Book Description

Nobody has been more accurate about how to profit from the future than Faith Popcorn, who in her bestselling The Popcorn Report reports on what we'll buy, where we'll work, and what we'll think in the next decade. For the corporate manager and the owner of a "kitchen table" business alike, The Popcorn Report offers hundreds of ideas for new products to create, new businesses to start, and new markets to capture. Here, too, are the market waves that are beginning to dominate your personal and profes-sional lives. Faith reveals how to chart the future's impact on your business, how to capitalize on the newest trends, and the ways in which emerging mar-keting techniques will revive the dying retail market. She also describes what impact these changes will have on your habits at work, at home, and at play. Here is every businessperson's chance to get the word on the future--now.

00-01 William Allen White Children's Book Award Masterlist

Reviews (8)

One of the Top 3 Marketing Books Ever Written
Have you ever met someone who's been to one-too-many Tony Robbins seminars? It's like listening to a parrot. Most marketing books, in my opinion, are like that; compilations of what's already been said by someone else. The exceptions to this rule - the great breakthrough books - are Ogilvy on Advertising, The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing, and The Popcorn Report.

Originally published in 1991, some would call it "dated." These people are idiots. In one of her closing chapters, Ms. Popcorn very presciently describes email and e-commerce, calling them "screenmail" and "infobuying" though neither had yet been invented. Heck, in 1991 we weren't even using the word "internet." It would be another 3 years before anyone was even talking about "The Information Super-Highway."

The Popcorn Report is one of the great books of original thought and Faith Popcorn deserves a spot in the Marketing Hall of Fame. Buy the book. It will stretch your mind by showing you how we got to where we are.

Still handy, great for beginners, horrible cover though
Very light reading which is interesting if u r just starting out on sociology stuff. The thing abt this 10 yr old book is that u should think how it applies to the Now, especially in a global playground. Use it as a spark that pushes u to think further. Horrible cover though. Looks like a lame self-help book. But fun stuff to read.

10 years old and still brilliant
How often do you read a business book, 10 years old, and still find yourself underlining, and underlining, and..you get the point. The specific trends Faith shares and the ideas she offers for solutions are insightful, creating an easy sense of trust and confidence in her industry wisdom. They are simple and readily observable all around us. She describes her research strategy which anyone can implement, and would be a fool not to. This book is ideal for business owners, entrepreneurs and especially for those who haven't made the jump yet. By the way, if you consider yourself to be a young entrpreneur or plan to be one soon, I suggest, The Young Entrepreneur's Edge, by Jennifer Kushell.

Wrong wrong wrong
Someone should actually read this book before reviewing it. Like Bill Gates, Popcorn is as wrong as she is right. Visionary? I'll tell you who the visionary is: Ted Nelson, not Faith. Cocooning? It never actually happened as Popcorn describes it.

New ideas that shape our future
I was introduced to Faith Popcorn the first time on a Anthony Robbins interview audio casette. Of course I wanted to hear more so I reviewed this book. Ms Popcorn has a powerful way to bring across future trends. The Internet is one good example of this. Another book, Life and Death on the Internet by Keith A Schroeder deals with these new trends on the Internet and I feel these two books make a good fit. If you are considering buying this book, just do it. It is a powerful and practical guide into the near future. ... Read more

Book Description

The manifesto for waging a street-smart publicity campaign with no- or low-cost strategies from one of Hollywood's most successful publicists. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Good Travel Reading
I'm scared to fly so I took this book on a plane with me when I had to visit my grandparents in Winnipeg. It immediately transported me to the wonderful and magical world of public relations!!! I soon forgot I was on a plane, and suddenly I felt like Colin Farrell's character in Phone Booth--you know where that guy held him hostage on the phone to make him repent for his sleazy ways. I especially like how the guy called Farrell out for claiming to be this big shot PR guy with all these connections, but actually he had no real connections at all. I also visited the wonderful olden days of PR like in the movie Sweet Smell Of Success where Tony Curtis is the PR man. Whenever he walks into a room, people cannot hide their contempt for this scumbag. I like at the end how he ends up getting the stuffing kicked out of him.

I arrived in Winnipeg safely all thanks to Michael Levine and his book about what sleazy liars PR people are.

Contradicts Most Teachings
I have taken several courses on public relations in school. Most of what Michael Levine teaches is totally opposite of what several of my professors have taught me.In all fairness to Levine, perhaps the practices described in his book were sufficient way back when the book was written, but the world has changed quite a bit since then, and the pace of Public Relations has changed along with it. I understand he wrote a follow-up book called Guerrilla PR Wired which pertains to using the internet as a valuable PR tool, but I know that using his outdated techniques, even with the help of the internet, would still not be the least bit helpful. I certainly would not recommend this book to other students who are preparing for a career in the field of PR.

Down-to-Earth, Tell-it-Like-it-is Book on PR and Publicity
Michael Levine tells it like it is in how to put together a PR and Publicity Campaign.He knows what he talks about - no theory here.Any business or person seeking to promote themselve through the power of the media - should grab this book - ASAP!

I have dozens of books and tapes on PR and Publicity and this is at the top - my main reference when I want to put together a PR campaign for my business.All I know is that it works - hands-down.

A User-Friendly Guide to Creating Your Own PR
I have had the good fortune of working with some of the top publicists in the country over the last 22 years, and wish that I could have read this book first.It would have made me much more effective in working withthem, and also could have avoided a lot of their fees.

The advice issound, based on my own experiences with a 37 city book tour in 1999.Whatit took me 37 cities to learn, you could glean from just reading this book. I envy you this opportunity.

Whatever your budget or appetite for publicrelations, the book will help you design and implement an effectiveprogram.It covers all of the basics, except for the Internet (whichwasn't really a factor when this book was written).You will learn how toput out a press release, hold a press conference, do interviews, and createmedia events.Most of these things can be done relatively inexpensively,certainly at lower cost than with advertising.

I especially liked thehigh ethical standards that the book sets.It's easy to cut corners, butthat is both wrong and eventually becomes ineffective.

May your 15minutes of fame come soon as a result!

Seriously, public relations is ahighly effective way to introduce potential customers to your products orservices.It serves a good secondary purpose of helping you think throughyour message and who your audience is.This book does a good job of givingyou questions to help you do both of these tasks.Follow this advice, andyour business should be more successful within a year.Remember Mr.Levine's advice though, it's quality . . . not quantity . . . that counts.

