Never Fire Anyone: A Leader’s Guide on How to Lead People Not Companies by Mark Kenneth Morgenfruh Review

On October 29, 2025 By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Mark Kenneth Morgenfruh shares the power of leading a business by working with people and not focusing on the company’s optics and bottom line in the book “Never Fire Anyone: A Leader’s Guide on How to Lead People Not Companies.”

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The Synopsis

Delightfully obvious, just like All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. This book takes some unique and colorful perspectives on Leadership, Business, Talent, Communication, Artificial Intelligence, Contradictions, DEI, Giving Up, Slowing Down, Forgiveness and the Stupidly Obvious. A lot we may already know, but forget to practice.

When you grow up in Vineland, NJ you grow up everything Philly. Broad Street Bullies. Today’s Brotherly Shove. Sarcasm that can almost pierce skin. It really is the City of Brotherly Love. Tough Love. Mark Morgenfruh lives and writes in blunt, colorfully-worded, provocative and logical Philly-style prose. Not everyone’s cup of tea, to be sure.

But if you can get past the initial cold-water shock, and believe kick-ass leaders can be taught to stop the avoidant “happy talk” that’s fatal to teams and organizations, the level of success you’ll have is obscene.

Let’s disagree. Let’s even get angry. Then when all the cards are on the table, let’s talk it out and solve problems, lead others with clarity, and go have an ice-cold beer when it’s all done for the day.

The Review

The first thing that stood out about this book was the author’s straightforward writing. The unapologetic way the author confronts the need to step up as a leader in business was powerful to feel, covering everything from the bias that exists when hiring, to being able to be empathetic to others in a work environment, and even how to confront and properly work with those who may be underperforming in their duties.

The author’s honesty and bold writing style really do a great job of connecting with readers. Authenticity and accountability seem to be two cornerstones of the author’s leadership philosophy, tackling the truth behind why DEI in the workplace is so important and why it needs to be appropriately utilized to maximize potential and foster a culture of growth. The book also tackles topics such as AI integration and so much more.

The Verdict

Detailed, compelling, and thought-provoking, “Never Fire Anyone” by author Mark Kenneth Morgenfruh is a must-read nonfiction book on leadership and business. The practical applications managers can apply to their leadership skills, and the way the author relates to those in management positions and connects with them to confront the things that make life difficult, make this book invaluable and well-written. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Mark Morgenfruh is an HR practitioner with more than 30 years of experience across mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, compensation and benefits, cultural transformation, organizational development, performance metrics alignment, and HR technology. He is a trusted Senior Advisor to multiple organizations, offering expertise in human capital due diligence, post-close integrations, total rewards design, and HR strategy, delivery, and technology.

Since 2017, he has successfully operated his own consulting practice, building on a foundation of leadership experience from executive roles in prominent global and domestic organizations.

Recently publishing his first business book, Never Fire Anyone, Mark has started to distill more than three decades of observations and experience into his first of what he hopes will be many creative works. It is a brilliant new model and way to think about how we should stop leading “companies” and start to lead the people that are the cause of success.

https://amzn.to/47s3q6j

Palms Up Leadership: Developing Our Future Leaders by Rich Plumery Review

On September 15, 2025 By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Rich Plumery shares a new take on leadership development in the book “Palms Up Leadership: Developing Our Future Leaders.”

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The Synopsis

Palms Up Leadership: Developing Future Leaders is not just another business book—it’s a transformative leadership manifesto designed for today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape.

In this compelling work, Rich Plumery draws from a wealth of experience shaped by real-world adversity, elite performance environments, and high-stakes leadership roles. At its core are the Palms Up tenets—Enable, Engage, and Embrace—a simple yet powerful framework that empowers leaders to navigate complex challenges with authenticity and purpose.

Plumery masterfully integrates principles from servant leadership, project management, sports psychology, elite military team-building, and entrepreneurship to offer a fresh, actionable approach to leadership development. Whether you’re a C-suite executive, a team leader, or an emerging talent, this book equips you with practical strategies to:

Cultivate a thriving and resilient workplace culture
Empower others through clarity, trust, and collaboration
Address pressing challenges like wisdom loss, remote work, and AI disruptions
Lead with integrity, purpose, and impact

If you’re ready to lead boldly, build better teams, and shape the next generation of leaders—Palms Up Leadership is your essential guide.

The Review

This was a truly insightful and compelling nonfiction book. The author wrote in a way that felt honest and personal while also conveying essential lessons along the way. The impact the author’s late brother had early on in his career, as well as the foundational work that went into his businesses, made the experiences that were put down on the page that much more impactful and meaningful. These lessons included things like making the minimum decision necessary to keep things moving, which was paired with a personal interaction with someone who caused him to rethink how reactive actions can have adverse consequences if not thought through carefully.

