Communications Books

Gallo does a great job of distilling the important characteristics of successful presenters into simple, practical, easy-to-emulate bits of advice. I have found the book's format particularly convenient. I can easily pick the book up, open to any page, and start learning. No need to read it from start to finish if that's not your style. Gallo shows considerable insight into what makes for success. Buy it!

After reading this book for 2 days, i can tell this is the best book about Speech i've ever read. I am hoping someday this will be required reading for every sales executive in different company large and small. the book is well organized and well research, my copy is mostly hightlited in every pages, notes everywhere. good job, carmine.

Nat

I both enjoyed and learned a great deal from reading Carmine Gallo's 10 Simple Secrets Of The World's Greatest Business Communicators.
Carmine's words and sentences are "turbo-charged" with right-on-target examples and no-nonsense information from page 1 through page 226. I strongly recommend this book to my family members, friends, colleagues ... and, yes, even to my "enemies." After all ... who wants to sit through another presentation that's more "sedative" than "seductive.!!

Whether you're a driven, career-oriented individual OR NOT, this book is a must-read. This book will change the way you see your life.

Interesting treatment on some of the age-old principles. Some chapters tend to over explain the concepts with too many examples.

This is indeed a holistic approach. I have been with horses for over forty years and I have read so many new ideas about our relationship with horses. It is an honest book of an honest man, concerned with the wellfare of horse and human. I am sad I have not read this book 30 years earlier (it was not published then). My horses would have deserved it and my relationship with them would have been all the better for it.

This is one of the better books on horse psychology. I have used methods outlined in the book and they work. Highly recommended.

After reading several other books from trainers and horseman, I found Sam's book, wow! What a find. Sam has put into words what few other horseman can and in away that all will understand. Having worked with horses since he was a young man has given him wisdom to help both horse and man. His simple manner in which he uses in his book allows the reader to get the most from reading his book. I have learned more from his book than any other book, magazine or video I have reviewed. He has helped me to understand the horse form a perspective I never knew possible. This will be a book you will want to read over and over. This book has something for everyone that loves his or her horse. From the beginner to the advanced professional, you will learn a way of communicating that actually works. Communication that will open your eye to a new world for both horse and person, ENJOY!

I have always wanted horses since I was a small child, growing up with my Uncle's horses. There has always been a connection between me and horses. I just purchased two of the most beautiful Arabian horses, later in life. My little boy has been abused and is 4 years old and is in training. When I purchased him, you couldn't get close to him and put a halter on him, and now he follows me arround and wants to be right next to me. My little girl is 2 and has always been loved and is really sweet. I spent two weeks bonding with my little boy and we have such love and communication between us that he is a different horse and really trust me. I bought this book and realize that as a novice, I did the wrong thing of buying 2 green horses. I felt something when I saw them and knew that we were ment to be together. I will tell you that I could not put this book down until I finished it. I realized all the things I was doing wrong....and all the things that I was doing right. I love my horses so much and they know it as soon as they see me. I would really like to meet Sam someday and learn more from him. I highly reccommend this book to everyone. I know that I should of bought older, and trained horses, but the love I have for my beautiful babies grows everyday. I know I need to learn....and I belive in Sam's way of training. I know I will be alot more wiser in what I do now....but I have patience and hope I will be a good partner and companion to the two best horses in the world.

I had bought this book originally as a good all around read, but ended up needing a lot of its valuable information when I purchased a gelding at an auction. Something just made my hand go up, even though the horse reared in the ring. I thought I had brought home a mistake until I went back and started to re-read Mr. Powell's book. I even e-mailed him at his address for additional help. Needless to say, 18 months later, this horse is the friendliest, most willing-to-please horse in our pasture. The potential I saw him at the auction has come full circle thanks to the wisdom in Mr. Powell's book. Thanks Sam! This is a must read for all horse people!

This book was a quick read for me. It was interesting, enlightening and even heartwarming! The children tell of seeing the Light- an all-knowing, all-loving being that made them never want to return to their earthly bodies!!

