Book Description

An uncommon collection of common sense, The Little Stuff Matters Mostdelivers the hard and fast lessons of Bernie Brillstein’s unparalleled business experiencein fifty pithy, wise, witty, and completely entertaining essays. Brillstein, whose name issynonymous with some of the highest-profile Hollywood careers, shares these invaluablelessons in the clever, unfailingly honest, and inimitable tone for which he is known andloved. This little package is packed with big truths for getting ahead in business and inlife, from how to get your boss’s job to the art of making a deal. Other memorable tipsinclude:

o Know the difference between "hot" and "good"
o Don’t talk behind someone’s back in front of them
o Only doctors and hookers need pagers
o Don’t pet the snakes
o Have an opinion, even it it’s wrong
o It’s all lies, and that’s the truth
o When your time has come, success will find you
o The stomachache—and other gastrointestinal warnings

Each of the book’s fifty "Bernie-isms" is followed by refreshing commentary, pepperedwith colorful tales from Bernie’s career and clever drawings by acclaimed NewYorker cartoonist David Sipress. This book is the next- best thing to having yourown personal manager on call 24/7—without having to fork over fifteen percent of yourpaycheck. The Little Stuff Matters Most puts both wit and wisdom in yourpocket. ... Read more

Book Description

How to Get from Cubicle to Corner Office distills the lessons from a lifetime of executive experience into 29 clear keys on everything from how to win-and lose-gracefully, to how to recognize the important lessons that come your way, to how to choose the right role models. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Book- my secret little bible for job success
This book is the accumulation of common sense from a very accomplished businessman, Joel Weiss.

Essentially, this book is all the important advice they don't teach you in school.I graduated from Yale in 2003 --it was a great school, but they didn't teach me a jot about how to succeed in business.This book has become my little bible for doing the right thing on the job.Some advice is common sense, like 'show up on time.'But other things I never would have known, like 'ask to read their business plan.'(You should have seen my boss's eyes light up when I asked to read the plan...)

My favorite thing about this book is the format.Each chapter is only 5-6 pages long, and covers a specific piece of advice.Joel backs up every piece of advice with a story or two from his own experience, which really gives the book a human element. Each chapter ends with a few famous quotes to back up the main theme.This is a book to read, and re-read for advice. It sits by my bed, and I'll read a chapter or two to psych me up every once in a while.

This isn't some new 'job philosophy'--it is about 30 specific suggestions for doing well, getting promotions, and even creating new job positions within a company.It matters less and less where you went to school--people only really care about job performance.

I have to say that this would make the perfect graduation gift to anyone planning to get a job.

Great
Finally a book that explains how to make your way up the corporate ladder.Finally after 12 years in the "real world" after receiving my MBA a clear concise book that explains the do's and don'ts of corporate America.The anecdotes add a touch of humor and help in remembering the lessons.Socrates and Aristotle would be proud.Great Book I would recommend it to all. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Stimulated my sales tremendously
In this book by Hill, you have the principles to become a top persuader. COnsidering what Hill accomplished in selling his philosophy with no compensation from Mr. Carnegie, don't you think Hill has something to offer in salesmanship?

This book will show you the person you have to be and offers exercises and tips to reach your goals. Another classic by Hill and must reading for all salespeople.

Must read for all people in sales
I'm in direct sales and have found Napolean Hill's great book improved my bottom line tremendously. I give copies of this book and Think and Grow Rich to all of my sales people. Result: rapid improvement in sales and a never say die attitude.

This book is like good mental protein. Must reading for sales people who want to excel in selling.

The Power of Positive Persuasion!
I have always enjoyed Napolean Hill's books. This man knew how to write in a a manner that compelled you to take action.Succeed and Grow Rich Through Persuasion is a must read for everyone, but especially salespeople. Teachers, parents, husbands and wives will find this book makes them more persuasive in all of their dealings. Although this book has ten chapters, I found the chapters on The Persuasive Personality, Prerequisites to Power and The manual for master salesmanshipparticularly noteworthy.Someof the other information does reat from Think & Grow Rich but that didn't stop me from picking up a new idea or two this time around.Get this book and learn The Power of Positve Persuasion. Also recomend Brian Tracy's "Advanced Selling Strategies."Tracy is a modern day version of Hill.

Persuade and Grow Rich
I bought this book back in the early 70's and sincerely feel that Succeed and Grow Rich is still one of the very best books ever written on salesmanship. In fact, if you were to buy, read and apply everything from this book and Og Mandino's "The Greatest Salesaman in the World", you couldn't go wrong.The 700 epigrams are powerful mind conditioners. Mt personal testomony is that they brought out a burning desire, self discipline, positive attitude and alove for other people like nothing else I have ever used.A philosophy that I live by is " God who giveth us richly for all things to enjoy" (I Timothy 6:17) and "I am come so they might have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10)Succeed and Grow Rich. Godspeed.

Persuasion Personified
While this growing rich stuff appeals to AMWAY and all the other multi-level people,it doesn't work for everyone. It's a persuasion-oriented book, though, and based on that fact, it is interesting reading ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Okay, but nothing new here...
It seems that in our ever-increasingly casual society, we have lost some of our common sense when dressing for the office. This book has no surprises - there are no hidden secrets for compiling a work wardrobe - if we put a bit of thought into it, I'm sure most people could determine on their own that belly tops, sandals, frayed jeans, see-through blouses and poor grooming are potentially career-limiting moves.

The information in this book is pretty basic. Save your money - you can probably get this quality of advice from Mom - for free.

The ultimate guide to looking your best...
If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to making a positive impact through appearance, this is your book. I am a recruiter with a Fortune 100 company in the US, and a professional image consultant recommended this book to me when I originally began my position. As a person who was looking for solid guidelines around professional dressing, as well as a reference for others who are looking to improve their appearance, I have found no other book to be comparable.

There are many aspects which make this book such an important resource for professionals:

1. The author provides specific guidelines around what items should be in a professional wardrobe, even going as far as to outline what quantities are particularly helpful of each piece of clothing.

