5 comments about The Closers, part 1.

1. The sales techniques touted in this book may have worked in the '70's & '80's. Today's consumer is more sophisticated and better informed and would be insulted by the majority of these methods.



2. This book was recommended to me by a colleague so I decided to add it to my library. This book offers many great tips, techniques, and sales scripts for closing more sales. The format is easy to read and understand and the books covers a lot of material that is very useful. Want to close more sales and make more money? Spend the money and get this "must have" book!



3. By the Author of: One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel
   
   This book is written in the form of a story, which is one of the best ways to learn. Ben Gay III unfolds easy to follow characters: one a teacher of life and sales, the other a student.
   
   Anyone in sales will recognize the various personality types and situations. More importantly, how do deal with them makes this book more of a reference for closing sales. Trying to remember the types of closing techniques and less importantly, the names, I found myself reading it over and over again.



4. If you have ever considered sales a game of psychological warfare, this book will resonate with you immediately. Gay does a venerable job analyzing the psychological profile of prospects as well as the attack methodology encompassing the art of the close. Gay handles common objections and even goes into such depth as to cover industry specific closes.
   
   Without question anyone is sales should be aware of the content presented in this book. The Closer's only weakness is that it contains so much information it at times reads like an encyclopedia. As a reference book, there are few sales books that provide as much quality content as this one and thus I recommend this book to anyone seeking to succeed in any form of sales.



5. I lerned a lot from this book, more than I have from any of the old greats. This is new and exciting stuff that will take you to a new level in sales...

5 comments about Yes or No: The Guide to Better Decisions.

1. I have worked personally with Dr. Johnson on this material and have fully tested it in my own life and career. It really works! This elegant yet profound model for clear thinking will assure that you honor both your heart and your head when making choices. The parable teaches the model in ways the reader doesn't even notice. I've read the entire book aloud with my family and read it again on a plane trip alone. It will make sense of so many things. Buy it now and keep reading it as long as you keep making decisions. :-)



2. I knew there was something missing in the way I was making decisions in my life. Although, I thought, I was making good decisions I really wasn't. After reading this book I have learned how to make "better decision." Dr. Johnson writes in story form the message that's easy to understand and adapt. This is a book that should be read and reread by everyone from adolescence on.



3. Being a person who can never make up their mind, I decided it wouldn't hurt to read a book about better decision making. I enjoyed reading this book because it told a story about a man who used a 'Yes' or 'No' system to make better decisions. This made it easier to understand and apply the system to your own problems. In the story the man talks to many people who have used the system sucessfully. They give him lots of examples on how to arrive at better decisions. The 'Yes' or 'No' system is broken down into two main questions to ask yourself when making decisions. One is a practical question and the other is a private question. This allows you to use the system while making personal decisions or buisness decisions. Every day we are all faced with decisions, big and small. I have realized, from reading this book, that I seem to not think my decisions through as well as I should. I am sure that many other people share similar problems. This book acknowledges what we may not want to admit to ourselves. That many of us are knowingly making poor decisions, but we do not have the time or effort to turn them into better decisions. Reading this book may sound like a life saver to some people, but of course not everyone is going to walk away with better decision making skills. Like everything else in life, it will take time and patience to improve your decision making. But for those of you who would like to, this book could start you off on your way to turning poor decisions into better ones.



4. Johnson offers a very helpful book in this volume. He presents a simple guide for decision-making, one that will undoubtedly enhance the process for many persons. He essentially describes a two-step decision procedure, examining one's thinking on a given issue, then examining one's feelings on the same subject.

   While not as good as the One-Minute Manager classic and its accompanying volumes, this work likely will help those persons seeking to bolster their decision-making abilities.




5. "Yes or No" is a story about the process of decision making and how it can be improved to make better decisions. The book tells the technique through a story of "a man" who goes on a hike with a group and learns of the 2 questions he needs to ask himself when making decisions.
   
   The first of the 2 questions is: Am I meeting the real need, informing myself of options, and thinking it through? This is a head-based question to focus on where we are going, and to get as much information as possible.
   
   The second question is: Does my decision show I am honest with myself, trust my intuition, and deserve better? This is a heart question to contact our subconscious and make sure the decision is not being made out of fear or self-defeat.
   
   Both of these 2 questions are excellent to ask for each decision. I do wish the author had taken more time to explain how to come to a conclusion for each part of the questions, but it was still worth the read. I highly recommend this book. 4 out of 5 stars.

5 comments about Your Right To Be Rich.

