Reviews (28)

Savvy, perspicacious advice from a consummate professional.
Full of true-to-life examples, Ms. Lavington's book is a must-read for anyone whose goal is to succeed. There is a wealth of useful detail, lucidly presented, apposite to the art of self-improvement in today's competitive world.

A must read for professionals
I recently read Camille Lavington's book.It provided me the ingredient that was missing from my presentation.It so happened thatI was making a change in my career and this book definitely helped be to elevate my interview and I have no doubt that it helped me land the job. I absolutely recommend this for anyone.A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE.I must admit, I am usually skeptic about this kind of books, but Ms. Lavington's book is an exception.

Great Book Helped Me To Overcome Hurdles
I LOVE this book. It really helped me to overcome a serious career hurdle. She talks about everything from your projected attitude to eye contact. This book has changed my life and how I deal with people. I strongly recommend it.

Not much content....don't waste your money..
I read this book and throughout, I kept thinking, "When will the author give us concrete tips?" The author gives such "sage" advice as it is important to understand others in order to communicate with them...or in Great Britain they eat the continental way...being well groomed is good..., etc. There is significant section of the book devoted to handwriting analysis -- what?!?!? She goes through a chapter that includes a Myers-Briggs type analysis but doesn't explain how to use this to give a good first impression. She details multiple "success stories" where she took someone for a good haircut and helped them buy expensive clothing (she is a big fan of extremely expensive clothing although she doesn't explain why) -- but no useful detail: i.e. a blue suit is better for this person because..., here is how to determine if a jacket fits correctly..., this type of haircut was selected because..., etc. Since when does handwriting analysis occur in the first three seconds? She never gives a satisfactory explanation as to why she keeps trying to get everyone to join certain clubs or what they do there that will improve one's image. I wasted $13.95.

First Impression
I am aware of the importance of the first impressions but I did not care so much. This book tries to help you really understand its importance in corparate world. I am going to be more careful from now on. ... Read more

Book Description

Exploring Drawing for Animation is an innovative introduction to 2D animation and inspirational skill-sharpener for working professionals.The authors creatively link drawing techniques and life drawinghuman and animal anatomy, architecture, and sceneryto 2D animation production and outcomes.The instructional format builds animation skills from the ground up, using a technical foundation in drawing as a basis for exploring animation.Overviews span the topics of sequence drawing, character development, motion, proportional techniques, and animation clean-up. Together, these essential skills combine to help readers develop the drawing skills necessary to be a successful animator. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Awesome resource
I have worked as a Game developer, Educator and 3D Animator for the last 8 years. During that time I have spent many long hours reading animation texts. I can say without a doubt that this book is one that every serious animator should add to their collection. Exploring Drawing for Animation is a useful resource for both beginners and experts, I highly recommend it!

This book is a MUST HAVE
I've been drawing for years, and thusly I'm always on the lookout for a drawing book that is truly helpful. After picking up this book, I knew I had found a winner. This book is by far one of the best books of it's type I've ever seen. Finally a book for aspiring animators that isn't filled to the brim with characters that look like stale ripoffs of Don Adams, or rejects from Sergio Aragones' "The Mighty Groo"... and I'm not just harping over this book because the authors are two of my teachers-- they know their stuff, and if you can't be in one of their classes, then you definitely have to pick this up. ... Read more

Book Description

DESCRIPTION: “Sell Yourself! Master the Job Interview Process” teaches individuals, from all walks of life, to sell and promote themselves during the job interview process. Written by Jane Williams, best-selling author of the “Insider’s Guide to the World of Pharmaceutical Sales,” this title provides the necessary insight, information, and tools needed for an individual to successfully attain their desired position. The one thing that all successful job applicants have in common is a well developed ability to sell themselves. This is true regardless of whether you have applied for a sales position, teaching position, administrative position, graphic design position, or any other position. The best salesperson always gets the job! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great New Resource!
Great book! I purchased this book a few weeks ago and it is a fantastic resource. I just "sold" myself to a top-notch marketing firm! The price is small and the return is great. I highly recommend this book to anyone going through job interviews.

Great New Resource!
Great book! I purchased this book a few weeks ago and it is a fantastic resource. I just "sold" myself to a top-notch marketing firm! The price is small and the return is great. I highly recommend this book to anyone going through job interviews.

Real help at last!
At last someone has written a book that is really helpful for job interviewees. While there are several excellent job interview books on the market listing questions and answers, resume and cover letter examples, they either completely ignored the most important information needed during job interviews or they gave simple tips which were useless. "Sell Yourself..." provides all of the above AND the most needed information of all, the "how to sell yourself."

Ms. Williams has provided superb self-selling information along with examples to help the job seeker perform to the best of their ability during job interviews. Considering Ms. Williams sales training background, I guess this is not surprising. This book is very well written in a reader friendly style.

I found this book while researching possible careers for my daughter. With the job market being so competitive, my daughter was getting pretty discouraged about finding a good job. Ms. Williams' best-seller, Insider's Guide to the World of Pharmaceutical Sales, receives rave reviews, but I decided to purchase her new "Sell Yourself..." book because my daughter was not interested in a sales career. That was two weeks ago. My daughter just landed a great financial servicing position with GM after having received numerous rejections from large companies over the past several months and never getting a second interview with those companies. I'm convinced that Sheila's performance improvement resulted from the self-selling coaching in "Sell Yourself..." and that made the difference in the interview outcome for Sheila.

