Reviews (7)

A real eye-opener
I thought this book was great. I had the opportunity to hear the author speak years ago and I felt like she was talking to me with her message - both in person and in the book. I'm a very logical person who never felt comfortable organizing in a file-laden, logical way. This book showed me how to use my strengths instead of fighting them.

A wonderful book for expansive, creative types
This book contains many useful tips for people like me--digressive, expansive, creative types. Perhaps the previous (negative) reviewer just has a (very) different style. Sure, for the more linear mind, traditional time management strategies probably work well. But not necessarily for me!

Even more than specific tips, I learned a lot here about how to value my style of thinking and being, and how I could take advantage of my creative mind for time management. The authors do not pretend that having an expansive, discursive mind, it is always _easy_ to keep all of life's little details together. They just provide lots of practical ideas that make it _easier_, by working _with_ the creative mind.

I found this book very different from all other time management books I have ever seen. What it gave me most of all, was an increased sense of faith in my personal style. I get the feeling that the authors are anything but lazy.

I liked this book a great deal.

S/B Titled: "How to get out of work for unmanageable people"
This book brings nothing new to the time management arena. The first page shows they are very politically correct in their writing to ensure no gender or culture is left out. I loved the newspaper style columns that are easy to read. The ink drawings are well done with direct quotes sprinkled throughout the book. As for the actual writing, most of the ideas in the book I came across in earlier books("Working Smart"). In a nut shell, they advise creative people to take their time, move from task to task as they feel like it. Go out and play, even though you have high priority project with a close deadline. (The Ant and the Grasshopper" comes to mind here.) The authors also spent a chapter knocking time management sayings such as "A messy desk is a sign of a cluttered mind" or "Handle each piece of paper once." They took these says too literally. They referred to many people in business whom I've never heard of saying how they used various techniques on the job to better control their time like scheduling meetings close to quitting time to keep the meeting from running long. If the workers want to stay after because the issue isn't resolved; its on their time I guess. That lead to workers doing things outside of their responsibilities. Here they used Southwest Airlines as an example. (The CEO's ink drawn picture is on the back of the book.) I must say SW Air is a well run company, but what works for them can be taken to disastrous levels in other industries under penny pinching mangers. Though the family atmosphere in a company environment is appealing; it's not realistic. I had previously been employed at companies that had that philosophy. As soon as business got bad, they laid us off without warning and went back to the old way of doing business. SW employees save the company money by having attendants clean cabins instead of a professional cleaning crew; off duty crew members helping out on flights serving passengers. It's looks admirable at first glance but when company managers start expecting this on a regular basis then that's were creativity and motivation goes down the drain. The message they deliver is confusing at best, possible due to the fact there's two authors. How to say "NO" to tasks even high priority ones could get someone fired if followed as written in the book. The book is more a discussion on Time management then a how to guide. What was once creative and innovating for individual workers is now expected. Downsizing has made this book obsolete for all but the self employed, housewife and artists. I wanted to give them 1 1/2 stars for the books layout but I had to give them whole stars. DOT-COMS used this philosophy and now they're gone. You can pass on this one. You not missing anything.

Confused, But Possibly Helpful
Looking at the trees, _Time Management for Unmanageable People_ was a jargon-laden, philosophically confused waste of time. But the forest wasn't so bad. The basic premise, that time management advice is too often useless and even harmful when applied to creatively disorganized people, seems sound. The book primarily functions as an alternative guide to time management for the creatively disorganized, discussing both why traditional techniques fail and suggesting some alternative methods. Unfortunately, both the theory and practice of the book tended to be shallow at best. So the primary virtue of this book certainly lies in its basic approach to the subject of time management: individual people need to find methods of time management that suit their unique strengths and help them overcome their weaknesses.

No guilt time management
If you are a "right-brained" person and have tried to follow other left brained time management programs with only fair success, this is the book for you. This author makes time management fun and flexible. I read about her book in another great time managment book by Lee Silber. You'll enjoy this book and get many good tips to help you be more productive. ... Read more

Book Description

Becoming skilled at doing more with others may be the single most important thing you can do to ensure that you remain employed in the emerging knowledge economy. Teamwork Is an Individual Skilloffers best practices, tips, and developmental activities for taking personal responsibility for the success of teams and other relationships at work. It equips you with a set of individual mental skills and behaviors that will help you create highly responsible and productive relationships. No longer will you find yourself complaining, "I got assigned to a bad team." Instead, you’ll know what to do to make teamwork work for you. This book aims to remove the ambiguity that exists around teambuilding by focusing on five abilities: (1) personal responsibility for productive relationships, (2) creating powerful partnerships, (3) aligning individuals around a shared purpose, (4) trusting just right, and (5) developing your collaborative mindset. Most importantly, Teamwork Is an Individual Skill shows that teamwork is an individual responsibility and skill set, not a group process, and shows how a person can be powerful when sharing responsibility to get things done. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The first sentence floored me
The book entitled "Teamwork is an Individual Skill" is quite interesting. I work at a large semi-conductor manufacturer as a non-exempt fab technician on a self managed team on night shift.

I am the most experienced and capable person on my team, yet with all of my background I have come to realize how relatively little influence I often have on team performance, and on my ability to push the team in the direction I think it should go. The very first sentence in your book on page 1, "Do you share responsibility with others to get work done but don't have authority over them (and they don't have authority over you)?" absolutely floored me, 'cause that is me to the tee.

I had only gotten to page 8 of your book when I was thoroughly blown away by the directness with which the differences between flat and hierarchical structures were addressed. At my company there is no mention of this approach; even once when I mentioned the term "semi-autonomous team" to the most qualified tech (who happened to be on day shift--arguably a more hierarchical environment due to the presence of many exempt employees) he did not know what the term meant. The company has this structure in place almost as an unwritten agenda.

