Book Description

Praise for Flying High

"If you want to know what it takes to develop a great business–not just an airline–Flying High is a must-read. James Wynbrandt does an excellent job of bringing JetBlue founder David Neeleman’s amazing personal journey and business innovativeness to life in an interesting and exciting manner."
–Dave Sclair
Publisher Emeritus, General Aviation News

"James Wynbrandt adeptly captures the elements that have made David Neeleman and his remarkable airline, JetBlue, a huge success. Flying High is a tribute to Neeleman’s true depth. By developing a visionary business model and the right communications strategy, he was able to pilot JetBlue to profitability with finesse. It’s a must-read for people in any business seeking success."
–Howard J. Rubenstein
President, Rubenstein Associates, Inc.

"In Flying High, James Wynbrandt tells the completely beguiling story of how a former Mormon missionary with attention deficit disorder and a history of both bankruptcy and getting fired from a high-profile job created one of the great airline successes of our time. What is David Neeleman’s secret at JetBlue? It’s a new concept called understanding what your customers really need. Neeleman’s fanatical attention to customer satisfaction, employee relations, and technology make for such a fascinating read, I raced through the book in one sitting."
–Rinker Buck
Aviation journalist and author, Flight of Passage: A Memoir ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The JetBlue Story
Very readable and highly entertaining. I haven't even flown on JetBlue, but was curious about the company's history because everyone seems to be talking about it. I was pleased to find that the book offered a combination of JetBlue's history and the CEO's own journey in the business. I really like his way of doing business and how he treats his employees and customers. Hopefully other company executives will read this and apply some of JetBlue's practices as well.

Great Read
I was so excited to see this book featured in a recent issue of "Fortune" magazine, which called it an "excellent" read. JetBlue is my favorite airline, and I was happy to see a book had been written about it. This book does a great job of laying out Neeleman's business approach, which he began developing as a young man. I really enjoyed the insider look at how JetBlue was formed. This is truly an inspirational story that even non-JetBlue fans will enjoy.

Entertaining Look at a Fascinating Company
I have been a huge fan of JetBlue since taking my first flight more than a year ago. I was really looking forward to reading this book, and definitetly wasn't disappointed. It was a great read from start to finish. The first part of the book talks about the airline's CEO David Neeleman, including the many business successes he had before JetBlue. It then talks about how JetBlue was started, down to how the name for the airline came up almost by accident just prior to a news conference to announce it. Even though I have read all kinds of articles on JetBlue, this book had a lot of new material I had never heard before, and the stories about Neeleman's early business ventures were really fascinating. I highly recommend this book both for big JetBlue fans like me, and anyone looking for a behind the scenes look at how to build a great company.

Dull and duller
It's amazing to me how a book about one of the most interesting airlines could be this lame. Actually, it's about JetBlue's founder, and he's surprisingly dull himself. Don't buy this book if you're a fan of the airline (as I am) because you will be sorely disappointed. ... Read more

Book Description

Business ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great and Useful
I found this book to be quite useful, it gives you a different perspective on your job, and how others may be viewing what you do. It helps you to think out of your box. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Himself an inspiration to millions through his motivational speeches and bestselling books, John C. Maxwell reaches out to the leading icons of the Old Testament for the life and leadership lessons conveyed in his thought-provoking albeit slim Running with the Giants. Maxwell, author of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and a half-dozen other books on the topic, writes here that biblical personalities like Abraham, Joseph, and Moses can provide us with the real "inspiration, wisdom, and empowerment" we need to lead. For example, Maxwell explains, Noah's actions teach us that "one person can make a difference"; he then fleshes out relevant maxims like "Don't be afraid to stand out in a crowd" and "Don't be afraid to do something for the first time" to bring this concept into the 21st century. Likewise, the servant girl from the book of Kings shows us how "one small act can make a big difference," but for it to happen today one must be confident and credible and "speak to people's needs." Those committed to the sources from which Maxwell draws will particularly appreciate his take on the lessons they impart, as well as his athletically inspired theme and contemporary presentation. --Howard Rothman ... 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

In Pursuit of Passionate Purpose, self-help guru Theresa Szczurek reveals that the real key to a successful and happy life is in knowing what it is that you truly desire and pursuing it with determination. Based on the everyday wisdom of eighty successful people from all walks of life, along with the practical strategies she used to pursue her own passion, Szczurek presents a proven, step-by-step plan for effectively pursuing whatever your passionate purpose is. By emulating the six strategies/characteristics that almost all truly successful people share, youll discover who you really are, what you really want from life, and how to achieve it. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Keep on Exploring
I quit my job as a technician at Particle Measuring Systems in Boulder with reservations.I enjoyed the work and the people but felt I was not communicating well with certain engineers. Lizard (code name for one of the engineers)loaned me a wonderful book, though.It's called Pursuit of Passionate Purpose by Theresa Szczurek.That last name reminds me of the author of Flow -- Csikszentmihalyi.The Pursuit of Passionate Purpose deals with a topic Thomas Jefferson discussed: the battle between the heart and head in making decisions.I encourage everyone to read this book.
John Cutler Anderson
nickname "Lucky"
Boulder, Colorado

Pursuit of Passionate Purpose
Pursuit of Passionate Purpose is an excellent book for those starting out in a career or those who are very experienced.The book contains a practical method to support people in effecting the changes they are seeking.The stories of various people interviewed by the author are really interesting and inspiring.