Ms. Williams, I can't thank you enough!
... Read more

Book Description

Basic Patrol Procedures is a foundation for the law enforcementstudent, a review for the veteran, written by an experienced streetofficer for his fellow officers. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good supplemental text
The author uses a wealth of field experience, practical guidelines, and hypothetical scenarios to supplement the instructional material. There are also plenty of diagrams, pictures, and explanatory notes.

This is a required text for my students and should be for all police agencies wishing to give insightful yet full instruction to their students.

I've seen larger books cover less material and do it with less effectiveness. This is a GREAT book in its price range, and for that matter in the range of more expensive books. ... Read more

Book Description

In today's dwindling job markets, people who rely on want ads and headhunters succeed about 5 percent of the time. But those who have mastered the art of networking find new positions nearly 66 percent of the time. Writing for job seekers and career builders alike, networking superstar Diane Darling shows how to cultivate a rich network of professional contacts and use it to find success.

Reviews (6)

Excellent Advice for a Novice Networker
I received this book as a gift since my friend knows that I'm continuing to refine my professional "soft" skills. Networking has always been one area that I've been terrified of. I've never been able to strategically meet new people and build upon the relationships that I had. Diane's book breaks down networking to the bare essentials and makes it very easy to understand. The important thing is that this book makes it easy to make small successes every day and soon enough, you're a networking maniac!

I've been successful using her advice in a very short time. Ultimately, you have to make the change and be more positive about meeting people and enhancing your professional and personal relationships but Diane's book is a great coach! I would recommend this book highly to anyone looking to build this very important skill.

The Complete How -To on Effective Networking
In the nineties, business people discovered the importance of relationships: it was easier, safer and more reliable to deal with people you knew and trusted. The evolution of this ninety's insight is the explosion we see today of networking groups. Businesses and business people alike understand the importance and potential of networking. Unfortunately for most of them, it is potential unrealized. For the truth is most business people don't know how to effectively network. They view networking as nothing more than showing up to an event, shaking some hands, handing out business card and waiting for the business to flow. It rarely does.

Networking, however, works and can be a fecund source of new business and new opportunities- if one knows how to do it effectively. In "The Networking Survival Guide" Diana Darling teaches you how to do just that. In 237 pages, Ms Darling covers not just the ABC's of effective networking but the complete alphabet on effective networking. What is networking? How do I get started and where do I go? How do I prepare to network and what tools do I need? How do I start, stop and transition a networking conversation? What are some of the best practices when I'm face to face and when I'm not? How do I follow-up on my networking opportunities? What do I do if I'm uncomfortable about networking? In a style that is easy, engaging and economical , Ms Darling addresses all of these questions and more. In doing so, she provides not just the know-how, but the how-to. You can open her book up to any page and gain value, a rare accomplishment even for a self-help book.
If you want to learn how to network, or if you are already networking and want to do it better, pick up this book. You won't be disappointed.

This book will make you look forward to networking
I have enjoyed hearing Diane speak on this topic in the past and have eagerly awaited the release of her first book. As I expected, it is a superbly pragmatic approach to refining a business and life skill that everyone needs, but few truly embrace, and even fewer maximize to its full potential. Diane empowers the reader through such practical, easy-to-follow advice, that one would almost have to feel silly to be intimidated in networking situations after reading this book. It's not rocket science, but a set of wonderfully helpful reminders and tips that take the anxiety (and mystery) out of networking. Read this book and you will actually look forward to networking events in the future.

Everyone Needs Somebody Sometime
It has become apparent in today's challenging times that the person with the best networks wins. The days of the "Lone Wolf" are far past and being able to tap into the advice and resources of others is the key to thriving today. Ms. Darling's excellent treatment of this subject can benefit anyone. The book is filled with practical tips on how to connect with other people and extablish a network that will be mutually productive. As I read the book there were constant "Aha's" on every page. To sum it up: networking is core to success today and core to networking is doing the myriad little things that are so easy to forget or overlook. an excellent piece of work which sets the standard for this type of book.

Fantastic, Easy to Read and Not Just For Job Seekers
This book is a treasure trove of great advice about building, sustaining and leveraging a network. It goes way beyond the standard suggestions about joining the right organizations and buying coffee for well-connected people, giving dozens of ideas that are new and refreshing. In particular, Diane Darling's expertise in the interpersonal aspects of networking -- how to introduce yourself, how to push without being a pain in the neck, and so on -- are really relevant for any professional in today's business environment. After all, success in the technology age is less about what you know and more and more about who you know and who is willing to help you. ... Read more

Book Description

The Back Door Guide to Short-Term Job Adventures 3rd Edition by Michael Landes Tempted to chuck your 9-to-5 job to be a white-water rafting guide in Alaska? Always wanted to spend your summer restoring a medieval castle in the south of France? This one-of-a-kind guide contains more than 1,000 opportunities to work, play, learn, help, create, experience, and grow. This comprehensive resource for off-the-beaten-path work-and-learn adventures will introduce you to options you didn’t even know existed. In this third edition, Michael Landes has extensively updated the listings to provide the most current information, and added new listings for internships, seasonal work, volunteer opportunities, and overseas jobs. Seize your life and your career path in both hands and step through the Back Door—the world awaits you. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

The Back Door Guide a winner!
Michael Landes does an incredible job of simplifying a very difficult process.

This is one-stop shopping for a tremendous amount of useful information. The layout and graphics make it a very easy read and all of the information is very accessible.

