David L. Cleveland

Stop the Monkey Business!

About David Cleveland

Dave Cleveland, a life-long Tulsan, pursued his first career in Human Resources after completing his MBA at the University of Tulsa. His early success as a 20 something Director of Personnel for two International companies led to his getting a chance to actually run a business before age 35, as President of Hilti's Latin American division.

Over the next 30 years he went on to lead several other family businesses, in several different industries. He's a big believer in experience being the greatest teacher and he likes to tell his clients, "Hell, if I can teach you half the things I've screwed up over my career, you'd have half a decent chance of being successful."

David has a strong passion for the Not-for-Profit sector and has served as Board Chair for many of them in the Tulsa and Oklahoma area.

Having tried retirement over 7 years ago where he “failed miserably” he is today the Managing Partner of Corporate Performance Group. His business focuses on working with business owners and presidents to develop strategies and people that can lead to achieving their personal long-term vision of success.

 

His passion for the Not-For-Profit world continues today with over one third of his consulting time dedicated to helping their boards and leadership establish strong executable strategies.

About Stop the Monkey Business

About David's Book

In Cleveland’s Primer to become a great leader he makes it clear that WTF doesn’t stand for Win The future.


Compelling cases are made for why:

Execution Eats Strategy for Breakfast. There is a reason there are thousands of successful small businesses that can’t even spell Strategy.  They know how to execute the processes of their business.

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The Truth Will Set You Free especially when it comes to dealing with problem employees. Face the brutal facts and quit torturing your employees and customers.

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No one should have the authority to disappoint a customer if you want to survive in today’s competitive environment. Customer Centered is binary.  You either are or you are not.

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Succession Planning without first building the right Organization is like building a home without a plan.  Get the organization right before you start planning its future staffing.

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Core Values that don’t focus on what your customer needs and wants is a waste of time.  This is where you can differentiate your business from the competition.

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Quit looking for the Holy Grail of Leadership there is no one right way but four basic styles that you need to become adept at.

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With a 'been there and done that" approach and irreverent style, Cleveland makes his topic fun and informative for the new Manager and Old Pro who needs to sharpen his or her skills.

What Others are Saying

“Dave Cleveland writes in a funny, straightforward if irreverent, style that is easy to read and direct in its approach to the
real-world issues facing managers today. He emphasizes sound principles with anec­dotes from his extensive business career illustrating both successes and failings. It debunks some of the management theory I was taught in college some 50 years ago, which I realized after I moved into the real world and further reminded me that I’m not prac­ticing some of the best management concepts even today. This book is a MUST READ for all manag­ers whether in big companies or small and should be kept as a “pocket guide” reference on everyone’s desk.”

-Kent Harrell, Small Business Owner

"I have worked with this sassy, down to earth and vocal leader for over 30 years. I even took his job when Hilti sent me to Tulsa Oklahoma, while he got to become the President of the smallest Division. He achieved amazing results starting as a rookie GM of foreign territories in Latin America. All the time we worked together, Dave and I challenged each other and had great fun enjoying business and life with passion. He and his family are true friends who helped my family to become Americans.


This non-PhD unusual book reflects the true and honest way Dave acted as a motivational leader in whatever he did. Never a dull moment, never wasting time and always on the go challenging his teams at all levels to get results. In a very humorous way, it reflects simple and important learnings how to successfully conduct your life and do business. All recommendations are very practical and proven by facts of his career.


This book is an easy read, you will have fun and will smile when reflecting how his ideas and experiences compare to your conscious events in your own life."

-Andre Siegenthaler, retired Senior VP Human Resources with Hilti International and Hilti North America

"This book is exceptional in its straight-talk style, clarity and execution, thus making it a powerful tool for all leaders and managers. The step-by-step strategies make it a fail-proof resource for everyone. The eight ‘WTFs’ are not only about how to
‘Win The Future,’ but also, ‘What To Fix!’"
-Kristine A. Sexter, Consultant and Author of “Rolling Out the Recognition, Employee Retention Strategies for Manufacturers


"Stop the Monkey Business is an insightful and practical guide for managers and would-be managers in the world of business.
The practical wisdom in this book is based on David’s wide-ranging experience in leading a variety of businesses. While David’s advice is well-grounded in substantive business concepts, he offers a pragmatic approach to applying those concepts in the workaday world of business. He emphasizes the need for a practical approach to leading an organization by demonstrating the necessity of an honest assessment of one’s organization and the absolute necessity of good execution. His strong emphasis on making the customer the focus of everyone in the organization amounts to a “call-to-arms” for businesses that want to thrive in the face of fierce competition. His insistence that effective business leaders take a pragmatic approach to managing people, focus the company’s resources where they are needed and solve problems on the fly, all in the name of serving customers is an essential lesson for business leaders today. Would-be managers, new managers, and long-serving managers can all benefit from reading this book."

-Ralph W. Jackson, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus The Collins College of Business - University of Tulsa

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