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The theme and foundation for both this book and the method of Palms Up leadership that stood out for this reader was the concept of servant leadership. The concept was new to me, but it was so inspiring. The idea of selfless leadership is so unheard of by so many companies these days. Yet, the concept is beneficial both morally and monetarily, allowing employees to feel wanted and appreciated and motivating them to contribute more to the company. Leadership is meant to work with and serve the community, including the one within a business, and the author’s expertise and strategies really do a great job of aligning with that.

The Verdict

Memorable, insightful, and engaging, author Rich Plumery’s “Palms Up Leadership” is a must-read nonfiction business and leadership book. The fast pacing of the book, the action-driven steps the author lays out to help develop this unique brand of leadership, and the personal nature of the author’s experiences will keep readers invested and connected to the author and the journey this book takes them on. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Rich is a published author, thought leader, and international speaker who presents on various topics, including business recovery, performance management, and his Palm’s Up LeadershipTM brand of servant leadership. Rich has been a founder, investor, and operator in several successful businesses, including one of the first voice-controlled computers, a tactical supply company supporting elite military units (with partners who were some of the plankowners of SEAL Team Six and Red Cell). He also owned and operated a sports performance coaching business that served hundreds of professional athletes across the NFL, NHL, MLB, and MLS. He applied what he had learned from his expert coaches and other world-class specialists, such as Greg Roskopf, the man who retooled Bryson DeChambeau, to develop elite corporate coaching skills.

Being an obsessed problem solver, Rich is passionate about developing a new generation of leaders to help us improve our corporate cultures. At this point in our history, we are dealing with many new dynamics, such as pandemics forcing remote work environments, global work sharing, emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, and an aging workforce, which is continually draining our wisdom bank and jeopardizing quality in many of our key industries, including manufacturing, engineering, construction and healthcare. Rich presents his solutions to these challenges, based on his unique experiences in the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds.

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https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/palms-up-leadership-rich-plumery/1147996088?ean=9798349539824

Leading In The First Person by Shawn Abrams Review

On September 22, 2018September 22, 2018 By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Ray Croc once said, “The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.” Often a leader is unable to lead until they learn to lead themselves in the right direction first. A sense of self will help a leader get a sense of others. That’s the goal author Shawn Abrams hopes to give future leaders in his novel, Leading in the First Person. Here’s the synopsis:

Leading in the First Person is a must read for those in leadership positions and those who would embrace it. The cover of this book holds the 5 Lead statements that leaders must concern themselves with on the way to success. Reading this book will allow you to:

• Recognize critical leadership mistakes and how to recover from them quickly

• Successfully lead your life instead of following it

• Build rather than just maintain relationships

• Shape your vision and influence others to follow it

• Review effective mentoring and coaching techniques

Leading is an act but leadership is a discipline! It’s hard work and sometimes unforgiving but very necessary.

What really stuck with me reading this book was the core concept of a leader isn’t telling someone what to do, but inspiring them and motivating them to do something. As a writer that’s the goal I set out every day with my stories, to inspire and motivate people to pick up a book, get lost in a story and see the overlying theme and message the novel implies. Shawn Abrams does an amazing job relaying this concept to his audience.

Using personal stories to relate to the subject, the author delves into everything from the power of secrets, overselling and respect vs courtesy. It shows future leaders and aspiring leaders how to not only separate themselves from the pack, but to lead others to be the best possible version of themselves. It’s written in a relatable way, while relaying key information that is crucial for future leaders everywhere.

Overall this was a brilliant, well written novel filled with critical details and great techniques leaders everywhere should have. It’s a novel of trust, honesty and the best way to motivate others and instill a sense of self in your leadership skills. If you haven’t yet be sure to pick up your copy Leading In The First Person by Shawn Abrams today!

Rating: 10/10

ABOUT THE BOOK AND THE AUTHOR

Leading In The First Person by Shawn Abrams

This book represents a movement of leaders who are not afraid to lead themselves first and others well!

This is Shawn’s first book. He has served his country, his community and now he wants to serve leaders the world over with this message: Lead In The First Person. He is passionate about leadership, relationships, business development and customer service.

Summary about book

Don’t live your day, lead your day!

Don’t follow your problems, lead them to resolution!

Don’t just parent your children, lead them!

Don’t find someone else to lead you, lead yourself!

Make your next goal to read and implement the findings of this book!

Leadership is a skill that not everyone has. But it is a skill that can be taught and learned and constantly improved upon, given the right direction. Good leadership can save companies and relationships.

Learn the difference between managers and leaders.

In his book, Leading in the First Person, Shawn Abrams uses the experiences he has gathered through several years of army service, working in corporate America and through non-profit work as well, to show you what it means to lead!

Get a copy today.

SHAWN ABRAMS