Turning the Giant

John Berra is no stranger to turning giants. As someone who spent over three decades in the automation community, Berra knows what it’s like to confront major obstacles and leverage then to his advantage. For example, in the mid-1990s, Berra was faced with a unique challenge. The automation industry was at a crossroads, and as President of Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Berra could have played it safe and maintained business as usual. But doing so would have ensured companies like Honeywell would have gained the upper hand. Instead, Berra focused on developing a revolutionary operating system named DeltaV. And in doing so, he led Fisher-Rosemount Systems to disrupt an entire industry. Moves like this set Berra apart from his competitors. On one hand, Berra is one of the most intelligent innovators of his era and there is a reason Intech Magazine named him one of the fifty most influential industry innovators ever. That said, Berra was also incredibly practical and willing to take his share of calculated risks. Because Berra believed is disruptive innovation, he was able to turn giants others were not willing to touch.

Have you ever struggled with giants that stand in your way? Maybe you’re building a business but fear the uncertainty you face. You know you need to innovate, but you’re worried about the potential consequences of taking that next step. And like many leaders, you have a picture of success in your head, but you don’t know how to get to where you want to go. If this is where you are, this book is for you.

In Turning the Giant, John Berra shares his amazing life’s journey that took him from being a shy, uncertain university student to becoming the Chairman of Emerson Process Management. As someone who was voted into the Process Automation Hall of Fame, Berra writes from a place of authority and conviction. Because he has faced countless giants along his path, he knows what it takes to turn them.

Today, the challenges leaders face today are more complex than they have ever been. Giants such as technological advancement and global competition make it tough for the average business leader to survive. But it’s here that Berra’s challenge to “turn giants” is invaluable. Most giants leaders face will never be slain. They will always exist in some form. But rather than see them as a threat, great leaders realize it’s even more valuable to turn giants to their advantage.

Berra’s goal is to inspire a new generation of leaders to confront the complex challenges they face today. Yes, the technological challenges of today are different than Berra faced in the 1990s, but the principles for turning giants remain the same. Every leader faces the giants of corporate bureaucracy, self-doubt, innovation, skepticism, competition, and success. But it’s up to them to turn them.

Turning the Giant will motivate you to put your best foot forward.