: The Art of Winning In An Age of Uncertainty

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Adaptability is the key human trait. The ability to adapt faster and smarter than the situation is what makes the powerful difference between adapting to cope and adapting to win. Our history is a story of adaptation and change. And in this time of brutal competition and economic uncertainty, it has never been more important to understand how to adapt successfully. In a series of powerful rules, Max McKeown explores how to increase the adaptability of you and your organization to create winning positions. Fascinating real-world examples from business, government, the military and sport bring the rules of adaptability to life - from the world s most innovative corporations to street-level creativity emerging from the slums. Adaptability is a powerful, practical and inspirational guide to success in uncertain times.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction: In search of adaptability (p. 1)
• Part 1 Recognize the Need to Adapt (p. 11)
• Rule 1 Play your own game (p. 13)
• Rule 2 All failure is failure to adapt (p. 19)
• Rule 3 Embrace unacceptable wisdom (p. 27)
• Rule 4 F*** with the rules (p. 39)
• Rule 5 Stability is a dangerous illusion (p. 51)
• Rule 6 Stupid survives until smart succeeds (p. 69)
• Part 2 Understand Necessary Adaptation (p. 79)
• Rule 7 Learning fast better than failing fast (p. 81)
• Rule 8 Plan B matters most (p. 89)
• Rule 9 Free radicals (p. 101)
• Rule 10 Think better together (p. 111)
• Rule 11 Get a kick-ass partner (p. 125)
• Part 3 Adapt as Necessary (p. 133)
• Rule 12 Never grow up (p. 135)
• Rule 13 Hierarchy is fossil fuel (p. 141)
• Rule 14 Keep the ball (p. 147)
• Rule 15 Swerve and swarm (p. 153)
• Rule 16 Get your ambition on (p. 167)
• Rule 17 Always the beginning (p. 181)
• Final words (p. 193)
• Acknowledgements (p. 197)
• References (p. 199)
• Index (p. 217)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

"The first rule of winning," McKeown writes, "is that there is no one way to win-" success requires adaptation. It sounds simple, and McKeown (The Truth About Innovation), a consultant whose clients include Microsoft and Sony, deftly makes it so, expounding on relevant examples in confident, straightforward prose. Case studies range from a fascinating investigation of ants, who "create complex societies with simple rules," to quantum game theory, which reveals "the danger of clinging onto stability at all costs." "Actions are relative to circumstance," and sometimes success depends on "Embrac[ing] unacceptable wisdom," as opposed to going with the status quo. Focusing on discerning adaptation, the author also highlights what not to do, as when Tropicana rebranded in 2009 and panicked after sales plummeted 20%. Within two months, they had reverted to their original packaging. McKeown maintains that the most successfully adaptive companies (and individuals) are those that, in some ways, never grow up-opting instead to feed off new creative energies and ideas. Though this treatise is grounded in diverse, concrete examples, McKeown's advice is germane enough to appeal to anyone stuck in a rut-from entrepreneurs to established companies. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.