Book Description

Built to Last, the defining management study of the nineties, showed how great companies triumph over time and how longterm sustained performance can be engineered into the DNA of an enterprise from the very beginning.

But what about companies that are not born with great DNA? How can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? Are there those that convert long-term mediocrity or worse into long-term superiority? If so, what are the distinguishing characteristics that cause a company to go from good to great?

Over five years, Jim Collins and his research team have analyzed the histories of 28 companies, discovering why some companies make the leap and others don't. The findings include:

• Level 5 Leadership: A surprising style, required for greatness.
• The Hedgehog Concept: Finding your three circles, to transcend the curse of competence.
• A Culture of Discipline: The alchemy of great results.
• Technology Accelerators: How good-to-great companies think differently about technology.
• The Flywheel and the Doom Loop: Why those who do radical restructuring fail to make the leap.

... Read more

Reviews (298)

Jim Collins: REQUIRED READING (See why.)
With an overall keen focus on discipline and accountability, Jim Collins was assisted by a large team of gifted, discerning graduate students. Hence, "Good to Great" is a most welcome piece of major solid research in our current time when "business spin" has contributed to the failure of corporations, market values, employee careers, etc. Unfortunately, similar books over the past few decades have relied more on "impressionism" from the author(s), including the now famous "In Search of Excellence" which has since been exposed as not fully grounded in the true facts of the time. While Warren Buffet is not identified as a "Level 5" leader in "Good to Great," this is a volume which could surely bear the imprimatur from that "Sage of Omaha." This book could even assist GE's Jack Welch "grow" into a more effective individual. [Prepare yourself for a surprise-jolt: based on Jim Collins' penetrating analyses across 11 major organizations, Mr. Welch would probably be considered as a "Level 4" leader.]

This book is of significant value to anyone wanting to move from "good to great" no matter if it is within a profit, not-for-profit, or even in a home-family setting. Great, easy reading and, most importantly, an excellent, life-long reference manual to help you remain "tuned-up." Notably, this book should be a required supplemental text for all general management courses (undergraduate or graduate).

Achieving and continuing spectacular business success
In 1994, Jim Collins and Jerry Porras wrote one of the most successful management books of the last decade: Built to Last. Collins and Porras had studied 18 visionairy companies, many of which had existed for 60 years or more. These companies had a strong focus on values and people and great ability to to learn and exchange knowledge. They gave less priority to maximalizing shareholder value but paradoxically outperformed the market enormously. In a conversation with Jim Collins, McKinsey director Bill Meehan said he, too, loved the book, but added: "Unfortunately, it's useless". He explained why. The companies featured in Built to Last had always been great companies. But because most companies are just good (not great) they are not interested in a book which shows how to stay great (Built to Last) but in a book that shows how to become great. The matter inspired Collins. He built a research team of 15 people and started a 5 year study.

The team tried to identify companies that had jumped from good to great and had managed to continue their great growth for at least 15 years. They found 11 of these (Abbott, Circuit City, Fannie Mae, Gilette, Kimberly-Clark, Kroger, Nucor, Philip Morris, Pitney Bowes, Walgreens, Wells Fargo). These good-to-great companies (GTG's) outperformed the market by a factor 6.9 in the 15 year period of the analysis! (General Electric outperformed the market 'only' by a factor 2.8 between 1985 and 2000).

The study focused on the question: what did the GTG's have in common that distinguished them from comparable companies in comparable circumstances? The GTG's were compared with two sets of other companies: 1) the direct-comparisons: companies within the same sector and in comparable circumstances, 2) the unsustained comparisons: companies that had had a breakthrough but that had not been able to continue their success. Collins intended to, from the ground up, build a theory which could explain the successful transformation of the GTG's.

As it turned out, all of the GTG's had a period of build up, preparation (often lasting many years) before the breakthrough moment. Three phases could be identified:

PHASE 1: DISCIPLINED PEOPLE
1. LEVEL 5 LEADERSHIP: contrary to the expectation, leaders of the GTG's turned out to be quiet, self effacing and even shy. At the same time, however, they were very determined. Mostly, they were leaders that came from within the company and that have remained unknown to the greater public.

2. FIRST WHO...THEN WHAT: also contrary to what you might expect was that GTG's first got the right people on the bus and the wrong people off and only then focused on strategic direction and vision.

PHASE 2: DISCIPLINED THOUGHT
3. CONFRONT THE BRUTAL FACTS (..BUT NEVER LOSE HOPE). Characteristic was a combination of realism and hope.
4. THE HEDGEHOG CONCEPT (SIMPLICITY IN THREE CIRCLES): just like a hedgehog, the GTG's seemed to have a very simple but effective success formula: all of the activities of the company had to lie within the intersection of the following three circles: 1) what can we become best in the world at? 2) what are we passionate about? 3) what can we make money with?

PHASE 3: DISCIPLINED ACTION
5. CULTURE OF DISCIPLINE: the GTG's turned out to have a culture of discipline that made hierarchy and bureaucracy largely superfluous.
6. TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATORS: none of the GTG's had technology as a cause of the success, but technology did play the role of accelerator of the success.

Collins rather convincingly demonstrates the validity of this model. All of the GTG's showed these practices throughout the 15 year period, while none of the direct comparisons did. The unsustained comparisons showed some of these practises often right until the moment of their decline.

Looking at the share price development of the GTG's, you might expect that there has been a clear marking point of the transformation because their share price stays rather flat at first (for many years) and then just suddenly takes off and keeps on going up. An important finding of the team was, however, that there were nó special change programs, and nó breakthrough decisions or products. On the contrary, the process evolved very fluently. To eplain, Collins uses the metaphor of the flying wheel. When you start to turn this wheel it goes heavily and moves slowly. But by continuously keeping on turning the wheel, it starts to build momentum and then, just suddenly, a point is reached at which the wheel turns at great speed without you having to turn it any harder than at first. Is this the practice of many companies? Not at all! The reality of many companies is nót consistently following a chosen path but rather swinging from one hype to another.

I think this research evokes one principal issue. That the concept 'great' is operationalized in a financial way is easily understood from a practical standpoint. This criterion is clear and rather easily obtained and makes it easy to compare the companies scientifically. But is 'great' the best word to describe spectacular financial success? Does their financial success necessarily make GTG's 'great'? Wouldn't that be like saying that Bill Gates en Silvio Berlusconi are great people while implying Martin Luther King and Mother Theresa are not?

But, having said that, demonstrating how companies achieve and continue spectacular financial success, in itself, is extremely interesting and valuable. This is a terrific book that, I think, has the quality to equal or perhaps even surpass the success of Built to Last. Unlike most management books (which contain creative but highly speculative ideas), the message of this book is based on well-designed research and mindful interpretation of results that is explained and justified terrifically. Despite this thoroughness, the book remains a pleasant read. A pity that the book does not offer some more practical suggestions to help readers get started. I think that would have made it even better.

Study on Critical Factors for Organisational Greatness
Collins' curiosity and clear study brings to light some of those factors that contribute to greatness. These findings are grounded within individual, teachable 'points of view' which are easily applied to large organisations and applicable to small busness as well.
Collins puts his findings in clear accessable language. Including the finding that is responsible for the title... That good is the enemy of great.
I highly recommend this book/CD to leaders that are enaged with designing futures and those that work with them. It is core reading for key teams. It has made a significant difference in being able to articulate powerful conversations with teams about that which is tacit and critical to success. Giving common language and principles to engage with. A great study book for learning teams.

But, what about........?

Read it - but maybe buy it used

This books does however ask some good questions about how to go from being good to GREAT such as:

1. What am I(or what is the company) intrinsically passionate about?
2. What is the company\I good at? and does this "thing" come naturally?
3. Finally does this area that was chosen have "GREAT" potential?

On the other hand, here are some questions that I felt were left unanswered:

Can't you be GREAT at two things at the same time?

According to Jack Welch's book, you should strive to be #1 OR #2.
btw: Aren't there three medals awarded in the Olympics?

What about sales? The Mary Kay Company motto is "Nothing happens until somebody sells something." (from her book)

What about creating barriers to entry for competitors? (to protect market share like Carnegie or Rockefeller did)

Why didn't you include MORE on the failures of the Good to Great companies? Not just the failures of the competition. Guys like Edison, Lincoln had many defeats before they found ultimate success.
Doesn't bouncing back from failures have something to do with going from Good to Great?

The author mentions getting the right people in the right seats on the bus and the wrong people off. I believe this is an oversimplification. Age, salary, tenure, unions, hierarchy etc make this a very difficult task to accomplish!!

Yes this book took 5 years to write and was supported by 21 staff researchers BUT I am not totally convinced of the results. (and I liked the first book - Built to Last)
That's why I gave it only 3 stars

Must read for any executive, manager, or entrepreneur
This book was number one on the Wall Street Journal's list for a long time for good reason. It is a very pleasurable and easy read that will certainly set off light bulbs in your head. The coverage of the iterative process of buildup and breakthrough is outstanding. If you are an executive, manager, or entrepreneur, make sure you grab this book and take it to the beach or knock it out over a weekend. It certainly belongs in your library. ... Read more

Book Description

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity -- principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates. ... Read more

Reviews (558)

One of the best business/success books out there
Unfortunately, during my experience with corporate America I've had several business/success books thrust upon me. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is the only one that was worth reading.

This book, coupled with the First Things First training I received at work has had an enormous impact on me. Five years later, I still organize my life based on my mission statement, roles, and goals. I plan weekly and take time out to Sharpen the Saw. I don't always live up to the seven habits, but at least I'm going in the right direction. Periodically I pull this book out of my bookshelf and flip through it to reinforce the lessons it contains. It's also one of the few books I've ever bought someone as a gift.

My biggest criticism is that Covey has a tendency to beat you over the head with examples. Numerous times as I read the book I thought to myself, I get it, move on. My other big complaint is that this book coined the word "proactive," which is believed to mean the opposite of reactive, but actually means that the person using it is an idiot and needs to resort to using made-up words to appear highly effective.

