Book Description

“Failure” is one of the most dreaded words in the English language. The very idea of failing is enough to stop most people in their tracks. It can cause the majority to simply pack up, turn around and retreat without even trying. Yet it is through seeming failure that most of life’s greatest successes are achieved The Power of Failure is designed to provide simple yet profound ways to turn seeming failures into successes. It contains practical prescriptions for successfully meeting some of life’s most common setbacks. The lessons of this book can help us all find the opportunities that are just waiting to be discovered in the challenges we face every day. This book is about failure, but failure in a whole new light. It is about The Power of Failure. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A great addition to Charles C. Manz's other leadership books
Dr. Manz has provided academics and practitioners over the years with great books on leadership. In fact, for the last five years I have used his "Mastering Self Leadership" (co-authored with Christopher Neck) in my classes with great success. Students enjoy the straightforward writing style and messages in the book, and I appreciate the content because I know it is based on solid research that Dr. Manz has done over the years. Self-leadership is about influencing yourself to become the best you can be by utilizing your talents, handling obstacles, and completing hard-to-do tasks that others tend to avoid.

However, in "The Power of Failure," Dr. Manz provides a much needed element missing from his previous books, and that is that sometimes as we take on challenges we will fail. Hard work and focus do not guarantee success in every endeavor. Yet, as Dr. Manz illustrates, the failure can actually be a learning experience and a step toward a future success. He provides both personal stories and examples from historic figures to show us how failure has happened to everyone who has become a success. Much like self leadership, the difference between achievers and non-achievers is how they view and handle the dilemma. Many who believe that successful people have had advantages over others are unaware that high achievers may have failed spectacularly too in their life at different times. However, history reports the achievements, not the failures. Dr. Manz teaches us that everyone has low points in their life at some time. It is how we handle that that determines our future.

I am strongly considering adopting this book for my entrepreneurship course next year. Many entrepreneurs experience business failure before they get it right, but the hard times toughen their business acumen and they learn from it. Since many of my students have taken my other courses, I am sure they will be happy to see another one of Dr. Manz's books on my syllabus. Additionally, the book will provide them with wisdom as they enter the stressful years of their early career lives. "The Power of Failure" would be a great book for business students, soon-to-be graduates, and friends or family members who are undergoing a trying time in their lives.

On another note, I read the book during a cross country flight. It reads fairly quickly because it is written with Dr. Manz's straightforward style and interesting storytelling. I highly recommend this book.

Failure as normal part of path to success
Our society teaches us to fear failure. It teaches us that if a project or activity fails then we are a failure. This is a real problem because the only way we don't fail is if we don't try. Moving forward means that failure will happen at times. Instead of teaching that failure is personal in nature we need to redefine failure as part of the learning process. Failure has a purpose. Failure can be used to grow as a person or to redefine and improve a project or plan.

"The Power of Failure: 27 Ways to Turn Life's Setbacks into Success" provides a framework for redefining failure and using it to get ahead and improve your life. Failure can be a devastating factor that completely stops a person in their tracks or it can be the tool that they use to become successful. The choice is yours. A highly recommended read.

Directly applicable to both business and private life
The Power Of Failure: 27 Ways To Turn Life's Setbacks Into Success by Charles C. Manz (Charles and Janet Nirenberg Professor of Business Leadership, Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts) is a highly practical, "user friendly" guide to learning from one's mistakes and using what one has learned to earn success. Means of coping with disappointments, the importance of investing for success, anecdotes, advice, and a great deal more make The Power Of Failure an accessible, effective, highly recommended self-help guide which is directly applicable to both business and private life.

Stop spinning your wheels
Strongly recommend this book for anyone who feels he/she is constantly "spinning their wheels" and never getting out of life's occasional "mud pit".
Most all of the chapters provide real-life examples of people (both famous and maybe not so famous) who've taken a disappointing situation or life obstacle and instead of playing the victim, have become the victor.
The introduction contains excellent redefinitions of failure and success.
This is a book I'll keep to reread when faced with another one of life's wheel-spinning challenges.

Irnore MBA egos
Professor Manz is not afriad to be realistic in his assessment of business and personal achievements. The Power of Failure gives its readers the courage to stop hiding behind the security and prestige that comes with a hard earned job title or a fancy college degree, but instead, to take risks. Charles Manz's books are enjoyable and easy to read and applicable to those in any level of business or academia. This book teaches a valuable lesson that should be taught to anyone with an interest in achieving more happiness out of their careers. ... Read more

Book Description

The Baron Son is an allegorical tale designed as a roadmap to wealth, power, and success. A legend from centuries past, it is the account of a young boy who loses everything, and through struggle, finds the secret to become the richest, most powerful man the world has ever known. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Distinguishing myself from other graduates
As someone else mentioned before, The Baron Son has been recommended to me at the right point in my life. I am a recent graduate with a Chemical Engineering degree and I was not sure what I wanted to do with my life. The same questions kept going through my mind. Should I go to graduate school, if not then which industry would I pursue? I knew deep down inside that I wanted to start my own business, but I didn't know what service I could bring to the industry.

Using this book as guidance, I have developed attainable goals so that I can start my own business. By exercising the eleven principles such as learning to develop "The Invincible Shield" and utilizing "Allied Effort," I am able to apply what I know and more effectively leverage the collective knowledge of others to help me improve on my ideas for starting a business that I would be proud of.

I know that I will be successful because the principles are very simple to understand and very easy to implement. I highly recommend this book to those who are tired of their usual life and are searching for ways to make a triumphant change.

Distinct and Profound
This manual is unlike any other book out there. It is like a life coach in the form of a book for those on the entrepreneurial track. Once others catch on to this profound book, it will be hard to slow the buzz. Congrats to the authors on this unique piece of work.

A great tale of success and triumph
I personally found myself engrossed in this book.I was so taken aback by it I read it a second time after my initial completion. I personally do not like fiction, but this book held me captive. The Baron Son is a good book for several reasons:
1. It discusses the joy of success, but also shows that there will often be some failures in between. The resounding message is that one must regularly re-evaluate your progress versus your plan to ensure proper execution.
2. It promotes believing in yourself and to empower the people that you entrust to run your business
3. The book promotes adding value to a customers experience beyond just the product or service.
4. The book promotes wealth development in a very practical way.
5. The story is a must read for someone looking to expand thier view, or reconnect with some of the basic fibers of success.

