Amazon.com

John Lucht, an executive recruiter during the past three decades for some of America's top corporations, knows what it takes to snag a new six-figure job. Rites of Passage at $100,000 to $1 Million+ is his newly revised guide to the ins and outs of a search for a job that ends in success. It promises a "comprehensive cram course in accelerating your career"--a contemporary corporate equivalent of the traditional initiation into adulthood from which it takes its title--updated for the cyber-age. And it delivers, with Lucht offering inside tips on the basic routes to a new executive-level position: personal contacts (i.e., "ask for a reference instead of a job"); networking ("never fail to get into the office of anyone whose name is mentioned to you, never depart with less than three new names"); executive recruiters ("understand their hidden financial arrangements"); direct mail ("write to the CEO or a person two levels above your target job"); and the Internet ("insert plenty of the right 'keywords' so that the computer will find your resume"). Extensive online references are also included throughout, and the material is presented in a way that's easy to understand and implement. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (57)

The Gold Standard
John's book is the gold standard of executive job-changing.
I just purchased my fourth copy of Rites and plan to use it to land a fourth terrific job. I discovered the Rites of Passage during my first career transition in 1989 and have followed its patented formula to multiple offers everytime. John's writing style and his thorough understanding of the transition process will make you feel as if you are sitting down and talking to an old wise friend. Thanks to John and his landmark book, my family and I have always lived a comfortable lifesyle. The Rites of Passage are a must buy for any serious executive considering a job change.

Insider's view on Recruiters
The book covers the essentials of job change at the upper end of the job market. It deals with all aspects of job change, however, the unique contribution is that it provides essential reading for anybody who changes jobs through 'recruiters'. - independent of what the salary is. The value of the book lies precisely in the detailed and authoritative explanation of what is going on behind the scene, i.e. in the recruiter's mind. The author - being a recruiter himself walks the reader in detail through the potential pitfalls of dealing with a recruiter. The different ways of working with a 'retained' versus a 'contingency' recruiter are in essential knowledge for you if you ever receive a phone call.
The writing is easy going but competent, suggestions on what to do are given ranging from your first thoughts on job change to negotiating the contract.
A particular highlight for me was the Appendix: ' Behind the Scenes with the Retainer Executive Recruiter' which walks you through a fictitious recruiting process from the recruiter's standpoint.
Shortfall of book: The book could have benefitted from a more marked breakdown in major parts, rather than going directly into 20 chapters. I highly recommend the book based on its insights.

Great insights and great advice
I bought this book based upon the recommendations I read in one of the executive recruiting sites. The book is not only a good read, but it is full in great information for both the employed and unemployed professionals everywhere. John Lucht does a great job of explaining a great deal of recruiting behavior in a simple, easy to comprehend manner. Reading this book should help you wherever you are in your career. Good luck!

On-line Rites
John Lucht has been a recruiter for 30 years and has been writing executive guides for nearly as long. You need to get this edition as he has thoroughly updated his material to explain rules, procedures, and protocols for job-hunting on the Internet.

I was an unemployed executive for nearly a year before landing my current position and Lucht's book is the roadmap for any similar journey. He has insightful sections on resumes, cover letters, severance negotiations, outplacement, networking, references, as well as the better known how-to-guide for dealing with all stripes of recruiters.

Don't get hung-up on the title. While Lucht is most familiar with recruiting at the C-level, most of this applies equally well for managers, directors, and experienced professionals. The only criticism I have is that Lucht is focused on job-hunting in strong markets, and needs more analysis of today's humbling markets. He is fairly critical of the typical outplacement service that considers it a success when they place laid-off software executives as owner-operators of ice cream parlors and coffee shops and franchisees of muffler and transmission repair stores.

Lucht also thoughtfully debunks a lot of media myths about finding work without a resume or a network. His promotion of direct mail as a marketing tool sounds old-fashioned but it works if you understand that less than 1% of your mail will yield leads, but these are likely leads that would not have been otherwise obtained. Lucht also has built a useful website and avoids the high fees and endless cross-promotions that his competitors favor.

Great Book Lead to Fantastic Job
I can't say enough about how Rites of Passage has helped me. Mr. Lucht's approach is certainly different from the usual run-of-the-mill 'read my book and get a wonderful job' book. His thinking is RIGHT ON TARGET.

I read and reread Rites of Passage, and then worked my way through his Executive Job Changing Workbook.

Was it a lot of work on my part? Yes.

Did I get the job I wanted? No -- I got a BETTER JOB than I had originally hoped for!

Thank you, Mr. Lucht! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fish! Tales is Stephen C. Lundin, John Christensen, and Harry Paul's follow-up to Fish!--their enormously popular fable that draws lessons aimed at combating dysfunctional workplaces from the happy fishmongers at Seattle's Pike Place Market. In Fish! Tales the authors show how these lessons were put into practice at businesses both big (a major hospital and long-distance carrier) and small (a local car dealership and roofing company). Anyone who enjoyed Fish! (or, for that matter, Who Moved My Cheese?) or is looking for a motivational tool to help energize their own workplace, should find this short, upbeat primer worthwhile. --Harry C. Edwards ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Insightful!
Things are going swimmingly in Fish! land. In the latest volume, Fish! Tales, authors Stephen C. Lundin, John Christensen, Harry Paul and Philip Strand build on the successful training program that evolved from their first Fish book. Tales shows how four companies - a long-distance call center; a hospital neural-renal unit, a car dealership and a roofing company - have applied Fish! theories effectively. They also provide short examples from other companies to show how well the Fish! function. The four main principles are familiar by now - keep the work fun, seek to serve others, stay focused on your customers and have an enthusiastic attitude - but the examples in the book bring them alive. Along the way, the authors heavily sell their Fish! courses and merchandise - that's just good salesmanship - but the real catch of the day is the final how-to section, showing ways to apply these principles in any organization. The lively writing style helps keep you hooked. We from getAbstract suggest that if you haven't yet caught any Fish!, start with this one. Its cheery, accessible methods should lure you in, hook, line and sinker.

Insightful!
Things are going swimmingly in Fish! land. In the latest volume, Fish! Tales, authors Stephen C. Lundin, John Christensen, Harry Paul and Philip Strand build on the successful training program that evolved from their first Fish book. Tales shows how four companies - a long-distance call center; a hospital neural-renal unit, a car dealership and a roofing company - have applied Fish! theories effectively. They also provide short examples from other companies to show how well the Fish! function. The four main principles are familiar by now - keep the work fun, seek to serve others, stay focused on your customers and have an enthusiastic attitude - but the examples in the book bring them alive. Along the way, the authors heavily sell their Fish! courses and merchandise - that's just good salesmanship - but the real catch of the day is the final how-to section, showing ways to apply these principles in any organization. The lively writing style helps keep you hooked. We suggest that if you haven't yet caught any Fish!, start with this one. Its cheery, accessible methods should lure you in, hook, line and sinker.

