Reviews (13)

Practice Being Your Best
This title comes from the great Emerson, who also said, "Who you are speaks so loudly, I can't hear what you say."

It is not just the words that you verbalize, but the way you carry yourself, as well as the interpretation that your interlocutor makes about what you are expressing.

Although this author is a media a political image adviser, his lessons are for everyone.

Think about. Haven't you said something before that you wish you could take back? And hasn't someone said something to you, in words that contradicted their actions? And I'll bet that their actions mean more to you, than their words.

We all throw out symbols of communication, every minute that we are interacting with another person.

And the meaning of that communication really comes down to the response or reaction that we get from those we are talking to.

Read this book to enhance the quality of your life.

This book enhanced how I read people, because it also taught be to be more free to communicate with my subconscious mind.

And the more my self-talk enhanced, the more my social interactions with others became better.

Read this book because you deserve more out of your life.

A must read for the frustrated public speaker
Mr. Ailes does an outstanding job communicating how to leverage your own strengths to be an outstanding communicator. The book is joyful and entertaining to read and well deserved to be on any leaders reading list.

Create a Winner's Image
The message of this book is that you possess a degree of control over your destiny, over the image you chose to project. It is a book who points out the proactive stance that can be taken by anyone to make a positive difference in the way others perceive him or her.
Considering the author's vast experience in television, his comments about on-air appearance are worth special attention. He writes, "On radio and TV, your air of decisiveness (style/delivery) is as important as your substance (content/words). Be friendly, be brief, be direct, and be positive."
Commitment is often the missing ingredient in effectively conveying your message to other people. He notes, "Ordinary people become extraordinary communicators when they are fired up with commitment."
On the effective, tactful use of humor, he observes, "...humor is a way to take the sting our of almost anything and is used entirely too infrequently in the world."
In this easy-to-read, straightforward book, the principles of effective communication are described in such a way that they're easy to apply. To enhance your communication, read it.

Have You Had Your Belly Laugh Today?
Years ago I read this book just to increase my ability to communicate well, one-on-one.

And having grown from this book, I decided that it was time to enhance more of my ability to "Be Who I am."

While there is so much to say about this book, I'd like to share questions the authors often, regarding humor:
1. Who is your favorite comedian?
2. Who or what do you think is funny?
3. When was the last time you laughed outloud?
4. Have you ever made someone laugh? When?
5. Why was the situation funny, to you, and to that person?
6. Do you know any jokes, at all?
7. Do you remember any time in your life when you laughed uncontrollably? When?
8. Would your friends describe you as amusing in casual conversation?
9. Who is your funniest friend?
10.When was the last time others laughed at you, in a good natured way, and you were able to laugh along with them?

To truly answer these questions, and to write your answers down, will make a difference in every aspect of your life.

The world could use another belly laugh!

A powerful idea.
My college minor some 30 years ago was Speech. I have read some 10 books and many more articles about giving speeches. Roger Ailes book, first published in 1988, is the only one like it I have ever read. His advice is unique, and I believe, right on.

Instead of quirky gimmicks, Ailes starts with the factors that make a great speaker -- some of which will surpise you, and encourage you. The book is very readable with lots of anecdotes and great stories to illustrate his points.

In my consulting with political candidates I recommend it often. Considering this man's success in television and politics, I don't understand why this book is not more widely read and referenced. I consider it a "secret weapon". After all, this is the man who was a consultant to the man friend and foe alike called the great commuicator, Ronald Reagan. If you read it, you may be the only one you know who has. And then you will wonder, as I have, why more people have not read it. ... Read more

Book Description

"You'll not only break the ice, you'll melt it away with your new skills." -- Larry King

"The lost art of verbal communication may be revitalized by Leil Lowndes." -- Harvey McKay, author of “How to Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive”

What is that magic quality makes some people instantly loved and respected?Everyone wants to be their friend (or, if single, their lover!) In business, they rise swiftly to the top of the corporate ladder. What is their "Midas touch?"

What it boils down to is a more skillful way of dealing with people.

The author has spent her career teaching people how to communicate for success. In her book Talking the Winner’s Way (Contemporary Books, October 2001) Lowndes offers 92 easy and effective sure-fire success techniques-- she takes the reader from first meeting all the way up to sophisticated techniques used by the big winners in life. In this information-packed book you’ll find:

• 9 ways to make a dynamite first impression
• 14 ways to master small talk, "big talk," and body language
• 14 ways to walk and talk like a VIP or celebrity
• 6 ways to sound like an insider in any crowd
• 7 ways to establish deep subliminal rapport with anyone
• 9 ways to feed someone's ego (and know when NOT to!)
• 11 ways to make your phone a powerful communications tool
• 15 ways to work a party like a politician works a room
• 7 ways to talk with tigers and not get eaten alive (This last one is for when you need to WIN.)

In her trademark entertaining and straight-shooting style, Leil gives the techniques catchy names so you'll remember them when you really need them, including: "Rubberneck the Room," "Be a Copyclass," "Come Hither Hands," “Bare Their Hot Button,” “The Great Scorecard in the Sky," and "Play the Tombstone Game,” for big success in your social life, romance, and business.

Talking the Winner’s Way is based on solid research about techniques that work!

Reviews (23)

Strong on technique, devoid of humanity
Hi

I found this book interesting; I've tried many of the techniques and found that they work very well.

Unfortunately, the author has little genuine warmth, empathy or interest in other people.

One example (not untypical). The authors 'good friend' had started a business and Leil (the author) introduced her to an important - powerful - contact. The author's friend 'messed up' when she contacted the 'important person' - she didn't have a pen and asked him to wait a few minutes whilst she got one. The author's reaction 'that's the last time I'll introduce her to anyone'. Jeez - I'm glad she's not my 'good friend'.

I thoroughly recommend it to anybody who wants to communicate more effectively i.e. get what they want out of other people - respect, friendship, business, a job, etc.

However don't let it turn you into a self-centered, manipulative, jerk.

Remember that communications techniques can help in one off relationships (e.g. a job interview, sales call), can help lubricate new relationships (a first date), and increase your social standing (working a party, or social engagement).

They can't help in long-term relationships (when a date becomes your girl/guy, on the job, parenting, etc.) For that you need to invest in your character.

