News & Books

Surviving the environmental impact of a paper world

An award winning booklet.
Only available to customers.

The Power of the Paper Whales Principles & Practices of Paper Makers 3B

Rewritten 2017
This book is an engrossing and very readable account of how world-class paper makers influence small and midsize corrugated box manufacturers with their distributors/brokers. It showcases John Widera’s gift for lucid dissection of the paper industry’s principles and practices. The book provides an insight into describing the history and integration of the paper conglomerates i.e. “Paper Whales.” Its chapters on pricing, financial investors, corrugated converters, etc., suggests that, once these elements are learned, they can be used more skillfully. The author advises that before choosing a strategy, you need to assess the weapons you have available to protect your market position – your brand identity, the products, and services that support that identity, and your means of commit. Then assess your customers value to you and their vulnerability to being poached by rivals. The strategies described in the book offer lessons for any company facing new and potentially damaging competition.

Entrepreneurs of the 21st Century – Best Practices 2

Written 2014
John Widera has combed through personal experiences and business articles on change, leadership, strategy, managing people, and managing oneself and selected the most important ones to help maximize your own and your organization’s performance. He has acheived the successful marriage of practical relevance and theoretical accuracy in theis book for entrepreneurs. And even if readers understand the basics of business, they often wonder in the dark searching for strategy to acieve a trasformation. So, learn how to execute the practices and solid ideas recommended in this book.

Entrepreneurs of the 21st Century – Principles 1B

Written 2018
High performance leaders are readers. This is a “how to” book to teach proficiency in diagnois and as an orientation tool. It is a guide to reach success running a small business. The book goes beyond yesterday’s oft-vague principles in managerial preconceived opinions. Do you have the right qualities for the job (managerial skills, confidence, persuasiveness, persistence, a thirst for learning, and tolerance for stress)? Are you willing to trade the benefits of working at a large organization for the chance to be in charge? Then you will find the content of this book engaging, thoughtful, and , at least, unexpected.

Swimming with the Paper Whales

Written 2008
The common sense examples and guidelines that enable us to move to manufacturing excellence and beyond to entrepreneurial success. The book is a compilation of experiences, knowledge, thought, essays, data, and concerns gathered from John Widera’s lifetime journey in the paper industry. The insights on paper mills, low cost solutions, China, and private equity sharks should become a reference book for managers.

On Time with Quality – “No Excuses”

Written 1992 – Sold Out