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A detailed look at risk identification and value creation in private equity investment Equity Value Enhancement ("EVE"): Governance, Risk, Relationships & Knowledge ("GRRK") provides the information and tools practitioners and business owners need to work with the multitude of intangibles ("GRRK") in equity investment decisions. The author engages readers with an insightful and brief claim: "Values are more than numbers." He then provides support for just how important human capital is to the value creation paradox. He doesn't stop there because ideas without definitive actions don't promote transformation. He further challenges the reader with: "If you don't think outside of the box, you're doomed to live in the box." A user-friendly manual chock full of vignettes, suggestions and pithy commentary EVE is a must read for owners, officers, boards and advisors to derive understanding of business value drivers. This book teaches the reader how to conduct more intangible asset due diligence as well as what decisions and behaviors impact value. With more effective methods of risk identification, measurement, management, and mitigation ("IMMM"), trusted advisors and owners can establish a "working on the business" strategy to prioritize issues impacting a company's intangible assets – assets which almost inevitably create the largest component of value in flourishing companies. This focus also serves to reduce risk while leveraging human capital and operational effectiveness. This book challenges users of value enhancement and valuation services to demand greater intellectual rigor to best serve owners/investors of the United States' economic engine—the midmarket company. Therefore, readers are challenged to look beyond the common metrics and numbers. They are admonished to rely less on formulaic approaches and on software that can generate spurious opinions. The reader is called to action by the author, a US Marine Combat Officer veteran, to lead the change: "You burn the boats if you want to be sure you succeed taking the island." Trillions of dollars of private equity are changing hands as Baby Boomer owners and investors seek greater liquidity and legacies while investors seek higher returns from direct investment in private companies. This book provides risk and human capital guidance removing some of the guesswork on valuation and value creation. Provide better evidence of value & equity discounts Identify and quantify risk and provide tools to manage it Inform better business management and investment decisions Create a more comprehensive valuation for equity investments Roadmap and strategy for enhancement of going concern value Governance, Risk and Compliance ("GRC") management are hot topics in today's economic environment. The familiar financial metrics may not be providing adequate indications of value creation – the core principle of most shareholder investment expectation. To identify risk and work with it effectively, practitioners need an in-depth understanding of the forces at play. Equity Value Enhancement is a detailed, insightful guide for making better equity decisions. Finally, the author puts his passion front and center by offering the reader the opportunity to invest in the human capital this book addresses by encouraging support of military veteran's with combat PTSD so they may be productive citizens with the leadership and business skills provided by our country's "Greatest Generation."

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Longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award 2021 Running away from your problems doesn’t solve anything – but sometimes it’s more fun than dealing with them Elise was spending a lot of time crying on buses. She had just graduated from university; she had a shiny new flat, her first proper job and a budding relationship – and they were all making her utterly miserable. Sitting at work one day, she hit upon the obvious solution: Run 5,000 miles around the coast of Britain, carrying her kit on her back. Six months later Elise set off, with absolutely no ultra-running experience, unable to read a map and having never pitched a tent alone before. Over the 301 days that followed she developed a debilitating fear of farmyard animals, cried on a lot of beaches and saw Britain at its most wild and wonderful. Coasting is about putting one foot in front of the other, even when it feels impossible, and trying to enjoy it too. With heart and humour, Elise explores the thrill of taking risks and putting your trust in total strangers, and learns some home truths along the way. 'A true Great British Adventure, with humour and heart.' Sir Ranulph Fiennes 'Elise Downing has achieved the impossible – leaving you in awe at her superhuman achievements, but also convincing you that you could probably do the same.' Emily Chappell 'A hugely enjoyable jaunt around Britain, that proves that you can find adventure right on your doorstep.' Alastair Humphreys 'Elise Downing has reminded us all of the most crucial aspects of adventure: 1) You don't have to be an expert. 2) It's all about the people. 