This book has definitely changed my life for the better.
This is a book that has changed my life irrevocably and forever. It required great energy, patience and time to read, one with much meaning and very deep in content. In fact, after struggling through the first two Principles outlined in this book I found myself putting it away on the shelf. For nearly a year it sat there and I didn't pick it up again until I had another reason to. The second time around I could not put the book down and took prolific amounts of notes. The third time I read it I learned even more.

This book is about self, about becoming the true you and living your life optimally. This is not a pep-rally or a psychological breakdown of "The 100 Top Tips to Boost Your Self-Esteem". The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is all about understanding where you can (should) be taking yourself in your life. The influence, the support, the understanding, the energy that Dr. Stephen Covey discusses comes from within yourself; it is not an external influence that fades as soon as the source is gone. You create it; you live it; it becomes you and you become it. These principles are not subject to the whims of others. You create yourself, you build upon yourself and you become an effective person in your life through learning to help yourself and others. You learn how to graduate from dependence to independence and then even further on to a higher level: interdependence all by looking deeply within yourself and following seven sound principles that are laid out in a very logical, rational and emotionally-sound manner. The principles behind Dr. Covey's ideas are based on faith in self, community and God. He helps you to understand the philosophy, "Love Me for Me."

In The Seven Habits, Covey talks about the Personal Mission Statement. This is a project that you create, write, rewrite over and over until it describes the person you most want to be. Then you simply spend the rest of your life living those beliefs until you become that person. It is probably the easiest, yet most difficult thing you will ever do in your entire life. Why? Because you must devote your entire life, and energy to this task. How easy it is to become side-tracked and slide into old habits of comfort. But these old habits are the ones that you want to rewrite with new, better habits. This is a difficult road to follow. It is also, without a doubt the most rewarding activity you will ever do in your entire life. After all, the most rewarding things in life are often the most difficult.

STRATEGIES FOR EFFECTIVENESS
Stephen Covey outlines the best strategies for maximum effectiveness in this great book. The fact that this book has remained a best seller for over 15 years should tell you something about the merits of the informmation that it contains.

Highly recommended book.

Definitely a must read book
I have worked for major corporations and I have been self employed in direct sales and network marketing. Hardly a day goes by when I don't find someone who recommends and in many cases, carries The 7 Habits around with them in their briefcase.

In a world of me, me, me, me. It's great to have a noted and highly respected authority like Dr. Covey teach the concepts of "Win-Win" and "seek first to understand, then be understood."

I am also happy to see that Dr. Covey has endorsed network marketing and recommends it. easy to understand why. Network marketing is indeed the wave of the future so it makes sense that the professionals of the present and the near future will be applying Dr. Coveys techniques just as those Fortune 500 companies have been doing since the 1980's.

Great book. I highly recommend it to everyone and especially network marketers who want to significantly grow their business.

Thank you Dr. Covey for a great book.

An excellent book
The way the author has deconstructed human development and potential is insightful. The author's view is that people first develop a triumvirate individual competances and skills.

1) Be Proactive.
2) Begin with the End in Mind.
3) Put First things First.

Once they have mastered this they can then accelerate the results they achieve by mastering 3 more skills that enable them to enable others.

4) Think win-win.
5) Seek first to understand.
6) Synergize.

Encompassing these 6 habits is the seventh habit which emcompasses the others is the

7) Sharpen the saw.

Though the some of the ideas are a little trite or naive together they form a good toolset. ... Read more

Book Description

"Most Americans do not know what their strengths are. When you ask them, they look at you with a blank stare, or they respond in terms of subject knowledge, which is the wrong answer."
-- Peter Drucker

Unfortunately, most of us have little sense of our talents and strengths. Instead, guided by our parents, our teachers, our managers and psychology's fascination with pathology, we become experts in our weaknesses and spend our lives trying to repair these flaws, while our strengths lie dormant and neglected.

At the heart of Now, Discover Your Strengths, is the Internet-based StrengthsFinder® Profile, the product of a 25-year, multimillion dollar effort to identify the most prevalent human strengths. The program introduces 34 dominant "themes" with thousands of possible combinations, and reveals how they can best be translated into personal and career success.

This audiobook contains a unique identification number that allows you access to the StrengthsFinder® Profile on the Internet. This Web-based interview analyzes your instinctive reactions and immediately presents you with your five most powerful themes. Once you know which themes you lead with, you can leverage them for powerful results for personal development, for management success, and for the success of the organization. ... Read more

Reviews (126)

Mentoring, not hand-holding
I've read quite a few of these kinds of books starting way back when with "What Color is Your Parachute," through "The Acorn Principle" and "Please Understand Me." This has been a long-term process of discovering my interests, talents, abilities, skills, knowledge, preferences, and potential - always with the intention of finding my true calling in life.

But this book is not just another addition to that list; this is a superior method for focusing in on very specific talents and strengths and clarifying your own thinking about your life choices. The assessment and categories of strengths are more straightforward than taking the Meyers-Briggs or other similar tests. The book confirms some of what I already knew, but completely clarified the concept of natural talent combined with skills and knowledge creating the strengths that one can use throughout their life.

People have complained in other reviews that some of the book is "fluff" or that it doesn't tell you what job to go get. This is only true for people who want one 250-page book to answer some of the greatest of life's questions. I greatly appreciate that the authors give simple, straightforward examples and their own theories quickly and pointedly. They leave it up to ME to make decisions based on that information.

If you are prepared to do the work over the course of time and use this book as a mentor (not a nanny who tells you what to do) you will gain great insight into yourself and your path.

Management, Not Psychology
As a manager, perhaps one of our greatest challenges is juggling the uniqueness of our employees. It's not our job to fix them, rather it's our job to facilitate their success.

I agree with what "First, Break All the Rules" said, in that, we should seek to build the strengths of our employees rather than fix their weaknesses. But, I walked away from that book saying "ok, that was great, but how do you determine a strength or talent?"

"Now, Discover your Strengths" gives practical insights on the strengths and inate talents of people. I was impressed by this and also by the real life examples of people displaying the stregth being discussed. The disheartening thing about the test is that it only gives your top 5 strengths when it's likely that 8-10 strenths are outwardly shown (in my opinion).

Unlike other readers, I DID NOT see this and the online test as meant to be a "personality" test. Quite the contrary. I believe it accurately measures what it says it does: STRENGTHS.

I'm looking forward to applying this information to the organizations I work with.

Since my question after reading the first book (how do you determine someone's strenghts?) was answered with "Now Discover your Strenthgs", I'm guessing that if there is a third book, it will discuss what to do with your strengths now that they're discovered.

beware of used copies
An integral part of this book is the online profile. Each copy of this book comes with a unique PIN number inside the book jacket. If you buy a used copy, the PIN number may be already used, and thus will not allow you to use the online profile. However, the book is still interesting if you enjoy reading through the signature themes and guessing what your profile would have uncovered. It is also fun to read each theme and think of people you know who come to mind, and consider ways in which you can support their strengths.

I would give this book 5 stars if an unlimited number of people could use the online profile with each book purchase.

A motivating speaker
I saw Marcus Buckingham speak at the SHRM Conference last week in New Orleans and it was an excellent complement to the book. Very motivating and enlightening as is the book. I also purchased the Emotional Intelligence Quickbook which I saw recommended on this page and that title is excellent as well.

Take these lessons beyond the work place
Excellent read, Clifton gives clarity and tools for success. I enjoyed the online inner strength tests very much and found it fascinating. While Clifton gives us the the key to unlocking our abilities and the confidence to pursue the path, it is up to us to take the journey.
I have taken this book and its philosophies into my personal life as well, filling everyday.
Everyone has different things that can free them further.

I started singing because I had always secretly found that to be exhilerating. I bought singing lessons on CD off of Amazon,
"Voice lessons To Go" by Vaccarino- fantastic!

I also purchased and carefully followed the "New Sex Now" video by Arte with my husband- it was mind blowing for us.

Just those two examples show how much I have removed my own personal fear in life. The kind that held me back and locked my strengths in. You know the strength is there in any crisis, why not manifest them into your eveyday? How powerful is that? ... Read more

Book Description

The major difference between achieving people and average people is their perception of and response to failure. John C. Maxwell takes a closer look at failure—and reveals that the secret of moving beyond failure is to use it as a lesson and a stepping-stone. He covers the top reasons people fail and shows how to master fear instead of being mastered by it. Readers will discover that positive benefits can accompany negative experiences—if you have the right attitude. Chock full of action suggestions and real-life stores, Failing Forward is a strategic guide that will help men and women move beyond mistakes to fulfill their potential and achieve success.

Reviews (35)

You don't have to afraid of failure anymore
Many of us dislike failures and mistakes. We will try to avoid them because we are afraid to be labeled as losers. However, this book tells us there is no perfectionist on earth, as long as you are human being, you would make mistakes. Those mistakes will guide you the way to success if you are to learn from them. The difference between average and achieving people is their perception and response to failure.

This books provide us with 15 steps to failing forward. You are going to overcome adversity and maximize your potential if you follow these steps.

Moreover, Maxwell gives readers a lot of real life experience examples to demonstrate how successful people response to adversity and handle it.

This book is highly recommended.

Well structured book of encouragement
I have read a few of John Maxwell's books about leadership and found them all to be insightful. In fact, he is usually one of the first authors I recommend to anyone looking for a book about leadership. I particularly enjoyed this book because it brings a somewhat different perspective to failure - a practical one.

We all have heard the cliches about "staying the course", and "not giving up", but this book adds layers of details about failure that you will probably not find in other books. Maxwell goes step-by-step into the numerous facets that can determine the differenc between success and failure. Having finished the book, I am more inspired to get busy, and make things happen - even if it means failing forward a few times.

Also, I especially liked the fact that John Maxwell includes numerous stories about those who have failed (usually numerous times) before achieving their goals. The stories help illustrate the points he makes throughout the book, and prove that it takes determination, effort, hard work, and sacrifice to get through the obstacles that you will face while chasing your dreams.

I highly recomend this book to anyone interested in learning practical strategies for achieving your goals and dreams. The exercises at the end of each chapter will help put Maxwell's concepts into action for your own life. Good luck.

