EXECUTIVE BRIEFING.(MANAGING FOR SUCCESS)

ON THE BOOKSHELF

New Reading

** Get busy! With the endless flood of e-mails, voice mails, meetings and other distractions in most offices, it can be difficult for managers to focus on strategic goals. Instead, they're swamped with busy work. In their new book, "A Bias for Action," Heike Bruch and Sumantra Ghoshal explain how managers can improve their own effectiveness, as well as that of everyone else in the organization.

** Life lessons: Fox News host Neil Cavuto, who survived cancer and has multiple sclerosis, has written about others who have overcome challenges to become leaders. People profiled in "More Than Money" include New York Yankee manager Joe Torre, cosmetics executive Evelyn Lauder, Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., Kinko's founder Paul Orfalea and economist Diane Swonk.

** Do the right thing: Former Coca-Cola chief marketing officer Sergio Zyman says too many firms rely on innovation to solve problems. Zyman, who led the launch of New Coke, should know. "Renovate Before you Innovate" argues that it's often better for firms to renew existing products, brands and core competencies rather than introduce something new.

CORPORATE CULTURE

Pretty In Pink