A guidebook to get you thinking
Vicky Theresa Davis, William R. Patterson, and D. Marques Patton are entrepreneurs, sales and strategic business consultants. This book was published in 2005.

I did not find it easy to write a review of The Baron Son. It is not just an unconventional business/management book, it is also an unconvential story. The subtitle of the book is Vadecum 7, which stands for "a guidebook kept constantly at hand". The story is set in the desert region of Mh'ki and the main person is the son of Baron Qahhar. Through the use of autobiographical storytelling by the main person the authors discuss 11 Supreme Principles which provides a way to better onself. Each supreme principle is discussed in a separate chapter and tells a separate story in the life of the Baron Son. Neither the story nor the supreme principles are written in 'real' English, it is more something like 'old-fashioned' English. Each of the supreme principles discuss management/business issues which you can come across every day.

This is a highly unusual book and unlike anything I have read before. The supreme principles remind me of the habits from Stephen Covey's 'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People'. They are non-descriptive, but make you think. And this is where I believe the Baron Son gets its attractiveness from, it gives you ideas and makes you think about all sorts of issues. Just like some other reviewers I did not enjoy the strange writing style either, it makes reading hard work. Like I said earlier, this book is difficult to review which means that you just have to read it yourself.

Just What I Needed To Read At The Right Moment
It never fails that when I decide to pick up a book and read it, it finds me at a time in my life when that book is perfectly suited for my life. This book met and exceeded that pattern. One paragraph that truly proved to be provocative and prolific, is found on p 187.It states, "I have learned that one is drawn both to his fears and to his dreams, and that a man's state is the present value of his thoughts. His ideas fashion him into what he desireth.Even in a debilitated capacity, man is the overseer of his domain.Accepting this concept hath allowed me to understand that perception will equal one's reality.As a king guardeth his coffers from thieves, I must guard my mind from negativity in similar kind. No amount of gold shall ever find security in mine hands if my mind is not cognizant of the influence that others exert."

Kudos to the authors for reiterating that I am in control of my destiny! I look forward to their next venture, which I am sure will captivate me even more.
... Read more

Book Description

Today, business success demands sustained peak performance- and that requires self-motivated, enthusiastic employees. How can you keep your team consistently at the top of their game? This powerful book begins with fresh insights from a fable about a horse and a boy who must manage it in order to save his family's farm. From the boy's story and the hundreds of real-world ideas that follow, you will discover how to harness your employees' talents to achieve breakaway success. You'll learn:

• Helpful tips and techniques to unleash your employees' innate drive to succeed- and harness their passion to achieve your organization's goals
• Strategies successful leaders use to replace old "command-and-control" management styles with more effective communication methods
• Common mistakes in dealing with employees that can lead to legal liability- and advice from Jackson Lewis, a leading employment law firm, on how to avoid these pitfalls
• Secrets to managing stress that will give you renewed energy and enthusiasm for your business
• Practical ways you can use encouragement, recognition and other powerful motivators to create a peak-performance workplace

Reviews (7)

Interesting Book
This is an interesting book with many different theories, however, it is more geared for the CEO's and senior level managers of a corporation.If you are a mid level manager, this book will not be as beneficial.

Creating Thirst
By now I have become convinced that motivation is self-generated but it is possible to inspire others. That is, to help them to motivate themselves. That is precisely what the most effective military, political, and religious leaders have done throughout history. One of the keys is appealing to what is generally described as "enlightened self-interest." With all due respect to charismatic leaders, those who are inspired to follow generally do so for reasons of their own. Hiam seems to have this in mind as he explains "how to lead and succeed in business." Obviously, the core concept in this book is based on the aphorism that "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." A corollary to that would be something to the effect that thirst -- rather than threat -- is essential to the consumption of whatever "water" may be offered. At the risk of mixing metaphors, I am convinced that those who are "hungriest" to achieve whatever the goal may be generally succeed.

In the Introduction, Hiam explains that a stable represents a lot of potential energy that isn't much use to anyone until its harnessed to some worthwhile goal and encouraged to work under good leadership." He goes on to suggest the same is true of organizations. They may have a great bunch of people on the payroll, a winning `stable' if you will. But without the right touch on the reins, the business produces little more than a stable full of horses. (In fact, like a stable, it actually consumes [italics] in its resting state. Anything it produces is waste product, to put it politely.)"

He then carefully organizes his excellent material within ten chapters which comprise two "Books. The first is "A Leadership Fable: The Horse Who Wouldn't Drink"; the second is "Horse Sense: Tips and Techniques for Managers." Each of the ten chapters corresponds to a core principle that Hiam believes all highly successful leaders apply. Moreover, each "is an important element of winning any horse race you wish your organization to enter. While they may seem like common sense, knowing when and how to apply each is a challenge."

It would be a disservice to Hiam as well as to those who read this review for me to list the ten. Each must be carefully considered in the context within which Hiam discusses it. He begins each chapter with a boxed observation. For example:

"Make sure the horse wants to win the race too." (Chapter 1)

"It is important to explore together. The best rides are often on unfamiliar trails." (Chapter 5)

"Encourage your horse to believe it is a winner. It won't run its hardest until it does." (Chapter 8)

I also appreciate the inclusion of a Checklist at the end of each chapter which highlights tips and techniques which will be most helpful during the process of applying the given principle. For those who are "thirsty" and "hungry" to become a more effective leader or to become a more productive member within their own "stable," Hiam's book is must reading.

Making Horses Drink is Champagne for Thirsty Managers!
Alex has a tradition of turning issues that frustrate into workable solutions.In MAKING HORSES DRINK, Alex takes his readers through 239 pages of non-stop information and practical approaches to familiar issues manager's face.He refocuses the reader time and again to positive solutions and motivating ideas.If you pick up this book, you will not put it down!MAKING HORSES DRINK provides great insights and workable solutions for (among other things) inspiring employees, setting reachable standards, communicating vision, learning about leadership from employees, releasing stress to lead calmly and how to deliver praise and negative feedback.In the end, you will be a better manager with an even more positive approach and management style: a true Leader.If reading the book motivates you, pick up the telephone and call Alex!He is as approachable as the ideas presented in this and all his books.

