5 comments about The Attractor Factor: 5 Easy Steps for Creating Wealth (or Anything Else) From the Inside Out.

1. I've read Spiritual marketing. I also read the first version of The Attractor Factor - but I'd borrowed it from the library.
   So, since the first two versions "worked" at least enough for me to feel flush enough to purchase this version I figured, it would be good to have in my library.
   
   There is not much new in this version, I'm not a fan of the quiz in the beginning telling me where to start but I did like the addition of space to write in the book -- in essence - forcing me to complete the exercises.
   
   This time around I think I really grasped more of the message that Vitale is trying to pass on and feel more at peace with my own complicity in my life's situations. My life is fine, but sure, I'm expecting more prosperity, but I'm not desperate for it like I have been in the past. I think that is the essence of the book. Reading it alone won't get you there, it's a mindset.
   
   I can also clearly see the hypnotic writing which Vitale is famous for at play in the book. I see why people would buy his book/s and run out to buy the next, sign up for his trainings or his coaching programs --it's woven into every nook and cranny of the book. Is that a bad thing? No! I don't think it's covert, I think it's right out in the open.
   
   The bottom line is -- if you're ready to do the WORK, take ACTION and make steps toward your perfect life - this book is full of practical ways to do that, with some good points to ponder as well. If, on the other hand you're looking for a quick fix or a guarantee change in your life after reading it -- get real. Fix yourself and your thinking, and the approach the book with a beginner's mind and do the exercises. It will help!
   
   Peggie Arvidson
   [...]



2. I saw Joe on the Secret and Joe just spoke to me. He is a regular guy with a great success story from streets to wealth. With so many of the same types of books out there I was drawn to Joe's story. I had purchased the "Missing Secret" CD set and they both have the same message but work well together. I liked being able to write in the book so I can go back and referrence where I started to see how I progress. It is not my choice to be on the street and experience that, I will skip that part and write my own success story.



3. I have read most of Joe Vitale's books and this is my favorite! I listen to the audio version over and over... Having put many of the processes in motion, this material continues to positively impact my life. You must experience this for yourself - it's truly powerful. Then, when you're done with this book, follow it by getting his Awakening series. I am so grateful that I attracted Joe's work into my life! I sure would love to be one of his Miracles Coaches... Be Happy Now!



4. After the Secret , Joe Vitale Book The Attractor Factor is a must -read for all persons having loved the film. The book teach futher the principles of the Secret and Joe 's personal experience on how to Get Clear is fabulous .
   Great Job.Keep it up .God Blesss you .



5. Too much hype for his other items. Not enough meat of the subject. Much too fluffy.

5 comments about Developing the Leader Within You.

1. John C. Maxwell's book, Developing the Leader Within You, will no doubt become a classic. Maxwell's approaches to leadership are easy to understand and put into daily practice. This book is the starting-gate for any person desiring to lead and is also essential for the well-seasoned leader because of the concrete principles.
   
   We hear so much about the dog-eat-dog world and it is refreshing to be reminded that we are called to become something greater. This book will alter your mindset, challenge your faith, and prod you to serve others while building a strong team.



2. This book was good for me, with my little experience in leadership. He keeps the concepts very easy to understand. He adds tons of examples and real life stories throughout the book. I enjoyed having examples, because it made the concepts he was discussing make more sense. I would recommend this to anyone in early leadership.



3. Great leadership book - very inspiring and takes one through how to closely develop inherent leadership skills. Also loved "Running with the Rhinos" in relation to this as well. Running with the Rhinos: Courageous Leadership for a Complex World



4. I ordered what I believed to be a "NEW" book, but it came to me as a "USED" book, even with a personal inscription inside to the previous owner. I was annoyed but on a 'time crunch' for a class using this book, so I couldn't send it back for a new one. I will be more cautious, IF I purchase from Amazon again or from the Seller, "nonchalantd". In fact, the "condition" on the product detail said, 'NEW'. Deceiving or blatant lie?