2. The book is filled with "before and after" pictures, which allow the reader to see first-hand how the author's recommendations can make a startling appearance alteration.

3. To reflect the variety of workplace formality levels, there are six levels of workplace dress covered in the chapters. For those people who work for companies that have never successfully defined "Casual Friday", this book gives a lot of great hints of how to dress casual but still remain professional.

4. Two separate chapters outline accessories and generic grooming guidelines, and I have only found those hints in this particular guideline book.

5. For people looking to improve their wardrobe on a limited budget or a first job out of school, the author does not suggest spending a fortune on designer clothing. Rather, she suggests some key pieces to acquire first, and then others that can be obtained after your finances begin to improve.

Overall, I see the negative impact every day in my position from candidates who do not make the extra effort to go from "dressing up" to "looking professional". I strongly suggest that you make the $15 investment in this book, since it could help you to acquire the high paying career of your dreams!

An essential part of a working wardrobe.
This book is an excellent guide to dressing for the workplace regardless of where you work. I especially liked the sections on business casual (for both men and women). This section helped me to see that, though I am a manager in my firm, I was dressing like the delivery man. There are so many options for dressing these days and dress has become so casual that we lose sight of the impact that our clothing has on others and the subtle signals we send. The authors do an excellent job of demonstrating how important dress is, especially for women. And, it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg to dress well, it just takes conscious buying and this book as your guide. If you feel like you are not making the impact at work and maybe in your life that you would like to make, get this book. Perhaps your appearance is sending a different message.

Finally, a book to show you how to look successful!
As a young woman entering the workforce, I recognized the need to make a strong first impression. What I lacked was the concrete rules to pull this off. This book is outstanding! Given to me as a present, it will surely serve as my dressing bible for years to come. I was especially helped by the dress/grooming guidelines given for specific occasions and the tips for creating a more polished overall look.

Just be forewarned that the women's photos show fashions which are about five years out of style, but the overall ideas are still applicable to everyday life. Men's fashions are a lot more constant so their section is still current.

Success is Yours in 30 Seconds--With This Book!
I am currently beginning my second career and needed the Zero to 60 information, now, to level the playing field. You may think, gee, this guy should know all the rules--but my first career was 25 years in the military. Susan Bixler and Nancy Nix-Rice have me confident that when I walk into the interview, I will have the external factors covered (the first 30 seconds)--they even give you hints on how posture, speak, and express the internal you--your knowledge, skills, and ability. I notice people much more now--I look for the suit and tie color, suit make, belts, shoe style, etc., to see the type client the individual is playing up or down to. If you're at all uncertain--this is your next book--you will not be sorry. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In a corporate world where true value is no longer determined by physical assets alone, but instead by a combination of material and nonmaterial resources, businessman Leif Edvinsson and journalist Michael Malone propose a new way to bridge the gap between balance sheet and organizational reality. In Intellectual Capital: Realizing Your Company's True Value by Finding Its Hidden Brainpower, they explain why today's companies must take intangibles seriously--and how to measure them so they can. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Superb Representation of the Breadth and Depth of IC
Edvinsson and Malone do an excellent job with a complex and relatively esoteric topic. The authors have created an enviable work and set up the foundation for companies and managers to act accordingly.

tapping human resorces in central asia
Its difficult to tap the exact talent in a thickly populated country with disturbed economy and democracy.Knowledge based industry cannot achive a break until unless manupulation is stopped in higher grades.Priority must be given to the basic human/mankind nature instead of mechanical approaches.There is a greater necessity of real/civilised kings instead of lion/uncivilised kings.

The Skandia Market Value Model
Intellectual capital is a truly critical topic for twenty-first century business. As known, the subject of intellectual capital appeared on the business world in the 1990s. Patrick H.Sullivan writes, in his 'Value-Driven Intellectual Capital,' "this history actually began in the early 1980s, as managers, academics, and consultants around the world began to notice that a firm's intangible assets, its intellectual capital, were often a major determinant of the corporation's profits...By the mid 1990s it was becoming clear that there were two separate but related paths of thinking about intellectual capital. One path, the knowledge and brain power path, focused on creating and expanding the firm's knowledge. The other path, the resource-based perspective, was concerned with how to create profits from a firm's unique combinations of intellectual and tangible resources."

In this context, by proposing a new intellectual capital measurement and reporting system, Leif Edvinsson and Michael S.Malone elaborate the Skandia Model. According to this model, Skandia divides market value into financial capital and intellectual capital. Intellectual capital is further divided into:

1. 'Human Capital.' The combined knowledge, skill, innovativeness, and ability of the company's individual employees to meet the task at hand. It also includes the company's values, culture, and philosophy. It cannot be owned by the company.

2. 'Structural Capital.' Brands, trademarks, written procedures for processes, and everything else of organizational capability that supports those employees' productivity-in a word, everything left at the office when the employees go home. Structural capital also includes customer and organizational capital, representing the external and internal focus, respectively, of structural capital. Organizational capital consists of innovation and process capital. Process capital is the sum of know-how that is formalized inside the company: manuals, best practices, intranet resources, project libraries are all part of the process capital. Innovation capital is what creates the success of tomorrow: it is the source of renewal for the whole company, and it includes intellectual assets and intellectual property. Unlike human capital, structural capital can be owned and thereby traded.

Finally, they argue that "rather than replacing the current financial measurement system, the product of generations, Intellectual Capital measurement in fact complements and augments it. Orthodox accounting has found its way again. It is relevant once more to our future. And thus the work of much of the last millennium is made ready for the next."

Highly recommended.

Interesting journey into the hidden assets of organisation
The hidden truth of harnessing knowledge within the organisation has been lucidly explained. This is of more relevance in the present IT revolution, where the synthesis and analysis of domain knowledge plays a crucial role. Ultimately this intellectual capital is what makes a country strong in economy. In a sense this can also be linked to collapse of the asian market (asian tigers) which was just a production economy, but not an intellectual economy. The policies in these economies in hand with the conglomorates never gave an opportunity to harness the human capital, which was a serious drawback.