1. I have the print version of Think and Grow Rich as well as this set of CD's and they nicely complement one another. While much of what is in the CD can be gleaned from the book, it is good to listen to Mr. Hill's lectures to reinforce the material.
   
   That said, I must say I made the mistake of listening to the CD's in the car while commuting to and from work. The angst of driving in Southern California doesn't allow for proper attention to be paid to the material in the recordings. My suggestion is that you find a quiet, isolated place to listen to the CD's and then really focus on what Mr. Hill is saying. He is full of knowledge and is also an entertaining speaker. You will not get bored listening to him! It will be so much more valuable than zoning out watching mindless, worthless television shows.
   
   Much of what he says is really nothing more than common sense but it is helpful to have it all contained in one setting, plus how many of us know what we ought to do but don't do it? I believe if a person truly applies the principles and techniques advocated by Mr. Hill, there is no doubt they will be successful.
   
   The Amazon price for the 9-CD set is well worth it. Just make sure you set yourself up in the proper listening environment, then act on what he says.



2. Mr. Hill has the success system that never fails. This is one of the men that Anthony Robbins copied to build his personal power series. A very good buy.



3. I love this audiobook set. It is helping me understand my business and explode it to the top better than any audiobook I have ever purchased.
   Mr. Hill is definitly the best motivator I have ever listened too. His practical approach to Life as well as Business is amazing. Every household need this book and apply the principles taught in this Audiobook.



4. Absolutely the most amazing lecture series I have ever heard. I have never heard Hill speak but you can just tell he is absolutely committed to his philosophy by being such a shining example of it! He was paid a pittance when he was interviewing the hundreds of successful people that Andrew Carnegie introduced for Hill. It took him around 20 years to get all that data into a systematic philosophy for personal success! Who else would be more qualified to speak on personal success than Hill?!?
   
   This lecture series contains material that is not in Think and Grow Rich and the Keys to Success books. This should be the bible of success for everyone!



5. I listen to this in my iPod - it's a great motivational program!! I don't agree with his views on dating though.

5 comments about What Color Is Your Parachute, 2000: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers.

1. This book is short, but it will support you in generating a lot of valuable information about your values and a career tailored to fit you. Expect to invest about 20 hours in the self exploration exercises in this book.
   
   You get two products from doing this work:
   
   (1) A baseline self-assessment that you can keep for life and update as it suits your needs.
   
   (2) A compelling, pull-to vision of what you want from your career and life that will operate on you consciously and unconsciously to propel you towards getting exactly what you want.
   
   I used a version of this book in 1992 to create a vision of the career and life that I wanted. Then I put everything away and didn't look at the work I had done for ten years.
   
   In 2002, I looked at the exercises I had done in 1992. I got goosebumps! Without ever having looked at what I had written again, I had created what I had envisioned ten years previously. Amazing!
   
   As an executive search consultant, I talk daily with people who are in the process of reflecting on their career choices. Because of my own positive experience, this is my favorite print resource, hands down, to share with people who want to generate more self-awareness about their values and a vision of what they want from their careers.



2. The books and workbooks (I bought 2 of each) arrived in new condition, and timely (within 5 days). Excellent service.



3. The book was shipped in a timely manner, however it was in horrible condition. At some point it must have been dropped in the water and the whole book is a mess. Not happy with this. The book was advertised as in good condition.



4. this book is a great tool to have when looking for a job. it helped me to feel confident at my interviews and to negotiate a great job that i KNEW i wanted.



5. In some parts a too religious perspective, but contains some ok exercises to help you identify your skills and wants, and gives your more insight into the complete picture of your ideal job. Book is mostly about job finding/applying/negotiating tips. Nice illustrations.

5 comments about Getting Things Done: The Art Of Stress-Free Productivity.

1. Most time management books, even those well intentioned like Stephen Covey's "First Things First," are unhelpful. Most either tell you how to pile more stuff onto an already too full plate or are so elaborate to be impractical. As "Getting Things Done" points out starting from your goals and priorities often becomes so elaborate and involved most people just give up. Besides, you need to get things done and often those things are forced upon you having nothing to do with goals, passions and dreams.
   
   "Getting Things Done" is the last book on time management and organization you'll ever need. The book isn't so much a system as a way of thinking, a way of life. It is about getting things out of your head so that you can think clearly instead of being clogged up with worries, to-dos and open items. Once you've gotten all the clutter out of your brain and onto paper you can "get them done" instead of worrying about them.
   