Comfortable reading
Thiis book is written as if Michael Levine was sitting across the table from you sharing gemsof wisdom from his many years of entertainment P/R experience.He takes the beginner under his wing in a comfortable way--nottechnical.A primer that , althoughit doesn't cover every aspect of PR,gives color to that whichit does. As the author puts it, he endeavors toshow you how to "think like a publicist." ... Read more

Reviews (112)

Everyone can be a Leader, but there's only one Giuliani
"Leadership" is an excellent resource for anyone who seeks
to manage, lead, or instill organization into their own lives.
Written in a style reflective of Giuliani's friendly yet steely
personality, it provides an excellent overview of his political
philosophy, decision making skills, and of course his historic
leadership following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Until reading the book, I had forgotten how dire the conditions were in New York City prior to Rudy's election in 1993 - over 9,000 felonies per week! He details how he put plans into action
and demanded accountability from everyone in the system, which often required enormous political strength. Being a Republican mayor in a city that is nearly 80% Democrat is enormously difficult. But Rudy explains how he relied on his priciples, moral beliefs and formed relationships with political enemies by
trusting those who were trust worthy and always being open to discussion. These principles and beliefs were evident during the leadership exercised during 9-11.
I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in a political or management career, or anyone who wants to learn more about this great American.

Highly Recommended!
In Leadership, former NYC Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani (with writer Ken Kurson) gives you the inside look at how he applied basic leadership principles to being Mayor, Associate Attorney General and U.S. Attorney. Giuliani reveals how he and his key team applied these principles in the face of the Sept. 11 World Trade Tower collapse, and focuses on exercising leadership all the time. The principles may sound familiar - prioritize, prepare, take responsibility, hold everyone accountable, recruit great people, reflect and then decide, under-promise and over-deliver, develop and employ strong beliefs, be loyal and purposeful - yet the thrill comes from learning how Giuliani straightforwardly applied these principles to accomplish Herculean tasks. We from getAbstract recommend this breezy, engaging book to business leaders, governmental managers and politics junkies.

Don't confuse leadership with management
First off, don't get me wrong this is an interesting book. From the man who helped a city recover from a dreadful event; he is an inspiration.

Also, Giuliani is a fantastic *manager*, who was able to get the city of New York running better than it had for years.

My main criticism is the title, and the derivations of some of the anecdotes. From my reading, Giuliani doesn't clearly understand the difference between *leadership* and *management*.

Sure, he has a great technique for aiding communication, for setting KPIs and ensuring they are met. But these are management tasks, not leadership.

My greatest disappointment with this book was hoping to find some of his ideas and insights into that much harder topic of leadership but all I got were some great ideas on how to manage a city (a city that has a population greater than my entire country...).

So, buyer beware! This is an interesting book and gives you some insight into the man (even if you need to read between the political lines) but don't expect a book on Leadership!

A Must Read!
Can a textbook be delightfully written? This one is. Authors Richard L. Hughes, Robert C. Ginnett, and Gordon J. Curphy explore every aspect of leadership and smoothly weave research conclusions into the narrative. Examples abound, from Colin Powell to Walt Disney. The authors are all psychologists who specialize in leadership issues. They have written conversationally and intelligently, using plenty of sidebar material (even famous cartoons) to bring their reporting to life. We recommend this classic (now in its third edition) to everyone interested in leadership.

I Laughed. I Cried. I Marvelled.
I listened to all of the ten audio cassette tapes. The presentation was both instructive and entertaining. The narration was great. I resonated with the message such that I laughed, cried, and marvelled through the many precepts and stories given. I got moist around the eyes while vicariously experiencing the beauty of courage, conviction, and of successfully overcoming great obstacles in the path to great accomplishment. The accomplishments of Mayor Giuliani's administration in NYC were many. Within the stories were principles related to the importance of hiring excellent people, management by morning meetings, management by metrics, being at the scene of problems. For lawyers, the book includes more than a few great insights.

Primary among the many great stories is the Mayor's references to September 11, 2001. This occupies all of chapter 1 but the stories continue throughout. One of the early delights in the book is the story of overcoming the "squeegee men" panhandlers in New York City. Chapter headings related to "Be Prepared", "Loyalty" and "Stand Up To Bullies" deliver what they promise. I marvelled that the loyalty stories related primarily to loyalty down to the people who work for you. The story about Rudy's fight with prostate cancer was remarkable for the example that it gave of great diligence in gathering information and making a careful decision. The book, as read, is clear and concise. Every word seems to count. In my experience, Rudy began to earn his reputation long before he was Mayor when we worked to obtain convictions and strong sentences against organized crime bosses.

The precepts and examples are admirable. It's Rudy's own account, but it is clear that Mr. Giuliani has given great diligence to his work while showing great insight, great commitment to principle, great courage. ... Read more

Book Description

The classic etiquette guide . . . totally updated for business in the next millennium.

Like all true wisdom, which does not diminish but increases over time, Emily Post's Guide to Business Etiquette draws on the traditional, sensible advice of Emily Post, but with a distinct voice for the new millennium.

In today's fast-paced, contact driven, interpersonal business environment, nothing is more important than understanding good taste and decorum.

Knowing how to handle an increasing array of sensitive situations is the benchmark of character, and an indication of good business sense.Realistic and plain-speaking, Emily Post's Guide to Business Etiquette de-codes the rules, and addresses the fundamentals yet includes current concerns such as:

•Personal Appearance

•Job-searching - -some of the questions you might expect and how to handle questions interviewers shouldn't ask, but do

•Public Speaking, Radio and Television appearances

•Teleconferencing

•Entertaining clients and co-workers

•Restaurant Meetings

•a section on Home Offices, and much more.

Emily Post's Guide to Business Etiquette can strengthen the life-forming good habits that increase your self-esteem and add style to your ventures. This is an essential resource for any career stage. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

If you work, you need this book!
A must-have for the new millenium worker. With intelligence, sensitivity, and candor, the Posts offer solid advice on negotiating the challenging workplace social scene with grace. They also filter out irrelevant and out-dated business etiquette practices and offers fresh suggestions for new ones. Navigating the choppy waters of the business world is tough; this book is a port in a storm. It's helped me avoid making mistakes--it will help you too!