Public policy makers, governments etc., should make a note of this. It is not just important to open up the economy, but it should give a serious try to harness its underlying human capital.

An Accurate Approach to Intangible Assets
This is an excellent books that explains how to fill the gap between the book value of corporations and their market value. This gap, represents the bulk of a company's real assets which consists of organizational knowledge, customer satisfaction, product innovation, employee morale, patents, and trademarks. However these so-called "intangible assets" never appear in financial statements. That explains why they are often overlooked and undermanaged.

In a straight forward language and concepts, Leif Edvinsson tackles the real source of wealth creation in today's learning corporations. He defines what is really meant by "Intellectual Capital", how it is classified, how it is measured, and how it can be used to create wealth to stockholders.

In today's rapid changing and turbulent technological environment, this book is an essential reading for those managing any kind of organizations today. Many CEOs are finding the hard way, that Intellectual Capital is transforming the nature of doing business by establishing the real value of enterprises for those who manage them, work in them, and invest in them The result is a whole new way in performing in an emerging information economy where brick and mortar corporations certainly are out of place. ... Read more

Book Description

Find Your Passion and Change Your Life"Provides clear explanations, insightful self-assessments and inspiring stories of people both ordinary and famous."—Newsday "An inspiring call to action."—Publishers Weekly"Written with the burning fire he espouses, Richard Chang's The Passion Plan powerfully teaches us how to ignite the embers of our dreams in order to truly find success and happiness."—Stephen R. Covey, author of the No. 1 best-seller, The 7-Habits of Highly Effective Peoplea"Richard Chang boldly challenges us not only to seek and find the passions which exist in all of us, but more importantly equips us with a plan to pursue those passions all the way to a rewarding and fulfilling life!"—Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One Minute Managera"The Passion Plan offers a simple, easy-to-follow recipe for finding your own special passion and following it to greater personal satisfaction and success."—Debbi Fields, founder and chief cookie lover, Mrs. Fields CookiesTHE AUTHORRichard Chang is CEO of Richard Chang Associates, Inc., a performance-improvement consulting, training, and publishing firm headquartered in Irvine, California. He is internationally recognized for his strategic planning, performance measurement, quality improvement, organization development, change management, product realization, customer service, and human resource development expertise. Chang has consulted to a wide range of organizations—including Toshiba, Marriott, Nabisco, Universal Studios, Citibank, Nortel Networks, Fidelity Investments, and McDonalds. He has served as chair of the board for the American Society for Training and Development and as a judge for the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in the U.S. Chang is the author or co-author of more than twenty books on business and personal development, including The Passion Plan at Work (Jossey-Bass, 2001). ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Very Inspirational and Practical Help. A Must Read!
This is a very inspirational and uplifting book that helped me get back in touch with the things that I really love to do in my life. It provides real life examples that I could relate to and gave very practical advice that I could begin to apply. I've read lots of self-help books that danced around the concept of passion, but this one not only clarified what was important about passion, but also showed me how to develop a plan of action to start living it too! It's really made a difference for me.

Stuck in neutral? Here's help!
As a life passion coach, I like the author's take on what to do if you've gotten stuck in neutral. Sometimes it's hard to discover just what you are passionate about! I recommend the book for its clear style and helpful exercises to rekindle your sense of what it is you are truly passionate about, as well as the inspirational examples about folks pursuing their passionate purpose.

A Solid Effort!
Richard Y. Chang describes how to find your passion - what really excites you - and use that to guide your life. He emphasizes looking to your heart to discover what your passion is and then using your head to stay in touch with reality. The book presents some nice summaries and charts that highlight key concepts. But otherwise, much of this is well-trod ground that has been covered by many other writers in the self-improvement genre, in books such as Wishcraft or with titles like "love what you do." Chang adds enlivening personal touches and examples, but otherwise, much of the book seems familiar, and even repetitious. We [...] recommend this book to the unfulfilled employee or uncertain entrepreneur, the person still searching for a passion.

More silliness
An awful lot of people are making an awful lot of money dishing out what amounts to either common sense or drivel. Here the author requires almost 300 pages to state what could have been said in 5 to 10. If this is an example of what passes for substantive executive training than heaven help us. Borrow the book from a library if you must, skim a couple of the pages and you'll have all of it. Don't waste your money.

Direction at a crossroad
We all look for direction at some point in our life. But direction is never as valuable as when you are standing at a crossroad. Similarly with this book, its content will be useful to just about anyone, at any time. But if you are standing at a crossroad (just laid-off, moved to a new location, etc.) and have an opportunity to change direction, this book is definitely for you. The Plan is simple to understand and will work. Unless you want to, no major changes will be necessary. However, be prepared to be honest with yourself; be prepared to realize that you may not know (yet) what really excites you; but best of all, be prepared to find your way to happiness. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Noble Purpose unveils the most exciting motivational program to hit the workplace since casual Fridays. Team building expert Dr. Barry Heermann reveals proven secrets for unlocking extraordinary employee morale, teamwork, and productivity by first infusing workplaces with meaning and purpose. Filled with tried-and-true principles, based not on speculation but on solid research and time-honored knowledge, this amazing book outlines a positive approach that will help anyone learn to embrace work as an adventure to be experienced--not just a paycheck to be earned.

Reviews (7)

A revealing and joyful scuba diveinto authentic purpose...
Longing to know what it is, really, that gives you the greatest sense of fulfillment in your work or relationships? Forget any inventory or self-help approaches you may have tried in the past. In Noble Purpose, author and long time organizational consultant Barry Heermann describes what it feels like to operate out of one's unique and authentic purpose and sheds new light on why we tend to lose sight of it. More importantly, he provides an entirely different way of reconnecting with that felt sense of purpose so that recognizing its presence or absence becomes second nature. Prepare for a revealing and joyful scuba dive into the realm and heart and soul where authentic purpose truly and always resides.

