5 comments about The Power of a Positive No: Save The Deal Save The Relationship and Still Say No.

1. Having been on the operations side of professional services firms for years, I have had my fair share of working with sales people who had a speech impediment - they could never say NO. Once I became a sales person myself, I understood the pressures of sales pros to meet quotas and ensure they can make the next lease payment on their BMW. But I also knew that companies wanted consultants and sales people to tell them no, and set boundaries for their engagements.
   
   William Ury's book tells, quite simply, how to deliver a "positive no" and emerge with a much stronger relationship. If you are in sales, you have to read this book. If you are on the delivery or operations side, you must get this book for both your sales people and your consultants. It will transform your client relationships like you wouldn't believe!



2. Let me badcktrack a bit. "Getting to Yes" by Fisher and Ury was a good book that introduced a few important concepts, such as the principled negotiator, win-win and so on. But, I did not like reading it - dry and uninspiring.
   
   The sequel, "Getting Past No" by Ury was a much better book (in my opinion) and I really enjoyed reading it - a few times! Great book - highly recommended! This just in case you think I have something against Bill Ury - no, on the contrary, I hold him in high respect.
   
   So, I had high expectations of Ury's latest brainchild - this unfortunate treatise on the meaning and importance of NO. I was so dissapointed that I didn't even finish reading it (Does my review still count?;) The book is a drawn-out, laborius and it deals with only one aspect of negotiation. You will NOT learn how to negotiate from this book!
   
   By the way, Fisher's latest book "Beyond Reason" was another dissapointment - after reading a first few pages (carefully, not to leave any greasy fingermarks) I sold it on ebay as new, where I had to lie that it was a great read (I will rot in Hell for sure for that!) "The Power of Positive No" remains to be sold, where I will have to lie again.



3. The Power of a Positive No provides an intriguing view into the delicate, complex, and yet important process of saying no. Whether it be saying no to a professional request from a superior at work or saying no personally to negative and destructive behaviors one may be engaging in, this book explains a pathway to thinking through the process of saying no without damaging or loosing the relationship. The book is packed with several practical examples both simple and complex. Ury's theories are battle tested, and his unique personal experiences as cofounder of Harvard's Program on Negotiations have enabled him to have wealth of exciting and world changing opportunities that have served as a testing ground for these ideas.
   
   The book lays out three critical steps in the process of saying no. Preparing the "No" encourages the reader to dig into the core beliefs and values behind the No answer. This self-reflective section of the book draws parallels with many other leadership authors such as Sergiovanni and Covey. Delivering the "NO" helps the reader understand the importance of asserting the beliefs behind their core decision, and how to find compromise. Finally, Ury encourages the reader to be consistent and persistent through the "No" which increases the integrity of the decision and the decision-maker. While relatively simple in concept, The Power of a Positive No provides an authentic framework for effective decision making and negotiating. This influential book explains how balancing the power of the decision and preserving the relationship is possible and attainable in every situation we face.



4. This book is the outcome of what happened when master negotiator Jim Camp (author of "Start with No!") was invited to a symposium on negotiating at Harvard, and proceeded to blow William Ury & company out of the water. Camp is the real deal and has the data to back it up. The Harvard guys hated Camp and had to regroup to save their academic behinds. If you want the real deal, read "Start with No!", and find out how 'Getting to Yes' and other boooks of that ilk simply reduce you to cannon fodder in the face of an experienced and ruthless negotiator.



5. Good book. I bought to listen during my ride to work. The narrator is a little boring. But the content is great.

5 comments about Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow's Big Changes.

1. Do what reviewer Gaetan Lion says: read the introduction, then the conclusions, then skim the 75 micro groups he describes and read the ones that interest you. I was delighted to learn that some of my own lifestyle choices are microtrends. (It's not just me! I'm not a freak!) And I learned some very interesting and surprising things (I had NO idea that tattoos and unnecessary plastic surgery were so completely mainstream). If you were looking for new small business ventures to try, knowing about these 75 groups could give you some great ideas on a market to tap. This book provided a very pleasant evening but it's a skimread intro, with few indepth conclusions.



2. Mark Penn is amazing. Or rather, his method of using polls to track small trends among average American citizens is unreservedly uncanny. You will catch yourself saying, "Who would've thought...[complete the microtrend] would spell ___ for America?"
   