Happy reading

Afam Edozie

Useful tricks that are easy to implement
This is a pretty valuable book for the socially awkward person or really anyone who just wants to improve their social life a little bit. There are 92 "tricks" in here, which are little phrases, body language signals, and mannerisms which you can learn to use and observe that will generally make conversations smoother and improve people's reaction to you. I found that about 2/3s of the tricks could be applicable to my life and that many were simple ones that I could use right away. Most take more effort and consciousness to remember and implement but nothing worthwhile is easy. I would say the best thing about this book is there are simple ideas in here you can read and then go out and do right away: how to avoid annoying silences and keep the conversation moving, how to introduce people, how to answer common questions in more interesting ways.

My main criticism of the book would be it is mainly written for exchanges with a female involved. The techniques I found least useful for me were generally a little too obseqious, something that a woman, I feel, can get away with more readily than a man.

All in all, if you're reading these reviews you're probably looking for help with your communications skills and this book can give you some simple, easy to use techniques. If you need serious help this is a must buy.

One of those books that will change your life.
I rarely write book reviews. I have just finished reading this book and I have to say that on balance, this is one of those books that will change my life for the better. One of the reviewers disqualified this book because the author does not have a phd in psychology. All I can say is, to disqualify this book because the author does not have a phd in psychology is to disqualify a potential mate based on the job they are holding. Unless you have read the whole book or know the substance of the potential mate, do not make quick judgement about that book or person. It says more about you than it does about the author. There are some authors with phd in psychology I would not touch with a 10 foot pole, because they may know a lot but they have no clue how to communicate to the masses.

What I learned from this book...
One caveat, before my review... if you're dubious about buying this book because of the negative reviews (as I was, at first), then please consider this:

If you've read "How to Win Friends and Influence People," then you should already know the basic mental trick needed for how to be a great conversationalist. You have to wrap your mind around the fact that people don't want to hear about *you*. It's not what *you* say that makes people like you, but how interested you are in what the *other* person has to say. (After all, whose face do you look for first in a group photograph? Everyone else thinks the same way.)

Leil Lowndes didn't spend much time explaining this, like Dale Carnegie did; so I can understand why certain reviewers might have misinterpreted this book as "sucking up" or being manipulative. But take heart, friends -- her writing is delightfully NOT about petty flattering techniques (although there *is* a chapter on praise). (If you still don't see the difference, then consider getting "How to Win Friends," in addition to Lowndes' book.)

With that said, I'll admit that after reading Carnegie, I was still not a good conversationalist. Carnegie seemed to be a social person *anyway*, so being friendly came naturally for him. But myself, and others like me suffering from clinical depression / social anxiety / low self-esteem, will get much, much more from "Talking the Winner's Way."

Usually, when I'm at a party or at work, I'm paralyzed with doubts about how to act around other people. What do I say? What if I screw up? How the heck do I make banal "small talk" come out of my mouth without looking and sounding like an idiot? What about those horrible, awkward long pauses where conversation stutters to a halt? And so, there I stand, off in the corner all alone, palms sweaty and heart racing, without ever getting up the courage to butt in on excitedly gesturing circles of friends/coworkers. Lowndes addressed all of these insecurities, and gave me methods that actually made me *enjoy* mingling at a party two days ago.

Carnegie was an optimist -- he gives you some general social theories and assumes you'll make it all come out all right. Lowndes, on the other hand, seems to be a cynic -- which is ever so much more useful! She gives you all of the juicy details - every chapter is stuffed with meat, not fluff.

For example, Carnegie tells you to "smile." Lowndes tells you *how* to smile: wait a moment, soaking up the person's expression, THEN let a smile fill your face; this has the most impact. She teaches you how to make it genuine; and she recommends giving a slightly different smile for each person, to make them feel as if it's not an automatic reaction, but created especially for them. (The body language techniques alone are worth the price of this book; her strange "posture" technique seems to have cured my ten-year slump.)

This is not to say that Lowndes' book is a recap of Carnegie's. It's not -- it is *so* much more. Only the first few chapters are about general, friend-to-friend techniques. The rest (the bulk of the book) are more specifically oriented to modern business situations. That, also, has been very helpful to me, but in a very different way. I've always felt that I was missing some sort of secret code when talking to managers, etc. (Why are you supposed to say, "Mr. X can't come to the phone right now," instead of "Mr. X isn't here," anyway? The latter is more honest.) Now, I understand. Now, I speak that secret code, too.

There are plenty of techniques for fitting in with the world of the "Big Winners" -- those men and women who seem to have a subconscious understanding of how to act consistently professional as they sit in their Faberge'-filled mansions comfortably discussing new investments. She tells you how to mimic their vocabulary, mood, perceptions, movements. She tells you how to deal, how to network, how to speak industryese. (I simply cannot wait to try out this stuff at my next job interview!)

Several chapters are about business faux-pas -- things you should NOT do. And it's not all "common sense" warnings, either. I personally had no idea that you're not supposed to say "gesundheit" when someone sneezes, eat or drink at cocktail parties, talk about business at a business lunch, or ask what a new acquaintance does for a living.

This is where her cynicism comes out... because apparently, the "Big Cats," as she calls them, will pick up on your mistakes, and one little flub can ruin your influence with them forever. On the other hand, brilliant interaction with them will give you a sterling reputation and eventually turn you into a "Big Cat," too.

After reading this book and practicing the techniques, I feel like I've gone from wallflower to corporate climber. Do yourself a favor and start climbing, too!

Twelve bucks? For methods that will earn you respect, new friends, and probably get you promoted? It's worth every penny.

Lacks credibility
I am always intrigued how people get to be "self improvement" gurus without having proper education credentials. One would think someone who writes "Talking the Winner's Way" would have some formal background on communication or psychology, but there is no such indication. In fact, scientific basis of the ideas presented in this book are hardly evident. This leads me to a conclusion the ideas presented in this book, while appealing to the common sense, are far from proven. If empirical evidence is unimportant to you, then this book will provide many fine pop psychology\communication tricks. But if you are the logical\skeptical sort, then this book will leave a lot wanting. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Best Practices for Personal Decision Making
I was taught all of the techniques described in this book in their most complex form. I loved the ideas when I first learned them, and have used them with great success for the last 30 years. Professor Raiffa is someone I admire greatly, as a result. I was delighted to find that this book addresses these complex tools in their simplest possible form, and applies the lessons to everyday living (especially the most important financial decisions that most people have to make like buying a home). A strength of this book is in the many detailed examples of personal decisions that are used to explain the authors' concepts. I immediately bought copies for everyone in my family as a way to help coach them in how to have more effective lives. You should do the same. I also suggest that you use the book as a model the next time that an important decision comes up that your whole family should participate in, such as whether to take a new job in a different state. This will not only help you develop better choices, but it will greatly improve the communications in your family about the decision, overcoming stalled thinking that could otherwise harm your family. I strongly hope that the authors will write a similarly simple version for business people, that applies these concepts to important business decisions. I know a few hundred people to whom I would like to give such a book.