You can't help but get excited about travel after browsing through this book. If you use it as a tool, you are sure to find many new opportunities that you would never be able to uncover on your own.

I highly recommend it.

Life's too short for a book this comprehensive!
I've seen dozens of volunteer books, adventure-job books, online databases, etc., but this is still my favorite. While some other places may contain more addresses, and yet others more information on each contact, this achieves the perfect balance. Hundreds of exciting jobs await, many well-paying and many volunteer. I've spent countless hours browsing this book dreaming and have used it for one job so far (at an out-of-the-way resort in Olympic National Park).

The chapters are divided usefully into sections on artistic pursuits, overseas jobs, environmental jobs, adventure jobs, farming jobs, etc., and are peppered with helpful anecdotes from people who've been there. The only drawback, as others have noted, is that the vast majority of listings are US-based. So if you wish to find more non-American jobs, try somewhere else, otherwise this is the best place to start dreaming AND doing!

BUY THIS BOOK
IF you are looking for something different to do, the name says it all: Adventure will follow! I got a bunch of great ideas for personal volunteer experiences through this book, there are things for everyone of ANY interest. ALSO there is a particularlly helpful chapter about finding your place. An awesome book!

Comprehensive and Well-Organized Book
Almost 1,000 descriptions of internships. Entries describe the type of position, how many people apply, and information about the job. A section titled "Ideal Candidate" specifies whether jobs are open to college students, career changers, retired people, and/or foreigners. Types of short-term jobs include adventures, camps and resorts, outdoors, environmental, artistic, socially responsible, and international. A section tells you how to motivate yourself to try one of these adventures and how to apply. Inspiring, interesting, and practical.

This review was originally in Learning A Living, A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding A Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Dyslexia

How to work cheaply in the States -- NOT volunteer overseas!
I am sure that this book is a fantastic resource for American citizens.

However, for a Canadian who wants to work in a foreign country, this book is absolutely useless. Canadians can almost never be hired in the U.S.A., and as well, most of the jobs in the book are not only American but not really service project jobs.

If you are interested in working in a national park, working with youth, etc. and you are an American citizen, hey, go for it. If you are looking for alternatives to Canada World Youth, the Peace Corps, etc., this book will do you NO good. ... Read more

Book Description

A valuable resource for planning and moving into a successful nonlegal career. ... Read more

Book Description

Butlers & Household Managers, 21st Century Professionals is designed to assist those seeking a new and rewarding career as a butler or the American equivalent, the household manager, as well as those seeking to employ them, whether in stately home, hotel, corporate setting or elsewhere. In the increasingly competitive and mechanistic world in which we live, service is often the only differentiator between one provider and another. Having a competent butler is one way to develop that much-needed edge.

Butlers & Household Managers, 21st Century Professionals is also useful for any man or woman who would like to use some of the butler's know-how to enhance his or her own life style.

The many checklists in Butlers & Household Managers, 21st Century Professionals cover every kind of situation a butler deals with and are designed, in conjunction with the chapter they supplement, to walk a person successfully through those situations and so increase his or her confidence. No amount of copying actions mechanically will make a butler, however. It is necessary to understand the point of view of the butler to then handle any given situation as a butler would. That is why chapters are provided to explain the butler rationale. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Simply The Best!
If you are involved in the world of private service, I highly recommend this book as a "must have." Mr. Ferry has gone to great lengths to get it right and the results are contained within the pages of this book.
Mr. Ferry presents us with a history of Butling (and other private service household positions,) and weaves a rich tapestry of service standards, duties, do's and don'ts, professional expectations and numerous other pieces of valuable advice throughout the book.
If you do not have this wonderful resource in your collection my advice is to get it and use it.
"The British Butler"
North Carolina, USA

Butlers & Household Managers, 21st Century Professionals
"I read `Butlers' cover to cover. Great! It captures the essence of good butling-competency and discretion."

Butlers & Household Managers, 21st Century Professionals
I've read your book cover to cover and not only enjoyed it but also learned many new things." Vice President/Secretary, International Association of Household Professionals

Butlers & Household Managers, 21st Century Professionals
Six weeks ago I purchased your writings of Butlers and Household Managers, which I hasten to add is outstanding!!! It is to the point, pays attention to the details of everyday operations and the manner and style in which to deliver private service. It has proven to be a most excellent guide/reference that assists and refreshes me as needed. Your checklists are a valuable resource that can be edited or embellished to suit the circumstances. Thank you for sharing your expertise. This book is worth its weight in gold!

Butlers & Household Managers, 21st Century Professionals
"...Butlers and Household Managers ... has been a great help to me in my new position and honestly speaking, I COULD NOT HAVE MANAGED TO DO SOME OF THE TASKS THAT WERE ASKED OF ME, IF I HAD NOT PURCHASED THIS BOOK. ... It has been a God send for me." WJ, Greece/Scotland. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

A great resume book even for a novice like myself.
This book breaks down what makes a resume great; title, skills, and all the things you need to know on how to write a damn good resume is in this book. It covers everything from IT technician, to Administrative assistance. It gives you examples on how to go for the job, and get it on the spot, and shows what to put, and what not to put on a resume.
This book is a definite get for anyone wondering on how to write a functional resume and make you feel like you are the king of the world. The books gives MANY examples for people who dont know how to write good resume's, and trust me it is HARD!
This book takes your hand, and shows you that you can write a good resume, and it is great for someone who is looking for a job, but dont know how to write a good resume, this book is a MUST GET for a employer.