   As if identifying Soccer Moms wasn't an amazing enough feat for Penn, he now has identified 75 trends we should watch out for, that could really change America as we know it currently. I think one of the biggest microtrends I remember is Internet Marrieds - or people who meet on the internet and eventually get hitched. What does that mean for their kids? Will they be on chatrooms 24/7 until they forget about dinner? Will that encourage them to find a relationship by surfing the internet, rather than someone they know at school?
   
   Seriously, you might even identify yourself with one of the microtrends. The strength of a microtrend is not so much in the numbers as it is in the passion - and that may enlarge its sphere of influence as more are encouraged to "be who they are."



3. We know that trends are forces that indicate us directions where we are heading to. As so, they shape the future of our society.
   The authors describe important microtrends for 21st century using numbers and statistics to spot them.
   Instead of claiming that our society is moving in a couple of big directions, the authors argue that America is moving in a hundred of small directions.
   The microtrends shown here are organized in groups by subjects; if you read them all, you'll be able to spot some megatrends that are changing people's behavior and atittudes at our times.
   Really interesting book for anyone!



4. MicroTrends is a must read for entrepreneurs, executives and professionals. In business, change is not just the norm. It now is accelerating at an unprecedented speed. The small forces described in MicroTrends have gathered momentum and new opportunities have emerged. As Darwin's study of evolution tells us, survival and success goes not to the smartest species, but to the most adaptable. MicroTrends provides information about micro-niches and opportunities in work life, health and wellness, money and class, technology, education, and other areas in the marketplace's "Long Tail" Long Tail, The, Revised and Updated Edition: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More. Entrepreneurs, executives and professionals can selectively use the 70 microtrends in this book to adapt and thrive.



5. Society is changing in ways that few people see or understand. The authors surmise that focusing only on major trends that reach a "Tipping Point" leads to missing other very relevant movements. A successful trend - one that can benefit society or help the economy - can start out relatively small; even with one percent of a group of people.
   
   It is very difficult to predict the future. Too often, future predictions are based on obvious trends and events. The "Microtrends" that exist, but are difficult to see, may be better indicators of societal movements than the more obvious trends. Many of the trends observed are counter-intuitive to what experts might expect. For example, terrorists are thought to be the product of dismal living conditions; however, the authors show that many suicide bombers and other terrorists are well-educated and at least middle class. The authors highlight 75 "Microtrends" in 15 different categories. These categories include Work Life, Race & Religion, Politics, International, Education, Money & Class, and Technology. Many of the noted Microtrends were featured from a perspective of the trend's impact on the USA; while also revealing the International picture. The authors state in the introduction to this book that America is being pulled apart by an intricate maze of choices that can involve or be driven by less than one percent of the population. Many of the trends have been expanded by the explosion of choices that globalization has provided.
   
   This is very fast reading and offers many interesting tidbits. I recommend this book and give it a strong four stars.

5 comments about The Big Book of Customer Service Training Games (Big Book Series).

1. Pick and choose as you wish. It added spice and enthusiasm to my meirc customer service training in dubai.



2. This would be a great book for a new trainer, but not for a seasoned professional. There are not enough "fun" games in this book. Many of the games are just meant intiate a discussion about a topic. I was under the impression that the games would be more interactive.



3. Likely best for entry level through mid level customer service. Enough exercises to get your folks "thinking" and focused on improved communications - a huge piece of excellent customer service.



4. This book was full of fun and easy games. I was able to implement the games while conducting a customer service class. The participants enjoyed the games and it really made the class move along quicker and I received the participation I was looking for. Great for small groups.



5. Games are a great way to train people as the fun element helps the key learning points to be absorbed. This book provides a range of activities that you can dip into to liven up your customer service training. Experienced trainers/facilitators may not benefit as much from this title but it could give some new ideas or approaches. If nothing else it will stop your customer service training being boring!!
   Simon Hazeldine Author of 'Bare Knuckle Customer Service', 'Bare Knuckle Selling' and 'Bare Knuckle Negotiating'

5 comments about Marketing Metaphoria: What Deep Metaphors Reveal About the Minds of Consumers.

1. By way of full disclosure, I was a graduate assistant for Jerry Zaltman when he was a Professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Naturally, I've followed Jerry's many publications for these past 20 years and have never found the time I've invested in reading his latest ideas less than incredibly worthwhile.
   