Best Simple Explanation of Good Decision-Making Processes
I am a corporate strategy consultant and an author of business books and articles. As a young man, I was taught all of the techniques described in this book in their most complex form. I loved the ideas, and have used them with great success for the last 30 years. Professor Raiffa is someone I admire greatly, as a result. I was delighted to find that this book addresses these complex tools in their simplest possible form, and applies the lessons to everyday living (especially the most important decisions that most people have to make). I immediately bought copies for everyone in my family as a way to help coach them in how to have more effective lives. You should do the same. I also suggest that you use the book as a model the next time that an important decision comes up that your whole family should participate in. This will not only help you develop better choices, but it will greatly improve the communications in your family about the decision. I strongly hope that the authors will write a similarly simple version for business people. I know a few hundred people to whom I would like to give such a book.

Would you tell me please which way I ought to go from here?
`Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?' said Alice.

`That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.

`I don't much care where--' said Alice.

`Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Decision-making is the most fundamental life skill that unfortunately isn’t taught properly in schools, high schools or universities. The more we get familiar with art and science of decision-making and be skillful in using it, our move in the path towards success and progress will be more facilitated and secure and definitely our quality of life will improve. No doubt such knowledge has many uses. Perhaps we forget some stuff that we learn during schooling because they do not do anything for us and virtually have not any impact on our life. However, decision-making is useful not only in sensitive and fate making stages of our life but also in betterment of day-to-day activities and making smart choices. All of us have "got stuck" in a crossroad or many roads. In such circumstances we usually try to follow the best road through mimicking other people's decision-making method or simply asking for their help. In addition we are always told: “before making a decision you’d better think twice and consider all the possible aspects and weigh the pros and cons". But such advises are vague and motherhood and apple pie words. Nevertheless, living with uncertainty and the great demand for creativity and innovation are the features of today world. Therefore, any method or tool that can help us extend our thought horizons to face such complex conditions would be of great value. By using these tools we can figure out which things are important for us and by focusing on these values make our decisions with comfort. One of good points of focusing on values and not get limited to available alternatives is that we get rid of wrong and reactive attitudes and instead hunt for decision opportunities so we can proactively enhance our quality of life day by day. I as a person who recently translated Value-Focused Thinking by Ralph Keeney into Farsi found my autographed copy of Smart Choices very much appealing. Dr. Keeney and his colleagues have produced an outstanding user-friendly guide to help people enhance their knowledge of decision-making. This book is a must for everyone who feels “have gotten stuck” in many crossroads and do not well know how to think twice and consider all the possible aspects and weigh the pros and cons.

Good Info, Poor Presentation
The information presented in the book can be used to make vast improvements in decision making. The problem is that the book is difficult to read because it is pretty boring. The examples used in the book do little to enhance the reading.

If you have to read a book on decision making, and can focus on something that's pretty boring, you should give this one a try.

Indeed a practical guide
This book is able to break down the decision making process into logical steps so that one can actually consciously think about it when faced with a decision.

Some of the ideas are very simple and fundamental and we probably used them without thinking. What this book succeed in doing was to show how to look at the whole picture and how the ideas fit in.

It was a good idea to used the home buying example though the process to illustrate the initial steps. However it would be better to use a consistent example for the last few topics as well.

Was thinking that it would be nice to have a neat one page illustrated road map that can be pulled out and pasted in front of the desk. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Culture. We blithely use the term for just about anything--a vibrant culture, a dominant culture, a corporate culture. But do we really know what we're saying, what culture really means? Or do we most often assume that the term is just a convenient way to group those with a common purpose or goal and a method for achieving it?Isn't a corporate culture, for example, just "the way we do things around here"?

No, it's not. In The Corporate Culture Survival Guide, Edgar Schein reveals how that's merely the tip of the iceberg, an iceberg that managers ignore at the peril of their company's future. Underneath lies the much-harder-to-grasp "essence" of the company, the "learned, shared, tacit assumptions on which people base their daily behavior." These assumptions are learned over time and in different internal and external environments, becoming, as Schein puts it, the "residue of success." As these assumptions influence all aspects of how a company functions, discovering their nature and cause is vital to the success of any new organization-wide venture or strategy. In the second half of the book, Schein illustrates how, using this knowledge, a company's culture can be deliberately created or changed. Supported by numerous case-study examples, his advice is pertinent to startups, mature companies, and blended organizations.

If you're the type of manager that needs a quick-fix solution, with simple catch phrases and an easy Five Step Program to Success, this book is not for you. Nor are the benefits to be gained from acquiring the depth of knowledge and insight needed to understand, work with, and transform your corporate culture. Using intelligent, lucid prose, Schein provides this kind of insight and more; he tells cautionary as well as inspiring tales of what this insight can mean for your company, and offers useful suggestions for putting knowledge into practice. --S. Ketchum ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Outstanding!
Like all of Edgar Schein's books, this contains extraordinary insight. I am recommending this to all of my clients.

Dr. Michael Beitler
Author of "Strategic Organizational Change"

The corporate culuture survial guide
This book summarize the content of corporate culture very good and provide me with culture concept.

Insightful!
Edgar H. Schein provides an excellent conceptual explanation of culture in general and corporate culture in particular. He shows how cultures arise and explains why it is so hard to examine and change an embedded culture. He also lays out practical plans for assessing culture. These plans are not simple or easy, but they promise great reward if carefully followed. Case studies illustrate the concepts and show how corporate problems can be seen in terms of culture. The first half of the book, which lays out the concepts of culture, is especially clear. The second half, which examines cultural issues in various kinds of organizations, uses more jargon and is a bit murkier. Overall, we [...] recommend this book as especially useful for anyone dealing with change, be it moving to a new organization, considering or coping with a merger or acquisition, or even planning to work with people from another group, company or background.

With all thy getting, get understanding
What an absolutely brillant book!

How many people do you know spend time agonizing over something said or an action taken by someone in Senior Management ? How many people do you know who spend time wrestling with stated "values" in light of mixed messages from members of Senior Management ?