Good Introduction to Business Etiquette
I enjoyed the basics offered regarding Business Etiquette. I was disappointed the author spent so much discussing how to find a job, and how to leave a job. If I wanted a book on finding a job I would have purchased one. ... Read more

Book Description

The man Business Week calls "the ultimate entrepreneur for the Information Age" explains "Permission Marketing" -- the groundbreaking concept that enables marketers to shape their message so that consumers will willingly accept it.

Whether it is the TV commercial that breaks into our favorite program, or the telemarketing phone call that disrupts a family dinner, traditional advertising is based on the hope of snatching our attention away from whatever we are doing. Seth Godin calls this Interruption Marketing, and, as companies are discovering, it no longer works.

Instead of annoying potential customers by interrupting their most coveted commodity -- time -- Permission Marketing offers consumers incentives to accept advertising voluntarily. Now this internet pioneer introduces a fundamentally different way of thinking about advertising products and services. In his groundbreaking audiobook, Godin describes the four tests of Permission Marketing:

* Does every single marketing effort you create encourage a learning relationship with your customers? Does it invite customers to "raise their hands" and start communicating?
* Do you have a permission database? Do you track the number of people who have given you permission to communicate with them?
* If consumers gave you permission to talk to them, would you have anything to say? Have you developed a marketing curriculum to teach people about your products?
* Once people become customers, do you work to deepen your permission to communicate with those people?

And in numerous informative case studies, including American Airlines frequent-flier program, Amazon.com, and Yahoo!, Godin demonstrates how marketers are already profiting from this key new approach in all forms of media. ... Read more

Reviews (110)

Finally focused marketing on customer needs does exist...
Everyday your letterbox is full of leaflets you never read, your banker send you a new financial proposal you already have in your portfolio... All these papers will go directly to the trash can, but interrupt your customer's life: time, privacy and peace of mind. This is the waste created by the "interruption marketing", which is not using correctly customers' databases or is bombarding TV spots you do not watch during film breaks.

Is this time over? Not sure when you see all e-mails or phone calls you receive to promote products of no interest for you. How to get your Attention in the middle of this information overload? Simply by asking your permission.

Seth Godin, who created Internet marketer Yoyodyne and sold it in 1998 to Yahoo, where he is a vice president is explaining to us how to do it in "Permission Marketing". With practical examples he shows us how to start a relationship with a customer by offering added value. Main ideas are around personalization, long-term relationship and truth building. Customer then is expecting information from you focused on his own needs. The challenge is to move from market share to customer share.

But how is this possible? The use of New Information Technologies and Internet allows a one to one communication with a customer with focused information and at a low price. This is really the contribution from "New Economy" and Permission Marketing is giving the keys to understand how these New Information Technologies allow focusing on a customer more and more demanding. The traditional marketing is moving quickly to One to One marketing.

Do not read Permission Marketing if you want to lose your customers to the profit of your competitor knowing how to build long-term relationship with them. If you add One to One from Don & Martha Peppers to your readings, you will be well prepared to succeed in front of the marketing shift arriving with the "New Economy".

A watershed book--I recommend all my clients read it
Internet marketing and relationship marketing are the subject of numerous books, but Seth Godin's Permission Marketing does a better job of explaining the concepts better than any other single volume.

Permission Marketing explains the differences between Interruption Marketing (old-style newspaper, TV and radio ads) and Permission Marketing--where visitors ask to be kept informed and willingly share information about themselves and their purchasing needs. It reinforces the successes I've enjoyed in over twenty years of marketing and shows how customer relationship-building techniques that were previously inefficient and, thus, unaffordable are now within the reach of all.

Permission Marketing cuts through the clutter of marketing theory and web technology and provides a highly readable, jargon-free conceptual framework for viewing web marketing in an new light. Throughout, Permission Marketing emphasizes integrity and customer respect--in contrast to books which are often subconsciously predicated on an adversarial relationship with prospects and customers.

Permission Marketing will change the way you think about advertising and marketing and suggest a whole new approach to your web site. It will inspire you to break out of the mold of price advertising.

Excellent
I "stumbled" in to Search Engine Marketing and now "do it" for a living with car dealerships in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This book, in it's first few pages, helped me. NO I don't know the author :)

David Saunders, Concord, CA

Want to learn about true, effective marketing...read this!
Mr.Godin is an excellent teacher of how to market effectively. Before reading this I thought of marketing probably like most do. I thought to be successful in marketing and advertising, that big was the way to go...big magazine ads, t.v. spots, target a large audience and you're sure to get lots of customers, etc. WRONG!

Mr. Godin hits the bull's-eye on the type of marketing that it takes to acquire and keep customers in your business. It is not mass marketing to anyone and everyone that's going to do it. But rather, Mr. Godin shows you how to set up a specific strategy, a clever method in which to acquire the type of customer you want to your particular business. If you own a sports shop, then your ideal customer wouldn't be a chef or a construction worker who just happened to walk into your store...it would be the die-hard, sports enthusiast that you want to attract. Mr. Godin shows you how to attract your "ideal" customer; He teaches you how to get your ideal customer to come to you.

I didn't fully understand all that "Permission Marketing" was really about until Mr. Godin broke it down and explained it to a tee. If you can get a potential customer to say "yes" to you prior to the sale, your chances of acquiring them as an actual customer dramatically increases. This is what Mr. Godin shows you how to do. He is a wise marketer and you can be too! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

read this review
So there are steps in every transaction. The whole point of this book is that you don't create lifelong relationships with strangers. Every sale consists of multiple mini sales.
turn the page
click the link...

You go to amazon
browse through books
see related books
browse through reviews
buy the book

While some of the data relating to the internet is outdated, the fundamental message of the book is still strong. Those who think traditional media outpace targeted ads are dead wrong. ... Read more

Book Description

They are hooked on your product. Now what? How to ensure an order? The nation's top sales trainer shares the secrets the best salespeople use in the most important and difficult part of the sale--closing. You'll find the answer to almost every objection you've ever faced, or will face in the future. In addition, you'll learn what influences a sale long before you reach the close--for example, would you know what to do if the prospect didn't make eye contact? Or if he/she moved closer to you? Tom Hopkins answers these questions and many more in this invaluable audio. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

It Helps
This is helpful. This can be useful for those that are new to sales. Some of the information should already be intuitively known by people that have common sense. Tom Hopkins is just as good as many of the other sales masters.