Essential reading for business leaders and managers
Making Horses Drink: How To Lead And Succeed In Business by Alex Hiam (CEO of the corporate training firm Alex Hiam & Associates) offers the reader a wealth of innovative and practical advice specifically intended for business leaders in charge of fostering a productive and organized workplace. An informed and informative collection of anecdotes, quotable quotes, tips, tricks, techniques, and a great deal more make Making Horses Drink essential reading for business leaders and managers from small family owned businesses to the large international corporate conglomerates.

Here is the tool to solve an aga old problem!
People are the single most important asset in every organization. 'Rugged individualism' kick started America into a self-sufficient economic engine...as it does today for many startup enterprises. But, 'rugged individualism' works effectively only for very small and very compact enterprises with relatively simple goals and benevolent, parent-like leaders. Complex projects require the psychological 'buy-in' of a diverse set of real people, each with his or her own life agenda. The undeniable truth is that people working together is a good thing...yet most workers harbor hidden dissatisfaction with their employers. It's an age old problem and there is no easy solution. Alex Hiam's book offers an approach that may have substantial impact on turning the situation. Making Horses Drink perhaps might have been more appropriately titled, Helping Horses Drink. Underlying Hiam's approach is the recognition that people can't be cobbled together into a well-oiled machine without their explicit permission. This book is all about how to earn enduring explicit permission. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A great source of quick pick-me-ups
This a great book to pick and flip through when you're feeling down or need a quick injection of motivation in your day. I could also see using if you are a team leader or coach, to come up with motivational sayings to get the people under you fired up. It's packed with lots of ideas I'd never thought of and also many that I already knew but had forgotten. Well worth the money if you are in a field that requires you to be "up" on demand.

Great for quick pick-me-ups
This book is a great source of quick motivation boosters - especially if you are in a field where you need to motivate a team or group on a daily basis. Lots of fresh ideas as well as things you already know but might need to be reminded of. Well worth the money!

A fun resource
This book is a great source of quick pick me ups, inspirational thoughts and insightful advice. I keep it on my desk to turn to whenever I need a quick boost.

Motivational Book Features 1001 Nuggets, Beaufort Gazette
Benjamin Franklin had nothing on Sang H. Kim. Although Kim'slatest treasure is similar to Franklin's classic collection of maxims,"Poor Richard's Almanac", his suggestions are more applicable and poignant than 200-year-old recommendations for better living.

Kim's book is geared toward businessmen of today, but anyone can benefit from his sage advice. Kim divides the book into 15 chapters each directed towrd subjects such as "How to Motivate your Boss" and tricks to motivate change or productivity. Truly 1001 Ways is worth 1001 dollars... it's money well spent - something that would make old Ben proud.

From A Magazine: Inside Asian America
Disguised beneath a boring cover is a fun handbook with motivational tips and sayings - in bullet-point format - for motivating yourself, your boss, employees, peers, students or customers, in situations of conflict resolution, creativity, decision making and leadership. Based on the book's message of courage and believing in yourself, it comes as no surprise that Kim is a taekwondo master and motivatinal speaker. This book shows that self-esteem, action, motivation and a "don't mess with me" atttitude can in fact be a part of the Asian American psyche. ... Read more

Book Description

Here's help for everyone who has dutifully listed their New Year's resolutions each January 1 and tried to reach back to revive their dreams. Problem is, few people know how to bring back their dreams and even fewer know what it takes to achieve their dreams once they've remembered them.

"Dream It Do It: Inspiring Stories of Dreams Come True" offers a clear path to reviving your long-lost dreams -- be they career ambitions or altruistic goals -- by embodying the 10 qualities typical of successful dream acheivers: confidence, courage, commitment, creativity, purpose, passion, persistence, resilience, risk, and responsibility.

The authors present inspiring, real-life stories of successful dreamers to show how dream achievers embody each of these ten characteristics to make their dreams come true. They report on both the famous (including Lance Armstrong, Barbara Walters, Maya Angelou, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Gloria Estafan, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Harrison Ford, Tiger Woods) and the unknown (including "VeggieTales" creator Phil Vischer, astronaut Eileen Collins, Barbara Vogel whose fifth grade pupils have freed thousands of slave in The Sudan, one-legged championship skier Cale Kinney, Susan Titcomb and David MacKay who created the personal chef industry out of nothing) to show that you, too, can revive your dreams and actually achieve them.

Not only will you learn how embodying each of these 10 elements of "Dream CPR" can help you resuscitate your dreams, these real-life stories will inspire you to incorporate these 10 characteristics into your every effort to actually achieve your dreams. The authors left no stone unturned as they interviewed and researched hundreds of people before settling on the 37 dream achievers profiled in "Dream It Do It." Their experiences will make your spirits soar and inspire even the most discouraged readers to put their lives back together and achieve their most heartfelt dreams. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Advancing in the Direction of Your Dreams
"We've found that dream achievers master at least one of the essential elements we've identified. Most dream achievers master several." ~Sharon Cook and Graciela Sholander

Sharon Cook and Graciela Sholander have created a recipe for success. By mixing the 10 main ingredients of success into your life, you will see your dreams jump off the pages of your journal and come to life. Not only are you encouraged to start a journal, the authors offer questions that will inspire answers that will then lead you to your dreams.

Cook and Sholander have been studying the lives of successful dreamers for years and through their research they identified ten key characteristics for success. They interviewed hundreds of people to find the elements of "Dream CPR."

Not only is this book very well organized, the main points are examined and present a powerful roadmap for success. With a journal, the inspiration in this book and your own dreams, you will be equipped with the knowledge to fulfill your dreams. If you have forgotten the dreams that once inspired you, this book may awaken the sleeping dreams and buried longings.