Vex no more! Mr Schein does an fantastic job helping readers change their thought paradigms. How often do books like this come around ? IT is a classic, add it to your library which should already have Drucker, Juran, Deming, Crosby, Weinberg, Maxwell, Covey and Nadler works. Some may find this a bit difficult to read, but endure, focus your thoughts and reap the enormous benefits!!

Must read about corporate culture
A very practical, useful reference about corporate culture. This reference should be in the libraries of all corporate types. Helps you understand and work with corporate cultures.

As one interested in corporate culture, a must read in this subject is The Management Masters Series first book Corporate Culture. Check it out directly at their website at Managementmasters.com. ... Read more

Book Description

Praise for GETTING RICH YOUR OWN WAY

"Save yourself ten years of hard work. Read Brian’s powerful book and let him show you the shortcut to success. He’ll show you the fastest way for you to get rich."
–Robert Allen
author, Multiple Streams of Income

"Millions of people start with nothing and become wealthy as the result of doing certain things in a certain way, over and over again. This book by Brian Tracy shows you how you can achieve all your financial goals, starting from wherever you are today."
–Jack Canfield
coauthor, Chicken Soup for the Soul®: Living Your Dreams and The Power of Focus

"This is the only book you need to read to become wealthy! It is loaded with practical ideas and strategies to propel you onwards and upwards."
–Nido Qubein
Chairman, Great Harvest Bread Company
founder, National Speakers Association Foundation

"Another great book from Brian Tracy. Tangible, practical ideas that will make you money and make you rich!"
–Bill Bachrach
President, Bachrach & Associates, Inc.

"Brian Tracy has put together a masterpiece of common sense for getting rich. If you wish a different life, commit now to different actions–read this book!"
–H. J. (Jim) Graham
President and CEO, Cyber Broadcast One, Inc.

"Brian Tracy shows you how unlimited wealth starts in the mind, and how anyone can focus their time and energy to earn millions. It’s the readable, riveting primer for countless new American fortunes."
–Peter Montoya
CEO, Peter Montoya Inc. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

The newest and best from Brian Tracy - Buy it!
I first heard of Brian Tracy back in 1988 via 3 audio cassette tape programs that I borrowed from our local library. I immediately thought of him as a modern day version of Napolean Hill. He is as far as I am concerned the greatest motivational speaker and personal development trainer in the world today.

His newest book is on habits. Some of the material is similiar to other books/tapes by Tracy and some is new. Tracy also offers exercises at the end of each chapter to develop the habits he alludes to to achieve your desired result.

If this is your first Brian Tracy book, it won't be your last. If you have enjoyed Tracy's other books, then you'll enjoy this one as well.

Also recommend Maximum Achievement and The 100 Absolutely Unbreakable Laws of Business Success.

The best just got better!
Brian Tracy is indeed the very best speaker/trainer in the business today. His newest work, Million Dollar Habits is a must read for anyone who wants to reach maximum success.

I was introduced to personal development books 19 years ago by a very good friend and my whole life turned around. I was re-introduced to these books a few years ago when I had forgotten what I learned and had gotten reckless. The advice works.

What Tracy teaches in this new text is how to develop the habits that will make you a success. He offers a interesting story by Napolean Hill as to why people know what to do, don't do it and as result, don;t succeed.

Tracy is as easy to read as he is to listen to. I have many of his audio programs. They have made all the difference in my life.

Read Million Dollar Habits. I also recommend The Automatic Millionaire and The Richest Man in Bablyon to help create "wealth habits" that work right in line with what Tracy talks about in this book.

OUR HABITS MAKES US
Somehow the title of this book, at least initially didn't appeal to me. Something about the word-HABIT. To me, habit always denotes something negative like a bad habit. At least when I was growing up I always he ard the word habit preceded with something negative, like "You have a bad habit." "Where did you pick up that habit?" and so on.

In this great book by Brian Tracy, you will learn that habits can be good and as the title of this book indicates, can help you become a millionaire in the process.

Now those are the kinds of habits that I like to have. As Tracy says in his book, "We first make our habits and then our habits mak us." How true!

**New strategies ** for success by Tracy
Although some of what Tracy has written in this book is similiar to what he has written before, there is also much more new information. What I like most about Brian Tracy is that he spends a considerable amount of time studying the most modern material to help make you successful. Brian's material is fresh and up to date.

"More of the same"
I'm not sure if it's just that I've read, listened to, and watched so much of Brian Tracys material or what, but it definitely felt like I'd read this book before. It's as though he re-writes the same book over and over and uses different publishers and titles each time. Regardless, this is an outstanding book. Any author with such a loyal following as; Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar or Anthony Robbins, to name a few, could write just about anything and it would sell.

I had no choice. I just had to give this book 5 stars. It's that good! If I could only convince younger readers to pick up and read this type of literature, how much brighter would their (and our) futures be. In this, the information age, advances in technology move at such a fast pace, that unless we arm ourselves with new information, and constantly upgrade, we won't even stay in the competition.

This book is absolutely filled with vitally important information, and though most of it is copied verbatim from his other books, much of it is new. I'd truly like to see Brian offer a book without any of his old stuff (like saying "I like myself"). Though that type of thinking is the basis for success, those of us who read everything he writes feel his writing is becoming a little blase.

If you have never read anything by Brian Tracy, but would like to, this is a great place to start. ... Read more

Book Description

In this empowering book, based on his bestselling video series, T.D. Jakes shows readers how to use Christian principles in the workplace, using faith as the key to happiness and productivity. Bishop Jakes explains how people can rise above petty conflicts, turn obstacles into opportunities, and let God do His work in their lives every day-even when they're coping with complaining co-workers or difficult bosses. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Working-Place Guide of Principles.
The ten principles explained in detail in this book are for the secular, "work" world, and should be remembered along with the Ten Commandments of the Bible.Written by a "bishop" who authored the book and produced the movie, WOMAN, THOU ART LOOSED!

His Ten committments:

1.Know that you are anointed for the job or position you now hold!
2.Don't expect to be appreciated.
3.Embrace opportunities for change.
4.Do the job well while remembering the vision.
5.Don't let the environment get inside of you.
6.Increase your capacity to work with difficult personalities.
7.Where you are is not where you are going!
8.Achieve optimal results with minimal confusion.
9.Do not pledge allegiance to cliques and groups!
10. Always keep your song near you.

