Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know

The Milwaukee Press Club boasts that it is the oldest continuously operating press club in North America.  It was born in Milwaukee way back in 1885.  And no, I wasn't a charter member!  But through my years in journalism, I attended many Press Club events.  I write about one of them in "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW", the story of whisking a great employee and his bride from their wedding reception to a Press Club awards banquet via limousine, just so he could accept the numerous awards he had earned.  The happy couple were the hit of the night as they walked down the awards aisle in tux and gown.  Moments later we had them back at their wedding celebration. On Tuesday, August 8 at 5:30pm, I'll be at the Press Club's Newsroom Pub on Wells Street, for a book talk and signing.  Click here for details. Later this year I have the great honor of being involved in another Press Club event -- induction into the Club's Hall of Fame.  Quite a fun year!   http://www.milwaukeepressclub.org/events/details/a-chat-with-jill-geisler

It was a lovely evening in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, as the state broadcast association held its Hall of Fame banquet, honoring individuals for lifetime service to the industry.  It was a genuine thrill to be inducted into this group of professionals.  Among the past honorees were a professor who first got me interested in the broadcast side of journalism, and the man who hired me as a reporter and helped promote me to management. After a video history of the inductee is shown, each is asked to say a few words.   I was the last person in the group, so I made certain to keep my comments brief.  I decided to read a short passage from "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" that seemed most appropriate for the event.  A friend captured it on cell phone video: http://youtu.be/0oCpnK1n5P8

Colleagues who have written books warned me about it -- the "Amazon-check" habit that authors develop when a book is published.  Now I know why.  Every now and then there's the joyful discovery like today's.  This is the business management section of the Kindle store, where "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" has found its way to #1 today.  It's a wonderful milestone, for however long it may last.  What's really important is that people may be investing in some critical training; new ideas to help them build positive and powerful workplace cultures. If you happen to be one of those who helped nudge the book up the list today, my sincere thanks to you.  Please feel free to share your feedback -- either here on this site, on the "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" Facebook page. Some people have been sending me photos of themselves with their books, and I've been posting them to the Facebook page.  Join us!  

This was the scene today as two boxes arrived at the Poynter Institute, to my attention.  This was the day I'd been waiting for -- to see the final, final product: the hard cover edition of my book.  I carried the boxes into the office of Julie Moos, who is the editor of our institute's web publication.  I refer to her as the "midwife" of the book, because she's been the editor of my "Great Bosses" columns, helped develop the iTunes U podcasts, and held my hand through every step of the book process.   When she saw me, her eyes lit up and she guessed what was up.  She handed me her scissors, grabbed her cell phone camera, and said she wanted to record as I saw the hard cover version of the book for the first time. Here's the unboxing -- as it happened: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6XMYDSkUPg Thanks, Julie!

Publishers Weekly, the international magazine devoted to books, has just released its review of "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW."  Authors wait with their fingers crossed for positive reviews -- and oh my! What a joy to read the reviewer's kind words and insights about the book! The reviewer describes "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" as  a "practical step-by-step guide to improving leadership skills" and goes on to say: "Rather than a prescriptive, academic book on leadership, Geisler humanizes the text with anecdotes from her own leadership development as a broadcast news director in Milwaukee, sharing her revelations, corrections, and progress." I don't know who the reviewer is: PW reviews are anonymous. But that writer certainly made my day and has my eternal gratitude -- especially for predicting that 'WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" will become a "go-to-manual for those new to management."   To see the full review on the Publishers Weekly website, just click on this link.