   "Getting Things Done" is all about execution and productivity. It is practical, easy to use and remember, and effective. You will get more done with less stress and, for me most importantly, let go of things that were never going to get done in the first place. I've tried most time management systems and products, from Daytimer to Covey to Tracy. "Getting Things Done" works. It can be career and life changing.



2. This is part of the new story which says, you can't predict and control the future, you can only track your progress against an honest account of reality. Look into other sources like Holacracy and Agile Software development for examples of this story at different levels of scale.



3. David Allen did a good job. He guides the reader with important princples to complete a task. From the simplest task to the most complex projects, the principles are straightforward applicable.



4. This book teaches you how to free your mind of clutter, so that you can operate at your absolute best, to get many things done: from climbing the corporate ladder to running a business, to efficiently managing a family. It is a revolutionary approach which helps you clarify what needs to be done about anything, at any moment. This book shows you that no matter what needs to be accomplished, you get it done by breaking it down to one, two, three, and four etc. actionable tasks (the very next thing or things you will do) to get it done.
   
   This is how I would sum the book up... How do you eat many elephants? You put them in a big box (labeling each elephant A-Z:), then eat it One Next bite at a time.
   
   Why the book you say if the concept can be summed so simply...
   
   The book will show...
   How you have always been attempting to eat elephants in some fashion,
   how you inefficiently think about the elephants (7 Habits of...),
   how you can efficiently think about the elephants,
   how to COLLECT and put many elephants in the box,
   how to PROCESS the elephants (to eat or not to eat, that is the question),
   ORGANIZE the elephants (legs with legs, trunks with trunks etc.),
   How to REVIEW your eating progress (ok I've eaten lots of legs and trunks [which elephants are completely eaten], how many more - O no here comes another 50 elephants I've just agreed to eat, time to COLLECT, PROCESS, ORGANIZE, then REVIEW all over again. The saga continues...)
   
   Think I've said too much and now you think you don't need the book guess again! The book is chalk full of ins and outs to effectively set this set of skills to work for you. The Getting Things Done method is simple enough that my ten year old son follows it, yet robust enough that CEOs run enterprises with the same concept.



5. I was first exposed to 'Getting Things Done' (GTD) a few years back in an article about prolific modern knowledge workers and how they thrive amidst a frantic, constant information flow. The very best manage thousands of demands for attention each and every week (emails, voicemails, meetings, etc.) while completing a steady stream of projects both large and small. David Allen's 'Getting Things Done' presents a framework for doing just that while also achieving a sense of personal calm and heightened creativity. I've returned to this book many times over the years to tweak my own GTD implementation and David Allen never fails to inspire. Highly recommended.

5 comments about It's Not the Big That Eat the Small: It's the Fast That Eat the Slow, How to Use Speed As a Competitive Tool in Business.

1. There is an old story about the two fellows who went lion hunting in Africa. They searched for days to no avail, then suddenly-right in front of them-was a huge lion!
   The lion saw them, too, and thought, "lunch!" One of the men reached into his knapsack, retrieved his running shoes, and began putting them on. His friend, incredulous, mocked, "You'll never outrun that lion." The first man responded, "I don't have to outrun the lion; I just have to outrun you!"

   The speed of business has increased, along with the speed of change. Today, and in the years ahead, the prizes will go to the companies that anticipate the trends, then move most quickly and wisely to put themselves in the right place at the right time. Those firms that allow any employee-at any level-to tie them to tradition or to get in the way of progress risk extinction. Given the title, we'd expect to find the secrets in the pages of this book. Readers will find quite a few tips, some great lessons, snappy writing, and valuable summary lists at the end of each chapter. There's a lot of good content here, but also some annoying redundancy.

   This well-organized book moves steadily and deliberately through a collection of strategies that stimulate thinking and action. A number of examples are offered to illustrate fast movement and not-fast-enough movement. Many of the anecdotes and case studies come from the same companies, which is both good and bad. We see deeper into these companies, but miss the opportunity to appreciate the strategies and actions of a wider range of organizations. Hearing about the same companies over and over again made me wonder if the authors had investigated any other examples. The sameness got old.

   Toward the end of the book, the reader may sense some repetition, as if the authors forgot they had mentioned these things or were looking for filler to complete the manuscript at the end of their writing process. I sensed some redundancy in the main body of the book, but as the manuscript drew to a close I almost lost interest because I was reading words I'd already read.

   There's a lot of good content in this volume, so I'll still recommend it. Look for the tips, the advice, and the strategies that will inspire you to make notes, turn down pages, and highlight various sections. While the book wasn't 100% for me, there are a lot of valuable and thought-provoking lessons in these pages. Many of the ideas and observations are sufficiently thought-provoking to stimulate change in the way you do things, particularly if you perceive yourself to be in a competitive environment.