As can be seen throughout all ten of these commandments, you are gifted with special and unique abilities to succeed in the workplace where you find yourself; make the most of the opportunities as this chance may never come again.Count Your Blessings! ... Read more

Book Description

If you've ever found yourself coming out on the short end of the stick, you'll appreciate the rewards that can be yours whenyou take the initiative in every area of your life. Written by the bestselling author of MILLION DOLLAR HABITS, this business gem, explains in candid terms what intimidation is, why you become intimidated and how you can avoid the mental lapses that can cause you to fall victim to intimidation.
... Read more

Reviews (41)

ringer doesnt wanna make you feel good....
ringer, is what i needed especially as a young african-american male whose been affiliated w/ so much hogwash in my life. but the biggest hogwasher has truly been myself. i "don" self-helped myself crazy. my room is filled w/ many books addressing "life" issues and how to make the best of life. but cloud nine usuaslly last a few days before i'm back in the dumps. i know i need counseling but i can't afford it, so i go on with this up and down manner until.
but winning through intimidation has provided for me key and sound lessons, straight w/ no chaser. i read the book from cover to cover in three days, and was spellbound. the lessons are more biblical than sinister. they really boil down to girding up courage, while staying away from the "meaniningless" things which divert attention away from the things that will provide stability in your life. he cautions readers not to be swayed by appearance but stick to what you believe even when the fire is turned up. nothing really new, but hey often forgotten.

The theory of reality
It was first published in 1973, it has been continuously in print ever since, and it will be around for a long time to come. Because it's simple, it's brilliant, and it has a great title -- alright, I take a bit of that back

It's true that the author's background and focus is on one-time transactions (big-ticket sales), whereas ongoing relationships are more important in life. It's also true that many people would find this book pedestrian or brash or both. Nevertheless, the book is a masterpiece of assertiveness training self-help. I still have "the theory of reality" and "the theory of intimidation" in my soul even though it's been many years since I read it.

As everyone who's read it agrees, it's not about intimidating others, it's about not being intimidated yourself. The most pervasive intimidations are based on generally accepted values, expectations and pecking orders in a community. There are situations where you can and should act contrary to those things, but it takes some boldness. The book presents the advantages of boldness while stressing the necessity of always looking at the situation's realities as acutely as possible. It shows that deliberate analysis of realities is fundamental to success -- which ought to be obvious, but I wasn't doing it before I read the book (except unconsciously & partially). I especially recommend it for the young and the unprestigious.

All about hockey & horses
The adventures of the psuedonymous author are wholly fictional. Indeed, he was a mediocre real estate salesman. Worse yet, the approaches don't work.

See Donald Trump for a real-life counter-example

Surprisingly Insightful
Full confession - I never meant to take Robert J. Ringer's "Winning Through Intimidation" seriously. On a recent visit to my parents house I found a tattered, 30-year-old hardcover edition of this book on a dusty bookshelf in the storage room. The corny title caught my eye, so I grabbed it, thinking it might be fun to read for a laugh.

It wasn't just the age of the book that I figured would make it ripe for comedy (though I do wonder if Ringer's message to women that they too could use his philosophies and strategies - to "sell" themselves as wife material to a man - has been edited out of more recent editions). It is the fact that I find most sales technique books to be hilariously bad. I almost always find myself questioning whether the authors have ever worked a day in sales in their lives, since most such books offer advice that would only work if A) every client you ever dealt with was a complete and total moron and/or B) your clients just happen to follow the hypothetical "scripts" included in most of these books word for word.

Imagine my surprise to find that "Winning Through Intimidation" (which is a misnomer, "Winning Through Not Letting Yourself GET Intimidated" is a more appropriate, if less colorful, title) is filled with great fundamental, common sense advice for anyone in the field of sales. It is obvious that Ringer has spent a great deal of time in the trenches - he accurately points out many common mistakes made by salespeople (spending WAY too much time on a particular account because it makes you feel busy, as opposed to because the account will realistically ever actually buy anything, not realizing the importance of having all agreements with clients in writing and keeping a paper trail of your communications, believing that your client is ever going to have YOUR best interest at heart, thinking that "closing the deal" is the end-all-be-all goal of sales, when actually *getting paid* is far more important). This would be a great book to give to a person new to the field of sales to insure that he or she only develops good habits. I question how "useful" this book is to the more experienced salesperson, only because if a salesperson hasn't already realized through experience that the philosophies and techniques from this book are valid, then they are probably beyond help.

Perspective
In all the self-help books read, I believe this is by far the best. It's a practical guide to how to get through this thing called life and profit from it. All it takes it perspective, patience and a watchful eye of one's enviornment, socio-economically. It's an old one, cheap and still it's lessons are current and useful.

Buy this book and don't neglect to read Looking out for Number 1. That's the book I'm on now. ... Read more

Book Description

Those who have been lucky enough to have Brian Tracy as their personal coach have transformed their lives and careers, increased their incomes, and dramatically improved their levels of success. Now, anyone can have the benefit of his coaching program! And coaches can have the ability to inspire that kind of success.TurboCoach enables individuals to apply Tracy's proven counseling techniques to their own lives, and gives coaches tools to integrate his powerful strategies into their own professional programs. Each chapter begins with a series of self-assessment questions and ends in a set of exercises that can be used to energize an individual's results in that area. Readers will find proven ways to:* Identify their personal strengths * Streamline their work * Get more done in less time * Think and act more strategically * Increase their income dramaticallyBased on more than 20 years of successful work with thousands of people who have learned and applied his coaching techniques to their own lives, TurboCoach shows those in the coaching field how to elicit superior results from their clients, and individuals how to become their own coaches and rapidly improve the quality of their own lives and work. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great read simple principals that will work if you do
I have read several of Brians books and this is a great one. Brian has a mind that can take the complex and make it simple. He offers details in a simple and easy to understand format that makes the book worth buying. If you try you can use it for self coaching. Great book!

Highly Recommended!
If Brian Tracy were your next-door neighbor, he would probably lean over the hedge to advise you on "The Seven Classic Laws of Hedge Trimming" or "The 12 Immutable Principles of Lawn Mowing." Tracy's mind just seems to naturally work that way, absorbing valuable information on the one end and then translating it into insightful factoids on the other. This book, co-authored by Campbell Fraser, distinguishes itself by the way each brief chapter begins and ends. You start by answering one or two pointed questions about your business approach and, after reading Tracy's itemized insights, you feel charged up for the "application exercises" at the end. When Tracy writes a book, you expect every detail to be as tidy and complete as an expensive haircut; this volume does not disappoint. It is vintage Tracy. However, readers are advised this is not a book on how to coach others, but a small package of turbo-charged personal advice. We highly recommend it for anyone on a personal mission to save time, manage a staff and attain greater success. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Good for Organizational Review
I thought the ideas and tips were well divided into chapters in this book. It was easy to look for hints in a specific topic area. However, the read was so quick that I found myself looking for more insight into the ideas behind some of the suggestions made. I have read other books that have been more detailed about the overall organization process and gave more concise directions on how to get started down finding your organizational flow. This book is a great organizational review tool for AFTER you have incorporated your personal organizational process. A good reminder of healthy organization tips, though, not necessarily a pool of original organizational hints.

