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

Amazon.com

Effective communication is a crucial life skill, and John Gray's Mars and Venus series has helped millions peacefully sort out emotional issues in their personal relationships. Now he turns his attention to the professional side of life with Mars and Venus in the Workplace. The concepts remain the same, but are in an entirely new setting; as he says in the introduction, "although gender differences are often not as obvious in the workplace, they are there and are often misunderstood."

Gray proceeds to cover a variety of situations typical on the job, from solving revenue problems to negotiating a raise. With his important points printed in bold type, and plenty of prioritizing lists and straightforward examples, this is an easy read that allows you to focus on finding the solutions you seek, rather than wading through research terminology.

If you are new to Gray's work, the continual gender-based assumptions may feel outdated, but know the author understands that no one is all male or all femaleand that we all have areas of sensitivity. The recurring gender pronouns are a simple way of teaching us what years of private practice have shown him: humans of both gender can benefit greatly by listening effectively, being verbally straightforward, and analyzing the reactions of others. --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Different Planets?

I think John Gray has brilliantly created the captivating concept of the coexisting male and female planets of behavior. Women are Venusians, and men are Martians. We all laugh and joke about it, but never truly understand.It was written in a way we can all relate.The book is not only informative, but entertaining. Sure, I enjoy research and stats but this was real life in action. When reading the scenarios you immediately recall a situation of which you have experienced and it's almost like problem solving along the way. These ideas are good for everyone.
Of course neither planet is right or wrong, a great combination is best. Since reading this book, I have developed more "Martian" characteristics, but I will never give up my collaborating "Venusian" style. I have mixed both styles and I think this has made me a better communicator in the workplace.
In the business world if you know each other's planet you are at an advantage.There can be so many misinterpretations if you don't understand the other planet. Knowing more about Mars has made me happier at home and more confident at work.
This book will help you understand the differences in men and women when it comes to problem solving.Women chat about it and men want to be alone. In the business world, it is important to think about. Unfortunately, some male managers can see chatting as a sign of weakness.This sounds really discriminating, but it can be true in certain situations, particularly at meetings.And when it comes time for reviews and appraisals women often don't credit themselves for ideas as a man would.
I have read many pop culture self-help books and this book really made me self evaluate my Venusian ways and I definitely need to develop more `Martian style' to balance out my sometimes too over powerful `Venusian style'.But as the book states-it's not about changing you, but just to better your understanding of how men and women behave and communicate.This book can completely improve your workplace relationships since you will have a different perspective.

Of COURSE we're different!!
The biggest thing missing from my MBA education was learning how to interact with other people. Business is nothing if we can't communicate effectively and regularly. This book explains in clear terms how men can understand women and communicate effectively. We men can't talk to women the way we do with other men. We are very different. By following Dr. Gray's guidelines, men can learn how to earn the trust and respect of female co-workers. We can learn easy ways to speak the woman's language and understand her perceptions. The most fascinating aspect is the description of women's emotions, what they mean, and positive responses men can use to increase productivity and create a pleasant workplace. Working in harmony is the only way to go.

I should think that this book can be especially helpful to women, as they are basically working in a world that has been designed and run by men. As Dr. Gray says, a woman's challenge in the workplace is greater than a man's. While the books and research of Gail Evans and Dr. Deborah Tannen and others have described gender differences, this book by Dr. Gray sheds light on many aspects of workplace problems and offers solutions that are easy, respectful, effective, and even fun.

Another outstanding mars venus book
Dr Gray has done it again...another outstanding book.His insights have assisted me with my male(martians)client.My practice is now brimming with males....because I now understand not to give unsolicited advice...but rather ask better questions.The tools and skills should be taught in schools.I wish I had of know the differences when I first started out in the workplace.Bravo Dr Gray...
It is truly amazing how little changes make such big differences.The quality of my relationships since using the mars venus principles has gone to levels I had never dreamed of!
As a single parent with two boys,I am grateful for all the knowledge and practical advice....It is wonderful to have such a close connection with them.
I would suggest everyone in the workplace read this.How wonderful to go back to basics,courtsey,shivilery.I could only image how much more pleasant,loving and caring the world would be if everyone adopted Grays work!
Keep up the much needed work! God bless him for trying to open peoples eyes and hearts!!!!

Workplace is right on!
I found myself underlining everything! In true J.G. fashion, he has described the human condition, and the way we interact.I thought it was brilliant, and very helpful in particular for understanding myself and the opposite sex in regards to problems solving and dealing with stress.

A tad bit disappointing...
This is the first Mars/Venus book in the author's series of books that I've read.I have heard several good things about the original book Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus.Naturally, curiosity got the better of me, and I purchased a copy of this book.

I liked how the author was able to coherently build a framework to explain the differences between men and women.His analogy to interplanetary species having to co-mingle here on earth struck me as original and humorous.

There were, however, certain aspects of this book that are a bit disappointing to me.Whereas I agree with most of his points, I wish the author would have included more real world examples and scenarios.In 290 pages of text, only 3 examples were given as to how effective this framework could be.

The book's recurring theme and lesson is that men and women basically misunderstand each other because they come from different planets where customs and traditions vary.

The book is full of 2-3 column charts on what men and women should or shouldn't say at certain situations.It attempts to explain what is going on in the mind of a woman as a result of what a man does or says, and vice versa.It also offer remedial dialogue for what to say when a "misunderstanding" is about to occur.

Another point the author drills into the readers mind is: Men are quick to arrive at solutions whenever a woman approaches him with a problem, not knowing that this is her way of including him in her world and a way of leading up to her solution.It states, half a dozen times throughout the book, that women share their emotions with men in the workplace not as a way of putting blame or soliciting advice, but rather a way to make an emotional connection.Men, on the other hand, view this as a sign of weakness and a waste of time.The author terms men as Mr. Fix It because men seem to always quickly offer a solution not fully hearing out what a woman has to say.Believe it or not, that was the single most important takeaway of the whole book.Each chapter repeats a variation of this lesson.