Explore your vocational purpose with Noble Purpose!
The Noble Purpose book is truly an experiential read. There are many books written today about "purpose" but few actually provide tools with which one may practice sensing that purpose. This book is full of real life examples to clarify simple, yet powerfully life-affirming concepts. The activities that accompany each chapter enable the reader to actually experience their purpose in many artistic and thoughtful ways. I recommend this book to anyone who is truly committed to investigating their own purpose in a meaningful way.

Making dreams come true
For several years, I have had a strong sense of what my personal calling is, and a real feeling that I have a Noble Purpose in this lifetime.But I have been frustrated with not fulfilling that sense of purpose as much as I think I can.After reading Noble Purpose and doing the daily exercises, and really LIVING with each of the elements of the Noble Purpose Spiral, I found myself energized and focused.I was able to get two book proposals accepted by two major publishers just months after completing the Noble Purpose teleworkshop.I now recommend this book to everyone!

Inspiring andmeaningful
Noble Purpose (the book and the workshop) is overflowing with profound insights and wisdom employing simple, intuitive exercises that have made an important difference in my life. I have explored spiritual themes for over 10 years, and what I love about Noble Purpose is that, unlike other more esoteric offerings, it could be applied directly to my life. The real learning comes from engaging the process and doing the deepening activities that are so brilliantly designed. I highly recommend the book and the workshop.
-- Jennifer Blalock, Chanay, France

Advocates a return to discovering self-wisdom
It's very difficult to summon purpose, and without purpose lives often prove futile: that's the message in Barry Heermann's NOBLE PURPOSE, which advocates a return to discovering self-wisdom and meaning in life, and using that to guide the way through work and play. Organizational consultant and Team Spirit developer Heermann's program has been used in major businesses around the world and its practical applications makes it much more than a light theory.
... Read more

Book Description

Throughout the ages, plenty of people have written and spoken about success and excellence. But leave it to contemporary philosopher and popular business speaker Tom Morris to gather the best of it into a universal tool kit for achieving nearly any goal.From a clear CONCEPTION of what we want, to a stubborn CONSISTENCY in pursuing our vision, to a CAPACITY to enjoy the process, The Art of Achievement outlines a simple framework that will lead readers down a road of excellence. Peppered with quotes from great thinkers and successful people, such as Plato, Aristotle, Einstein, and Churchill, The Art of Achievement helps readers map out new paths to better health, greater efficiency, and deeper satisfaction. Tom Morris's previous business titles, If Aristotle Ran General Motors and True Success, have each sold 18,000 hardcovers and more than 50,000 paperbacks. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good thinking
Great book of thought-provoking ideas. If you need to reflect on where you are in life, and where you want to go next, this book provides some insightful questions - not answers.

Agesless Wisdoms Integrated into a Practical Success Guide
This book does the reader a great service. With Tom's academic background he has searched the wisdoms of the ages to bring you a practical framework which will guide you in creating success in your life and business. His entertaining presentation style comes across in his writing, making this book very intriguing. It is a book that should be read and re-read as one implements the 7 C's of success. I will recommend this book to students and executives to give them an edge in making their careers and lives more successful. An inspiring and uplifting book. It will motivate you to achieve your dreams. It is "must have" for everyone's library.

A True Success Book At Last!
I am sorely disappointed that many of the major bookstores are not carrying The Art of Achievement.

It should be proudly displayed on the New Book stand in all its glory!

I've read other "success" oriented books and I can honestly say that Tom Morris latest book carries a depth far surpassing the majority. Although the subtitle "Mastering the 7 Cs of Success in Business and Life" may sound typical and perhaps a bit trite the vast amount of wisdom, insight, spirit and inspiration within these pages brings one to a point of realization, comfort and hope other pop books on success simply cannot touch!

If you have not been able to win friends and influence people. If your cheese has been moved and eaten up. If your prayer of Jabez is left unanswered it's time you to learn how to master the 7 c's of success!

-Kerry

The Art of Achievement Fulfills its Implied Promise
To gain maximum value from this book the reader must read it slowly and think seriously about its contents. Although I, in my own writings, have addressed many of the topics Tom Morris discusses, I was stimulated to view the ideas from a philosophical perspective and in so doing it deepened my understanding of the 7 Cs Morris talks about. Although Tom Morris's perspective is philosophical, the value of his ideas are quite practical. In short, I recommend this book highly.

Wise, Very Wise --- Best Tom Morris Book So Far
Tom Morris's "The Art of Achievement: Mastering the 7 Cs of Success in Business and Life" is a superb book. The book is very concise, about 195 pages including the Preface and Introduction, but it is absolutely brimming with insights into what it takes to achieve big goals and, more generally, fulfillment in life as a whole.

The book is structured around 7 conditions that Morris sees as helpful to the achievement of any goal one might set for himself. These 7 conditions are a Clear Conception, Confidence, Concentrated Effort, Consistency, Commitment, Character and the Capacity to Enjoy the process. Each part of the book fleshes out exactly what each of these conditions entails. Here are some of my favorite quotes. From the section on a Clear Conception, "Our choices are always broader than our past. The best adventures in life need to be chosen, not from a predetermined menu based on what we've done already, but rather out of our deepest sense of who we are and how we can contribute to the world" (pg 31). On Confidence, a quote from La Rochefoucauld, "There is a form of eminence that does not depend on fate; it is an air that sets us apart and seems to portend great things; it is the value that we unconsciously attach to ourselves; it is the quality that wins us the deference of others; more than birth, position, or ability, it gives us ascendance" (pg 41). On Character, "Aristotle stressed that human beings are always in a state of becoming. What we are becoming is determined largely by what we are doing day after day" (pg 152). And a few pages later, from Iris Murdoch, "But if we consider what the work of attention is like, how continously it goes on, and how imperceptibly it builds up structures of value round about us, we shall not be surprised that at crucial moments of choice most of the business of choosing is already past...... The moral life, on this view, is something that goes on continually...." (pg 154). On the Capacity to Enjoy the process, "Love is always connected to learning. All of us can look back on the times in our lives where we have had the most intense enjoyment and see that they were times of great learning - learning a new sport, a new job, learning about a new person, or learning new things about a person already clsoe to us. Love and learning go together" (pg 166).

