Flip: How to Turn Everything You Know on Its Head--and Succeed Beyond Your Wildest Imaginings

by Peter Sheahan

Emphasizing flexible, counterintuitive decision making, Flip calls for a new way of doing business in an economy where conventional wisdom won't get you anywhere "Business today requires new perspectives"—this is how Peter Sheahan, one of the youngest and fastest-rising stars on the international consulting and speaking circuit, begins this essential guidebook for succeeding in the twenty-first century. Sheahan reveals how the world's most effective organizations and individuals distinguish themselves from the competition, instead of running with the pack. In Flip he uncovers what the superstars of modern business have in an ability to "flip"—to think counterintuitively and then act boldly, with no regard for "business as usual" conventions. Sheahan explores six major Sheahan teaches today's decision makers how to embrace change and successfully operate in an economy that runs on new ideas. Those who take on these lessons will be in position to join other "flipstars" such as Richard Branson, Google, Toyota, Rupert Murdoch, and Apple. Stick to what you learned in business school at your peril. . . . The small-world economy calls for a new way of doing business. It calls for Flip .

Genres: Business, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Yura Yu Xiang · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing special and the theories are quite common nowadays.

[Teao · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio book - not bad; probably more of marketing but good for a different perspective.

[Nura Yusof · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really liked this book. His writing is engaging and the book is filled with a lot of examples.

What I really liked what his "Fast, Good, Cheap : Pick 3 & add Something Extra" concept. For many years, I always believed that 2 out of 3 would be good enough, but Sheahan has proven that it's no longer so because all 3 are actually achievable and are no longer points of difference for business but are now entry requirements. If you wanna play, you've gotta have all that or don't bother.

And I do agree with his position on "sweating on the small stuff". I think it's important that it's not just one or a few of the small details that need to be looked into, but a series of small stuff that can add up to a profitable bigger picture.

The book does get to be a tad like a motivational book sometimes, but I suppose it's because the author is really excited about the subject.

I'm not entirely sure if any business should only consider making decisions that run counter from the norm. I think rather than "flip" decision-making, it should be more about being flexible which encompasses "flip"-like behavior and adaptability.

One slight quibble, though. In the book, Sheahan says that some of the best business ideas came about not because the many want them (in some instances, they don’t even know that they want them).

But in order to launch such ideas which require substantial resources behind them, wouldn't one have to make sure that the many would want them? Which in other words means, come up with ideas that a lot of people would want to pay money for. What he's suggesting is about taking risks. I get that. But the way this is being conveyed (to me, at least) is almost like throwing caution to the wind or follow your gut feel or worse, take a gamble. Not entirely sure if that's a risk worth taking.

[thewestchestarian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Recycled ideas better expressed elsewhere. If you are at all a veteran of consultant-written business books, you have already read this pastiche of thinly thought through ideas and empty provocations in the tersely named ”Flip”. The book hovers just above business book parody by trotting out the rusty tropes of the consultant. ”Consultese” is widely employed particularly in the frequent use of the word ”flip” as a noun, verb, prefix and suffix. Most annoyingly this includes the designation of the sobriquet ”flipstar” to the standard currently successful cast of business figures including Jack Welch, Sir Richard Branson and Steve Jobs. For some reason, although few embody Morrow’s advisement to throw aside rules, procedures, and old ways of doing things for a guide-by-your-gut ethos, Jeffrey Skilling does not get a mention in the book. Also not mentioned is Peter Drucker whose assertion that one should ”ready, fire, aim” when facing a decision effectively is Morrow’s entire argument and one that Drucker made far more convincingly 20 years ago (before he went nuts). Morrow does, however, quote some much better authors primarily the ubiquitous Malcolm Gladwell. He does this because in the Morrow world quoting the arguments of another author constitutes support for one’s suppositions as does using thinly detailed anecdotes (I knew this guy who owned a business…”) al la prosperity preacher Joel Osteen. In summary, following Morrow’s advice has as much chance of helping you ”Succeed Beyond Your Wildest Imaginings” (sounds dirty, right?) as it does in getting you bankrupt, sued or arrested.