Toward the end of the book, the author crams in a chapter about sexual harrassment.Why it occurs (based on his framework of interplanetary misunderstanding) and what can be done to relieve or tolerate it.I do think the topic of sexual harrassment in the workplace is relevant, but I felt it was glossed over.

The second to the last chapter is devoted to essentially two checklists: 101 Ways Men can Empathize with Women and 101 Ways Women can Empathize with Men.And there really were 101 items on each list.This struck me as odd because it reminded me of a little book called Life's Little Instruction Book by H. Jackson Brown .It had suggestions like compliment her hairstyle, offer to bring her a glass of water, carry around a family photo in your wallet, etc.It just seemed really odd to me that this would be included in this book.

(I'm curious as to whether this book stemmed from the author's workshop materials or the other way around.Maybe this book is the summary of his specialized courses to institutions.)Either way, I'm afraid I cannot recommend this book because what the author has spent almost 300 pages trying to explain, I can capture in 3 paragraphs. ... Read more

Book Description

Hire and Keep the Best People contains a series of 21 proven, practical principles and strategies that any manager can use to hire and keep better employees. The contents are the distilled essence of hundreds of books and articles on the subject of personnel selection, combined with the author's many years of experience as an executive interviewing and hiring staff, as well as his more than 20 years of training managers in the art of personnel selection. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Brought the best out of me.
Before reading this book if i was to rate myself in terms of negative mental attitude from 1 to 10 10 being the worst i can rate myself to be 10, I started reading this book at a stage of my life when i was at the rock bottom, let me just say this that this Book answerd a lot of question that I had about myself, And this review shows that it is working! Read and have fun!

Incredible!
Nothing will change your life more than this. No "cheesey" stuff, no "psychobabble", just simple suggestions that can make life A LOT easier. Buy this book for yourself, and then the people you care about as well....as I'm doing right now! It's a fast read and you will smile. Trust me! ... Read more

Book Description

In a sometimes controversial vision of the future, Morris Shechtman presents a cutting-edge management philosophy that challenges unrealistic, outdated approaches. Shechtman, a former university professor and psychotherapist, teaches the essential skills for adapting to a rapidly-expanding corporate culture -- or any organization or situation requiring structure and vision. No matter what your goals, you'll find his new rules of business applicable to you:

Growth strategies that help you establish your independence from external forces and foster strength from within

Steps for processing -- not denying -- the inevitable anger and disappointment that follow organizational change

Powerful exercises that sharpen decision-making, relationship-building, risk-taking, and other critical abilities

Working Without a Net empowers you to face the new challenges of the future with flexibility, confidence and self-sufficiency. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent explanation of the new economy and how to survive.
This book is an excellent read for anyone who wants to survive and thrive in the new economy. The world has become a much smaller and closer-knit group of companies and customers. Learning how to keep and get new customers and working relationships with other companies and co-workers is essential in this new economic environment that we are in. This book provides the tools and recommendations that will help anyone (from a CEO to the mail clerk) understand the new realities of business and what needs to happen to survive and thrive in the new economy.

An excellent guide for anyone that wants to succeed and climb the ladder of success.

Great book!
A real eye opener to what is wrong with corporate life today. Both an education and motivation to start you on a path to improving both your professional and personal life through managing change. Will recommend this book to everyone I know.

"Net-less" World More Managable With Shechtman's Help
Job security, care taking, blind loyalty, independence, and autocracy are OUT. Adaptability, responsibility, reciprocal loyalty, interdependence, and conflict are IN. Simply put, Morris Shechtman gives us "a clue" on how to successfully "play" today's radically changed corporate game. Just the title, "Working Without a Net", gave me the jitters. As each chapter, from "An Alternative to Working and Living In a Fantasy World" to "Doing the Right Thing," unfolds, entrenched ideas of "how things work" in the workplace are shattered, first by a values clarification test, (oh, yes, most of us have some very interesting value conflicts when it comes to the old career), and then a series of growth and success strategies, powerful exercises, and the revelation that paradigm shifts are necessary to assist in our surviving and thriving in our new "net-less" environment.

The rationale for the paradigm shifts?: an ever-changing global economy that increases competition, decreases profits and margins, and heightens the emphasis on human resources as the key to gaining the competitive edge. Far from advocating a cold-hearted Darwinian approach to business, "Working Without A Net" celebrates the capacity of people within an organization to resolve their differences, pursue corporate goals, and successfully met the challenges of today's high-risk business world. - Ted DeCorte, M.A.

SHECHTMAN IS AN EXPERT ON GROWTH AND CHANGE.
SHECHTMAN IS A FUTURIST WHO GIVES REAL CLUES ABOUT THRIVING IN AN EVER MORE RISKY ECONOMY AND WORLD. A WELL ARTICULATED VALUE SYSTEM, SUBSTANTIAL SELF-INFORMATION, HIGH ACCOUNTABILITY AND A DESIRE FOR GREATER OPTIONS AND CHOICES ARE THE KEYS TO PERSONAL ,PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL GROWTH AND SUCCESS. SHECHTMAN IS AN INTELLECTUAL AND INTUITIVE POWERHOUSE.

Excellent book for those on the bubble
Great book. I will be buying copies for all of the poeple that work for me. In this "high risk" environment, this is an excellent book to help you chart your course. It is also a good book to disucss with your managmenet team as to how you would like to interact and what you expect of them. ... Read more

Book Description

FIRST THINGS FIRST EVERY DAY Because Where You're Headed is More Important Than How Fast You're Going

STEVEN R. COVEY
A. ROGER MERRILL AND REBECCA R. MERRILL
A multiple-voice recording with an introduction by A. Roger Merrill

FIRST THINGS FIRST HELPS YOU UNDERTAND WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT EVERY DAY...