Just awful
This audio tape was embarrassingly useless. Hot tips like "don't wear too much jewelry", "where to sit at a conference table", and "use a cell phone and fax machine" don't get the listener anywhere close to understanding how to close a sale, how to overcome buyer hesitation, etc.

Sales Tips That Really Work
Tom has a very easy approach to selling--one that works. He focuses on the words that make all the difference in a sales presentation and puts forward very clear solutions that can gently push the prospect into buying. I love his non-agressive manner which is so different from the pushy sales types that tend to dominate in the market-place today. Use his principles and it could pay for the cost of this cassette many times over.

Essential Knowledge for Sales Professionals
This is a very affordable way to "attend" one of Tom's seminars. This tape runs about an hour and covers all of his principles. Tom is not a self-declared sales guru, spare bedroom consultant, or business philosopher. He has achieved tremendous sales success in the real world. Tom makes just as good a teacher as he does a salesman. You can use Tom's techniques to sell your prospects without them realizing that they're being sold. Tom's the best sales trainer I've come accross. I also recommend Dan Kennedy's paperback "No B.S. Sales Success." ... Read more

Book Description

Discover David Allen's powerful productivity principles and vastly increase your ability to work better, not harder -- every day.

The "guru of personal productivity" -- Fast Company -- asks listeners what's holding them back and shows how all of us can be "ready for anything" -- with a clear mind, a clear deck, and clear intentions.

Ready for Anything offers you ways to immediately:

• Clear your head for creativity
• Focus your attention
• Create structures that work
• Take action to get things moving

With wit, inspiration, and know-how, Ready for Anything shows us how to make things happen with less effort, stress, and ineffectiveness, and lots more energy, creativity, and clarity. This is the perfect audiobook for anyone wanting to work and live at their very best. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Packed with Knowledge!
Author David Allen lists 52 basic principles for productivity, including: write everything down, do the jobs that nag you, focus on the matter at hand and so on. As he notes, the principles are both simple to understand and difficult to implement. The book is essentially a collection of gleanings from the author's previous writings, so it does not present a systematic or unified approach to time and productivity management. However, Allen's straightforward tips are handy, if sometimes duplicative. The number 52 suggests that you might find one helpful tip to use each week in a one-year program of self-improvement and productivity management. In that case, repetition is probably a good thing, since bad habits tend to spring up again like weeds and require the same remedies often. The author is relentlessly upbeat, optimistic and witty, like a motivational speaker. That might be hard to read in a big chunk, but it is easy to digest if you spend a little time every week reading a recommendation and implementing it. We recommend this book to anyone who urgently needs help with time management and productivity.

Tune-up after Getting Things Done
While this is an outstanding book, I highly recommend his first work, Getting Things Done. Since this doesn't have a consistent narrative but is instead broken up into numerous tiny essays, it will be harder to get the maximum benefit from his approach to personal productivity from this alone.

Readers who "got" Getting Things Done don't need my advice on this one...they've already bought it I'm sure.

David Allen is probably the smartest personal productivity coach in print. I would buy Getting Things Done for every employee in my organization, and I would have copies of this one lying around to remind people and elaborate on some of the finer points.

Oh and I would like to add one point. I believe there is one thing missing from Mr. Allen's algorithm. That is finishing. I think his plan is outstanding for getting unstuck: figure out the next action, and do it without hesitation. But I don't find any attention paid to how to decide how many actions are "enough" for a desired outcome of a project.

You can always find some next action, and founder in what software engineers like myself call "permanent beta" or "feature creep." Yet external constraints are best not relied on exclusively for these decisions. It's best to volunteer a ruthless focus on the essence of your project's deliverable, isn't it?

So I would like Mr. Allen to write his next book about finishing projects, if he is able to develop insights into that stage as strong as his insights into the process of the middle stages.

A wonderful book. But why is it hard to read?
Mr. Allen's system is surprisingly simple - the realisation that we are monkeys; that keeping to do lists in our heads causes stress; get the list on paper and the stress goes away; we can do simple physical actions with ease. Use a paper filing system; the instruction to ask of each item in our In-tray 'what is the next physical action;' the instruction to deal with each item right now if it will take less than two minutes.

If Mr. Allen had merely described his system 1) you wouldn't believe it and 2) worse, you wouldn't 'just do it.' And JUST DOING IT does work, amazingly enough.

'Buy a label maker' - a surprisingly important part of Allen's system. That sounds nuts! Does he have shares in a label making company? Unlikely. Then Why? Remember the monkey approach. Simple physical tasks. Create files. Label them. Don't think. Do it. And then you look at the result. You have created it. You have invested in the system. You are that monkey.

And it works! A simple system that works!

As the Scots say, Mr. Allen is a very canny fellow.

I believe that Mr. Allen wrote his book so deliberately. He makes you invest in reading the book as he makes you invest in his system when you sit there printing labels for manila files.

It may be nuts but it is a very clever kind of nuts ;-).

David Allen understands how to get you going
This book made me take a new look at the clutter in my mind and life and helped me to create new goals and execute them. If you are stuck, this book will get you going. Read it and get Optimal Thinking-How to Be Your Best Self to learn how to overcome disturbing emotions without a therapist, bring your best self to every situation and achieve the best results. I can assure you with this combination, you will be ready for anything and optimize everything!

Invaluable! The ultimate book on getting things done
No, it's not one more planner, organizer, PDA or assistant that will rescue you from the chaos of your mind. It's David Allen.

He clearly leads the reader to understand the thinking behind the organizing, the process before the processing, that is required to maximize effectiveness and creativity. Once I grasped the underlying concepts and began to implement them , I got right to work with a clearer head and a more relaxed body. What immediate benefits!

Not only are David Allen's principles and insights invaluable, he writes in a style that demonstrates his love of language. So, two things in one when you buy this book--a good read and all you need to turn up your creativity and effectiveness.