While reading "Dream It Do It," all I could think was: "If these individuals could see their dreams come true, I can also make my dreams a reality." I enjoyed reading the true-life example of Barbara Walters' persistence and was amazed by the resilience Maya Angelou has shown in her life.

What sustained the dreamers in this book?
Who were their mentors?
How can you put effective strategies into practice?

These questions are all answered in "Dream It Do It." It is not enough to say that you should just do something. Where do you start? The authors present some of the main principles of success by giving examples of effective strategies. They show where the dreamers found their inspiration and at times, this information will surprise you. I was amazed at how Maya Angelou created beauty out of pain.

While many may say that success is a result of luck, this book proves otherwise. There are definite steps you need to take to see your dreams become a reality. Success does take effort. However, if you love what you do, you just flow with life and create your desired existence.

A dream does not need to be just a cloud that floats around in the world of desire. You can release your ideas into a journal and then turn them into raging rivers that will move all obstacles in your path.

"Dream It Do It" presents the recipe for success and all you need to do is blend these ingredients into your daily life to create the life of you dreams. "Dream CPR" will breathe new life into your buried dreams or will give you the encouragement to continue your current path towards your goals.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Great BOOK and a Great INTERVIEW
These authors have confirmed by belief that our dreams are the building blocks of reality. Everything around us started as somebody's dream - the homes we live in, the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, the movies we watch - all things great and small are here because of people following their dreams.

Graciela and Sharon say that we each were meant to follow our dreams and when we do, all that we do will be extraordinary and meaningful. Many of the people who have achieved great things for themselves (and for us) are not supermen or superwomen, they are ordinary people who have somehow accomplished the extraordinary.

They have discovered 10 essential elements that give our dreams life and help us to fulfill them. They bring them to life through the inspirational stories of 37 dream achievers.

I interviewed Graciela Sholander on "The Inside Success Show" and she was a real delight to interview. In fact, she is the kind of guest that makes the dream of this show come true!

Here's some other things I learned from Graciela Sholander

** How Graciela Sholander changed from an Electrical Engineer to a writer so she could follow her dreams.
** Why it so important to follow your dreams no matter what the cost
** What are some of the steps you can take to discover your 'dream' job
** How you can manifest your dreams faster and easier
** When is the right time to begin following your dreams

If you are ready to reach major milestones, achieve personal success, and create the life of your dreams, then get this book and learn what the 10 essential elements are and apply them to your life.

Randy (Dr. Proactive) Gilbert, Host of The Inside Success Show (TheInsideSuccessShow.com) and best-selling author of "Success Bound"

Dream It, Do It inspires one to take action!
There are many things I love about this book. For me, being a mother of two busy kids, I love the fact that the book is written in "bite-sized pieces". If I am waiting to pick up my son from basketball and have ten minutes, I can read an inspiring story from start to finish. The material and people profiled in the book are incredibly interesting. How did Bill Nye the Science Guy help revolutionize how kids view science? How did Maya Angelou find the strength to turn the pain she has suffered into such beautiful masterpieces? Each story has a lesson - one that I am sharing with my whole family. I've already given seven people this book as a gift!!

Success is an inside job!
This is a great book because some of our favorite famous people are spotlighted and their lives are examined from before they were famous. It's helpful to me because once again I can see that we are all the same in our humanity, and anyone who puts in the effort, diligence and spiritual "something" to accomplish their dreams will do it! It lets us see we can do it, too, in whatever way feels good to us!

This Book Will Help You Turn Your Dreams into Reality
It takes a lot of courage to follow your dreams. Graciela Sholander and Sharon Cook bring you a truly inspiring book that shows you how real people turn their dreams into reality despite the many obstacles they faced.
People who turn their dreams into reality have had many naysayer comments from the very people who should be saying "I Believe in You and You Can Do It!!"

This wonderful book gives you practical steps to get your dreams on paper. There's an old saying: "So it is written, so it is done." You have to believe that you CAN do it.
Once you begin, your natural passion will fuel you, and you will become unstoppable. Once you make up your mind, NOTHING in this universe can stand in your way.
Everything reviewer Randy Gilbert said below is absolutely true.
This book will provide you with the inspiration from the very people who have had to endure so much to get to where they are.

BUY TTHIS BOOK! It is a remarkable book for anyone who wants to turn his or her dream into reality. It will definitely show you how others did.
Highly Recommended!
Barbara Rose, author of 'Individual Power' and 'If God Was Like Man' ... Read more

Book Description

Who will succeed in the twenty first century?

Today's creative business leaders already know the answer and it's not about cutting overhead downsizing or meeting next quarter's budget.Corporate
leaders of the twenty-first century will be spiritual leaders-- grounded in vision, integrity and intuition--and they will know how to nurture these
qualities in others.

Gay Hendricks and Kate Ludeman have been training top executives for more than twenty-five years.They have distilled the experience of the hundred wisest
businessmen and women they know into nuggets of just-in-time wisdom that take no more than a minute or two to read.You will discover:

* The twelve qualities of twenty-first-century leaders

* How to make breakthrough decisions with intuitive ease

* The visionary's ability to think twenty years down the line

* How to spot and correct integrity problems in your organization

* How to create a mind-set of prosperity in yourself and your company

Drawing on insights and observations from legendary CEOs like Bob Galvin ofMotorola and Ed McCracken of Silicon Graphics, The Corporate Mystic also
offers spirited solutions to the day-in, day-out problems of business.You'll learn what these visionaries with their feet on the ground say about:

* Giving and receiving honest feedback

* Ending destructive turf battles

* High-firing people who drain your energy

* Handling big wins and big losses

* Protecting your creative think-time

* And much much more.

Whether you're a new hire or already division chief The Corporate Mystic is a book to nourish your soul and light your path to professional
success. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Challenge yourself to explore what's blocking your success.
I have always been a believer in the concept of successful leaders being those who model the behavior that influences their company culture. This book is focused on the relevant and practical observations and actions that make a leader into a down-to-earth visionary. I have been using the suggestions every day and have greatly improved my business relationships and my presence within leadership. Challenge yourself to explore what you and your behavior does to contribute to your own and others success. EASY-TO-THE-POINT-IT WORKS!