This is a truly profound meditation on how the world works and what it takes to achieve true sucess in any endeavor. It's the kind of book I will come back to when I have questions about what I need to do to achieve a goal I have set for myself. ... Read this book!... ... Read more

Book Description

Time to reflect. Space to dream. A place to find inspiration. In our hectic lives, these are often skipped, bumped by the next deadline or our out-of-control to-do list. Reminding us of the importance of personal introspection to leadership development, Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner have created a journal for contemplation— a visible reminder of the need for time, space, and place along your leadership adventures.

The authors engage you in an internal dialogue guided by their Five Practices of Exemplary Leadershipâ model (Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, Encourage the Heart). They urge you to take notes, make comments, draw pictures, ask questions, contemplate answers, or just mediate.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

Put Your Doubts To Rest
I read the original book a few years ago and found the information very inspirational. I was happy to see the updated printing had chapters on corporate downsizing and covered the loss of jobs due to increased technology in the workplace. Then, the workbook helped leaders develop an action plan with enough insight to get the job done. Now, the journal is a great way for leaders to track where they have been, where they are going and where they want to be. Don't miss this opportunity to track history in the making. I also recommend reading Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey a great week-by-week action plan to help you and your staff get more out of life. ... Read more

Book Description

Crossing the Unknown Sea shows how poetry and practicality, far from being mutually exclusive, reinforce each other to give every aspect of our lives meaning and direction. For anyone who wants to deepen their connection to their work-or find out what their life's work is-this book is essential to navigating the way.

"Readers who accept poet and Fortune 500 consultant Whyte's invitation to enter into 'an imaginative conversation about life and work' are likely to be challenged as well as delighted by the beauty of his writing and the expansiveness of his views. Gracefully using the metaphor of a sea voyage to depict the journey through the world of work, Whyte views work not only as a means of support, but as a means for interacting with the world and developing self-expression and identity...An abundance of provocative ideas... thoughtful readers will wholeheart-edly savor this book." (Publishers Weekly, starred review) ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A Fine Navigational Aid
There is so little real literature out there on the subject of work and its effect on the individual so it was wonderful to come across David Whyte's Crossing. I found this book a real jewel, a kind of navigational aid in helping me to reach a few horizons I had almost forgotten about. Crossing the Unknown Sea is both a marvellous, insightful tour of the human psyche and a deeply satisfying read. I recommend it to anyone giving their life or their work some real thought.

A Life Changer of a Book
Couldn't put this book down, had to read it from beginning to end and immediately it was done, I started slowly again from the beginning. I found myself making hundreds of little crossings as I read David Whyte's beautiful prose: crossing to memories of childhood, to crucial thresholds in my life as a young woman, to a deeper sense of my present life and a fuller sense of the future. Amidst all the success oriented drivel out there on the subject of work this is a real heirloom gem; something to be passed on to others as a gift, to be thanked for, and to be talked about for years to come.

Gorgeous but not easily accessible
This poet has such heart and such command of the language. The sections on why we work are brilliant and stimulating. My criticism is that it needed better editing. I think he wandered at times, and it may it hard to go on at a few points. But overall, it is worth going after, and the poetry alone in it is worthe the price.

Poet as management consultant
David Whyte is a poet from Ireland, living in New Zealand, who is known for his work as a workshop facilitator and business consultant. Last year _The Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation of the Soul in Corporate America_ engrossed, as no other business-related book has since Tom Peter's _Search for Excellence_ or Covey's _Ten Habits_. Whyte's recent _Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity_ is especially good for anyone undergoing a career shift. A unique offering by this poet-as-management-consultant, presents an invigorating perspective from which to view business life. If you find it difficult to imagine corporate culture and human creativity as anything except mutually exclusive, these readable volumes are an agreeable remedy.

Helped Me to Move
This is a book recommended to me by a close friend, and one that has helped me to change my sense of myself, my sense of my work and my possibilities for the future. Crossing the Unknown Sea compells the reader by its mesmerizing stories and its unusual insight to take another step forward whatever that next step might be. My copy is marked and underlined from beginning to end and sits by my bedside for reference when I need a touch of inspiration and courage. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

In The New Agreements in the Workplace - Releasing the Human Spirit, David Dibble presents a simple yet powerful process any business can pursue to reach new levels of improved performance, profitability and overall success of the enterprise.Using a wealth of experience as corporate CEO, systems thinker, management consultant and teacher who studied with don Miguel Ruiz for eight years, Dibble outlines a process of lasting and positive organizational transformation - turning enterprises from outdated management strategies driven by fear and control into dynamic and high-performance workplace environments based on love and support. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

weLEAD Book Review from the Editor of leadingtoday.org
The New Agreements in the Workplace resulted from the personal experience of author David Dibble and his own transformation from that of selfish indulgence to self-fulfillment. As a wealthy CEO, his personal life literally crashed and his following journey toward self-discovery prompted him to write this book. Dibble clearly understands that the modern workplace is riddled with ineffectiveness and complacency generated by fear. Many other authors and consultants have proposed a new agreement, or alternative culture in the modern workplace including Robert Greenleaf, Peter Drucker, Peter Block and many others. This book proposes a dramatic change in the workplace influenced by the author's own journey, and personal interest in systems theory and Toltec spirituality. He believes the book will help one discover a "revolutionary idea that is desperately needed in the modern business world: love." The influence of Toltec was most prominently introduced to the public by DON Miguel Ruiz, author of two best selling books. He also writes an introduction in this work.

