5 comments about The Complete TurtleTrader: The Legend, the Lessons, the Results.

1. The book will be very interesting for readers who are new to trading literature and moderately interesting to those who have already read about trading, and trend trading in particular (I've read the author's magnum opus "Trend Following" and recommend it strongly).
   
   As to the guide motive of The Complete Turtle Trader I wasn't convinced that "The Turtle experiment proved that nurture trumps nature" as the author states repeatedly. Why?
   
   1/The Turtles were recruited not randomly but in a careful selection process. Clearly, they were perceived by R.Dennis as candidates having certain natural potential to become traders when nurtured/trained.
   
   2/Turtles didn't risk their own money which seems the number one obstacle to trading success - a psychological one, it is called fear, while all the Turtles had to fear was not following through on job description provided by R.Dennis and W. Eckhardt, helpful indeed, although still not an easy task. Why only a small minority of the original group remained successful traders, or traders at all, after the experiment was over(many turned school teachers we learn)? In my opinion the conclusive experiment started rather then ended when the group got disbanded.
   
   3/This point is less important than the earlier two - Turtles didn't develop their methods which is an intellectual challenge, in fact less formidable than the psychological challenge of trading, and also weren't faced with the question whether or not to adjust their methods when and if markets changed. As far as I know the 20 day breakout they applied with success during the time of the experiment doesn't work nearly as well as it did (famous L.Raschke, one of J.Schwager's Market Wizzards, has coined the name "Turtle Soup" for one of her trading setups - fading the 20-day breakout.
   
   In conclusion: narture alone can very often be insufficient to become and remain successful at trading.



2. It looks like ideas from this book still works. One of the interesting example of similar approach - Alexander Rezviakov in Russia, whose approach very similar to approach in this book. Even ideas like "...looking at the news for decision-making cues was the wrong thing to do.". Very interesting, that Alexander start his public lectures about a year before this book was published.
   
   Maybe Donchinan's channels are old-fashioned nowadays, but main idea - turn off TV, focus at the price, catch the trend, use stops and some other - is still is up to date.



3. Congrats - All the basics are right in front of the reader... The info in this books gives the serious reader a basic structure, and allows them to then build their own personalized methods around a time proven concept.
   
   Eastern Research & Trading
   Bill G. / Singapore



4. Good book. A lot of traders get caught up in the fundamental garbage, especially when they start out. Focusing on the noise just takes your attention off of what really matters - making money. I can't cant the number of times when a crop report comes out that supports my bias on the market, only to see the market move the opposite direction. The author did a great job of showing a simple system that performs over time. Too often we trade to feed our ego, not to make money. I don't know about you, but I just want to make money. The easiest way to do it is to follow the method that others are using to make cash. This book outlined the strategy and showed how others are doing it right now. It almost gives you the edge because you don't have to do the research on what everyone else is doing. This book straightens out the learning curve.



5. 
   Based on the title "The complete Turtle Trader" I was expecting more than a story describing the different participants, results and trading personalities. The book did not discuss the trading methodology in any details that can allow an average trader to duplicate. Most of the Rules were general in nature, for example "buying new breakouts" "being comfortable in shorting the market" "stop watching TV and base your trading on price action, i.e., open high low close". A more detailed description on risk control and money management is given but not much different than you find in other books.
   The last 40 or so pages are a compilation of trading results with the appendix.
   One interesting point is that Turtle Traders in most cases were not using their own money which takes out the emotion from trading and this could be the reason for their success. A feature that cannot be duplicated by someone trading their own money since emotions always tend to get in the way.
   Nevertheless it is an interesting read and for that reason the 4 star rating

5 comments about Trading ETFs: Gaining an Edge with Technical Analysis.

1. This is an excellent book! A must read. I never wrote book reviews in the past but I felt compelled to write one because this book details a methodology that I can believe in giving me the confidence needed for successful trading. In addition to reading this book, make sure to subscribe to Wagner Daily, Deron's newsletter. It is a great complement to this book and it is a real time application of all his trading methodologies.



2. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I actually read it cover to cover twice, and I use it in my trading. Its the kind of book that should be used as an on-going reference work. Deron combines great educational content on technical analysis and trading set-ups with his actual trades. There's a lot of content and experience packed into these pages that can really help a novice and/or experienced trader/investor alike. In today's volatile markets, ETFs offer a great trading vehicle. Deron's method is very easy to understand and makes for an implementable method for most investors. This book is an instant classic in my opinion.



3. Deron Wagner desrves a great deal of credit for having the courage to break the mold on Wall Steet. A wonderful book for experienced investors.



4. This is a great book to learn about ETFs and how to trade them. Deron Wagoner shares his knowledge and outlines a concise methodology for trading. Definitely a reference book you will continue to profit from.



5. Deron Wagner,in Trading ETFs, has presented a very simple, logical and, I think, successful approach to trading ETFs. In a very readable and understandable style and utilizing numerous chart examples, Mr. Wagner describes how he goes about finding the highest probability trades, how he determines the optimum entry point, how he manages open positions, and how he exits positions be they big winners, breakevens, or losers.
   
   He describes his approach as being a "top down strategy". His first step is to determine the direction of the broad market trend; then, once the trend is determined, he finds those indexes that have the most relative strength or weakness compared to the major indexes; then he selects the strongest ETFs within those indexes (or weakest if going short); then he looks at volume for confirmation; and finally he uses one or more of several techniques to properly time the new entry into the selected ETF.
   
   The one thing that I liked most about Mr. Wagner's book was his use of clean and simple charts. He uses almost exclusively only two and sometimes three moving averages, draws simple trendlines and areas of support and resistance, and shows volume levels and averages. He does not "goop' his charts up with additonal indicators such as MACD-Histograms, slow stochastics, and RSI. While these indicators are certainly very useful to many traders, Wagner's plain, simple approach of looking only at price action and volume confirmation has a lot to be said for it.
   
   Risk management and position sizing are touched upon only briefly but adequately and his comments about using trailing stops are most enlightening.
   
   The two chapters describing case studies of 10 ETF's bought long and 10 ETFs sold short are most useful in illustrating the use of Mr. Wagner's various setups.
   
   I have read Trading ETFs only once now but I am already looking forward to going through it again a second and third time. It is the type of book that you can only absorb only so much the first time around but pick even more pearls of wisdom on subsequent readings.
   
   Needless to say, I recommend Mr. Wagner's newest book highly.

5 comments about How and Where to Locate the Merchandise to Sell on eBay: Insider Information You Need to Know from the Experts Who Do It Every Day.

1. If you are starting an eBay store and don't know what to sell or how to do it, this book is a must. It is well-written and gives you many helpful hints. Your mind will race with possibilities as you read each chapter. With all the sellers on eBay, this gives you realistic information on how to compete in the huge marketplace.



2. I bought several books when I was first starting my ebay store, but this one proved the most helpful. It is just packed with actual websites, actual seller testamonials, actual examples of everything. It covers everything I could have asked for, and then alot more!



3. If you are contemplating on starting an eBay business or are looking at expanding an existing one, this book is for you. After reading this book, you will never have to wonder where to find things to sell on eBay. You will still need to do your homework, but this book points you in the right direction.
   
   The authors cover almost all possible areas in which to locate merchandise to sell, from local to international. (I say almost, because they don't mention about shopping local clearance sales, off-price stores, or merchandise outlets, which is where a lot of eBay sellers I know get their items). I thought I had heard it all, but even I learned a lot about product sourcing. Who knew about the Chatujak Market in Bangkok, Thailand, where you can find the most unusual items you can think of for real cheap?
   
   Not only do the authors reveal where to purchase merchandise, but just as importantly, they give you the strategies on how to get the most out of your product sources. Another great thing is that they help put your eBay business in the proper perspective, by emphasizing how you can compete, even with the big box merchandisers, like WalMart, with great customer service and/or by finding your niche and specializing in it. Every seller, no matter how small, can find a place in the marketplace. It just takes a little more creativity.
   