Failure is Your Stepping Stone to Success!
John C. Maxwell brings a gift to all who have ever felt like a "failure" by the extraordinary examples of some of the greatest people that have achieved outstanding success, only to attribute that to their prior so-called "failures."
This book will help you USE the lessons you can learn from your experience. One of the most important aspects of this book is to NOT PERSONALIZE the experience, and take it into the core of your being, The KEY is to take "you" out of the failure, and look at it as another outward experience that will teach you much. It is most often that our deepest struggles are the very foundations for our greatest growths and triumphs. This book sets a model of clean ethics, taking responsibility, being PASSIONATE about what you are doing, because without passion, you might as well just stop - because passion is the driving force behind every success.
If you have been through the mill, and want to really be inspired about your experiences from some of the greatest people who have brought inspiration to others, then this book will give that to you. An excellent book for turning failure into genuine success. 10 Stars!
Barbara Rose, author of 'Individual Power' and 'If God Was Like Man'

Failure is never final
This was is my first book by Maxwell, but it won't be my last. Maxwell mixes scriptures along with success principles and tells us that failure is never final. It's not how many times you fall, it's how many times you get back up and how much you learn from it.

Some people have called this a hookie-pookie superficial feel good book. I strongly disagree, except that I can do more by feeling good than by feeling lousy.

Maxwell is excellent. His words will inspire you but more than that, his words, when followed will instruct you as well.

Outstanding book. Highly recommended.

An important nook about an important life issue
John Maxwell does a marvellous job of helping people to work through failure and move on. I am 53 years old and was recently laid off by an employer who told me that I was the best employee he had. I felt betrayed and would wake up every morning thinking of ways to get even (even though I knew I wouldn't act on them.) I was really hurt and couldn't get over it. A friend of mine suggested I read two books. The first one she recommended was this one and it really helped me to put things into perspective. Instead of moping around the house, I started looking through the papers and making calls to get job interviews. Yes, it got me going! The other book my friend recommended was Optimal Thinking: How To Be Your Best Self which helped me to understand that every situation (even a a situation I don't like) is an opportunity to be my best, and it showed me how to make the most of any situation. With books like these in the world, we never have to be stuck and we can really make the most of our lives. ... Read more

Book Description

In First, Break All The Rules, Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman of the Gallup Organization present the remarkable findings of their massive in-depth study of great managers across a wide variety of situations. Some were in leadership positions. Others were front-line supervisors. Some were in Fortune 500 companies; others were key players in small, entrepreneurial companies. Whatever their situations, the managers who ultimately became the focus of Gallup's research were invariably those who excelled at turning each employee's talent into performance.

In today's tight labor markets, companies compete to find and keep the best employees, using pay, benefits, promotions, and training. But these well-intentioned efforts often miss the mark. The front-line manager is the key to attracting and retaining talented employees. No matter how generous its pay or how renowned its training, the company that lacks great front-line managers will suffer.

Buckingham and Coffman explain how the best managers select an employee for talent rather than for skills or experience; how they set expectations for him or her -- they define the right outcomes rather than the right steps; how they motivate people -- they build on each person's unique strengths rather than trying to fix his weaknesses; and, finally, how great managers develop people -- they find the right fit for each person, not the next rung on the ladder.

This audiobook is the first to present this essential measuring stick and to prove the link between employee opinions and productivity, profit, customer satisfaction, and the rate of turnover. There are vital performance and career lessons here for managers at every level, and, best of all, the audiobook shows you how to apply them to your own situation. ... Read more

Reviews (172)

Common sense leadership
First Break all the rules addresses leadership from a common sense perspective. The twelve questions that reflect on your ability to effect productivity at the most intimate level of any process (the individual team member), are the common thread for discussion throughout this book.

With level of productivity as the measuring stick, leaders are encouraged to ask themselves if among other things, they provide direction, praise, materials, support, guidance, and opportunity for growth.

Buckningham and Coffman assert that good leaders don't try to make a silk purse from a sows ear. They suggest that you hire a sows ear where you need one and find silk to make the purse that you need. They contend that you can't change human nature, so why try. Trying to fill a deficit is more work than working with the positive aspects of your organization.

The authors also assert that good managers focus outwardly for change, and ask "why not." They focus on the strengths and manage around weaknesses. Good leaders know what types of talents that are needed at various levels of an organization; recruit to fill these positions, and develop those that you recruit.

The most useful part of this book is based on the lessons that mom taught you. Be nice. Treat people as individuals. Be flexible. Assert authority when necessary but more often than not, take a personal interest in those who are in control of how well your organization will measure up.

Must read for managers of all levels
If you think you can change people, think again. If you think one of a manager's job is to help people improve upon their weaknesses, think again. If you think climbing the corporate ladder is the best way to improve one's position in the corporate world, well, you got it, think again.

This book, written by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman, and based on 25 years of research by the Gallup Organization, on over 1 million respondents, has debunked a number of management "myths". I put myths in inverted commas simply because they were "truths" -- until First, Break All The Rules (published by Simon & Schuster, London, New York, 1999, ISBN 0-68486138-0) came along.

The Gallup Organization discovered, after asking one million people hundreds of different questions on the subject of managing others, that people excel only when their talents are put to use. Talents are the recurring patterns of thought and behavior that can't be turned on and off at will. They can't be created or altered. According to the authors, people don't change much. Managers should not waste time changing their subordinates, or making them into what they are not. You cannot give new talent to a person.

The books suggests that every human being has talent, and all roles/functions/jobs in a company require talent. You cannot train or develop talent, but you can train, develop and enhance skills and proficiencies. Talent leads to interest; interest leads to motivation; motivation leads to a desire to learn; a desire to learn leads to skills and proficiencies

As for the corporate ladder, the authors suggest that you should throw it away. For example, good sales person might not perform well if she is promoted to sales manager position. She might not have the talent to manage others. Instead, let her continue in the sales position, but improve upon the salary and benefits.

Finding the right fit
This book has become priceless to my business. I highly recommend it to any manager who is having trouble motivating and keeping key employees in today's business environment. Happy employees are productive employees and this book gave me ideas that I had never considered when it came down to placing and hiring the right employees . I also recommend Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey as a corporate gift to keep employees motivated throughout the year.

Great Managers help make great employees great
This is by far one of the best management books that I have ever read. The Gallup Organization puts a whole new spin on what makes a great manager great - helping their employees to succeed as well as finding the right "fit" for their talents. This books put a strong emphasis on the different between skills and knowledge, which can be trained and learned, and talents, which cannot. Talents are unique to every individual and will drive all of us to be better at different things. It is the managers job to help us identify and build on these things.
Buckingham and Coffman do a fantastic job at incorporating wisdom and advice from the 80,000 managers that they interviewed which makes this book much easier to relate to. Whether a manager who is looking to enhance their management style, or an employee who is looking for ways to improve themselves and their organization, this is tremendous and very quick read.

A Great book on Common Sense Management
When did we lose our common sense? In college? Whenever this happened (and whatever the cause), this book helps to reclaim our common sense when applied to the world of managing employees of small, medium, and large-based companies.

This book is essential reading for economics majors, MBA students, and those working in management. It cuts through the jargon and helps people realize that management requires an understanding of human nature. It returns us to psychology. After all, the business world is bound by the rules of psychology. Violate the rules and you may harm your business.

The book delivers harsh facts. Not all employees are going to do well at every task. Managers: stop thinking that everyone can do anything. They can't. It's unreasonable to believe it. It's better to create incentives -- both monetary and prestigue -- on the idea that someone may want to continue working in a similar capacity. The book cites attorneys who start out at a law firm at junior associate, associate, senior associate, and then work on to junior partner, partner, and senior partner. Throughout the process, the attorney does not radically change what he or she is doing. Instead, their work merely becomes more interesting and their pay (and equity in the firm) rises over time. That is, rather than promote someone to a position that is radically different from what they are doing, offer perks and monetary advantages as time goes on to your employees.

The book says to promote strengths rather than overcome employee weaknesses. Some people are just never going to be able to do well at certain tasks. The book's realistic edge says we ought to understand this and move on. We can't strive for perfectin in every avenue. Make sure that your employees are doing what they do best at. Therefore, the goals of the firm -- and the employees' morale, will coincide, allowing harmony to exist in the firm. This book has many golden nuggets of wisdom, and it definitely is a keeper.

Michael ... Read more

Book Description

This upper-level Business Spanish text gives students an in-depth introduction to the Spanish-speaking business world. ... Read more

Book Description

It's come to this.

All the confusion and chaos and change and turmoil in our working lives have finally tipped the balance. We now need a new way of doing business.

Most of us view change as a threat, and survival as the goal. Yet we work too hard to consider just getting by as our primary goal. In Survival Is Not Enough, bestselling author Seth Godin provides a groundbreaking new way to organize companies to thrive during times of change. It contains a simple yet revolutionary idea: we can evolve our companies the same way nature evolves a species.

Darwin was right. Evolution is a fundamental force of nature, and Godin demonstrates how this force can be unleashed in any organization. The first step is to eliminate the anti-change reflex that's genetically coded into all of us. Once a company learns to "zoom" (embrace change without pain), it is much more likely to evolve. And a company that evolves can become ever more profitable.

Whether the market is up or down, whether technology is hot or not, in all industries, from retail to tech to restaurants, the organic approach to organizations described in this book will always outperform the competition. As long as our world isunstable, evolving businesses will win. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Godin does it again!
In his follow-up to the popular e-book Unleashing the Ideavirus, marketing guru Seth Godin uses Darwin's theory of evolution as an extended metaphor for how companies have to constantly change in order to adapt to unstable economic environments. Survival Is Not Enough: Zooming Evolution, and the Future of Your Company maintains that in these uncertain times, business owners have to constantly tinker with their marketing, products, and personnel, even if they've already discovered some successful strategies. While he lays the metaphors on a little thick, Godin's otherwise clear, crackling prose and real-life examples make the book an engaging read.

Thoroughly enjoyable...
I really enjoyed Seth Godin's Permission Marketing so I had high expectations of Survival is Not Enough and I must say that my expectations were easily met.