   Interestingly, I bought this book based solely on the title and my expectation that it would be full of new ideas and insights about how using metaphors in marketing tactics would influence consumer behavior. While this book does cover material related to that sort of thing, it really covers so much more. The first two chapters on thinking deeply, "Workable Wondering" and focusing on consumer similarities set the stage for how to take the insights and ideas from the next 7 chapters (one per each deep metaphor) and incorporate them into your own thinking. The last chapter ties things together and presents a number of ideas for how Deep Metaphors may influence a number of marketing strategies and tactics.
   
   This book is written to stimulate your thinking about how Deep Metaphors apply in many areas of marketing and consumer behavior. It doesn't present a list of "to dos" or lay out a plan of action that you should follow. Instead, you'll find yourself seeing what you, your consumers and your competitors do in a new light.



2. ...as a professional who has introduced neuroscience into leadership, I can personally attest to the importance of "thinking more about our thinking" when it comes to why we do what we do. Though we all on some level know this, Zaltman has written brilliantly and pragmatically these sometimes forgotten truths that truly affect decision making. This is a classic!



3. The Zaltmans' new book can truly be described as insightful. By way of transparency, I should point out that I am priveleged enough to have Jerry Zaltman's endorsement on the back cover of my own recently released book, "Brand Meaning." Though I have never met him, I know Jerry to be an astute and visionary commentator on consumer behavior. Anybody who has read "How Customers Think" will know that. What "Marketing Metaphoria" illustrates so well is that only by probing deep into the way people think about and view the world around them can one hope to connect with consumers in a visceral and enduring way. The book provides a framework for identifying such "implicit cognitive influences" (see back cover) - here in the form of deep matephors - and that is what makes it important reading.Brand Meaning



4. On the treadmill of front-line marketing, it's easy to get caught up in the never-ending lists and deadlines, rather than stepping back to think more broadly and deeply about who we really are, who we're trying to reach and what we're really trying to accomplish.
   
   As I read the Zaltmans' Marketing Metaphoria, it felt like a sudden holiday getaway that whisked me away from my lists and deadlines and into a calmer, almost meditative place. Readable and engaging, this book helped me step back and reflect on the great metaphors that make humans tick. The Zaltmans' genius is in not only identifying these metaphors, but also helping the reader understand their relevance in marketing and communication strategy. The book does a beautiful job illustrating how "deep metaphors" are the story elements and images that create meaning and purpose in people's lives. With many great examples they also illustrate how insightful marketers can use these deep metaphors to create meaning and purpose for companies, brands and products in people's lives.
   
   Like any great holiday getaway, at the end I was not only refreshed and rejuvenated, but I was changed for the better. This book's vivid examples and passion for the subject make it irresistible for marketing professionals to look for themselves, their customers, brands and companies amongst the metaphors - and to begin "deep thinking" about their work.
   
   For anyone interested in more than just superficial communication, marketing, image or brand, this book will provide gratifying insights that change how you understand and craft the stories you tell.



5. The book reveals some great insights about consumer thinking models. To the point, well structured and very helpful for those of us that work for brand communications this publication is a great stepping stone for further consumer investigations.

5 comments about Small Business Kit for Dummies.

1. This book has been very useful. The author gives practical tips, advice, checklists and forms - all in an easy to read format. He makes things that seem overwhelming at first suddenly seem manageable. The CD ROM saved me a bundle in legal fees. He seems to know what it is like to have been in the trenches.



2. My husband came home with this book last week. I am considering buying a business of great interest to me, but I have next to no experience with retail. He has his doubts about the whole "dummies" series, but thought maybe it would help me. We both found the text to be vague, as I was looking for concrete definitions to some of the unfamiliar business terms which the book did not provide. At the same time, the suggestions for running a small business were ridiculously obvious and downright condescending. The book went back to the store, and I ordered a copy of Specialty Shop Retailing (How To Run Your Own Store) by Carol L Schroeder from my local library. I would HIGHLY recommend this book, and once I finish reading entirely I'll take the time to provide a thorough review. But really, the book has a great layout and it's enjoyable reading.



3. This book has been Great! Very helpful. My Husband and I are opening a computer repair shop. This book put his mind at ease about A LOT of things! Great book for ANY Business owner!!