5. Developing the Leader within you by John Maxwell is a great starting point to learn about leadership. In it, Dr. Maxwell describes what leadership is (influence), the five levels of leadership, and what you need to do in order to become an effective leader. Having served in several leadership positions in both the military and IT consulting industry, I think that the lessons, insights, and advise contained within the book are very helpful.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone who is new to leadership, or wanting to learn about it. As other reviewers have noted, Developing the Leader within You is a great stating point. For those who are not leaders, it is worth reading so that you understand what an effective leader looks and acts like. Lastly, I do think this book is great for experienced leaders who may need a reminder what it is all about.

5 comments about The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea.

1. The Go-Giver is a great story loaded with fantastic business concepts and practical, easy-to-apply advice for business as well as personal relationships. Just what we need in today's world, when authenticity seems to be lacking. A success story we can all learn from and apply in our business relationships as well as in our personal lives. Can't say enough great things about the Go-Giver! Terrific!



2. If you are reading this review and/or considering buying this book, you have probably read your share of business and self-help books. The Go-Giver takes the essential components of all of the major books out there and distills them down into an easy to digest parable. After reading and implementing the principles of the Go-Giver, I have, in fact, received an increase in referrals and created deeper, more meaningful relationships with friends and colleagues. If you need a refresher on how and why to serve others better, pick up this book.



3. This little book holds the key to everything you have ever wanted to accomplish in your life. The Five Laws of Stratospheric Succes are simple yet, like a diamond, so replete with facets as to render the book new each time you read it. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever wanted to learn how to attract a mentor, or understand what it takes to create true significants in life. Learn to enjoy the coffee and the ability to find world changing opportuities where other just see an Italian resturant and a room full of pipe cleaners and modeling clay. Like a good meal and a fine cigar, this book will leave you satisfied, and looking forward to the next opportunity to enjoy the experience.



4. I enjoyed reading this book. Just enough substance and not a lot of "dragging on". If you follow a diet of positive reading, this is a good one for the collection, but not the only one.



5. Not only is this a powerful business idea - it's a powerful story that will impact your success in EVERY aspect of your life and business IF you apply the laws. Because as Pindar, the mentor in the story, tells the young, frustrated go-getter, Joe "it's not about the seeing, it's about the doing." And he shares his "Trade Secret" 5 laws, the doing of which put Joe (and anyone else who follows them) on a path to stratospheric success that he could never have even imagined when he first sought to meet the man who became his mentor. The first 2 laws are the basis for every business fortune created under the free enterprise system and laws 3,4 and 5 are the mindset that allows us to create that wealth in a way that benefits our world and others around us, builds relationships with people who will gladly aide us in creating our success and allows us to attain riches, both of the tangible and intangible variety. Whether you own a business, work for a business or just want to add value to the world and benefit from it, this is a must read and a must do.

5 comments about Awaken the Giant Within : How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny!.

1. I have not finished the book but so far I have liked what I have read. He is funny, personnable, and yet he has a meaning behind the words of the book. He writes so you understand just what he is saying just like you were talking to him face to face.



2. This CD was delivered to me in just one day via Amazon Prime Shipping (free shipping). I really like the CD and I listen to it in my car whenever I want to. I like how it summarizes all that Anthony Robbins talks about. I'm also reading a book called Unlimited Power from him, and he talks about some points that he makes in the book on this CD as well. This is a good inspirational CD and motivates you to take control of your life, realize your true worth, and guides you in the steps you should do to get there.



3. I've owned this book for at least ten years now; and despite all the fads and phases that the self-help world has gone through (and continues to go through), Tony Robbins's "Awaken the Giant Within" is the one book that I always finding myself going back to again and again.
   
   What appeals to me most about Tony's approach is that he is rooted in reality. So much self-help these days is new age cultism (or religious fundamentalism) re-packaged as "practical" guides to success. They are nothing of the sort, because they rely on FAITH--and not the faith of putting in your best and staying positive, but the religious sort of faith which says "blindfold me and I have faith that I'll SOMEHOW reach my destination." If you want to read about that kind of faith, go to the RELIGION section, please.
   
   Tony, on the other hand, gives you truly practical techniques that go right to the core of the matter and come from REAL LIFE--not some mysterious, esoteric "laws of the universe" communicated by some otherworldly intelligence.
   