I have read numerous books on the subject of NDE's. This one touched me like not other I have on the subject. Dr Morse has written many books on the subject as it is apparent he has dedicated a large part of his life studying the facets of the near death experience. Let me just say that this book is always by my bed. It's pages have been read many times over, so much so, that they are now worn. Very well written, very enlightening. Powerful.

One day in 1995 I died, and had a NDE. Ever since then, I've been reading everything I can on the subject. According to most stories I've read, I had an unusual one, not going down a tunnel, but experiencing many interesting phenomena all the same. It seems to me that there are some NDE books and magazine articles that are just hype, and published just to give recognition. I have found, through my many years and multitudes of books on the subject, that there is an underlining truth and spirit that pervades the true experiences. So, I have compiled a list of my best reads for NDE books - ones that I consider genuine and adding validating light to the personal NDE experience. I have left out compilations, these are personal narratives. I hope you enjoy them too.
Embraced by the Light ------by Betty J. Eadie
Psychic Gifts ---------by Tiffany Snow
Saved by the Light --------by Dannion Brinkley
4 Days in Eternity ---------by Wayne F.A. Marentette
After the Light -------------by Kimberly Clark Sharp

Description
~CLOSER TO THE LIGHT~ Learn What Children "SEE" When They Are Near Death, OR Have Just Crossed The Threshold...
. TRUE STORY FROM ME-- I Had A Neice Who Died And Saw A Field Of Beautiful Flowers And Green Grass. She Could Smell The flowers. She Was Told She Could Stay And She Remembers Looking At her Body All Bandaged Up, Her head covered in Bandages.... She Heard Doctors Tell Her Parents To Be Prepared To call In The Family.
The Car Accident Had Been Horrible. When She Fell Asleep And Drove Off The Bridge She Hit A Very Large Boulder in The Creek Bed... It Had Destroyed Most Of Her Right Brain. She Was Going To Be Paralized, A Quadipledic (sorry bad spelling)
She Could Hear Her Dad Crying. He Felt The Whole Thing Was His Fault For letting His 16 Year Old Daughter Drive From Calif. To Colo.Even Though He was In The Car Behind Her.
He Saw It All Happen, happen so fast and he could do nothing But Look At The Crumpled Mass That Used To be His Daughter's Car..
His Daughter Made A Decsion To come Back For Him, To Tell Him It Was Not His Fault. She Choose To Leave Her Peaceful Place And Come Back To A World Of Pain To Comfort Her Father.
While In The Comma, She Heard And Felt Everything Done To Her, Her Father's Caress And His Tears As They Fell On Her Unchecked. Her Mother Crying In The Background, Her Grandparents Rushing Into The Room And Trying To Hold Her... She Woke Herself Out Of The Coma To Tell Them She Was Going To Stay A While Longer..She lived another 8 Years Till her father Could Let Her Go. She Told Him It Was Her Time Now To Move On, And Her Father Was Able To Let Her Go Now Knowing She Would Be Safe In The After Life.~~

I first read Dr. Morse's collection of near-death experiences in the mid-1980s when death was only an academic subject for a thiry-something person. I was fascinated by the accounts he and physician Raymond Morse had collected from patients and felt a sense of reassurance that the compiler was a scientist. The stories are so compelling, it is hard to put down the book. These reports changed my outlook on life. Now, about two decades later, this book makes it easier to accept a most shattering loss, the passing of my partner and husband of 33 years. However, I'm more drawn now, not to the accounts of "tourists," who have gone and come back, but the permanent residents whom mediums like George Anderson have interviewed.

LOVE THIS BOOK. IT is silly but awesome. So memorable. My son loves this book!

These books are smaller than I expected but I cant complain for the price. Good for young children. Simple

This is one of Dr. Seuss's best for very young children. It is fun to read, and will surely make you giggle, especially when you see the pink underpants! The pictures are cute and we always pause to talk about them. There are few words and soon your toddler will have them memorized, and be reading along with you. The kids and I highly recommend this book.

