Video: How Open Business is shaping the 21st Century Org

If you couldn't make it in person, and were tied up while it was broadcast, yesterday's panel 'Open Business - 21st Century Organisations' is now archived and ready to watch at your leisure.
I do a short intro and then fire the questions at a stellar line-up:

Mark Earls (Author of  Herd: How to Change Mass Behaviour by Harnessing Our True Nature, I'll Have What She's Having, and Welcome to the Creative Age – Bananas, Business and the Death of Marketing). Mark is also winner of an Emerald Insights Award and a significant contributor to the chapter on Purpose in The 10 Principles of Open Business,
Andrew Hill: Associate Editor and Management Editor of the Financial Times.
Dave Coplin (Author of business bestseller “Business Reimagined: Why work isn’t working and what you can do about it” also joins us. He is Chief Envisioning Officer at Microsoft & The Envisioners).
Chris Hirst, CEO of Grey (London) Since his appointment as CEO in Jan 2010 Grey London has been the fastest growing large agency in London driven through significant new business success, strong organic growth and acquisition. Grey (London)'s success is built on Open Culture.
Dorothy Mead (Commerce innovator. Head of Marketing at Blur Group)



I've also been urging people to take a look at the result of latest research commissioned by The Social Partners (where I work). The video below has founder Ivan Palmer taking us through them.
Highly recommended particularly if you're ready to start making your social marketing something ROI can really be comfortable with.

If you can't be at our Open Business panel - watch here live

I'm hoping I will see many of the regular readers of this blog at one or more of the events I'm involved with for Social Media Week London - kicking off on Monday (September 23).
For details of all The Social Partners events (all at The Johnson Building, 77 Hatton Garden, London) follow this link
On it you'll find descriptions of each of our events along with availability. And if you find a sell-out (and there aren't many seats left for any of the events now) you'll note a little video camera icon against the events on Monday. That's because they will all be live-streamed.
These include my panel on Open Business with its all-star line-up (I'm not kidding, go take a look) and the premier of the results of in-depth research on the impact of social and digital on WOM and emerging behaviours,'Big Conversationalists'.
So if you can't be there in person, join us by the flickering light of your PC.

You can watch the Open Business Panel right here:

The final cover for The 10 Principles of Open Business (probably)

Got a new update of the cover of the book today, after a final round of feedback to the designer (via the publisher).
It's considerably cleaner than previous iterations (some of which I'll share below)

Version 4: Cleaner and brighter?

I'd be delighted to hear what you think of it - and particularly if you think we've ended up with the right version.

Version 3: Lighter background

Version 2 - with some 'web' turquoise

Version 1: Neon Night

10 Principles of Open Business in top 1 per cent on Amazon already

I was so taken by surprise by the Amazon ranking for the 10 Principles of Open Business that I had to take a screen grab.
I know these things can vary wildy but with a ranking of sub 50,000 that places it in (at least) Amazon's highest 1 per cent of performers (given that there are at least 5 million books on sale on Amazon by most estimates. If you know of a more accurate figure I'd be delighted to hear from you.)
Since it's not actually out until early next year and there's been zero marketing for it I've got to say a huge thank you to all of you who may have made an advance purchase already to make that happen.
A couple of other quick updates about the book - we're in the midst of getting a few tweaks done to the front cover (see previous post) which will make the background closer to pure white and reduce the range of pallete. Should clean it up a little.

The other thing is the updated 'blurb' and contents list is ready to roll and should start propogating across the publishers' site (Pagrave-Macmillan) and shortly after on Amazon, soon.
The price is now going to be officially £19.99. Right now (as of lunch time on September 6, 2013) you can pre-order it for £14.10 on Amazon. So, er, pile in. No one seems to know why or for how long or how much discount Amazon will apply. I'm enjoying this journey of discovery.
Other good news for the book comes in the form of some very kind supporting words from some amazing people which are likely to adorn the back cover.
So far I've been lucky enough to receive the following for use on the book (these are but snippets):

• The concept of (an) open business isn't a fad, it's a long-term business philosophy to connect with connected customers and employees and ultimately survive Digital Darwinism - Brian Solis
•  ...You'd be mad not to take the ideas in this book seriously - Euan Semple
• Cushman is an inspiring guide… this is a book that anyone concerned with the future of their organization and their career should read. - Stephen Waddington

I'm hoping Chris Brogan will be coming back to me with his thoughts this week and Seth Godin is currently giving it a read with a view to offering his take, too. And you have no idea how much I appreciate each and every comment.

By the way - there are still places left to attend the Social Media Week London panel on Open Business which I'm chairing. I'm hosting a great line-up of folk. See here for more.