3) However hard, tough, excruciating and doubt-driven a challenge might be, at heart it's a funny, funny story.' Dave Cornthwaite 'Reading Coasting is like listening to a friend tell a tale down the pub that you can’t quite believe. Elise’s storytelling is hilarious, warm-hearted and wonderfully down-to-earth. It’s the kind of book that makes you want to lace up your trainers and start running towards that mad idea you once had. There’s no doubt that Elise’s gung-ho attitude is her superpower. Her kryptonite? Cows.' Anna McNuff, author and adventurer 'Elise's irresistibly readable adventures are both ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. She's an inspiration.' Damian Hall, author and ultrarunner 'Funny and engaging and inspiring... an absolute gem.' Vassos Alexander, presenter, author and runner 'A beautifully observed and blisteringly truthful account of what happens when you decide to combine adventure and endurance. Absolutely brilliant.' Jake Tyler, author of A Walk from the Wild Edge 'An honest and exciting tale of how a dream became an awesome reality. Definitely worth a read!' Ben Smith, founder of The 401 Challenge 'I was already laughing at the Dedication and this continued all the way to the very last page. Elise Downing is a comedy genius and has a heart of gold!' Danny Bent, author, runner and founder of Project Awesome 'Elise tells her story with such good-humoured light-heartedness that you could be forgiven for forgetting that what she is describing is a feat of real endurance. Running 5,000 miles is a truly remarkable achievement, and the fact that Elise emerged from it with a smile on her face and a total lack of ego speaks wonders to her character. This is an incredible tale told with total humility. Running around the coast of Great Britain was a mad thing to do, but not buying this book would be madder still.' Tim Moss, author, adventurer and founder of The Next Challenge 'Like any epic journey worth sharing, Elise encountered the same doubts, setbacks and fears that leave many dreams stuck on the drawing board. One foot after the other, Elise set out to achieve the extraordinary many miles over. Coasting shares the literal highs and lows as she finds her rite of passage to the world of ultra-running, with an endearing vulnerability and hilarious flair that brings places to life. In the same way that countless strangers felt compelled to join her around the UK, Coasting carries the reader along and inspires us all to ask 'why not?' in pursuit of our own home-grown adventures.' Alex Staniforth, adventurer and author 'A wonderfully honest tale of courage, perseverance and self-discovery.' Dr Juliet McGrattan, author and runner 'Elise brings so much fun and energy, as well as raw honesty, to the world of adventure books, and her incredible journey is an inspiration to young (and old!) adventurers.' Jenny Tough, author, adventurer and editor of Tough Women Adventure Stories 'Thoughtful, funny and beautifully written. Just goes to show that there’s a ram-spinning, swashbuckling adventure right there on your doorstep.' Huw Jack Brassington, writer, presenter and adventurer

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A comprehensive and compelling guide to Suzanne Collins’s bestselling young-adult, dystopian trilogy The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Already a publishing phenomenon to rival Harry Potter (over 50 million copies sold), there are three sequels to the 2012 blockbuster movie of The Hunger Games scheduled for release between 2013 and 2015; Mockingjay Part 1 is due to be released in November 2014. Robb explores the inspiration behind the books, the author, the themes and influences of the three books, the movie adaptations and their cultural impact, the books’ legacy and spin-offs. Suzanne Collins has created a series of characters and situations that have struck a chord not only with the target audience of teenagers, but which have also drawn in adult readers, making the series second only to Harry Potter in National Public Radio’s popular poll of the Top 100 Teen Novels.Inspired when flicking TV channels between a reality television entertainment show and news footage of the war in Iraq, author Suzanne Collins conceived The Hunger Games as a parable for teen life and a warning of a dystopian future. Her parable incorporates Greek myth, Roman history and American entertainment.As the daughter of a US Air Force Officer who served in the Vietnam War, Collins had a unique insight into military life. Starting in children’s television on such shows as Clarissa Explains It All, Collins went on to write children’s fiction in The Underland Chronicles (drawing inspiration from Alice in Wonderland) and the Charlie McButton illustrated books. However, it was The Hunger Games series that has changed her life, giving the author a series of New York Times bestsellers and seeing her listed as one of Time magazine’s most influential people of 2010.Robb explores themes in The Hunger Games, and the influences and inspirations that lie behind the books, highlighting where Suzanne Collins has drawn on mythology and history, reshaping them to fit her universe. He also examines the characters and situations created in the book and how these have impacted on the books’ largely teen readership. He also looks at reactions to the books from fans and critics, both acclaim and criticisms faced by the author. He takes a look at the creativity of the fans who have drawn on Collins’ work for their own takes on the world of The Hunger Games.Robb chronicles the adaptation of The Hunger Games from acclaimed, best-selling novel to blockbusting film. With a script by Suzanne Collins herself, the film has made stars of Jennifer Lawrence as Collins’ heroine Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark and Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne. Following the making of the film, including quotes from the writer, director and stars, this chapter will examine the efforts taken to make a success of The Hunger Games on screen. It will also look at the cultural impact of the film and consider the critical reception it met upon release in March 2012.With three more movies scheduled (Catching Fire is due to be released in November 2013) and Mockingjay will be made into two films to be released in 2014 and 2015), Robb looks at the future of The Hunger Games series on screen, with an emphasis on the second film, Catching Fire.As with the Harry Potter series, The Hunger Games novels and films have inspired a host of spin-offs and extensions, from games and comic books to merchandise and new tales within the same universe. This chapter looks at these extensions of The Hunger Games franchise and analyses the effect Suzanne Collins work has had on the wider field of teen fiction and blockbuster movie-making.