   Being an American I know that, given the economic situation right now in my country, my fellow citizens need all the PRACTICAL advice they can get to stay successful or at least provide the basic needs for their families. Having false hope in "the Law of Attraction" or nonsense as "just think and it arrives", which is all the rage in self-help movements these days, is only making things WORSE. Just when Americans need to do much more REALISTIC planning take massive ACTION to turn our economy around, they are being encouraged to sit on a pillow and just think good thoughts. Please!
   
   So thank you, Tony, for ten years (and counting) of being my best coach and keeping me rooted in the real world. You help me "keep it real" and inspire me to truly awaken the giant within.



4. Being an author myself, I cannot agree more with Anthony about the magnificent force of Passion. Thank you Anthony for mastering this power in all of us and inspiring millions with it.



5. Anthony Robbins spent a great deal of time and energy convincing people that they could break out of the stupor of their lives and reconnect with their dreams. When I first read the book I was homeless, living with friends and suffering from a directionless depression. NLP and NAC are not cure-alls for our psychological ills but giving our problems an honest focus can make a huge difference towards solving them. I didn't transform into an overnight success, it still took many years for me to become balanced and many more to become focused on my career. It takes more than one book to change a persons life but Tony created a great place to start.

5 comments about Monday Morning Leadership: 8 Mentoring Sessions You Can't Afford to Miss.

1. This book may be of interest to someone entering the workforce for the first time. It presents the typical big hearted kind of wind that one would find in a multitude of other books. Nothing new in this one.



2. Monday Morning Leadership: 8 Mentoring Sessions You Can't Afford to Miss is a concise depiction of eight lessons that can immediately be applied to life. The story is a dialogue between Jeff and his mentor, Tony. Jeff is in a downward spiral at work and he recruits Tony to help him change things around. Tony meets with Jeff every Monday for eight weeks. Each week Tony offers advice and Jeff uses the advice to completely change his mindset and workplace. The eight mentoring sessions encompassed the following ideas:
   1. Drivers and Passengers
   2. Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing
   3. Escape from Management Land
   4. The "Do Right" Rule
   5. Hire Tough
   6. Do Less or Work Faster
   7. Buckets and Dippers
   8. Enter the Learning Zone
   Each chapter is insightful and the book is very enjoyable to read. Every leader in any industry can find worthy advice by simply reading Monday Morning Leadership by David Cottrell.



3. Monday Morning Leadership is an excellent reminder of the power of mentorship. The book discusses the struggles of a mid-level manager named Jeff and the guidance he receives from a personal family friend and business leader named Tony Pearce. Tony and Jeff agree to meet over the course of eight Monday mornings and Tony becomes an invaluable friend and mentor to Jeff as he begins to shift his leadership paradigms.
   
   The book is divided into eight chapters and/or themes and Tony focuses his mentoring sessions around these themes. As a result of the mentoring sessions, Jeff begins to think and act differently as a leader and quickly realizes some positive results.
   
   1. Drivers and Passengers - Accepting total responsibility
   2. Keep the Main Thing Main - People have different perceptions of what the main thing is
   3. Escape from Management Land - Get in touch with your people
   4. The "Do Right" Rule - Guard your integrity like it is your most precious possession
   5. Hire Tough - The most important asset is having the right people on your team
   6. Do Less or Work Faster - Your time is your responsibility
   7. Buckets and Dippers - Know the main thing, provide feedback on performance, provide recognition, and communicate the team score
   8. Entering the Learning Zone - Get out of the comfort zone, read 10 minutes a day, listen to people, give back, set goals, and stay positive.
   
   Monday Morning Leadership, unlike many other leadership books I have read provides a plethora of real world examples which allow you to make connections with your own work and life experiences. I would recommend Monday Morning Leadership not as the bible of leadership axioms but rather as an enjoyable read that provides an important reminder about the power of quality mentorship.



4. This book is a WONDERFUL reminder for those who know how to manage & a great tool to inspire new managers to become GREAT managers.
   
   This is a easy to read & understand book that is a great reference.
   
   I read it within an hour while walking on my treadmill one night after winning my copy at a conference. That hour has stuck with me all week. The topics & ideas have come up in numerous conversations & meetings & has helped me to become a positive for change in my company. My boss is so impressed, we are ordering copies for all supervisors so that we are all able to manage to the best of our abilities.
   