I read the book cover to cover in one day and found that Seth's insights were not only meaningful but inspirational.
Any person managing people or thinking of starting a company should invest in reading this book. It will definitely change the way you see the role of people in your company and how companies hold on to survival for dear life rather then embracing change to continue and succeed and as we're shown time and time again "Survival is Not Enough"

Has some interesting ideas..
Has some interesting ideas. I don't know how much of it can actually be implemented, however. Just because there's chaos around you doesn't mean you have to live/work in chaos. Remember the hare and the turtouise fable?

Science and Business Hand in Hand
Europeans, especially the British, see science as separate from business, and scientists and businessmen as separate species. This book categorically refutes this folly. Science and business are the same. What he is trying to say about the outliers being successful in a changing world is not new. The germans always practiced this principle. Try to do the best job you can and keep improving it technically no end. Provided you are not doing something completely silly, you will find that your only competitor will be, perhaps, another West German company (this is what happened in textiles in Germany). The problem is that we always focus on making that dollar, on the "average" behaviour or achieving some margin. Money is EMERGENT, i.e. just do what you love and at some threshold of excellence the money will follow you. The hidden message of evolution is seeing change as an agent of opportunity rather than a threat. Therefore, governments should encourage and support education, long degrees of 6 years or so, as used to be the norm in France and Germany we require again today even more so than before. Only when the population acquires the hunger for knowledge can they become the flexible individuals able to survive is a dynamic world.

Left me flat
Seth Godin is becoming the new Tom Peters. I found very little of substance here, which surprised because I enjoy his Fast Company column. This was just a lot of high minded columnist talk from someone who will never have to do any of it.

I prefer more down to earth authors who offer practical advice, not a lot of evangelist sounding advice. ... Read more

Book Description

Since joining the Yankees in 1996, Joe Torre has quickly reestablished the team as one of the great success stories in all of professional sports. But Torre has not only shown his outstanding managerial talents by leading the Yankees to two championships in three years. He's also survived the pressure-cooker of big-market media, established a calm, effective working relationship with George Steinbrenner, and cultivated clubhouse harmony on a team packed with distinct personalities. That harmony, together with Torre's emphasis on steadiness, optimism, serenity, mutual respect and responsibility, paved the way for his team's record-shattering 125-win season and 1998 World Series sweep.

In Joe Torre's Ground Rules for Winners, the Yankee manager reveals the twelve keys to his phenomenally successful management philosophy -- keys directly applicable to business and to life. Drawing from his years of experience in the corporate microcosm that is professional baseball. Torre shares his wisdom of the universal concerns of managers -- handling tough bosses, dealing with both setbacks and success, earning the trust and respect of your team players and bringing together a diverse group of individuals into a cohesive unit with a willingness to make the sacrifices necessary to win. Joe Torre's Ground Rules for Winners is a comprehensive guide to the management techniques that Torre has refined, illustrating his methods with vivid, colorful stories from his years in professional baseball.

Torre's invaluable insights will provide listeners with the tools they need to develop a winning outlook, and to get the most out of themselves and their colleagues, whether in sports, business, or life. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Not an average Joe
I've only heard audio portions of this book so far and I've enjoyed it immensely. I'm a huge Yankee fan and I love the way Joe manages them - and George Steinbrenner for that matter; calm, clear, focused, patient. However, I just wanted to respond to Bill from NY, who said that Joe Torre can not write andthat the book wasn't very "inciteful".
Note to Bill: buy a dictionary before you "right" off a review in haste.

Good Advice
This book offers good advice for managers of most professions. It may be simplistic to say that the baseball industry strategies will apply to all areas, but one of the first things you learn IS that it will apply to most areas -- because it deals with one long-time commonality -- people. Joe Torre shows that his insight and respect for others really does work and that it is NOT just money.

Useful examples that can be applied to many situations
Read JOE TORRE'S GROUND RULES FOR WINNERS:
12 KEYS TO MANAGING TEAM PLAYERS, TOUGH BOSSES,
SETBACKS, AND SUCCESS by Joe Torre with Henry
Dreher . . . Torre, in case you're not a baseball fan, is the manager
of the New York Yankees . . . this book tells how he has
applied commonsense principles to become perhaps the
sport's best top skipper . . . nothing overly profound here,
but it all did make sense to me . . . and I liked how he related
baseball examples to business, family and life situations.

There were several passages I particularly enjoyed; among them:
* In any business, workers up and down the hierarchy want nothing
more than to be treated fairly, to feel that they aren't getting
the short end of a manager's stick. My second baseman in 1966,
Mario Duncan, once was quoted as saying about me, "He doesn't
play favorites. All twenty-five guys are his favorites." It was kind of
him to say, and I believe that it's true. Managers who make it
their business to keep personal preferences to themselves, to
show regard for all employees, and to be scrupulously fair about
opportunities, promotions, and perks, will be rewarded with a
bunch of highly motivated team players.

* During my eight years as a player with the Braves, I was fortunate
to hit behind baseball's all-time home run king, Hank Aaron. One
day, Hank and I were talking about batting slumps when he made
a comment that's stayed with me ever since: "Each at bat is a
new day."

* "I hang pictures," is a phrase I've used whenever I start a new
job. . . . When I first managed the Mets in the late 1970s, Boyer,
then the Cardinals' manager, visited me in my clubhouse
office. Kenny noticed all the personal pictures I had hanging on
the walls. "Wow," he exclaimed. "You expect to be here for a
while?"

"When I start working somewhere, I just assume that I'm going
to be there forever," I said. "It's the only way I can do my job."

Torre Uncovers Winning Attitude for Success
Coaches not only bring winning teams to victory, but they influence the team and individual to aspire to their highest potential. The art of coaching sculpts people into personal success with the clay of trust, encouragement, insight into individual psychology, and a thorough knowledge of the activity coached. Joe Torre, the manager of the New York Yankees baseball team who brought the players to championship at the World Series, weaves together these factors to show how business people can reach the same level of personal success. His wisdom applies to any activity that relies on an individual's extra push to succeed.
"How do you make it happen? As an individual, you work relentlessly on the fundamentals of the game-whatever you game may be," he notes in the book. The mechanics of the game or business lay the groundwork, but the variables of talent, interaction with coworkers, attitude and relationship skills count even more. "In order to build teamwork, you must acknowledge each individual's worth, letting him know that this role, no matter how seemingly minor, is a vital cog in the team's efforts," he writes.
In today's work environment, where getting to know fellow workers may be subordinate to getting the job done, and where the focus is on production rather than people, Torre's ground rules of knowing the people who work with and for you may seem radical. But, he says, they are essential.
His blend of common sense, experience and psychological insight make this book a productive and instructive use of time for managers or anyone wanting to succeed in business. He shows how the complexity of mind, emotion, heart and talent work together to build success, and he emphasizes the power of the mind and attitude on performance. The dreams and goals deep within the individual can win out, he insists. He encourages bravery and persistence to carry on in a world that can make it easy to douse the flame of a dream for the banality of safe routine. In the end, success in business and in life have meaning to the individual because of the struggle to get there. "(O)nly you know how many small triumphs and snarls went into that big victory, how many months, years, or decades of sweat and sorrow preceded that breakthrough. That's baseball, and that's life," he notes.
And that's Torre's attitude in a book worth reading.

A Good Read!
Joe Torre distills his management and "team player" philosophy into twelve keys. These insights elegantly deal with ways to inspire critical qualities, including trust, commitment, optimism, resilience, excellence, patience, integrity, respect, leadership, teamwork, and camaraderie. Torre illustrates his beliefs and advice with pertinent anecdotes told in a detailed, witty, heartfelt style. Torre, who has won four world series titles as manager of the New York Yankees, draws on his experiences as a player, manager, and leader. He includes the lessons he learned when he reported to a demanding team owner. The book delivers what it promises and offers an engaging behind-the-scenes look at professional baseball. We [...] recommend this book to executives, managers and employees at all levels in any kind of business. Since it never relies on macho clichés, both men and women will find it satisfying and worthwhile.
... Read more

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

Michael Gerber's The E-Myth Revisited should be required listening for anyone thinking about starting a business or for those who have already taken that fateful step. The title refers to the author's belief that entrepreneurs--typically brimming with good but distracting ideas--make poor businesspeople. He establishes an incredibly organized and regimented plan, so that daily details are scripted, freeing the entrepreneur's mind to build the long-term success or failure of the business. You don't need an M.B.A. to understand or follow its directives; Gerber takes time to explain buzzwords and complex theories. Read in a clear and well-paced manner, listening to The-E Myth is like receiving advice from an old friend. --Sharon Griggins ... Read more

Reviews (13)

I have seen the light!
I could not put this book down! I have a small service business and this book has made me see the light. I am in the process of putting all the Ideas from Michael Gerber to work. I thought I had the grasp on building a business, but this book has showed me the right way to go. The information is worth thousands of dollars.

A book in a million
I have never been a full-fledged business owner although I worked for one as his business fell apart. Had he had this book I might still have that job.

Gerber takes his cue from the fact that most small businesses close after less than five years. You'd think that facing these odds the world would be full of books on the reasons why and how to avoid them, but this is the first one I've seen.

As you read you'll be struck by his understanding of the people who set up business, and also by the clarity of his solution. Yes, to some degree it's an advertisment for his consulting services, but there's plenty of advice.

I feel that a local business I frequent is beginning to enter a period of decline, and I wish I knew the owner well enough to give him a copy.

Incidentally, I didn't notice any of the problems other reviewers have mentioned, and in one case the book went right over the head of of one.

I expect to re-read this book several times, and I'm looking at some of the other Gerber titles.