   My only quibble with this book is the authors' suggestion to save on shipping costs by forgoing purchasing delivery confirmation when shipping via the US postal service. As an eBay seller myself, I know how important it is to keep your costs down, but not shipping with any type of tracking is actually against eBay rules, and some buyers will insist on getting a tracking number of some sort. The only bad advice in an otherwise fantastic, informative book.



4. This was the fourth book I've read on selling on ebay and it easily outshines the other three. It actually delivers what the title says and is very well written.



5. I found this book to be so helpful. It provides a world of knowledge, along with helpful hints on aspects of buying and selling merchandise on ebay. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to take the next step towards becoming a power seller on ebay.

5 comments about Advanced Web Metrics with Google Analytics.

1. One of the few guides that covers the newer Google analytics ga.js code. I found chapter 11 an immeasurable help for guidance in monetizing a non-ecommerce website. Well laid out with useful screenshots and comprehensive scope, this is the one guide you will turn to everyday. I am always getting more ideas and finding different ways to get the most out of Google Analytics with the insights provided in this book.



2. This is the long overdue "how to" guide for Google Analytics. You can get started tracking your web traffic without this book, to be sure. But, this book goes beyond the help section provided on the Google Analytics site. If you're trying to understand the web traffic on your site, try using Google Analytics. It's easy and free. This book will help you along. While the title describes the book as Advanced, it's not really that technical. Even the most technical sections are pretty easy to get through.



3. This book is a MUST for anyone who is trying to use Google Analytics.
   
   You will probably have to read through it more than once (at least I did) but that is because it was packed with information on how to best implement tracking, comprehend data and use it to improve your site with Google Analytics.



4. Like some of the other reviews I considered myself to be quite familiar with Google Analytics, and I was very impressed with Brian's book. I learned A LOT that will be very valuable to our company, many items I've already put into action. (ere's a list of what I learned http://blog.dogster.com/2008/09/25/get-more-out-of-google-analytics)
   
   Brian also does a really good job of building up the what the tools are, why you want to use them and then how. It's a very modular book that doesn't force you to constantly refer to other sections. It builds well and give good examples w/o digressing into obscurities.
   
   If you are using Google Analytics at all for your business, you'll want this book.



5. This book is intended to read cover-to-cover, not really a browse to the topic you're looking for type of book. Still really good read, and after you have a great understanding on GA overall.

5 comments about The House of Morgan: An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance.

1. This book took me a long time to read. I started the book and found the first half of the book regarding Pierpont Morgan's life, his family and the bank he built quite interesting. The book drags on with details at points throughout the last half of the book and focuses much of its time on Morgan Stanley, but the author's strong research and writing ability stays constant. The last several chapters were more interesting to me and dealt with the changing face of investment and commercial banking through the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s in contrast to the gentlemen's code of banking that dominated the banking dynasties for more than a century. It's almost a shame that this book was completed in 1989 and missed the growth of JPMorgan Chase as it consumed giants such as Chemical Bank (and Manufacturers Hanover) and eventually became JPMorgan Chase Bank. In the end, this is an amazing piece of work, for any one person to achieve.



2. "The House of Morgan" by Ron Chernow gives full reign to the author's access to never-before seen material and lively prose as he majestically takes the reader on a tale that spans two centuries and intersects global events. Despite being a historian without an insider's knowledge of Wall Street Chernow has sculpted a book that covers not only financial happenings but their political and social contexts. Chernow doesn't flinch as he discusses the larger-than-life John Pierpont Morgan Snr's controversial role in shaping early corporate America (not to mention his penchant for attacking hostile media with his cane), the House of Morgan's role in World War I and II and the movement of Morgan Stanley and its associates into the hostile takeover arena as the clubby world of investment banking gave way to the democritization of capital. The only question left is whether Mr. Chernow may continue the book from 1990 to the present as great changes in the Morgan House have been wrought such as Morgan Stanley's disastrous merger with Dean Witter and subsequent management upheavel as well as JP Morgan re-entering the investment banking game and the buying of Bear Stearns. In short - a classic and a must read especially for those looking to enter into the world of high finance and "do business in a first class way."



