The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures
A bold new way to tackle tough business problems?even if you draw like a second grader
When Herb Kelleher was brainstorming about how to beat the traditional hub-and- spoke airlines, he grabbed a bar napkin and a pen. Three dots to represent Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Three arrows to show direct flights. Problem solved, and the picture made it easy to sell Southwest Airlines to investors and customers.
Used properly, a simple drawing on a humble napkin is more powerful than Excel or PowerPoint. It can help crystallize ideas, think outside the box, and communicate in a way that people simply ?get?. In this book Dan Roam argues that everyone is born with a talent for visual thinking, even those who swear they can?t draw.
Drawing on twenty years of visual problem solving combined with the recent discoveries of vision science, this book shows anyone how to clarify a problem or sell an idea by visually breaking it down using a simple set of visual thinking tools ? tools that take advantage of everyone?s innate ability to look, see, imagine, and show.
THE BACK OF THE NAPKIN proves that thinking with pictures can help anyone discover and develop new ideas, solve problems in unexpected ways, and dramatically improve their ability to share their insights. This book will help readers literally see the world in a new way.
The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures Accessories
 Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery (Voices That Matter)
slide:ology: The Art and Science of Creating Great Presentations
Indexed
Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School (Book & DVD)
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us
Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions
7-Slide Solution(tm): Telling Your Business Story In 7 Slides or Less
The Adventures of Johnny Bunko: The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need
The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures Reviews
I am very happy I did. I was intrigued by the concept of this book and decided to purchase it. Dan Roam's ideas are original and fresh and his framework has really got me thinking about ways to utilize his approach in my business, especially when trying to communicate complex ideas and issues. Joshua P. .
I've found this book to be one of the truly unique books about business that I have read and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to challenge their conventional way of thinking and to step outside their comfort zone. I liked the fact that his concepts were simple although I've found them to be a bit challenging to implement, more than likely because it's not something I'm used to doing. Itzoe, Author of Fixing the 401(k): What Fiduciaries Must Know (And Do) to Help Employees Retire Successfully.
Right-brainers and left-brainers are both super stars in this book. This book teaches you how. Oxymoron. Not so. A funny thing happened on the way to the boardroomthis book is for everyone trying to problem solve in a creative, and also prgamatic way.
Four steps of visual thinking are presented with examples. The book is a concise course in data presentation/analysis. The SQVID (Simple, Quality, Vision, Individual, Delta) method is presented enlarging the visual content methods. These chapters show how to layout the most effective visual diagram tailored for the audience. I was thinking quick and dirty simple math formulae but what I found was something more robust and comprehensive. I suggest scanning the book for familiarization with the contents.
Then cherry-pick or smorgasbord what you need, when you need it, for who you need it. The book began with the 5 W's (Who, What, When, Where, Why.). The thinking process of Looking vs. If you work in this kind of business situation or are a student with term papers and theses ahead then this book is for you.
and finished with process flow diagrams and XY charts. Examples of effective, simple, basic shapes are introduced at the beginning. The book was not what I expected. Seeing are presented in three separate chapters. The chapters can be read at once or as needed.
Unleash your creative right-brain and get to work immediately with the tools Roam provides. This book eases you into overcoming your fear of drawing and jump in with simple sketches and annotations. You don't need to be able to draw like an artist to communicate and capture great ideas. When the communication on paper begins with drawings, clients engage with me, the concepts come together quickly and momentum is formed. I liked the book and use it in my business practice to help people discover the power the ideas we develop together.
"The Back of the Napkin" provides a methodology to quickly identify the underlying structure in apparent random, complex and nebulous problems/processes. As an American working in a foreign country, I found the graphical methods especially effective in creating an inclusive environment for all team members, including those with poor English skills.
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