THIS IS THE BEST RESUME GUIDE!
i think that yana parker's damn good resume guides are DAMN good there the best around and anyone looking for help at writing a resume or anything to do with a resume should definitly look at the damn good resumes, whether your in high school just graduating or your 60 looking for a new job and new resume yana parkers book are the place to go!

Excellent Book!
This book is excellent in content and well written.

Guide Gives Examples of Resumes that Solve Problems
Well organized book of resumes. Career fields include office support, finance, education, sales management, youth and students, human resources, technical and computers. Solutions are offered to problems such as gaps in employment, putting together an attractive resume with minimal word processing software, lacking paid experience, a confusing work record, and having only part time employment. A list of these types of problems is followed by resumes that model their solutions.

As originally published in the Annotated Bibliography of "Learning A Living; A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding a Job For People with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, an Dyslexia."

200 not so good examples
I was very disapointed in this resume guide. Not fresh or powerful and not much worth using here. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

I used the book and earned a 4.0!
I read the book during my senior year in high school and then referred to the book often during my first quarter in college. I followed the suggestions in the book, I organized my day and I found that I had enough time to study and also enough time to enjoy college life.Well, the results are in I earned a 4.0!

Worthwhile Book to Read for College Freshmen
Pat O'Brien came to speak to my graduating senior class this year about the reality of college and how to make the best of it.I think it was a good thing to put the end in perspective first and make goals for yourselfin order to make your path towards success even more efficient.HisWinning Characteristics are not always easy to accomplish, but withdiscipline and hard work anyone can achieve them.Basic tips on studying,getting to know professors, extracurricular activites, and internships arehelpful in envisioning your undergraduate years as challenging, butexciting experiences. Overall, O'Brien offers sufficient and realinformation that every college freshmen should know, and if he or sheutilizes O'Briens advice they will be much more likely to be successful.

COLLEGE THRIVE!
This book is about more than just surviving in college, it's about thriving in college.A must have for every student entering college.If you like this book, you'll love "Major in Success," by PatrickCombs.It changed my life.

A must-read for anyone college bound
If you are headed for college, this is the pep talk you need!I read it in a single evening, and it got me pumped to do my best in college.It gives you lots of great tips on how to make the most out of college, butit's a quick and enjoyable read!You're investing a great deal of time andmoney into your college education; its important to get a good return onthat investment.Making College Count shows you how.This book has allthe good advice of a needed lecture, but it's got a light tone so you wantto keep reading!Enjoy!

The College BIBLE
Making College Count has to be the most realistic, accurate account of college success available to students today. Not only does one encounter all details of college life, but many aspects of life beyond the books. Ihighly recommend this book to anyone looking to strive for the best intheir college years, taking skills to last a life time. ... Read more

Book Description

"Do you know what it takes to be a star at work?Robert Kelley has the answer." --Fast Company

• Find out what separates stars from average performers

• Learn how to be the top pick for the choice jobs

• Use nine star-performer strategies to become a member of the select "ten-for-one" club, with ten times the productivity of the average worker

• Find out how using the nine strategies enables you to out-perform people with supposedly better credentials

• New in this edition:special insights for women and members of minority groups
  

Reviews (50)

Mentoring for Those Without Effective Mentors
How to Be a Star at Work is excellent for attacking misconceptions that retard almost all careers. Everyone I know who had a fast rising career used the principles in this book: But they usually had to figure out some of the principles for themselves.

As a young person, many lack the experience and judgment to derive these principles. For example, many will see conforming to the views of co-workers (many of whose careers are going nowhere) as the way to get ahead. Not true!

As your first step toward becoming a star at work, read this book and apply its principles. If you want to go further and be a Superstar at work, read on for more instructions you will need.

Careers are also plagued by other flawed thinking habits not explored in this book including poor communications (assuming the message is received and understood without checking), disbelief in promising new ideas and technologies (check these new perspectives out carefully before you dismiss them), tradition (habits that have outlived their usefulness), bureaucracy (having people involved unnecessarily), harmful procrastination (delaying when the situation is deteriorating), and avoiding ugliness (everyone else avoids it also, so the best opportunities are often in the most unattractive aspects of your operations).

To be most successful, you need to be able to create better solutions.

The way to do this is to (1) learn the value of measurements (nothing improves that is not measured) (2) measure everything you can about important processes in your key activities (each measurement will teach you something you need to know) (3) identify the best practices anyone has ever done in these areas (especially by looking outside your industry), and anticipate where these best practices will be in 5 years (4) assemble best practices together in new ways that no one has ever done before to exceed the future best practice (5) identify the ideal best practice (the best people will ever be able to do -- for communications this will be having everyone get the message in one second, like shouting "fire" in a crowded theater where smoke and flames are evident) (6) find ways to approach the ideal best practice by applying the analogy of where humans do it almost perfectly now to your situation (7) assemble the right people, resources and incentives to get the job done and (8) repeat the process (you will get better at it and find better ideas, each you time you do this again).

Further, a lot of people are oblivious to the powerful trends around them. The most effective people will find ways to turn these trends to their advantage, regardless of how the trend shifts.

If you teach someone else these ideas, you will learn them even better, and proven yourself as a leader.

Now you have everything you need to be a superstar at work, except for the proper goals. Write them down! Review them frequently! You will outperform 97 percent of everyone else with just this focus . . . before you apply this book.

Don't forget to be a superstar in your personal life, where it's tougher . . . but more meaningful . . . to do!