The New Agreements in the Workplace is a short publication that you can read in one or two sittings. All eight chapters are well organized as Dibble outlines 5 proposed New Agreements in the Workplace and quickly weaves them together. Many of the ideas in this book are similar to servant-leadership principles but with more of a definite spiritual edge. The only major weakness in the book is that not enough detail is given to define and explore the new agreements in a culture that is presently contrary to its ideals! It is easy to make an enlightened statement and express new found knowledge, but how to implement that knowledge to produce change in the real world is the hard part.

If you are not into spirituality or resist rather vague concepts, The New Agreements in the Workplace may not appeal to you. But, if you are looking for a book that offers a sensitive and alternative approach to problem-solving in the workplace, it may be a profound journey.

Based on the personal growth concept of the four agreements
The New Agreements in the Workplace: Releasing the Human Spirit by David Dibble is based on the personal growth concept of the `four agreements' comes a business-oriented guide which advocates using these insights as the beginning of a journey to gain mastery in the workplace, and to see transformative wisdom in work experiences. Concepts of loving, growing and serving people in the workplace advocate helping all produce the best work they can in an environment friendly to personal growth.

An exciting new approach to the workplace
If you have been looking for a practical way to introduce the priciples of The Four Agreements into your workplace, this is the book for you.David has captured the essence of what today's workers and managers are searching for. A wonderful approach to making the place where many people spend the majority of their hours into a great place to be.

Corporate Transformation At Its' BEST!!!!
While many of our competitors closed or downsized in the Staffing Industry, AdNet/AccountNet's profitability grew.By becoming A New Agreements Company, we ignited the power of intentional recruiting.That power translated into a cohesive team, extraordinary customer service and a work environment where everyone matters every moment of everyday.David Dibble's principles helped to breath new life into our company and our leadership. Without fear, we are without limits!!!! His book is a gift and a necessity to every leader who is serious about putting integrity and peace back into Corporate America.Move over old ways of leadership and make plenty of room for The New Agreements and David Dibble.

The New Agreements in the Workplace; Releasing the Human Spi
I highly recommend The New Agreements in the Workplace as one of the most important business books I have read.It lays out a path for organizational change and transformation that we as CEO's, Coaches, and Consultants have been waiting for.As President of an executive search and staffing agency, my partner and I have applied the 5 principles laid out in The New Agreements over the past year.With volatility in the economy, we faced some really challenging times.We served our people, we supported their development, and we made changes to our systems.We did our best to move from fear and control to love and support.When we look at our performance indicators, here's what we see:more business, greater employee satisfaction, rising revenues, and greater profits. And, our Team enjoys the work they do.We are actually able to utilze this book as a poignant message for our organization's vision and purpose and as a guide for accelerating our growth.And, as we give the book to our clients, they have a really good idea of how we do business! ... Read more

Book Description

Robert Morris: America's First Financier

Cyrus McCormick's Reaper and the Industrialization of Farming

John D. Rockefeller and the Modern Corporation

J. P. Morgan Saves the Country

Henry Ford and the Model T

Charles Merrill and the Democratization of Stock Ownership

David Sarnoff, RCA, and the Rise of Broadcasting

Walt Disney and his Family-Entertainment Empire

John Johnson: Finding the Black Consumer

David Ogilvy and the Creation of Modern Advertising

Ray Kroc, McDonald's, and the Fast-Food Industry

Betting the Company: Joseph Wilson and the Xerox 914

American Express and the Charge Card

Mary Kay Ash and her Corporate Culture for Women

Intel's Microprocessor and the Computer Revolution

Sam Walton, Wal-Mart, and the Discounting of America

William McGowan and MCI: A New World of Telecommunications

The Turnaround at Harley-Davidson

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and the Leveraged Buyout

William Gates and the Dominance of Microsoft

A Byron Preiss Visual Publications book

What do Bill Gates, Henry Ford, J. P. Morgan, Mary Kay Ash, and Walt Disney have in common? Uncompromising vision, a willingness to take risks, and exceptional business acumen. Not only did these individuals amass great fortunes, they revolutionized the business world and helped shape society as we know it.

While most of us have a general knowledge of these and other legendary figures, few know the details of their exceptional careers. Daniel Gross and the Editors of Forbes magazine, one of the world's foremost business publications, present twenty fascinating stories. You'll meet the personalities behind some of the best-known name brands in history, including McDonald's, Harley-Davidson, RCA, Merrill Lynch, Xerox, Wal-Mart, and Standard Oil, among others.

Forbes Greatest Business Stories of All Time draws on a wealth of sources to offer this priceless collection. The book brings to life extraordinary achievements, many of them forgotten or little known: how Robert Morris, the preeminent merchant of the eighteenth century, financed the American Revolution with his personal credit; how Ray Kroc used a shrewd real estate strategy to turn a faltering hamburger franchise operation into a fast-food empire; and how Mary Kay Ash built a billion-dollar direct sales cosmetics company by preaching a message of economic empowerment to women.

Covering industries ranging from oil to cosmetics, from the eighteenth century up to the present, Forbes Greatest Business Stories of All Time celebrates larger-than-life ambition, inspired leadership, wheeling and dealing, and hard work. These tales are as entertaining as they are informative—an essential tool for business enthusiasts and anyone interested in how our modern commercial culture was built. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

An index for further reads...
The distinct brown box arrived and I tore open the packaging! I had eagerly awaited the arrival of this book and I wasted no time in diving into the pages.
I started typing an illustrative review of what I thought about each "chapter", but I think that I will cut away the fluff and just let you know what I thought.

Out of the 20 businesses that the book profiles, I thought that on the most part 13 of them were just plain boring. I tried to read the book in one shot but found myself falling asleep as I trudged through the pages. A better way to read the book, I discovered, was to read it chapter by chapter, on different days and at different times.

You will gain insights into the different companies, which will enable you to appear insightful when participating in conversations, unfortunately your knowledge will be rather skin deep as the book does not probe very far beneath the surface.