We also recommend "Jamberry" by Bruce Degen and "There's a Wocket in my Pocket" by Dr. Seuss.s

The thing I like best about this book is that the words and the pictures go together nicely. When the words say "Our eyes see bees," there is a picture of a lot of bees. So, from an educational perspective, you can have your child point to a picture while he or she hears the verbal description of the picture. It's helped my baby lean several words and phrases.

This simple concept is something that a suprising amount of childrens' books lack. It is good for two reasons. It helps them put words to pictures, and it helps them learn to read. The book is for children that are 4-8, but it's ability to help children match the verbal sounds of words to pictures makes it appropriate for infants as well.

The learning potential of the book is enhanced by the rythm of the words. The book's sentences ryme and procede in a rythm that makes the book more enjoyable for your child. My baby is noticeably delighted whenever he sees that we are about to read this book.

It is highly recommended.

This is the perfect book for the youngest of Seuss fans. It's a very simply book that starts out with a boy pointing to his eyes and saying what they are...and then to his bunny friend's eyes. The book goes on to explain what eyes do and what they help us see. I thought the pink underpants was a little strange, but they're just kids afterall!

I'm a little surprised that I didn't notice anyone else had harped on its beautiful cover. The cover is absolutely beautiful with its its pretty sea-mint green background and wonderful illustrations. I always thought the boy's eyes looked more like they belonged to the rabbit...they're huge!

To sum it up, it's a cute story about eyes!

There are many things I love about this book. For me, being a mother of two busy kids, I love the fact that the book is written in "bite-sized pieces". If I am waiting to pick up my son from basketball and have ten minutes, I can read an inspiring story from start to finish. The material and people profiled in the book are incredibly interesting. How did Bill Nye the Science Guy help revolutionize how kids view science? How did Maya Angelou find the strength to turn the pain she has suffered into such beautiful masterpieces? Each story has a lesson - one that I am sharing with my whole family. I've already given seven people this book as a gift!!

This is a great book because some of our favorite famous people are spotlighted and their lives are examined from before they were famous. It's helpful to me because once again I can see that we are all the same in our humanity, and anyone who puts in the effort, diligence and spiritual "something" to accomplish their dreams will do it! It lets us see we can do it, too, in whatever way feels good to us!

What I really like about this book, is that the authors do a wonderful job showing you how the super successful people had their starting points as well. They started with a dream, and then took action to follow though--to make their dream--their reality.

All too often we forget this simple truth.

One of the greatest psychological discoveries of the twenty century was NLP. Anthony Robbins did a great job promoting its practical application for the masses. The essence of NLP is that if someone could do something, you could copy him and achieve the same results.

But beliefs need to start somewhere. That's where this awesome book comes in. it shows you in clear terms how other went from zero to stardom. Reading stories from the super successful will help you gain a strong belief in yourself. It will spark a flame of empowerment - that says "I too can be great!" Which reminds me of a great quote from Mark Twain that is very apropos:

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works

"Dream It Do It," did it for me! It reinforced the passion and realization that I can achieve my most desired dreams. This is the most inspirational and motivational book I've read since "The Power of Positive Thinking," by Norman Vincent Peale. Cook and Sholander go a step beyond, and list steps for ALL of us to achieve our most innermost dreams. It certainly benefited me as I answered the questions in the journal they include in this extraordinary book. By writing my answers, I realized what was necessary to achieve my goals and dreams. I started following their recipe for success. And I'm not stopping!

After reading the stories of people who had overcome insurmountable obstacles, including physical handicaps, amputations, rape, cancer, and other adversities, I was immensely inspired. What made these people different than others? According to Cook and Sholander, they each possessed one or more of the 10 key essential elements of CPR. For some it was passion, persistence, and resilience. For others it was a combination of other elements that are needed for one to successfully achieve their long held dream.

Lance Armstrong was a dreamer. But life hit him with a heavy blow when he was diagnosed with testicle cancer at the age of 25. Even though the cancer had invaded his stomach, lungs, and brain, he fought back with chemotherapy treatments. He never lost sight of his dream...to win the Tour de France. Instead of focusing on the cancer, he realized that he was a great athlete. He focused on beating this disease and eventually achieving his dream. It took courage for Lance to hold on to a dream of winning such a competitive race, while fighting cancer. Yet, in his heart and mind he was confident that he was going to bicycle in the Tour de France and win. I was moved by Lance's deep faith in himself and his courage to beat his cancer and achieve his dream of winning the Tour de France.