   THANK YOU.



5. I would highly recommend this book. It's an easy read. I wouldn't say the information is earth shattering, but it is very practical, doable, and encouraging.

5 comments about The Fred Factor: How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

1. In 2007, I had an organization that was struggling. As a HR professional, the company asked if I would conduct leadership training for the site. The class was small at only 4 participants so I was able to give them my full attention. As part of the curriculum, I included Mark Sanborn's book, The Fred Factor.
   
   One of the participants was really enthused about the book. Weeks and months after the class, he would approach me during my visits to point our "Fred" related things that he had accomplished. Indeed, he bought the book for all of his managers and they formed a loosely knit "Fred" club.
   
   My review and recommendations for this book boils down to this. Of the 4 participants, only one remains. That is the, as I call him, "Fred Head". Not only is he still gainfully employed, he was been promoted not once but twice!
   
   I highly recommend this book. Michael L. Gooch, SPHR Author of
   Wingtips with Spurs



2. The Fred Factor is an absolute read for anyone anywhere. It not only motivates you as a leader but changes the way you think about your job. I have given it to workers who complain a lot or who constantly want praise for what they do. Fred does his job because he views it as a leader servant seeking to make the world a better place. So refreshing. We have a UPS driver that is retiring after 30 years (22 with us) and we will be presenting him with a copy of this book. He is our Fred.



3. 'The Fred Factor' is a motivational book which uses many examples of outstanding customer service as well as outstanding generosity the author has experienced in everyday life to provide models of how we can change the world in small, simple ways. I enjoyed reading the book and it urged me to improve the way I interact with people I encounter every day. I especially recommend the book to anyone who has a job involving customer service in any way, as the book is highly focused on dealing with customers and coworkers. My only criticism is for the author to focus less on the customer service aspect of being 'Fred-like' and to be more in-depth on how 'Fredness' can be applied to living life. However, I would recommend this book to anyone, regardless of employment, and believe it can change the way people view their everyday life. It is a very motivational read it is easy to understand and apply the suggestions in the book to anyone's life.
   
   Another leadership fable that I love is Squawk!: How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results
   
   Squawk!: How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results



4. And after reading this book, who wouldn't want to be? Mark Sanborn writes that his postal carrier, by going above and beyond in Mark's eyes, truly inspired him. The book goes on to talk about how everyone can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Fred the mail carrier, achieves this without even knowing it! The book is well written and very thought provoking! I have also had the pleasure of hearing Mark speak in person. He sure has a WOW factor to his performance! Mark inspires an invitiation to greatness in work, home, and community. Making the world a better place.



5. In the spirit of Ken Blanchard ("One Minute Manager" series and others) and John G. Miller ("QBQ: The Question Behind the Question"), Mark Sanborn has written a great little book about the ordinary, everyday people who choose to do the little extra things for and in service of others. Sanborn calls these extraordinary ordinary people "Freds," in honor of the mailman who first inspired him to notice, respect, and share with the world how special these people are and how common-sense and important it can be for each of us to strive to be a Fred.
   
   The book is divided into four logical and sequential parts: What's a Fred?, Becoming a Fred, Developing Other Freds, and For the Love of Fred. In the first part, Sanborn introduced the four "Fred Principles," which were constantly reinforced throughout the rest of the book with quotes, real-life anecdotes, and thought-provoking insights and discussion. Sanborn, with his direct and easy-to-read writing style, clearly showed that the best thing about these principles - Everyone Makes a Difference; Success Is Built on Relationships; You Must Continually Create Value for Others, and It Doesn't Have to Cost A Penny; and You Can Reinvent Yourself Regularly - is that everybody is capable of living them with just a little focused effort and reflection. Another very powerful passage for me at the end of the book were Fred's answers to Sanborn's question, "Why do you do what you do?"
   
   I would easily place this book near the top of my list of "must read" service, leadership, and character-refinement books. I highly encourage everyone to invest time within the pages of this little gem, and get inspired and motivated to become more `Fred-like.'

5 comments about Lean Thinking : Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation, Revised and Updated.