Just the Push You Need
I had been sitting on the fence finishing my book.After reading Pursuit Of Passionate Purpose, I realized no one was going to finish the book but me and I didn't have forever to live my dreams.Each day that went by that I didn't do what I loved was a lost day.The book provided the push to discipline myself, focus my day, and live what I love.After reading the book, I finished the pieces I need to sell my book.But I loved the process of living my dream each day that I wrote.Thank you Theresa.

Found and Now Pursuing Passionate Purpose
I attended the Pursuit of Passionate Purpose workshop as a seeker of passionate purpose.I had a steady engineering job and a fat paycheck, but little passion for my work or life.I began the workshop with phase one, "Know and Nurture the Person," of Theresa Szczurek's four-phase model for success, described in her new book.I reviewed my values, surveyed my unique talents and gifts, and took a fresh look at the needs of the world.This helped me find a new passion for "comforting others."Soon after the workshop, I was laid off from a high-tech engineering job, and decided that now was the time to make a career change to something that included my passion.I enrolled in massage therapy school for a year of training in the art and science of massage and "comforting others."Now in the first year of a private practice in massage therapy, my work is a pleasure for both my clients and myself.I am now working through the book to further the pursuit of my passionate purpose, as I expand my business into developing products for the massage industry. ... Read more

Book Description

World-class rock climber Todd Skinner is also one of today's most sought-after motivational speakers for business audiences. Whenever he describes his history-making sixty-day free climb of the 20,500-foot Trango Tower in the Karakoram Himalayas (shown on the jacket), people are in awe of his stamina, skill, ambition, and determination. They are also eager to apply his lessons in their professional and personal lives.

Skinner argues that everyone has a mountain to climb, whether it's meeting your annual sales target or launching a new product or getting your department to improve its teamwork. And he stresses that you should set your goals even higher than you normally would, and constantly look beyond the current summit to the next one. For instance, instead of aiming for 10 percent revenue growth, go after a seemingly impossible 50 percent target, and then think of new ways to get there.

In both rock climbing and business, you must define your exact mission, assemble the right team, make the critical transition from preparation to action, have courage when crossing difficult terrain, and weather the storms well. Skinner offers fresh insights into all of these topics and explains principles such as:
* how you think is more important than what you know
* pick teammates for what they will do, not what they have already done
* make decisions in answer to the mountain
* fall toward the summit
* see each challenge as part of a bigger picture, your lifelong ascent

Beyond the Summit presents fresh and inspiring advice on leadership, teamwork, and decision-making skills, combined with an epic adventure tale. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Can Change Your Thinking
Todd Skinner has written a book that invites you to change how you think about challenges and obstacles. Especially pertinent were his specifics such as considering "measuring your progress from where you are to the summit" instead of where you began. There are several "aha" moments to be found in Beyond the Summit that do not ask you to understand a complex model of management or leadership, that are quite profound and immediately useful. Practical and inspirational.

Powerful, challenging, inspiring
Is there a better metaphor for success in your endeavors than mountain climbing? So if you want the ultimate in success why not study the ultimate in mountain climbing. The lessons that Todd Skinner brings down from the summit are striking, challenging and forcefully introspective. Having read "Beyond the Summit" I found myself frequently putting the book down long enough to ask myself where I might find my personal 'first ascension.' An incredible book with a powerful story and life-changing lessons.

Fantastic
Having just heard Todd speak, I must say, he is by far one of the most influential people I have ever heard in person.

A Refreshing Read
I'm one of the lucky people who have heard Todd Skinner present "Beyond the Summit." I wondered how his presentation would translate into written form. What I found when I read "Beyond the Summit," was an elegant, down to earth, kinda zen-like model on how to fully live a life - or conduct a business ascent. I found the philosophy inspiring and practical and the story as fascinating as the first time I heard it. This will be a book that I read at the beginning of each year to keep me on the right path.

Above and Beyond
Skinner offers an interesting twist to the standard "set goals" strategy for personal and business success. According to Skinner, it is better to establish outlandish goals and motivate yourself to achieve something above the common "10% above last years sales," approach.

Skinner's ideas are clearly presented and successfully motivate the reader to re-attempt the goal approach to superior performance. While I am weary of being told to set goals, I enjoyed testing his hypothesis that setting outlandish goals will generate brainstorming and subconcsious thinking that wil help you reach these new goals. Set a goal to read this book. If nothing else, you will be reminded that goals (as we are always told according to some ancient Yale study)can help you achieve new heights in your career or personal aspirations. ... Read more

Book Description

An inspirational book for leaders that borrows the ancient secrets of the shepherd to uncover a fresh perspective on the art of leadership and management. ... Read more

Book Description

100 Ways to Motivate Others is the culmination of many years of successful leadership coaching and training by best-selling author Steve Chandler and attorney Scott Richardson, and the natural follow-up to Steve's two previous best-sellers-100 Ways to Motivate Yourself and Reinventing Yourself. Chandler and Richardson have crafted a vital, user-friendly, inspirational guide for executives, managers, and professionals...and those aspiring to reach their level.Breakthrough concepts, such as "Don't manage people, manage agreements," abound in this book of short takes for the time-challenged leader. 100 Ways to Motivate Others draws on the success of live workshops, seminars, and personal coaching programs on communications and leadership. These seminars, done for such organizations as Banner Health, General Dynamics, Scripps Hospital, Wells Fargo Banks, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and M&I Banks, appeal to managers, teachers, parents, CEOs, and coaches everywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Chock full of useful ideas
While not a ferocious reader of business/self-help books, I do read those that come especially highly recommended. Dale Dauten, one of the finest business writers around, thought this the best audiobook of the year. Good enough for me.