Very informative
This book is incredible! After years of trying to organize, missing promotions because of my disorganization (losing items, unpolished image...), I have become reasonably organized. I have even had a professional organizer try to help me, to no avail.

Naturally, not every tip will apply to every office. I was pleasantly surprised to realize that many were generic enough to be informative, but instructional enough to help.

At less than ten dollars, this is a must-have.

Insightful!
Ronni Eisenberg’s book demonstrates how your work habits can be your best friends or your worst enemies when it comes to organizing your office productively. The book is a mixture of common-sense suggestions and useful organizational tips. She includes helpful hints for home-office workers and organizational tips for those who use personal digital devices. At times, it’s a little too intricate (you may feel you are getting detailed instructions on how to tie your shoes), however, it also offers organizational gems.... ... Read more

Book Description

In just one eight-hour day, a working woman can get more twisted up than panty hose in the spin cycle. The Big Sister's Guide to the World of Work will straighten her out. This tell-it-like-it-is handbook gives every working woman the tools for facing the forces of evil and opportunity in corporate America, including how to:

• Sidestep the classic mistakes women make in a new job

• Avoid getting tangled up in office politics

• Banish the seven habits that make you look small

• Get your boss on your side (without kissing up)

Once entry-level know-nothings who rose to the top of the corporate ranks, DiFalco and Herz have been the go-to big sisters for hundreds of women who were mystified and mortified at the office. Now you can arm yourself with the authors' straight-shooting advice. Uninhibited and fiercely wise -- like the very best big sisters -- they are the mentors every working woman needs. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Looking for a laugh after a hard day of corporate takeovers? Seuss-isms for Success is chock full of clever quips on topics from micromanagement to market speculation. Didn't know Dr. Seuss wrote about the business world, did you? You'll be surprised at just how well his simple rhymes have adapted. In this pocket-sized hardcover, perfect for tucking into a desk drawer, you're sure to find a quick comeback for any naysayer, like "if I wait long enough, if I'm patient and cool, who knows what I'll catch in McElligot's pool." Just right for a recent MBA or graduate, these Seussisms will keep you smiling no matter how irritated you are with your boss. --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good old doctor seuss
I was given this clever little book for my birthday last year (a gentle hint, perhaps, to get me on the right path?), and while I can't imagine paying [$$$] for it, that's about the only criticism I can dredge up. Anything by the good doctor is brilliant, of course. Anything he touches is magic. And we will always laugh.

Highly recommended.

Seuss-like Fun for the Workplace!
This book is marvelous and is both fun and educational in Seuss's classic rhyming style! It only left me wondering where the real "Grinch" or the corporate "Once-ler" really were among all the rhyming advice? Well, I finally found lots of those true-to-life "Grinch" and "Once-ler" like characters in the hilarious, educational and insightful satire, "MANAGEMENT BY VICE"!! With short, sharp verses, easy-to-read prose and a uniquely candid directness it addresses many important issues in both the R&D and corporate/managerial worlds! My sincere recommendation for MBA students and those struggling in the corporate mill is to memorize "Seuss-ism's for Success", yet never to forget the wise lessons in "Management by Vice" for they will help you avoid the tougher workplace pitfalls and make the changes that count and lead to greatly improved management/employee relations!

Have Some Good Laughs About Organizational Stalls!
Dr. Seuss was thought to have been a writer for children, but every parent knows that there was plenty of content to keep the adults amused, too. Someone obviously had an interesting idea in selecting those parts of Dr. Seuss's work that apply to organizations.

The subjects covered include learning, setting goals, avoiding micromanagement, growth, surpassing competitors, cycles, speculation, chaos theory, the stock market, business trips, synergy, maintaining competitive advantage, synergy, delegating, corporate hierarchies, downsizing, innovation, and higher education.

You may well remember some of the rhymes. The idea of getting Horton to sit on the egg in the delegating section brought back happy memories.

The most apt rhyme to me was the one about having a watcher to watch a bee, because watched bees work harder. Except, of course, the bee did the same after it was watched as before.

Each rhyme is wonderfully illustrated.

A good use for this book would be to share the proper rhyme with a colleague who is getting it wrong. Humor is a good way to bust stalls.

Enjoy!

A Must Read for College Students
In his whimsical childish style, Dr. Seus has done it again! His rhymes with the times and econominc health and what you want to do with your life, your MBA and all the fun things that intelligent (or not-so-intelligent) students need to know to get ahead in life and lead a healthy financial future. I had all of my students read this book in Lit 101 and do a book report for the class. I had 48 completely different takes on it and each student discovered something different. Highly recommneded for scholastic and for fun! ... Read more

Book Description

A few years ago, buddies Mike, Brian, and nathan faced the end of college with the realization that, like many a college student, they had absolutely no idea what to do with their lives.Their solution: take a roadtrip and interview people from all walks of life to learn how they got where they are. Their mode of transporation: a clunky, 31-foot green motor home. Three months and 17,000 miles later, they'd met the CEO of NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, the scientist who decoded the human genome, and the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic. They'd talked to bookstore owners, filmmakers, artists, and more than 70 others who had found their callings-their "open roads."