A Role Model for Those Without Role Models
This book is excellent for attacking misconception stalls (bad thinking habits based on a misunderstanding of the circumstances) that retard almost all careers. Everyone I know who had a fast rising career used the principles in this book: But they had to figure out some of the principles for themselves.

As a young person, many lack the experience and judgment to derive these principles. For example, many will see conforming to the views of co-workers (many of whose careers are going nowhere) as the way to get ahead. Not!

As your first step toward becoming a star at work, read this book and apply its principles. If you want to go further and be a Superstar at work, read on for more instructions you will need.

Careers are also plagued by other flawed thinking habits not explored in this book including poor communications (assuming the message is received and understood without checking), disbelief in promising new ideas and technologies (check these new perspectives out carefully before you dismiss them), tradition (habits that have outlived their usefulness), bureaucracy (having people involved unnecessarily), harmful procrastination (delaying when the situation is deteriorating), and avoiding ugliness (everyone else avoids it also, so the best opportunities are often in the most unattractive aspects of your operations).

To be most successful, you need to be able to create better solutions.

The way to do this is to (1) learn the value of measurements (nothing improves that is not measured) (2) measure everything you can about important processes in your key activities (each measurement will teach you something you need to know) (3) identify the best practices anyone has ever done in these areas (especially by looking outside your industry), and anticipate where these best practices will be in 5 years (4) assemble best practices together in new ways that no one has ever done before to exceed the future best practice (5) identify the ideal best practice (the best people will ever be able to do -- for communications this will be having everyone get the message in one second, like shouting "fire" in a crowded theater where smoke and flames are evident) (6) find ways to approach the ideal best practice by applying the analogy of where humans do it almost perfectly now to your situation (7) assemble the right people, resources and incentives to get the job done and (8) repeat the process (you will get better at it and find better ideas, each you time you do this again).

Further, a lot of people are oblivious to the powerful trends around them. The most effective people will find ways to turn these trends to their advantage, regardless of how the trend shifts.

If you teach someone else these ideas, you will learn them even better, and proven yourself as a leader.

NOW YOU CAN REALLY BE A SUPERSTAR AT WORK! Good luck!

Don't forget to be a superstar in your personal life, as well.

Good Reference for 'Brainpowered' Workers
This is a good guide to success in the workplace for engineers and other 'brainpowered' workers. Dr. Kelly, professor at Carnegie-Mellon's business school, writes of nine 'breakthrough' strategies to move ahead of the pack, into the 'A player' ranks. While the somewhat cheesy title implies that this is a guide for lazy people (the 'C players') to sneak their way up the ladder, this is in reality a well-written and well-researched book that is strictly for highly-motivated workers that just need a little added 'edge'.

The tips Dr. Kelly provide seem to be common sense, but we all see hard-working 'B players' every day that neglect these at their own peril. (If it were as easy to spot one's own faults as it is to spot faults in others, this book wouldn't be necessary.)

It doesn't cover everything, of course, and the strategies aren't necessarily easy to implement, but it's a good starting point for someone truly motivated to improve their promotability. To that end, I'd personally recommend reading Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People", Dale Carnegie's "How to Win Friends and Influence People", and this book.

Emotional intelligence in the work place.
This is an excellent book. The nine strategies make perfect sense. They are innovative, and will work for you. This is how to apply all your intelligences within the workplace and not just your IQ. You will recognize the ones who apply these strategies. They are the ones who may not have MBAs from Harvard, but yet are well liked and respected and go up the corporate ladder seemingly effortlessly.

The author strategies are also quite original. He stresses how strong "followership" is just as important if not more as "leadership." This is a really important point that is rarely mentioned in management seminars.

If you are a Harvard MBA, good for you. Nevertheless, this book will be invaluable to your success as it will give you the strategies and people skills you may need to truly leverage the superior business education you got.

Disappointed
I have just finished this book and found it to be very boring and lengthy. I agree with the other reviewer, only three pages worth reading.
No idea how anyone that has read this book would give it five stars, if not friends of the author. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

The Guiding Light
Pre-Eikleberry, I was beginning to believe that the possibility of having a stable yet creative career was a mere pipedream placed in my head by my idealistic liberal arts mentors. I was beginning to believe I had no other choice than to wither up inside the confines of a cubicle that would inevitably crush my dreams and my artistic potential. In this way, since my future was becoming hazy, reading Carol Eikleberry's book, "The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People," was like putting on a pair of glasses. After the first chapter it was clear that not all hope was lost. Right off the bat, Eikleberry validated my feelings of frustration and isolation. She offered comfort and recourse by relaying her own job experiences and those of her artistic clients. In essence, she was able to show me that I am not alone; there are options for creative people in the job world. In the first chapter, by coaxing me to define my personality and my skills, conventional and otherwise, she encouraged me to hone my career goals. Feeling productive, I went on to the second chapter and matched up my skills and interests with a comprehensive list of career choices. Also I was able to envision creating a unique patchwork career that would fulfill all my artistic needs. With Eikleberry's help I realized that it was okay to try several paths, that many people have done just that and, in the end, have found themselves filling creative niches no one thought existed. Because of this book my future now seems to be brimming with possibilities instead of dead ends. Ultimately, while Carol Eikleberry cannot usher you into an interview and land you the job of your dreams, she can certainly help to point the way by instilling you with the confidence to begin what she calls "the process of your adventure."