Stephen R. Covey and the Merrills have shown millions of listeners how to balance the demands of a schedulewith the desire for fulfillment. Now the principles they introduced in First Things First are distilled for everyday listening. Let First Things First Every Day be your guide to the rich relationships, the inner peace, and the confidence that come from knowing where you're headed, and why. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

We need these daily reminders
Our lives are busy and full of change. Keeping our priorities in order while maintaining focus and vision is a constant challenge. We live in a society that loves short cut techniques where there is no short cut, only a path based on principles revealed throughout history. A meaningful life is not a matter of speed and efficiency but what you do and why you do it - and we need to be reminded of this everyday. The best way is to take a few minutes of quiet time before the daily rush. Our hearts and minds need nourishment and this is the purpose of this book - to provide daily nourishment through the daily reading of wisdom literature that can have a profound effect on the quality of our daily decisions by keeping us focused on what is important and preventing us being swept away by urgency. Covey believes these little daily thoughts will help us do three things - to reconnect with our big ideas and the insights that accompanied learning them; to encourage us to take a little breathing space between events and our response - a space that reconnects us to our inner compass; and to garnish our wisdom literature habit. We need to be constantly reminded of the principles that have been part of the wisdom of every successful individual and civilization. These are some of the readings that made an impression on me:

January 4: Be governed by your internal compass, not by some clock on the wall.
January 5: If the thing you are committed to is principle-centered, you become principle-centered and you walk your talk.
January 11: While you can be efficient with things you cannot be efficient - effectively - with people.
January 14: We need to move beyond time management to life leadership.
January 23: Meaning is in contribution, in striving for something higher than self.
January 29: We choose either to live our lives or let others live them for us.
January 30: The best way to predict your future is to create it.
February 6: The more involved you are, the more significant your learning will be.
February 7: What does it matter how much we do if what we're doing isn't what matters most.
February 14: More than any other factor, vision affects the choices we make and the way we spend our time.
February 18: Vision is the fundamental force that drives everything else in our lives.
February 22: There's no way we can escape accountability. We do make a difference - one way or the other. We are responsible for the impact of our lives.

I think that Covey is right. We need a five-minute reminder as we start each day to make sure that we keep our thoughts, plans and priorities pointed in the right direction because where we're headed is more important than how fast we're going.

First Things First - Fabulous.
Mr. Covey & Mr. & Mrs. Merrill did a great job putting together this audiocassette recording of First Things First. The teachings contained within educate you on how to find a balance in your life, fulfillment, and how to become more effective. Teachings regarding the 4-quadrant time management theory help you find where you are putting most of your time, and how effective it is. The authors put time management in its proper place: revolving around what is important and of value to you. Principle-centered living and basing your mission upon those principles will assist you in life success. I was very encouraged, and only wished that I had bought the six-tape system (I listened to the four-tape system).

Three authors, 1 CD - Good Highlights
Some people on the reviews complained about the book not just being Covey talking...but if you notice the book is written by three people (yeah, Amazon only shows 2, but I have the book in front of me) The CD is a good highlight to explaining the basics to the First Things First principles. The cd says to get the book for using the meat and potatoes of the book...BUT there is also a 3 Disc set out there which is Unabriged and tells it all (for some reason I can't find it on Amazon...but have found it in searching around the net) So if you want the basics to remind yourself of what you are doing (Review regularly to make it a part of your life is a common self improvement strategy) is quicker than re-reading the book over and over... especially when given the gift of traffic to slow down and enjoy the CD.

Less than enthralling
I was dismayed to find that this audio book is simply a laundry listing (in an "advice o'the day" format) of tidbits of wisdom. The wisdom offered is good, mind you, but if you are looking for something to stimulate and entertain you (eg on a long car ride) you will likely be disappointed. I can only listen to about 4 or 5 tidbits before I lose interest.

Too Abridged To Be More Than An Inspiring Introduction
The strength of the abridged audiocassette is the conviction in Dr. Covey's voice. It will convince you that this is an important subject.

The weakness of this audiocassette is that you will learn the principles behind Quadrant Two Time Management, but not how to do it. As the audiocassette will tell you, you will need to buy the book, study it, and then start doing it. I thought this was so substantial a weakness that I graded the book down two stars for this limitation.

If you are pretty sure you want to use this method, go directly to the book. If you are not sure, listen to this audiocassette. I found a copy in my local library. Perhaps you can, too.

The time management technique here is intended to be a fourth generation of that method of getting more accomplished. The main different is that the goals here are to achieve more balance in your life by having you focus first on doing what is most important to you that will make the most difference. You will plan weekly, and reiterate your planning to learn from your experiences of the prior week.

Quadrant 2 is the area where activities are important, but not urgent. These activities are often overlooked, or are pushed out of the way by urgent activities, including ones that are unimportant.

The time management process is designed to handle all elements of your life, personal life as well as work. An analogy is used to putting big rocks, gravel, sand, and water into a jar. If you start with the big rocks, you can get everything in the jar. If you start in the opposite order, you'll never fit the big rocks in.

You are encouraged to develop a personal mission statement (because seeing meaning to life gives us more optimism and perserverance), consider all of your life roles, locate the highest payoff areas for those roles, make principle-centered decisions, exercise integrity in your moments of choice, and continually reevaluate how you are doing.

After you listen to this work, consider how well balanced or unbalanced your life is. Then think about what your habits are that cause you to have such imbalances. Next, start changing those habits to better ones.

... Read more

Book Description

To live with change, to optimize change, you need principles that don't change. I cannot fully describe the respect and reverence I have for every person who has contributed a story, for their willingness to share their inward struggles to live by universal and self-evident principles. -- Stephen R. Covey

In the ten years since its publication, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People has become a worldwide phenomenon, with more than twelve million readers in thirty-two languages. The principles it teaches are more relevant than ever in today's uncertain world.