3. Ron Chernow is one terrific writer. Hard to put down his books, including the biography of Alexander Hamilton and the House of Morgan.
   His in depth research and writing ability are superb.



4. Chernow pioneered the popular study of corporate history with this sweeping history of the Morgan banking empire back in 1990. This is a superb bit of history writing on almost every level: it's intensively researched and documented; it's a great story with a real narrative arc and emotional tension; it has far reaching implications in the fields of economics and American history and synthetically knits together these two areas with insight and revelatory vision.
   
   The story of the House of Morgan isn't just the story of JP Morgan and it isn't just the study of Morgan Guarantee or Morgan Stanley. (The House of Morgan historically has encompassed Drexel's Philadephia bank, Morgan's NY bank, Morgan Grenfell in London and Morgan Harjes in Paris.) The House of Morgan has its roots in George Peabody's London merchant bank of the 1830s hawking junk rated US State securities, then passed to Junius P. Morgan, then on to his son J.P. Morgan, and then on to his son J.P. Morgan (Jr. - known as "Jack") and then goes right through to the modern era (the book ends in the heyday of the corporate takeover binge of the 1980s). There have been a number of excellent biographies of J.P. Morgan (such as Jean Strouse's excellent "Morgan: American Financier" of 2000), but they all pick up the story of the Morgan banking empire in mid stream and then drop out when J.P. dies in 1913 - right before things get really interesting. The Morgan Bank was instrumental in arming England in WW1 and was in the very thick of the war reparations morass following the Treaty of Versailles. The Glass-Steagle act of 1933 (which forced the split between investment and commercial banks) was aimed straight at the House of Morgan - one of a series of government actions (including the creation of the Federal Reserve banking system) designed to limit the tremendous power of the House of Morgan. Glass-Steagle forced the creation of Morgan Stanley which arguable only increased the House of Morgan's reach and power. "The House of Morgan" gets it all and puts it all in its place. This is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the Morgan banking empire - and by extension anyone who wants to understand American finance in the period century of the United State's ascent.
   
   The heart of the story is J.P. Morgan, of course. Morgan was the consummate guardian of the "Gentleman Banker's Code" - a Victorian notion of serving the greater good through serving the client that formed the heart of the finance culture - with some Protestant spiritual overtones thrown in. Morgan's bank, with its twin loci on either side of the Atlantic, sat astride the flow of capital between England and the US. In the 19th Century English capital investment was vital for American industrial development and Morgan helped tame the destructive competitive business practices common in the railroad wars where rival rail lines would squander millions building parasitic parallel lines in an effort to drive the competition out of business. Morgan learned the lesson that cutthroat competition was wasteful of investor's capital and he ever after strove to build peaceful vast monopolies. This kind of business value system seems at odds with our current notion of free market capitalism it certainly wasn't very popular with labor or with those who feared the power of vast trusts. Vast trusts were Morgan's specialty. He personally assembled the first billion dollar stock offering in knitting together the vast majority of US steel production into US Steel. He set up a host of other vast monopolistic conglomerates including General Electric, International Telephone & Telegraph, International Harvester, International Mercantile Marine, and a host of railroad accumulations (just to mention the highlights). In defending foreign investment interests he defended the dollar's value on the International market by defending the gold standard - putting him at odds with bimetallism and William Jennings Bryan. In the East Room of his fabulous 36th St. Library there is a huge 16th century tapestry representing the sin of greed. Morgan clearly thought of himself as a force for moral order among robber baron thieves. When JP Morgan died he left less than $120 million - a figure that shocked many people who had figured he was worth far more. Morgan assembled vast economic power through board voting proxies with the goal of orchestrating a smoother running economy for the profit of his clients. While Morgan did good business on legitimate business, he didn't skim or abuse his position (granted "insider trading" wasn't considered a sin in those days - if it was done discretely). JP Morgan died in 1913 a year after the Titanic (which was built by IMM - his new shipping trust; thus stressing Morgan doubly because he had friends who died on board and the disaster stood to devastate the bottom line of a huge project/client of his) and the Pujo hearings where Morgan was grilled for his role in resolving the Panic of '07 which involved a massive hat trick of capital manipulation that featured putting Teddy Roosevelt over a barrel and forcing him to approve a critical bit of monopolistic corporate takeover business for the US Steel concern.
   