Insight into and Understanding of the Creative Job World
I highly recommend this book to any person who has even a sliver of creativity and feels that there must be something else out there besides the typical 9 to 5 drugery. Good news, there is! Carol Eikleberry's book is not a "Follow these 5 steps to obtain your perfect job" guidebook. What is does offer, however, is an overwhelming amount of promising insight, advice, and support for creative people uncertain of their career future. From an analysis of the creative personality in the workplace to real life examples of those who have made it, this book delivers hope to the weary and gives us the tools to begin on our career journey. It is The Career "Bible" for unconventional people!

the right book for some of us
Before you buy this book, I think you should read all the reviews posted here. There is a wide range of opinion (Eikleberry would use the word divergent), and there is merit in all. If you are motivated to earn big money, you won't find this book helpful. It doesn't have nuts and bolts - could have used some hints on resumes and interview strategies for the creative folks who have changed jobs more frequently than others. It seems a little restrictive in its use of creativity - I believe we all are creative, only it looks different depending upon personalities and occupations.
This disclaimer notwithstanding, it's a great book. I'm a career counselor, with many clients who are or would be in the arts. I'm recommending this book to them. If you majored in music, theater, art, or even the liberal arts, you will be reassured by this book. If you wish you had majored in these things, it's not too late to get back to your first career aspirations in some employable form.
I particularly like the section on the interim job (which may be for a few months or for a lifetime). This can be reassuring to read, so the artistic soul can stop the self-flagellation because he/she "sold out" and took a job.
For the small cost of this book, you can become re-inspired and energized in your career quest.

A Great Idea Poorly Executed
I thought this book would be so helpful to me, an artist looking for a tolerable day job while I continue to pursue my career. Unfortunately, it was quite a disappointment. I took the quiz and it identified me as a type which I honestly don't agree with. Most of the recommended jobs were neither interesting nor creative. The rest were impossibly out of reach, such as symphony conductor or State Director of Natural Resources (I mean come on - there are only 50 in the nation and they are political appointees). The last straw was when it recommended my current position - a job in which I am slowly dying from lack of stimulation.

I wish I had had this book in high school
When I started reading this book I couldn't believe that there was a book written for me. I have always felt different and misunderstood by others who aren't creative types. I was beginning to believe that I really was weird. It was so wonderful to know that I am not alone in how I perceive the world. I have never had career success even though I have a master's degree in school counseling, reason being, I have never had a job in which I was able to express myself creatively.

This book has helped me see that I need to be in a creative environment and use my creativity in order to thrive in a career. Not only do I need a creative environment, but the book broke things down further by helping me see that I need to be in a creative environment in which I work with ideas and things. I have always been employed in jobs which relied heavily on working with people, something that I have realized is just not for me. It is so wonderful to know that there are other choices out there for creative types and the author includes an extensive list of creative and unconventional careers that are organized by Holland's Theory so I know which careers to focus on as well as which one's to steer clear of. I have only read half way through and I can't recommend this book enough! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

CONFUSED ABOUT JANITOR BUSINESS THIS BOOK HELPS
I HAVE OWNED A COMMERCIAL CLEANING BUSINESS NOW FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE I NEED TO BE AND HOW TO GET THERE. THIS BOOK IS A MUST FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT AND FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS SOME EXPERIENCE IN THE BUSINESS BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MOVE FOWARD. IT IS EASY TO READ AND YOU WILL FIND SOME GREAT HINTS ON HOW TO SUCCEED IN JANITORAL BUSINESS.

THE JANITORIAL CONTRACTORS BIBLE
I HAVE OWNED A CONTRACT CLEANING BUSINESS FOR THREE YEARS AND HAVE ALWAYS FOUND MYSELF DOING THINGS THE HARD WAY BEFORE LEARNING THE EASY WAY. THIS BOOK IS WONDERFUL IN SAVING TIME AND MONEY ON MAKING MISTAKES IN YOUR BUSINESS. ... Read more

Book Description

SO WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH YOUR LIFE?

“You should be a lawyer, a doctor, an accountant, a consultant, blah, blah, blah. Everywhere you turn people try to tell you who to be and what to do with your life. We call that the noise. Block it. Shed it. Leave it for the conformists. As a generation, we need to get back to focusing on individuality. Self-construction rather than mass production. Define your own road in life instead of traveling down someone else’s. Listen to yourself. Your road is the open road. Find it.”
—Mike and Nathan

*****
After college Mike Marriner and Nathan Gebhard had no idea what to do with their lives. All they’d been exposed to were standard career paths like doctor and consultant—roads that didn’t fit them at all.

To see what else was out there they took a roadtrip across the nation in a huge forty-foot RV to meet with people who had successfully defined their own paths in life—including the chairman of Starbucks; a lobsterman from Maine; the director of Saturday Night Live; the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic; the first female Supreme Court Justice of the United States; head stylist for Madonna; and the CEO of National Geographic Ventures. All told, one hundred and forty people candidly shared their stories about how they got from college to the present. Now in Roadtrip Nation, Mike and Nathan share the most compelling tales with you.