As my company is called Optimize! Life Now, this book will be on my recommended reading list for my audiences and seminar participants. My coaching clients will definitely benefit from my having read this book and David's other, Getting Things Done. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

This is a nice book for all working people.
I received this book from U.S. and decided to translate it to my language (Farsi). I think it's a nice book for all working people and it should be bought by all the employers, in order to use by all the workers and employees and even the employers. It gives a sense of freedom and relaxation to all of us (who are working with somebody else.) I would like to thank Dr. Carlson for his nice book. (SORRY FOR MAKING MISTAKE IN GRAMMER AND DICTATION). SOHEILA M.RAZAVI

A Great Investment in Your Career
Let me first express that I typically have great condescension for most "self-help"-type books. Most of them seem very intent on getting one to do yoga or meditation or breathing exercises....activities I'm just not naturally inclined to do. This book, in contrast, suggests improved perspectives and outlooks. So, it is "intellectual" in that way, rather than the typical "touchy-feely." It provides gentle, insightful wisdom into modifying the only things you can control: your own outlook, your own behavior. Quite frankly, I'm very impressed by this Richard Carlson. This book was exactly what I needed to help me through a very negative phase of my career as a government lawyer, with bizarre stressors coming from every direction, including judges, opposing attorneys, and peers. I can't say this book made me glad that I became a lawyer, but it helped quell the storm. This book is written so that virtually anyone can understand it, and yet it contains brilliant insights and what I would have to almost call "ultimate truths." Some of them are so obvious that it's disconcerting I couldn't identify them by myself; others are more transcendental, and Carlson very sagely unveils the phenomenon and associated principles.

I think anyone in a stressful work environment would benefit from reading this book. I read it very closely and highlighted about half the book. I know it will take some time for me to assimilate all of the suggestions, but this book planted the seeds and should surely help me cope better in the future with work-related difficulties.

You should be forewarned: you'll probably realize a lot of your stress is self-induced. I found myself cringing with the sudden realization of several self-destructive behaviors which I've had through the years. I think you need to be particularly open to effectuating personal change and breaking out of bad habits. For example, I never previously thought of myself as a "back-stabber"; instead I thought of myself as a rhetorically amusing and insightful critic and identifier of "office realities." Carlson really sensitized me as to the need to be circumspect about any kind of negative commentary about others, bearing in mind that whatever one says about someone or something is inevitably going to be spun by office gossips into the most negative light conceivable. That results in tension and resentment and stress. I now try to reserve my commentary (usually humorous anecdotes) about co-workers, etc. to acquaintances far outside my office. He also really brought home to me the principle of the destructive effect of complaining and griping about one's job; all that is accomplished is that one's negative view is reinforced, emphasized, perhaps even exaggerated by those other parts of your mind that hear you complaining. It becomes a vicious, snow-balling cycle of discontent. I suspect a lot of people intuitively think of it as "ventilating" one's frustrations and being helpful as such. I try now to not complain (in my case it was about boredom and the lack of professional growth). This has freed me up to seek out a remedies both inside and outside my employment scenario.

But, I cite the above only as examples. Carlson lays his recommendations out in 100 small chapters. I would say I learned something very useful from about 80 of them. I am very confident the long-term professional benefits will be significant. We're living in a very stressful time and a stressful culture. Focusing on the art of managing stress is almost mandatory if you want to thrive.

Don't Waste Your Time or Money
The book was short on practical suggestions and long on worthless "reprogam your own mind to accept the situation" advice. I'll save you reading the 384 pages. Don't worry, be happy.

A few nice snippets on how to minimize stress at work
Dr. Carlson's book provides some keen insights on how to reduce stress when employeed by a large corporation, or for those shackled to a cubicle for eight hours at a go. While helpful overall, the book is less beneficial to those employeed in the retail sector or other public service areas, where dealing with cranky customers and unmotivated staff seems to be the prevailing problems.

Interesting, applicable, and timeless...
The "Don't Sweat" series provides the reader with tools to organize and prioritize ones life. With the many different pressures placed upon us in our lives, Carlson hits home with this short read regarding the balance between our worklives and our homelife.

Broken into extremely small chapters only one to three pages long, it is easy to take some time out and read a few chapters -- appealing to even the busiest of schedules.

The only caveat is that one might be bored by the continual emphasis of the same points over and over again. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Material
Accomplishing goals, living a worthwhile life, and getting along with other people are all part of McGinnis' stragetgy for living abundantly. Optimism is an intangible force that has practical consequences. McGinnis describes it as a "can-do" philosophy. A quote he takes from William James brings the theme of individual control out even more when he writes "The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind." McGinnis argues that this mind-set can result in people being elevated to the top of their fields. In part this is because activity results when people are optimistic. Without action entropy causes a system to break down. It is through active involvement that entropy is successfully overcome. Activity is stimulated as optimists create and maintain synergy with like minded associates. Reading is another form of stiumlation found among this group. Even more important than relationship maintainence and good reading, McGinnis stresses the importance of prayer. Optimistic achievers are perpetually young regardless of their chronological years he points out because "regardless of their age, they have a stubborn belief that their personal best is yet to be." More good news is reported in that optimism can be leaded. He says he read almost a thousand biographies and analyzed the lives of many successful people before drawing the conclusions he makes in this wonderful book. I highly recommend it.

Wonderful...!
... I have found this book is such an amazing one. Doctor McGinnis is such a wonderful psychiatrist. Listenning to his audiobooks made me feel delighted, more positive about my life and everything around me. I just wanted to say "Thanks" to him. I have learned much from it. Everything that he mentioned and taught was not only for depressed individuals but for the optimistic persons as well. I hope he could continue to write books and have more audiobooks available for all of us. ... Read more

Book Description

In the spirit of his best-selling The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, John Maxwell offers thoughts on proven leadership qualities and crucial issues that affect leadership success.These basic principles of success can be applied to business and private life, helping anyone reach their full potential.Twenty-one powerful statements help leaders maximize their assets and overcome their weaknesses, encouraging them to lead with their hearts as well as their minds.Daily readings include sections which help readers integrate and apply each day's material.

Reviews (7)

a 21-week biblical study of Maxwell's leadership laws
Here John Maxwell has expanded his 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership into a 21-week study, using different biblical characters to illustrate each one of the 21 laws. Each week is broken down into five days, making it an excellent workplace study.

