Official Interview: Brad Dude

[kandscreeley]

Today's Chat with Sarah features Brad Dude author of Quick! I Need To Be A Leader in 30 Days among several other books.

To view the official review, click here.

To view the book on Amazon, click here.

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1. Tell us about your time in the Peace Corps. How did that contribute to your book, Quick! I Need To Be A Leader in 30 Days?

I joined the Peace Corps as a Volunteer in the Marshall Islands in the central Pacific in 1970 and was assigned to a remote island called Ujae in what turned out to be a 12-day trip by tramp steamer to get there! The island was about 2 miles long and 200 yards wide. We received mail and supplies about every 2 months or so. I taught English to elementary school students my first year. Although most PCVs serve for 2 years, I stayed an additional year as a teacher trainer and traveled to many islands to conduct training workshops where I learned how to deal with lots of different personalities and management situations. My study of personalities and how they impact leadership is a theme of my new book. I later served as a training director for new Volunteers throughout Micronesia and even later became an Associate PC Director in Western Samoa before returning to Micronesia again as the Deputy Country Director and then Acting Country Director. I was the first staffer in Micronesia who led the program after serving as a Volunteer there.

2. What would you say is the must successful attribute of a leader?

What you learn as a Volunteer is to be resourceful, proactive, and a very good listener. These attributes are also essential for successful leaders. You learn very quickly that nothing gets done until you can influence your clients (or fellow islanders) to do something that you believe would be in their best interest. Whether it is modeling a new teaching methodology or conducting an organizational survey, a leader must have the respect and trust of his or her followers or nothing will get done.

3. Can you tell us how your book on leadership is different than others?

It is estimated that there are about 50 million millennials in the workplace in North America alone. About 10 million are in management and about 2 million more enter management each year. However 60% of these new managers fail according to their own organization’s measures. Unfortunately, the habits and skills developed during their first year in management typically stay with them throughout their careers. Most do not receive any management training until they are in their 7-9th year on the job. My book provides a number of leadership models, readings, and practical exercises that can be immediately applied within the first month after a promotion into a supervisory or management position. It will get new leaders off to a great start and help them “hit the ground running.”

4. I've heard you actually have 6 books published on Amazon. Can you just briefly mention those for us?

I have several books on the basics of temperament and how it influences the way we view the behaviors of others and how it often gets us into trouble by showing up as our personal biases and prejudices. “What Makes You Tick and What Ticks You Off: How the Basic Elements of Temperament Will Lead You to a Happier Life,” is a primer on temperament. “40 Tips for Figuring Out Your Boss: Using the Basic Elements of Temperament to Better Understand Your Boss!” provides some do’s and don’ts to enhance workplace relationships. “”Keeping Our Teens Safe on the Road Should Be: No Accident! Using the Basic Elements of Temperament to Reduce Teenage Driving Fatalities!” provides teens and their parents with a guide for interpreting and guiding driving behaviors. “Successfully Applying the Basic Elements of Temperament: At Work!” provides workplace scenarios where a better understanding of temperament can aid in making the workplace a healthier and more productive environment. Finally, “The Great Shadow’s 5 Christmas Secrets: How Personality Influences Our Outlook on Life!” is a fictional story set during the holidays to illustrate how our temperament influences our personal behavior and how it can help and hinder family relationships.

5. You've also written some screenplays. How are those different than books? Which do you enjoy writing more?

I’ve written 5-6 screenplays but none have been produced as yet. I really enjoy writing them because I can use my imagination more and think more visually about a concept or situation. My books require much more research and fact checking and therefore take much longer to complete. Both books and screenplays are immensely satisfying when they are completed. Getting to that completed state is the hard part! I just finished a screenplay called, “Finding Eden” and am now writing a book of the same story. It will be the first time I’ve tried that.

6. With so much success in publishing, can you give any tips to those looking to publish their own works?

Success in publishing depends on how you define it. Most authors don’t sell more than 250 copies, so if getting on the bestseller list or selling a million copies of your book is your definition of success, good luck. I’ve only sold a few thousand copies but my audience is more focused on leadership, training, consulting, parenting, teaching, etc. My best tip would be to write about something you know and have some passion around.

7. What do you think you're biggest accomplishment has been to date?

My biggest accomplishment has been my work as an international consultant. I’ve been lucky to work in 30+ countries most with different cultures, languages, problems, people, bureaucracies, etc. Each has presented me with unique challenges in order to provide some assistance to my clients. I’ve enjoyed those challenges.

8. Do you have any free time and if so what do you enjoy doing during it?

In the past I’ve enjoyed traveling during free time, but I now have three grandsons so I enjoy visiting them or having them visit me in New Orleans. I also enjoy movies and watching some of the new TV series.

I like ending on some more frivolous questions.

9. If you had the means, would you do the grocery shopping or get the groceries delivered?

I don’t have the means for grocery delivery but I actually kind of like to shop at Costco.

10. Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts?

When I can afford it I like Starbucks. There’s nothing like sipping on a latte while checking your emails.

11. TV or radio?

I’m a TV guy.

12. Do you drink your tea sweet or unsweet?

I’m an “unsweet” tea person. Trying to reduce sugar intake whenever possible.

[KingK123]

It seems like Dude really has the experience necessary to write something like this. I would trust him with this subject matter based off his time in the Peace Corps alone.