Living the 7 Habits: Stories of Courage and Inspiration captures the essence of people's real-life experiences, applying proven principles to help them solve their problems and overcome challenges. In this uplifting and riveting collection of stories, listeners will find wonderful examples of hope and encouragement as they are touched by the words of real people and their experiences of change -- change that got them through difficult times; change that solved family crises; change that mended broken relationship; change that turned their businesses around; change that influenced entire communities.

Our understanding is enhanced by the personal commentary and added insights of Dr. Stephen R. Covey, as he explains how the application of his principles aided each situation. Whether you have read his previous works or not, these touching and powerful stories will enthrall and inspire you with an energizing recognition of your own freedom, potential and power. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

It's not enough to know, you must also do...
I like this book. It is very inspiritional. It's sort of like Chicken Soup for the Soul or like an Millionaire Next Door for inspirition and attitude. It tells stories of people who have done it---used the 7 Habits and gotten incredible results.1 star reviewers don't like it because it takes all of the wind out of their claims against Covey and his philosophy.I particularly enjoyed the story on page 57, "I can choose my life." Very, very powerful.7 Habits should be your first book to read. You can then add this one either as a companion to while reading 7 Habits or after you get through the 7 Habits.I also recommend Principle Centered Leadership.

7 Habits in action!
I hesitated to buy this book. After reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, I thought that Dr. Covey had said all that he needed or could say. Boy was I wrong?

In living the 7 habits, Dr. Covey brings the 7 Habits to life. This book touched my heart and my soul. It made me dust of my old copy of 7 Habits and read it again along with this volume. It made the 7 Habits work like never before and created more balance and happiness inmy life.

If you are not touched agter reading this book, then you had better check your vitamin dosage. It is powerful.

Not enought to learn, you must LIVE the 7 Habits
What I liked about this book is that it includes many inspiring stories, but even better, goes even deeper into the 7 habits than the original book did and in a different way.

This book should be read in addition to, not in place of The 7 Habits. It is not the "same book on a different cover." It is an expanded version of The 7 Habits.

Gives Real Meaning to the Original Book
You can compare this book to the laboratory portion of a class, that brings the textbook to life. As a follow up to his original 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (the textbook), Covey uses Living the 7 Habits (the lab) to let people tell how they applied the 7 habits at work and in their personal lives, and describe the results.

The result? Far more interesting than the original book. You will enjoy reading these intensely personal and often dramatic stories, and you will reinforce what you learned with the first book.

Covey does a fine job of elaborating, as good teachers do, on the points made by the contributors.

A multitude of examples of successful applications
When I first read "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" I recognized its value but was not highly enough motivated to incorporate it into my daily life. Then with the passage of time and particularly after reading Covey's "Principle-Centered Leadership" I came back to it. Yet there was still something holding me back. The missing something was "Living the 7 Habits: Stories of Courage and Inspiration" with its multitude of examples of successful application in real world situations. I needed the encouragement of others to tell me "Hey this is how I applied it; it worked for me; you can do it, too." You need to read all three books because there is a multiplier effect - the three together are greater than their simple sum.

"Living the 7 Habits: The Courage to Change" is a collection of personal statements in four broad contexts: individual, family, community and education, and workplace. This synopsis is about the person who was appointed change agent of a major company that, with an annual growth rate of 40%, was one of the fastest growing companies in the world. " My goal was to create an organization of fifteen thousand exceptional businesspeople. We assumed that everyone wanted to be an entrepreneur within the company, and we gave them credit for having the brains and initiative to do it. My mission was to change the culture within what is essentially a virtual company. Our corporation had more territorial rivalries than the Middle East. Information was hoarded. Communication was disjointed. Trust and synergy were virtually nonexistent. Suddenly, the competition was all over us, undercutting our prices and courting our customers. One of my directives was to make the company more competitive and to learn faster than our competition. My job was to help create among the company's widely scattered population a sense of shared purpose (Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind). After recruiting the best, brightest, and most highly motivated people, we gently immersed them in the realities of our business, presenting them with information on profit margins, the marketplace, and the influences impacting the decisions of their customers (Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood). They were also introduced to a specially designed 7 Habits course to provide them with foundational principles and context for the other materials. There were only three rules: Take care of yourself. Take care of each other. Take care of this place. It wasn't long before mission statements began appearing on cubicle walls, and the conversations among employees were marked by references to making deposits into Emotional Bank Accounts. It was an experience of self-discovery for many people. They realized that the company valued them. I had spouses come to me after their husbands or wives had been to a session and say, 'This changed my life because it changed our family.'"

Not all the stories relate specific actions against a specific habit. This is a synopsis of a story by a person from Indian stock whose grandfather was cheated out of 160 acres of oil-rich land. "It was only after he died, when we were going through his papers and correspondence, that I realized what a phenomenal man my simple, unassuming grandfather actually was. The Washington my grandmother referred to was actually Washington, D.C. In his papers, we found letters from governors, senators, U.S. representatives. Some congratulated him on his fiftieth wedding anniversary; others thanked him for his help with legislation issues and for his community service. I sat there thinking, "Did they know the same man I did?" He had no eloquence, no wealth, not even his own home. Yet here were famous, powerful people corresponding with him. I realized that his life had been lived not to acquire things for himself, but to help other people. He had lived a life of integrity, honesty, and dedication to family and community all the while toiling in relative obscurity and humility. Once, before he died, he told me that there are two reward systems: people who will be rewarded here and people who will be rewarded later. 'These are not the same people,' he said. He continued, 'For all that you don't see in a reward system now, you will see some other time.' We debated long and hard what to do about the situation. Should we sue him to take back the land? Should we let it alone? Shouldn't he have to pay for his wrong doings? In the end, we knew. We knew what he would do. He would let it alone and allow the taxpayer to reap whatever rewards his behavior would cause him to reap, whether here or later. My grandfather might not have been able to leave us 160 acres of oil-rich land in Oklahoma but he left us something far more important. His insistence on humility, on compassion, on spending his life trying to help those around him with no thought of reward or praise is now our family legacy. He has changed generations of people with the help he gave. Can you put a dollar-and-cents value on that? I say absolutely not. We now have a value I try to instill in my own family to continue the legacy started by the Choctaw preacher who never owned his own home."