While I cannot compare it to as many as he can, it is indeed one of the most useful books I've listened to. Broken into 100 short snippets, each idea opens with a good quote, explores and examines, and then tidies up nicely. I am not a salesperson, not a manager, and not a person readily identified as a member of the target audience. But this book had plenty of good things in it.

I'll start with just one. "Manage agreements, not people" is an early, and recurring, tip. How simple. Teachers tried this years ago when the "grade contract" idea was rampant. But moving one step beyond a simple contractual basis of a relationship, it provides a clear and vivid way of looking at all interactions, with spouse, children, co-workers. I cannot manage anyone but myself; well, I've known that for years, but how to function well with others if that is true has been a problem. This book offers specific suggestions.

Steve is no misty-eyed rah-rah guy, but a dogged thinker with clear ideas and some potent myth-busting analysis. Slow down. Do one thing at a time. and really pay attention to whatever it is you're doing now. Think long term. You'll do much better. In the words of Jane Austen "Take my word for it, if you are in too great a hurry, you will certainly live to repent it."

Good to Great to GREATEST!
This powerhouse of a book is the best book on business success since Good to Great, and what makes it BETTER than great is that unlike Good to Great, it gives you dynamite specific actions, real true inspired bursts of innovative ideas! Steve Chandler was brilliant in his 17 Lies, but this goes further.....I read it straight through, then I began reading and applying one each day to my team at work,and I'm getting insane results without driving them crazy. There are no real books on how to increase the numbers of your team out there...are there? I've never seen any until this one. Quick hits of clever writing, real case histories and great stories, wonderful lessons from everyone from Patton and Eisenhower to Drucker and Bennis. If you wanted ONE Bible our field manual on leadership THIS would be IT!!! ... Read more

Book Description

In this brisk, engaging chronicle of one of the most stunning success stories in American business history, Adam Cohen takes us inside eBay the corporation--where all the important players, including eBay's founder Pierre Omidyar and CEO Meg Whitman, demystify their roles and tell the story straight--as well as inside the community of eBay's passionate users, who buy and sell everything from antique pickle jars and record albums to Ford trucks and $40,000 computer servers. His book reveals the many surprising ways in which eBay's "virtual marketplace" has indelibly changed not only the face of American business but the American cultural landscape. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

An epic journey from a dream to reality
Upon finishing this book I was amazed at the detail Adam Cohen presented to readers about the real inside of eBay. The book travels through time playing on various aspects of the company and reasons to why it became and still is one of the world's most admired and successful companies. Sure, eBay has changed the marketplace as we know it and sure it has affected many lives. But the key element in this story is that one guy's vision of a community, free from obstructing walls, became a reality - something many .com companies failed to achieve. A wonderful read...highly recommended for all!

Informative insider look at a bumbling company
Well, maybe not so perfect. The book itself is fine. What's not so perfect is all the bungling from Ebay's lauded executive team. Particularly by Meg Whitman, the CEO. This book describes the history of Ebay with surprising detail. The author had access to many people involved in that history, including the executives, and it shows. In fact, he was given access to Ebay's premises as kind of their official biographer. These accounts could only come from insiders. It shocks me that Whitman would allow her bungling to come out like this. I would assume she doesn't think she's bungling.

Cohen has a lively and descriptive writing style. Hard to do with a book about corporate business, but he pulls it off nicely. In fact, there where many times I couldn't put it down.

If you want to read the book to figure out why Ebay is so successful I think you may be disappointed. Except for Pierre Omidyar's vision for creating the thing in the first place ... and by the way, the story of him creating it so his girlfriend would have a market for her Pez collection was a fib created by Ebay's promotional person ... what drove the success of Ebay was its community. Every time Ebay's executives bungled, the community stepped in and raised holy heck. Whitman and her staff make poor decision after poor decision yet thanks to the community's outrage Ebay reconsiders and is usually guided onto the right path eventually. And when they're not bungling externally they're bungling internally. Remember that almost 2-day outage in '97? No backups or mirror system! They almost couldn't recover their data and might have had to start over again. Except for Omidyar, who dropped out of the everyday running of Ebay early on, the other executives seemed to be almost amatuerish in their lack of vision and planning. But it did make for an interesting story. The same way that a out-of-control fire is more interesting to watch than a well-oiled machine. I thought Ebay might not have stumbled into their success. I was wrong. The adage about first to market truly made the difference here. This book covers the whole sordid mess surprisingly well.

Surprisingly fascinating
As a frequent user of eBay, I always wondered little things like how the site came to be and why is it called eBay... This book answers those questions. While reading this I was fascinated about how eBay has influenced so many things outside of the internet. The book details the humble beginnings of eBay by one person and his ideals. Along the way it shares stories about the sometimes quirky personalities that have helped make eBay the powerhouse that it is today. It also chronicles the whole dot com era and mentions other players such as Amazon and Yahoo. The book is surprisingly interesting. I don't usually read "business" books but this one I finished in 2 days. I would highly recommend this if you are interested in eBay, the internet, or the internet's influence on everyday life.