   This review refers to the hardcover edition.




2. Lots of good stuff. Some you'll have read in other books, but that's not a negative if such info is presented in a new way, as it is here. I do think the choices of AOL and Hotmail as fast company examples were dumb choices, since Hotmail never actually turned a profit, it just grew to become an enticing buy for Microsoft, which is when the owners cashed in. AOL's troubled history is famous enough I need not repeat it here. But the other companies chosen (Charles Schwab, Clear Channel, among others) as examples are "legitimate" companies, aiming for profit and succeeding while growing quickly. And it's because of those examples I recommend this book.



3. I think most people understand the importance of "speed" in the marketplace. The problem lies in "how" to incorporate this element into their daily business before they or their companies had been eaten by someone else. I am sorry that the author had not done a good job in this respect. He said a lot about the advantages of being speedy, but not practical methods of pushing it through bureaucracy, redtape, human resistance to change, the long term committment of top management......... Perhaps I had demanded too much from such a small book. However, I really believe the author is capable of giving us more, judged by his smooth and intelligent writing skills and choice of words.

   Below please find some copy and paste for your reference.

   Speed, merely for the sake of moving fast, without a destination inmind, is haste. Eventually, out of control, speed will land you in big trouble. But imagine how many more races you would win if you had a big head start. Think about the advantage you would have if you knew what the future was going to look like and were able to spot trends before the competition. Consider the power of being able to think about things quickly and accurately, tackling in minutes the same big issues and questions the competition would be processing for weeks. pg 9

   Question everything...all the time. If you want to hone your anticipatory skills, accept nothing. Question everything. Ask how and why of everything that's presented to you. pg 19

   A fund manager's best year will likely be his or her first. He or she is without a need to defend the previous year's choices and is able to ruthlessly assess the viability and potential performance of holdings in the fund. Dr. Richard Geist, professor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School. pg 101

   It's not the strongest nor most intelligent of the species that survive; it is the one most adaptable to change. Charles Darwin pg 111

   When you refuse to abandon, bad things always seem to happen.

   p.s. The main book title is very interesting. I think if the author did add one more word "idiot" in the end, the impact will be even bigger.




4. Disclaimer: I have worked as an early stage Venture Capitalist for roughly two years, worked with several Angel investment groups in California and gone to business school. My perspective on the book is based on my investing experience and my time working with high-technology start-ups.
   
   The book is a quick read packed with many very good insights into how to build a small company into a successful one. The main focus is about keeping a very sharp focus on what the company needs to do to succeed -- learn what works, listen to the customer and build an agile organization that can quickly move react but execute flawless when the on point with known customer base. A key point to consider which is missed by many business / management books is that you can not control what your customer base, your competitors and outside economic forces are doing. Change/Chaos = opportunity not a problem. The agile company will maximize the economic opportunity while a large company will try to react but be very late to the party.
   
   An agile company can also position itself favorably for a liquidity event by beating a large competitor to a profitable market; you make the build vs. buy decision for the large company very easy.
   
   I have seen many part of the book put into action successfully and some companies that did not implement the advice; the results are very clear that speed is a competitive tool.
   
   The downside about speed being a competitive tool is that it is very difficult to keep it up for a long period. So, Speed needs to be used to locate and dominate a market to block out competitors. However, other strategies need to be developed in combination with speed and innovation to stay on top...but speed is the way to be the lead company in developing markets.



5. This was a great read where authors have done their research on how some companies strategize their business so well. Speed is a great rule and tool for your business. My favorite part was on Getting to Market Faster. I first heard about this book from Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5WPR, who recommended this on his blog. His opinion sparked my interest to get the book, and now I have changed my ways in my own business.

5 comments about Tao of Leadership.

1. I have listened to a good translation of the Tao Te Ching along with some commentary about it, which was very interesting, but some ideas from China before Christ do not translate do today's world directly. This audio book makes the Tao more useful in today's world, especially for leading groups, including therapy groups such as I do. Especially helpful are the anecdotes by a leading expert in leadership which follow each passage. I would recommend this to anyone who has read or listened to the Tao and wants to understand it better. It is especially easy to listen to in the car.



2. This book changed my whole outlook on life, work and parenting. I came to realize that "leadership" is simply the art of observing, reflecting, understanding, and helping others to understand. Snippets of wisdom like "The wise leader is invisible" and "only push where there is no resistance" will have you contemplating the true meaning of leadership. I've read this book many times over (it's a short book and brisk read, the time is spent absorbing and reflecting) and it refreshes me each time. Wonderful!



