Smart Is Not Enough!: The South Pole Strategy and Other Powerful Talent Management Secrets

by Alan C. Guarino

The Information Age is OVER -- In business today, it is all about TALENT! "Smart Is Not Enough " explains the core issue of 21st century business. Forget technology - Forget outsourcing TALENT is the #1 challenge in your organization .  Whether you're a CEO or an entry level college grad; whether you manage a staff or not, this book is for you.   It can help in career planning, in developing your management strategy, or just help you understand the playing field in business today. Author Alan Guarino explains the full gamut of cutting-edge talent management, from how to find it , develop it , deploy it and lead it , to his South Pole Theory of  "hidden talent" talent as a  solution for the shortage of critical talent in the business world of the 21st Century. The South Pole Theory explains that traditionally, corporations biased their talent searches towards those who performed at the top of their academic classes. Yet, some of the most successful executives and business leaders weren't good students themselves. Grades aren't the only predictor of success in the real business world. This book shares techniques for finding those determined, dedicated go-getters who fall through the cracks when we judge them solely on academics. To compete in business today, top companies need to cultivate every available source of talent. This book shows business leaders how to find and capitalize on this special pool of talent-- the future versions of people like Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinkos, Wayne Huizenga of Blockbuster Video, and many others. Alan Guarino (Marlboro, NY) is CEO and co-founder of the executive search firm Cornell International.  His firm is now owned by Adecco, the largest recruiting company in the world.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Alan C. Guarino is Vice Chairman of Korn Ferry and the National Bestselling author of Greatness Code and Smart Is Not Enough. He appears on CNBC, Bloomberg Radio, Forbes Media, Fox Business, and outlets as an expert commentator on leadership and careers. Alan has also published in Chief Executive Magazine, CNBC Online, and FastCompany.

A West Point graduate whose father immigrated to America in the 1920s as a child and left school after 8th grade, Alan was raised by working class parents and has lived the American dream. After attaining the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army and commanding a combat arms company in the Second Squadron, Sixth Cavalry, he left the Army to start a Wall Street career with The Bank of New York. He then entered the executive recruiting and human resources consulting, industry. Eventually, as an entrepreneur, at the age of 33, Alan bootstrapped a consulting and recruiting business, ran it for a decade, and sold it to Adecco, a $30BB global staffing company at the time.

Now, as a management consultant and Vice Chairman of Korn Ferry, Alan has served on teams who recruited hundreds of top executives, notably the CEO of E*TRADE during the financial crisis, the CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project, and President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, to name a few.

Previously Alan served on the board of Chef’s Warehouse during its growth phase, taking the company from $300 million to nearly $4 billion in annual revenue while executing more than 40 acquisitions and integrating talent. He chaired the board's human capital and compensation committee for more than a decade.

Alan is a foremost expert on the talent at every level that drives world-class organizations ranging from non-profits and Trade Unions, to Fortune 1000s, and start-ups. His work has transformed boards of directors at Fortune 500 companies and has guided founders, CEOs, and Human Resources leaders. He has coached entry level workers planning out their careers, to the most senior executives throughout their career journeys.

In his personal time, Alan is active in volunteering with organizations that help people in need.