Your comment on page 5, "Many individuals--especially smart, high achievers--can experience great angst if asked to serve in teams." is in retrospect a great source of comfort to help me understand my angst during my three years with this company. In all of the areas I have worked in during that time I am sure that I had (at least on paper) more qualifications than any one other person (B.S. deg, two A.A.S. degs, 12+ prior years of technical experience, and a whole host of other skills that my teammates do not exhibit.) Plus add to that, that my experience has almost exclusively come from a strongly tilted hierarchical background in retrospect is why I struggled with teams, as you describe them.

Every page of your book is quite thought-provoking, causing me to pause and reflect on how your observations compare to my situation.

Take Responsibility for Team Success
For years, I have resisted the popular notion of "there is no 'I' in "teamwork" because teams are a collection of individuals working toward a common goal. Each of us brings our own values and skill sets to the table. It is our choice to work together (or not) as a team.
Christopher M. Avery has captured this idea and more in his latest book, Teamwork is an Individual Skill: Getting Work Done When Sharing Responsibility. Chris suggests that individuals take responsibility for team success versus blame others He challenges the reader to be proactive and work through team issues rather than avoid or accommodate others.
This is a perfect book for team members who have been on teams before. It will validate good team behaviors and point out areas to upgrade...in a gentle and non-threatening way. The book is easy to read with lots of stories and examples to highlight the key points.

I use it in my MB A class
I have assigned this book as required reading for my MBA level course in managing individuals an teams. It has been a big hit. I have used other books in the past, but this is the first that really addresses the concerns that students have. I, and they, like the emphasis on the "individual" skills involved in
teamwork.

Teamwork is an Individual Skill
Exceptional book! This book will give you real life examples as well as opportunities to practice theories as an individual or with you team. Too many books and theories focus on the team as a whole. Mr. Avery makes people realize that it is an individual's choice that makes a team successful. Depending on your level of commitment and taking responsibility, everyone can be on a productive and inspiring team. I would highly recommend the book as well as Partnerwerks seminar, "Being Powerful in Any Team".

Whose fault is it when teams don¿t work?
Whose fault is it when teams don't work?

I was leery of the new book Teamwork Is an Individual Skill, by Christopher M. Avery, but got hooked halfway through the first chapter. If you work with people - as a manager, employee, business owner - even as a family member - you're likely to find valuable advice for building cooperative relationships and achieving common goals.

This is not a book about getting along with those you work with, or even about being nice to them. It's about helping them help you succeed. According to Avery, if you do your part (by taking responsibility for the team's performance), they'll do theirs. The team will achieve its goals, and everyone will be able to take the credit.

Following are a few of the book's suggestions:

· Realize that teams are defined not by the people on them but by what the team must do. To win individually, the members must win first as a team.

· Take responsibility for and act on troublesome situations, rather than waiting for those "in charge" to do so.

· Don't go along with something you are strongly opposed to. Without blaming, "push back," knowing that your silence would be equivalent to consent.

· Begin a team relationship with a contribution: evidence of your talents, special information to which you have access ... tools, contacts, whatever you have that supports the team's mission.

· Practice "servant leadership," Buckminster Fuller's concept of winning by helping others win.

The book continues with ideas for using conflict constructively, distinguishing criticism from feedback, building consensus, calling others on broken agreements, and much more. Avery has included individual and team exercises, so you can use Teamwork Is an Individual Skill as an employee-training manual. ... Read more

Book Description

THINK LIKE A BILLIONAIRE

It's not good enough to want it. You've got to know how to get it. Real estate titan, bestselling author, and TV star Donald J. Trump is the man to teach you the billionaire mindset -- how to think about money, career skills, and life. Here is crucial advice on investing in real estate from the expert. Trump covers everything from dealing with brokers to renovating, from assessing the value of property to buying and selling, and securing a mortgage. Trump will show you how to cut costs, decide how much risk to assume in your investments, and balance your portfolio. He'll also teach you how to impress anyone, correct or criticize someone effectively, and know if your friends are loyal -- everything you need to get ahead.

And what look inside the Trump world would be complete without The Apprentice? Trump will take you behind the scenes, from the end of season 1 and into season 2, with insights into the making and the meaning of TV's hottest show.

As Donald Trump proves, getting rich is easy. Staying rich is harder. Your chances are better, and you'll have more fun, if you think like a billionaire. This is the audiobook that will help you make a real difference in your life. ... Read more

Book Description

Delivers tools and strategies to become authentic, trail-blazing pioneers who will thrive in this age of unprecedented uncertainty. ... Read more

Book Description

Discover David Allen's powerful productivity principles and vastly increase your ability to work better, not harder -- every day.

The "guru of personal productivity" -- Fast Company -- asks listeners what's holding them back and shows how all of us can be "ready for anything" -- with a clear mind, a clear deck, and clear intentions.

Ready for Anything offers you ways to immediately:

• Clear your head for creativity
• Focus your attention
• Create structures that work
• Take action to get things moving

With wit, inspiration, and know-how, Ready for Anything shows us how to make things happen with less effort, stress, and ineffectiveness, and lots more energy, creativity, and clarity. This is the perfect audiobook for anyone wanting to work and live at their very best. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Packed with Knowledge!
Author David Allen lists 52 basic principles for productivity, including: write everything down, do the jobs that nag you, focus on the matter at hand and so on. As he notes, the principles are both simple to understand and difficult to implement. The book is essentially a collection of gleanings from the author's previous writings, so it does not present a systematic or unified approach to time and productivity management. However, Allen's straightforward tips are handy, if sometimes duplicative. The number 52 suggests that you might find one helpful tip to use each week in a one-year program of self-improvement and productivity management. In that case, repetition is probably a good thing, since bad habits tend to spring up again like weeds and require the same remedies often. The author is relentlessly upbeat, optimistic and witty, like a motivational speaker. That might be hard to read in a big chunk, but it is easy to digest if you spend a little time every week reading a recommendation and implementing it. We recommend this book to anyone who urgently needs help with time management and productivity.