4. This book is exactly what you need to start a small business. Legal Zoom was going to charge me over $700.00!



5. This is a good book to use if you are thinking of starting a business. I like the CD Rom feature so that all the legal documents that you need are ready at your fingertips whenever yu are ready to use them.

5 comments about The Successful Business Plan, 4th Edition: Secrets and Strategies (Successful Business Plan Secrets and Strategies).

1. This book was purchase to provide further guidance in writing my business plan. It provides excellent examples. It also is filled with detailed worksheet that help track the cash flow in your business. It is easy to read, which makes it simple to understand the basic concepts. The author has shown that she took her time to research business plans, and it definitely shows in tiis detailed work. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in running there own business or who are starting to work on a business proposal. This book will allows anyone to fine tune there ideas to see if it is feasible.



2. I really enjoyed this book. I actually used this book in my MBA capstone course in combination with a well, written sample business plan and it looks as if they followed the same book but it gave me so many ideas to write my part of the entire business plan which was the marketing part. I recommend this book to anyone needing help writing a business plan. It really lays all the information out for easy understanding.



3. I research maybe 5 options and this was the best one in my opinion. It would be even better if it would have the first chapter of the Six Weeks Start Up by the same writer (don't bye it if you have bought the Business Plan one). Covers all the main points... tumbs up!



4. I used this book during my MBA studies to write a business plan for an entrepreneurship course. It provides a framework for writing a plan and shows you how to cover all the key bases, from marketing to operations to financials.
   
   The worksheets and sample plans help you build your business plan, step-by-step. By the end of the book you'll feel confident you've created a cohesive, logical business plan.



5. This book is very good considering its objectiveness, organization, and it is important reference to beginners and people that have to review your procedures to prepare your own business plan or at your work, improving your capabilities in the company you work for.

5 comments about The Encore Effect: How to Achieve Remarkable Performance in Anything You Do.

1. Just like Mark Sanborn's other books, The Fred Factor and You Don't Need a Title to be a Leader, The Encore Effect is a must have. Get it for yourself, for ALL your employees and friends. Mark has a unique ability to entertain while educating and motivating. IF you want to see a truly positive difference a book can make, this is the one. Employers, schools, organizations and individuals are using Mark Sanborn's books to make a difference.



2. I've previously enjoyed both THE FRED FACTOR and YOU DON'T
   NEED A TITLE TO BE A LEADER by Mark Sanborn . . . his
   latest, THE ENCORE EFFECT, has
   enhanced my opinion of this author . . . he is rapidly becoming one
   of our country's top business/motivational writers--and he's
   a personal favorite.
   
   What I like about Sanborn is that each effort is different than
   the previous one . . . in this one, he talks about how to make
   each performance outstanding; in fact, so outstanding that
   people will be applauding for an encore.
   
   Wouldn't that be a great thing to accomplish?
   
   It really doesn't seem all that hard, particularly if you take
   his advice on getting feedback:
   
   * When was the last time you asked your audience, "How would
   you define an encore performance?" What could you do to be a
   more supportive parent, spouse, or friend? How much more effective
   would you be if you knew what your family and friends need from you?
   You can go beyond satisfying your audience only when you know
   what they want.
   
   A little later, he then goes on to say:
   
   * To create the Encore Effect, you shouldn't be focused on your own
   happiness or success, but on the happiness or success of others.
   We all tend to repeat the experiences in life that have a positive impact
   on us. And when you have a positive impact on others, they'll want
   to repeat the experience in the same way.
   
   One of the things I like best about this author is how he constantly
   incorporates real examples and situations into his writing . . . for
   example, this was his use of the following story:
   
   * At the bagel shop near my home, there is a new manager who always
   delivers great performance. Recently, he was working the cash register.
   When an older gentleman in line ahead of me asked for the senior
   citizen discount, the manager smiled and said, "What? You're trying
   to fool me, aren't you? You can't be a day over thirty!"--all the while ringing
   up the man's purchase less the discount. As I approached the register,
   he said, "Now here's a brother who's hungry!" He's eating his bagel before
   he's even paid for it!" Guilty as charged. I couldn't help smiling as I paid.
   As I walked away, I heard the manager's banter continue with the
   next person in line.
   