"Real" It In
I enjoyed reading Fish, but Fish Tales is even better because it has real world success stories. While the original Fish! seemed like a business theory, Fish! Tales shows how several companies actually benefited from implementing these ideas instead of just reading about them. Fish! Tales enhances the credibility of the original book. Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey is another great book for companies to share with employees because it offers entertaining stories and goal oriented advice about improving your workplace and your life.

Disappointing
While the message is a good one, it nearly gets lost in this very poorly written book.

Integrating Fish and optimizing the workplace
The Fish philosophy isn't new but the unique context and delightful presentation makes it effective. I got a lot out of this book because I saw how the concept is integrated into organizations. We have found that the best companion for the Fish philosophy is to train employees in Optimal Thinking. Optimal Thinking is the simple, realistic mental resource to empower individuals to be their best and bring out the best in others. I recommend both of these books. ... Read more

Book Description

A business classic, How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling is for anyone whose job it is to sell. Whether you are selling houses or mutual funds, advertisements or ideas -- or anything else -- this book is for you.

When Frank Bettger was twenty-nine he was a failed insurance salesman. By the time he was forty he owned a country estate and could have retired. What are the selling secrets that turned Bettger's life around from defeat to unparalleled success and fame as one of the highest paid salesmen in America?

The answer is inside How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling. Bettger reveals his personal experiences and explains the foolproof principles that he developed and perfected. He shares instructive anecdotes and step-by-step guidelines on how to develop the style, spirit, and presence of a winning salesperson. No matter what you sell, you will be more efficient and profitable -- and more valuable to your company -- when you apply Bettger's keen insights on:

• The power of enthusiasm

• How to conquer fear

• The key word for turning a skeptical client into an enthusiastic buyer

• The quickest way to win confidence

• Seven golden rules for closing a sale ... Read more

Reviews (38)

timeless
When a book receives hearty endorsements from Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale, it is hard to question its merit. What amazes me about this book is how gracefully it has aged. Even though this book was published in 1947, it is based on timeless principles that are just as effective today as the day they were written.

The language that Frank Bettger uses has travelled the years quite nicely; many books from this era contain long-lost expressions and dated language that make them less relatable -- not so here. Only the dollar figures used in the real life examples give the age of the book away. Bettger's friendly, conversational style makes this an easy read.

This book works because it is principle-based and backed up with real life illustrations covering both the "what to do" and "what not to do" ends of the spectrum. Truly a classic, the applications in this book go beyond sales to have a positive effect on all aspects of your life.

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

A must read for all sales people
If you are in sales or want to be, you must read Frank Bettger's
"How I raised myself from Failure to Success in Selling" literally from someone who failed terribly initially.

Bettger's story is one of inspiration and determination. Some of his keen insights include: The power of enthusiasm, how to conquer fear, the one key word that will turn a skeptical prospect into a happy and satisfied client, the quickest way to win confidence, how to deliver a winning sales talk and 7 golden rules for closing a sale.

Interesting is that one of Bettger's biggest supporters for writing this book was Dale Carnegie.

This is another one of those golden classics that some of us have hidden away only to appreciate it's value after rereading it many years later.

Great book. I highly recommend it.

Success from Success
Book review

Frank Bettger describes profoundly experiences to succeed in selling.

Bettger's book, How I raised myself from failure to success in selling, is deserving of a

five-star rating, because he explains and shows the real facts in salesmanship, the

impediments and the success in the same time. Bettger relates his own experiences as a

salesman; his intentions are that every new salesperson should take his book as an advice and

should follow all the rules he gives. The author relates about enthusiasm in job,

confidentiality, how to remember and to not forget costumers, and how to be organized.

Furthermore, Bettger increases a hope for those who believe that salesmanship is their

vocation and gives them more interest to continue this career.

Frank Bettger was a baseball player at his 20's; one day he had a big accident at one of

his arm and from that moment he ended his career as a baseball player. After that he decided

to do something different, so he started to sell life insurance. This job did not make him happy

until one day he heard a poem which made him to continue this career. One of the things was

that he started to put more enthusiasm in his work and to see things differently. He's routine

at work was to call people and to convince them to buy life insurance. Unfortunately this was

not enough; to make people to believe him he started to talk with more enthusiasm, to put

more questions, and to be organized. These changes raised his income, but more than

that he started to sell life insurance more than he did before. He believes that working with

enthusiasm is one of the biggest steps in a sale career. "Force yourself to act enthusiastic, and

you'll become enthusiastic!" (15)

After a while when his experience grew Bettger discovered and learned, in the

same time, that to be confident is what most of the people like. Asking questions made him to

believe that the interviews are more productive and consistent. The author found that asking

a question "is the only way to get people to think!" (62) Some of the questions that he used, in

one of the biggest contracts of his life, where what ambitions, hopes and objectives from that

interview the costumer is expecting. All these questions made his business to be

prospering and to grow as he wanted. The author knew that people like to make business, but

they also like that some questions to remain without answers. In his book Bettger gives six

things that salesmen should learned to approach the question method. The most important is

"Enables you to help the other fellow recognize what he wants. Then you can help him decide

how to get it." (62)

Equally important from Bettger's experience is to remember names and faces in many

cases. The best way to memorize these is to remember three words: impression, repetition,

and association. He is convinced that if a salesperson memorize these things will be much

easy to remember names and faces avoiding the salesman to talk too much. Impression is to

get a clear interest in someone's name and if is hard to be memorized do not be afraid to ask

the person again. Repetition is when having a conversation with somebody that person's name

is repeated at short intervals to make sure the brain is going to catch it. Association is when a

face is associated with a picture or with the person's business. Sincerity and honesty make

a businessman to be believed and to increase his reputation. "If you want to be welcome

everywhere, give every living soul you meet a smile, from down deep inside." (128)

Again Bettger shows that costumers are the main point to make a sale; sometimes just

using the business card can make the business to prosper. If a salesman is remember and is

calling a costumer after a wile is a good way to make that man to do not forget the new

business that he made. Many costumers like to share their happiness and success in business

with other friends or neighbors; they will not forget, and they will tell to the other people

about their new friend and about what he did for them. "New costumers are the best source of

new business...new costumers." (164)

Similarly important is to be self-organized; making appointments and keeping them in

a note book makes a salesman to be more organized and to have everything in the right place.