Along the way, they explain how you, too, can get out there and meet people on your own. From making cold calls to asking stimulating interview questions, Roadtrip Nation will give you the tools to create a life that you’ll look back on and say: “I was true to myself every step of the way.” ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Luck is all you need
The concept for Roadtrip Nation is great. Go on a roadtrip, meet lots of people, talk about their lives, and bring it all together in a single tome of great wisdom and clarity for all to benefit from. But it doesn't really work. First, there is a selection bias at work here, in that the people these folks chose to talk to are all successful. Most of them freely admit that they were lucky, or that circumstances just lined up for them. That said, the advice they give is not bad advice: work hard, follow your passion, don't be shy, explore each opportunity as it comes along. But it's unclear how many UNsuccessful people have done exactly the same thing. The number of struggling filmmakers and artists and entrepeneurs is a testament to that. So I would find it especially interesting if they compared the stories (or "roads") of less successful people to find what they would have done differently. Or as I like to say, learn from the mistakes of others. Another problem is that the "interviews" (which read more like nicely edited monologues) are much too short and lack detail. There must be countless illustrative anecdotes that are simply glossed over in a few paragraphs, but instead we get a larger font size and bigger margins, and a peppering of inane asides about the RV they drove around. Another problem is that the set of people they interview fall mainly within the boundaries of business and the arts. Very few technical professions are represented, so the book lacks balance in that respect.

To summarize, the idea of the book and its message are great. There are many roads in life, and your parents and school hardly ever give you an accurate picture of all the possibilities. So you should explore, meet people, find your passion, work at it, and don't be discouraged when you don't meet instant success. But when it comes to fleshing out these ideas, the book's superficial profiles fall short. Stick with the website.

Must Read for 20 Somethings
I just finished reading "Roadtrip Nation" and I must say that I'm inspired to go out and find people new areas to explore and talk to people to find out what I want to do with my life. I am at the exact same spot that Mike and Nate were in during their senior year of college so it feels much more attainable than someone writing who is in their 40s telling you how to live your life. As for the reviewer who writes that there aren't enough people in technical positions or less successful people interviewed that's the beauty of the book. You're allowed and encouraged to go and search out people that interest you. The idea is to explore. Have fun.

A cool book
Very nice, easy to read book. Without any verbiage or pomposity, gives you a sense in how many different ways people live out their lives, and how different things matter to different people. Interspersed in the book are true gems of wisdow that interviewes occasionally drop. Things you've all heard before, but here having strong credibility, because they are clearly life's lessons these people learned through toil and struggle, not read off a fortune cookie.

A great book for anyone in school or a dead end job.
This is a great book for anyone nearing the close of any scholastic or professional carreer. The book is an easy read and the interviews are short enough that even young readers would enjoy this book. It is a great window into life lived with passion. It is an example that success is not always immediate, but if you stay true to yourself and your dreams, the payoff is personal success, which is always greater than personal gain which is much easier to find. The interviews are fun and diverse. No matter what path in life you are taking, there is an interview that will probably mirror your experience. Even more interensting than the interviews themselves though, is the story of the author and how he and his friends landed the interviews in the book. The only reason for the four star rating is that I was always wanting more at the end of each interview. Although this may be the goal of the author, it is not everyday that someone gets to peek into the lives of some of the world's most successful people. Overall though, I highly reccomend the book.

Good boook for the graduate or anyone in a dead end job
This is a great book for anyone nearing the close of any scholastic or professional carreer. The book is an easy read and the interviews are short enough that even young readers would enjoy this book. It is a great window into life lived with passion. It is an example that success is not always immediate, but if you stay true to yourself and your dreams, the payoff is personal success, which is always greater than personal gain which is much easier to find. The interviews are fun and diverse. No matter what path in life you are taking, there is an interview that will probably mirror your experience. Even more interensting than the interviews themselves though, is the story of the author and how he and his friends landed the interviews in the book. The only reason for the four star rating is that I was always wanting more at the end of each interview. Although this may be the goal of the author, it is not everyday that someone gets to peek into the lives of some of the world's most successful people. Overall though, I highly reccomend the book. ... Read more

Book Description

"I have advised countless medical students and applicants over more than two decades and I repeatedly found myself agreeing with the advice given by the Daneks." —Michael V. Drake, M.D.Professor and Associate Dean, School of Medicine University of California, San Francisco

"These authors have the experience, knowledge, and writing skills to lead the lost through the maze of uncertainties of medical schools and beyond."—Robert H. Shapiro, Ph.D.Academic Dean and Provost U.S. Naval Academy

"Any student thinking about a career in medicine should have this book."—Tyrone D. Taborn Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Career Communications Group, Inc.

Here, at last, is the book that will help you realize your dream of a career in medicine. Whether your goal is to work in a busy city hospital ER, as a country doctor, or in research, here you'll find innovative ways to actively plan and tailor your medical school education to meet your specific needs. Explore your many options with:

• Straight facts on the medical school admissions process
• Up-to-date information on the MCAT
• Advice on selecting the right medical school
• The current medical trends and the most attractive specialties

Reviews (13)

This is a great book
I have read this book a number of times over the past several years. I very much enjoyed reading it and felt it was instrumental in my journey towards medical school. I suggest it to any pre-med.

Read this book if you think you want to go to med school.
This is an excellent resource- honest and actually interesting to read. I only wish there were a little more advice for non-traditional students. Other than that, this book has been extremely helpful and really correlates with what medical students, doctors, and admissions people have told me. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering a career in medicine (especially if you're undecided).

Good only if your just starting your research
I found this book pretty superficial. It includes a lot of common sense ancedotes that, if you've done much research at all, will sound very repetitive.

It was a fast and boring read for me. If you want to read about being a physician Becoming a Doctor or Intern Blues are lot more meaty. And there's several better books about getting into medical school too.

A must read for anyone thinking of going into medicine
This was a well thought out and informative book. The authors not only go into the "right" reasons to become a doctor, but also the whole ordeal from pre-med to medical school. Worth every penny.

