Corporate Canaries: Avoid Business Disasters With a Coal Miner's Secrets

by Gary Sutton

When your business hits trouble, can you recognize the warning signs? A century ago, coal miners brought canaries into the mines for danger warnings. At the first hint of poisonous methane gas, the little birds stopped chirping . . . and many miners were saved. Your business faces invisible threats too. With equal doses of insight from Gary Sutton's experience as a hands-on, corporate turnaround CEO, and wisdom from his coal miner grandfather, this delightful volume helps you recognize trouble-before it's too late. In Corporate Canaries , Sutton reveals the five "canary warnings" that are a sure sign of trouble. Sutton's successes are measured not in millions but in billions of dollars. He's breathed life into many flatlining organizations. The secret, he reveals, is recognizing the warning signs-and recognizing them early! Once you empower everyone in your organization to become a "canary watcher," the success can be limitless. With the wit of a storyteller and the credibility of a Wall Street hero, Gary Sutton spins that rare breed of business the kind you won't want to put down.

Genres: Business

140 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2005

Reviews

[Kay Iscah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, well written and to the point. I feel like there's some solid wisdom passed down in this, not just for business but for personal finance, but I felt a little betrayed at the end to learn Grandpa was a composite character. Same odd feeling of betrayal you get after the Autobiography of Ms. Jane Pittman...if this stuff happened to real people, why can't I just read about the real people? Makes me feel less secure about what I just learned. I had figured it was summarized and tidied up, but would it have had less impact if the stories came from multiple family members?

Even so, I feel like the advice was fairly solid. I've got a microcorp and felt a little called out...but in a good way.

[Federico Mauccione · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very concise, down to the point book. Even though 50 percent of the book is filled with parable, I felt every bit of it was necessary and helped hammer down the writer's point.
It contains simple advice that can be applied not only to a business per se, but to your personal finance practices.
The concept that any decision beats indecision is definitely one we can apply to all aspects of life.

[Sierra J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

If your are new to business or starting a business, this book is for you. Even if you have become stale in your business, this is a great refresher and reminder of what is important. I also learned some actual facts about coal mining that many in my area already knew about because they saw the boom of the coal industry in Breathitt County, KY. Excellent read for all those in business.

[Isaac Danna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love relatable stories with money saving lessons.

[Jared Fontaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice concise no nonsense book about how to prevent a crisis. Wish I had read this a long time ago!

[Yuni Amir · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a wake up call to do something about your career.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good down to earth business book. Reminds you of the basics. The authors considerable experience as a turn around specialist is tempered with the down home comparison of his grandfathers old time business sense and hard work in the coal mines.

[Héctor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compulsory reading for business people...

[Melissa White]

good

[Jim Noyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

the last chapter sums up the book