The time is very important in this business, not only for the salesman but especially for the

costumers. Many businesspeople are too busy to accept a strange visitor without to have an

appointment and without to know what it his business about. Bettger's suggestion is to make

appointments with a week before, to make sure a confirmation will be received in the

meantime. The author said that the following rule is good to memorize "First, sell the

appointment, second, sell your product." (144)

Otherwise Bettger became a good salesman after he had reading The

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. This book was his inspiration to act with enthusiasm,

to be confident, to remember names and faces, to be self-organized, and to not forget his

costumers. All those people who not have success in their work should read Bettger's book;

he relates everything they need, not only how to succeed but more than that how to not be

afraid to fail when a sail does not work. To be a salesman is not easy it just needs enthusiasm

and power to succeed in this business. Bettger said "take one thing at a time, and give a

week's strict attention to that one thing; leaving all the others to their ordinary chance." (191)

A timeless classic!
Frank's book is a timeless classic. I heard a lot of good things about this book in a mastermind group meeting in NYC with Mike Litman.

The book lived up to it recommendations.

There are many ideas in this book that anyone in any field can relate to. Even if you are not a salesman, there are many ideas in this book that are about "how to achieve success."

If you are interested in achieving success I highly recommend you reading this book and applying the principles within. Wishing you best of luck and much success,
Your devoted life coach,

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

The Best Book Ever Written on Sales
Rather than simply giving you information, Bettger tells you his story and how he learned what he learned. He tells you what he did and how it worked. This book comes from an era before slick and hype. Bettger is straightforward, honest, and sincerely trying to help the reader, and if you're a salesman, I think this book should be part of your core library. Bettger doesn't worry about superficial techniques for closing the sale. As any really successful salesman knows, you have to be honest and sincere to be great at selling, and that's where this book comes from. You'll get deep principles rather than manipulative tricks. The principles in Bettger's book work, not just in selling, but in life. I regularly read pages daily to inspire and refresh. Bettger's book should be in every salesman's library.

Other Recommendations: "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie, "Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale, "Lateral Thinking" by Edward DeBono and "Breakthrough Advertising" by Eugene Schwartz. ... Read more

Book Description

A proven program for turning effective listening into a powerful business tool Managers and other employees spend more than 40 percent of their time listening to other people but often do it so poorly that the result is misunderstood instructions, misdirected projects, and erroneous actions—millions of dollars’ worth of mistakes just because most people don’t know how to listen. In this new edition of her classic guide to the art of effective listening, Madelyn Burley-Allen shows you how to acquire active, productive listening skills and put them to work for you—professionally, socially, and personally. With her time-tested techniques, you’ll learn how to:

• Eliminate distractions and improve your concentration on what is being said
• Locate key words, phrases, and ideas while listening
• Cut through your own listening biases
• Interpret body language clues
• Ask constructive, nonthreatening questions that elicit real information
• Get others to listen to you
• Master a whole range of listening skills that you can use on the job and in your personal life

Reviews (6)

A Good Guide
An easy to understand and implement guide to the art of listening. Some great advice and I recommend this book to anyone interested in improving their listening skills.

Excellent reference and guide
This book is written mainly for the business audience, but all the principles are applicable to every situation. The author is very good at explaining scenarios and solutions. Other authors spend the bulk of their time explaining why we need to listen, but Burley-Allen spends the bulk of her time explaining how to listen. That alone places this book on a more productive plane than most books on this topic. You'll be impressed with how things change in your inter-personal communication at work and at home with the adoption of even a few principles from this book.

What good is listening, if it's not effective?
With this exciting new Millenieum upon us, most all of us have had classes, lectures, and read books on expressing ourselves more effectively, public speaking and the list goes on. The problem now is "No One is Listening." Madelyn Burley-Allen's book Listening the Forgotten Skill is the perfect tool for helping us get back to the true meaning of listening. What good is all of this teaching, until you are taught how to listen. With this book you are taught how to communicate effectively and listen effectively as well. This is an excellent book for improving your lifestyle through listening.

Listening the Forgotten Skill-Something for Everyone
I just recently read this book, and was amazed at what I needed to learn, for professional and personal reasons. This book shows you areas where people, businesses and organizations are lacking in communication skills due to the fact that we don't listen and we are not being heard. In this book, the Author Madelyn Burley-Allen, with her years of research and teaching on this subject, she gives you ways of improving your listening communication skills as well as how to speak effectively so that you are listened to. This book provides vital solutions for improving your listening and communication skills. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It is very informative and helpful and will continuely be a source of information in the future.

Great Book
I strongly recommend this book. To be quite honest I just fell in love with this book, it tought me things that I never knew about myself.

I've heard all this time and never really took the time to listen.Now, I understand what listening is and how it helped me enchance my abilities to communicate better and better. Everyone should read this book, great asset.

I have met Ms.Madelyn Burley-Allen and she is quite a charming lady. You learn when she speaks. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The lure of this book's promise starts with the assumption in its title. Possibility--that big, all-encompassing, wide-open-door concept--is an art? Well, who doesn't want to be a skilled artist, whether in the director's chair, the boardroom, on the factory floor, or even just in dealing with life's everyday situations? Becoming an artist, however, requires discipline, and what the authors of The Art of Possibility offer is a set of practices designed to "initiate a new approach to current conditions, based on uncommon assumptions about the nature of the world."

If that sounds a little too airy-fairy for you, don't be put off; this is no mere self-improvement book, with a wimpy mandate to transform its readers into "nicer" people. Instead, it's a collection of illustrations and advice that suggests a way to change your entire outlook on life and, in the process, open up a new realm of possibility. Consider, for example, the practice of "Giving an A," whether to yourself or to others. Not intended as a way to measure someone's performance against standards, this practice instead recognizes that "the player who looks least engaged may be the most committed member of the group," and speaks to their passion rather than their cynicism. It creates possibility in an interaction and does away with power disparities to unite a team in its efforts. Or consider "Being the Board," where instead of defining yourself as a playing piece, or even as the strategist, you see yourself as the framework for the entire game. In this scenario, assigning blame or gaining control becomes futile, while seeking to become an instrument for effective partnerships becomes possible.

Packed with such examples of personal and professional interactions, the book presents complex ideas on perception and recognition in a readable, useable style. The authors' combined, eclectic experience in music and painting (as wellas family therapy and executive workshops) infuses their examples with vibrant color and sound. The relevance to corporate situations and relationships is well developed, and they don't rely on dry case studies to do it. Indeed, this book assumes the emotional intelligence and desire to engage of its reader, promising access to the rewards of that door-opening notion--possibility--in return. --S. Ketchum ... Read more

Reviews (40)

Stretches your thought process
The Zander's redefine the way you look at things and view situations. I found the book to be a combination of art/creativity and psycho-analysis. Some of the principles I had a hard time really owning.

It reminds me a bit of Zen or Tao. Being in the present, not assigning blame, recognizing that is the way things are...