Graciela Sholander and Sharon Cook give many examples of people, such as Barbara Walters, who fought so hard to become the first female co-host on the Today Show and the first woman to co-anchor network evening news. So many female co-hosts owe a great deal to Barbara. Her persistence didn't allow her to give up on her dream, even though she had to fight obstacles in her path to success. We owe a great deal to Barbara for her persistence. She has given her viewers so much.

AIDS researcher, Edward A Berger worked for ten years, and his persistence led through a breakthrough in developing a vaccine, and hopefully a cure for AIDS.

These people had to overcome insurmountable obstacles to achieve their dreams. Why didn't they give up? One reason is because they possessed one or more of the 10 key elements Sholander and Cook describe in this motivational book. Explaining how these people were able to achieve their goals can help all readers. Instead of saying, "Woe is me. I can't do it because of "this of that;" turn it around and say, "Yes, I can accomplish my dream. I have what it takes."

When I read about a young woman who had been in a car accident and had lost her left leg, pelvis, and hip, and then later became a ski racer, I was amazed at her confidence in herself. She knew life would be more difficult, but that didn't stop her from enjoying every minute.

So many stories about extraordinary people are included in "Dream It Do It." I was fascinated with all of them. What I particularly found helpful was the suggestions and advice at the end of the chapters explaining practical ways for ALL of us to become successful.

This book should be on everyone's wish list. It will change the way you think and live your life. You will be thankful you read "Dream It Do It" and be thankful to Sharon Cook and Graciela Sholander for taking the time to interview so many amazing people. This book will surely direct the reader to find possible ways to achieve THEIR innermost dreams. Thank you for such an uplifting book!
Nancy A. Draper A Burden of Silence: My Mother's Battle with AIDS

Have you ever looked at a successful person and wonder how they became successful? In this wonderful, easy to read book not only do you find stories of peoples' successes, but you also find the challenges they faced, and how they overcame those challenges.

To quote the authors: "Life can knock us down flat. It's our measure of resilience that determines whether or not we'll keep dreaming and reaching for our dreams."

This book gives examples of people who have been knocked down, but they also share many stories of people who succeeded. More importantly, they also give the elements of the keys to their success.

The authors have developed a wonderful tool, which they refer to as "Dream CPR". Throughout the book, they discuss the "Ten Essential Elements of Dream CPR", and apply the elements to real life examples.

While reading the book, they got to the heart of the matter quickly, and I could see how the elements of Dream CPR applied.

If you need inspiration, look no further. This book will motivate you, and help you to achieve the success that you are dreaming about.

QUOTES from the book, DREAM IT DO IT:

"Despite what we've been taught, we don't have to be rich, famous or distinguished to make our dreams come true."

"If you have ever felt such tremendous enthusiasm and desire for something that you would gladly spend all your waking hours working on it, that you would happily do without pay, then you have found your passion."

"Following our dreams almost always requires us to take chances. There is no guarantee that we will succeed in our venture. But if we don't try, we will never know how far we can go."

"Most people who are recognized for their remarkable accomplishments started out stumbling and struggling just like anyone else."

"When our dreams are born of purpose, we can soar above the limitations to accomplish the seemingly impossible."

"If nobody was willing to try something new, nothing would ever be invented."

"A single action can completely alter your future, for better or worse."

A great book!!!!

I'm in awe I think. I've never read anything like this book. And I have read other channelled books. I really can't make up my mind about it's validity. A very thought provoking book and it makes me want to read more. This is the first of the Kryon Books and I'm glad I read the THE PARABLES OF KRYON first, because it was so good I immediately ordered this first in the series. I've really got to think about this one. But I do recommend it highly. Just be ready for new material. I've already ordered the second in the series which is supposed to answer the questions raised in the first book. Wish me luck.