Fascinating account of one of the few successful dotcoms
When Adam Cohen set out to chronicle of eBay, he probably did not realize that it would ultimately leave so many other dotcom businesses in its wake. This book is a thoroughly enjoyable account of all the quirky characters who built eBay into an empire, as well as a company that survived the dot-com bust. From the community of people who buy and sell on eBay -- and sometimes wind up getting married in the process -- to the site's enigmatic founder Pierre Obidymar, Cohen's book presents the story of a business that is not just successful but has upset all the traditional business models, became a highly fun place to work -- and extremely interesting to read about. I'd also recommend Andrea Orr's Meeting, Mating and Cheating --- for another fascinating account of a thriving Internet business. This book is about the Internet dating industry and how it has profited from loneliness and infidelity. Another fascinating read.

eBay levels the field allowing free and open trade
One of best books I've read this year. eBay levels the field allowing free and open trade. Cohen should be praised for his outstanding writing capability. You feel the energy of Pierre Omidyar success story as Cohen describes the breakthrough idea of a network of ordinary people collaborating to exchange goods, such that, supply and demand immediately adjusted to the correct price. 1994, Omidyar involvement with eShop made him an instanteous millionare before thirty. Omidyar viewed auctions as "interesting market mechanisms" which produced fair and correct prices. Omidyar said, "if there's more than one person intererested let them fight it out...the seller would by definition get the market price for the item, whatever that might be on a particular day." Omidyar brillance started as he concluded that "most people are honest". From this basic assumption Omidyar built a culture called eBaysian. eBaysian community was grassroot people, who had passions about specific material domains of knowledge and commodities. Message boards, mediators, and rating systems created an unique and safe culture within eBay convincing buyers and sellers to trade. Negative ratings would produce a strong inhibition to trade than a positive rating to encourage a buy. Omidyar vision of people seemed to be correct indicated by the low number of fraud cases. Cohen builds up the story of eBay going public with the selection of a financial officer, Whiteman as the new brilliant CEO, and the surprise that IPO stock prices who jump from $18 to $57 on the first day. Join the soul train as the eBayisians danced around the office. Culturally, it was unpolite to discuss options because upper management thought the fear of depression could strike should the eBay stock take a sudden drop. Skoll, Omidyar, and Whiteman would become billionares within years of the IPO deal. eBay was not without it trials: A few sensational cases occurred, such as, the 15k watch scandal; numerous tolerated crashs and a big crash which helped them realize reduntancy was need and personal changes required to build a fail safe system. Bulletin boards would facilitate the free exchange of ideas and some of the conversation would become heated. Message board regulators kept tempers from getting out of control. eBay would ban certain products: tobacco, alcohol, and guns.
Economics of selling on eBay would remain appealing. Inventory Procurement Services would realize 50 eBay profit margins selling leather jackets. Waites said, "They've always made clear to me that eBay is a level playing field. If I want unique things I don't even ask, because I know we're not going to get them." For example, Stahls promised the community of San Pedro La Laguna she would help stating, "I was watching people who were quitting their jobs to sell on eBay fulltime, I started thinking, if these people can do it, why can't the Mayan people in Guatemala who have all those great crafts do the same thing." Stahl cut out the middle man called the "coyotes", setup computers and laptops, techs to setup a wireless celluar hookup allowing satelite internet feed, and started the trading process. Stahl became half time eBay charity coordinator. The potential existed to create new homes, healthcare, nutrition, jobs, schools for the people of Bethel. eBay brought the Mayian community selling craftsmanships directly into the world economy. "To help the craftsman in the short-term,Whitman decided on the spot that the company holiday gifts that year would be Mayan belts with the eBay insignia, and placed an order for nearly three thousand." I would like one of those belts. ... Read more

Book Description

WE WERE MEANT FOR EACH OTHER.

None of us are fully equipped to excel in life.Our weaknesses, blind spots, limited capabilities, and lack of experience all point to one thing-interdependence.Which is why connecting with others plays such an indispensable role in healthy development.Having access to the wisdom, experience, vision, and direction of those who have gone before can put you years ahead of where you'd be on your own.And, in addition to enhancing you own potential in all of life's growth areas (spiritual, emotional, professional, relational, etc.), the things you'll discover will equip you to help others as well.

So why don't we place more of a priority on developing these essential, empowering relationships?Are we uneasy with the vulnerability, assuming it will be perceived as weakness?Do we hesitate to ask, not wanting to impose on anyone else's busy schedule?Are we reluctant to provide guidance for others, not wanting to come across as proud or self-important? Each of these factors can play a part, of course.But the main reason we miss out, according to Stanley and Clinton, is that we simply don't understand the true nature of mentoring-a problem that is easily overcome. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Connecting is difficult, Here is a better way
Mentoring is so important in the world today. Having a mentor, as this book details, helps people reach the next level in their careers. Mentoring is truly invaluable. A tough thing though is finding a mentor. Where does one look? Well now there is a place to both find a mentor and also be a mentor to share your knowledge. The site is Advance Mentoring, www.Advancementoring.com

You can search to find a mentor in any industry, or to be a mentor, or even both. Now the job of finding a mentor has gotten much easier. The site offers over a tremendous number of members from over 40 countries, so you are sure to find a mentor or a mentee. Good luck. http://www.advancementoring.com

Noah Cirincione, CEO
Advance Mentoring
http://www.advancementoring.com

Attention all Church Leaders: Especially Pastors
This book is for you!

We never grow to the point that we can walk totally alone. All of us need godly mentors in life. The problem is that as we grow, godly mentors become harder to find. This book addresses the problem.