   As juicy as all that is, things actually get even better during the reign of Jack Morgan (who ruled the House of Morgan from 1913 to 1943) when we get to see Morgan banks' involvement with the rise of fascism in Italy and Japan and driving home the spike of reparations in post WW1 Germany. It's fascinating beyond that too. We see the rise of corporate wealth and access to capital in the post WWII period with a tide of legislation, but also the critical post Bretton Wood's unmooring of the capital markets. With corporations gaining direct access to capital markets banks struggled to stay relevant with the balance of power tipping to consumer banking. Commercial and Investment banks were forced to get creative and the leveraged buyout and corporate takeover booms are seen as an adaptive response by the banking industry to the new economic reality - with the final abandoning of the Gentleman Banker's code as a consequence (and a metaphorical Jolly Rodger flag as its replacement). I really can't recommend this book more highly to anyone with any shred of interest in any of this vitally important stuff.



5. I will not restate the excellent reviews already published here about this monumental book. I have been interested in JP Morgan since he appeared as a character in Caleb Carr's mystery novels, The Alienist and Angel of Darkness. He and Teddy Roosevelt, then Commissioner of Police in New York form a team of crime fighters, an incongruous image for the forbidding banker. Recently, I read The Panic of 1907: Lessons Learned from the Market's Perfect Storm and that led me to Chernow's somewhat dated but still important book. What is eerie is the parallel between 1929, with the securitization of junk Latin American bonds sold to millions by bond traders, and the Fannie Mae junk mortgage securities. In both cases, caution went out the window and a frenzy of trading led right over the precipice. Why did people think the laws of economics had been repealed ? This history of the Morgan banking empire provides a background explaining how we got here and a disturbing picture that suggests this has all happened before. It is excellent history and timely now that history seems to have repeated itself, perhaps this time as farce.

5 comments about The Ultimate Question: Driving Good Profits and True Growth.

1. I recently read a book called, The Ultimate Question, Driving Good Profits and True Growth by Fred Reichheld. He also wrote the the Loyalty Effect. Reichheld is a huge advocate of offering premium customer service and measuring this as one of the driving forces of any company.
   
   Most of the points that he makes in the book are that there are bad profits and good profits. Bad profits are those that are short term and can detract from and strangle a company. Good profits are those that are sustainable.
   
   Lately, I have been thinking a lot about strategy and mission statements. He really points to what the ultimate mission statement is for customer service organizations and that is simply the golden rule -- how do you want to be treated?
   
   His book talks about the ultimate question to ask customers which is, how likely is it that you would recommend company X to a friend or colleague? This tends to be a more accurate indicator of customer satisfaction than just asking them how satisfied they are with a customer.
   
   He also talks about closed loop feedback. Whenever there is error or a problem, closing the loop very quickly makes total sense. Although I dislike the paperwork in ISO9000, closed loop is one of its positive attributes.