Mike, Brian, and Nathan had found their mission: to help others define their own paths based on passion, individuality, and nonconformity. They titled the project Roadtrip Nation, made a documentary, created a TV show, wrote a book, and now send teams of students on roadtrips each summer. FINDING THE OPEN ROAD shows how you too can create a roadtrip experience to discover whether you're traveling down the right course in life. Through a step-by-step guide to planning your trip, a roadtrip journal that offers the personal perspective, and more than 50 interviews that describe how others found their true roads, this inspirational handbook offers a nation's worth of wisdom for anyone trying to find their own authentic path. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Susan Scott believes that interpersonal difficulties--at work and at home--are a direct result of our inability to communicate well. Fierce Conversations is based on principles from her international consulting practice, in which she teaches executives how to conduct such exchanges more dynamically and ultimately more effectively, thereby improving the relationships they enjoy with their various dialogue partners "one conversation at a time." Using identifiable anecdotes from her experience to inspire and inform, along with a series of practical exercises designed to impart the requisite skills, Scott walks readers through the individual steps she's developed to build better associations through more robust and honest discourses. Addressing all aspects of the process, from several methods for listening more attentively to specific ways she's fashioned to confront and resolve issues "that stand between you and success," Scott offers the type of concrete advice and confidence-building counsel that should help even the most reticent improve their communication skills dramatically. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Fierce as in True
If we have ever needed a book like this, now is the time. Just think what could have happened at Enron, WorldCom, etc. if people had been willing to talk to each other about what was really going on? This is both a "think about this" and a "here's how to use it" book that can give people the courage and tools to tell others what they are seeing and believing. Don't be put off by the title, Fierce does not mean you get to beat everyone up - it really is an invitation to, as the author says - interrogate reality. Susan Scott does an effective job in weaving her three big ideas about conversations through the book. The ideas are simple yet powerful and can change the way we talk both to ourselves and to others. She captured me right away with the first concept; that our lives (and work) succeed or fail one conversation at a time, including those conversations we don't have. The book is an easy read. The concepts are clearly presented both in theory and with amusing stories and, best of all, there are practical tips on how to use the information. I enjoyed reading it and putting the principles into action. I'll be giving copies to friends and colleagues. This is one of those books that belongs both at home and the office.

A Fierce (robust) Book
Fierce Conversation starts with the premise that "the conversation is the relationship" and we must have Fierce (robust) Conversation's in all of our relationships -- business and personal. It is far more encompassing then other recent conversation books on how to have "crucial" or "critical" conversations only.

It's a guidebook on how to make relationships meaningful and successful. It's simplicity of focusing on "one conversation at a time" avoids the pitfall of a relationship deteriorating in Scott's words "slowly then suddenly".

It's a book whose processes I am able to put into action immediately. I can readily see how starting with one conversation at a time will lead to mastery and enrich relationships. The examples are vivid and easy to visualize and remember.

I actually look forward to having Fierce Conversations with my colleagues, customers, employees, and family.

I highly recommend Fierce Conversations.

Philip E. Fine
Chief Executive Officer
Premier Distribution Services, Inc.
Somerset, NJ

What are you pretending not to know?
Most breakdowns in life have some connection to conversations -- conversations not had, conversations that go poorly, or conversations not yet even imagined. There are a number of good books on conversations and this is one of them.

I tend to refer my coaching clients to "Fierce Conversations" when they are having trouble getting motivated and avoid a lot of uncomfortable conversations (compared to recommending other books for those who botch difficult conversations).

Susan's section on "stump speeches" is good for gaining clarity on personal vision (i.e., where are you going, why, who is going with you, and how will you get there?).

Once clear on "where you are going," it's time to start noticing and speaking about what "you're pretending not to know" (otherwise known as breakdowns -- yours or others).

Although "Fierce Conversations" doesn't cover the underlying emotions like "Difficult Conversations" or "Nonviolent Communications" do, or the styles under stress (silence or violence) as "Crucial Conversations" does, it does have some good discussion on "interrogating reality" (with an emphasis on questions and remaining curious) and identifying your own role in conversational breakdowns.

Fierce, difficult, crucial, nonviolent -- whatever you call these conversations, they're at the core of all meaningful relationships. I can definitely recommend "Fierce Conversations" to the mix of books on skillful conversations.

Packed With Knowledge!
This book offers numerous useful principles that will help anyone become a better conversationalist and a more responsive listener. Read carefully because gems of very valuable content are scattered through the entire book, a sentence here, a quotation there, buried in long, interesting digressions about the author's life, people she's known and clients she's worked with over time. A judicious editor could have made a very sharp and effective pocket book out of this material, which is about managing intense, strong discussions with skill. As it is, you'll have to do some digging, but you'll have a perfectly good time doing it, particularly if you are a fan of New Age mantras and can handle a little touchy-feely vocabulary. We assure you that the lessons you'll learn about conversations - including fierce ones - will stand you in good stead.

Not as Helpful as "Difficult Conversations."
I listened to both this and "Difficult Conversations." I found that "Diffiicult Conversations" offered much more helpful, concrete advice, and the material was much better organized. I was disappointed that the emphasis of "Firece Conversatons" was almost entirely on business related conversations. Example after example focused on her executive clients. After listening to this program, I felt no more prepared for conversations with friends and family than before. There were a few helpful ideas, but they were presented much more clearly in "Difficult Conversations." "Difficult Conversations" gave me real, practical strategies that have made a big difference in my ease in bringing up tricky conversations and working through them with positive results. ... Read more

Book Description

In the authors' random poll of 1,000 working people, 80 percent said that a single coworker contributed significant stress to their workday. Everyone has worked with someone "difficult" - someone who could always be trusted to blow up or say or do something provoking or inappropriate. Psychologists Alan Cavaiola and Neil Lavender have studied this much-discussed but rarely addressed area. Their research showed that the conventional wisdom that some problem workers are "just nuts" was right: a sizeable number of such employees do in fact have full-fledged personality disorders. In Toxic Coworkers, they pinpoint a variety of personality traits and disorders, showing how they come about and offering effective strategies for coping with them. The authors cover the range of familiar types, from hyperactives, histrionics, and sociopaths to narcissists and obsessive-compulsives and provide concrete techniques for surviving them. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

BULLIES - FAMILY / WORKPLACE / SCHOOL / NEIGHBORHOOD
I strongly recommend this book for anyone seeking to find help with frequent feelings of loneliness or emptiness, mood disorders, any type of addiction, identity issues, self-esteem issues, reoccurring unresolved anger, troubling relationship, boundary and trust issues.

Excellent compliments to this book are: The Angry Heart: Overcoming Borderline and Addictive Disorders by Joseph Santoro and Ronald Cohen; Emotional Blackmail: When People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation and Guilt to Manipulate You by Susan Forward and Donna Frazier; Why Is It Always About You?: The Seven Deadly Sins of Narcissism by Sandy Hotchkiss and James Masterson; The Narcissistic Family: Diagnosis and Treatment by Stephanie Donaldson-Pressman and Robert Pressman; Understanding the Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable and Volatile Relationship by Christine Ann Lawson; Living with the Passive-Aggressive Man by Scott Wetzler; Malignant Self Love: Narcissism Revisited by Sam Vaknin and Lidija Rangelovska (Editor); Children of the Self-Absorbed: A Grown-Up's Guide to Getting Over Narcissistic Parents by Nina Brown; Treating Attachment Disorders: From Theory to Therapy by Karl Heinz Brisch and Kenneth Kronenberg; Secrets, Lies, Betrayals: The Body/Mind Connection by Maggie Scarf; Toxic Coworkers: How to Deal with Dysfunctional People on the Job by Alan Cavaiola and Neil Lavender; Bully in Sight: How to Predict, Resist, Challenge and Combat Workplace Bullies by Tim Field.