We all have a responsibility to those coming after us. A first grader who teaches his or her younger sibling to spell a simple word has already stepped into the realm of mentoring. If we have this responsibility, we better learn to do it right. This book addresses that problem.

A Good Analytical Book on Mentoring from a Christian Perspec
Connecting: The Mentoring Relationships You Need to Succeed in Life, by Paul D. Stanley and J. Robert Clinton, Colorado Springs, Navpress, 1992, 252 pages. Reviewed by J. L. Lee

Paul Stanley has over twenty years experience in leadership development. He has served as the international vice-president of the Navigators. His ministry has taken him to a variety of international locations where he has done both leadership training and consulting.

Dr. Robert Clinton has served on the faculty of the Fuller Theological Seminary as an associate professor of leadership for the school of world mission. He has completed extensive research in the field of leadership and specializes in leadership training, selection, and emergence patterns.

The thesis of this book is to show leaders a method they may use to "finish well." That method is to use mentoring as a leadership tool. The authors define the tool of mentoring in relationship terms as an experience where one person empowers another using divinely provided resources. The authors also clearly state the four objectives of the book on page 13.

1.) "How to be mentored even though there aren't enough mentors to go around"
2.) "An explanation of what makes mentoring work"
3.) "A balanced model of mentoring relationships"
4.) "Illustrations and ideas on how mentoring can work for you"

They answer the first objective in the first ten chapters of the book. This is accomplished by breaking down the task of mentoring into seven functions, Discipler, Spiritual Guide, Coach, Counselor, Teacher, Sponsor and Model. Model is further sub-divided into Contemporary and Historical Models. The first three mentoring functions are grouped together under the supra heading of Intensive Mentoring. The fourth through sixth functions are likewise grouped under the heading Occasional Mentoring. The two sub-types of models are considered under the heading Passive Mentoring.
The authors also define three essential dynamics of the mentoring process as Attraction, Responsiveness, and Accountability. These three dynamics are of greater importance in the more intensive types of mentoring. The three dynamics also address the second objective of the book, "what makes mentoring work."
The introduction of the seven mentoring functions and the three dynamics begins in chapter two, especially pages 41-45, and form the backbone of this book upon which most of the rest is expansion and elaboration. Chapter 11, especially pages 161-168, describes what the authors term the "Constellation Model" of mentoring. This model attempts to set forward a framework for the seven functions of mentoring detailed in chapters 3-10. This Constellation Model is defined in images of upward mentoring, downward mentoring, and peer co-mentoring. The peer co-mentoring is further described as either external (outside your organization) or internal (inside your organization). Peer co-mentoring is also described in terms of "close buddy", friend and acquaintance.
The fourth objective of the book is met throughout the book in the numerous illustrations and tidbit ideas for practical application of the mentoring concepts presented. This reviewer found chapters 13 and 14 to be especially helpful in meeting this objective. Chapter 13 listed "Ten Commandments of Mentoring" as well as insights from the mistakes, which the authors have made in mentoring. Chapter 14 presented five characteristics of leaders who finish well.
The book closes with an appendix that describes four principles of adult learning. The appendix is followed by a section of notes from the text. This section in turn is followed by a list of references cited in the text and an annotated bibliography.

Chapters three through ten form the core of the book and develop the material about the seven different functions of a mentor. These can also be understood to be seven different types of mentors.
Chapter three begins this section with a discussion of the Discipler Mentor. The chapter is descriptive and presents the basic growth habits of discipleship and a section of "hints for discipleship mentoring" that apply to both the disciple and the discipler. This chapter does not conclude with a chapter summary.
The second type of intensive mentoring, the spiritual guide, is described in chapter four. Again this chapter is descriptive with the major definitions being easily recognizable in boldface type font. This chapter delineates the functions of a spiritual guide and also gives a means of determining the need for a spiritual guide. It also does not conclude with a chapter summary.
Chapter five concludes the intensive mentoring functions with a development of the role of a coach. This chapter offers the mentoring dynamics, functions, and hints for the coach.
The idea of occasional mentoring is introduced in detail in chapter six with a discussion of the counselor mentor. Of special interest are the eight major empowerment functions of the counselor mentor as well as a section on hints for the counselor.
Occasional mentoring continues into chapter seven when the teacher is described as a mentor. Hints for the teacher-mentor and a section of tips to turn your teaching into mentoring are key sections of this chapter.
Occasional mentoring concludes in chapter eight when the sponsor is described. The sponsor functions and empowerment together with the practical hints on sponsor mentoring are useful listings. It's interesting that this chapter together with chapters five and ten are the only chapters dealing with the seven types of mentoring that offer chapter summaries at their conclusion. Several of the chapters do conclude with a section titled for further study. Chapters nine and ten take up the concept of passive mentoring by describing the role of first the contemporary model and then the historical model in the two chapters respectively.
As noted above, the heart of the book is found in chapters three through ten and each of these chapters in turn addresses the stated thesis of the book which is to present a method which leaders may use to finish well. While the concept of finishing well is not specifically addressed in great detail within the core of the book, in fact it is addressed most significantly in the final chapter, the methods presented in the core build up to and support the conclusion of the book with this thesis.
The book is very systematic and analytical in presenting a theory of mentoring. The structure appears easy to discern and the descriptive material tends to hold the reader's interest. It is a relatively easy read that seems to accomplish the purpose well which the authors set forth for it. This reviewer would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the subject of mentoring.