I did a review for the second book as well so I'll just add some different stuff here. I am very open minded (and open hearted which I think is more important) and found an underlying theme in the four books I read that did not feel right to me. You can read the material and just sense how it makes you feel. Some of the reviews make it sound like if you don't read it or if you find any issue with the material then you're a limited person. That's not the case at all! Just because something is channelled "from the other side of the veil" doesn't mean it's totally kosher. We exist on the other side of the veil too and we are all surrounded by beings all the time. It's up to us to determine what we want to integrate into this lifetime and what we don't. Trust your intuition with any material you read or listen to, your higher self knows what's what.

The first time you read this book you will have the feeling that Kryon is speaking directly to you, through the voice of his channel, Lee Carroll.
Although this book was first published in 1992, the information presented here is more relevant now than ever. Kryon will give the reader knowledge about Karma, meditation, Jesus Christ and the times we are living. With the premise that we all came here on our own will, to learn and progress, Kryon leads the way on the transformation we crave in this new millenium. He will help you contact your guides and accelerate you spirituial growth, if that is what you relly want.
If you are a metaphysician or are into self growth, you will find that the easy, yet warm language and teaching of Kryon apply to your life.

The End is the Beginning. A new way of looking at the world and an explaination for so many mysterious sayings that no one seems to have an answer for. But Kryon does from a whole different perspective. I read and was amazed. If your ready for something new try this one. It's a great read.

I highly recommend this book to all, young or old, no matter what socio-economic status ... this book is a must-read. When read with an open heart and a faithful mind, this book will confirm what your intuition has already been telling you. Very comforting, very promising, very exciting.

It seems to me that The Fifth Discipline (the previous publication of the series) is more attacting to me. The second book can be more precise and concise in content. Generally speaking I still like these two books as a foreign reader.

The Fieldbook attempts at making the esoteric concepts of the fifth discipline more down to earth and contains a treasure trove of strategies, tools, methods and explanations on how to make the learning organization into a reality.

Thus people who have read The fifth discipline will gain the most from this book. It's a must read for people who want to make their organizations transition into a 'learning organization'

This book is a collection of theoretical summaries, reports, analyses, and strategies all quite useful to anyone interested in generating some thinking and action around change. The team of five writers (Peter Senge, Richard Ross, Bryan Smith, Charlotte Roberts, and Art Kleiner) provide some original work, but also serve as editors to a vast quantity of material drawn from practitioners, theorists, and writers in the field of organizational improvement. According to Senge, "great teams are learning organizations - groups of people who, over time, enhance their capacity to create what they truly desire to create." (p.18) This book is really about creating and building great teams. The learning organization develops its ability to reflect on, discuss, question, and change its current and past practices. To do this, people and groups in the organization need to meaningfully pursue the study and practice of the five disciplines - personal mastery, mental models, shared vision, team learning, and systems thinking.

The learning organization - Senge's vision for the productive, competitive, and efficient institutions of the future - is in a continuous state of change. Four fundamental questions continuously serve to check and guide a group's learning and improvement (see page 49): (1) Do you continuously test your experiences? ("Are you willing to examine and challenge your sacred cows - not just during crises, but in good times?") (2) Are you producing knowledge? ("Knowledge, in this case, means the capacity for effective action.") (3) Is knowledge shared? ("Is it accessible to all of the organization's members?") (4) Is the learning relevant? ("Is this learning aimed at the organization's core purpose?") If these questions represent the organization's compass, the five disciplines are its map.

Each of the five disciplines is explained, and elaborated in its own lengthy section of the book. In the section on "Systems Thinking" (a set of practices and perspectives, which views all aspects of life as inter-related and playing a role in some larger system), the authors build on the idea of feedback loops (reinforcing and balancing) and introduce five systems archetypes. They are: "fixes that backfire", "limits to growth", "shifting the burden", "tragedy of the commons", and "accidental adversaries". In the section on "Personal Mastery", the authors argue that learning starts with each person. For organizations to learn and improve, people within the organization (perhaps starting with its core leadership) must learn to reflect on and become aware of their own core beliefs and visions. In "Mental Models", the authors argue that learning organizations need to explore the assumptions and attitudes, which guide their institutional directions, practices, and strategies. Articles on scenario planning, the ladder of inference, the left-hand column, and balancing inquiry and advocacy offer practical strategies to investigate our personal mental models as well as those of others in the organization. In "Shared Vision", the authors make the case for the stakeholders of an organization to continually adapt their vision ("an image of a desired future"), values ("how we get to travel to where we want to go"), purpose ("what the organization is here to do"), and goals ("milestones we expect to reach before too long"). The section offers many strategies and perspectives on how to move an organization toward continuous reflection. In "Team Learning", the authors rely mostly on the work of William Isaacs and others, and make a case for educating organization members in the processes and skills of dialogue and skillful discussion.

