The Practical Optimist: An Entrepreneurial Journey Through Life's Turning Points - Paperback

by Ken Schmitt (Author)

The World Has Changed Enormously. Has Your Leadership?

No one will dispute these are turbulent and troubled times, times when "business as usual" no longer seems like a viable attitude. So, just how do you cope with a world that often seems to be spinning out of control -- especially when your business is caught up in all the chaos?

Now, Ken Schmitt, Founder and CEO of TurningPoint Executive Search, one of America's leading boutique recruiting firms, pulls back the curtain on the many life-changing challenges he's faced as a business leader in The Practical Optimist: An Entrepreneurial Journey Through Life's Turning Points to reveal what's worked for him -- and what hasn't. This frank, funny and revealing book pulls no punches as Ken details the massive challenges he's faced personally and professionally in his journey to the C-Suite, leading his own company. More importantly, he also breaks down the secrets and strategies he's discovered to be the most effective in navigating the highs and lows which all businesses experience. And he layers it all with a personal touch that makes his advice relatable and real.

You'll learn what happened after the Great Recession hit, when Schmitt had to tell his staff he had a whopping $200 left in the business account. How he later successfully rebranded and redirected his business, taking it to new heights. How he and his team weathered the unexpected trauma of the pandemic when all their clients disappeared in a matter of weeks -- by taking the time to rebuild, refresh and restructure so the company could come back stronger than ever when all the lockdowns ended. You'll also find out how Schmitt's father, a serial entrepreneur, sparked his passion for running his own operation -- along with the hilarious hiccups he experienced early on in his professional career, working for a series of belligerent and less-than-reliable bosses who drove him out of several business categories until he stumbled onto his true love, recruiting.

Challenging the status quo. Transparency. Diversity. Perseverance and resilience. Staying Connected. Allowing yourself to be human. Schmitt makes it personal by taking these well-known leadership topics and exploding some of the myths around them -- by providing incisive new perspectives that are both illuminating and instructive.

The Practical Optimist: An Entrepreneurial Journey Through Life's Turning Points is the book you need to understand what successful business leadership looks like in the 2020's.

Back Jacket

HOW ENTREPRENEURS CAN DARE TO DO MORE--AND STILL KEEP IT REAL A SEASONED CEO UNLOCKS THE SECRETS TO NAVIGATING BUSINESS--AND LIFE.
Economic disruption. Pandemic panic. Volatile world events. Massive change has suddenly become a constant in recent years, and, as a result, many a business leader has experienced whiplash trying to adapt. So--how do you handle huge, un- expected challenges without losing your grip? How do you find success when everything around you appears to be coming apart at the seams?
In The Practical Optimist: An Entrepreneurial Journey Through Life's Turning Points, seasoned CEO Ken Schmitt, the son of a serial entrepreneur, shares his powerful secrets for facing down your fear, rising above the madness, and coming out on top. Through Schmitt's frank, compelling, and occasionally hilarious accounts of how he coped with his most difficult personal and professional crises, you'll discover strategies that will empower you to view life through a new lens and be proactive when trouble strikes.
This isn't theoretical advice--this is straight talk from a CEO who's "been there, done that" and understands what's required of leadership in these turbulent times. Be prepared to give The Practical Optimist a prominent place on your shelf of business books.

Author Biography

KEN SCHMITT is Founder & CEO of TurningPoint Executive Search, one of the premier boutique recruiting companies in the country. Ken is also the Founder & CEO of the Sales & Marketing Leadership Alliance (SMLA), which he launched in 2011. He resides in Carlsbad, CA, with his wife Juliet, a marriage and family therapist, and their two children.