I couldn't read the book in one sitting. I found that it requires a lot of thought and reflection. Parts that I found inspirational were the white papers that were written by the musicians in response to a request from the conductor.

Some of the principles seemed to really line up well with the popular book from a few years ago "7 spiritual laws of success" by Deepak Chopra.

I would like to hear the authors read this as a book-on-tape, because I found myself thinking about things while I was trying to read. In a nutshell, the book says "put your life into a different playing field, Don't think win-win, think about making a contribution or about making a difference."

Inspiring read for personal growth
This is an inspiring read for my personal life, and certain examples touched my heart deeply. Downside - I don't have much context for the authors' examples, though it's thought there is application of this to the corporate world. Was looking for a "thumping good read" to boost me on the job, and it more boosts me outside work world. Would a book more geared toward work maybe written by the authors+ a businessperson be a good next move? Hard to say. Still, as a former Landmark Education Graduate of many, many adult education classes, it was enchanting to see Landmark's concepts of creating possibility and vision embodied in the book. It's also exciting to consider those concepts being read about by many folks everywhere via Amazon.com

The Art of Possibility
The "Art of Possibility" deeply resonated with me. Creating value by managing risk and uncertainty has been the core of my life's journey. It has been filled with complexity, tension, and dissonance...but it has also been filled with the discovery of possibility and meaning. The Zanders have done a real service in framing the "how" of possibility with their examples and practices.

This gem of a book will be useful not only in managing one's life, but also in helping other's to create their great life stories. The answers to core questions like "which game of success will I choose to play?","will I choose to be a contribution?", and "do I take myself too ___seriously?" are keys to a life of joy, meaning, and fulfillment.

Can you see the work of art within you? Within others? Or are you focusing on the facade? Who is winning the battle between the caculating self and the central self? Are you vulnerable or are you permeable? What is here now? And what do you want to do from here? Get yourself this book and engage in THE joyous adventure of opening up to your possibilities.

1970s Cult Jargon Fest
Ugh. How much of this Werner Erhard inspired sludge will we have to endure before the whole disgusting mess either dissipates or compacts down into an easily disposed of loaf? Familiar to any cult-watcher, the buzz words spill freely here. They are words and concepts that can mean anything to anybody. Fuzzy, new-age pap which the authors unashamedly admit come from the culty, self-improvement seminar called Landmark Education which used to be Erhard's "est."

Sad to say, many Landmark devotees are encouraged by their participation to "create" endless testimonials reflective of their own egos, swelled to megalomaniacal proportions by various psychological tricks and techniques, and the Landmark Corporation by proxy. "Spreading the word" is part and parcel of the whole trip. Keep a shovel handy.

What a snoozefest.
After reading the reviews here, I thought this book might be a nice inspirational read. It has a few decent moments, but for the most part I could barely force myself to keep reading. I got through about 75% of it, then just had to skim the last few chapters because I couldn't take it anymore. I dunno--if you play in a symphony orchestra, you're into reading sappy and/or narcissistic little personal tales, or you just have to read every single inspirational book that gets published, you may like this. Not the worst book I've ever read, by a long shot, but not good enough to keep or recommend, so I'm giving it two stars. ... Read more

Book Description

You're educated and ambitious. Sure, the hours are long and corporate politics are a bane, but you focus on getting the job done, confident that you will be rewarded in the long run. Yet, somehow, your hard work isn't paying off, and you watch from the sidelines as your colleagues get promoted. Those who make it to management positions in this intensely competitive corporate environment seem to understand an unwritten code for marketing and aligning themselves politically. Furthermore, your strong work ethic and raw intelligence were sufficient when you started at the firm, but now they're expecting you to be a rainmaker who can "bring in clients" and "exert influence" on others. The top of the career ladder seems beyond your reach. Perhaps you’ve hit the bamboo ceiling.

For the last decade, Asian Americans have been the fastest growing population in the United States. Asians comprise the largest college graduate population in America, and are often referred to as the "Model Minority" – but they continue to lag in the American workplace. If qualified Asians are entering the workforce with the right credentials, why aren't they making it to the corner offices and corporate boardrooms?

Career coach Jane Hyun explains that Asians have not been able to break the "bamboo ceiling" because many are unable to effectively manage the cultural influences shaping their individual characteristics and workplace behavior -- factors that are often at odds with the competencies needed to succeed at work. Traditional Asian cultural values can conflict with dominant corporate culture on many levels, resulting in a costly gap that individuals and companies need to bridge. The subtle, unconscious behavioral differences exhibited by Asian employees are often misinterpreted by their non-Asian counterparts, resulting in lost career opportunities and untapped talent.

Never before has this dichotomy been so thoroughly explored, and in this insightful book, Hyun uses case studies, interviews and anecdotes to identify the issues and provide strategies for Asian Americans to succeed in corporate America. Managers will learn how to support the Asian members of their teams to realize their full potential and to maintain their competitive edge in today’s multicultural workplace. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Loudest duck does NOT get shot...
Must read for Asians who work because they have to, not because they want to.As a typical Asian, first-born male, I've been brainwashed to support my family whether they want it or not...of course they're not going to say anything, but their actions speak louder than words.

This book explains that we do not have to change ourselves to succeed.It gives us insights as to how we can utilize our various skill sets to enhance our careers and personal experiences in corporate America.

If you're upbringing has been influenced by your culture and heritage and you're not aware of how it impacts your career, or even if you're aware of how it impacts your career, but you don't know what to do about it...pick up this book.

Squeaky wheel gets the oil ...
However, having grown up in a traditional Asian immigrant family, I was told over and over again by my parents that "empty can makes louder noise".I learned the virtue of being thoughtful (think twice before saying anything needless), which apprently has not helped me much in the ways of advancing my career as a manager.

This book is a MUST read for anyone working in a multi-cultural corporation, especially for those who comes from Asian heritage. It will help you better understand yourself, and provide you with the corrective lense (if you will) to get a better sense of how others really see you (or don't see you) when you keep your thoughts to yourself.

Very well written, and it is easy reading. ... Read more

Book Description

Pearls from The LITTLE BOOK OF BUSINESS WISDOM

"The man who starts out simply with the idea of getting rich won't succeed; you must have a larger ambition."-JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER

"Think about the customer, not the competition: Competitors represent your industry's past, as, over the years, collective habits become ingrained. Customers are your future, representing new opportunities, ideas, and avenues for growth."-MICHAEL S. DELL

"You've got to be out in front of crowds, repeating yourself over and over again, never changing your message no matter how much it bores you." -JACK WELCH

"Always break orders to save owners. There never was a great character who did not sometimes smash the routine regulations and make new ones for himself." -ANDREW CARNEGIE

"Don't speak up at a meeting until you have something meaningful to contribute. Talking to attract attention may call attention to your blank spots." -JO FOXWORTH

"Make 'em feel guilty when they do nothing. One thing I can't stand is people who don't act on a situation. I'd rather that people make mistakes than sit around and not do something."-DAVE THOMAS ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A good read and very thought provoking
I gave this book 4 stars because, while it was refreshing to read and I definitely learned quite a bit, it wasn't a paradigm-shifting book, which is what I am increasingly moving towards for my 5 star books.