Lessons from Days 1 through 4 start with a thought for the day and a biblical passage, then close with a question for you to reflect on. Day 5 summarizes the week in brief sections that help you to absorb the week's material, sort it out, pray through it, apply it to your own life, and pass it on to another leader.

Obviously, this book is not aimed at the secular crowd, and is much more beneficial to those who have read the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. If you enjoyed the 21 laws and are comfortable with scripture, this study will dramatically enhance your ability to prayerfully apply the laws to your life and the lives of those around you. A great resource for Christian leaders.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

another book similar to his other books
|-POSITIVE-|
I think this is a great book if you never read a book on leadership, or if you never read any of his other books. Actually, having read at least 4 other books on leadership written by this same author, this one is one of his better books. I think this book will go well with his other book, "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership."

Some of my favorite quotes from this book,
* If you reproduced yourself in another leader, would you be pleased with the results?
* Don't wait until you hold a leadership position to begin building your inner circle
* People teach what they know, but they reproduce what they are.
* Do no limit your people, lift them.
* Your inner circle should make you more complete

|-NEGATIVE-|
Oh how I hate it, I read 5 of his books on leadership, and they all share very similar information. If you read his other books, you probably will not find many new ideas here.

Great book for small group study!
I led a group from my company through this 21 week study of leadership. Very informative and thought provoking. If you decide to lead a similar group, I recommend you also read The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership at the same time. It will provide you a good deal of additional discussion ideas.

Yeah, it's good.
You get used to seeing these types of books, which are frequently given as gifts by people who have no idea what you really like or need to read. Which is where I got this. But it's not bad.

Take Hudson Armerding's book "Leadership," and fuse it with Roger Ailes's book "You are The Message: Getting what you want by being who you are" and cut it up into templated nuggets keyed to periodic readings, and something like this is what you might get. The difference, qualitatively, is that Maxwell has really worked his leadership examples from the Bible, and for the most part keeps them in historic context while pulling out lessons for contemporary application. In the flyleaf/back pages, you can see how he is hawking the same things on a web site and on a tape series, to transform these lessons into sermons for ministers who need a little defibrillation.

Having read James MacGregor Burns on "Leadership" some years ago, and being impressed ever since (although bothered by the weird Oedipal analyses Burns applied to guys like Gandhi, Martin Luther and others), Maxwell is refreshingly Biblical without being too preachy. Non-Christian or Non-Jewish readers should be able to see things in here other than some former Bible-college student constantly telling us how he revitalized the three churches he pastored before becoming a fund raising consultant and a leadership conference organizer. The book gets beyond that and stays on point.

This is a sign that Christian business/leadership writing is coming into its own. Looking at a lot of other leadership books which grope for an over-arching metaphor drawn from polar expeditions, evolution (yawn) or other meta-physics, makes you realize that the ancient lessons recorded in the Bible can be just as gripping. I would think other faith traditions could do the same, hopefully also getting past the jingoistic level of "Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun."

A Biblical Foundation
The 21 Most Powerful Minutes book is the much needed biblical support for Maxwell's excellent work, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. Though it doesn't stand on its own in communicating leadership principles, it makes an excellent devotional reading to correspond with deeper study of the 21 Laws or 21 Qualities books. ... Read more

Book Description

The world's foremost producer of personal development and motivational audio programs now gives you an expanded edition of a master motivator's audio masterpiece.In Goals, best-selling author Zig Ziglar presents his dynamic seven-step formula for clearly defining your immediate and long-term goals...and then realizing your dreams.This step-by-step program is filled with inspiring stories from sports, business and science that demonstrate how to: Begin with a set of specific written goals Understand the reasons behind your ambitions Identify the resources you need to achieve success Develop a scheduled plan of actionYou'll learn how to work around obstacles and change your strategies without changing your vision; how to become a team player, how to master your time; and how to set goals for everything you want in life.Goals create motivation; motivation creates energy; energy helps make your dreams a reality.Take the first step toward reaching your aspiration and set your goals today! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Listen to Zig and get MOTIVATED
Although I am not a Christian, I endorse Zig Ziglar. His motivational style is so unique, so sincere that he really inspires me to do more.

Here are some of his motivational quotes that get me really motivated:

"You can have everything in life you want if you'll just help enough other people to get what they want!"

"When you do what you ought to do, when you ought to do it, EVENTUALLY you will be able to do what you want to do when you want to do to do it."

"Life is not easy, life is tough, but when your tough on yourself, life is going to be infinitely easier on you."

"Winning is not everything, but the effort to win is"

Go listen to Zig and get MOTIVATED!

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated

He does it again!
This is a GREAT CD that I can listen to over and over again and always get more out of it! I passed it on to my husband, and he felt the same way. If you have ever felt like you are drifting, and do not know why things are "happening" to you, this can help you learn what to do to get you back on track. Wonderful for EVERY area of your life - not just business. A must listen!

Zig is the best, and this is one of his best!
With his inimitable wit and wisdom, Zig explains goal setting and achievement. His audio/video presentations are timeless, and can be counted upon to be relevant. I have listened, repeatedly, to this title, as well as, "How To Be A Winner," and always come away with a fresh perspective, renewed motivation, and better achievement skills. The best example of Zig's philosophy is the golden rule, which he expresses by saying, "You can have everything in life you want, if you just help enough other people get what they want." Buy this for yourself, your family, your friends, and listen often.

Outstanding Book
I ordered the audio tape version of Goals so I could listen to them in my car. I am a delivery driver and drive for hours every evening. I am able to listen to these tapes over and over and found them easy to understand and apply the concepts within a week. Zig uses comical and serious examples to illistrate his points. Some examples can get long winded but are good enough to burn the point into your mind so that the conceps are easy to remember.
In this book Zig illistrates 4 reasons people don't have goals and he will sell you on why you need to set them. He then goes on to give 13 keys to goal setting that are proven to work.
I started out year 2003 with a goal; learn how to set goals. I didn't get started until June. I have had this tape series for a little over a week and I now set daily goals as well as short, medium and long range goals.
If you were to buy only one item to help you with goal setting, this would be it! Buy this book.

can't hit your target? Do you have a target first of all.
Wanna set fitness goals, financial, personal, etc. this is the right tape to listen to. ... Read more