2. The points in this book could have easily been stated in a pamphlet. The author states the same points over and over in different words for two hundred pages. The most impressive thing about this book is that the author manages to say the same thing in so many different ways. You could get the entire content of the book by reading the first two pages of the preface. I only read this book because it was given to me by my boss who insisted I read it over the weekend. I never would have chosen to read it on my own. I can't imagine how anyone could possibly need to have two points repeated so many times over so many pages. Also, what's with the "all rights reserved" symbol on the phrase "net promoter score?" Why would you bother? What's the likelihood that someone is going to steal the phrase "net promoter score..." Reading this book is like taking a road trip with a used car salesman. It's full of fluff and pushy salesman-like jargon. Also, many of the points expressed are not just off, they're completely wrong. The author presents eBay as an example of a company that is supportive of their customers and highly rated by them as having excellent customer service, when in fact eBay's weak point is that customers frequently complain that eBay sends them canned answers that have nothing to do with their questions in response to their inquiries. Also, the author outright states that there was a point in time where all businesses were small businesses and then suddenly businesses became larger and lost focus on their customers. Not only is this completely wrong it doesn't make any sense at all. There have been large and small businesses as long as there have been accounting practices. I highly discourage consumption of this book unless your boss makes you read it.



3. As the owner of a very small business I am not going to be implementing any type of large-scale statistical analysis to determine NPS as the book suggests - it is just too expensive for my company. However, this book does provide a lot of fodder for thinking about customer service, what your company is doing, what it could and should be doing better and how you can keep in contact with your customers to keep honest and proactive in making their interactions with your firm as positive as possible. I think that tracking your Net Promoter Score is less important than making the Golden Rule a "philosophical cornerstone" of your business. I don't know if companies like USAA, Amazon and E-Bay track their NPS, but they would be delighting their customers and receiving tons of word-of-mouth advertising from happy "promoters" even if Fred Reichheld had never written this book. The short story: I got a lot of great ideas for my company from this book.



4. A well researched and easy to understand book, that if used with a focus to increase service quality through customer interaction and feedback will offer short cuts to success.



5. Unfortunately, this is another business book that would be a lot better as a 3-5 page magazine article. Reichheld starts with some good ideas such as using a more simple metric, viewing customer relationships as an entire experience instead of a set of transactions, and viewing customers as "promoters," "passives," and "detractors." He then proceeds to beat these good ideas to death with a bunch of non sequitur case examples and conclusions that aren't very helpful or actionable to anyone in a position to put this system into place.
   
   I would say that the majority of this book is dedicated to this kidn of content that doesn't add any value. The fact that he has to constantly say how the idea of NPS is new and revolutionary should be a red flag in itself.
   
   The book isn't a whole waste, so it still might be worth checking out. Just be careful not to buy into its own self-hype.
   
   At some points I thought that the book might just be a huge advertisement for Bain and Satmetrix. Since NPS by its nature is very broad and general, maybe not very actionable, it's a great excuse to suggest consulting services to help you implement the system. How convenient!
   
   The fact that they also dare to charge this amount for a book of such little actual content is also laughable.

5 comments about The Toyota Way Fieldbook.

1. I added this book to my lean collection over a year ago. Those of us that have 10+ years experience with lean, we will find this resource very basic. What the author created was a resource tool for training. I utilize this resource for introducing new leaders to the concepts of lean. In addition, this resource is especially helpful for those who have zero understanding and are somewhat resistant to embrace lean / systems thinking.
   
   I find the author created an introduction tool for front-line leaders. Therefore, this is a must have for people at this level.
   
   Unfortunately, I have recognized a number of gaps with this text. First, if your culture does not promote these concepts, forget it. If you are a supervisor in a ridged union shop, you will have a hard time implementing these concepts, since the thrust is aimed at non-union and high-performance driven cultures. My second issue is the overall simplistic approach granted to cultural transformation. Even in the best, most highly motivated environments, a lean transformation requires great time and patience. A change agent must understand that positive change occurs when these excellent concepts are `top down, bottom driven.'
   
   Lastly, I would like to see more case studies. More specifically, this audience needs case studies on how to transform a culture (from mass production to lean for example) in small pieces. Leaders need more than concepts to learn. As we know and have experienced, leaders, especially front-line leaders, need a road map of how to start. I recommend small case studies that illustrate small success stories.
   
   I still highly recommend this resource, for all levels. The author created an easy-to-read guide that motivates the reader to begin cultural transformation. I would like to see a dedicated resource on case studies for (a) union and non-union shops; (b) lean with limited resources such as organizations with few employees, start-ups; (c)lean in highly challenging, toxic work environments; and (d) lean in distribution industries.



