Make the Buck, Then Pass It

By the time you read this, Quattrone's trial will likely be done; Kozlowski's is expected to drag on through the winter. Regardless of the outcomes, though, we've already witnessed the most-telling details. As the lawyers argued valiantly that their clients were not the titans they appeared to be, both defendants undermined their own cases by flexing their power in the courtroom. They couldn't help themselves: Quattrone smiled widely while putting a protective arm around Keker; Kozlowski, beet red and neck muscles tensed, glowered at the prosecution. Here is the truth: These guys were always masters of their domain. Any attempt to prove otherwise is a sad joke on the rest of us.

Sidebar: The One-Minute Chatter

If this is Tuesday, it must be time for another Ken Blanchard book. Blanchard, who birthed The One Minute Manager in 1982, has churned out--oops, carefully crafted--four tomes in 2003. Here's what Amazon.com readers have been saying.

The Leadership Pill: The Missing Ingredient in Motivating People Today (with Mark Muchnick, Free Press, September)

Publishers Weekly:

"It's a solid, though obvious, message that should resonate with fans of Blanchard's . . . advice."

Reader rating: 5 Stars

"This book was fantastic! It is a short . . . and moving story that helps define a message that is essential in today's workforce."

Full Steam Ahead! Unleash the Power of Vision in Your Company and Your Life (with Jesse Stoner, Berrett-Koehler, March)

Publishers Weekly:

". . . The authors' simple writing style makes their advice obvious."

Reader rating: 5 Stars

" . . . One the best books I've read. I got copies for everyone in our [office]."

Servant Leader (J Countryman Books, March)

Publisher's description:

"Readers seeking to grow as leaders . . . will find Servant Leader nothing short of life-changing."

Reader rating: 5 Stars

"[It] called me to the carpet. The concepts were basic but touch the heart of what it means to serve."

The One Minute Apology: A Powerful Way to Make Things Better (with Margret McBride, William Morrow, January)

Publishers Weekly:

"This breezy book can be read quickly and its point is almost too obvious."

Reader rating: 5 Stars

"If everyone read [this], meaningless apologies would be a thing of the past."