Book Description

Since its original publication in 1995, Leading with Soul has inspired thousands of readers. Far ahead of its time, the book bravely revealed the path to leadership to be a very personal journey requiring a knowledge of self and a servant-leader mentality. Now, in this new and revised edition, authors Bolman and Deal address such currrent issues as the changing nature of work, the new face of today's workforce, and the greater need for an infusion of soul in the workplace. They also include real-life stories from readers of the first edition, and answer key questions that those readers raise. As vital as ever, this revisted narrative of an executive and his quest for deeper meaning continues to point the way to a more fulfilling work experience. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

It is a Jounrey, not a Destination
The leadership of America and other countries could use this book! The common theme in leadership today usually rests upon talent, skill and motivation, whereas this book's authors look at the "spirit". I found it to be one of the best books I have read in the area of leadership.
The story centers around a manager who seeks out a mentor as his spiritual guide. The real crux here is to seek. I think many leaders rely to heavily upon themselves and do want to seek help from anyone, especially soul help.
One of the key elements in this book is that each reader could percieve differnt lessons and take on their own meaning, which I think is a great lesson in leadership. The book requires the reader to soak in the information and even gives the reader an opportunity to practice what they have read.
On the personal level, I believe that leaders need to soul search and model the behavior in the workplace. Coming from the educational perspective, this is true as far as values and morals are taught. A leader needs to be in touch with themselves if they are to lead others.
In the story, Steve finds Maria and is challenged to look within, which is fearful to him, as it is to most of us. The key is to not avoid our own pain. If we do, we tend to avoid feelings that come out sideways, and this is very dangerous as a human being and as a leader. When we can look inside at ourselves and find a sense of peace, we have more energy, and can be more producticve as leaders. In addition, the "burnout" rate will be much less in all levels of leadership.

This book is a journey into Leadership from the heart.
Bolman and Deal walk away from the academic view of leadership and its trappings and tell a story of a person's journey to find his inner spirit. In doing so, he finds understanding of the basic elements of being an excellent leader who inspries people and takes the organization on a path to find success. The book is an easy read, written in a narrative, novel-type style that provides a refreshing look at what people can become.

Learning to TEACH with soul
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who would feel they could benefit from this form of reading. I feel that you need an open mind to this idea of leadership. It is the untraditional form of thinking for leaders and educators alike. The story of Steve Camden and Maria are thought provoking and the interludes get the thoughts going. If you do not fear change or are looking for a deeper sense of self this book gives you the parable to study leadership in a wide range of concepts from the worlds of philosophy, spirituality, and poetry.

Wow! Awesome. Made me cry.
I was so surprised about how this audio book really touched a nerve with me. I loved it. The story telling was compassionate and insightful. Wow.

Soul Touching Reading!
Quasi-religiosity drives this sanctimonious parable on leadership by the coauthors of Reframing Organizations. This is the scenario: Steve, an executive, makes several visits to his spiritual guide, Maria, who instructs him that spirit and soul are the essence of leadership. As we follow his path to enlightenment, we learn that during Steve's trip to Singapore to visit his firm's newest acquisition, a factory worker hugged him. Maria praises him: ``Love worked for you.'' But Steve receives no hugs in the Topeka branch, and this troubles him and Maria (the reader wonders if perhaps their labor union protected these American workers from having to grovel before the boss). During other sessions, Steve tells Maria about his fiancée, who insists he go to church every other Sunday; on one occasion, pupil and spiritual guide simply sit by a stream and watch a leaf float by. 25,000 first printing. ... Read more

Book Description

As recent events have proven, when it comes to retirement, relying solely on a 401K plan is a sure recipe for disaster. By the year 2012-10 years from now-the vast majority of Baby Boomers will be on the verge of retirement-and they'll be looking to cash in on their hefty 401K retirement packages. The problem is, according to Kiyosaki and Lechter, that all of these people who religiously pumped thousands of dollars over their working years into their 401Ks are going to be crushed if their mutual funds just haven't performed. To avert this financial crisis, Kiyosaki and Lechter provide a detailed financial plan to help forward-looking people prepare for the worst and start planning now. ... Read more

Reviews (94)

Prophecy: Timely and Scary for Majority of Baby Boomers
I did not expect to get much out of this book. I expected the usual litany of admonitions and suggestions available in hundreds of articles and basic books on finance for the masses. Despite that low expectation, the first chapter had me hooked.

With an aging population, turmoil in the stock markets, and lack of knowledge about how much money is needed for retirement, author Robert Kiyosaki gives specifics to support his theory about predictable problems facing those who hope to retire.

The book won't appeal to people who are satisfied with their current job and have no plans to change in the future. But for those who care about government policy and how these policies and demographics are impacting our society, the book is eye-opening as well as easy-to read.

The "rich dad, poor dad" vehicle gets old but is stiff an effective and sometimes entertaining vehicle for conveying information.

Definitely a must read.
Rich Dad's Prophecy is most certaintly a must read book for anyone who has money invested, especially in 401 (k) plans.

While some of the information in RDP is similiar to Kiyosaki's earlier books, the pension, retirement and 401 (k) is fresh, startling and hopefully alarming to anyone who plans on investing their money between now and 2016.

2016 is the year when the bulk of the baby boomers will be forced to liquidate their retirement funds. When this happens, a major stock market crash is expected (no kidding!) that surpass the bear market from 2000 to 2002.

Another problem is what kind of money will current savers have in their 401 (k)s? For example, before going into self employment, I worked in a local office for one of the top 6 banks in the USA and had been putting all I could into my 401 (k) savings plan. Despite this being one of the "Big 6" Banks, matching by the bank was about average (and any matching reflected in reduced wages), options to invest in were patheticly weak and the bank would match us only with shares of Bank One stock.

After reading RDP and going into self employment, I rolled my 401 (k) into a self directed IRA with a brokerage firm. I now choose my investments between stocks, mutual funds and bonds or even Tax Liens, Discounted Mortgages and Real Estate. I'm in control, not my employer.

The only real benefit of a 401 (k) is the borrowing provision which unfortunately too many so called fiancial experts discourage.

And after the Enron issue, who wants to have that much money in company stock?

Kiyosaki is alerting people and none too soon. I am certain that all of the one star reviews are from brokers, financial planners and benefits directors from companies that hope that you blindly follow their advice even it means not having anything for retirement.