Very practical with solid foundations
Stanley and Clinton have written a very practical guide to developing mentoring relationships. By addressing several kinds of mentoring (from intentional discipleship to passive mentorship) they have digested sophisticated theory into reasonable methods. Throughout the book they also offer their own personal experiences as examples of the principles they wish to bring out, which adds a very readable flavor. At times the authors seem to treat the topic of relationships with a sterile pragmatism, which is my only complaint about the book. Perhaps Stanley and Clinton would do well to spend time reading Larry Crabb's book by the same name! Overrall, I appreciated this book and I am using some of the principles in my own ministry at Biola University. ... Read more

Book Description

A worker in one of Europe's largest wireless communication companies showed his manager how to repair an error that was costing the company $30 million per year. A secretary at Grapevine Canyon Ranch proposed a simple change to pull the company's website to the top of search engines. These are just two of many examples in Ideas are Free that highlight the single best resource in a company - those frontline employees who can see those telling little details that escape managers. Based on extensive research with hundreds of companies around the world and in every major field, this practical book shows how to draw the most useful ideas from frontline employees and, in the process, significantly improve the atmosphere - and success quotient - of any organization. Ideas are Free is the definitive book on getting - and applying - business-transforming ideas from frontline employees, and will be required reading for Alan Robinson's televised course on PBS - The Business Channel. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Empower your employees to do the right thing
Empowering employees to do the right thing is a key idea in my Principled Profit philosophy.

This principle can improve every aspect of a business, as Robinson and Schroeder demonstrate.

In an empowered organization, employee ideas--especially those from front-line workers--are a currency with the capability to slash costs, boost morale and productivity, and in some cases yield enormous actual-dollar profitability.

But too many organizations go about idea collection all wrong. Either they have no systematized method of collecting, analyzing, and acting on ideas--rapidly implementing the good ones--or they saddle their idea system with an unworkable and counterproductive monetary reward system that results in the opposite of what's intended.

Still, companies that encourage--even demand--ideas from their employees reap many benefits. Interestingly, most of the big improvements come from very small ideas--that piggyback and replicate into a powerful snowball of change For instance, one idea from one employee might save a few thousand dollars a year in a single location, but multiply by 10,000 locations and the savings are enormous. Too, the little incremental changes are often site-specific and harder for competitors to spot, leading to long-term competitive advantage.

From massive corporations like Toyota to single-locations such as a guest ranch in Arizona, companies with good idea capture systems enjoy higher morale, higher productivity, lower costs--and a fresh climate where going to work is actually fun.

And after reading this book, any company ought to be able to put such a system into place.

Insightful!
Authors Alan G. Robinson and Dean M. Schroeder articulate a plain, obvious truth that hierarchical executives and managers may sometimes ignore: often the best ideas come not from the top, but from the little guy working in the cubicle or out on the assembly line. Their book predicts an 'idea revolution,' where companies realize that their employees' ideas are among their companies' most valuable resources. The book reviews the basics of how to set up an idea-generating system, how to reward employees effectively and how to keep managerial egos out of the way. The authors discuss several case studies that demonstrate the power of a good idea. A new idea? No. One is reminded of Andre Gide, who said, "Everything has already been said, but because nobody was listening, we keep having to start all over again at the beginning." We recommend this book to any manager, executive or business owner who seeks powerful organizational improvements based on individual insight, creativity and innovation. Go ask a customer service clerk how to make things better.

A book about ideas that is full of ideas.
I manage people and my greatest frustration is having smart people working for me, the best tools, a great product and still getting beaten in the marketplace by companies with a more creative approach. Leveraging human capital is the difference between a good company (or organization) and a great one. Motivating people to come to work everyday is one thing. I need them to think creatively! Standing in front of their desk screaming "THINK CREATIVELY!" doesn't seem to work very well. The authors address this issue blissfully avoiding Covey-esque motivational platitudes and MBAspeak about 'Synergies' found in most management books. The book is written with a practitioner in mind and avoids 'data' and teaches with real life examples. A lot of them! A great read for any leader trying to unleash potential in their organization or even looking for ideas themselves. ... Read more

Book Description

It's your life. What are you going to do with it?

Coach Yourself presents an array of concepts, ideas, and techniques to help you take a greater degree of control over your working life. Stimulating you to assess how you think, feel, and behave, it helps you direct yourself toward new levels of achievement and personal fulfillment.

Momentum books are for people who want to make things happen in their career and their life, who want to work at something they enjoy and that's worthy of their talent and their time. Momentum people have values and principles. They question who they are and what they do. Wherever they work, they want to feel that what they do has meaning. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Inspiring
This book was so much more than one would think by looking at the cover.It doesn't look like much, but as they say, don't judge a book by it's cover, because this little book is packed with a step by step plan for making improvements in whatever area of life you would like.One couldn't help but make positive change following the guidelines in this book.There is no fluff to wade through.The authors have pulled together information from a multitude of sources and made one concise, straight forward resource.I just finished reading it, and can't wait to start putting it to good use.

Practical, sound, inspiring.
This book is a great read and it does what it says. It helps you to see things in perspective and make real, positive change. The steps are easy to understand and practical but it also seems to be well researched and backed up with sound psychological theory. I would also recommend it to anyone working as a business or life coach as I think it explains the fundamentals very well. ... Read more

Book Description

Who has not admired the titans of sport, entertainment, commerce and public service and been inspired to set course by those stars? What youth has not dreamed of becoming rich and famous? What restless fast-food manager has not dreamed of being the boss of a nationwide restaurant chain? What hard-working employee has not dreamed of running his own company?