Necessary reading, whether you're in business or not.
The only complaint I have is that this is passed off as a business book. Nonsense!! Leave out the "corporate" words & you've got vital advice for anyone literate enough to open it. No mumbo-jumbo, either, just some solid advice on how to get ahead in life by being honest & expecting the same. Read it every few months.

a manifesting must
Having run a business for over fifteen years, this book
warmed my heart! In a clothing market, it's seemed
like the words "honest" and "business" couldn't
exist in the same sentence. Very successful people
do it! I' learned a lot from reading this book and
feel like I can relax into the abundance I've created.
I intend to integrate the theme of this book into even
greater abundance! Truly an important writing!

Don't Be Turned Off By The Title (Mystic)
As an avid reader of many business books I had this one shelved for the better part of the year, finally cracked it open only to reveal thoughts and introspective ideas how to "become" a better person and leader. Simple and obvious points are usually the ones we overlook everyday because we are usually looking for complex solutions to our problems. But the points outlined here are practical and immediately useful and implementable. If you think the problem is "out there", read this, you'll see what you and your actions (or inactions) did to contribute to the problem and what you can do now to head off problems. A MUST READ. AN EASY READ. AN ENJOYABLE READ. YOU MAY BE PUT OFF BY THE WORD "MYSTIC" - DON'T BE!!

One brilliant Book
One of the brilliant books that i have ever read this book makes one thing about the endless posibilities one has in life and the ease with which they can be Achievd if we decide not to mess things up at the ground level... though it kept me wondering whether the successful mystics would be sucess ful always.. it kind of gives one the feeling that the the rules mentioned in the book are permnenant and the outcome is like that of the rule of gravity universal and undisputable... worth reading once......and revist multiple times worth a buy highly recommended.. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Something good to be said about the Hip-Hop Generation
Black Power Inc. may use the phrase, post civil rights generation, but we all know who the audience for this book is. Perhaps we - as a generation - have been blindly focused on achieving success in all the fields that were arrayed before us by the previous generations' political activity, but this book gives us credit for keeping our success (and that march toward success) in the context of all the work that has come before. This book is a definite feel good for those of us - African Americans born post the assassination of MLK - who have wondered, as we wander through the power hallways of the white world, "am I the only one here?"

Black Power Inc. is an inspirational text, one that said to me, "Fear not! Your Sisters and Brothers have joined the fight and they will not be dissuaded, deterred or defeated by the armies of our enemies."

Groundbreakers & Post-Civil Rights Babies: A Conversation
Black Power Inc. has two key ingredients that make it a success: access and identity. Using both, Ms. Daniels carries us into the minds and offices of today's corporate leaders, who happen to be black, and rising stars, who don't apologize for it. This isn't a book of case studies or educated assumptions - generic statistics are replaced by real people in candid conversation. The book's pace is swift and easy. It's tone is intimate and personal. One of my favorite testimonies came from a brother named Sean Hudson.

If you've ever wondered why this generation of black professionals is so different from the one that came before them, there is something here for you. If you've ever thought that you were the only black professional feeling the way that you feel, there is something here for you. If you've ever wondered why the young, black men and women working for you seem to be on their own program, there is something here for you, too. But, don't expect this book to answer all of your questions...it will raise more than it resolves. It did for me. And that, after all, is Ms. Daniel's point. She says as much in the section called, "Last Thoughts...for Now."

Black Power is definitely part of Corporate America
The book is great! I applaud Cora Daniels for bringing our feelings as Black, strong corporate men and women to the masses. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to truly understand how African Americans affect and strengthen the business world either through their strenghth of innovation or entrepreneurship. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

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

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

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

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

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

Book Description

What you learn in school and what you need to know in the work world are never one and the same. For professionals looking to become high-level executives, the message is clear--you must know how to play the game if you want to be in the club. John Rau, president and CEO of Chicago Title and Trust Co. and former CEO of LaSalle National Bank, got an exclusive look at the files of a top executive search firm, Paul Ray Berendtson, and discovered what it takes to become an executive and how to survive as one. In Secrets from the Search Firm Files, Rau shares the surprising information he's learned,including the three traits all successful executives share: 1) They have impressive line management experience 2) They maintain a high profile within their industries 3) They fit well within their corporate environment. Drawing from this firm's documentation and experience placing more than 5,000 executives in top management positions, Rau builds ``how to'' lists and checklists for executives of all ages. He focuses on the real-world factors that characterize the most successful executives and how they change over the different stages of a search. With specific anecdotes and case histories, Rau illustrates what executives should do and the many things that can go wrong. Secrets from the Search Firm Files includes telling chapters like: The Graduation Speech You Will Never Hear; Do As They Do; Not (Just) As They Say; Rau's Top 10 Reasons Why a Headhunter Makes You a Candidate; The Three Steps to the Executive Suite. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A MUST read for corporate ladder-climbers!
FINALLY! An honest "insiders view" of corporate America.No fluff, just practical "Do's and Don'ts" from a guy who by age 35 was the youngest CEO of any of the nation's top 100 banks and who by age 48was President and CEO of Chicago Title & Trust Company. My favoritechapters: The Worst Disasters I Ever Saw; Unspoken Assumptions; andPromotions Aren't Happiness. This book was educational & informativeand it definitely exceeded my expectations! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Some 10-to-90-percent splits are good, like giving one-tenth of what you make to those less fortunate or putting 10 percent of it into a smart saving plan. Others are bad, like being a miserly 10-percent tipper or using only that tiny portion of the capabilities of your powerful computer software. Worst of all is the fact that most of us use only 10 percent of our intelligence and creativity potential, leaving vast quantities of what we're capable lying dormant, unused and untapped. It's this ratio that Robert Cooper hopes to help reverse with The Other 90%, his inspirational guide to waking the sleeping giant within each of us.

