By Jeremy Eden and Terri Long

Low-Hanging-FruitI’ve always loved the idea of low hanging fruit. When I was a kid and was paid to pick black raspberries (a dime a pint!), the low hanging fruit wasn’t a phrase, it was a practical reality – the fruit closer to me and closer to the ground was the easiest to pick!

Over my professional life, I have heard and used this phrase to define working on the easier things first – which in many cases is a wise idea. After all – some forward motion on something easy is better than no action on something else.

All of that is prelude to me seeing the release of this book in late February – the title and big idea drew me to it – though I admit that the boast of 77 ways seemed a bit hard to believe.

Then I read the book.

The book is based on this idea of finding small ways to make a big difference – call it low hanging fruit, call it leverage, call it a chance to take action – whatever you want to call it, these ideas will help.

There are 77 ideas in 77 short chapters – some just a page in length. This format makes the book easy to pick up and work with – perhaps even challenging yourself to apply one per day or week as a way to use the great ideas available.

The chapters/ideas are arranged in some great sections too – making it easier to apply the ideas intentionally based on your particular needs. The sections include:

  • Spotting problems (finding your low hanging fruit)
  • Solving problems
  • Motivating your team to harvest low hanging fruit
  • Getting everyone on one team
  • Accountability
  • Time management

This is a well written and easy to read book. It isn’t a novel and probably won’t be best enjoyed or utilized as a straight-through read. Rather it is something to pick up, read and apply, and do that over and over. Perhaps at least 77 times.

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Kevin Eikenberry is a recognized world expert on leadership development and learning and is the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group. He has spent over 30 years helping organizations across North America, and leaders from around the world, on leadership, learning, teams and teamwork, communication and more.

Twice he has been named by Inc.com as one of the Top 100 Leadership and Management Experts in the World and 100 Great Leadership Speakers for Your Next Conference. The American Management Association named him a “Leaders to Watch” and he has been twice named as one of the World's Top 30 Leadership Professionals by Global Gurus. Top Sales World has named him a Top Sales & Marketing Influencer several times, and his blog has been named on many “best of” lists. LeadersHum has named him one of the 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership in 2023.

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