I personally love the art of business. Yeah, you read that right........business is an art...

The Little Book of Business Wisdom has tons of useful information (over 50 different short stories/essays) that you could apply to your business or to understand what differentiates average companies from great companies. I underlined more than average when reading this book. I read this book hoping to learn some insightful comments and business practices to apply to my business once I get it up and running. I am trying to plan for the future and all of these business leaders have experienced phenomenal success and growth or trained those business leaders. This book is definitely worth picking up and is a KEEPER! If you are interested in a comparable book worth picking up you may want to look at Every Mistake in the Book by F.J. Lennon as I found this book to be a very straight book from a guy that ran his own company.

Another "Classic" Resource from Krass
I really admire the talents of Peter Krass who has brilliantly edited a number of "Wisdom" books, this being the most recent. Once again, he has assembled a collection of more than 50 essays written by what are correctly referred to as "business legends." Here is how the material is organized:

Part I: Management Principles (eg Lee Iacocca and John Erik Jonsson)

Part II: Leadership Secrets (eg John F. Welch, Jr. and Robert Townsend)

Part III: Qualities for Personal Management (eg David Ogilvy and Andrew S. Grove)

Part IV: Wall Street Wizards (eg Sir John M. Templeton and Peter Lynch)

Part V: Gunslingers and the Entrepreneurial Drive (eg P.T. Barnum and Lillian Vernon)

Part VI: The Gurus (eg Warren Bennis and Peter F. Drucker)

Part VII: Builders of Culture (eg Howard M. Schultz and Mary Kay Ash)

Part VIII: Maxims for Life (eg Carley Fiorina and Benjamin Franklin)

You get the idea. I should add that some of the specific titles are probably not readily available anywhere else. For example, J.C. Penney's "Six Principles for Winning", Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield's "Our Aspirations", and Al Neuharth's "An S.O.B.'s Ten Secrets to Success." This would make a terrific holiday gift for your business associates, customers, etc. but also (especially) for recent or imminent graduates who are committed to a career in business.

Please do not ignore Krass's Introduction. As always, he offers excellent insights of his own as well as remarks which help to create an appropriate context for the essays which follow. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Author Nicholas Lore uses the techniques of his career-guidance network, the Rockport Institute, to make The Pathfinder a substitute for a great job counselor. Through goal setting, list making, and other techniques, the book leads readers though the process of deciding exactly what they want to do for a living and finding a way to make it happen. Lore realizes that people have different temperaments and decision-making methods, so he provides individualized advice to suit each one. He also understands that creating a new career requires courage as well as desire, so The Pathfinder devotes plenty of space to motivation and overcoming fears. While anyone looking for a new career will find direction with this guide, people who didn't know they were looking may decide to start once they go through Lore's probing self-examination process. ... Read more

Reviews (72)

Read the book and MAKE LIFE HAPPEN.
I worked with Nick to find my perfect career before the book was published, and now it's like having him in my living room whenever I want. His Career Choice Program has been developed over years of committed work and in the book he distills much of this hard-fought wisdom. His secret weapon? Nothing less than forcing you to work hard to ask and answer the right questions that will lead you to a clearer understanding of yourself and the right career for you.

More than just finding a career though, Nick helps you find a better way to look at your life's work than you had before. His probing questions and clear focus on the questions of "meaning, mission and purpose" can give you an entirely new perspective on the important things in your life. I would rank Nick Lore head and shoulders above the rest of the career guidance field.

Not your ordinary self-help book...
At 58, I found The Pathfinder book to be just what was needed as I prepared for the amazing challenge of transforming my life to reach a goal of combining the benefits of retirement while still generating an income. I had read "What Color is your Parachute?" in the 70's and a multitude of spirituality books recently, but The Pathfinder gave me access to a "portable coach inside a book" I used the book to transform my traditional job into a consultant contract, move from east coast to west coast, and create a career direction that grew out of my "natural talents" instead of my interests. To make that happen I needed a path rather a series of pat answers.

The "Path" that Lore propels us along is less linear (but far more helpful if you are turning your life inside out) than the more traditional job seekers' values clarification exercises, or a "How to Get a Job" guide. This book is less about finding a job you like than inventing or reinventing (in the case of mid-career changers) the kind of life you want to have in the area of work or career. Those of us, who are searching for a life path rather than a job, will find the gentle push of commitment actually gets us to where we want to be. I especially liked the practical way the book moved me past my YEAH BUTTS and into action.

Reading The Pathfinder is like having a witty, insightful, life coach who understands human nature and guides your adventures, through humorous stories and analogies. Those of us who have paid for "coaching" know what the coach's job is: to ask the powerful questions, create structures that support the seeker, share the "gold" they have learned from their life experience, and finally trust the person being coached to be responsibility for the results. At the end of the coaching, the life we invent will be our own and be perfect for us because we made it up... The invention is up to the coached. That too is the gift of The Pathfinder!

I have given this book as a graduation gift to high school kids and to recently downsized executives. The Pathfinder is perfect for anyone pursing the dream of finding the work they love to do inside the life they want to live.

Want career help that benefits you, not the author?
If you're looking for help in finding what will make you successful and happy in the workplace, this is it.

Whether you just want to find what you are best at (and what you'll get paid most for!) or whether you're seeking ways to add greater meaning to the largest part of your life, this is what you need.

I've spent the last 10 years (and that's a lot of books on the shelves, guys!!) trying to figure my career out. Reading Nick Lore's book - and using the Rockport Institute's analysis tools -told me what I needed to know to make real, meaningful changes. I can't believe I am writing this, but now I really am doing what I love - and making money doing it!

I have never met Nick Lore, but I know he's put more work into this book and more sincerity into this work - than any author who has taken money from me in the name of self-help.

If only I had read this 10 years ago!!

Thanks Nick!

TURNING WORDS INTO DREAMS
I have never sent in a review before. I bought this book in 1999. I slowly worked my way through it and systematically took back control of my life. Part of that control meant I moved back to my home country England a few years ago. Recently my overseas belongings were finally shipped over including my "personal workbook" and The Pathfinder. To my amazment, I read through my notes and thoughts and realized I was now LIVING everything I wrote down! I am now running my own business doing something I love and it's growing and growing and I am HAPPY! I do wake up excited about my day and not only that, whereas once upon a time the biggest I could dream was where I am now, now obviously I am dreaming bigger! So, I am someone who can write to say that this book has had a PROFOUND effect on my life and changed it fantastically! There is no higher recommendation. If you are serious about having it all - this book will help you get there with love.