3. John Heider's translation is simple, direct and poignant.
   Dr. Waitley's interjections are inane, pointless and almost insultingly asinine.
   
   I have actually made a copy of the tape and edited out all of Dr. Denis' babbling. I just can't tell you how ridiculous and offensive this idiot is.



4. To think that this little gem of a book was required reading by one of my professors in college amazes me. The messages inside are simply profound! - as I just found out by rereading this book almost 15 years later. In college, I got it to some degree but not nearly to the degree that it clicked with me now. For some reason I held onto this book and while I was browsing my bookshelf it kind of jumped off at me.
   
   It also amazes me that the wisdom in the book the Tao Te Ching written by Chinese sage Lao Tzu around the year 600 BC - the one in which John Heider's adaptation was derived - transcends time and is as relevant today as it was then.
   
   I say this is a must read for all since we are all leaders of our own lives. Additionally I recommend that you sit with and think about the message in each chapter a bit to give each concept time to soak in a bit. You'll be glad you did!



5. I have read this book countless times since purchasing it in the late 1980's. Its pages are worn but its content remains fresh, profound and useful. I have worked with Global 500 Leaders throughout the world for nearly 20 years and find this book reaches them at a core level and has created an impetus for real change in many. This is on my required reading list for every leadership retreat and has been a treasured gift to many clients.
   
   No preaching, just ageless wisdom applied to leadership, and life. I would dare any reader not to get something out of this book. The lessons are only a page long so you can easily pick it up to read one at a time or devour the entire book in short order, as so many do.

No comments about Sum & Substance: Sale & Lease of Goods (The "Outstanding Professor" Audio Tape Series).

5 comments about Get a Financial Life Cassette.

1. I wish I had this book when I was 19 and applying for credit cards. This book has great information in understandable terms for those who are beginning their financial journeys in life from opening bank accounts to buying homes. It also provides good stories as examples to explain some concepts that are more difficult to grasp, especially for those who are not financially savvy (like me). I will be giving this to my 19 year old brother so that he can be smarter about money than i was at his age (I'm 25).



2. Books like Beth Kobliner's have to earn their place on your bookshelf. After all, these days plenty of personal finance advice is available for free on the Internet. That said, this book is a wise investment for early-career professionals who would like advice about getting out of debt. Although its guidance is solid-if-predictable, it is well-researched and straightforwardly written. Kobliner provides an authoritative "further reading" list for those who want to delve deeper into how to get their finances on an even keel. This book does not promise to make you rich overnight, and it doesn't exactly qualify as a page-turner, but it lends a helping hand. We recommend it to young people whose financial life is just a bit too exciting.



3. I moved to US 7 years ago, so all this stuff on retirement plans, mortgages, investments, was a big cloud of information to me. Very slowly I started learning about finances reading articles over the internet. When I got this book, I couldn't stop reading it. It gave me a great overview of how to put my financial life together. It is very easy to read. Yes, it's not the solution to all your financial problems, but it's a great overview with very enlightening information.
   The only thing I didn't find details about was 457 retirement plans (even though it talks about others). That's the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars.



4. The information in this book was the type that your big sister should have told you. I was lucky enough to have a big sister to explain these things so I didn't need the book. But if you are truly just starting out into adulthood, you'll enjoy the helpful hints such as how to evaluate the checking accounts offered from different banks or how to start a retirement account. If you're very young, if you're very new at being an adult, and if you have nobody to guide you this book has all the essential advice.



5. I was thinking about going into finance but was too close to graduation. This book was recommended to me by a finance professor, when I asked for something that really explained how things work instead of just giving a prescription. This was an excellent book that I would recommend to anyone who is interested in financial matters. I keep this book in my library as reference and have turned back to it many times for a reference point when people ask me questions about finances.

3 comments about PowerTalk!: The Power to Create, The Power to Destroy (Powertalk!).

1. Learn about the power of creating from the master of success, Tony Robbins.

   You'll enjoy the interview with Paul Zane Pilzer, author of Unlimited Wealth.

   I really appreciated Tony's vivid examples of how to jumpstart your life.

   Learn how to create something new.




2. This is a fantastic tape on how to use your beliefs to overcome your present challenges. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to succeed.



3. These are paradigm-shifting tapes, you will shift from a scarcity mentality to an abundance mentality. Just when you think there is not enough out there, you will see that there is more than enough.