I think there is a maturity continuum. It is as though most other books address the nuts and bolts of doing business well - and of course that is important - and then we discover that there is something more to business than just that. Then we are ready for Stephen Covey. ... Read more

Book Description

Trading for a Living Successful trading is based on three M’s: Mind, Method, and Money. Trading for a Living helps you master all of those three areas:

• How to become a cool, calm, and collected trader
• How to profit from reading the behavior of the market crowd
• How to use a computer to find good trades
• How to develop a powerful trading system
• How to find the trades with the best odds of success
• How to find entry and exit points, set stops, and take profits

1. there are more buyers than sellers
2. buyers are more aggressive than sellers
3. sellers are afraid and demand a premium
4. more shares or contracts are bought than sold

1. I and II
2. II and III
3. II and IV
4. III and IV

Reviews (141)

Really good and useful!!!!
This book contains nearly all the necessary materials for a beginning trader to start trading. I think the only area which is missing is fundamental analysis. O'Neil's book has better covering of FA but the part about TA is very weak and hard to understand.

I feel the TA part is more concise than the John Murphy's book. The later has more than 500 pages but without covering too much about trading psychology. I learned quite a lot about psychology from this book which I am using everyday in my trading. Some of them are also useful for my daily life.

Another strong area of this book is it combines the TA indicators to form a trading system. I got the idea to develop my own trading system from it. Although my system is very different from Elder's one, his idea is valid.

Among the hundred trading books that I have read, this is still one of my best favorite and I am still reading it from time to time. The price is slightly high, but I recovered the money from my first trade. Really good!!

'THE' Best Book on Trading
2 Years ago I became a full-time trader after taking several courses and reading more than 40 books on trading. Dr. Elder's book is the ONLY one that has made me money, a lot of money (603% last year).

The first half of the book deals with the psychology of both the market and the trader. I didn't fully appreciate this portion of Dr. Elder's book until I began trading. This is the biggest obsticle of the trader. His insight has really helped me to understand the movements of the market and myself as a trader.

The second half of 'Trading for a Living' deals with technical analysis and money management. This has proved invaluable to me. There is so much accurate information I've read the book eight times, that's how jam packed it is with useable information. Also, every word matters--no fluff at all--unlike most of the books on trading I've read. And, don't overlook his money management chapter. This is where amatuers fail. His simple money management system will help to elivate you to a professional trader. If you want to make money, this is the book.

technically worthless
I am a professional trader. This book has a good section on psychology but thats it. Totally worthless when it comes to the technical part. In fact I always wondered what made this book so popular with the public. I guess most people read the books but don't use the knowledge in them.

This Guy is a Psychiatrist
Alexander Elder is first and foremost a psychiatrist, and it shows when he explains his insights into individual and mass psychology in the first two chapters of the book.

These two chapters are the real gold in the book; i have not read a more succinct and hard-hitting explanation of the behavior of individuals and crowds, and these two chapters are the ones you want to read.

The rest of the book is devoted to the basics of technical analysis. There is a lot of stuff out there on technical analysis so the stuff in Elder's book is likely to be somewhat outdated.

Nevertheless, read this book for the part on the psychology. This is fundamental and basic for any investor or trader, and is crucial to your success in the markets.

Timeless gem
Aside from psychology and money management, this book is an essential reference about formulas (MACD, WILLIAMS %R, ADX and at least a dozen more). It shows whether such oscillators are trend-indicating or trend-following, whether one should use it within trading ranges or when trading a trend. Most (if not all) of these indicators contain its origins and market psychology, the formula and worksheet / chart examples and how to use it in bullish / bearish markets.

This book is ten years old. But it still proves correct in areas that couldn't be forseen back then. Although obtaining and processing all the financial data with appropriate hard- and software was a challenge back in 1993, the book does not spend too much time on such (volatile) details.

This is why I consider this book a timeless gem and a true value for any interested trader - giving it a full five star. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is the inescapable truth about getting a job: the interview is almost all that matters. As for everything else -- research, resumes, letters, phone calls -- it's all here as backup for that crucial meeting.

People who interview successfully are the people who are promoted faster, have increased self-esteem, and move faster and higher on the corporate track than anyone else. Focusing on time-tested techniques that can move job applicants from a position of weakness and uncertainty to one of confidence and power, America's leading placement attorney, Jeffrey Allen, presents sound, step-by-step advice on the A to Z of successful interviewing. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Sorry, but it was disappointing for me.
I did not find ANY thing there that are new for me. All information was VERY basic.
Besides, I don't think that this book will help you with ANSWER to question "HOW to turn an interview into a job?".
If you don't have any idea about resume and interview I think it's probably better to buy:
1.) Resumes in cyberspace (about e-mail resumes and more);
2.) 10 insider secrets to job hunting success;
3.) Gallery of best resumes;
4.) How to knock 'em dead (interview questions).

Also I found "Here is my card "book. I think some info there is interesting and useful.

Good luck!

The Best
I left school about 18 years ago armed with a copy of this book. The book helped me get offers or at least second interviews in about 75% of my attempts. From my experience, you'll do quite well in the interview if you take the author's advice. You'll actually feel positive energy flowing during the interview if you are using the techniques from the book.

Quick and Simple
...this short and sweet book ...[has]
tried and true concepts [that] will walk you through the critical
interview process, and send you on your way prepared and
confident. Once you have spent the time and effort it
takes to land an interview, Jeffrey G. Allen, in How to
Turn an Interview Into a Job will show you how to make it
count.

Let this no nonsense 12-step action plan be your guide. It
includes frequently asked and tricky questions, pro-active
answers, and some simple but valuable tips to demystify the
process. Keep Allen's list of action and buzz words handy,
so you can have what he calls a "winner's vocabulary".
Preparation is key, and Allen keeps it simple.