Tune-up after Getting Things Done
While this is an outstanding book, I highly recommend his first work, Getting Things Done. Since this doesn't have a consistent narrative but is instead broken up into numerous tiny essays, it will be harder to get the maximum benefit from his approach to personal productivity from this alone.

Readers who "got" Getting Things Done don't need my advice on this one...they've already bought it I'm sure.

David Allen is probably the smartest personal productivity coach in print. I would buy Getting Things Done for every employee in my organization, and I would have copies of this one lying around to remind people and elaborate on some of the finer points.

Oh and I would like to add one point. I believe there is one thing missing from Mr. Allen's algorithm. That is finishing. I think his plan is outstanding for getting unstuck: figure out the next action, and do it without hesitation. But I don't find any attention paid to how to decide how many actions are "enough" for a desired outcome of a project.

You can always find some next action, and founder in what software engineers like myself call "permanent beta" or "feature creep." Yet external constraints are best not relied on exclusively for these decisions. It's best to volunteer a ruthless focus on the essence of your project's deliverable, isn't it?

So I would like Mr. Allen to write his next book about finishing projects, if he is able to develop insights into that stage as strong as his insights into the process of the middle stages.

A wonderful book. But why is it hard to read?
Mr. Allen's system is surprisingly simple - the realisation that we are monkeys; that keeping to do lists in our heads causes stress; get the list on paper and the stress goes away; we can do simple physical actions with ease. Use a paper filing system; the instruction to ask of each item in our In-tray 'what is the next physical action;' the instruction to deal with each item right now if it will take less than two minutes.

If Mr. Allen had merely described his system 1) you wouldn't believe it and 2) worse, you wouldn't 'just do it.' And JUST DOING IT does work, amazingly enough.

'Buy a label maker' - a surprisingly important part of Allen's system. That sounds nuts! Does he have shares in a label making company? Unlikely. Then Why? Remember the monkey approach. Simple physical tasks. Create files. Label them. Don't think. Do it. And then you look at the result. You have created it. You have invested in the system. You are that monkey.

And it works! A simple system that works!

As the Scots say, Mr. Allen is a very canny fellow.

I believe that Mr. Allen wrote his book so deliberately. He makes you invest in reading the book as he makes you invest in his system when you sit there printing labels for manila files.

It may be nuts but it is a very clever kind of nuts ;-).

David Allen understands how to get you going
This book made me take a new look at the clutter in my mind and life and helped me to create new goals and execute them. If you are stuck, this book will get you going. Read it and get Optimal Thinking-How to Be Your Best Self to learn how to overcome disturbing emotions without a therapist, bring your best self to every situation and achieve the best results. I can assure you with this combination, you will be ready for anything and optimize everything!

Invaluable! The ultimate book on getting things done
No, it's not one more planner, organizer, PDA or assistant that will rescue you from the chaos of your mind. It's David Allen.

He clearly leads the reader to understand the thinking behind the organizing, the process before the processing, that is required to maximize effectiveness and creativity. Once I grasped the underlying concepts and began to implement them , I got right to work with a clearer head and a more relaxed body. What immediate benefits!

Not only are David Allen's principles and insights invaluable, he writes in a style that demonstrates his love of language. So, two things in one when you buy this book--a good read and all you need to turn up your creativity and effectiveness.

As my company is called Optimize! Life Now, this book will be on my recommended reading list for my audiences and seminar participants. My coaching clients will definitely benefit from my having read this book and David's other, Getting Things Done. ... Read more

Book Description

Learn to minimize your stress level -- both at the office and at home -- to maximize your productivity and happiness.

Learn all you need to know about coping with stress in the workplace, from identifying the causes and symptoms of stress to monitoring your response to pressure and implementing coping strategies. Reducing Stress shows how to reorganize your work practices and think positively, plus it also provides practical techniques to use when dealing with potential problem areas. Power tips help you to handle real-life situations and develop first-class stress-management skills that will dramatically improve your ability to deal with pressure. The Essential Manager have sold more than 1.9 million copies worldwide! Experienced and novice managers alike can benefit from these compact guides that slip easily into a briefcase or a portfolio. The topics are relevant to every work environment, from large corporations to small businesses. Concise treatments of dozens of business techniques, skills, methods, and problems are presented with hundreds of photos, charts, and diagrams. It is the most exciting and accessible approach to business and self-improvement available. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Reducing Stress
As the other reviewer said this book is for everyone and as the writer himself says this book wont make your stress disappear from your life it can only help you minimize it. And when I bought this book it sure did minimize my work-related stress that affected everything in my life but it still remained there.
The more I minimized it the more it grew. I never were more confused until I re-read the book only to find the line I thought I've read and there it was saying "Stress is infectious".
Soon after, I said bad-bye to the job of my dreams which shocked
the world around me when they knew how madly in love I was with that workplace. Then as I have felt it in the beginning it turned
up to be that I was drowning and that if I didn't quit that job I would have refused myself the lifejacket So my advice to all of you who deal with stupid stress generator people is :

BE BLIND, DEAF and ignore them IF YOU are that strong,
or If you're weak like "I was" create a lifejacket for yourself,
grab it, swim to some other place. And as you know it the biggest
city on earth which must have billions of work positions available is not even bigger than your smallest nail - when you look at it in the globe and an usual globe is bigger than thousands of nails put together :) Think about it!

Something else that may help you too is Charlie Chaplin's saying
"Life is a tragedy when you look at it in close up but a Comedy in long shot".

Emotional despair? Reduce Stress!
How Stressed Are You? This is the first question arising in today's Tech times. World Health Organization has predicted that by 2020, depression will be the greatest burden of ill health in the developing world and will be the second largest cause of death and disability!!!! One wonders but sure this book has a great indepth dose of Reducing Stress pills of info with analysis Quiz on Page 16 that actually lets one recognize existence of stress and later reducing it. In Analyzing the causes of Stress, society, the working world and daily life have changed almost beyond recognition in the past 50 years and these changes have contributed to a major increase in stress, says the author. Many factors add fuel to blown minds as we deal coping with daily life. The book has cool tips on Getting Organized in life itself, manage time,check the attitudinal traits, taking out time to relax, understanding personality types, building better relationships and check Health. Emotional despair is a major health disorder and so, before it's late, check those Stress flaws and learn to use mind power through Tim Hindle's book on 'Reducing Stress' - a Good Pick.