This book is enlightening and informative. It has already found a place on my shelf for essential reference books.

Peter M Serge, The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook

To quote the first few paragraphs at beginning of book:

Among the tribes of northen Natal in South Africa, the most common greeting, equivalent to "hello" in English, is the expression: Sawu bona. It literally means, "I see you." If you are a member of the tribe, you might reply by saying Sikhona, "I am here." The order of the exchange is important: until you see me, I do not exist. It's as if, when you see me bring me into existence.

This meaning, implicit in the language, is part of the spirit of ubuntu, a frame of mind prevalent among native people in Africa below the Sahara. The word ubuntu stems from the folk saying Umuntu ngumuntu nagabantu, which from Zulu, literally translates as: "A person is a person because of other people."


"I bow in honor and reverence that place within you where to the Universe resides, when you are in that place within you, and I am in that place within me, there is One." ~namaste


The five disciplines are at the CORE of a Learning Organization

1) Personal Mastery: expand your personal capacity and ability

2) Mental Models: see how our internal pictures of the world shape action and decision

3) Shared Vision: group commitment

4) Team Learning: group ability is greater than the sum of individual talents

5) System Thinking:


"When we try to bring about change in our societies, we are treated first with indifference, then with ridicule, then with abuse and then with oppression. And finally, the greatest challenge is thrown at us: We are treated with respect. This is the most dangerous stage." --A. T. Ariyaratne (Speech made at International Community Leadership Summit, Winrock, Arkansas, March 1983. This quote paraphrases and expands upon a well-known statement made by Mahatma Gandhi in his book Satyagraha in South Africa, 1982, 1979, Canon, Me.: Greenleaf books)


"An [organization] is not a machine but a living organism." --Ikujiro Nonaka /****
Fundamentals of epistemology: what is knowledge, the nature of knowledge, and what constitutes learning.
understanding is achieved after internalization.
Without experience, we cannot truly understand.
Internalization: transformation from explicit knowledge to tacit knowledge, habits and culture that we do not recognize in ourselves.
Innovation is a process to capture, create, leverage, and retain knowledge.
What is your belief? A belief about images of the world - you may call it a mental model - is a very subjective thing

information is the flow of a message, while knowledge is created by accumulating information. Thus, information is a necessary medium or material for eliciting and constructing knowledge.

The second difference is that information is something passive. When we switch on a TV set, information comes regardless of my commitment. But knowledge comes from my belief, so it's more proactive.

And the organizational knowledge or intellectual infrastructure of an organization encourages its individual members to develop new knowledge through new experiences.

This dynamic process is the key to organizational knowledge creation - that is, socialization (from individual tacit knowledge to group tacit knowledge), externalization (from tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge), combination (from separate explicit knowledge to systemic explicit knowledge), and internalization (from explicit knowledge to tacit knowledge) [...].

[...]

Three Guiding Ideas

1) The Whole. When you are pointing a finger at the problems, notice how many fingers are pointing back at you. If you fixed the symptoms and ignore the root causes, the problems have not gone away. Another way to look at this is treat the person, not the disease. Of course treat the disease if the patient is dying, but know that the patient will get sick again because the "root causes" are stil there.

2) Community. The self is "a point of view." "The essence of being a person is being in a relationship [with] other people." You will not believe this, but each person before you is there for a reason. The reason this person is there at this moment is for you to learn something about yourself. If you ignore the person, do not ignore or forget the lesson.