I cannot emphasize the importance of reading RDP and more importantly, following the advice.

To repeat, Rich Dad's Prophecy is definitely A MUST READ!

A Bold Contrarian View
It takes guts to write a prophecy, and it takes particular guts to write this prophecy. It is a refreshing, and probably correct, "contrary" opinion to the endless optimism that you get from Wall Street. For this reason alone, the book deserves five stars. (It is also better written than some of the earlier works, probably the result of practice.)

Early in the book Kiyosaki starts by pinpointing the central problem of retirement income--that ERISA, the so-called Employees' Retirement Income and Security Act, had actually undermined the security of workers' retirement incomes by replacing so-called defined benefit plans, underwritten at fixed levels by companies, with defined contribution plans, under which workers were individually responsible for investing their own contributions. Baby Boomers bought this snake oil because of their desire for individual, rather than collective, security. The results, and wreckage, can be seen at places like Enron. But the marketers of the new plans certainly knew what they were doing.

The underlying problem is that the Baby Boomers were the last American generation to be more numerous than their parents. Every succeeding generation has been of comparable, or even smaller, size because the Baby Boomers' fertility only approximated replacement rates. Thus, there is a flat, rather than broadening, pyramid as age groups get younger. This historic demographic shift called for far-sighted savings and investment plans designed years ahead of Baby Boomers' retirements. (Japan has a much higher savings rate than the US and is now staring this issue in the face.) Because Baby Boomers have put off retirement planning too long (as they have earlier in life with other issues), they are facing a massive financial crunch. The result, as Kiyosaki points out, will be a stock market crash that's almost a foregone conclusion: It's more a question of when rather than whether. The fact that this prophecy originated with "Rich Dad" doesn't make Kiyosaki less of a prophet. After all, God gave Moses the ten commandments.

My main quibble, and it's really a difference of opinion, is with the 2016 target date. In my new book, "A Modern Approach to Graham and Dodd Investing," I outline a target date closer to 2006 (along with some proposed solutions). That's when early Baby Boomers turn 60,and can start tapping their IRAs without penalty. (And they've never been ones to postpone gratification.) It's possible that my target date is too early, and that Kiyosaki's is too late, with the truth somewhere in between. But he and I agree on major concepts, while differing in detail.

A poorly written book based on a bad assumption...
Basically, RK uses this installement in the Rich Dad/Poor Dad series to claim that the stock market is due a big fall when, by federal law, Baby boomers start to withdraw equity from their tax deferred retirement vehicles at age 70.

This means that RK is predicting not only stock market performance over a decade in the future, he's also predicting tax law over a decade in the future.

The chances that the tax code governing 401k's will weather the years unscathed are miniscule. And it's a good thing too. RK's "ark" of choice - real estate - would also plummet in value during a massive depression where paying tenents would be scarce.

Going into a depression saddled with large real estate debt is a surefire way to be living under an overpass in a cardboard box for your retirment.

RK's got a point -- the market will be hurt when Baby Boomers liquidate their assets to live off of in retirement. But its doubtful that the government will force this selloff when the boomers get here. This shouldn't stop a wise investor from making long-term stock purchases or using more creative vehicles to make money.

I like that RK is so enthusiastic and assertive about getting your financial life in order and making a change in the way that you make money. Investments are great and people should build up some investments for their futures. But this book is founded on such shakey soil that it's difficult to stomach. Pick up some of his others (Rich Dad/Poor Dad or the Cashflow Quadrant) if you need a pick-me-up.

Promising more than delivering
The premise of this book is tantilizing: 1) The stock market will crash, and 2) here are some investment ideas to survive and prosper when the crash comes.

The author presumes that when retiring baby boomers begin to withdraw their 401(k) and mutual fund assets there will be more "sellers" of shares than "buyers" - thus the market will fall. This is a two-dimensional vision of the marketplace, yet plausible.

Regarding investment ideas for the reader: other than recommending the purchase of "income producing" real estate the second half of this book is hollow, and used by the author as little more than a platform for promoting his cash-flow board game and additional books he has written.

I don't feel that the day I spent reading this book was wasted, however, I'm not going to recommend it to any of my "thoughtful" friends. ... Read more

Book Description

Classic insight for modern times.

The world's foremost producer of personal development and motivational audio programs now offers a completely unique approach to learning leadership skills.

Most programs on leadership present the successes of contemporary men and women as role models for study. While valuable lessons can be learned from their examples, few models or success stories reveal the true essence of their leadership abilities or can anticipate the special circumstances, conditions, or situations that you deal with as a manager.

In the runaway bestseller Leadership Secrets Of Attila The Hun, author Wess Roberts draws from the imaginary thoughts of one of history's most effective and least beloved leaders, Attila the Hun, to discover leadership principles you can apply to your own situation. In a uniquely creative and entertaining approach to a most serious task, "Attila" reveals his principles for successful morale building, decision making, delegating and negotiating, and gives advice on overcoming setbacks and achieving goals. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

A Good Read!
Wess Roberts draws on the life experiences of the leader of the Mongol hordes to craft imaginative monologues on leadership - an attribute as valuable today as when Attila united the Huns in 415 AD. The advice is general. Its effectiveness probably depends on how well you apply it, although the idea of a historic icon of barbaric vengeance counseling us in cultural sensitivity seems a bit of a stretch. While the treatment is certainly colorful, you might worry about ways some modern-day chieftains could misuse Roberts' principles to justify their own Visigoth approach to management. We from getAbstract recommend this book to those looking for new and interesting ways to approach the perpetual management issues of team-building, inspiring loyalty, setting goals, and achieving objectives.

Pretentious
This book was entirely too pretentious to read. He should have tried to write in the active voice and with a reasonable vocabulary. I bought it used for less than a dollar plus shipping--I got wripped off.

Great work if you can get it
What a country this is! How else to explain this book? Take an historical figure about whom little is known, ascribe certain banalities about leadership to him, jazz it up with some colorful language, set it in a guidebook format with short chapters and lots of bullets--and sell huge numbers of copies! Get Ross Perot to endorse it!

This book cries out for a spoof--heck, it already seems like a spoof. I'm thinking of taking a few days to write "Leadership Secrets of Spongebob Squarepants" and see how it sells.

Great l