This could help anyone in the workplace!
Some of these manager books are not just for managers. They could be read and enjoyed by all employees. Of all the books I have read, this one seems to be the most wide ranging and could help everyone in your office.

Let's admit it. Work and life in general can be stressful. How we cope with stress can be a key to our success. This book will show you how to reorganize your work practices. It also explains how thinking positively can reduce stress.

"Make sure your home office is separate from your living space." -pg 25

Well, I fail that one.

"Start each day stress-free by straightening up the night before." -pg. 40

This works!

Learning to say no is something I really have to work on. Some people do find it difficult to say no because they are afraid of causing offense. Sometimes you just have to be assertive, after all, it is your life!

There is a section on making a time to relax. there are exercises and relaxation techniques you can use and this makes the book very practical. Deep breaths, deep breaths....there, see you feel so much better now. If anything helps, breathing will! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Gem!!
I stumbed on this book after purchasing the Weekend Seminar by Jim Rohn on CD ROM. I had heard of Jim from other speakers like Tony Robbins but until now hadn't bothered to listen to any of his material. I found that his CD was just chock full of material and purchased this book as an abbreviated reference to many of his quotes.

Jim is more focussed on the business and financial aspect of self help -- although his advice does cross into different areas.

Highly recommended reading -- and you might also want to check out the Weekend Seminar CD set as well.

Great!!!!
I have been a Jim Rohn fan for over 20 years. His wisdom is priceless. I am a Real Estate broker and a Toastmaster. These quotes supply me with very good speaking material. The motivation and practical wisdom I receive from Jim Rohn keeps me headed in the right direction in my business. If you never have read or heard Jim Rohn, you owe it to yourself to invest in his books and tapes. ... Read more

Book Description

How to play it like a woman and succeed

"The authors have written a wonderful, insightful book to guide women to the top of the pyramid, and to their fullest potential as leaders and women in the fullest sense of both terms."­­Mark Bryan, author of The Artists' Way at Work

"Freeing, insightful, validating, and best of all, practical. Any woman who reads this book will be forever changed by it."­­Patricia Aburdene, author of Megatrends for Women

"Dancing on the Glass Ceiling is a joy of discovery for professional women."­­Rikki Klieman, anchor, Court TV

Going against the grain of three decades of popular business thinking, Dancing on the Glass Ceiling contends that women have been shooting themselves in the foot by trying to play like a man. Backed by research, interviews, and real-life experiences, authors Candy Deemer and Nancy Fredericks explain why relying instead on feminine-based skills such as intuition, relationship building and communication is more likely to get a woman where she wants to go in business­­above the glass ceiling.

Written in a friendly tone and featuring quizzes and self-assessments, Dancing on the Glass Ceiling is a workshop in a book that gives women the inspiration and practical tools to help them truly transform their careers and their futures. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Dancing on the Glass Ceiling : Tap into Your True Strengths,
"Dancing on the Glass Ceiling" is one of the most unique guides available for working women. It's a great read and an even better practical resource.

In my experience, many women struggle to find a balance between their values, their femininity, and their drive to succeed in the workplace (thankfully, having read the book I know for sure it's not just me!) Deemer and Fredericks approach these issues from a unique perspective: being a woman in business is a strength, not a weakness!

Some titles geared towards working women emphasize the "male" way of doing business, as if to familiarize women with how men think when they're at work. They are great guides for anyone interested in the politics of business. "Dancing on the Glass Ceiling" is somewhat different in that it explores how women can benefit from their femininity in the workplace: e.g. how women's unique communication and managerial skills can be harnessed for success. To my knowledge, "Dancing on the Glass Ceiling" is special in this respect - I haven't seen any other titles that would so broadly pull together issues of women's work, their values, and their goals.

As a working woman, I found it liberating to read how I could incorporate my femininity into who I am at the work place. I would highly recommend this title for any woman who is interested in advancing her career and "staying true to herself."

Dancing on the Glass Ceiling
Dancing on the Glass Ceiling gave me both life balance and work success. If you follow the 10 steps the authors give you--you can be a SVP at a worldwide company top in it's field and work only three days a week. I feel very lucky to jump from meetings with chairmans to the kids' car pool on a weekly basis. If you want to get what you want out of life hurry and get Dancing on the Glass Ceiling now!
Marianne Ellis, SVP DDB Worldwide
P.S. Don't cheat. Do all the lessons in the book without fail, especially the ones you don't think you need. Those will be the most important ones.

Great professional AND personal advice
"Dancing on the Glass Ceiling" is the perfect combination of intuitive and practical advice - just like a woman! The real world examples make the information relevant to any working woman, and lend credibility to the authors' advice.
Jam-packed with great information - all of it useful - this book is well organized with easy-to-implement recommendations. This book is a terrific guide for not just your working life, but your overall life as well! After doing just one or two things the authors recommend, my life has shifted dramatically.

Great professional AND personal advice!
"Dancing on the Glass Ceiling" is the perfect combination of intuitive and practical advice - just like a woman! The real world examples make the information relevant to any working woman, and lend credibility to the authors' advice.

Jam-packed with great information - all of it useful - this book is well organized with easy-to-implement recommendations. This book is a terrific guide for not just your working life, but your overall life as well! Even if you do just one or two things the authors recommend, your life will shift dramatically.

A Woman in Management
Dancing on the Glass Ceiling is the best "how to" book I've read on women in management. Thirteen women and two men report to me and we're all reading it. I just wish it had been available ten years ago when I was with a different company and coming up through the ranks; it would have saved me a great deal of frustration and heartache.