3) Language. The map is not the territory. We cannot contain every bit of information that comes to us in the world, so we have to create a "map of the territory" and then refer to the map for our information. By changing a person's map, we change their reality. Language is the map, not the reality.

Senge's second serving of the Learning Organization is filled with practical tips and real-life examples from companies and organizations that have embraced the teachings of the Learning Organization successfully.

The Book is a collaboration of several writers who do a superb job of unraveling the web that is the learning organization. At times, it may seem to the reader that the book is a labyrinth of disjointed concepts and ideas. However, if you have read `The Fifth Discipline' you will find no problems following the concepts introduced. In fact, you will even understand why the writers have chosen to introduce them in that fashion. If you have not read "The Fifth Discipline', do not despair, it will take a little longer to get `the whole picture'.
The Book is divided into 8 main sections:

1) Getting Started addresses the basic concepts and ideas of the Learning Organization.
2) Systems Thinking (the fifth discipline) - Many people have argued that Senge should have delegated the fifth discipline until the end, however, without Systems Thinking, your vision is disjointed and incomplete.
3) Personal Mastery covers the area of individual development and learning. The chapters here are among the most valuable in the area of self-growth and self-improvement.
4) Mental Models - These are the pictures that you have in your head which represent reality.
5) Shared Vision - You've seen the whole picture, you've developed and you understand how you see the world. Now you need to find a common cause with the rest of the people in your organization, something that you all work for.
6) Team Learning - As you work with other people in teams or groups, you need to pass the stuff that you have learnt and the wisdom you've acquired to others. At this stage, the learning is no longer that of the individual, but the group.
7) Arenas of Practice - (Self explanatory)
8) Frontiers - Where do we go from here.

If you are interested in development, learning, growth, leadership, gaining a competitive edge whether at an organizational or personal level, then this book is for you. In fact, I'd venture to say that this is book is for everyone.

Matthew Strebe is a professional consultant so he knows what he's talking about. Book is full of practical, detailed advice about running your own business. He tells you about taxes, incorporation, deductions,etc. Also a very good section on marketing. He tells you about his experiences with mailers, ads, etc.

Smart. To the point.

Money well spent.

Wow! I wish I would have had this book 4 years ago. A must read for anyone thinking about taking on side-jobs or going out on their own. Not only is this book packed with invaluable information but Matt's sense of humor made reading this book an absolute pleasure. Two big thumbs up from this reader! :)

Book covers the business, legal, technical ends of consulting. I feel greatly enlightened after reading it. It was recommended on the Cisco Newsgroup, and I thank the person that told us about it. After reading it, the book will now stand as a reference for me, especially the fine examples of contracts included. A real book written by a real professional, and not stuffy like technical books from experienced people can be. I have nothing bad to say about the book, but everything good. If you have any inkling to become a consultant, or need to know more to help you make the decision, read and absorb this informative how-to manual. It accomplishes what it is supposed to in a somewhat enjoyable/light touch manner, and there isn't any more to say!

I was heading out on my own in 2001 and my younger brother (also a network engineer) had a copy of this book and gave it to me. He's a fan of Strebe's writing style from other books, and although the unfortunate cover art almost turned him (and I until he explained) away, he bought it.

The book is really pretty useful. For retainers, I use a version of his retainer agreement. However, there are some things that my experience has found are different than his experience.

For example, mailing DOES work. I bet he sent a letter. You don't send just a letter. You send a letter and YOUR BUSINESS CARD. Because out of 1000 businesses, almost nobody might need you right now, but if your card ends up in 20 rolodexes or 50 rolodexes from that mailing, over the course of a year you might get ten calls from that mailing. Calls are worth the $37.00, if that's the formula. Trust me. .... I don't do it every month or even every other month but it does work, and him dismissing it out of hand because he tried it once and didn't get any calls is a little irresponsible.

Another thing is, this book is I'm sure quite true for Matthew Strebe's experience, but if you're doing this in the post-Tech-bubble world, you're going to have to expect that it's going to be harder to find the relationships and big jobs than it was during the years Strebe was gaining his experience as an independent. I'm doing okay, my business is growing SLOWLY but steadily (which is what every entrepeneur I've met and talked to since I started doing this has told me is completely normal) and if you have solid skills like Strebe and I do, you'll prevail eventually and it is worth it.