Useful Beyond the Interview!
I have owned a copy of this practical book since 1986 and have used it to secure every new job position for which I have applied. Jeffrey Allen's easy-to-use concepts and straightforward approach help to make easier the often frustrating task of finding and securing a new job. Of particular help is his suggestion of developing an "action vocabulary" and preparation for the "interrogation interview." In addition, Mr. Allen's approach found in Chapter Two, "The Deep Breath Phone Call," has even helped me to secure appointments with prospective clients during my career in sales. I have found this book to be helpful beyond the interview process!

Down to earth, candid, to the point, superb.
A great little book that can be read in an hour or two, yet provides concised "what, where, whom, and how to answer" interview questions. It also provides with a backbone format to get that job in 12 steps. Everything from what and how to write your CV, to making that first phone call, to the interview process, and finally to the post-interview follow up. It gives you tools to play the intervewer to your benefit without the interviewer even realizing he/she is just been set up to say, "you got the job." ... Read more

Book Description

Most people fear giving a speech more than any other situation they encounterin fact, public speaking ranks #1, even out-ranking death.Reluctance to getting up in front of an audience is often a major impediment to career advancement.Indeed, each year thousands of people turn down promotions because a new position would require giving speeches to bosses, co-workers, or clients.

101 Secrets of Highly Effective Speakers shows you how to--

Prepare a dynamite introductionUse visuals aids effectivelyTime a speech properlyKeep listeners in suspenseEstablish credibilityPrepare for questions from the audienceControl nervousnessProject enthusiasmMaintain audience attention

Heres an audiobook that finally pulls together the major principles and techniques used by todays most effective speakers! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good advice for beginning speakers...
As part of my Lotusphere preparation, I read the book 101 Secrets Of Highly Effective Speakers by Caryl Rae Krannich. As the title indicates, it's a series of short "secrets" (tips) on how to make effective presentations. The tips are broken up into categories such as Plan To Exceed Expectation, Build Your Body - Your Speech Body, Close With Power, and Prepare Like A Pro.

This isn't a "program" to help you overcome your fear. Instead, it's more like a buffett of ideas. Most of the ideas are common sense, and will strike you as "I know that already". If you've given presentations before, or if you're an experienced presenter, you might not take much away from the book. But if you're just starting out on the speaking trail, the information in the book will help you to focus your efforts.

Sensible advice for all
True to the title, Ms. Krannich outlines, in a sensible order, 101 eminently useful tidbits on public speaking. She covers everything from the speaker's posture to controlling anxiety to the actual environment of the room, giving fledgling speakers insights that might have taken years of trial and error otherwise. True, there are limitations in the user-friendly self-help style Ms. Krannich adopts. At times , things seem a little too overly simplified; at other times, she doesn't explain enough why the technique is useful. Most of the time though, she offers well reasoned common sense. Definitely useful.

Read This Book If You Are New To Public Speaking
Easy to read straight forward style. Author does not talk down to you like so many other public speaking books. Great tips on how to get started and how to improve in many, many ways. As you read each tip you know you are going to use it as the tip is so well reasoned. It would be an excellent first book on speaking. This is one of the most wisely organized books I have ever read. Dance around from subject to subject with great table of contents and index or plow though sequentially Read the book in one day.

Excellent Book
A excellent Hand book to any Interviewer ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Great supplement to Succeed and Grow Rich
If you have already read Succeed and Grow Rich by Hill and/or Think and Grow Rich, Selling You will show you how to put Napolean Hill's philosophy to work for you, every day of your life.

The program includes two powerful tapes with narrations by Joe Slattery. There is an introduction by Clement Stone who gives a powerful testimony to how Hill's principles benefitted him. Talk about a successful endorsement! And there is a 32 page booklet that offers additional techniques.

All in all a great program that will seriously impact any salesman's bottom line.

Not just for sales people
Napoleon Hill was ahead of his times in many ways. One of which addressed by this book is the realization that *everything* is sales. When you are talking with someone and want them to take an action or even accept something you are saying, you must sell not only what you are suggesting, but yourself as well. This insight (and its explanation) make the tape worthwhile. Beyond that are suggestions to make you more successful. The biggest downside is that some of the book/tape is hard to understand as the usage of certain words (such as faith) are far from their common usage.

Another Excellent Napolean Hill Creation
A must have for any sales professional. A timeless classic to liten to several times a year. ... Read more

Book Description

The Leadership Wisdom of Jesus is a call to wise and compassionate leadership. Rather than looking to Jesus’ teachings to support preconceived theories of how managers should lead, Manz looks at the New Testament with an open mind. What he has found are powerful lessons that will inspire leaders and followers of any religious background.

This updated and expanded edition includes a new preface, a chapter on how to address issues like accountability and justice in relation to compassion and forgiveness, and suggestions for classroom use. It also features more insightful examples of leadership wisdom in practice. Remarkably contemporary, the lessons in The Leadership Wisdom of Jesus shed a penetrating light on the path to effective leadership and provide valuable insights on how topromote a more constructive and compassionate world for us all. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great for new managers and old who care for their followers
I am a Christian and was looking for a book on managagement that would help me to be a good leader and also help me learn to creatate a win-win type situation. I found that this book confurmed that what I have beendoing in regard to my leadership style is how God would have me to be. Ihave to say that Mr. Manz stretches for the passage and the subject tomeet, He in the most part does a very good job. I would recemmened thisbook to everyone, leader or not .It give good advice on how we should treatpeople.

Outstanding lessons in sound leadership practice.
I enjoyed Manz's perspective on leadership. In the age of mergers,aquisitions, and emphasis on the bottom line, Manz offers sound leadershipfor the business executive based on the fundamental wisdom of Jesus Christ.The subject manner offers huge challenges for the executive of today. Ideassuch as lead by serving, passiveness, lifting up employees, and leadershipthrough example are all sound but seem to be huge challenges in todaysworld. Those who are critical are unwilling to accept the challenge but itdoes work. It is refreshing to see a perspective based solely on the truth.Leadership based on the truth will not fail and I congradulate Dr. Manz onhis stance and his thoughts. ... Read more

Book Description

In today's changing business world, leaders face more challenges than ever before, whether from increased competition, new ways of reaching customers, or motivating people.