[Ben Vogel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't get any great ideas or new inspirations from this book. It was OK, but nothing outstanding. An advocate of the Blue Occean Strategy, Sheahan spends the beginning of the book citing several corporations as outstanding examples of innovative and forward thinking organizations - trouble is, hindsight has been terribly busy and ironically brutal in the few short years since publication. BP and Toyota have been through public relations hell. MySpace is a the butt of an entire genre of techno humor. Lance Armstrong has been teetering on the edge of imploding Tiger-style in a swirl of blood doping scandals. If history had tried to be more unkind to the author I'm not sure how it could have been more successful.

Those ironies aside, I think that there are simply many better books out there along these lines.

[Adrienne]

It is funny how a book appears that gives you a kick in the azz by telling you what you need to know and what you know already.
This book for me was insightful and resourceful. Mr. Sheahan, a young and successful business person thoughtfully disperses his youthful zeal and invincibility by stating, "...action equals clarity," and bids us, his readers to simply ACT to reach our goals.
Not revoluntionary, yet complex when you (and I) consider the obstacles and barriers WE place before ourselves in any goal-driven pursuit!

I was thankful to Mr. Sheahan, hell, Pete for reminding me that perfectionism and fear will destroy any ambition and/or attempts to reach any respective goal.

[Nic Brisbourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I don't read many books about how to do business (as opposed to books about markets, technologies, trends etc) and most of those I do read I'm skimming very heavily after the first chapter or two. Flip was different - packed full with good advice on what it takes to innnovate in the 21st Century at a company level.

The quick reminders
- action creates clarity so get moving
- to win these days a new product needs to be faster, better, cheaper, and something else
- absolutely sweat the small stuff
- to get control give it up."

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

READ SEP 2012

Nice companion to Sheahan's "Making It Happen: Turning Good Ideas Into Great Results" ... good for anyone interested in innovation and change.

Best quotes, "there is nothing more important in business today than an action orientation" (p. 29); "trust cannot be commoditized" (p. 162), "skills are becoming commoditized. Relationships are not!" (p. 172), and "what would happen if you stopped competing in the way you always have and went in a whole new direction?" (p. 213).

[Drugo Lebowsky · Rating 1 out of 5]

Noioso, come i consulenti!
Questo giovane autore presentato come uno dei nuovi guru della consulenza aziendale scrive un libro scontato ed elementare, dove l'unica cosa che emerge è uno sfrenato egocentrismo personale, tipico dei consulenti che, anziché vendere le proprie esperienze, vendono se stessi. Noioso.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

And vs or, teach to know better, action creates clarity, action is opp to learn, Lincoln on critique, fast good cheap x-factor, client completes project, passion is route of profound change, relationships self fulfilling, no controlling, get in the ring.

[Amy Kauderer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little outdated currently. I did find one useful thing in this book, so my time wasn't wasted. I listened to it on CD while driving during pledge week. It was better than listening for them beg for money.

[PremiereBrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on innovation

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like that this book isn't all traditional thinking... a different way of looking at things.

[Anders Brabaek · Rating 3 out of 5]

It could had been called 'Blue Ocean Strategy II'

[Bec · Rating 1 out of 5]

I decided 2012 was the year to stop reading bad books

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

While there are some good ideas in Flip, Peter Sheahan's insistence on constant self centered anecdotes detracts from the message.

[Bill Sheridan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of his examples are a little dated, but Peter Sheahan's message is important: In a world of change and complexity, the status quo doesn't cut it anymore.

[Marie Wintriss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh - i was not all that engaged. Would not recommend.

[Isambard Growett · Rating 2 out of 5]

cut paste, cut paste, nothing new!

[Bree · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried reading the paper copy multople times, but the flimsy paper, lousy font and tiny type made me not want to. Maybe I'll track down the eBook eventually.

[Sanath Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking, worth trying ideas are given in this book.

[Lori Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A should-read book on strategy for knowledge workers and entrepreneurs.