One other thing I disagreed with is that while it is true you don't want to be buddy-buddy with your customers too much, to the point that you get exploited, the reality is that non-tech type people are a lot more touchy-feely and relationship-oriented and they need to like and trust you because you are carrying the keys to their kingdom and they know it. People can say anything they want about the sales process but the reality is I walk out of a business with a deal or a relationship 100% of the time if I connected as a person with the customer, so they saw me as someone who had the experience and character to be mucking around in their stuff, and about 0% if I didn't. You can't get that by putting up a 100% wall between yourself and your customers. Getting by in this business is less about making "big scores" and more about having successful, long-term relationships where they call you and don't resent your fee because they know you're the best they're going to find. In the 90's it was about "big scores." Not any more, and remember that when you're reading this book. I wouldn't be surprised if Strebe has changed his focus a bit since then, too.

....

Overall this book was excellent. The only side of it that I didn't like is that a lot of the TAX/BUSINESS STARTUP information was directed to people living in the US (I figuered that before I purchased it anyhow). The book gets into detail and gives you some confidence in going in alone on this type of business. It's a good idea to read this book before you read others regarding this issue. The other books are 3 times the size and would probably turn the reader off before you get to the next chapter. I really enjoyed reading the book but I decided to start this business more on a part time level rather than quitting my job and going fulltime.

I was really looking forward to reading this book.It started out fairly good but as it continued,it became a little over the top for me.I believe people can communicate with animals,but this lady just seems to get carried away.After a while I started doing the eye rolling thing--sorry- this just didn't do it for me.

The day I recieved this book I read the entire thing in one night. I just couldn't put it down. Karen takes you on an incredible journey of her life and experiences with animal communication. The sessions in this book are not only fasinating, but also very helpful for people who have always wondered what there little pals are feeling or thinking. This book shows you that animals are willing to share their feelings with with us in a way that is very touching and comforting, it is a must have for every animal lover.

This book is great for every animal lover who wishes to understand thier furry family members. I had tears in my eyes after the first chapter. What a touching experience Karen had with the Dove and her journey since. I envy her gift and wish I could share the thought's and feelings my animals have for me and other's in our family.

I was enthralled with Karen's book. She did a fabulous job! I found the book entertaining, informative, sad, apprehensive. It envoked many emotions, which is a sign of a great book. The best part about the book and all the emotions it brings out, is, it is True. They are our animals. These are real stories, real sessions, real situations. It was a pure pleasure to read!

Fantastic stories from animal lovers - for animal lovers! If you've lost a pet this book will help give you peace and give you a better understanding of what happens next! I only wish the book was bigger! A very quick read - with lots of happy endings.

Don't be fooled by the easy read of this powerful book. The exercises in this book really do help you understand that which is deep in your soul.
I have enjoyed the book so much I have gifted others with the copy.
They too have had great results from reading and doing the exercises in the book.
I believe you will not be disappointed in purchasing a copy.
Enjoy

I've had a hard time getting out of my own head - or so I thought. Reading this book made me realize that those first thoughts are the answers I am asking for - its all the other stuff that I think behind it that get me in trouble! Anyway, free form writing has always been a good source of information to me. Applying it to specific questions has helped me gain clarity in numerous situations. This is now on my list of recommended reading to those who really wish to know themselves and God.

Imagine someone telling you how you can get ANY question answered from God/Higher Source/Divine Intelligence. It works! It is so simple and easy to use. I just cannot say enough wonderful things about it! Thank you Barbara Rose!!!

I feel this book has an amazing content of truly amzing words, described as being "Gods Words" in my full faith of having read this book, these words are set out to enlighten people of how it actually is to become your true-self, rather then a fabricated person whom thinks, and feels from their outer-self - there egotistiscal-self.

Another truly wonderful book by ""Barbara". This book gives such a clear message. I recommend to anyone looking for the right answers to a more productive and calmer life style.