Leadership by the Book is an exceptional new book, brimming with insights, ideas, tools, and tactics for becoming a successful leader. Written in the parable format of Ken Blanchard's bestselling The One Minute Manager. and Raving Fans, it tells the story of a professor and a minister who school a young professional in management skills and ethics. Citing Jesus as a source for practical lessons in effective leadership, the authors explore the concept of "servant leadership" and offer simple strategies for bringing vision and values to any organization. Individuals will learn how to:

• Achieve goals without sacrificing character or faith
• Inspire and sustain commitment and others to give their best
• Build teamwork and celebrate successes
• Find personal passion and meaning in work

Sure to be required reading for managers and employees, Leadership by the Book can also be applied in day-to-day life by parents, coaches, entrepreneurs, and community leaders everywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Excellent Idea, Severe Omission
Blanchard and Hybels and Hodges team up for an excellent perspective on leadership from a Christian point of view. While reaching out to the secular marketplace with valid concepts for servant leadership, they put together an excellent framework for leadership. The summary checklist, given on pp. 171ff., offer a helpful concise summary of the book. The glaring omission, and one that I can't believe that Hybels would make, is to clearly point out that following Jesus' style of leadership is absolutely impossible apart from first having a personal relationship with Jesus, in other words, you can't lead like Jesus if you don't have him in your life to help you. I can't believe that there wasn't at least an appendix for those who would like to pursue that issue further. I believe that the authors are posturing too much to get the secular audience to read the book. But for the Christian, it is an excellent book.

An excellent primer for servant leadership
Ken Blanchard's allegorical style leads the reader through a case study as we learn about the leadership style of Jesus. The story helps us get beyond the typical studies, charts and graphs of many leadership books and allows us to touch on the spirit and heart of true leadership.

This book will appeal to those persons who are intuitive and feeling. Ken leaves out the data and speaks to the heart of leadership.

A significantly different Christian leadership book than those put forth by John Maxwell.

Very Slow Story!
I was absolutely bored to tears while reading this book. I think that a lot of the suggestions towards better leadership are very well intentioned and are good ideas, but it is very heavy in religion. If you are a strong believer in JC then this book might appeal to you. I was sick of the many religious references by page 30. The story was also poorly written. I found myself having to re-read portions of the book to understand the point. The only thing I will remember from this book is EGO (you'll get it once you've read it).

Another great Blanchard book
Leaderhsip By The Book is another in a great string of management books. While many books scratch the surface of management and other delve into the minute details, Blanchard and his co-writers deliver practical, useable ideas in a common-sense manner that will allow the brightest of managers see new insights and the newest of managers see the bigger picture of the challenges ahead of them.
The story is told in parable format, similar to Raving Fans and Gung Ho (two books referred to within LBTB), which allows Blanchard, et al. to tell the story of a hard-charging businessman who had built a solid foundation for his direction and effort and had lost his way getting caught up in the fever of big business and big EGO. I'm confident most managers can identify with some of the mistakes made by Michael, the good guy that gets turned around, has a heart attack and finds his way back. The heart attack is symbolic of what often confronts leaders that allows them to see the wrong choices they make that are casued by EGO or other motivators that are not aligned with the idea espoused in this book called servant leadership.
You have to read this book. I am leading a leadership program at work and this book is the capstone of the program. Buy it and get a copy for all your employees who are in the position of leadership, whether in management positions or line positions.

Let there be leaders
This is yet another parable by Ken Blanchard in his characteristic style for driving home powerful messages. This story is around Michael the executive and his friends the minister and the professor. It clearly brings out the pressures experienced by a high-flying executive in his pursuit of success, that soon he loses his links with friends and guidance from the Lord.

Business leaders tend to assume themselves as masters to get things done through lesser mortals to achieve business goals. Their egos start bloating, denying them the true unconditional love bestowed on us by the Lord. EGO is aptly described here as "Edging God out".

The leadership model as described in this book is based on Jesus and, in my opinion has not been discussed in most management books on the topic.

Let there be leaders....who lead as servants of the Lord.

Highly recommended for all men and women who would like to lead in leading. ... Read more

Book Description

the PATH In a world in which we are daily forced to make decisions that lead us either closer to or further from our goals, no tool is as valuable in providing direction as a mission statement -- a brief, succinct, and focused statement of purpose that can be used to initiate, evaluate, and refine all of life's activities.

Individuals and companies have recently been learning what history has demonstrated all along -- that people or groups with carefully defined missions have always led and surpassed those who have none. Yet the process of outlining that mission statement has been, up to now, an arduous one that all too few have committed the time, energy, and resources to undertake.

In The Path, Laurie Beth Jones, author of the national bestseller Jesus CEO, provides inspiring and practical advice to lead listeners through every step of both defining and fulfilling a mission. With more than ten years' experience in assisting groups and individuals, Jones offers clear, step-by-step guidance that help you create a mission statement in a matter of hours rather than a month or years.

Rich with humor, exercises, and case histories, The Path is essential listening for anyone seeking a lighter, clearer way in the world. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Phenomenal
This book is life altering. A completely different twist on finding your purpose and place in life. In my case, my final life purpose statement shocked me at first. I thought I must have done the exercises wrong. However, after thinking about it for a moment, I realized the mission statement revealed my inner most truth, the absolute and quintessential me. I love how Laurie Beth Jones helps you develop a personal mission statement. She teaches the importance of aligning yourself with a company that has a similar or complementary mission statement. Powerful stuff!