2. This is a must read and reference book for any lean implementer. After reading the Toyota Way I wondered how the Fielbook could be any better or even the same. I was totally shocked when it was as good if not better than the Toyota Way. If you are thinking about buying this stop thinking and buy this book.



3. Simply the most important book to have on your shelf if you are serious about lean manufacturing. This book is less about theroy and more about practical advice. I find it is the book I take with me as a senior lean consultant. Dave and Jeff have done an excellent job putting these concepts and experineces into word.
   
   Some miss the wisdom in these pages but I find it right on the money. Chapter 4 is a chapter I have asked people to read over and over. In my opinion it is were most companies are and don't know it.
   
   I recommend this book very highly. Get it, read it more than once.



4. I thought this book did a nice job of describing not only the "tools and techniques" that US mfgs try to copy from Toyota, but also the underlying culture of excellence and high-performance organization that is the support structure of Toyota. Too many American manufacturers try to copy the "lean" techniques without understanding how the "Toyota Way" really drives excellence in both short- and long-term. This book does a really good job providing that insight.
   Tom Nettleman - [...]



5. Our company is introducing Toyota Production System methodologies, and we all had questions about "Why do we use 11x17 paper for presentations?" and "How do we perform this task ?". This is a very good reference book for our specific case. It is written in a pragmatic way, with examples to follow, and good guidance. The other books (Toyota Way, etc.) are not as helpful to people that are practicing the methods already. After all, following TPS means regular practice and improvement of the methdologies; not merely studying the Toyota culture from a distance !
   -Dave Goetz-

5 comments about The New Gold Standard: 5 Leadership Principles for Creating a Legendary Customer Experience Courtesy of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

1. Joseph Michelli in his book "The New Gold Standard" shares the ultimate principles of lasting success. He is right when he says :"Great businesses grow their people, their communities, their customer base, and their profitability".He also says "Ritz Carlton leadership realizes that by teaching others, the service standards of the communities where they do business are elevated". Very powerful !



2. Product or information businesses can learn so much from a caring business like the Carlton-Ritz.
   
   This stylish book exemplifies the inspirational branding of the Carlton-Ritz with moving stories and practices.



3. Excellent Book. The approach is simple and makes a lot os sense. Wish more businesses took this approach. I recommended this book to many of my clients. Dr. Joe Michelli did an excellent job. He understands business and has a great way of presenting his material
   
   Jerry Rouleau
   J. Rouleau & Associates, LLC & BuilderRadio.com



4. This book is about the much acclaimed detailed, tightly structured training program that the Ritz Carlton Company has originated. The program is not only utilized to engage their employees all over the world to offer the very best, thoughtful service possible, but it is also to engage the customers that frequent their properties to the degree that they become life-long advocates for the Ritz. James A. Michelli, the author, relates his information in an interesting way and additionally, uses the Ritz' various training modes as examples for usage by other types of businesses. The book expounds upon the five leadership principles for creating a legendary customer experience, courtesy of the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company. This is definitely a "must read" for those interested in the hospitality industry.



5. There is so much that is obvious and redundant in this book. Nevertheless, every company needs to consider the core message: How do you make the customer experience exceed expectations? What are the fundamental deliverables of those expectations.
   Customer Satisfaction is only the beginning.
   Winning companies need to build a real time nervous system that engages customers and potential customers (i.e. your marketplace and competitor customers, as well as your employees at all levels.
   The nervous system measures and engages everyone in GREAT experiences, how to build them and what do they mean to the end user?
   People link not to KNOWLEDGE, BUT EMOTIONS. This is the core that my company has discovered.
   Martin Hoffmitz BehaviorWorx Inc.

5 comments about Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game.

1. Other than the section on venison (which was very helpful), I have only skimmed this book, as I am not yet ready to actually butcher anything else. It seems to offer all the information and sketches that I will need, IF I ever need it ...