The book enabled me to sort through the stories, pick the best ones, and now I will go out and buy other books which are about those companies or people that interested me, (such as David Ogilvy). I also found that the book made great use of language and I was always equipped with a pen, writing down and looking up numerous words.

Well written stories on people who have inspired the Future
A great book about the people who made a real difference in shaping the present that we live in and influencing the future as it will become.

From Robert Morris to Bill Gates; the books takes you on a promonade into their kingdoms. Explaining to the reader many valuable information about each "tycoon's" personality, enterprise, industry, and the general business environment in his particular era.

I personally enjoyed the chapters on David Ogilvy, Ray Croc, Sam Walton, Walt Disney, Joseph Wilson, Henry Ford and Harley Davidson.

The book portrays many successful personalities and companies that will be of interest to people in varying specializations within Business.

An enjoyable read and a good reference.

Also read "Lessons from the Top" and "Radical Marketing"

Insightful Summaries
I found the stories in the book very interesting. They covered a a wide spectrum of industries and spanned over a long time frame. The stories clearly illustrated the most important business figures of the particular time and industry.

However, I thought the stories were lacking in detail to make it truly a great read. After reading the book, I felt that I was introduced to the great figures in business. But to know them better, I have to read another book.

For example, I knew something about Henry Ford before reading the book. In the story about Henry Ford, I found it superficial. However, in other stories that I was not familiar with the protagonist, like McGowan, I found the story illuminating. I never knew the telecommunications business could be so interesting.

As such, I recommend this book to people who wants to know some of the greatest people in business. But to those who want to find out about the secrets to their success, the answer will lie in other more detailed books.

They Really Are
Each chapter offers a profile of a major contributor to the evolution of American business history, beginning with one of my ancestors, Robert Morris (America's "first real businessman"), and concluding with Bill Gates ("Microsoft's cofounder and guiding spirit"). In between, Gross and his associates also examine other great leaders such as McCormick, Rockefeller, Morgan, Ford, Merrill, Sarnoff, Disney, Johnson, Ogilvy, Kroc, Wilson, Ash, Walton, and McGowan as well as major corporations such as American Express, Intel, Harley-Davidson, and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. The reader is told, "This book is about heroes" and it really is.

Using the most effective strategies and devices of a storyteller, the authors examine biographical information within an historical context, sustaining interest with anecdotes while providing insights as to the causes and effects of each subject's accomplishments. For Morris, essentially the economic survival of thirteen colonies during their struggle for independence. For McCormick, the industrialization of agriculture. For Rockefeller, the creation and development of the modern corporation. For Morgan, saving a nation's financial system. For Ford, mass-producing affordable personal transportation. For Merrill, broadening the base of stock ownership to include those, among others, for whom the Ford Motor Company manufactured automobiles. Each of the other "heroes" discussed made equally important contributions.

A brief review such as this can only suggest (albeit inadequately) the wealth of information to be found in Greatest Business Stories of All Time. The prose has snap, crackle, and pop. The focus is crystal clear. The lessons to be learned from the careers examined are of incalculable value. Although this book will be of interest to almost anyone, it will have special importance for school, college, and university students who may sometimes wonder if there are any "secrets to success." The answer is yes. The specifics are to be found in the lives of those who are discussed in Greatest Business Stories of All Time.

Top notch for anyone interested in business or success
A top notch read for anyone interested in business and the makings of successful entrepreneurs. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Coaching with Spirit
As a Certified Professional Life Coach, many of my clients are seaching for something, that something that they discover is Spirit -- spiritual connection. For many of them, it is the missing piece in their achieving a new level of success and finding harmony in their lives. Ms. Belf's book captures the elements of Coaching with Spirit and guides the coach in how to enable their client to reach that Spiritual connection. It is a well written and very helpful book that I intend to use in my coaching practice.

A MUST read for coaches.
In her book "Coaching With Spirit," Teri-E Belf asks the question "Do you hear a calling to be of service as a coach or to become a better coach?" If your answer is Yes, than this book is a must read.
Through her unique conversational way of writing, Belf inspires us to look at the why, where and how Spirit enhances the coaching process. To support her premise that Spirit is essential in coaching, she shares with us not only her personal stories and experiences as a master coach, but also relates the stories and experiences of other coaches, coach leaders and clients as they experience Spirit in their coaching.
Belf organizes her book around three clear principles:
1) connection with self, clients and the whole 2)living in the present moment and 3) taking responsibility for our choices. Each chapter is filled with practical examples, worksheets and actions that allow the reader to learn and grow as they move through the steps of integrating and enhancing their awareness of Spirit. Through assessments, reflections and case studies, she guides us to a safe space that allows us to observe our own Spirit.
Reading her book is like sitting down with the leaders of the coaching profession and eavesdropping as they openly share from their hearts about Spirit and how it enhances their mastery as a coach. As you read this book you are surrounded and inspired by Spirit.
If you are looking for practical steps and in-spirit-ational stories to take your coaching practice to the next level. Enjoy! You are in for a treat.

Coaching Bliss
This book is pure coaching bliss. I am a new spiritual coach and I found this book to be the perfect step to my next level as a coach. The wonderful passages about being quiet and allowing spirit in were very important for me. The many examples of real coaching experiences allowed me to understand how to invite spirit in. This book can't help but shift the way we coach, I reached a new level of joy just reading it and I know my coaching has shifted as a result. Open your heart to this extraordinary book.

Practical and Profound
Teri-E Belf has written a book both practical and profound - filled with proven principles and real-life experiences, shared by experienced coaches and people whose lives have been touched and transformed by coaching. Belf goes beyond coaching techniques (although these abound as well) to the heart of the matter - how insights and transformation can occur in big and small ways when Spirit is allowed to lead. I have rarely read a book with so much excellent practical advice that is so unabashedly focused on what really matters - helping people find personal purpose, meaning and connection in their lives. I highly recommend this to coaches and to all managers and professionals who are interested in helping people achieve their fullest potential.