Good Advice for those in mid-career review
This book seemed like it was written to help mid-career person to find an area of work that matches their passion which they were unable to do for whatever reason.

A good book but reading marred by many typographical errors. ... Read more

Book Description

PowerSpeak shows you how to engage, stimulate, and maintain an audience's attention. This book focuses on the elements of speaking effectively from a design and a delivery perspective. Dorothy Leeds, rated by Dun's Business Month as one of the top motivational speakers in the country, isolates these essential elements to assure that any speaker can gain and keep the audience's attention. She focuses on the trouble spots of any presentation and the six major faults speakers make.This book also includes tips and strategies for the following: o Breaking the fear barrier. o Ten steps that guarantee a complete presentation. o How to avoid weak, passive language and make humor your ally. o Voice and speech exercises. o How to handle the Q & A portion of a presentation. o How to develop your own style and project positive body language. o How to incorporate (or not incorporate) new technology into presentations. ... Read more

Book Description

Asking the right questions can help job seekers ace the interview and land that jobThe most critical question job interviewers ask is often the last one. That's when they lean forward and say, "Do you have any questions?" As author John Kador points out, that's the applicants' moment to shine, to demonstrate that they have done their homework and that they're good fit with the organization. Most of all, it provides an applicant with an opportunity to ask for the job. A powerful resource for vast and growing numbers of job seekers, this book fills readers in on the pivotal questions they need to ask to ace the interview.With chapters organized around major themes, such as "the company," "the job," and "the community," 201 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview not only supplies readers with the right questions for virtually every context but also coaches them on the right ways to ask them. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Simply Amazing! This book got me an offer.
Your book, 201 Best Questions to Ask On Your Interview got me an offer! A couple of days before my interview my father had suggested I ask the following question during my interview:

What's the most important thing I can do to help within the first 90 days of my employment?

After I heard this question, I thought, wow! What a great question to ask. My father had apparently spoken with you a few days before my interview and had relayed this question to me from you to ask (say that 3 times fast). I had learned from my father that you had actually written books on the topic of interviews and questions to ask, so I immediately ran to the store to pick up a copy. I picked up a copy of your book on a Tuesday late evening and had read it from front to back 3 times before my interview on Thursday morning.

I am strongly convinced that your book got me an offer! Thank you. I have been on many interviews throughout my short time in the workforce and had never felt as comfortable as I did in my last interview after reading your book. I was amazed to hear hiring managers and human resource representatives respond to the questions I asked them. Their responses were nearly identical to the responses you stated in your book.

Again, thank you for a great book and the job offer. I may have been able to pull it off without reading your book, but I'm convinced (especially in today's market) that your questions placed me at the top of the pile.

This book makes sense
I recently had the opportunity to interview for a senior position in a company that that seems to be exceptionally good for me. While I actually knew one of the senior executives I was interviewing with, he had confirmed to me that it was extremely important for me to have a strong positive impact on one of the other two interviewers.

On my flight to the interview, I reviewed this book and found a number of questions that I wanted to keep on hand for the "right time" - and I jotted them down - along with others that were more specific to the position, product, and industry, then organized them according to categories - product, company, job, etc.

During the interview, I asked a number of them, and almost each time I asked a question, the hiring executive paused, and then said something like "that's an excellent question" and then went into a thoughtful and valuable response. His answers to these questions gave me a tremendous insight into the company that I might not have gotten without asking the questions.

At the same time, my questions demonstrated my level of interest in the position, the company, and his opinions. They showed that I was prepared, thoughtful, and intelligent.

While I might have been able to come up with them on my own, John Kador's book helped me identify the key questions to ask, and even helped with the phrasing of the questions to have the greatest possible impact.

I asked questions like:

What are the three top priorities for the person in this position in the next 90 days?

and

What are the key characteristics you're looking for in the person who you select for this position?

I am certain that the interviewer thought more of me for asking thoughtful questions - even though I think he liked me before I asked them.

This is a quick and easy book to read, and an easy book to use. The ideas that it includes - in addition to the questions it offers - are not "rocket science", but they are offered and described in ways that can be easily adapted to the situation you're in. The "tips" on interviewing are also quite useful in general.

This book has already proven helpful and valuable and I will refer to it before any job interview I have in the future. While there are many books on interviewing and job hunting, this one is a quick study, easy to read, and most importantly, very useful. I highly recommend it to anyone interviewing for any level position.

I Got A Job Offer!
I wanted to write and say THANK YOU!! For the first time in a number of years, I felt like I had an excellent interview. Up until this past weekend, I was having problems with interviews. The main thing: Questions. I couldn't figure out why I was being turned down for positions left and right, even though my qualifications were that of what they called for. I had almost given up hope. I was looking for jobs as a field technician nationwide. I heard nothing.

My mom, who is a temporary staffing recruiter, picked your book "201 Best Questions to ask on your interview" for me, and read this book, taking notes as I went along. I had about 4 days to prepare for this interview, and felt pressured. But seeing some of the "Questions NOT to ask", I cracked a smile, and felt better.

When I went to the interview, I felt very comfortable with the situation, knowing that by reading your book, I now knew what to do, and what not to do. The interview lasted an hour and a half, in which the interviewer and I sat and chatted about non-interview items.

Today, I wrote the interviewer to ask if a decision had been reached, and was shocked to receive a phone call from him, offering me the position. I almost fell out of my chair.

In the end, I thank two people. God, as my heavenly father, guiding me through this interview, and you, for helping me out with the hard parts of the interviewing process to which I probably would not have received this position without.

To me, seeing success after the first interview from reading your book, it paid for itself, seeing the smile on my face when I heard the answer. I will recommend it to friends and family.

Once again, thank you so much!

A Seasoned Recruiter
I read the book from cover to cover, in one sitting and found it profoundly comprehensive and entertaining. I didn't want to put it down. As I read, I kept saying, "Yes, uh-huh, that's true, that's really good." As a recruiter, I know my candidates would be more successful if they took greater responsibility for a successful interview through asking appropriate questions. The question is an invaluable tool to communicate something to me that hasn't been covered during the interview; when done well, it's one more chance to help me see the fit of the candidate to the position.
John Kador's interviewing insights and list of questions enable the job seeker to think more strategically, promote their strengths, and communicate more professionally during the different stages of the interview process.
I'd definitely recommend this book to even the most experienced interviewers! (and even a few recruiters!)

