When Growth Stalls is officially one year old.

In dog years one equals seven, but I’m not exactly sure what it means in book years. Some books grow in influence over time, while others quietly fade away. My sense, at least for the time being, is that the influence of When Growth Stalls is anything but on the wane.

The recession has dragged on much longer than anybody anticipated, and companies are struggling now with sheer fatigue. As I’ve crisscrossed the country over the past twelve months sharing my message, I’ve noticed a growing sensitivity to the need for intervention, and a ready recognition of the havoc that can be wreaked by a lack of consensus, a loss of focus, a loss of nerve and inconsistency.

Of course, my research shows that in any given year some twelve to fifteen percent of companies stall, making the message of When Growth Stalls perennially relevant. But since that percentage continues to remain in the high double digits as we sit here in March, 2010, a great many companies still have to deal with the issues associated with stalled growth.

If you haven’t read When Growth Stalls yet, I encourage you to pick up a copy. As anyone who has heard me speak over the past year (five years, really) knows, I genuinely believe what we discovered can make a difference for struggling companies. I’ve been told it has by many of my readers, and I’ve seen it make a difference for my own firm’s clients.

If you have read the book, thank you. I hope it has made an impact on your company’s health during these difficult times. Please consider sharing the book or sending a copy to someone you know who could use it, and/or offering your thoughts in the form of a review at Amazon.com.

Here’s to a better 2010.