A different perspective
The review from Cathy misinterprets the phrase, 'accepting clients unconditionally.' I am the strongest advocate for avoiding bogus feedback, having published an article to this very point. www.successunlimitednet.com/articles.
I train coaches to provide acKNOWledgement that offers clients a chance to KNOW themselves better, not feel good, or bad. Feeling is not relevant to acknowledgement.
Furthermore the reviewer mispells my name twice and that is consistant with her review. Apparently she skipped large sections and details that would have clarified my perspective. I value different opinions, not inaccurate representations. ... Read more

Book Description

Draws together extensive research on leadership, change, and organizational performance to help leaders make sense of the complexities and contradictions of organizational life. Explains how managers can come to see new possibilities for structuring organizations, designing jobs, and solving daily problems by learning to embrace and transcend paradoxes.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

A brilliant idea!
Many management books prescribe one management method as the cure-all which would resolve all problems. Others suggest that one management philosophy is the only one appropriate for a given organization. This book suggests that there are several basic management philosophies, and that organizations go through different cycles with a different managerial approach being correct for each stage in the cycle. The best managers are those who are able to determine the best approach at a given time, use it until it is no longer needed, then switch to the appropriate new strategy. I could have wished for more depth, but still found the book worthwhile. I'd also like to have seen more on becoming a "master manager", but that seems to have been reserved for another book! ... Read more

Book Description

A practical and spiritual, step-by-step guide motivating readers to discover thier career path. The book helps readers recognize their potential, provides five original assessments for revealing talents, 300 careeers that fit personality, and dozens of internet sites for career research; also includes decision making using thoughts, feelings, and intution; goal-setting, and job search techniques. Inspiring and simple! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Finally a holistic approach
This is a great book if you're stuck in a rut, or have out of the box thinking. The questions are philosophical not psychological and she offers a holistic view we all forget about. Specifically that we have many parts to our lives, "Physical", "Social" "Emotional", "Intellectual",and "Spiritual", and we are not souly our career, but should strive for balanced lives. This book should be required reading by every college grad, or return to mainstream mom!!!!!

MAGICAL QUEST=SIMPLIFY YOUR CAREER CHOICE
Here's a refreshingly uplifting career book that I think people will really enjoy. While most books in this genre are lengthy and somewhat boring to read, Magical Quest is short and interesting without omitting any valuable content.

Like the best-selling "Parachute" book, this one has all the basic steps, various career options, exploratory exercises, resume templates, and ways to evaluate correctly. But Magical Quest is far easier to read, shorter, and more interesting (artistic touches).

This is a book you can skim through and skip from chapter to chapter. The author has a special talent with her freehand mindmapping techniques (you'll have to see it for yourself) that make this career defining book truly unique.

For the person looking for a more personal and enlightened approach to career decision-making, Magical Quest is a gem to be discovered. It's the short-version to choosing a fulfilling career (or personal quest) with all the important content and special artistic effects.

great soul support
what i like most about "Magical Quest" is the emotional support it provides.

sure, the book is of course chock full of resources, and there are sections devoted to telling you what jobs are out there and the like.

but, in any job equation, there are two variables: YOU, and the job you take (or make). and -- probably owing to her experience in counseling -- tarin's book concentrates on YOU.

the book takes the approach that once you "know thyself" (thank you socrates, shakespeare, et al), you will be in a highly superior position -- a position where you can accurately assess any potential career, job, or manager, as to how well THEY fit YOU.

this is a wise approach. i mean, after all, haven't so many of us wasted time at 1 or more jobs struggling to be something we're not? or worse yet, not even *knowing* what we're good at, or want to do? and where has it gotten us? where we are today, right? :)

i spent a year for instance, in car sales, when i was a young man green behind the ears, trying to become "outgoing" and "extroverted", hoping that by going into a profession needing people with these traits, these qualities would rub off.

well, even though i sold a few cars, and picked up a few social skills (mostly how to be wary of crafty fellow salesmen/women!), i didn't become outgoing and extroverted. i stayed pretty much me. but the whole time i was MISERABLE!!!

while car sales is sort of a more dramatic example, most of us can still relate with jobs we've taken and later asked, "other than putting steak on the table, WHAT IN THE HECK AM I DOING HERE???"

this is where tarin excels. she really makes it not only comfortable, but FUN! to assess your strengths, weaknesses, and JOYS so you can find a job that fits YOU.

interspersed with poetry, quotes and parables, reading through "Magical Quest" is like having the wisest Mom who gently and lovingly tells you the facts of what's out there, but also has TONS of great little fun exercises to help you figure yourself out, (and make you smile and sometimes even laugh in between)..

once you've done that, the future is yours!

thanks, tarin, for a great spirit-guide-in-print, when you're looking for a job!

What ME? I don¿t need a career¿
Browsing the shelves in my favored bookstore, I was not sure for what I was looking. I was not after any kind of a career. Definitely not. But I noticed that fascinating Title: "Magical Quest." And could not resist it. So I took it home for a swirl. Whoa! I hit the jackpot. The Tarin Frances Lady suggests to "Look Into Your Crystal Ball." So I did. Mt life has not been the same since... I hate superlatives, but this is the best "How To" guide imaginable. The Tarin-Author teaches Career Counseling professionally. She better watches out. Her book will make her obsolete and she may be out of a job. So skillfully written, so superbly structured. And so graciously authoritative! It may well be a Teaching Book for Teachers. I took to heart the advice the book so generously offers. And now "I am exploring all my options with enthusiasm." Guess what? I got myself a new career. And I love it. I rated the book 'five stars', the highest number allowed. Sorry, Tarin Frances, I whish I could give your book galaxy of stars. And thank you! You taught an old dog new tricks. Think what great gifts you bestow to the young.

Carolina K

This book will help narrow down your goals!
This book is very Informative and covers all the area you need to know about finding your new career! Its current and fills with all the Websites. I also like the common questions and answers! Very good reference book to have in the house. ... Read more