1. The book was truly eye-opening for me! Having spent more than enough time with management consultants and the "programs of the week," misguided Six Sigma projects, etc., I am very cautious about "new" programs. The simple, clear, transformational philosophy of the book was amazing to me. While the book does not outline the steps to take for making a Lean transformation, it should be required reading, before any venture into Lean management. Without an understanding of the philosophy behind Lean, many people mistakenly try to use it as a "tool" to cut costs, which will fail miserably. Lean - the new paradigm.



2. Lean is a specific management technique to make an organization more efficient (and a private sector company more profitable). This book is a well written introduction to the subject. The authors, James Womack and Daniel Jones, provide lots of examples to illustrate their basic points. Thus, this is a very useful introduction to the subject, for those of us who are not experts on this matter.
   
   To start at the beginning. . . . The enemy is "Muda," a Japanese word that means "waste," in all of its manifestations. Lean is an approach to reducing Muda. Pie in the sky? Toyota is one of the pioneers in this movement, and it is now the # 1 automaker in the world--so, maybe, we ought to pay some attention to the concept. As the authors note (Page 15): ". . .Muda is everywhere." And the antidote to muda is lean.
   
   The Introduction itself does a nice job of laying out the key concepts of Lean. Then, each part of the book builds on that foundation. Key points: (1) Value. Value is defined by the ultimate customer. The problem? Corporations and other organizations often think that they know best and do not really understand what the end user wishes as value. As the authors note (Page 19): "Lean thinking therefore must start with a conscious attempt to precisely define value in terms of specific products with specific capabilities offered at specific prices through as dialogue with specific customers." (2) The Value Stream. This is the actions needed to bring (Page 19) ". . .a specific product (whether a good or a service. . .) through the three critical management tasks of any business." (3) Flow. Outline the step-by-step process by which goods and services are delivered and identify muda, so that waste can be reduced/eliminated. (4) Pull. Develop a process such that customers pull the product from the source/supplier. (5) Perfection. Keep working on improving the product/output, by incremental changes leading to further reduction of muda.
   
   Examples abound. Think of the miserable experience these days of flying from place to another. Muda is everywhere (see the discussion on pages 32-35).
   
   Part I lays out the lean principles in much more detail (Value through Perfection, steps 1 through 5 already summarized). Part II explores lean in more detail (including comparing lean versus the German approach). And so on.
   
   Want to know about lean? This is a pretty good introduction, as far as I can tell, for a lay audience. I'm not an expert, but I think that I have learned quite a bit of value from reading this work.



3. I was fortunate enough to participate in the Pratt & Whitney lean transformation described in Lean Thinking.
   
   While it is not a "how to" book, it does a good job of describing the lean initiatives undertaken.
   
   This book is a classic "lean must read."



4. The only way to be competitive in the world marketplace is to be much more efficient. In other words "lean and mean." Efficient at engineering, efficient at manufacturing and efficient at meeting/exceeding customer expectations are all keys to becoming more competitive.
   
   This book and their Machine that Changed the World are good resources for manufacturing facilities more lean. And...lean thinking leads to more lean thinking.
   
   Using the Toyota system as a guide, Womack and Jones address how companies can eliminate waste and increase profits. They write:
   
   "Our earnest advice to lean firms today is simple: To hell with your competitors; compete against perfection by identifying all activities that are muda and eliminating them. This is absolute rather than a relative standard which can provide the essential North Star for any organization."
   
   Well written with many telling examples. Recommended!
   
   The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking



5. This book is a very good introduction to "lean manufacturing". I would say it is aimed at managers or other interested people in implementing lean manufacturing in their organizations. It is a perfect book to gain adepts for the lean cause, so if you are finding resistance in your organization to implement it, you could give out some copies of this book.
   
   This book is more a general reading book (basics & benefits, resistance you might encounter, etc.) than a deep study or detailed guide. If you need deeper knowledge of the different tools, more specific applications or more detail on how to apply them, you will require other literature.
   
   Another introduction to the subject is a novel called The Gold Mine: A Novel of Lean Turnaround, both books address the topic highlighting different key aspects of lean, so reading both gives you probably a broader perspective. The gold mine goes a little deeper into the subjects and its emphasis on key concepts is very appealing.

5 comments about Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work and in Life One Conversation at a Time.

