How (NOT) To Create A Winning Strategy

Mary Marshall’s passion is helping entrepreneurs and executives achieve their dreams. Mary has been a CEO, an owner, and chief cook and bottle washer. She’s been a Vistage Chair (member and executive) and has coached leaders to find their own success. In 2014, she published her first book, Putting Together the Entrepreneurial Puzzle: The Ten Pieces Every Business Needs to Succeed as a collection of answers to the most common problems that hamper small business success. Marshall Advisors, LLC is Mary’s consulting practice in Seattle, which focuses on strategic planning, CEO and executive coaching, and leadership development. Mary speaks on Intentional Culture for organizations nationally. Since 2012, she has been active teaching a course for the Small Business Administration called “Emerging Leaders” that takes entrepreneurs through a seven-month course to create a strategic growth plan for their businesses. The course is considered a mini MBA.Kim Obbink is an Art Center College of Design graduate who began her career as a graphic designer and over the years became an accomplished brand strategist and leader. She worked as both employee and vendor for many world class technology and entertainment companies, and ultimately served as CEO of a Seattle based digital marketing and talent acquisition company. Her experience brings high-altitude vision and strong brand strategy to everything she does. Kim believes that an authentic brand requires authentic leadership. Her vision that values and a well-stated, well-actioned belief system are the religion of every healthy organization is what she brings to her consulting work with growth-oriented companies today. An entrepreneur, strategist, writer, and artist, Kim has a colorful view of the world. That combined with a bold sense of humor allow her to share her unique perspective on how others can find success and satisfaction in being great leaders from the heart.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Indigo River Pub (October 27, 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 138 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1950906418
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1950906413
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 6.9 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.3 x 9 inches

“These How Not-To Guides for leaders are so much fun I almost forgot how many lessons I was absorbing. The chapters were just the right length, and equally on point, for busy readers. I enjoyed the pithy “Let’s Get Real” sections at the end so much I would have jumped straight to them except for the funny and oh-so-real parts leading up to each valuable lesson. Sprinkle a dash of irreverence on some very common and terrible leadership behaviors, mix with pearls of wisdom and you have a great recipe for success. In their own words: Evil never wins in the end. You might win a battle or two by being a complete douchebag like the characters in this story, but ultimately you lose as leader. Pick up the set. Laugh out loud. And take up their challenge: choose three or four questionable leadership traits and start working on them!”

-Melissa Muir, HR Director, Seattle Municipal Court

“Mary Marshall ranks among the very best coaches of executives, anywhere. She is in the minds of CEOs. She has been a strategic advisor to me, and to hundreds of leaders across prominent organizations. Mary navigates the complex with ease and provides clarity to leaders on a path forward. Her confidence in managing ambiguity and situations lacking precedence makes her an invaluable asset to organizations in times of change and crisis. Her approach is strategic, yet practical, and both serious and fun. Mary develops visionary leaders who lead strategically with a balance of passion and heart. I can’t say enough about Mary and her impact to my business and life. Mary achieves positive and measurable change for all her clients. These “How NOT to Guides” are the perfect distillation of all this wisdom in a funny and easy read!”

-Amy Hedin, CEO, Human Point

“Some of us seem to insist upon learning the hard way, from our mistakes. Why? So much better to learn from the mistakes of others….it is faster, less expensive and much less painful. I enjoyed this refreshing trilogy of “How Not To” books relating to Leadership, Team Building and Strategy. They are filled with examples derived from the authors professional and real-time experiences. What a pragmatic, humour filled and insightful collection of stories and lessons to fast track me down the roadway positively. Leadership; Bosses from Hell; Hiring; Developing People; Teamwork; Strategy; all critical elements I would have so greatly benefitted from had I known earlier on in my career. I found the writing to be easy to read, great on an airplane, lots of helpful takeaways and reminders of “what not to do”, and therefore on the flip side of the coin, “what to do”!! The authors have clearly been on all sides of the topics and equation they write about so well and in an entertaining fashion. Enjoy!”

-Richard Fitzgerald, Retired President and CEO, Diageo Canada

“Kim Obbink was my executive coach for one of the most formative years of my career. She brought a potent mix of vision, hands-on experience, and sage advice to help me successfully navigate growing my team from one person to over eighty-five people while building three new business units at a large organization. Ultimately, she helped me unlock my full potential and was instrumental in setting me on a career path I would not have otherwise found.”

-Peter Whicomb, VP, Partnerships – Trove, Former Director, New Business Development & Circular Economy – REI