Now, the book is helping me to deal not only with my bosses but to effectively manage the people under me. Easy to read, not preachy. Everyone in business should read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

A book that trains the reader in the art of relaxed concentration--the secret of high performance in business and life. Using juggling to convey its vital lessons, this empowering approach to self-development is based on current brain and learning research and balances humor and playfulness with serious purpose. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

I still can't juggle much
I can juggle 3 balls but I struggle with 4. Maybe I didn't read the book properly or something.

The ultimate success book
If you want to achieve your full potential in anything you are ever to do, whoever you are, look no further. This book helps with just that. Written in a playful tone, and with practical examples from the game of juggling, you will find all the confidence, courage and mental skills to do anything you aspire. As the book also teaches juggling, it's style will feel a bit unfamiliar to most readers, but considering how it improved my life I MUST give it a 5 star. Check out books about accellerated learning by the same authors as well.

An insightful book for jugglers and non-jugglers alike
A wonderful book. I am a very experienced juggler and found Gelb and Buzan's use of juggling as a metaphor for achieving success quite refreshing. The book is thoughtful and insightful and is readily accessable to jugglers and non-jugglers alike.

Oog. A silly book
This is more an inspirational book than a good source of juggling information. In common with many books of its kind, it stresses the (alleged) benefits of juggling skills while shorting readers on technical advice. Better to read a purely inspirational book if you need that, or a book on juggling technique if your interests lie that way. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great quick read
This is a great book for anyone needing to get to the source of help they need quickly. I use it often as a fast refresher and as a constant guide in my daily endeavors, whether it be professional or personal. I recommend this to all who are starting in management, sales, or just simply wanting to improve your outlook on life and reduce stress. But you don't have to take my word for it.....(Reading Rainbow theme in background...) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Heralded as "the Nostradamus of marketing" by Fortune magazine, Faith Popcorn is the premier trend guru; her national bestseller The Popcorn Report identified the business and personal trends that took off in the early 90's, from "cocooning" to "cashing out."Nobody has been more accurate in demonstrating how to profit from tracking the trends, and in Clicking, Popcorn describes how to CLICK into more recently identified trends to future-fit themselves professionally and personally.Clicking is an invaluable road map to the newest lifestyle trends.It's about possibilities, taking chances, and taking charge of the future -- now. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Decent Concepts
Despite the fact this book has an awful cover, it is useful. Faith Popcorn presents a valid argument that we as a society need to observe the trends that are driving our culture. Some of the trends include, cocooning, clanning, icon-toppling among others. These trends make sense and are backed up by anecdotal evidence gathered by the author's company.
Faith is a futurist marketer, trying to predict what will happen next, and what consumers will want. There is some wiggle room, I believe, between the forces of what consumers want and what companies and culture demand that the consumer has to buy. Faith leans more towards trends should drive companies, rather than companies driving trends. Overall a useful book, but at this point some of the material is out of date, (note the 97 publishing date), but I am sure Faith is somewhere 'popping' some more ideas at her company, the 'brain reserve.' One pick with this book is the concept of 'female think' & 'mancipation.' While there is some validity to what Faith is saying, why does the chapter on 'female think' get two chapters and all other trends (17) get just one? Fair and Balanced? Faith, you are successful, quit trying to prove it to the boys club, who cares what they think of you, you are doing a great job. Just some observations. Grade of 'B'

Joseph Dworak

Useless drivel
Trends? I'd say Faith is more of a keen observer of what's happening NOW rather than what may soon be. The first 20 minutes of the 90 minutes I heard (the audiobook) was a combination of wordsmithing, technospeak and self-promotion. If you want a good book about REAL unfolding trends, pick up Robert Reich's "Future of Success." He's not selling a product.

This is a really good book.
This is a really good book. I learned a lot. I keep it on a shelf near my desk so people think I read it. I quote the parts I did read in meetings so people think I am cool.

Missed your Target!
The book is recommended for college students yet most of the text is intended for the baby boomer generation and not the new savvy student. Better luck next time.

Clicking : 17 Trends That Drive Your Business -- And Your
This is a very good book for anyone interested in long term trends and how to forsee some of the main trends for the future. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Mentally Tough
I attended a workshop by the author and read his book following the seminar. Both focused on the fact that one must have balance in ones life to be successful. It pointed out that to be mentally tough you must also work on physical fitness. As a result, I lost over 20lbs., ran a marathon, have more time and energy to accomplish more in my life than I ever have. This program is realistic and attainable for the busiest person.

Excellent lifestyle recipe for sharpening your abilities.
This book was used in seminars at Apple to keep employees at peak performance mentally and physically. It outlines a detailed strategy for adjusting your body chemistry through a combination of diet, exercise, and laughter. I've just finished a weight-loss diet that dropped me 20 pounds to my ideal weight. Now I am going on the mentally tough program to maintain myself at peak performance ... Read more

Amazon.com

Advancing Women in Business--The Catalyst Guide: Best Practices from the Corporate Leaders is literally a self-help manual for anyone interested in expanding management opportunities for women while simultaneously advancing larger business objectives. Produced by the nonprofit Catalyst organization and opening with a foreword by its president Sheila Wellington, the book presents an array of practical suggestions for developing programs that ultimately benefit all employees and positively impact the bottom line. A variety of helpful resources are identified, and laudable programs at companies such as Eastman Kodak, Sara Lee, and Motorola are described. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Invaluable Benchmarks
For those organizations which seek to establish and then sustain programs which optimize the talents of the women whom they employ, this is an immensely informative book. Of even greater value than the information provided are the specific suggestions it offers based on three decades of research on all manner of companies. Catalyst is a non-profit organization which "partners with U.S. corporations and professional firms that understand the critical power of women at work, that know that women's advancement is not a feel-good or even a do-good issue but a bottom-line practicality."