Mostly Common Knowledge And Fluff
If you picked up this book to help you build your existing business or build a new one, you might be disappointed. Since your thinking of starting your own business, then you should know that most small businesses fail within the first five years. The author hits on some reasons why they fail but most of these you already know. Do you know that if you are not organized, if you don't change or create new ideas or plans and become stagnat or if you force yourself to do every task yourself, your business will be limited in growth and may eventually fail? Right there is the first 25% of the book fit into one sentence. Then he goes onto his love affiar with turn key businesses. But when he starts talking about his favorite business it should make a reader nervous. He starts talking about the great sucess of McDonalds fast food restuarant franchise. McDonalds is a great success and one to be looked at carefully but not for the reasons he points out. It's apparent he has not been in a McDonalds all that often. He mentions that at McDonalds they depend on consistancy at all their chains. For example the fries stay in the fryer for ten minutes "a soggy french fry is not a McDonald's french fry". At any McDonalds a customer knows what to expect. Then he goes into mention that this is why McDonalds chain resturant is more successfull than those businesses that depend on trade name recognition. I'm sorry this throws a red flag. People eat there beacuse it is fast and it is [not expensive}, not becuase of consistant service. They make a large profit because they keep costs down. I do believe that McDonalds spends a large budget on trade name recognition, I have seen many commercials for McDonalds within the last year; particularly with the Olympics. This whole section undermines the rest of the author's book. If you know that a large section is misleading or biased it makes it difficult to listen to the rest the ideas without already being judgemental. I admit that I am not the smartest business person but its clear Michael Gerber isn't either.

A "must-read" for would be/exisiting business owners
Read this book before any other. It will give the information you need to build your business and how not to become a slave to it.

If you are already stuck in a business, this book will help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.

If you follow this book you will be on your way to less headaches and financial freedom.

Only an outline. Not much meat on the tape
I was very dissappointed in the audio version. Having never read the book and hearing lots of raves, I was expecting much more. He gave a very breif outline, then spent the last 5 minutes in an advertisement to hire his company.

Very dissappointing. Maybe the book is better. ... Read more

Book Description

Amazon.com

This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937. It was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies. How to Win Friends and Influence People is just as useful today as it was when it was first published, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that will never be outdated. Financial success, Carnegie believed, is due 15 percent to professional knowledge and 85 percent to "the ability to express ideas, to assume leadership, and to arouse enthusiasm among people." He teaches these skills through underlying principles of dealing with people so that they feel important and appreciated. He also emphasizes fundamental techniques for handling people without making them feel manipulated. Carnegie says you can make someone want to do what you want them to by seeing the situation from the other person's point of view and "arousing in the other person an eager want." You learn how to make people like you, win people over to your way of thinking, and change people without causing offense or arousing resentment. For instance, "let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers," and "talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person." Carnegie illustrates his points with anecdotes of historical figures, leaders of the business world, and everyday folks. --Joan Price ... Read more

Reviews (371)

Buy friends and coerce people
This is a very funny book. It's not meant to be, but the ideas it tries to put across are machiavelian, childish and short sighted. The underlying theme is that one should do favours for others in order to receive the same from them: hardly a theme to build friendships on.

If you are currently paying people cash to be your "friend", you might find significant financial savings from the ideas in this book: you could be paying them in plenty of other ways.

It makes a great gag gift: you will find yourself passing this around to read out loud at parties.

A Charter Member of My Self-Help Collection
here are a number of KEY books that helped me to develop
the best aspects of myself as a man and as a person. This
book is one of those cornerstones of who I am. It is timeless,
universal, and comprehensive in its coverage of the subject
material.

Other books and self-help products which are on par with this book are:

NEW SEX NOW: Life's Ultimate Pleasure DVD
Giant Steps
Think & Grow Rich
Self Matters
7 Spiritual Laws of Success
Ageless Mind, Timeless Body
THE 4 AGREEMENTS
The Power of Concentration
GODDESS WORSHIP dvd

I believe that anyone who wants to be a great person would do well to study all of the above very sincerely.

It won me over.
Just a joy to read, this book is truly a classic. With its timeless stories the author uses to illustrate the principles of getting along with others, this book should be requires reading for all human beings. Other self-help books I liked include "The No-Beach, No-Zone, No-Nonsense Weight Loss Plan, A Pocket Guide To What Works."

One of the first how to social skills books
Well, this is the grand dady of all social skills how to books from business to love and romance.I have the old fashioned politically incorrect version and have to re-read it to pick up the important points.

Some people understandably don't like this sort of book.It could make one so superficial to do things by rote all because you want something - but Carnegie himself points this out and scorns selfish motives.

It is ultimately about survival in a tough, competitive world and being genuinely nice to people - which naturally works.Especially good if you want to deal with Americans as Americans already know the lessons of this book and have studied it compared to continentals.

No book can necessarily help you get a top job or win the love of your life, no matter how much they promise to - especially if you mechanically try and follow instructions supplied in them.But for general principles this book is so important.

After all etiquette is something taught by Confucius, the Buddha and many historical personages - and this book has looked at all the greatest books before it came up with its strategies and rules of thumb.

The original book was based on so much research (and I don't really want the update) - that it would repay study.

Carnegie is the founder of emotional intelligence
I'm a big emotional intelligence fan, and when I read this book I can't help but see the parallels between Carnegie's thinking and the modern emotional intelligence works. This book, despite it's age, speaks to some of the core truths of how people work and provides excellent strategies for how to connect with other people. Carnegie has a keen understanding of what motivates people and I really enjoyed how succinctly he is able to sum things up and give me a useful way to approach my own life.

My favorite "modern" emotional intelligence book is "The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book" because it includes a free online test where you can measure your own EQ and learn how to better connect with people. ... Read more

Book Description

How do we as individuals and organizations survive and thrive amid tremendous change? Why are efforts to improve falling so short in real results despite the millions of dollars in time, capital, and human effort being spent on them? How do we unleash the creativity, talent, and energy within ourselves and others in the midst of pressure? Is it realistic to believe that balance among personal, family, and professional life is possible?

Stephen R. Covey demonstrates that the answer to these and other dilemmas is Principle-Centered Leadership, a long-term, inside-out approach to developing people and organizations. The key to dealing with the challenges that face us today is the recognition of a principle-centered core within both ourselves and our organizations. Dr. Covey offers insights and guidelines that can help you apply these principles both at work and at home -- leading to not just a new understanding of how to increase quality and productivity, but also to a new appreciation of the importance of building personal and professional relationships in order to enjoy a more balanced, more rewarding, and more effective life. ... Read more

Reviews (41)

Excellent Book!
Covey's books always leave a positive impression on his readers because they inspire in a practical way that can result in immediate changes. Since everyone is a leader in some regard the audience for this excellent book is widespread. Principles do not discriminate. They work in all circumstances and cultures. Covey helps his readers discover ageless principles and makes their application a logical followup. The analogy of courageous explorers is given for people going into uncharted territories. That's everyone. Each of us face things unique to our lives. Covey encourages people to view these factors positively. Flexibility is essential to living the abundant life he explains. This book is full of insight that helps keep a person focused on living in a maximum way.

Corner Stone
I found the book intriguing. The book makes great common sense and has many quotable quotes. The foundation truths about leadership: "The Law of the Harvest"; "Life is one indivisible whole." Organizational ecosystem; four leadership paradigms; efficiency vs. effectiveness; trustworthiness is foundational; and seven chronic organizational problems are examples of a few the important lessons to learn. If you read nothing else this year on leadership, Principle-Centered Leadership is my first and best pick. All other leadership books are commentary. The book is a great read and keeps me well centered in an ever changing world of advice and new techniques.

Another winner by Covey---Great addition to 7 Habits
In this great book by Stephen Covey, we learn Covey's philosophy for creating more meaningful relationships and successes in the workplace. something we should be striving to implement throughout business and industry.

Coveys shows us how to implement these techniques in the home and elsewhere and the result is we will be rewarded with happiness and a fulfilling future.

Prior to reading Principle Centered Leadership, I didn't think it was possible to successfully balance my personal, family and professional life.

Principle Centered Leadership is a great addition to Coveys classic 7 Habits of Highly Successful People.

Building a team with a solid core
Steven Covey provides the reader a solid roadmap for successful leadership. When leaders with character work with others, they obtain loyalty and inspire the best results. Excellent read.

7 Habits 14 Points
This book brings the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People together with Demings 14 Points. If organizations were to use this methodology, they too would be effective. I recommend this book because it had a profound effect on an organization I was working for.

Can we lead better individual lives and have our corporations apply principles that will take those individuals to higher levels of accomplishment? America applies these principles in most of the best companies, these are enduring principles.

This is a book to read for leaders and teachers in business. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A guide to developing value-centered leadership.
Donnithorne has provided a practical and concise work on developingvalue-centered leadership in any organization.He addresses the issues ofleadership within a moral and ethical context by: 1. Reviewing West Point'sapproach to teaching value-centered leadership (which is enjoyable to readabout in-and-of-itself). 2. Providing anecdotal examples from his own lifeas a military engineer who has worked in combat. 3. Providing examples in avariety of practical business settings, many which will be recognized bythe reader. 4. And, providing the reader with a summary of key questionswhich lead to the core of value-driven leadership. Throughout the book,Donnithorne references a wide array of current and past literaturevalidating and providing substance and context for the methods developed byWest Point.

Any individual who has experienced the trials, tribulationsand rewards of leadership will recognize much of the fundamental truthsfound in Donnithorne's effort.

Credibility also comes from Donnithorne'sown experience as a successful military officer, teacher and collegepresident.He is not an academic who has studied leadership patterns, etc. He is a practical, experienced leader who brings depth to his words bysharing interesting and heartfelt anecdotes from his own life.

This is amust read for anyone interested in the moral, ethical and value-centeredaspects of leadership and organizational life.

A Good Overview of Military Leadership & Management Style
I enjoyed learning about the Military method of training, developing and teaching people to lead and manage.Based on the synopsis, I was hoping to see how the Military leadership styles worked in the business world.But the examples of business applications were somewhat limited.Overall an interesting book ... Read more

Book Description

What would happen if a top expert with more than thirty years of leadership experience were willing to distill everything he had learned about leadership into a handful of life-changing principles just for you? It would change your life.

John C. Maxwell has done exactly that in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. He has combined insights learned from his thirty-plus years of leadership successes and mistakes with observations from the worlds of business, politics, sports, religion, and military conflict. The result is a revealing study of leadership delivered as only a communicator like Maxwell can.