Perhaps more important, what can they, and we, learn about achieving success from successful people? This is the magic of Masters of Success.

You will:

• Discover Brian Tracy's insights into the laws of success
• Learn from Tony Alessandra the importance of passion
• Hear Lou Holtz's advice on visualizing success
• Discover what drove Erin Brockovich to triumph over great odds

You will read chapters by Buzz Aldrin, Wayne Dyer, Larry Elder, Michael Gerber, John Gray, Mark Victor Hansen, Tom Hopkins, Vince Lombardi Jr., Tony Robbins and many others. All these famous people and many more contributed to the writing of Masters of Success.

If you seek inspiration and ideas, Masters of Success has stories of daunting hardships overcome lessons learned and unexpected success in abundance. You will eagerly page from one story to the next, finding both motivation and encouragement throughout this handsome volume.

Reviews (12)

Great Success Stories in Small Doses!
I did not read this book cover to cover. I started out by looking through the contents and read each part I was interested in. Before I knew it, I did read the whole book. I am in some of the situations, these success people were in. The stories gave me the motivation to keep on the right track in my journey. It was a great read and a book to keep to review later.

Learning about success
Lovely book which gives anecdotes of those who have risen above adversity and mastered success. Read it along with Optimal Thinking:How to Be Your Best Self (to learn how to master emotions, bring out the best in others and make the most of every situation) and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (to learn how to move from dependence to independence, from personal victories to public victories). The three books together are all you will ever need to be successful and inspire optimal success in others.

Coaching by the Masters
What a great read! Easy to sit down and read many stories at a time, in a variety of areas from personal growth to business.
The best part is the combined effort of MANY business professionals, sharing success stories that everyone can easily understand and actually apply these lessons to their own life and business.

Each page a treasure trove of important messages for all
Each page a treasure trove of important messages that can truly guide anyone on to success. The stories are wonderful and I found myself taking notes as I read. Having several authors discuss success gives the reader a broader view that just one author's idea on how to "get there". A wonderful book!

Powerful Stories + Easy To Read = Reader Success
If you are tired of so-called self-help or motivational books that are big on hype but small on delivery, then THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU.

The content is first rate and the packaging is terrific for the busy professional. There are 65 stories, averaging only 4 pages each. This means you can read a story whenever you have ten minutes. Kudos to Dr. Misner for assembling an all-star team that has delivered knock-out material on all aspects of business and personal success. Put the lessons to use and you will see results - I have. ... Read more

Book Description

This introduction to success in the workplace presents business psychology in clear, layman's language, helping readers understand how the application of psychology can help them improve individual and organizational effectiveness.It addresses the latest topics, including the new model of career advancement, gender differences in communication style, managing conflict through cognitive restructuring, human aspects of adjusting to technology, the problem of online addictions, the portfolio career, career downshifting, prospering in a learning organization, dealing with a micromanaging supervisor, 360-degree feedback, cultural diversity and ethics in the office, and other relevant topics with the goal of developing an appreciation of key principles and findings of the psychology of individual behavior.For human resources, industrial/organizational psychology, and general business managers and professionals. ... Read more

Book Description

Access an Untapped Source of Success

At long last, a book directed to the working world that acknowledges and demonstrates how managing our emotions and dealing with the feelings of others increases the bottom line. Practical, practical, practical!
--Rita McGlone, assistant director of executive education, The Wharton School of Business

Experts now acknowledge that emotional intelligence (EI) is perhaps the most crucial determinant of success in the workplace. And unlike IQ or other traditional measures of intelligence, EI can be developed and dramatically increased. This unprecedented book demonstrates how to master the core competencies of EI, abilities that include self-motivation, high self-awareness, mood management, and emotional mentoring. In addition, it includes scores of real-world examples and dozens of practical exercises that accelerate the process, along with step-by-step approaches to mastering a variety of EI techniques. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Intelligently Listen To Your Own and The Emotions Of Others
Emotional Intelligence at Work is an excellent book that teaches people to learn how to take step back, take a deep breath, listen to yourself and listen to others. Techniques to difuse volatile situations between you and your work colleagues. Turn an aggressive confontation into a useful fact gathering session to get to the real source of the problem. Do you know what words to use and sentence structure to apply in order to be direct without attacking or creating a threatning situation with your counterpart? Do you want people to listen to you when you talk? All of these fantastic techniques are found here.

One has to really concentrate and use these techniques daily in order for them to work. I was actually surprised to see the majority of them work "live in action". This text should be mandatory from grade school to the university level.

The author Ph.D. Hendrie Weisinger is a psychologist who uses many different work place examples from his numerous seminars. In many of these situations it is possible for people to see themselves in the characters and the situations that are being portrayed. It is an excellent book for anybody.

Glib
Glib, superficial, skinerian: A waste of time.

Great How-To on a Difficult Subject
The attention to "emotional intelligence" started with Daniel Goleman's book "Emotional Intelligence" published in 1995. Although an excellent book, this Weisinger book is a better guide to how to USE emotional intelligence. It is full of practical exercises and real world examples. I have used it when I teach the subject and would recommend it if you really want to change and learn new responses when the going gets tough, not just think about it. Best wishes to all who are trying to develop these difficult skills. It ain't easy, but this book makes it easier. A good guide.