And if you want to pursue the subject even further, you may be interested in reading The Narcissistic / Borderline Couple: A Psychoanalytic Perspective On Marital Treatment; Charred Souls: A Story of Recreational Child Abuse by Trena Cole; Sickened: The Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy Childhood by Julie Gregory and Marc Feldman; Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility by Jim Fay and Foster Cline.

toxic workplaces
This book is a mix of material lifted from the DSM IV (or whatever it's called today) and some anecdotal stories from the authors' own experiences, with some recommendations for 'dealing with type X' as a manager, employee, or coworker.

I'm reminded that the field of psychology would diagnose the majority of us with some form of disorder at some point in our lives, and the authors have extended this to the corporate world in a way that would label nearly everyone I've worked with in my career as suffering from one or more personality disorders. I can only think of a couple who really caused problems. The authors are overly-broad in their categorizations. For example, if your employees think your requests are unreasonable, then they must be passive agressive whiners. But you are narcisisstic or obsessive compulsive for making these requests.

One disappointment is that 'toxic workplaces' aren't mentioned until the second to the last page. Maybe some of the behavior that they describe as disorders are actually reasonable reactions for people in a toxic workplace. The authors describe large corporations, the government, and the military as being a good place for people of this or that disorder. Maybe working for the government makes you that way, not the other way around!

I didn't find much here that would be of help in dealing with bosses or coworkers. I think the various 'dilbert' books would be more genuinely useful, as well as more amusing. I think that most people just want to do their jobs with a minimum of corporate nonsense so that they can enjoy their lives outside of work with their remaining free time, which is why those of us who are not blessed with great wealth are enduring what for most of us are toxic workplaces.

have problems with fellow coworkers?
This book explains why Rob in accounting can be such a jerk at times. In other words, it assesses and explains personality disorders in the context of the workplace. I highly recommend it for people with problems at work, or anyone interested in personality disorders.

have problems with people at work?
Then you should read this book. This book examines personality disorders in the context of the workplace. It explains why that jerk in accounting is a jerk. It also tells you what to do when confronting these type of people. It's a interesting, well written book, for anyone with problems with people at work or anyone interested in personality disorders.

must have if you have annoying workers!
WORKING IN AN OFFICE YOU CAN BE DEALING WITH ALL TYPES OF PEOPLE.SOME THAT CAN GET YOU ON YOUR NERVES AND SOME THAT HAVE REAL PERSONALITY DISOREDERS. READING THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU HOW TO DEAL WITH ANY TYPE OF DISORDER. IT CAN BE YOUR BOSS, EMPLOYEE OR COWORKER. AFTER READING THIS BOOK AND APPLYING ALL THE INFORMATION THAT YOU LEARNED YOU WILL SEEE YOU'LL HAVE A MUCH EASIER TIME DEALING WITH THEM. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Insightful!
Author Anthony J. Alessandra identifies the four basic business personalities: Directors, Socializers, Relaters and Thinkers. As you come to appreciate the strengths of each of these styles, you also learn to put them to use. You will read about the drawbacks of each style and you will see how you can help people overcome them. The book is generally for managers who want to get more out of their employees. The authors include a section on how to apply The Platinum Rule to selling, which makes the book quite useful for anyone in a sales position. We [...] recommend this book to sales or personnel managers, and to other executives who want to understand and motivate people.

There is another dimension.
"As Chairman of the Bethel Institute, I recommend The Platinum Rule by Dr. Tony Alessandra, my clients all find it to be most useful. However, there is another dimension I'd like to suggest. I have six adult children and each is married. I have given the book to each one as a guide to a happier marriage. Tony has given us a tool to build relationships, understand ourselves, our partners and our children. Our most important and endearing relationships are at home. It seems appropriate to have a book of this magnitude to guide us in our efforts to achieve a happier personal life." Sheila Murrary Bethel, Chairman, Bethel Institute, Author: Making A Difference, 12 Qualities That Make You A Leader

Understanding Yourself Increases Your Sales
This book gives the student of human persuasion something to think about. Although not discovered by the authors, they outline four distinct personality styles. Knowing the style of your customer is a great advantage. They give numerous examples and insights on how to talk to and interact with the various styles. These examples and insights are very useful for a salesperson.

If you want to understand others first understand you. This work assists you in understanding what style personality you are. After understanding where you are coming from, you begin to understand where other people are coming from. This makes you an excellent communicator.

One of the most difficult areas of personal selling is figuring out what the customer really wants. This endeavor needs good communication skills on the part of the sales representative. Opening a window of communication with the customer is critical. And, you don't want the window to close when you have your neck out the window talking with the customer. Understanding how certain customers think about the world and other humans, helps with this window of communication. The authors give specific examples of how to talk to each personality style and what types of behaviors to expect.

The book is practical and the reader is immediately able to go from book to the field and use the techniques. If you are in the sales trade study this book. But we all need to sell ourselves and thinking about the techniques and concepts of this work will benefit anyone.

The golden rule... to the next level
The basic premise is that you should treat others not as you would want to be treated but how THEY would like to be treated. And the manner of treatment that they prefer may differ drastically from the manner of treatment that you may like. This is so obvious in its' simplicity I had to kick myself for not thinking of it on my own.

Now the real key is the ability to identify the differing personality types. The book has a very straightforward methodology for determining the 4 basic personality types and associated subtypes. Once you can classify individuals into the major types it becomes much easier to identify the most effective methods for dealing. Many of which are explored in the book.

When I read the book originally I was working for a startup company with one chief executive, a marketing director, myself the technology director, a chief financial officer, and others. I was shocked at how accurately the book described each of us as we related to the major personality types. I only wish that I had come upon this text prior to this experience as it would have helped me immensely in dealing with each of these individuals.

This is a very important and practical text for anyone who has to deal with diverse styles and motivations either in business or in their personal lives.

One of the best systems for improving communication
The Platinum rule presents an easy to learn and apply system of personality typing based on an individual's social style and interpersonal interaction. This