A must-have resource for the job seeker!!!!
Excellent resource for the job seeker!!! Offers great tips and balance tilting questions to ask your recruiter or hiring manager. I much appreciate the focus on the actual questions CANDIDATES should ask vs. what we should say to a hiring manager in response to THEIR questions. Easy to read as well. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It is impossible to read Turning to One Another in the wake of the devastating attack on New York City's World Trade Center and not marvel at the book's eerie and moving prescience.Of course Margaret Wheatley has already earned herself a (deserved and legit) reputation as the Oprah of "sensitive" organizational books with such titles as A Simpler Way.But this book--devoted entirely to centrality of conversation in healing everything from personal relationships to organizational dysfunction to world discord--flows so broadly and easily across the borders of genre or topic it's almost as though Wheatley intuited when writing it how the need for its message would soon skyrocket. "The intent of this book is to encourage and support you to begin conversations about things that are important to you and those near you," Wheatley writes right up front in the clean, straightforward voice that always saves her work, unlike that of so many other "New Age" gurus, from cheesiness."It has no other purpose." She then delivers on that promise, making her points in short, succinct, finely written essays on various aspects of human understanding and connection, invoking the thinking of great humanists like Paolo Friere and Nelson Mandela, peppering her thoughts with encounters with people around the world, and then expanding on 10 "conversation starters" like "Do I feel a 'vocation to be truly human'?" "When have I experienced good listening?" and "When have I experienced working for the common good?"

Suffice to say, those looking for some worksheet-packed, three-step plan for organizational harmony won't find it here.Those willing to take a slower, harder, more thoughtful and likely more rewarding path to better relations on any level--or even those looking for the book equivalent of a cool, tall drink of water (perhaps where all change begins)--will be truly moved and genuinely inspired by Wheatley's practical, timely wisdom. --Timothy Murphy ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Telling our stories
I am an FOM. (Friend of Meg [Wheatley]) I am also a person who flourishes in a world of dreams, dreams that lead us to realize greater potential in ourselves. With that said, I must admit to the following: Reading Meg's new book felt uncomfortable. Not because I thought I wouldn't like it, nor did I worry about what Meg would think about how I experienced the book. I actually felt apprehensive about the subject matter. What could she say about something as ordinary and matter of fact as talking with one another? Well, I threw out my anxieties and opened myself to whatever might speak to me. Isn't that what a friend would do?

I read Meg's book in one sitting. Actually, it was a train ride from Seattle to Portland. I was grateful for the confinement of the train, leaving me undisturbed to delve into Meg's world, save for a few pre-dusk glances out the window, taking in the natural beauty of our WA state coastline. turning to one another holds nothing new, as Meg would admit. However, when read in light of this past calendar year, her words hold all things new. Meg Wheatley has posited for her readers what I experience as a charge for all storytellers: How do you take what is common knowledge, retell it in light of what makes meaning in your life, and then let it go, out to the universe, praying it will be read with new eyes and heard with open ears.

turning to one another does just that, for me, its reader. And, without speaking in generalities, I feel this book will play its revelatory tune loud and clear to all who look inside its pages. Meg has asked us to put aside our technological armor, turn it off and sit. Sit with the silence, with the uncomfortable feelings of being silent. Sit with the many who are silent, too. Waiting. Perhaps then, in the silence of our hearts, we will rise to a place where we can speak. And if so moved, then we will do what Meg encourages us to do, "turning to one another, in simple conversations to restore hope to the future." Our future.

Meg Wheatley asks nothing more than a willing reader, compassionate eyes, empathic ears and the voice to speak new words. Words of hope, words of vision, of dreams for the future. Telling our stories. Not such a daunting task. Or is it?

Soothing to the Mind
A wonderful new-age sort of book that truly is soothing to the mind. In a world of chaos, Meg brings us a reality check. Simple solutions and questions to rediscover humanity. I loved it.

Sweet. Satisifying, Simple
What a precious book! For those already well engaged on their path this book offers many heartfelt and truthful reminders for the work we are already undertaking. For those looking to break into their "own life" it offers a satisifying sense of the tools and work at hand. I can not think of anyone I know that could not find this a useful book.

Turning to One Another: Simple Conversations that Restore H
Margaret Wheatley reminds us that the simple act of conversation is critical in changing attitudes and perceptions. Thinking about our beliefs, listening to others'ideas, and working together to restore hope to the future are simple, yet powerful.

Simply profound
Margaret Wheatley's new book demonstrates the importance of more deeply coming to understand and listen to one another if we are to not only survive but to thrive, as our world sits at a key moment in human history. The method is profoundly simple which is what makes it simply profound. If the practice of conversation suggested in this text were to begin to take place, there can only be hope for a better existence for all-and it can start right now, today, with anyone willing to get together and simply converse. This book provides a hopeful tool for anyone concerned about our world and the directions it is heading-it provides practice and promise to make a real difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. I recommend this book with great energy and enthusiasm and am most grateful for the wisdom of this fine author. ... Read more

Book Description

Offering proven cognitive techniques for overcoming destructive views and fears, Self-Esteem is a classic guide to challenging the inner critic. Starting with how to recognize the self-critical voice that can be so damaging and insidious, the authors suggest practical ways to realize what is happening, stop self-judgment, gain perspective, and heal past wounds. The result is an exciting opportunity to change core beliefs about one's identity and potential. New to the third edition is an exploration of the importance of goal setting in maintaining self-esteem. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Not perfect, but decent
You may look at the title and think, "Oh, my God. ANOTHER self-esteem book. When will the madness end?" This book was first published in the late '80s and was primarily based off a hit back from that time, "Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy," by David Burns. Burns, along with Aaron Beck, was one of the first proponents of CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy), the theory that negative thoughts and self-defeating habits can affect mood.

Anyway, "Feeling Good" is an excellent book to help alleviate depression, but the problem with it is that it's just too long, too extensive, and too demanding of the reader in the amount of writing exercises it requires. "Feeling Good" can be useful, but it requires a lot of work. In addition, the information on medications is woefully out of date. In "Self-Esteem," McKay and Fanning take many of the same ideas and condense them, making them easier to understand. McKay and Fanning also simplify the exercises so that they make more sense and are easier to do.

The ideas and exercises can take a while to sink in before they can become helpful. There is no quick fix to depression or anxiety. As one of the first popular books in the field of CBT, "Self-Esteem" has held up pretty well over the years. The whole self-esteem movement may be a recent trend, but some of the movement's ideas have some truth to them.

Is this a perfect book? No. As others have complained, it is repetitive. Still, the ideas in it have helped me and others, and I think they can still be helpful to someone looking for useful self-help books today.