1. I had to read this book through work, and I have to say it made a powerful change in my company. If you are tired of having the same conversations over and over with employees or your spouse then this book will teach you that the conversation IS the realationship. Fierce conversations are REAL. They are not mean are rude, they are robust, intense, strong, powerful, passionate, eager, and unbridled. they are meant for confronting reality, understanding why a problem exists, and discovering the solution. The book guides you with 7 principles:
   
   #1 You must interrogate reality. Discover the truth first.
   #2 Make the conversation real. Take off your mask and speak the truth with tact.
   #3 Be here. Focus on the conversation at hand, focus on it. No fading away!
   #4 Tackle your toughest challenge today. Stop procrastinating. What can you solve that will bring you the most value, today?
   #5 Obey your instincts. You know in your heart what is right.
   #6 Take responsibility for your emotional wake. You must understand how you in your position emotionally effects people.
   #7 Let silence do the heavy lifting. Slow down your speaking, take time for quiet gaps and to think about what to say next.
   
   This is a powerful book that can change your life, your family, or your organization.



2. Fierce Conversations is a must read for anyone. Period!
   Nothing else to say. It has fantastic information on communication and understanding. Two levels beyond talking ...and helps readers improve their level of interaction to reach win win results.



3. I have read many business books, and this one is in a class all itself. It's contents apply to personal and business relationships of all types. Real world experience that is well written, humorous, effective, and easy to implement. I highly recommend this book for anyone that maintains a relationship of any kind with any other person.



4. I did not consciously choose this book. A friend regards this book highly, couldn't find it in her library, ordered another and then found her original. I became the beneficiary...happily, I might add. And that's because this book so succinctly and smartly puts forth what a life of quality looks like. For instance, Scott says, "Each of us must first answer the question 'Where am I going?' before we can address the question 'Who is going with me?' It is essential not to get those out of order." She then goes on to say, "You will bring into your life whatever it is that you have the most clarity about."
   While I did find this to resonate as true, the book goes beyond being a mere motivational speech. It is a handbook for those who are charged with responsibility or compelled to align the movements of masses so that some higher-order ideal is realized. How that is done practically is "one conversation at a time." Scott shows how to, as Shakespeare would say, "screw your courage to the sticking place" so that this clarity can consistently see the light of day. She has some interesting processes, guidelines and touchstones. My favorite take-away is to ask yourself, when analyzing a situation, "what are your pretending not to know?"



5. Fierce Conversations is a life-changing book. It brings to stark consciousness the weak, limp, lukewarm, and inhibited manner in which we converse with each other today. It reveals a style of "conversation" which we all have with others that simply is not working. The author encourages us to "come out from behind ourselves" and let people...in conversation...get to know the real us. It eschews the vapid, dead, superficial, lifeless way we talk to each other, and the abysmal results that ensue in our lives together. The book is filled with simple strategies for the reader to make his or her conversation more meaningful, more moving, and more memorable. For those who thirst for honest, heartfelt, intimate conversation, the book is a spiritual fountain of many waters. The "Fierce" in the title of the book does not mean violent, demeaning, or angry but instead brave, pure, un-prepackaged and watered down to meaninglessness, etc. It is well worth the money and is watered with many illustrations in people's work, business, and personal life.

5 comments about How to Measure Anything: Finding the Value of "Intangibles" in Business.

1. 
   "I wrote this book to correct a myth that permeates many organizations today: that certain things can't be measured." Douglas Hubbard goes on to note that he has made a career out of measuring the sorts of things many thought were immeasurable. Intangibles, for example, "that appear to be completely intractable to be measured...in a way that is economically justified." Hubbard notes that there are several common misconceptions about intangibles. He offers what he characterizes as a "universal approach," Applied Information Economics (AIE), to measure an intangible, providing with that explanation some "interesting methods for particular problems."
   
   He duly recognizes that only what is most important (tangible or intangible) should be measured; also, that what is currently most important may not retain that importance; and, that information needs change, sometimes significantly and unexpectedly. That said, basic questions must constantly be asked and answered:
   
   1. What are our most important information needs? Why?
   
   2. How best to obtain and then verify that information?
   
   3. What will we then do with that information?
   
   4. How can we then measure (accurately, consistently, and sufficiently) the impact of actions taken based on that information?
   