Cooper groups his observations and advice under four keystones: trust, energy, farsightedness, and nerve. In a diagram at the beginning, he illustrates each of these keystones with insights quoted from an unusual mixture of literary and political figures, setting the tone for a book that mixes tales of the famous with those of the unknown and moments of ordinary life with the eureka moments of exceptional triumphs. He promotes trust in its broadest sense, such as incorporating and blending all three streams of intelligence (brain, heart, and gut) into decision making, and trusting oneself enough to escape the trap of comparison. He shares simple suggestions for cultivating calm energy, so as to be quick and effective without rushing, and encourages readers to learn the difference between the trivia in life that counts (and drains us of precious energy) and that which doesn't. Being farsighted, for Cooper, is essentially learning to align more of your actions--and ultimately your life--with your biggest dreams. And nerve is the art of developing a thick skin and making adversity your ally on the road to achieving those hopes and ambitions.

The Other 90% suffers a bit from the problem of many inspirational books, being so densely packed with anecdotes that the good advice is sometimes lost in a blur of well-intentioned examples. Indeed, some of Cooper's most profound comments leap out of the least elaborate stories, such as the memory of his grandfather gazing at Sirius, one of the brightest but most distant stars, and explaining that he did this "because it draws my gaze the farthest away from where I'm standing right now." But Cooper's enthusiasm is timely; the accepted notion that we only use one-tenth of our capabilities was revised a few years ago by studies indicating we only use one ten-thousandth. So there's room for all kinds of improvement. --S. Ketchum ... Read more

Reviews (21)

The Elusive Search for Id.
I must admit, the title of this book is what originally snared me. For many years, I have been wonderously curious about the theory (or is it urban legend?) that the average human only utilizes 10% of the brain's intellectual capacity. Well, OK, how does one access "other 90%?" So you see, the title of Robert Cooper's book, THE OTHER 90%, spoke to me immediately.

Dr. Cooper has been described as "An acclaimed educator on how exceptional leaders and teams liberate untapped human capacities and excel under pressure, Cooper is also recognized for his pioneering work on the practical application of emotional intelligence and the neuroscience of trust, ingenuity and leadership." Seems as though Dr. Cooper has found the other 90%? Maybe, maybe not.

THE OTHER 90% typifies many other books in the self-help genre in that Dr. Cooper has not really broken any new ground within. There is no "Eureka!" There is no "90%" Holy Grail. Having said all that, reading Dr. Cooper's book and given the other resouces I have located in the past, there leaves little doubt as to the existence of the mythical and elusive "other 90%." Consequently, attempting to provide a practical guide to arousing the sleeping giant within (a little Anthony Robbins seeping through!), Dr. Cooper throws the reader toward a search for oneself albeit one's inner self. This, like the teachings of Robbins, Brian Tracy and many others, is tantamount to locating and discovering the vast potential within each of us. The methodologies and theories between all of these self-help gurus are comparable in nature when looking "outside-in." They get there in differing ways but all-in-all, these pioneers preach from the same rock. Of course there will always be varying opinions on how to attain this seemingly unreachable peak but the impetus behind Dr. Cooper's approach is one of practical application. This is something of a departure from the previous guides to getting in touch with the intangible Id. Dr. Cooper has approached this great conundrum in a different manner; anecodotal and creative challenges from his grandfathers elicited Cooper's search for his hidden greatness, ultimately his other 90%.

Dr. Cooper's theorum in reaching the other 90% is built around Four Keystones: 1) Trust, 2)Energy, 3) Farsightedness, and 4) Nerve.

Trust is centered around building and maintaining exceptional relationships. This keystone provides one with a support system designed to maintain high levels of thought, energy and emotional stability, all essential foundational attributes. He further instills that one should not react based on one "internal source;" rather one should trust and utilize one's heart and gut as well as one's mind to react and respond to issues. This provides a synergy of sorts within each of us creating more focused direction.

The energy keystone is pointed toward "increasing your calm effectiveness under pressure." Ah, the proverbial nhirvana! Again, practical exercises and pauses to ensure that our minds, hearts, and guts are working in concert to promote the most congruous solution to the immediate fire. You've heard it before: count to ten, deep breaths, meditate, take a walk, etc. Do what it takes to create, maintain and manifest at a moment's notice, the calm spirit within. All wonderful suggestions and wholly practical albeit unoriginal.

Farsightedness is the keystone I believe to be the most important. Einstein posited, "Imagination is more important than knowledge." Well, if this is true (and Einstein is the posterboy for tapping into the other 90%), then farsightedness, or having to ability (imagination) to dream of great things, is what we should all strive for. The crux of the farsightedness keystone: Strive for the big prize lest you acheive only the small prize. Here is the source of most of the missed potential in our lives. To spew an overused idiom, "thinking outside the box" to create often irrational and untapped possibilities and options is the key to discovering new ground within. Summarily then, imagination is more important than knowledge.

The fourth and final keystone: nerve. Lets face it, this emotional attribute holds many great individuals at bay. Nerve, or the ability to muster courage at a moment's notice is one of the great barriers to greatness. Do you have dreams, ambitions, desires that you've failed to act upon? Why? Cooper postulates that nerve is one of the major contributing factors lacking in most. To that end, Cooper urges the reader to nurture habits of pushing the envelope or taking the extra step not taken to begin the process of creating the "nerve" necessary to overcome internal barriers. Here, Cooper provides great advice.

So, the upshot is that once you've finished reading THE OTHER 90%, you'll not be thinking like Einstein but you may have a better idea of the tools needed to tap into your "untapped potential." Don't look for miracle cures or the "one" hidden secret; its not here. However, reading this book will create an awareness for moving forward, perhaps breaking new ground. Frankly, if you read nothing else, read the section on Farsightedness; this is worth the price of the book.

DISCOVER YOUR FULL POTENTIAL - REACH FOR THE STARS!
For years psychologists indicated that we, as humans, only utilize approximately 10% of our full potential. From my studies in psychology, I have encountered recent statistics which indicate this figure is exaggerated and that we actually use far less than this 10% figure.