This book is nothing but repetition and common sense...
The book is much inferior to it's original and inspiring one. The scientific approach of Goleman's book does not exist here. The author's "tone" is more personal than recommended. It abuses of examples that frequently lack of consistence, and it spends whole paragraphs either saying what is of common sense or repeating what had already been said previously. The consistence of the chapters is questionable, and the sub - items don't consolidate in broader ones. The edition and the revision are poor. (I think there were identing problems in the text revision. If the text was to be compiled, it would accuse "missing parentheses"). The book doesn't present anything new. I think any psychologist-next-door could have written it after reading Goleman's book. It is strange that it has been well recommended by the critics.

Making EI Work
Emotional intelligence has been much talked about in the last few years. This book goes beyond the hype and gives practical suggestions for developing one's own emotional intelligence at work.Hendrie Weisinger, a psychologist and organizational consultant, defines emotional intelligence as the ability to "intentionally make your emotions work for you by using them to help guide your behavior and thinking in ways that enhance your results." Weisinger contends that EI can be nurtured, developed, and augmented. He proves his point by providing processes and exercises to help the reader develop self-awareness, manage emotions, motivate self, communicate effectively, develop interpersonal expertise, and help others help themselves.Weisinger writes in an easy to read, straightforward style. His approach is practical. This makes it especially useful for those responsible for delivering EI training. This is not a book about EI research but a manual for making EI work in the workplace. An added bonus is that developing your EI will also strengthen your personal relationships. If your interest is in becoming more emotionally intelligent or helping others to do so, then reading this book would be an intelligent choice. ... Read more

Book Description

A self-made millionaire and best-selling author, Koch pioneered the idea that we can achieve more if we relax, enjoy life, and focus on the few things that matter most to us as unique individuals.Here he makes immensely practical the proven 80/20 sensation he lives himself and created for millions of others. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

ACTION is The Key
The inspiration and ideas offered in this slim volume are practical and easy to implement, and no doubt they will work to help one live a more stress-free, enjoyable life.

But the reader needs to remember that, as with most books of this type, the key to success is ACTION.Just reading about what you should be doing won't change your life. DOING what you should be doing will change your life.

That may seem painfully obvious, but often, I think readers buy this type of book hoping their lives will somehow magically change just by reading the book.

Read the book, then take ACTION, and you'll have made a worthwhile purchase.

Reviewer: Linda Painchaud-Steinman, PARK EDGE BOOKS

Great book...BUT...
Great book...but, if you've read the "80/20 Indiviudal", in my opinion, there's not much you'll get out of the "Living the 80/20/ Way".

"Living the 80/20 Way" teaches you how to apply the 80/20 principle to your personal life; I suppose if you need this outlined for you then the money for the book is worth it, but I received the same information from the "80/20 Individual".

Acheive more without the pressure!
Finally, a book that offers solutions that are acheivable, & take pressure off. This book is for all walks of life, businessmen, students, parents etc. It's very practical, & you individualise as you go. It offers a fairly simple philosophy, but incredibly powerfull when acted on. It will clear your confusion, inspire you to take action, breathe fresh air into your life, & it offers insights that you really need if you want happiness, not frustration. It really is a prescription to get off the treadmill & enjoy life!! You'll actually acheive more, in less time, without the stress. How bad can that be??
Read it, live it, have fun with life again.

80% of the information comes from the 1st (20%) book.
If you already have read the "80/20 Principle" by the same author, then this book will provide you with only 20% additional information. Mind you, the "80/20 Principle" contained 80% of the most valuable information you need to know about the 80/20 Principle. If you have yet to read the first book, however, this book will contain most of the valuable information contained in the first one and some more.

The additional 20% information is related to how you can APPLY the 80/20 principle to improve your life. Most of it is common sense, but it may help some. The author claims he wrote this book becaue one man told him he couldn't understand the 80/20 principle. If you are one of those, this book is a better read than the "80/20 Principle" since this book seems to be written for those with 8th grade reading level.

Great Book
When we honestly look at how we spend our time, most of it is put to trivial uses, but if fully implemented the 80/20 principle would create a revolution in our work and lives.

When Richard Koch put out "The 80/20 Principle" in 1998 it was classified as a business book, but it was the section which applied the principle to personal life that made it such a big hit. The book made such an impact on me that I included it in a list of the key works in the personal development literature, along with the likes of Stephen Covey, Dale Carnegie, Norman Vincent Peale and Anthony Robbins. This list became "50 Self-Help Classics". Ihaven't regretted it.

True to his own principle of expanding on what works, the author has elaborated on the principle in subsequent books, but I personally do not tire of coming back to the 80/20 principle. Who COULD tire of a natural law? 'Living The 80/20 Way' is written in Koch's usual enjoyable style and is a superb place to start in understanding the principle. It won't take you long to read but may literally change your life. Highly recommended.

Tom Butler-Bowdon, author of "50 Self-Help Classics" (2003) and "50 Success Classics" (2004) ... Read more

Book Description

In the world of motivational speakers, Keith Harrell is a star. Clients such as IBM, Coca Cola, and AT&T know it -- that's why Keith is one of the most in-demand speakers on the circuit. Now, in Attitude is Everything, he shares the secrets that got him where he is today and provides you with a program for developing a healthier, happier attitude.

This is an enlightening, inspiring, and practical guide f