   To his credit, Hubbard makes every effort to provide information, explanations, and recommendations that are (in his words) as "simple as can be"; nonetheless, some of the material may prove daunting, at least it did to me. I appreciate the inclusion of dozens of real-world examples that illustrate key points. Hubbard also makes effective use of other reader-friendly devices, such as checklists inserted throughout his narrative. In his own words, here is how he organizes his material:
   
   In Section One (Chapters 1-3), he "makes the case that everything is measurable and offers some examples that should inspire readers to attempt measurements even when it seems impossible."
   
   In Section Two (Chapters 4-7), he "begins to get into more specific substance about how to measure things - specifically uncertainty, risk - and the value of information."
   
   In Section Three (Chapters 8-10), he "deals with how to reduce uncertainty by various methods of observation including random sampling and controlled experiments."
   
   And then in Section Four (Chapters 11-14), Hubbard offers "an eclectic collection of interesting measurement solutions and case examples."
   
   Many readers will appreciate having the Appendix (Pages 269-278) which provides both the questions and answers for various calibration tests, including "Calibration Survey for Binary: B" that also includes percentages to indicate degree of confidence that the respondent is correct.
   
   Earlier, I suggested that this is by no means an "easy read." It isn't. Nor will this book respond directly to every executive's immediate needs and objectives. However, it will generously reward those who need assistance with finding and measuring the intangibles in business if they absorb and digest the material with appropriate care. To those about to begin reading this book, Douglas Hubbard offers this recommendation: Write down those things they believe are immeasurable or, at least they are not sure to how to measure. "After reading this book, my goal is that you are able to identify methods for measuring each and every one of them." I presume to add another recommendation: Highlights key passages and titles of checklists. By doing so, you will be able to facilitate, indeed expedite frequent review of key concepts and insights later.



2. A fantastic introduction into probabalistic way of thinking about what you know or think, and how you can develop this into usefull objective measurement frameworks for those things your previously thought were "intangible" or "unknowable"



3. One of the primary challenges with managing and governing IT effectively is that many of the questions that we need to answer are difficult to measure. What is the expected value of a new software project? What is the chance of success? How long will the project take? What architectural strategy is best? How effective is a development technique? What is our level of quality? How good is our production data? And so on.
   
   
   Although these questions are hard to answer, luckily this book provides some proven advice for easily taking measures that enable us to improve our decision making. To understand the value, and ease of, taking presumably difficult measures, in Chapter 2 Hubbard works through examples from past of great thinkers who didn't give up in the face of the "impossible". For example, around 200 BC Eratothenes estimated the circumference of the Earth by observing the lengths of shadows, Enrico Fermi estimated the power of the first atomic bomb by observing the distance that it blew confetti, and at the age of nine Emily Rosa (who became the youngest person to publish in a scientific journal at the age of 11) measured the ability (or more accurately lack there of) of people claiming to have the ability of therapeutic touch. Chapter 3 goes on to discuss the illusion of intangibles, motivating you to abandon the self-defeating belief that some things are just too hard to measure. Chapter 4 clarifies the measurement problem, focusing on uncertainty and risk, putting you in a better position to effectively reduce business risk through relatively simple measurement.
   
   
   Chapters 5 through 7 describe more of the fundamentals behind measurements and the value of improved information, and chapters 8 through 10 describe strategies for doing measurements. Being a firm believer in strategies which reflect human behavior, I was particularly interested in chapters 11 through 14 which cover the human issues around measurement, making a hard science soft again.
   
   
   If you're tasked with improving your internal metrics program, improving your governance strategy, or simply want to learn about strategies to find out what the heck is actually going on within your organization or industry then this book will prove to be a good idea. Hubbard uses straightforward, easy to understand examples throughout the book, thereby simplifying many complex ideas for the reader.



