Interview With Author Hayes Drumwright

1. What inspired you to write your book?

Living the problem was truly my inspiration.  I tripped so many times and made so many mistakes. As I started to realize how to actually bridge the divide between Management and Employees, I wanted to write down the journey for others so they could avoid my mistakes.

2. What is it about?

More than anything it is about how to lead in a way that would connect groups of people in a way that drives buy-in (or adoption).  The book gives easy to understand, tangible examples that any aspiring leader will be able to put into practice. I broke the book into four sections so it would be easy to consume.  It starts by explaining the pre-reqs that a leader needs to focus on others first.  Then, it covers how entitlement and apathy get a foothold in even the best of organizations.  The last two section cover a methodology on how to build a tangible bridge between groups and lead effectively.  Most every chapter details real world stories and examples I have lived or consulted.

3. What do you hope will be the everlasting thoughts for readers who finish your book?

There are 3 concepts in the book I hope resonate in a lasting way with the reader.

·         Leaders need to focus on those they serve first rather than selfish goals.  I call this “They Come First.”  

·         The constant “comfort” instead of the truth can only lead to despair and ruin.  To truly build something lasting they must become a relentless truth seeker.

·         When you consider your legacy, think about how you can use your failures to help others succeed (just as I am putting into practice with this book)

4. What advice do you have for writers?

Focus on finding your voice.  My writing style is very conversational, which is not traditional.  I was told by many this style would not work for a business book.  I trusted in my own voice and wrote it that way anyway.  It made it a bit more difficult to get published, but the response has been terrific.  Trust in your voice.

5. What challenges did you have in writing your book?

I could probably write a book answering that question.  I had many.  I did not realize how hard it would be because I wrote blogs and articles all the time.  It took me six months longer than I thought it would to write the book. The biggest struggle I had was with how personal the book became.  I shared very personal vulnerable stories in both the beginning and the end and worried continuously on whether that was the right thing to do.  I had read so many business books I struggled to connect with.  I decided in the end personal and vulnerable was the way to go but that every story must connect to the larger themes in the book.  This caused many rewrites and edits, deleting of chapters, etc.  But six months after my due date, I was happy that something any leader at any level could understand and put into practice was created.

6. If people can only buy one book this month, why should it be yours?

The stories in Management vs Employees hold truths on many levels.  They apply to business; but they are also designed to help in the way you parent, coach, do charity work, relate to others, etc.   That is the kind of book we hoped to create.  I have had readers tell me they gave copies to their kids, that they cried, and that they had never considered focusing on their failures with their families.  The concepts are for more than just work.  And the best part…The book is only 120 pages so you should have plenty of time to pick up a couple more this month.

For more information, please see: http://www.apress.com/author/author/view/id/17586

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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog 2016 ©.