Great Information
This book outlines everything involved in considering a career in medicine. It is simple and clear! I read portions of the book to motivate me at times. ... Read more

Book Description

Twenty-one sets of twenty-one ideas, activities and tips drawn from decades of international practical experience

Making participation real requires workshops, training and learning that are themselves participatory. This sourcebook presents the results of the author's vast experience in the form of twenty-one sets of ideas, activities and tips, both serious and fun, for topics such as getting started, seating, forming groups, managing large numbers, analysis, feedback, evaluation and ending.

From the Preface: "This is for all who try to help others learn and change... There is something here for participatory teachers and trainers; for organizers, moderators and facilitators who want their conferences and workshops to be interactive; for staff in training institutes who want to enliven their courses; for faculty and teachers in universities, colleges and schools who would like to enable students to do more of their own analysis; and for those engaged in management training who want to widen their repertoire." ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Single best volume
I have taught facilitation for 20 years and maintain an extended bibliography of available books. If someone said they can buy only one book as a resource in facilitating, I would recommend this one. It is a remarkable collection of exercises, tools, strategies, and tips. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the working world, top performers are regularly rewarded with promotions to management--whether they are prepared for the advancement or not.Loren Belker's bestselling primer on supervisory skills, The First-Time Manager, has long offered clear advice on leadership, motivation, discipline, and other tricks of the trade that are required of anyone in a supervisory position. Now in its fourth edition, the book features 11 new chapters that add an even more contemporary slant to his proven recommendations. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Excellent Book
This is an excellent, easy-to-read guide to success in management. Belker provides tips to managing diverse types of people (lazy, motivated, nit-pickers, etc), hiring, firing, performance reviews, time management, public speaking, and many other issues related to successful performance as a manager. I recommend this book for any new manager or anyone interested in pursuing a career in management.

This book is 100% on target
I am a freshman at Keene State College located in New Hampshire. Although I haven't had much experience in the business environment, I find everything in this book to be very helpful and completely true. I have never been a big fan of reading, but I can honestly say this book is hard to put down if you take an interest in management. This down-to-earth, humane view of management makes complete sense and I am ambitious to get out in the world and apply all of my new knowledge.
BUY THIS BOOK!

A complete overview of managment at starter level
This book covers the A-Z of managment for the first time manager, as well as the more experienced. The author consentrates on getting your mind into the correct thaught pattern to get the absolute most out of your staff in virtually any industry. Easy to read and can also be used as a quick reference guide. I'd also recommend it to empolyees who would like a promotion but don't know what they need to do to be managment material.

Great Insight!
Good book for those embarking on management. Basic and sound advise to help us deal with personnel and office issues. Quick and easy read, well written. Highly recommended for anyone dealing with the issues and conflicts that arise upon receiving a promotion or new management position.

Great Book!
As someone aspiring to the management level, this book was instrumental in preparing me for my interview. It provides a wealth of information that is crucial to the new manager. This book should be mandatory for new managers and used as a refresher for the experienced. Now, I use this book daily as a reference tool. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

How to describe this book?
I ordered this book years ago through a mail order company and have used it many times. This is just an impressive book on what Boldt has called creative career design. It inspires,it instructs, it guides and uses many sources,insights and philosaphies to do so. It is replete with inspiring quotes from philosaphers,poets, and sages and goes into the practical as well as the spiritual aspects of work. I have shared this book many times with others because it is a wealth of information on every aspect of work. But what I love most about this book is that it frees its readers to do some soul searching and discover what his/her own purpose is in life instead of trying to fit square pegs in round holes as it were. Browning pages and creases in my copy of this book are a testament to how well it has been used by me and how often I have returned to it for various reasons. I have even copied parts of it for friends and other people who I thought the information would help. As George Bernard Shaw has once said "I hope to be thuroughly used up". Well this books is very useful and sure has demonstrated what Shaw meant. There is also an updated version of this book out complete with email addresses for us computer users to look into if we so desired. You will find many uses for this book and I highly recommend either version to people who take their lives and their purpose seriously or who are in the process of searching for purpose.

Making a living VS. having a *life*
Boldt's little subsection about "The Little King" complex/ideal that Western society tends to program us to pursue (ie. the TRUE "American Dream:" every person a compulsive control-freak striving to make himself master of his own little universe, vis-a-vis the cookie-cutter tract home in the suburbs and the endless remote controls and the children/spouse to lord over) is simply dead on and worth the price of the whole book!

Boldt prepares us for the inevitable "know thyself" component with an incisive but admittedly lengthy section on "knowing thy environment, from which ye are produced"---excellent social history and cultural analysis, guided by a fair bit of Eastern philosophy. This is the foundation, from which self-knowledge and thereafter self-guidance can grow.

It's not a quick or easy process, so those of you with your TV-lobotomized 15-second attention spans who are looking for a quick fix in career planning should probably look elsewhere.

This book excels mainly in helping you figure out how to *have a life,* rather than how-to-make-as-many-bucks-as-possible-in-today's-corporate-jungles-without-turning-yourself-into-a-hopelessly-miserable-wreck-of-a-human-being, which is unfortunately what most people hope for when they turn to a "career guidance" resource. Which is the only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5.

The wisdom in these pages is vast
This book certainly guides the reader effectively through the self-exploration necessary to find a new career direction. But beyond this, is does far, far more.

The author is deeply insightful in a whole spectrum of matters that would improve anyone upon the reading. The book discusses iss