2. This is one of the best, if not the best, informational/instruction book I have ever read. It covers every step with great detail. Anyone who even considers cutting up thier own meat, ( and in these's days with all the tainted meat in the stores, who doesn't? ) should buy this book.
   I consider this a must for sportsman that hunt, as well as for anyone that raises thier own animals. We don't raise our own beef, however we do often buy a quarter, or a side from the butcher, and cut it up our self, thus insuring a clean environment, and safe meat. I also hunt, and have cut up my own venison for years, and still learned some valuable tips as to how to improve the process.
   I highly recommend BASIC BUTCHERING OF LIVESTOCK & GAME by John J. Mettler.



3. This book is just as packed full of information as the more expensive books. This is a great book for anyone who processes their own meat or who is wanting to learn how. However, there are some techniques in this book I don't completely agree with. Still, all in all it gets the job done.



4. Coming from a family of hunters, fisherman, as well as a family that has always grown much of their own food, be it a vegetable garden, or hens for eggs, angus for beef, the occasional pig, sheep, I firmly believe that women (I am one) should know as much about self sufficiency living as possible. This includes knowing how to raise healthy meat animals and how to slaughter them in the most humane and sanitary way possible. I like this book because its easy to read and follow and cover just about every domestic animal I have ever raised for meat, as well as most of the wild game I have had.



5. Great reference guide for the beginner butcher. Using instructions from this book I processed my own pig from the kill to the freezer in about 3 hours.

5 comments about How to Use the Internet to Advertise, Promote and Market Your Business or Website with Little or No Money.

1. A well written very informative book, very helpful for someone just starting out. For myself I didn't find a whole lot of new information but I would have loved to have read this when I was first setting up my website.



2. My mother does a lot of research online and is a very active member of places like YouTube, etc. She's been interested in marketing some of her own creative work online and this seemed to be the perfect guide. Although she has found out some of the info contained in this book on her own, this organizes the info all in one place and makes it easily accessible. She seemed very pleased with the book and says it will make her online life much easier.



3. This is my first review on Amazon. I recently purchased the book Advertise, Promote and Market Your Business or Website by Bruce C. Brown. As a professional artist, my chosen profession is extremely competitive and I've found many artists who have been running successful businesses for many years, which puts a new artist at a big disadvantage. I found this book very user friendly for someone who doesn't have a degree/experience in marketing or seo, but needs to become more marketing and internet savvy.
   
   My favorite sections are:
   Generating More Trafic to Your Website
   Search Engine Optimization
   
   I found many helpful tips in these two sections. The only suggestion I would make for improving the book would be more resources added and many more case studies.
   
   Any comments or critiiques of this review are welcome via email from my website.
   Regards,
   Pam Miller
   Miller Modern Art
   http://www.millermodernart.com



4. How to Use the Internet to Advertise, Promote and Market Your Business or Web Site -- With Little or No Money is the winner of multiple book awards:
   
   The National 2007 Indie Excellence Book Awards Business Finalist: How to Use the Internet to Advertise, Promote and Market Your Business or Web Site -- With Little or No Money by Bruce C. Brown
   
   2007 Independent Publisher Book Awards Computer/Internet Bronze: How to Use the Internet to Advertise, Promote and Market Your Business or Web Site -- With Little or No Money by Bruce C. Brown
   
   ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards Finalist: How to Use the Internet to Advertise, Promote and Market Your Business or Web Site -- With Little or No Money by Bruce C. Brown
   
   USA Best Books Awards 2007 Business: Marketing & Advertising Finalist: How to Use the Internet to Advertise, Promote and Market Your Business or Web Site -- With Little or No Money by Bruce C. Brown
   
   Library Journal: Best Business Book 2006 Marketing/Branding: How to Use the Internet to Advertise, Promote and Market Your Business or Web Site -- With Little or No Money by Bruce C. Brow



5. I read this book a few years back. This was a great reference book and starting point if you are just getting into internet marketing. It's a fast read you can pick up and start applying some of the recommendations right away.