The Catalyst Award is given to those corporations which have achieved lasting, measurable results in this area. The book examines many of these corporations. For example: IBM, Avon Products, E.I. du Pont de Nemours, Eastman Kodak, Arthur Andersen, Motorola, American Airlines, Morrison & Foerster, McDonald's, J.C. Penney, Dow Chemical, Knight-Ridder, Texas Instruments, and Allstate. I hasten to point out that most (if not all) of the information and suggestions provided by the book are also relevant to small-to-midsize organizations and may indeed be of even greater value to them than to (let's say) "Fortune 100" companies.

Advancing Women in Business is divided as follows:

Part I. Changing the System

Part II. Best Practices

Part III. Resources: The Catalyst Award

"The Catalyst Approach" can maximize the value of a workforce by "capitalizing on the talents of women" only if all efforts are made within an "inclusive, problem-solving, comprehensive program." Specifically, first establish a strong foundation by connecting each initiative explicitly to a business rationale; next, build a fact base by gathering information that will create the baselines for evaluating each initiative's progress; finally, develop, pilot, and implement action plans whose initiatives achieve practical solutions tailored to the organization's environment. How? Several dozen corporations are examined which illustrate what the "Catalyst Approach" requires of those involved in its implementation. Specific strategies and tactics are discussed. Results are measured and evaluated. I rate this book so highly because I think it is very well written, because it provides a wealth of important information about "best practices from the corporate leaders", and because it includes a number of practical suggestions as to HOW to derive greatest benefit from that information.

Frankly, I had hoped that a gender-specific book such as this would not be relevant in the year 2000. Well, unfortunately, it is. I now hope that enough people buy it and enough organizations are guided by it so that one day very soon, my granddaughters will read it and then ask me "What's this all about? Was it really like that? That's ridiculous!" Yes it is.

INTERESTING TOUR DE FORCE OF BEST PRACTICES.
The book begins with a three phase approach for advancing women that is basic to all successful initiatives. It explores some of the best practices of corporations to provide advice on women's advancement issues. It also briefly highlights the programs of numerous Catalyst award winners. The book is based on Catalyst's research reports, case histories, and best practices. This is an interesting tour de force of best practices. Reviewed by Gerry Stern, founder, Stern & Associates, author of Stern's SourceFinder: The Master Directory to HR and Business Management Information & Resources, Stern's CyberSpace SourceFinder, and Stern's Compensation and Benefits SourceFinder. ... Read more

Book Description

This remarkable system of organization approaches getting organized from a perspective that emphasizes the importance of integrating work with personal goals, handling change, and thriving in today's economy. Step-by-step instructions are given on how to prioritize and accomplish more high-value work, deal with instant communication and information overload, and create a versatile work space-at the office, at home, or on the road. Businesspeople learn how to manage time, simplify paperwork, and maximize filing systems-including files stored on the computer. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Very useful
I highly recommend this book. If you have had a reputation for being disorganized in the past, by following the instructions here you can really clean up your act. This book includes chapters on how to arrange tickler systems, how to keep your hard drive orderly and high-functioning, and hundreds of tips on how to trim minutes off tasks. The arrangement of the book is effective and clear, and the presentation of concepts is well-written too. This book isn't just for office managers--as a professional I find it extremely useful.

As practical and applicable as it is "reader friendly"
Now in an updated and expanded fourth edition, Susan Silver's Organized To Be Your Best!: Simplify And Improve How You Work continues to be an indispensable instruction manual enabling the reader to control multiple, ever-changing projects and priorities, intense workloads and information overload. Readers will learn to manage email, voice, fax, and other instant communications, devise a time and information management system tailored to their needs, work more effectively with others, master a messy desk and "piles of files", maximize the work space (including alternative, virtual, and home offices), and get the most from the computer and the Internet. Very highly recommended, Organized To Be Your Best! is as practical and applicable as it is "reader friendly" and workplace productivity improving.

Contains all the tips for organizing your life at work
Wow! Dubbed "The Bible of Organization" by the media, the latest edition (4th, to be exact) is not a disappointment. The author (Susan Silver) has included all the tips you need for organizing your life at work, from time management to streamlining your workspace and all the points in between.

Whether you are looking for tips on managing projects or trying to create an organized workspace, Organized To Be Your Best! is the one guide you need for balancing it all.

Organized to be the Best-No office should be without it
I have had this book for years and have used it in many work/office situations. It has served me well as a reference book whenever I have had a need to keep myself and my work organized. It's also great to read through the entire book to get practical tips and information. Most of the ideas presented are very simple but it's those simple ideas which can make your life easier and save you loads of time and stress. I have found this book to be well worth the money spent and I believe that you will agree. If you want to be more organized in your work and your life - this book will help you achieve that goal!

surfergal ... Read more

Book Description

Había una vez dos ratoncitos y dos hombrecillos que vivían en un laberinto. Estos cuatro personajes dependían del queso para alimentarse y ser felices. Como habían encontrado una habitación repleta de queso, vivieron durante un tiempo muy contentos. Pero un buen día el queso desapareció...

Esta fábula simple e ingeniosa puede aplicarse a todos los ámbitos de la vida. Con palabras y ejemplos comprensibles incluso para un niño, nos enseña que todo cambia, y que las fórmulas que sirvieron en su momento pueden quedar obsoletas. El "queso" del relato representa cualquier cosa que queramos alcanzar "la felicidad, el trabajo, el dinero, el amor" y el laberinto es la realidad, con zonas desconocidas y peligrosas, callejones sin salida, oscuros recovecos... y habitaciones llenas de queso.

Escrito por un autor de fama internacional, este relato está prologado por un renombrado consultor empresarial. Sus enseñanzas han servido de inspiración en todo tipo de compañías y organizaciones empresariales. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Simple, pero lleno de verdades que no queremos ver.
La historia del libro es jocosa y me ayudo a ver como en el pasado yo enfrente los cambios: en el trabajo, con mi familia, con los amigos... Se que me ayudara a enfrentar los cambios del futuro y a no cometer los mismos errores.

