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Read to Lead: The Power of Nice
Monday, September 15, 2008, 5:30-7:00
The Daily Buzz, 130 E Walnut Street, Green Bay

The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness
By: Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval
Facilitated By: Pat Hopkins, partner, Imaginasium

From Publishers Weekly
With a foreword by Jay Leno, how could this not be a nice book? Coauthors Thaler and Koval submit their own success in the cutthroat world of advertising as evidence that nice girls can finish first while taking home more than a dozen Clio awards along the way. Following up their bestselling look at creating compelling marketing strategies—Bang!—they turn most truisms about business inside out, arguing that good deeds are returned, not punished. Warning against a me vs. you mentality, they even suggest helping opponents as a good way to boost a career. Game face on? Thaler and Koval say, take it off. Being genuine, they explain, produces much better results. From crediting their friendly building security guard for helping them sign new clients to recommending chocolate as an accompaniment to presentation materials and invoices, they build their case for using little gestures to get you what you want. Though a lively and pleasant read, this is not a cutesy little bonbon of a book. Well thought-out and crisply presented, it offers key principles, case studies and exercises to help make niceness habitual. Some exercises, like turning personal disappointment into positive energy, are even quite therapeutic.

The 2008-2009 Read to Lead schedule with a list of facilitators and book selections can be obtained by clicking here. It is not required that you have read the book, simply that you enjoy the conversation. RSVP to Brian Johnson is requested this year due to limited space.

Stay Current Annual Luncheon
RSVP for Current's annual luncheon scheduled for Tuesday, September 23 from 11:30-1:00. The event will feature a year in review, status of the organization, recognition of outgoing chairs, presentation of the young professional awards and keynote speaker Rob Davis of the Green Bay Packers. This event is open to the public and corporate tables are available. Individuals are $15 or $200 for a corporate table of ten. This event is open to the public and nonmembers are encouraged to attend. Contact Brian Johnson to RSVP.

About the speaker:
Rob Davis
Director of Player Development
Green Bay Packers

Rob Davis, a 12-year NFL veteran, enters his first year as the Packers’ director of player development, after 11 seasons as their long snapper. He was named director of player development on March 26^th by Ted Thompson following his retirement earlier that month. As the director of player development, Davis is vital in maintaining locker room cohesiveness and overall player health. He assists players in acclimating to their roles, both on and off the field and in the Green Bay community. Davis also oversees the Packers’ wide range of programs designed to meet the needs of players and their families in today’s NFL. The department provides a framework of assistance within which players and their immediate family members can address the pressures created by daily life and complicated by the demands of playing professional football. The program is also set up to get players prepared for life after football, and helps seek educational and vocational opportunities.

Davis served as the Packers’ long snapper for 11 seasons, 7 of which he was a co captain. He played in 167 consecutive games in a Green Bay uniform, the third longest streak in team history. Only Brett Favre (255) and Forrest Gregg (187) played in more consecutive games.

He worked for three years for an opportunity to play in the NFL, spending two training camps with the N.Y. Jets (1993-94), a year with the CFL’s Baltimore Stallions (1995) and a preseason with the Kansas City Chiefs (1996). In 1996 Davis signed with the Chicago Bears and played all 16 games as the team’s long snapper.

Over the years, Davis has done numerous speaking engagements throughout the state, speaking to groups both young and old. His messages are powerful especially to the youth, talking about taking advantage of the opportunities given to them, leadership, education, self worth and making the tough decisions when it comes to peer pressure. Davis was recognized for his work in the community when he received the annual Green Bay Chamber of Commerce award for outstanding community service in 1999.

Rob Davis, continues to spread his messages now as a retired player with the hopes that all in attendance leave with the message that most things are possible but you have to be willing to put in the work.