Reviews (138)

Good beginning
I liked the book, but like others I was looking for more application than theory. If you can get past Maxwell's logic on how the examples explain EVERYTHING and determine how to apply the laws to your own situation you will do well to read the book. One reason his book doesn't explain how to apply the laws is because he has published numerous video tapes, audio tapes, and other books that you can buy which do explain how to apply them. In the video series on this book each of the "21 Laws" has references listed (which are published by Maxwell, imagine that)which cost hundreds of dollars. If you bought all of them they would cost almost $3000! He has a good system but it is very expensive. THe book is not meant to teach you everything, it is only a beginning. Learning leadership takes a lot of time and money if you are going to learn it from Maxwell.

If he put everything into one book it would be a VERY BIG BOOK and Maxwell wouldn't make as much money as he does from the complete series......

This book offers a background for successful leadership.
John Maxwell's hard cover is available on audio cassette. It was a pleasure to listen to it in the car on my way to work. It is filled with bits of wisdom I found very valuable to have in my thinking. The narrator has a steady, pleasant voice. He explains each of the Laws clearly and understandably one at a time, thus allowing the listener to pause at each new law to reflect.

There are many references to founders of popular businesses. I could relate to his success stories of well known companies like McDonald's or Apple Computer.

Maxwell is himself a minister of a church which he built successfully using the laws he describes. Because he is a minister, he has the ability to communicate in layman's terms. The story like manner in which the book is written allows for stress-free listening and easy learning.

I would recommend this book as an excellent supplement to any class in leadership skills or mentoring. It gives the reader a broad base to rely on when dealing with the long range goals.

The reality of leading in business
This is an excellent book of legendary leaders and management. We gain the opportunity to see the "big picture", and learn from the successes and failures of others. If you believe that we should always be surrounding ourselves with more wise and experienced people, then this book will make sense to you. I will reiterate that this is not a step-by-step, tips, tricks, or get rich tomorrow book. Whether, you are an entrepreneur or climbing the corporate ladder, this book will help with your vision and relationships in business.

On The Soap Box
Zig Ziglar has some good ideas, but the overall advice in this book doesn't offer clear tips to improve leadership skills in the short term. With elections drawing near, it reminds me of a dry, rambling political platform. Check out Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life, it has practical every day advice on how to be the leader of your own life.

The most concise and applicable book on leadership
This book is the best book on leadership i've ever read. It seems to me that the negative reviewers of this book misunderstood this book. The book is not meant to go step by step through all 21 laws. The book is meant to tell you what the laws are of leadership, it's ur responsibility to find out how you can use these laws in your life. Honestly the laws are practical and simple and they can be implemented as soon as u understand them just by the way u speak , how much u read, how many seminars you attend and audio training material you listen to. All those things will help increase your lid of leadership but that won't happen until you know what u need to work on and this book pinpoints what a true leader is and does in the world as we know it. ... Read more

Book Description

A renowned communication expert introduces a subtle and efffective way of selling your best asset--yourself--without turning off those you're trying to impress. It is well-documented that working hard isn't enough to keep your professional star rising: Self-promotion is recognized as one of the most important attributes for getting ahead. But learning to share your talents and successes without coming across as smug or rehearsed is a tricky skill. Now, Peggy Klaus, top communication and leadership coach, has developed a program that will teach anyone to brag--and get away with it. Filled with practical examples of ways in which people in various work-life stages can promote themselves, Klaus teaches readers to communicate strengths and accomplishments without appearing too opportunistic, eager, egotistical, or self-aggrandizing. Now anyone can communicate with style and substance--in any situation--and walk away shining like the star they are! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Yes- Brag
This is an amusing, informative book advising people how to self-promote. I read the book, and then put into practice what was taught for some telephone promotion for raising funds for a non-profit organization that I work with. It was amazing how the technique Ms. Klaus advised encouraged the return of calls previously ignored. I was so pleased. As well, it is fun to read, making you chuckle throughout. She is a great educator.

MyShelf.com Book Reviewer
In today's corporate market, competition is fierce, as people try to out do each other to get ahead. There are many techniques, but not every one is effective. Finding the right marketing technique to sell your skills is crucial. Survival is only for the fittest.

Peggy Klaus is a world-renowned Fortune 500 communication coach. Being an expert in the art of communication has enabled her to create a book based on simple-to-understand, real-life concepts. Her techniques show how to capitalize on being yourself while making the most of your accomplishments.

With her "Track 12" concept, she allows readers the opportunity to interact with the book itself by answering questions that can be referred back to at the right time and appropriate moment to make yourself outshine the competition. For instance, you will learn how to effectively throw a reference to one of your achievements into everyday conversations without sounding phony or unnatural. Her advice is golden; it provides the polished style and refined substance needed to climb the corporate ladder.

Of all the books I have ever read on this subject, I found Ms. Klaus's to have the most grace and the most overall, long-term impact. For anyone who is struggling to gain the recognition for their hard work and long hours, this is the book you will need to add to your book collection. Very highly recommended.

Wow! I think this book was written just for me!
Brag! was recommended to me highly... three different times. The third recommendation was because the book was on the "must read" list of a class I was taking on marketing. I finally bought the paperback version of the book since I was unable to find it at the local library.

I ho-hummed as I opened the book thinking it would be yet another inspirational speaker writing a book bragging about her success and that everyone else should be inspired. Inspirational speakers have never been that inspirational to me - probably because their "inspiration" lasts as long as it takes for me to get back to my car (usually at the top level of the parking lot furthest away from the auditorium). Once I'm behind the wheel of my car I am thrust back into my own world wondering what just happened. Hadn't I felt great just a few moments before? Wasn't I ready to go get 'em? Wasn't I determined to get going and make a success of my business?

I read the first paragraph of the Introduction of Brag! and Peggy Klaus had me hooked. Wait a minute. I know she was talking about her own background in her narrative, but it sounded as if she was talking about me! She speaks of her father telling her as a child, " ...don't toot your own horn; if you do a good job people will notice you." My parents and Sunday School teachers said that all the time, too, and more. "Bragging is a big no-no." "The Bible says that modesty is a virtue." No wonder I never really liked inspirational speakers. They come off as giant braggarts. According to Peggy Klaus, they're not doing it right.

Countless phrases of virtue and avoidance of being obnoxious and self-aggrandizing hang in the back of my head waiting to pounce as soon as someone asks me what I do. I murmur, "I'm a graphic designer" only half-believing that I deserve the title despite my success. "Graphic designer?" they ask. "Does that mean you do, like, brochures and stuff like that?" "Yeah," I answer. And then the conversation falls flat.

This is where Peggy Klaus picks up the pace and tells you right out that if you don't speak up for yourself, no one else will. However, there is an art to this type of communication. Peggy spends the remaining 190 pages helping you take stock of what you have to brag about while you make yourself a "Brag Bag" full of "Brag Bites" and a few good "Bragalogues" to fit various situations. She also has some plain talk rebuttals to the "buts" we all have to talking about ourselves. My favorite:

" 'But... do I really need to brag 24/7?' Like the Scouts, be prepared... to toot at any time. That doesn't mean, however, that you do it all the time or that you do it at inappropriate times or places. You do it when it feels comfortable. And learning how to make it feel more comfortable is what this book is all about."

Peggy's examples are plentiful and, if you're like me, you'll see yourself in her examples more than once. She's not just any braggart, she's the best! Her natural way of writing (read: unpretentious), extremely practical advice, recommendations and her sense of humor combine to make this my favorite book of my business reading and the book that, right now, is making the most impact in my life and in my business.
-Anna Kris Bell
Catchphrase Graphics

Keep on Tootin¿
Probably most people were taught three principles early on in life: Obey the golden rule, don't pick up hitchhikers, and let other people praise you. Author Peggy Klaus can't help you with the first two, but she debunks the third principle.

Just what is bragging? Or put more properly, WHEN is bragging bragging and when is it taking advantage of opportunities? According to Klaus, there's a time and a place for proper bragging. Bragging (or "self-promotion") can be practiced in and out of the office. It can help you get better assignments, better pay, better recognition, better relationships, and more. But you have to do it properly...

Klaus show us first how NOT to brag, citing many examples of failed bragging and how to correct them. When practiced correctly, the principles of BRAG can help you communicate your talents without coming across as obnoxious. Recommended.

193 pages

Great for Job Hunters
As someone who is looking for a new job, I am always thinking about how to make my interviews go better. This book made me see how I have been presenting myself to possible employers with an almost apologetic attitude. Klaus explains how to make up bragologues about yourself so that you can let people know who you are and what you can do without sounding obnoxious. I was skeptical at first, but for the first time in months I have been called back for a second interview. I also told my friend about this book and she said that it helped her get a new client. It's fun to read and has lots of easy to use advice. ... Read more

Book Description

How would the legendary figures in the Bible advise us today? We're running the race of our lives and it's a long one. We need encouragement along the way a cheering grandstand or a personal trainer or two. John Maxwell reminds us that even in a modern world, the greatest inspiration is still found within the pages of the Old Testament. In RUNNING WITH THE GIANTS, Maxwell brings those great personalities to life. David would remind us how to overcome adversity.Noah would tell us not to fear doing the impossible. And Rebekah would urge us to give and serve generously. Each of these and the many other biblical figures Maxwell examines can motivate believers toward their personal best in the marathon of life. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The example of a life well lived has timeless power
An inspiring little book that draws life and leadership principles from Old Testament Biblical characters. Maxwell uses the power and example of these people's life stories to draw out some great truths. The backdrop is running in a stadium with the "great cloud of witnesses" that surround the Christian and having some heroes of the faith come down to run a lap with you and give advice on lessons they learned. See the other reviews for the list of Old Testament heroes that are included.

Each chapter has some discussion questions that can be used for personal reflection or for discussion as a group. There is also a brief prayer from each Biblical character for the reader to apply the truths from that chapter to their life. The discussion questions at the end of each book could easily be used for a small group study. Although the chapters are all brief, to really be able to answer many of the discussion questions adequately, you would need to read the Biblical passages for the Biblical figures mentioned in each chapter. This would obviously be a good thing. Even if you don't use the discussion question, it's still a motivation and inspiring read.

10 Lessons from Old Testament Heroes and Heroines
The text for this book is an expanded version of a talk given by Dr. Maxwell at an NBA All-Star game. As a result, there's a sports context for the book's structure.

The concept is that we each lead our lives with a cloud of witnesses observing as we perform (Heb. 12:1). "Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is before us."