Una Libra muy bueno por el mundo
Yo trabajo mucho y tengo pequeno dinero. Este libra es el grande de spectaculous. Voy al bibliotecha. ?Donde esta la playa nudista? !Que lastima! DOS chicas en la cosina? Mi toquadisco esta descompuesto! Tengo una dolor en mi cabesa. Gracias.

Useless, stupid
Anyone who is reading me is able to adapt to technology. Do we need a stupid book to tell us so?

Una Fabula deja mas
Pobre literatura y muchas vueltas y palabras para algo tan simple. Cuesta trabajo acabar el librillo de lo aburrida que es la trama. Todo el libro se puede resumir en unas cuantas páginas no en un libro.

bueno, interesante
es un buen libro. ameno e interesante. aunque algunos lo clasifiquen como libro para babies, estoy seguro que les ha ayudado a desbloquearse en un momento u otro.
por algo sera un best seller y por algo infinidad de empresas que aparecen en Forbes lo recomiendan a sus empleados. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

A great way to get you thinking outside the box
Jump Start Your Brain teaches us how to maximize our brainpower and apply creativity to invent ideas that lead to results while having fun. The author has built a successful business called Richard Saunders International that applies this technique, which he calls Eureka! Stimulus Response. He had used this technique to create new products for companies such as Pepsi-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Nike, AT&T and Walt Disney Consumer Products. As you'll read--they worked!

The author indicates that his Eureka Stimulus Response system is the best way to hold creativity sessions where high-energy brainstorm techniques allow us to think more effectively in less time. Throughout the book, he recommends techniques that will help you accomplish this.

The Cramer-Krasselt book club took the author's advise to heart. We rented a bowling alley/bar and decorated the room with mounds of candy and toys. Our task was to first think of what type of businesses were missing from the building in which we are located. Then we had to identify the type of services it/they would provide, name it and then promote it.

Our creativity session was a huge success! In only 1-1/2 hours we managed to identify four types of businesses that were missing in our building, named them, determined services they would provide and developed a publicity campaign to promote them. And most importantly, we learned that using the author's brainstorm techniques allowed us to obtain the results we wanted in half the time it would take in a "normal" brainstorm while still having fun.

The author indicates that his Eureka Stimulus Response system is the best way to hold creativity sessions where high-energy brainstorm techniques allow us to think more effectively in less time.

Although the author uses about half of the book to boast his claim to fame, the other half provides noteworthy tips and techniques that can be used in almost any brainstorm. The techniques are not limited to any particular profession. Thus, the book is highly recommended for anyone in any profession.

Jump start Doug's ego...buy this book.
It seems to me that this book could have had a lot more impact and would have proven much more credible if the author had spent more time on the real subject and less time on the subject of himself. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of good ideas in here. The message gets really bogged down though, with all this talk of "I did this...I did that....I'm Ben Franklin reincarnated...yadda yadda yadda". Hall ends up spending so much time off of the subject that it's easy to get lost and discouraged with reading this book. I'm glad if anyone finds something great in here, but I would have been happier with a shorter, leaner, and therefore, more effective version. If I were to write a book and get as far off of my subject as Hall has with this one, I would hope my editor would have the sense to hit me in the face with a humble pie.....oooh, now wouldn't that be creative!

How to think outside the box in which the inner box resides
After receiving this hot-off-the-press book as a gift in early 1995, I read it immediately. Not that I was expecting to do so, since I had already considered myself a creative individual, but after reading how Doug Hall's background was similar to mine, in that my background also included Chemical Engineering, Marketing, and Procter & Gamble, I gave this book a chance and did not regret it - to the point that I have referred to it a number of times over the years. Although some of the reviewers here are right to suggest that Hall does his share of self-promotion in the book, many of us would probably do the same thing, and although Hall has some fluff in the book, it does not amount to a Stephen King novel-amount of fluff. Quite simply, although many of us feel that we can think outside of the box, I think that, to some degree, Hall demonstrates that we need to think outside the box in which the inner box resides. For example, of the dozens of exercises in the book, one of the simplest, Brain Program #12, is one of my favorites. Essentially, using some dice, the objective of the exercise is to force-associate related elements of a problem in random sequence, increasing the number of connections that would not have been forged otherwise. In addition to the creativity exercises, this book has quite a few quotes related to creativity and persistence. One of my favorites is from Benjamin Franklin: "Up sluggard, and waste not life; in the grave will be sleeping enough".

400 pages of gas
The book is garbage, one big fat self-serving ad for his own products and services (I've never seen so many "TM"s and "R"s per page -- all for other stuff he wants to make money from -- along with endorsements from corporations like Disney). Basically, the guy says that in order to be creative you should act like a child and be random. His favorite tool to encourage the former is the Woopee cushion, which he mentions half a dozen times in the first half of the book, as if it were some sort of brilliant new invention. (Maybe he has stock in the company.) Here are a few of the other ways to release your inner child so as to be rich and successful: throw water balloons and shoot people with squirt guns; spin until dizzy; play catch in the office hallway; blow bubbles in the faces of your fellow concert-goers; let food dribble out of your mouth next time you go to a restaurant; give your boss a wedgie... you get the idea. In other words, be a big fat pain in the ... and accuse anyone who doesn't think you're funny of being brain dead (one of his favorite terms for people who don't see things his way). Dude, get a clue. There are other reasons people might not to want to get a water ballon thrown at them. Anyway, this is pretty much his one insight, repeated over and over, interspersed with trite comments about the magic of childhood and quotes about Doug Hall from his family members and former bosses. Of yeah, he also has suggestions for stimulating creativity by being "adventurous," such as "Take a different route to work or school" (gee, I've never heard THAT one before) and "Purchase the #1 paperback on the best-seller list." Anyway, once you've learned how to fart at will and do daring things like eat at a restaurant you've never eaten at before, you'll start getting lots of "wicked good" ideas (another of his favorites) and make lots of money, just like Doug Hall.