Insightful!
Laurie Beth Jones' survey of the basic principles of creating mission statements and vision statements is accompanied by her personal observations. She includes stories about clients, business associates and friends, and stories from the Bible. The book focuses on ways each individual can develop a personal path to guide him or her through professional and personal life. The book is written in short, easy-to-read sections. The basic message about missions and goals is familiar. Many readers will find that this book offers a quick and useful guide to creating an overall plan, within an inspirational and spiritual context. However, some may admire her strong Christian orientation and others may find themselves uncomfortable with it. As she notes, her personal mission is to "recognize, promote and inspire the divine connection in myself and others." She fulfills that mission with the book's underlying Christian message. We [...] recommend this book to those who wish to develop a personal plan and who are interested in including a Christian-oriented spiritual dimension in that process.

Religious Themes and yet Very Practical
In the book the path, Ms. Jones demonstrates how "People with clearly defined missions have always led those who haven't any. You are either living your mission or you are living someone else's."

Although Ms. Jones reaches into the historical past of Judeo-Christian tradition for many of her examples, she also gives many personal and contemporary accounts. The religious references may put off some non-religious readers, yet the book still has many powerful exercises that do help you create a powerful mission statement.

Ms. Jones is humorous at times which helps to drive home her points. One of my favorites is when she is making the case for the power behind having a clear mission statement. "I often visualize heaven as being like a catalog fulfillment center, full of angels reading requests. 'This one reads, 'I want to be happy in the future', says Gabriel. 'What exactly does that mean?' asks Michael. 'I do not know. What should I do with it?' asks Gabriel. 'Put it in the hold file, with all the rest. Someday maybe these humans will learn to be specific," sighs Michael, as he marks yet another request incomplete".

The heart of the book is the chapter entitled "Creating the Vision Statement." Here she created two very practical sets of exercises. One for individuals and the other for groups/organizations. Each question is designed to help you create a clearer vision of what you want thus helping you to attract, manifest and get clear about "the path" you want to follow.

Rick's Purpose Ratings
Relevance of exercises 10
"Woo Woo" scale* 5
It makes a good case for purpose 8
Good for individuals 10
Good for groups 8
Overall 8.2
*Indicates how mainstream the book is. 1 = Very far out, strap on your astral helmets, 10 = Practical and contemporary, a great book for a skeptic like Archie Bunker.

I highly recommend her book.

Excellent
This is a great product that helped me to focus my own life a great deal more. It is not just for professional use, it can be for spiritual growth as well. I loved it!

One of my top 3 recommendations of all time
If you do it right, this book will change your life. Next to SIMPLE ABUNDANCE and THE BIBLE, there are few books with that power and influence. I've read this book 20+ times, always with the idea that I can improve on what I learned the times before. If you are looking for a way to set goals in your life in a structured, yet personal, way....this is the place to start. It is geared toward everyone, but women seem to find it more applicable. ... Read more

Book Description

In Flight of the Buffalo, James Belasco and Ralph C. Stayer combine expertise, insight, and passion to show how the nature of management must change if a company expects to survive in the white-knuckle world of modern business. Going beyond the quick-fix approach of many of today's business gurus, the authors explain how to avoid being outmaneuvered by the competition; how to become more focused and flexible; how to empower workers and maintain their loyalty; and how to become a manager who goes beyond filling quotas. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Get Focused on the True Role of your Employees
The authors really "feel the pain" of the small business owner whose employees just don't seem to accept ownership and concern of the major issues in their areas. Excellent examples are provided of real life business circumstances that most any owner/manager can relate to. The ideas and theory provided is down-to-earth and can apply to most any company. It is also a very motivating book for getting re-focused on your employees, their needs, and motivations.

A Leadership Book Worth Reading
Flight of the Buffalo discusses the fact that the business world has changed. To stay competitive business leaders must also change and change the way our businesses operate. The only things that are constant are that change will continue to impact the way business is done and the speed of this change will continue to increase. How do you satisfy (retain) that current customer, or acquire that next customer in this continually changing competitive environment? First, as a leader you must learn to learn and learn at a faster rate. The foundation for all change is learning. Second, it is important that changes be made to the organizational culture in order to accomplish the changes required by the organization to allow employees to lead. The culture needs to change to remove the mentality that we are all victims because we have no control over any of the tasks required to make the customer happy, to one in which we all have ownership of the problems our companies/customers face. There are a number of obstacles that stand in our way as leaders. Many leaders within our companies hesitate to empower their employees and give them responsibilities for fear that they will not have anything to do themselves. Anyone who struggles with relinquishing control and trusting their coworkers to share in the responsibilities of the organization should read this book.

Although the book discusses many important aspects of leadership and developing a culture in which employees do lead, the book lacks in two areas. First, many of the concepts presented in the book were repeated numerous times. As I read the book I felt like I had already read that page. Secondly, the book does not do justice to the concept of letting employees lead. It does discuss at detail how the leader's mentality has to change to effectively lead an organization where the employees lead, but it does not discuss when this is appropriate. The book is subtitled "Soaring to Excellence, Learning to Let Employees Lead," and it may have been the author's intent not to discuss the ramifications of this change on the employees, but instead focus on the real problem, the leadership, for which the author does an excellent job at detailing. After reading the book I am left with many questions: Does every company need to change to a flock of geese to remain competitive, or are there situations where the lead buffalo is a necessity to running the business? What if employees do not want to take on the responsibilities of leading the organization? Are there changes within the employee reward system to effectively deal with this change in the organization? How do we as leaders handle resistance to this new system? The book only brings us half way in our understanding of how to let employees lead.

Good General Principles Trust Your Workers
These are good business principles to live by. Involve your workers, and better yet, make them feel like they are a vital part of your organization.

Read this with your employees.

My boss did this when I worked at Fond du Lac...and we got some good debate going.

Flight of the Buffalo
The "Flight of the Buffalo" is an interesting book for managers and leaders of today society. The idea that let the people who work with the product, own the responsebility of fixing the problem is a fresh outlook.