You imagine yourself running 10 laps in a race with the stands full of the great people from the Bible. Ten of them come down in turn to join you in running one lap, and share words of encouragement as they do.

From Noah (". . . for when you wonder if your life really counts"), you learn that "you can make a difference" as you contemplate his single-minded focus on building the ark.

From Esther (". . . for when you are uncertain about your purpose"), you are reminded that "when you realize God's purpose for you, you will feel empowered" as you focus on her developing the courage to make pleas to her husband the king to save the lives of the Jews.

From Joseph (". . . for when life isn't turning out the way you planned"), you focus to not "give up on your dreams" as you think about Joseph's childhood dreams that all of his family would honor him.

From Moses (". . . for when you are fearful or reluctant"), you are exhorted to "live in the faith zone, not in the safe zone" as you think about Moses returning to Egypt to lead the Jews after heeding the call of the burning bush.

From Rebekah (". . . for when others ask for your help"), you are reminded to "give generously to others" as you recall her serving water for hours to Abraham and his camels.

From Abraham (". . . for when you don't understand God's ways"), you remember that "God always does the right thing" as you consider his long wait to become a father and then God's command to slay his beloved son, Isaac.

From the Servant Girl in 2 Kings 5:1-3 who was a slave to Naaman (". . . for when you think your efforts are insignificant"), you see that "one small act can make a big difference" as you reflect on her suggestion to her mistress that Naaman see Elisha to have his leprosy cured.

From David (". . . for when others are trying to keep you down"), you see the example that "you can overcome the limitations others put on you" while contemplating what his father, brothers and King Saul did to slight David before he conquered Goliath.

Finally, from Jonathan (". . . for when you want to make a greater impact"), you realize that when it is possible to "strengthen a leader and save a nation" as you think about how Jonathan helped David with Saul.

These brief stories are supplemented at the end with suggestions for reading relevant sections of the Bible to deepen your understanding of these favorite stories.

At the end of each story and lap, there is a marvelous section that includes a prayer and discussion questions. The questions alternate between imagining what the Biblical figure thought about while following these lessons with asking you what you need to do in your life. In most cases, these questions caused me to think about the stories in new ways . . . even though they are all well known to me since I was a little boy in Sunday School.

I think it's easy for us today to forget to draw on the wisdom and experience represented by the great people in the Old Testament. Running with the Giants will help you overcome that tendency.

For me the only things that could have made this book better would have been to include more Biblical stories (including both the Old and the New Testaments) and nonreligious heroes and heroines who have led lives of exceptional spirituality and goodness. But that would have made the book longer, more expensive and taken longer to read. However, I think the difference would have been good for me. Perhaps we'll have a series of these books over time from Dr. Maxwell. I certainly hope so.

Transcendent Values Then and Now
Having read and reviewed most of Maxwell's other books, I am probably somewhat unfair when suggesting that he frequently recycles many of the same leadership principles. Stated another way, had I read only the one Maxwell book each time I was composing a review of it, I would probably rate each of the Maxwell books Five Stars. They are carefully organized, well written, and thought-provoking. The same is true of this volume in which Maxwell focuses on ten heroes and heroines from the Old Testament. He suggests that each manifests an important life and leadership principle: Noah (one person can make a difference), Esther (God has a place for you), Joseph (Don't give up on your dreams), Moses (live in the "faith zone," not the "safe zone"), Rebekah (give generously to others), Abraham (God always does the right thing), Nehemiah (no problem is too big when you have help), The Servant Girl (one small act can make a big difference), David (you can overcome the limitations others put on you), and finally Jonathan (strengthen a leader and save a nation). Maxwell devotes a chapter to each and concludes with a "Discussion Guide" based on the material provided in the given chapter.

It is easy to list the names of the heroines and heroes, and, to list also the life and leadership principle each embodies. Far more difficult, obviously, to correlate their ancient cultures with our own. That is precisely Maxwell's point: However different cultures and individual circumstances may be, there really are some enduring values which are relevant to each. After I read this book, I was prompted to ask questions such as these. Have not contemporaries such as Gandhi made a difference? Was it not Mother Teresa's mission in life to give generously to others? Did Martin Luther King, Jr. ever give up on his dream? Were Gandhi, King, Sadat, and Rabin (to name but four) in a "safe zone" or a "faith zone" when assassinated?

To varying degrees, ancient as well as contemporary heroes and heroines demonstrate in their lives and in their leadership of others the same principles and values which Maxwell affirms all of his many books. This one is different from the others in that it attracts our attention to ten individuals most of whom we seldom think about, much less appreciate, and from whom we can learn much of value if our hearts as well as our minds are both willing and able.

Running with the Giants
Maxwell has done it again. He has put togeher a book that inspires and empowers people to press forward to reach new heights. It's an easy read and can be applied to life immediately.

Timeless Truths
John Maxwell once again provides solid, practical wisdom that encurages and inspires. The examples from the Old Testament make the life lessons easy to apply to your own life. This book really helped me. ... Read more

Book Description

Read by the Author
Three Cassettes, 5 hours

Patricia Seybold has advised major companies not only on the technical requirements for a successful electronic commerce strategy, but also on the management, marketing, sales, and customer support systems necessary to create an infrastructure that seamlessly blends a company?s e-commerce initiative with overall business.

It all starts with customers.For the past several years, Seybold has been working with electronic commerce pioneers who have made life easier for their customers by figuring out what they want and designing their Internet strategy accordingly.Seybold?s guide is packed with insights on how both Fortune 500 giants and smaller companies have created e-commerce initiatives that place them well ahead of their competitors.

With additional in-depth examples from American Airlines, Amazon.com, Babson College, Bell Atlantic, Dell Computer, PhotoDisc, General Motors, and Cisco Systems, Customers.com is an exceptionally rich source of ideas and information; the one audiobook you need to stay in business in the rapidly changing era of electronic commerce.
... Read more

Reviews (113)

OVERCOME YOUR "STALLED" THINKING ABOUT E-COMMERCE PROFITS
CUSTOMERS.COM is a very valuable book in that it focuses both on how to serve customers on-line as well as how to make money doing so.

Like a good consultant, the author systematically looks at best practices from each of 16 cases, and combines the lessons into a vision of the future best practice (in 2-3 years) that no one is yet doing. This is an outstanding accomplishment, that is not matched in most best practice books.

I also visited the CUSTOMERS.COM Web site to register for the free booklet that is offered, and was pleased to get many ideas to improve our own electronic commerce. Be sure to check here from time to time, because the author updates the 16 case histories in the book on the Web site so that you can keep up-to-date. That is an especially nice touch.

Ms. Seybold does a nice job in CUSTOMERS.COM of critiquing each case history for ways that organization could improve. Let me do the same for her book. Several things stand out. First, the book does not go into enough detail about how to find the weaknesses in current operations that will permit greater profitability through changed processes facilitated by electronic commerce. There is a lot of best practice work needed in those areas before you start thinking about electronic commerce. Second, she does not address the question of what the ideal best practice of electronic commerce is. You might think of a well-informed concierge in a great hotel who knows you well as the model for this ideal best practice. Third, more needs to be done to help you learn how to facilitate the change process. The steps she describes would be very difficult for many organizations to implement that are beset by severe stalls in the form of tradition, disbelief, misconceptions, bureaucracy, avoiding the unattractive (such as customer problems), procrastination, and miscommunication. Fourth, the book highlights a lot of very interesting case histories and shows their successes. I was struck that although I am a heavy Web user and a substantial customer of many of these organizations, I did not know about the electronic services they offer. It sounds like many of these organizations still have a communications problem with their customers. Fifth, the available technology will advance a lot in the next five years. I felt the book does not do enought to make people aware of how technology that is not yet available can facilitate the future success of their electronic commerce.

No book can serve all needs in an area, so we can look forward to Ms. Seybold's next book. I enjoyed the personal touch as she described her own experiences with many of the companies involved. I hope she keeps in touch with them and us. I suspect she will based on the e-mails I get from her after registering on her site.

Highly Recommended!
Although it was just published in 1998, Customers.com quickly attained the status of an Internet business classic. Of course, that title might be a bit dubious now that the book has outlived many of the companies that tried to put its strategies into practice. But despite your view on the viability of e-businesses, there's no denying the innovation and thoroughness of Patricia B. Seybold's work. Don't be misled by her breezy style; this is an authoritative and informative book. Seybold gets right to the heart of the links between business and technology. Using plenty of examples from major corporations, she suggests eight major strategies for harnessing the power of technology, especially the Internet, to advance your business. Since the book's initial publication, many other authors have espoused these e-tenets, but we [...] advise you to read the original - Seybold probably said it first, and probably said it best. Remember, the collapse of the tech bubble didn't wash away the Internet, which could still prove to be a critical element of your business.

Good book but needs updating now.
With so much changes in the internet business, this is a good reading to understand how should you start, but new technologies are available now. This book was written in 98, so Patricia Seybold should rewrite.

An education in itself...
Being a college student, I was at first reluctant to read Seybold's book as a class assignment. In hindsight, it's one of the best decisions I could've made. This book presents dynamic ideas that are being overlooked at universities today. Rather than focusing on the "how to's" Customers.com gives you the "why's" of the customer market. Talk about making me think! Not only did this book provide an excellent point of reference for class discussions, I found myself unconsciously transferring the knowledge into my job. One thing to take note of: THIS IS MORE THAN A TECHIES BOOK! Anyone in business will undoubtedly benefit from reading it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Remains solid
Got this when it came out and gave it a read. Three years have passed and I just referred to it to support writing a paper on technology. The details are good and the higher level dialogue do a nice job of getting the message across without belaboring anything. If you are about the web and doing business, this is worth the bucks and time. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (55)

Steps to enhance success Emotionally!
How we need to over ride our emotions sometimes! Daniel Goleman's book is indeed an insight to cultivate one's mind emotionally. Understanding and raising emotional intelligence is essential to your success and leadership potentials. Daniel selects examples and anecdotes from the Fortune 500 companies which shows the competency to deal with various factors at workplace. The training tools, conflict management, building bonds and motivation, encouragement and inspirations are really necessary not with the IQs only but with the 'Emotional Intelligence skills' which enhance leadership to excel. The author shows the way how to manage feelings, interact, communicate and tackle with the issues in organization. Initiative, self control, optimism are some key factors of personal competency which make the emotional control board of the mind geared up to treat right, care and understand. A must read for every business. Its never an arrogance, ego or pride but be in tune with 'Emotional Intelligence'- Thats the trick of the trades for every savvy Leader.