In "The Other 90%", the author uses four keystones as suggestions for reaching our full potential: trust, energy, farsightedness and nerve. To define trust he begins by combining the three areas of intelligence - brain, heart and gut, and examinimg this combination in decision making. Energy becomes a factor when we are faced with where and how to best put it to use. If we use our energy in a negative way, we will quickly drain our energy supply. Rather, we should focus on the important elements of our life and use our energy in a positive and constructive manner. Having farsightedness encourages us to reach for the stars and not sell ourselves short when it comes to our capabilities. If we constently set easy personal and career goals, we will not utilize our untapped potential no matter how many years we live. Most things in life do not come easy; they require hard work, commitment and perserverance. We should set realistic goals, but never settle for less than what we truly want to achieve. When there are no short and long-term goals in sight, we lose hope; hope is a critical element that keeps us motivated. Finally, there is nerve, and quite often we are afraid to pursue our hopes and dreams for fear of making mistakes or encountering failure. We learn from our mistakes, and we never fail until we cease trying. Everything in life, from personal relationships to a chosen career, is a risk. Life comes with no guarantees. It is important to realize and accept this fact and still find the nerve, strength and confidence to pursue those things in life which we believe will make us happy and allow us to become the best person we can possibly be. In this light, we truly utilize the other 90%+ of untapped potential to our best advantage.

The book has great concepts; however, there is a minor irritation. With so many stories presented, one can become sidetracked on inconsequential details, and critical messages can are often lost in a sea of words. Overall, it is still a book well worth reading.

Good Read, Great Concepts
This was an easy read, with great concepts. I have applied some of the things in this book, and I am all the better because of it. I recomend this in the personal library....a reference book to keep us on track.

The book was good but.....
I felt the author could have contributed more to the content. Giving basic over-views of personalities and some testing results are good but the book misses the mark somewhere. It really doesn't get into the meat of the matter.

More B.S., more trite thoughts
Cooper's book is yet another warm and fuzzy management guru text --- from yet another management guru who never served a day as a real manager, of a real company. It contains all sorts of motherhood and apple pie stories --- along with trite sayings such as "When you find a back door that's open, close it" or my personal favorite "Use the lanterns of your life to help light the way." If you're looking for an inspirational book, one with a solid basis, forget this one. You'd be better off reading the daily horoscope. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Paradox and Principle
This extraordinary book by Frank Rivers deserves more stars than would fit on this page. Frank Rivers deals with ideas formerly reserved for mysticm and the most esoteric disciplines in a charmingly down to earth manner. He gets a lot of mileage out of the Owl analogy, and it works. The reader, male or female, can easily identify with both the fledgling and the wise old owl of Frank River's examples. This fascinating treatise on conflict, paradox and martial principle has so much more substance and clarity than one would expect from such a relatively unknown work. I especially recommend it to readers who don't normally enjoy warm and fuzzies, or self-help conflict-resolution type books. I also recommend it to those struggling with the inconsistencies and injustices of life. Again and again Frank Rivers makes the principles of life, of reality and conflict, as concrete and usable as an idea or words on paper can get. I plan to read this book several times in the next few years. I put Frank Rivers "The Way of The Owl" right up there with James Carse's "Finite and Infinite Games" and consider it much more accessible to the person with an average interest in this type of subject. Although I found the book deeply spiritual in nature, I also found it well in line with fundamental beliefs. A Baptist minister and a Buddhist monk would both enjoy the insights Frank Rivers presents to the reader. A great book for carrying around and reading at those odd moments.

A wonderfully empowering book
I have always considered the owl as my totem, yet didn't make the connection between owls and tai-chi, and integrity. Soul work is taxing to the spirit, we are not always dealing with people whose goals are harmony, co-operation, reverence for life. We need to be reminded that the Yin and Yang of daily life brings struggle, we cannot escape that fact, but we can be guided thru these conflicts with awareness, the most important of which is *Know Thyself*. It's a HOOT of a book, and I am delighted to have it.

before the ART OF WAR is the ART OF SELF
To know one thing is to know one thousand things. To know one's self is to know the universe. This book provides reflective wisdom, which is self evident, that only serves to nurture the soul. The book does not provide answers, it provides questions. And the questions is more valuable than the answer.

Way of the Owl
This is one of the best books I've read in terms of changing behaviors and self-realizing your own potential. It is self-reflective and talks in plain, simple language that I was able to relate to AND talk about with others. I say forget about Covey and his 7 habits because most likely, you already have "his" identified 7 habits. I wanted to go deeper...to build my intracommunication with myself and understand how I can change to become more successful. Rivers' book helped me do this and it can for you. This is one book that doesn't buy into the new age spiritualism mumbo-jumbo that everyone is jumping on. The Rivers' book is for real and it is a keeper...I'm rereading it now.

FRANK RIVERS GIVES US A GREAT GIFT FROM NATURE
The Way of the Owl begins by reminding us that conflict is part of all life on Earth. From there, it takes us on a flight through human relations, through the nature of conflict. The reader lands with lessons from nature, lessons that pepare us to better meet conflict, even to use conflict to advantage of all involved. Yes, there are enemies, but they need not be despised. Better to understand them, to learn from them, to be energized and improved by them. The Way of the Owl is a classic because it entertains us, and leave us better for the experience. Few books do that, and few are as respected by its readers. I am grateful to be one of them. Gavin de Becker, author The Gift of Fear ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A hilarious read full of much truth but lacking specific ...
directions. Kennedy offers many platitudes regarding most of societies accepted notions about work and success. And generally I agree with the vast majority of his assertions which very adequately debunk the traditional thinking. But I found the book to be most useful (at least to me) in terms of validating many of my own beliefs rather than describing the manner in which to accomplish certain goals. For example, Mr. Kennedy basically states that we just need to take action. I certainly concur insofar as action always beats inaction but then there is no supporting instruction on how to take action. And unfortunately many people have no concept of just how to take action.

Even though Mr. Kennedy offers many great examples of particular actions taken by many self starters I feel that many readers would not be able to apply the general concepts to their own lives or endeavors. For example, I might have suggested that the text include the suggestion to evaluate all of the various actions that could possibly be taken regardless of how simple or improbable they may seem. After having a good list of possible actions then it would be advisable to select the best 3 based upon important criteria which might include level of effort, cost, time required and likelihood to succeed to name only a few. From those three it would then be advisable to proceed with the best one. In my mind that is understandable and practical. It is unrealistic to expect that people who have no history or experience with taking initiative or being entrepreneurial will have any clue about what truly taking action means.