   You and I have been in situations where such a performance would have
   fallen flat. It would have been irritating, it would not have been funny, and
   it would have slowed down the transaction-it would have been a turn-off
   instead of a turn-on. But that day, in that bagel shop, the manager gave a
   remarkable performance. He wasn't promoting himself-he was promoting
   the customers. He wasn't "showing-off"-he was warm, engaging and just
   humorous enough to add value to what probably would have been a bland
   transaction in another establishment.
   
   Read THE ENCORE EFFECT if you want to be personally
   inspired . . . you'll also learn how to encourage others to do their best
   on a more regular basis.



3. What is The Encore Effect? It is delivering a performance of any kind that is so good that people call you back for more. And how do you do that? According to Mark Sanborn, author of the best-selling Fred Factor, it takes six things: Passion, Preparation, Practice, Performance, Polish, and Pitfalls.
   
   The book is all about what author Matthew Kelly would call being your highest and best self. It is about achieving what Ken Blanchard would call results and relationships. For each of the six Ps Mark provides us with a concise chapter on how to develop what we need in order to achieve The Encore Effect.
   
   The most interesting thing about Mark's presentation of the encore effect is that the focus is not on the performer, but rather the people that the performance is for. In other words, we achieve the encore effect when we:
   
   move people to act make people feel good make people laugh make people think.
   
   In other words a remarkable performance is about people achieving results in their lives. When that happens you can be sure that people will want an encore. At the end of each chapter Mark also creates what he calls an intersection. This is an opportunity for the reader to consider what Scripture has to say about the key points that Mark has made in the chapter. It's another powerful way to engage the reader in looking at life, achievement, results, significance, and service from God's perspective rather than man's.
   
   Don't let the small size of this book fool you. It's packed with simple truths that were enacted upon to help ensure that we truly do add value and make a difference to those whose lives we touch.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Very inspirational ideas for work, home, church and community.



4. Reviewed by Dr. Michael Philliber for Reader Views (11/08)
   
   How can you stand out in a crowd? What will it take to make your performance so memorable that your employer or customers will call you back for more? If you're looking for a guide to coach you in moving from good to impressive to distinction, Mark Sanborn has written just the thing for you in his new book, "The Encore Effect." This little 150-page manual is packed with easy-to-read, easy-to-grasp, easy-to-use ideas on growing out of the routine and launching into the remarkable.
   
   The central premise of "The Encore Effect" is just what the name means, creating a presentation or a performance that will have your customers, employers, family, or peers calling you back for more. Sanborn describes the various ways this will look in the first part of the book where he sketches out the motivation and mind-set of an encore performance. All the pieces are laid out, from professionalism to character, in a simple, memorable format. The second part of "The Encore Effect" rehearses and expounds the six essential practices one will need for moving out of the ordinary into the outstanding. But throughout the book Sanborn is driving the reader to reassess their performance, chose the extraordinary, and then take the necessary steps to accomplish the remarkable.
   
   "The Encore Effect" by Mark Sanborn was an enjoyably uncomplicated read, interspersed with loads of anecdotal examples. Except for the occasionally shallow, proof-texting of Bible stories, I found the book personally helpful in thinking through the process needed for achieving a remarkable performance.



5. There is a lot of standard "how to be a succesful professional" type of infotmation in this book - have passion, prepare, persist, etc. Where the boook stands out from others of the same ilk, is in its presentation of the idea of practicing for the business professional. In other words, athletes, actors and others are known for the number of hours they practice in order to hone their craft. Sanborn notes that those in the day-to-day work world pratice as they work - you practice running a meeting by running a meeting; you practice writing a memo by writing a memo. Sanborn contends that business professionals should practice the way athletes and actors do, and by doing so, will elevate their game in the same way and become more valuable to their organizations. Before practicing, however, the first step is to identify the major tasks involved in your daily work and then focus on those. I believe this is great advice that will truly help people improve their performance. Read the book for the important details.

5 comments about You Don't Need a Title to Be a Leader: How Anyone, Anywhere, Can Make a Positive Difference.