The emotional competence framework
The author suggests five competencies in which we can manage ourselves:

Self awareness (Emotional Awareness, self-accessment, self-confidence)

Self Regulation (Self-Control, Trustworthiness, adaptiblity, innovation)

Motivation (achievement driven, commitment, initiative, optimism)

Empathy (understanding others, developing others, service oriented, politically aware),

Social skills (influence, conflict management, leadership, catalyst, building bonds, collaboration and cooperation, and team).

The book's frame-work focuses on the five competencies: Self-Awareness, Self-Regulation, Motivation, Empathy, and Social skills.

I liked the personal stories illustrating the positive effects of soft skills. The storie sources came from friends, associates, and research cases.

I disliked the conclusions drawn from the stories suggesting confidence in cause and effect of EQ results.

I liked what Dr Goleman was advocating about the importance of people skills: social radar, arts of influence, and collaboration and teams.

I disliked lack of detail methodology to achieve the desired results. I felt there was too much contrast between IQ verse EQ. The book provides a strong case argument for an investment in Emotional Intelligent.

One shocking point the author makes early in the book, states that the top 1 percent of the Emotionally Intelligent in the IT field are 1200 percent more productive. I would have liked to read more cases studies about these observations and conclusions for his study. That statement alone sparked a ton of curiousity about EQ. I'm very interested in learning how effective IT managers are in accessing the emotional needs of their employees and customers and how to implement EQ to improve performance.

I disliked the lack of practical application. There was a disconnect between converting ideas of EQ into action. I felt the book focused too much on the principles of EQ, rather than the practical application of EQ. Basically he did not effectively answer the question, " How can I uses the EQ in my job to make a difference." I didn't get the opportunity to say "cool EQ works for me"

I read both and picked the Quickbook
This book was recommended to me as a resource for emotional intelligence in the workplace. I was looking for something to give to managers here at my company and I also puchased the recommended title on this page, The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook. Working is alright and I can see how it was a good resource when it came out in 1998, but The Emotional Intelligence Quickbook is more up to date and far more practical. It also worked well for us because it comes with a free emotional intelligence test online.

Packed With Knowledge!
Daniel Goleman followed up his bestselling classic Emotional Intelligence with this equally classic sequel that focuses on how emotional intelligence is applied in the workplace. Insightful and richly detailed, Goleman's work educates and inspires without ever sounding trite or sappy, like some annoying quick-fix scheme. If you are leadership bound and think success is all about strategy and technique, this will provide some very useful insights into what people really think about managing and being managed. The most intriguing sections focus on the application of emotional intelligence at work, but it would be pretty useful at home, too (if we could just get out of the office). If you think that you don't need to be more aware of the emotional undercurrents all around you, we warn that you need to read this most of all.

Success is based on how you apply emotional intelligence
This is a wonderful book, and is truly an insightful look at what helps us to be successful in leadership positions in the workplace. The old model of senior management was based on owning all the information and knowledge and being able to understand what everyone does in fine detail, and was often the "promoted-up-through-the-ranks" type of leader. But with modern business involving so much change, and constantly shifting market demands and organizational structures, what worked well yesterday will not move the organization or your career ahead tomorrow.

The author uses as a platform the work on Emotional Intelligence, which unlike typically defined intelligence, focuses on the ability to apply emotional and inspirational information in a variety of social settings and through a vast array of relationships. It is this ability he concludes that predicts success in today's workplace.

Among the areas of discussion are five competencies in which our ability is revealed. The first is "Self Awareness" which includes emotional awareness, self-assessment, and self-confidence. How many times have we worked for or with someone who could not control their emotions and lacked the self awareness to understand how their actions impacted those around them? The importance of balancing performance while exhibiting the values of the organization through a positive culture has never been more in need. Many who have the intelligence to do the work, lack the emotional intelligence to build the relationships and culture needed to get the work done through others. The book explores these pitfalls and discusses suggestions for change.

The other areas are similar: "Self Regulation" (self-control, trustworthiness, adaptability, innovation), "Motivation" (achievement driven, commitment, initiative, and optimism), "Empathy" (understanding others, developing others, service oriented, politically aware), and "Social Skills" (influence, conflict management, leadership, catalyst, building bonds, collaboration and cooperation, and teamwork).

All of the five competencies are presented well, with examples and suggestions for improvement. Some reviewers have noted the lack of "scientific" type of analysis, but I feel that misses the point. The first hurdle to overcome if one wants to be as successful as possible is a basic awareness of the importance of interpersonal skills, and building strong working relationships with others. The opportunity for a purely autocratic style to operate in today's business is rare and therefore the majority of those leading businesses will need to focus on how they apply their EQ, not just their IQ.

This book does an excellent job at presenting what EQ success looks like and why it is important. It is not a step by step manual for improving one's business success, as that would ironically be an IQ approach. The book instead is a great eye-opener of the importance of emotions, and how we read others and interact with them. Highly recommended, and a great starting point for improving your ability to lead others in today's business environment. ... Read more

Book Description

IF THE GRASS IS GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE...

It's probably getting better care. Success is not a matter of luck or circumstance. It's not a matter of fate or the breaks you get or who you know.

Success is a matter of sticking to a set of commonsense principles anyone can master. In Lead the Field Earl Nightingale explains these guidelines: the magic word in life is ATTITUDE. It determines your actions, as well as the actions of others. It tells the world what you expect from it. When you accept responsibility for your attitude, you accept responsibility for your entire life.

Earl Nightingale -- the "Dean of Development" -- offers you a treasure trove of uplifting and insightful information like:

* The importance of forgiveness
* How "intelligent objectivity" can improve your professional life
* The usefulness of constructive discontent

Now it's your turn to bring positive changes to your own life, changes that will allow you to lead the field yourself! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Original!
I wore the tapes out and had to buy a new set!

The first tape, Attitude, should be required listening for every high school student out there. Nightengale hits the nail on the head with this single tape alone. Our success or lack thereof is attributed to this very simple belief - our own attitude.

Aside from Napolean Hill, Earl Nightengale has single handedly been responsible for more millionaires in this world than anyone else! Why? The sound principles on these tapes spell out everything you need to know to motivate yourself and think things thru!

The magic word is "attitude" and the rest of it falls into place from planning to educating yourself. These tapes are not your run-of-the-mill new age airy-fairy positive thinking nonsense rather they comprise a sound plan for you to create and exceed your own goals whatever they may be.

Best motivational series I've read
In simple, straightforward language, Earl Nightingale takes our lame excuses for NOT being successful and refutes them all. "We are what we think about." What a basic, yet profound statement of which we need to be constantly reminded if we hope to become our best! I will keep this cassette series in my car and play it whenever I start to lose my focus or feel sorry for myself.

Great book but the music
The are particular topics addressed in the tapes, as attitude, setting goals, and they are explored in extent with specific examples on how to achieve them. I consider that the topics themselves don't follow a "grand plan", they are more like self contained. This makes it less obvious the roadmap.
The reason for the 4 stars is because of the music that tends to be too much of it and loud, more like for a movie than for a serious developmental tape. The reading is difficult to understand because of the tone of voice of the reader. I wish publishers give more importance to the readers and not distracting from the topic with music that is not appropiate. For that is better not to have the music at all.

Outstanding, One of the best guides on personal achievement!
We use several training cassette books in our company and this is the most popular. Earl Nightengale, in laymans terms, exposes the secrets of succesful people. An excellent motivator and confindence builder. He shows that you can do it, if you only will. I have listened to it over and over the past few years, and it has had a significant impact on my development and my view of the world. ... Read more

Book Description

Proven Tools for Transforming Your Work Life -

Consciousness, teaches Fred Kofman, is the capacity to observe, choose, and act in accord with your values. And "conscious business" means using that ability at every level of your work: in being aware of the needs of others and expressing your own—in seeing the hidden emotional obstacles that may be holding your team back—in making good decisions under pressure—and even in delving into such "spiritual" questions as "Who am I?" and "What is my real purpose here?" On Conscious Business, you will join this visionary teacher and founder of Leading Learning Communities to master these skills.

Higher Consciousness,Real World Results, What if you walked into your office tomorrow and discovered that others finally understood your work challenges and were ready to help you solve them…that every meeting was valuable…that everyone honored the commitments they made to you…and that your strongest talents were finally being put to use? For more than 10 years, Fred Kofman has helped organizations ranging from small nonprofits to major corporations become "learning communities" with these remarkable qualities. Now, you can learn the five specific skills you need to transform your workplace in the same way.

Becoming more conscious in business requires courage and an open mind. It means putting aside the "right way" in order to discover something better. If you’re ready to make that leap—and start turning your workplace into an adaptive and resilient community that cultivates intelligence, creativity, and integrity in every member — Conscious Business is the place to begin. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Could be called 'Conscious Living'
Fred Kofman does an outstanding of job of teaching the essentials of human interaction; communication, negotiation and implementation. His simple but profound insights are delivered in a converstational style and by the end of the program I felt like I had found a friend who inspired me to become a 'conscious leader'!

Learning to be conscious. Learning to be.
Consious Business is a wonderful way to understand that the only way of making our businesses and lives be what we want them to be is by doing the effort of becoming aware, of becoming present and becoming completely responsible players.

Interesting
Kofman presents much in the way of interpersonal relations but is weak in grounding his work in current psychological data.
Great sizzle, not much meat.

Simply Stated - Profoundly Moving
This book teaches great lessons on interpersonal relationships. Applying these lessons makes you a more real person both to yourself and others.

Want A real shift in the way you see yourself, your family and your co-workers? Give this a listen, you'll be glad you did.

Amazing and unique
I got the tapes and I believe this is a masterpiece. The way the concepts are integrated is unique. I strongly recommend this to any business leader seriously interested in living life as a player. ... Read more