Where's The Beef?
Couldn't finish it. Much of the book is the author telling us what a smart guy he is. I didn't get anything useable from it. ... Read more

Book Description

Being able to build effective relationships is at once the most important factor and the most frustrating challenge in creating success and satisfaction at work. Most people quit a job or are fired not because of their performance but because of interpersonal problems with their boss, co-workers, or team members. Addressing the tangled web of work relationships, this book illuminates the hidden causes of poor work relationships, shows how to break the silence and have a conversation that is "dying to happen," and shows how to build trust, expand influence, and keep things positive between people. The book also offers a step-by-step approach for diagnosing what the "real" problem is in a dysfunctional relationship, and provides a proven process and tools for raising difficult issues.With thirty engaging exercises, this book will help anyone who must interact with others at work develop positive strategies for getting things done together productively, collaboratively, and enjoyable. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Solid Effort!
If you’ve been at loggerheads with a co-worker, calm down and read this. Bob Wall takes a close look at why the ubiquitous “personality problem” persists at work. His conclusions boil down to basics: Co-workers mix professional and personal relationships, confuse organizational roles and expectations, and simply clash due to dislike or incompatibility. He offers a number of familiar solutions to workplace conflict, advising you to pick your battles, agree to disagree and consider the possibility that you might be at fault. Not exactly rocket science, but Wall’s book is fresh, easy-to-read and reader-friendly. We ... recommend this book primarily to supervisors, who will find the dissection of professional relationships useful in managing your sometimes-hard-to-understand employees.

An important job and business practice guide.
This practical, important business books offers specific advice for users interested in business advice and enhancement. Bob Wall's Working Relationships presents facts on how to get along with friends and foes alike in a business setting. From building professional relationships and understanding different personality types and their motivations to handling complaints and requests, this provides an important job guide.

Working Relationships: The Simple Truth about Getting Along
This book is both practical and insightful. I could easily relate the situations described to my own. Mr. Wall provides down-to-earth and effective solutions to at-work problems that have the potential to ruin the day, the week - and sometimes the job! The principles can be applied to personal relationships as well.

great tool for anyone who works with people
I found this book to be an enjoyable read as well as a great resource for solving problems at work. It has some great excersizes to do and believe me they do work. This book is a must to own for anyone who needs help with a situation or problem at work . ... Read more

Book Description

• Do you set goals for yourself only to find they go unmet?
• Do you recite daily affirmations that never become realized?
• Do you ever listen to motivational speakers but find you quickly lose your enthusiasm?

How many times have you set out to achieve your goals only to find yourself falling short of the mark? Over the years, we've been inundated by methods of achieving success -- goal setting, daily affirmations, self-help gurus, and subliminal messaging. But these standard techniques have failed us time and time again. So what does work and how do we go about living the life we've always dreamed of having? Is it even possible?

Not only is it possible, with The DNA of Success, it's inevitable. Success is not something "out there" -- it's an inside job. We all possess what it takes to achieve our greatest desires. But first, to find the motivation and direction our lives lack, we need to pinpoint our Core Desires -- those things in life for which we have an intense, unwavering, and deeply felt need. Whether you want to earn more money, establish deeper relationships, boost your self-confidence, or deepen your spirituality, you must first identify your Core Desire -- that intense want that drives you from within.

• Do you know what you desire most in your heart?
• Do you have a sense of what it will take to realize those desires?
• Are you willing to do whatever it takes?

Jack Zufelt, a top professional speaker and highly acclaimed trainer, knows that all success is a result of the power within us. As The DNA of Success explains, Core Desires are the trigger mechanisms that unleash the Conquering Force. Your Conquering Force is your innate ability to act effectively in a pursuit of your Core Desires. Once you tap into your Conquering Force, you will overcome all obstacles and resistance in your way to achieve amazing results -- every time.

Don't waste your valuable time and energy writing goals, visualizing your success, or repeating mantras -- The DNA of Success smashes the myths of achievement and teaches you to find the cause of success within yourself. Through case histories, business examples, real-life stories, testimonials, success tips, and proven advice, Zufelt reveals the new, in-depth psychology and personal habits that have won him the respect of his colleagues and the praise of the many thousands he has inspired. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A Paradigm Shift With A Monumental Impact
This book is the ultimate reference guide and coach for long term happiness and success. I've read dozens of self-help books, listened to tapes and attended courses, none of which have the impact of Jack's message. He gets right to the point with such clarity and genuine desire for people to truly understand what determines why we do, say and feel things, and equally why we don't. He truly calls it as it is. No false illusions here, but real answers.

I am truly indebted to Jack for finally giving me the clarity of understanding to apply what he teaches to my personal life, my family and my business. He has changed my view of both myself and others forever. This is the most empowering message you will find in this field.

Read this book in its entirety, or simply take each of his soul searching questions and find out what they reveal about you. He challenges us to go to the point of truth and the results are not simply profound, but will probably provide more insight from one simple question than months with any psychologist. This is a must read for everyone - what have you got to lose, but a happier. more fulfilled life? Thanks Jack.

A must have book if you are serious about success!
I have read a lot of self help and motivational books over the last 15 years. I would have to say that Jack's book is one of the top 5 I have read. He is very clear and concise on what a person needs to do to cut through all the hype and accomplish one's "core desires". Jack does an excellent job explaining why people fail or succeed. He is very clear on explaining what a person needs to do to reap the rewards of success. I have put some of Jack's suggestions from his book to the test and have already started to see incredible, immediate success. This is a great book which I will gladly be recommending to all of my family, friends and business associates. This is a "must have" for anyone serious about getting what they want out of life and accomplishing what matters most to them. An excellent book that I whole heartedly recommend!

Self-Help books not working? Try Zufelt!
If you are one of the millions of people who have bought all of the self help books, tapes, set affirmations, swished yourself and anchored yourself, set goals untill you were blue in the face ad nauseum, went to this guys seminar and that guys seminar and nothing happened. Welcome to the club! How about trying something new and different.

Jack Zufelt covers some of the same things those other gurus do, but where they stop, Jack takes over. In this refreshin