1. In this self-help book on the subject of leadership for your ME Inc., motivational speaker Mark Sanborn entertains with stories and one-liners for an interesting and informative read. Opening with stories to demonstrate that, "influence and inspiration come from the person, not the position", Sanborn then provides his six principles of personal leadership:
   1. The Power of Self-Mastery
   2. The Power of Focus
   3. Power with People
   4. The Power of Persuasive Communication
   5. The Power of Execution
   6. The Power of Giving
   
   While most all of the information within the each principle chapter is interesting and useful advice, I was particularly taken by some of his simple statements such as: "Integrity ... is measured by the distance between your lips and your life"; or, "...confront problems, not people." And while he did not use these words exactly, the books overall advice might be summed up with this: People remember stories; in your life you are the story!
   
   Dennis DeWilde, author of
   "The Performance Connection"



2. I was intrigued by Mark Sanborn's latest book, YOU DON'T NEED
   A TITLE TO BE A LEADER, in part because of the title . . . it had
   been a concept that I had thought about, but had never realized that
   it could be put into practice . . . and quite easily, too.
   
   Sanborn contends that we can each be a leader in our daily
   lives . . . though the use of real examples involving both people
   and companies, he actually shows how this can be done . . . such
   as in the auto industry:
   
   * At any Toyota plant, every employee on the line has the authority
   and responsibility to shut down the line at any time they feel
   necessary. Quality control and problem solving aren't left to the titled
   managers. A woman who spots a problem is expected to lead by
   calling attention to it rather than allowing it to slip through and become
   an imperfection on a dealer's lot or owner's driveway.
   
   He also gives very concrete suggestions on how to bring about
   change; for example, in ourselves:
   
   * Reading outside your area of expertise, or outside your comfort
   zone, can stimulate your thinking, whether that means picking up
   an interesting new book or thumbing through a new issue of
   a magazine.
   
   And I also liked his useful advice on how to choose the best person
   to shine your shoes:
   
   * As he worked, I commented on the quality of the shoe shines
   I had gotten in other airports, mentioning how difficult it was
   to gauge the kind of shoe shine I would get in places I hadn't been
   in before. He looked up at me with astonishment. "It's easy to tell if
   you're going to get a good shine," he told me. "Just look at the shoes
   of the guy giving the shine. If they ain't fine, walk on by." I glanced
   at his shoes; they literally shone. They were a walking billboard
   proclaiming his competence.
   
   In addition, YOU DON'T NEED A TITLE TO BE A LEADER contained
   many insightful quotes, including this one:
   
   * Sometimes being "good" isn't aiming high enough. As Erwin McManus,
   the pastor of Mosaic Church in Los Angeles, "We spend so much time
   worrying about our kids being good-not breaking the rules, getting into
   trouble, and basically behaving-that we often forget to invite them to
   be great."
   
   This is a short book, but it is one that will get you thinking--long beyond
   the time that you put it down.



3. This book is filled with inspirational material which helps anyone become a leader at any level. All you need to do is inspire people, educate yourself and be passionate about your life. This is a highly recomended book for all indivuals who lead, want to lead, or want to think like a leader.
   
   While there is nothing new and it is common sense, everything seems to be in one neat package.



4. I've read this book twice and really enjoyed it. Mark has done a great job with giving the message that we all make a difference.
   
   It's easy to get wrapped up in the everyday life and forget that we are making a difference in the world.
   
   This book will help to get us back on track.



5. I used this book to gather ideas for motivating my employees to be leaders. Overall, the book had some good concepts and ideas that I found useful. Best bet, find it at a local bookstore and preview it before purchasing it at Amazon.com.

5 comments about In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies (Collins Business Essentials).

1. When it's Tom Peters, it's not the content that matters, but the enthusiasm that you gain from it. I highly recommend it. Other books which I love: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Eightstorm: 8-Step Brainstorming for Innovative Managers.



2. Although this was written quite a few years ago, the basic truths outlined in this book remain as pertinent today as then. The two authors set out to find the basic characteristics of excellent companies and they came up with the following:
   
   1) A bias for Action - Intelligent companies experiment rather than debate.
   2) Close to the Customer - Service and quality obsession from top to bottom.
   3) Autonomy and entrepreneurship - The key for big companies - Act small.
   4) Productivity through people - Treat people like adults.
   5) Hands on, value driven - Find a common cause and sustain it.
   6) Stick to the knitting - Build on things you know.
   7) Simple form, Lean Staff - Best if manager can control all aspects of the business.
   8) Simultaneous loose - tight properties - Flexible to maximize autonomy. Tight on values.
   