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This book describes a system of meaning management, the first-ever systematic approach to successful brand meaning. 'This book illuminates the most ancient grooves in our mental architecture, which Carol Jung described as "archetypes", and shows how they can be employed to bring meaning and profit to a brand. There is a nascent power here, which, if understood correctly, can bring a rare vitality to a brand or a corporation' - From the Foreward by Alex Kroll former Creative Director, CEO and Chairman of Young & Rubicam. Some brands are so extraordinary that they become larger-than-life, symbolic of entire cultures, and used and admired by consumers the world over. But in spite of all the books and banter about branding, few companies come even close to developing iconic identities for their brands. New Internet brands are being born every minute, with lots of flash and fanfare, but often with no real human connection to make them truly relevant.At the same time, mature brands are diluting their identities in an attempt to respond to shifting trends, while other others attempt to graft meaning onto products in artificial and ineffectual ways. As a result, millions of advertising and promotional dollars are being squandered. Understanding and leveraging archetypal meanings - that is, finding the soul of your brand and then expressing it in ways that tap into universal feelings and instincts - are key prerequisites to effective marketing in today's intensely competitive and complex environment. Archetypes - which can be found in reoccurring patterns in art, literature, myth and fables - show us the way. Carol Pearson and Margaret reveal that when these deep psychic imprints are understood and employed, brands not only gain meaning, but companies can also gain market share and increase shareholder value. Yet, until now, no system has been available to help guide the management of archetypal meaning.Best-selling author Carol Pearson has spent 30 years developing systematic psychological frameworks and applying and field-testing them in business and educational settings. Margaret Mark is the strategist behind many of today's most enduring and successful brands, from AT&T and Kraft Foods to General Motors and Madison Square Garden. Together, Mark and Pearson have created the first systematic methodology for leveraging archetypal meanings to build successful brands. In an easily accessible way, "The Hero and the Outlaw" offers a clearly structured system that all business and marketing professionals can follow and replicate.After presenting the compelling concept of archetypal meaning, the authors demonstrate specific methods for implementing this concept into real-world setting, including: how to understand the deep meaning of your product category and "claim" it for your brand, how to assess the competitive landscape from an archetypal perspective, how to connect with customers more deeply, and how to tell your brand's story in a way that echoes the most enduring and beloved story patterns, the world over. Readers will learn how to strip away surface information to discover the deeper core meanings that can make a product, service, or organization a winning brand.Illuminating the untapped potential underlying every stage of the marketing mix, the authors also show how the brand story begins with the product itself, and can be communicated not only in the advertising, but also in event marketing, public relations, organizational culture/policies, and philanthropic efforts. Such efforts flow naturally when a company knows its core values and lives the great story of the archetype that embodies them. The books' fascinating culmination puts it all together with an illumination of how the deep meaning of a product category, itself can inspire a unique and compelling brand identity. This final chapter also shows how products can be effectively marketed in ways that reinforce positive potentials within customers and the society as a whole - and generally, do no harm.A first in business literature, "The Hero and The Outlaw" offers both a fascinating examination of those few extraordinary brands that have already achieved archetypal status, as well as a sound and proven methodology readers can use to achieve their own iconic brand identity - an identity that will withstand the test of time, cross lifestyle and cultural boundaries, and translate into exceptional success. 'For those wise enough to use this system, the outcome will be consistently more powerful brands and higher ROI. I have seen it applied, and it works every time' - Peter Georgescu, Chairman Emeritus, Young & Rubicam.'Mark and Pearson are true humanists. They apply their understanding of common psychic experiences in the unlikely arena of advertising, and then expertly guide marketers to manage their brands' meaning to maximize their commercial effectiveness without causing negative social effects' - Ruth Wooden, President of the National Parenting Association and former ten year President of the Advertising Council.'This provocative and insightful book could and should revolutionize the world of marketing' - Margaret Wheatley, best-selling author, "Leadership and the New Science" and co-author, "A Simpler Way". 'What a great concept! Anyone with a genuine interest in marketing and branding will find this provocative and enlightening book extremely valuable' - Bob Wehling, Global Marketing Officer, Proctor & Gamble. '"The Hero and the Outlaw" will soon become the guiding light, the port in the storm, that will make our meandering and lengthy creative journey light years faster. I only wish it had been written years earlier' - Linda Kaplan Thaler, President and CEO, The Kaplan Thaler Group. 'It reads with the fascination of fiction, and it provides a last remaining hope for managing any meaningful brand differentiation in the marketplace today' - Arlene Brickner, Vice President Creative Services and Public Relations, Coach.

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