Curve Benders is a personal growth roadmap at the intersection of the future of how we’ll work, live, play, give, and our strategic relationships. The book will focus how strategic relationships can dramatically alter our growth trajectory in both its direction and ultimate destination against the forces that will shape the future of how we’ll work, live, play, and serve others.

The author’s research has identified 15 forces which will heavily influence what we’ll be doing, and how and where we’ll engage our current and prospective relationships to create value and make a difference in the lives of others. To remain relevant, we’ll need to upskill, reskill, and redeploy our knowledge, skills, and behaviors. None of us can predict the future. We can all plan our strategic path forward.  

The goal of Nour’s research, interviews, and this book is to provide the reader with a roadmap for personal, professional, and organizational growth. Beyond a linear growth journey, the author highlights how certain relationships enable a non-linear growth trajectory. Beyond what we can accomplish, they often shape who we become. The relationships are "curve benders" and Nour describes who and where they are, how to find and engage them, and equally valuable, how one becomes a curve bender to profoundly impact the lives and livelihoods of others. 

David Nour is one of the foremost thought leaders on the quantifiable value of business relationships. As the Managing Partner of The Nour Group, Inc., David is solving Fortune 500 client challenges with intracompany, as well as externally focused, Strategic Relationship Planning. David is an author, a senior management advisor, and a featured keynote speaker for corporate, association and academic forums, where he shares his knowledge and experience as a leading change agent and visionary for Relationship Economics - the art and science of relationships. He has been featured in a variety of publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, The Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia Trend, and Pink Magazine.

Introduction: Don't Doubt Waze! 

Transactions vs. Transformations 

How Will You Get There? 

This Book's Promise  

Chapter One: Work-Life Blending 

Infrastructure of Our Lives 

Aligning Corporate Strategy 

Organization’s Value Agenda 

Four Non-Linear Growth Strategies 

Your Personal Market Value  

Chapter Two: 15 Forces Impacting Your Future  

Extent of Your Control

Five Personal Forces 

Three Organizational Forces 

Five Industry Forces 

Your Priorities Scorecard  

Chapter Three: Accelerated Relevancy 

7-Step Path to Your Curve Benders 

Sustained Relevance  

Linear vs. Non-linear Growth  

Five Steps That Accelerate Your Relevancy 

Chapter Four: Curve Benders as Risk Mitigators In Your Personal S-Curve  

Relationship Intelligence  

Power of Learning Moments 

Bending Your Growth Curve While Avoiding Fender Benders 

Your Personal S-Curve  

Relationship Onramps, Growth Boosts, and Exits 

Chapter Five: Organization of the Future  

Core Business Blind Spots 

The Sandbox Engine  

Unlocking Real Innovation  

Courage, Commitment, Construct 

Chief Entrepreneur 

Entrepreneurial Impact at Walmart.com   

Chapter Six: Curve Bender in the Lives of Others 

Curve Bending Mindset and Cadence  

Seekers and Solvers 

Compounding Refraction Points 

Curve Benders in Companies 

Workhorses vs. Show Horses 

Chapter Seven: Your Curve Benders Roadmap  

Your Future Growth Timeline – Four Phases 

Your Repeatable Actions – Five Steps 

Phase One: Act Now   

Phase Two: Strategize to Evolve  

Phase Three: Visualize Non-linear Growth  

Phase Four: Sequence Your S-Curves 

Final Step: Curve Bending Impact 

Final Thoughts

Notes

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Other Books by the Author

Index