   To this day, Tom Peters continues to trumpet the mantra of simplicity and innovation. Many others have jumped on board. Unfortunately far too many still can't get it right.
   
   Nick McCormick - Author, Lead Well and Prosper: 15 Successful Strategies for Becoming a Good Manager



3. I bought this CD beleiving it to be the audio version of the book which it is not. It's a recording of a presentation by Tom Peters. The presentation is still useful in that he highlights some of the key findings and his observations of studying US corporations but I still feel I now need to buy the book.



4. The beginning of the cd was ok, but then the quality got progressively worse. Do not buy this product.



5. This book results from a study of several American companies trying to determine the patterns which make them consistently successful. It covers in detail eight timeless common basic principles which make companies great. Highly recommended! If you like this book you will also like "Built To Last" and "From Good To Great".

5 comments about The Myth of the Robber Barons.

1. Who were the real robber barons.
   
   The entrepreneurs vs. the state. Folson cuts away the myths and tells the true story of these remarkable risk takers: Vanderbilts's steamships, Hill's Railroads, Scranton's Iron Rails, Schwab and the steel industry, Rockefeller's oil, and Mellon's tax cuts. He also hits upon the missed data and half truths in the textbooks that contributes to rewriting history.
   
   Burton's style is a little dry, with an over emphases of each subject. He received research help from libraries, institutions, historians, and even his students.
   
   There are two types of entrepreneur, the market entrepreneur and the political entrepreneur. Great visionaries of the private sector can do it better than the government: what we get is lower prices and a better product; innovation isn't stifled; more affordable comfort and products for the poor. Government aid tends to breed inefficiency.
   
   Who is relative to growth? Who makes creative contributions?
   
   "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."------------------C.S. Lewis
   
   Wish you well
   Scott



2. ...that there is still so much hatred of capitalism in the world today, as evidenced by the fact that several reviewers gave this book one star. Nothing in history has even come close to elevating the material standard of living like the capitalistic system, and yet it is still villified, maligned, mocked, and hated intensely, mainly by those who despise freedom. Burton Folsom's "The Myth of the Robber Barons" is an excellent, though much too brief, discussion of several industrialists of the 19th century. In the book, Folsom argues, and undeniably proves, that free market entrepreneurs of the 19th century were far more successful, less wasteful, and much less economically corrupt than those who begged for government subsidies. This will not surprise anyone who understands free market economics versus government meddling.
   
   Just one quick example: James Hill built the Great Northern Railroad without a dime of government money. The other four transcontinental railroads, all built with government subsidies, went bankrupt--there were massive amounts of waste, fraud, and abuse, which is, of course, exactly what you would expect when people aren't spending their own money. Those who built the transcontinental railroads on government subsidies had no reason to be careful or efficient because they were spending taxpayers' money, not their own. Hill built the best, most efficient, and most profitable line. Then he expanded into the Asian market, opening doors to further enhance American trade. Only to be stymied by government action--the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. So government built a far worse railroad on taxpayers money, and then stifled the freedom of a great entrepreneur with a useless law. Folsom proves this conclusively, and there is no way to deny it, except through vitriol and hatred.
   
   There is a reason why capitalism can succeed in economic matters where government cannot. Government, by definition, is the nationalization of force. It can do nothing without the threat or use of force. It's major--often only--source of income is through coercive taxation, which is nothing more than forced requisitions from its citizens. Government's purpose, as so wisely noted by America's Founding Fathers and ignored by American politicians today, is the protection of property, the free use thereof that does not infringe upon the natural rights of others. Government can only use force to protect property--that's why government is so good at war and so wasteful when it comes to social issues. It's not government's purpose to be involved in charity, simply because of the nature of government--the use of force to accomplish its goals. One doesn't use a sledge hammer to break an egg--that's not the purpose of a sledge hammer. A sledge hammer WILL certainly break an egg, but it probably won't accomplish the intended purpose, unless that purpose is the total destruction of the egg. And when governmental force is used in areas where force is not required (charity, free market economics, etc.) then the result will nearly always be negative and very often catastrophic. That's the point Folsom makes in this book and he makes it well.
   