Having said that... the book is truly an inspiration and certainly served to get my juices flowing again. Not to mention the fact that it is an easy and extremely enjoyable read. The story about the guy with the Ivan Boesky connection practically had me fallen out of my chair laughin'.

In short I love Mr. Kennedy's style, agree with his beliefs and his suggested actions but I feel the book is deficient in specific instruction. But I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to take charge of their career and more importantly their life.

WAKE UP AND SMELL REALITY
Finally, someone has come and exploded all of those tried and true myths of success. A customer is always right, right? NOT! Just think positive and all good things will come to you. What other good jokes do you know?

In this hilarious book Dan Kennedy forces you to come to grips with reality and examine those micky mouse rules of success that have been ingrained in our minds. He shows the absurdity of them and encourages us to seek alternative avenues of self-fulfillment if we're going to make it in the business world. Nice guys finish last so smarten up.

No Rules is funny, insane and will offend those purists of positive thinking and other ideas of fair play. Come on folk, we live in a cut throat, competitive culture which calls for drastic measures. Get with the program is Dan's battle cry and wake up.

Despite the fact that Dan debunks the rules, he creates his own which are just as bad. He gives you the feeling that honesty is out and that being crude, rude and plain obnoxious is the way to success. Like everything else you must proceed with caution in swallowing his lines. The positive thing that must be said of this book is that it teaches us not to take things at face value. All ideas are open to critique and yes rules need to be broken in order to progress. Happy reading.

Another great one.
First off I'd like to say that Dan Kennedy is not for everyone nor does he want to be. Some of what he says goes against what is taught in business as well as what is dictated to us from technology. He puts things bluntly, truthfully and as basic as can be. His books are not for whiners, babies or wimps. With that aside I give this rave reviews. He rights with a statement then example over and over again to write a very good book.

recycled thinking of the classics
The message? "Challenge it all" and "don't be intimidated by authority". How? Contradict it all. Shake it up. Dan Kennedy's medium? Use a curiosity generating book title (No rules!) that threatens to debunk and make a mockery of established success formulas, then repeatedly quote from the classics anyway ... but put a spin on the interpretation (...this is what Peal really meant, p4). That seems to be Dan Kennedy's formula. Well done. My advice, however...stick with the classics - Napolean Hill, Clement Stone and Maxwell Maltz. Dan's book simply recycles the classics as it suits him, self promotes his other book and relies on annectdotal evidence (some of it incorrect, eg.p13- Darren Bennett was not an Australian Soccer Player!) Frustrating are the contradictions for which Dan apologizes in the introduction. Dan Kennedy writes in an entertaining, provocative manner. But in the end, it is a "me too" a generic with modern examples but adding little original thinking. If you are serious, get the full story, get the classics.

Good
This isn't your be-all guide to success. But it should be read along with others, to show there are exceptions to cliche rules, and to show that some cliche rules are all wrong. One example is that it IS possible to get rich quick, as Kennedy points out. The odds are against it. But to stroke your chin and think patience, and slow-and-steady is the only way to wealth: We all know the internet-rich-people who got rich overnight. Similar helpful points are made in this book. I recommend it. I listened to an audio-tape of Kennedy's (an infomercial tape, where he was promoting the book PSYCHOCYBERNETICS) and he relates there how he once suffered a personal bankruptcy. Now he is wealthy. If he can get wealthy after being bankrupt, there is hope for the rest of us. And this book should help. ... Read more

Book Description

How does a champion think? An authority on high-level achievement, Denis Waitley has studied the amazing similarities in the mental strategies of great champions in both business and sport. Distilling years of research into the psychology of winning, Waitley shows how you can make these mental traits you own and outlines a 21-day program for doing so. Among the topics covered in The New Dynamics of Winning:Focusing your mind for peak performance anywhere, anytimeHow paying the price prepares you for success. How to use stress to your advantagePrevalent self-destructive beliefsThe psychology traits of those who become winner A guide and an inspriration to achieving your personal best, The New Dynamics of Winning clear, no-nonsense advice on what it takes to succeed in any field of endeavor. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Dr. Waitley's best book to date!
Having enjoyed better than average success as an athlete, in fact, competing in national and international competitions, I have always felt that it takes work and effort for even the naturally gifted to become winners.

In the New Dynamics of Winning, you will learn:

> 7 rules for winners
> 5 most prevalent self destructive beliefs
> The secret of mental toughness
> How to use stress to your advantage
> A 21 day program to develop the champions mindset
> And so much more

I also recommend Empires of the Mind, a book which came out about the same time as this one. Both are revolutionary.

I have been studying Dr. Denis Waitley for many years. In Empires of the Mind, he finds the difference between the winner and simply winning.

This book will empower you towards self leadership. Although written in the early 90's, his ideas are as fresh and applicable today as they were almost a decade ago. In fact, m any of the newer leadership books borrow tremendously from the ideas developed by Dr. Waitley and explained in Empires of the mind.Great book.

Powerful and pragmatic
Everyone wants to become a champion. And now Dr. Waitley shares new technology that will turn average individuals into champions and win the gold medal.

Great book Dr. Waitley.

Inspirational and Practical
This book shows the reader how to literally practice goals that lead to success. Denis Waitley uses stories and charts to motivate and inspire success. It is easy to read and use. -- Samuel Oliver, author of, WHAT THE DYING TEACH US: LESSONS ON LIVING. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

this is a great book
before I read this book, I was going trough a tough time. When my dad gave it to me, I didn't think it was gonna be any help, but it helped me to look at life in a new way. I would suggest reading this book at least once.

The Ultimate Grail
In spite of his discussion of the NEZ people (Non-Erroneous Zone for the neophite) I found the overall quality of the book to be good.The NEZ description appeared to be of a typical saint, although too detached fromsocial interaction to be of my liking.I have read many of his other booksand the good thing about this guy is that you can almost see the timeprogression of his ideas (they change from time to time, although not tooradically). ... Read more

Reviews (4)

why not a best seller?
i try to read 50 - 100 books a year and when i read something exceptional, i want to make note of it.

I thought True Success was a brilliant book - well organized, well written, fun and substantive.