Very good book!
This is a very comprehensive self-help book about the nature, cause und treatment of low self-esteem. It is ideal for everyone with low self-esteem and contains many exercises. The authors deal with the following aspects:
- The nature of self-esteem: here the basic concept of the whole book is being introduced: your thoughts determine your self-esteem
- The pathological critic: you explore your inner critic, explore the origin of this critic and get information how to catch your critic
- Disarming the critic: in order to combat your inner critic, you first have to understand its function, then talk back so to make him useless
- Accurate self-assessment: this is one of the highlights of this book. You'll learn the art of accurate self-assessment without using pejorative terms like useless, bad, or inferior
- Cognitive distortions: this chapter deals with the important concept of wrongly perceiving reality and how to combat this tendency
- Compassion: this is one of the most powerful techniques for dealing with low self-esteem. You'll learn ways to better understand, accept, and forgive yourself and others
- Handling mistakes and responding to criticisms: I greatly like the attitude of the authors towards mistakes. There are no mistakes in the world, because all the decisions you chose to make were based on your needs and assessment of the situation. A decision can only be labeled as a mistake with hindsight
- Asking for what you want: this chapter shows how to assert your right without being aggressive
- Visualization and hypnosis
- Building self-esteem in children: the last chapter shows ways how to raise children with high self-esteem by listening to them and validating their feelings. At the same time, it is important to set clear limits and be consistent.

Altogether, this book is full of useful information and exercises. It can be used both as a self-help book and a supplement to therapy.

One of the Best Books I've Ever Read on Personal Development
Self Esteem is a practical book. It's about taking control of your thoughts to take control of your feelings. That's all there is to it.

With inspiring simplicity and logic, McKay and Fanning educate the reader about the causes and effects of strong self-esteem. It also introduces the Critic - the voice in your head that brings you down no matter what you do. Most importantly, it helps you to expose what psychological needs the Critic meets. Once this is figured, one can resolve to meet needs in a healthier manner.

Next, with the reader aware of the needs his or her critic meets, a chart is offered, guiding the reader towards the specific resources mentioned in the book. Some of the written exercises are designed to enhance your awareness. Others are day-to-day activities in which you keep track of your exact thoughts in order to replace them with more realistic ones. In addition, visualization is offered as well, a powerful and simple tool for creating a healthier self-image.

Yet, the authors wisely understand that rebutting old beliefs sometimes isn't enough. As a solution, they offer the technique of hypnosis. The logic behind this is that often the memories that rob us of our worth are not remembered consciously. As a result, many of the exercises in the book will not work, since no memory is there for one to work with. Hypnosis allows one to directly access the subconscious, allowing one to implant healthier ideas of who we are.

Self-Esteem's ultimate goal seems to be to get the reader to measure up against a new standard of worth. An inspiring passage sums it up:

"The truth is that your value is your consciousness, your ability to perceive and experience. The value of a human life is that it exists. You are a complex miracle of creation. You are a person who is trying to live, and that makes you as worthwhile as every other person who is doing the same thing. Achievement has nothing to do with it. Whatever you do, whatever you contribute should come not from the need to prove your value, but from the natural flow of your aliveness. What you do should come from the drive to fully live, rather than the fight to justify yourself."

Reading Self-Esteem, and implementing the solutions, will allow you to feel better about yourself no matter what life throws at you.

The 11 dollar psychiatrist
For only 11 dollars, your life will be a better place. This author will solve the low self-esteem disorder RADICALLY, i wish i had this book before. You will be able to acquire very high self esteem within weeks, if not days.
Good Luck

This Book Packs a Whallop
At first I was skeptical about this book given it's cover, but after reading the first chapter, boy am I glad I did!

Tremendously helpful in dealing with your self - esteem issues, this book will help anyone whether they have low self esteem or not. My favourite parts are:

The role of the pathological critic - the book explains in detail the nature of your own critic and how best to manage and handle it's criticsim.

Cognitive Distortions - we all know we see things differently, but here the book also explains how we process things differently. No two people will process and interpret the same event the same.

Asking for what you want - this is one of my favourites. While reading this book, I was dealing with two issues at work that really bothered me. This chapter helped me explain the "whole message" to the other person, and eventually, ask for what I wanted.

I've read many self-help books, and many of them end up serving up a set of principles to follow. This one is more directly medical/psychological based, and therefore is more practical in application. It even features a series of exercises for the reader to practice.

All in all, a very complete book on the subject of self - esteem, and I would even go further, and core book in any self help library. ... Read more

Book Description

Here's the guide you've been looking for - written by a successful consultant who has himself written hundreds of winning proposals. In this easy-to-read, easy-to-follow book, consultant Alan Weiss takes you step-by-step through the proposal process from definitions, objectives and essential preparation techniques...through the actual structuring and writing process...and on to the all-important client followup.

How to Write A Proposal That's Accepted Every Timeshows you how to acquire the information that creates winning proposals in collaboration with the buyer . "That's the key to proposal acceptance," says Weiss, "Collaboration with and agreement by the client prior to anything being committed to paper."

In this practical guide you'll learn how to -

Avoid gatekeepers and deal only with the economic buyer (the person who can cause a check to be signed).
Establish boundaries and avoid "scope creep."
Effectively convey the value of the project.
Frame your intervention in terms of outcomes rather than cost. And much more...

Let this detailed, how-to guide lead you to consulting success, before, during and after the proposal process! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Use this book to make money today!
I was skeptical. How could one book be worth over $100? And how could Alan Weiss tell me how to write proposals to my unique clients? It has been almost one year since I asked those questions...If I knew then what I know now, I would have paid a $1000 for this book! Here are the facts,when I first started using Alan's proposal templates my closing ratio went down from approximately 90% to 75%. BUT my consulting engagment fees went UP OVER 100%. Now, I have learned to avoid clients who don't value my work and my closing ratio has gone back to about 90% at almost double the value to me! But that is not the biggest benefit, through this book I learned how to get paid in advance...before I ever begin the project. Prior to using Alan's models I was never paid in advance, now 40% of my clients are paying me a much higher fee and paying it in advance.

I no longer have this book. I took the pages apart and filed the proposal templates according to my client base and instructed my client services manager to never deviate from these templates.

There are many books that have helped me think more critically, solve problems quicker and speak more effectively...BUT nothing has helped me increase my consulting revenue like this one by Alan Weiss. ... Read more

Book Description

This premier edition of Milady's Standard Comprehensive Training for Estheticians provides students with coverage of all the basic esthetic skills, but also expands into advanced techniques and the latest products and equipment in the skin care field.Each chapter is written by an industry expert, with step-by-step technicals clearly depicted through photographs and illustrationsmany of which are also featured on the 12-tape Video Library.This comprehensive, easy-to-understand resource is suitable for 600 to 1200-hour programs with special emphasis on providing estheticians with the communication, business, and retailing skills essential to their profession. This new system keeps pace with the booming esthetics industry providing the theoretical, practical, and essential information every skin care professional needs to succeed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Esthetician's Bible
This is an awesome book for the Esthetician just starting out and tho