   Lovers of freedom will enjoy this book. Those who want to control others, think they know better how to run other peoples' lives, and are government-control freaks will hate this book.
   
   One last note: I am an instructor of history at a community college in California. And starting this fall, I'm going to require my students read Folsom's book. It's time our people started getting the other side of the story, the correct one, the one where freedom wins, rather than loses.



3. Folsom does a masterful job of illustrating how the traditional "Robber Barons" of the 19th century actually fall into two categories, market and political entrepreneurs. The political entrepreneurs, were generally abusive of their position and government favors, providing little innovation, high prices, and lower quality because government subsidies and privileges made it unnecessary for them to compete more effectively. The market entrepreneurs, though not always angels in their personal lives, generally reduced the prices and increased the quality of the products of their industries in order to succeed by outcompeting their competitors. Even the most successful, like Rockefeller, who approached 90% market share, never raised the prices of their products back to their earlier levels. In other words, even when they were successful, these entrepreneurs always left the markets they entered with considerably higher quality and lower prices than when they entered. His treatment of his chosen entrepreneurs is well-researched and his clear bias in favor of capitalism does not come across as bigotry, given his careful use of factual evidence. I use these as supplements to my History and Civics classes, and have for years. His other books are equally well-written, but not as easy to find in print.
   
   He includes a supplemental chapter right at the end of his book that deals directly with the reasons why traditional history textbooks come to such contradictory conclusions with respect to these entrepreneurs. That historiography aspect of this book is unique in most such business literature.



4. Burton Folsom's The Myth of the Robber Barons is a short, but excellent book that argues that the mislabeled "Robber Barons" of the 19th century became wealthy not because they robbed anyone but because they offered quality products/services at record low prices. These productive giants made their fortunes because so many Americans chose to do business with them.
   
   There are several values to gain from this book. First, you will learn several inspiring stories about how great industrialists amassed their fortunes through ingenuity, extended dedication and taking great calculated risks. You will learn about how Cornelius Vanderbilt defeated the Fulton NY/NJ steamship-transport monopoly by offering lower rates, earning a reputation for his punctuality, investing in faster and larger ships and providing ancillary services such as concessions. You will also learn about how Andrew Carnegie was obsessed with cutting costs, which led to him profitably carting off tons of steel shavings discarded from a competing steel plant owned by the Scrantons. Other business heroes covered in depth in this book are James J. Hill (who built the Great Northern Railroad without a penny of Federal aid), oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, the Scranton steel family, Carnegie's right hand man Charles Schwab and Andrew Mellon, the Secretary of the Treasury whose laissez-faire policy recommendations allowed the 1920s to roar.
   
   Another great value of this book is that it dispels a few common myths about capitalism. For one, Folsom correctly identifies that "Robber Barons" is an invalid concept. That is, "Robber Barons" includes market entrepreneurs (i.e., those who *created* their fortunes by revolutionizing an industry) with political entrepreneurs (i.e., those who made their fortunes through government aid or with political connections.) Examples of market entrepreneurs include Carnegie, Rockefeller, Hill, and Vanderbilt. Examples of political entrepreneurs include Henry Villard and Leland Stanford. Instead of subsuming all wealthy industrialists under a single category, Folsom suggests that we instead judge these industrialists based on *how* they made their fortunes.
   
   A final great aspect of this book is that it offers a concise, essentialized history of what made these individuals great. Thus, an avid reader may absorb a healthy amount of introductory material without committing himself to reading an 800-paged biography.
   
   If you enjoy this book, then I also highly recommend both Burton Folsom's "Empire Builders" and Andrew Bernstein's "The Capitalist Manifesto". To a lesser extent, I also recommend H. W. Brands' "Masters of Enterprise."



5. I found this book both fascinating and instructive. Folsom's brief biographies of six great American industrialists provide a riveting read and a thought provoking revision of the perspective on entrepreneurship that is widely held by the academic establishment. I believe that his distinction between "political" and "market" entrepreneurs is essential to understanding the economic history of the US and the process by which nations and individuals become wealthy. The only complaint that I have about the book is that it is too short. The portraits of the great producers that Folsom discusses are so interesting that I wanted to know much more about each man. I suppose that I will need to start tracking down some supplementary biographies. If you are looking for a book on history or economics that is enjoyable to read, thought provoking, and relevant, you could hardly do better than this book.