4. Measuring seeming intangibles can be a very tricky task, and Hubbard does a masterful job walking the reader through the process of moving from a position of limiting their applicability of measurement to a position where they can essentially quantify anything. This text is very well written and only basic math skills are needed to apply the content. In a few isolated instances, the author walks the reader through some calculations that require knowledge of statistics beyond basic math, and even limits his discussion to Microsoft Excel functions in at least one case where he feels the math might be a little too inaccessible to the reader, although even in this scenario the math is by no means very advanced. In this reviewer's opinion, this feat is rather incredible, because the resources typically available on this subject matter are typically saturated with statistics, and the method of problem solving the author presents should make most readers very comfortable regardless of background. While this book can help measure tangibles, the intent here is to guide the reader to a point where they can measure what are typically viewed as intangibles, such as risk, quality, performance, value, demand, etc. While the background of the author is technology, and much of the discussion can be applied to nonfunctional architectural qualities, the book demonstrates that there really is no limit to measuring traditional intangibles. As Hubbard indicates in his first chapter, "anything can be measured. If a thing can be observed in any way at all, it lends itself to some type of measurement method. No matter how 'fuzzy' the measurement is, it's still a measurement if it told you more than you knew before. And those very things most likely to be seen as immeasurable are, virtually always, solved by relatively simple measurement methods". The author is careful to point out that this work is not intended to cover every single subject matter, but "focus on measurements that are relevant - even critical - to major organizational decisions and yet don't seem to lend themselves to an obvious and practical measurement solution. The book addresses some common misconceptions about intangibles, describes a 'universal approach' to show how to go about measuring an 'intangible', and backs it up with some interesting methods for particular problems". The author explains that the key obstacle to overcome in this space is the very definition of measurement itself: "a set of observations that reduce uncertainty where the result is expressed as a quantity". Measurement does not need to be exact. In fact, it is often the case in many fields of work that exact measurement is not even possible, and in other cases the cost is too high or time is too short to arrive at exact measurements. Probability calibration is one of the tools presented in the early chapters of this book to prepare the reader for what follows. Essentially, the goal of this tool is to help the reader assign levels of confidence to numeric estimates of quantifiable items in order to help move to estimates of the seemingly immeasurable. Many practical examples are discussed throughout the book. Diagrams and sidebars are extremely well placed. Very well recommended.



5. I made this book a required read for my MBA Business Research Method class. It addresses some of the key falacies in thinking about the research for decision making. I have a more detailed review on [...].

5 comments about Coaching Questions: A Coach's Guide to Powerful Asking Skills.

1. This book is one of those rare finds that truly over-delivers, even to (maybe especially to) long-time, experienced coaches. I confess that I have often straddled the line between coaching and consulting, but this book has put me back in the domain I love: coaching. Not only is it filled with succinct, real-life coaching situations I could relate to, the author offers several simple but powerful models for shaping coaching conversations and good reminders for how to be sure you're on track from the client's perspective. I keep it on my desk and make sure I review a few pages everyday just to keep my questioning skills sharp.



2. Have recently started coaching classes and this book is a gold mine. Simple, concise and full of helpful info it is a great addition to my coaching library. J Lang



3. If you are a coach, you must get this book! Tony continues to show us why he's a top coach. This is a book that you will reach for again and again as you develop your asking skills as a coach. The book is laid out in a manner that makes getting to the right questions quick and easy. I love the fact that it is not a "read from cover to cover" type of book...it is truly a guide for those of us that find ourselves sometimes reaching for the right questions. Even the margins of the book are set up to help you! The margins have quotes, client/coaching excercises, hints/tips and even tells you what page to go in the book for more!
   
   If you are a coach, don't think about it...just buy it!



4. What a resourceful, coaching guide! This was the best value for money. It far exceeded my expectations. The layout of the book was very simple yet extremely effective. Helps you get clear on process, models, and opens you up to hundreds of empowering questions with which to support your coaching clients. A must have for any coach, a treasure for your coaching resources. Fantastic job Tony Stoltzfus.



5. For a coach or anyone who wants to help others (or themselves) get to the truth, this is a must have.
   
   One of the least remembered skills in modern society is the art of asking good questions. We are often so busy telling people what we think, we never enter into meaningful dialogue. Therefore, true understanding constantly eludes us. This text can help you fix that.
   
   Packed full of easy to remember question sets, categorized by circumstance, "Coaching Questions" can quickly assist you in taking it to the next level.
   
   Buy this book.