Business Books

Author Vince Thompson presently serves as a consultant helping Internet companies build sales and online marketing solutions. He has spent 15 years as a middle manager and it is his own experiences that were one of the inspirations of Ignited. This book is dedicated to those hearty souls known in the modern world as middle managers. Thompson refers to "The Middle - perhaps the most crucial location in the world of business." He calls the world that middle managers survive in as "quake country", where the environment is always shifting, eroding and being constantly squeezed.

The research for this book included an online survey of over 100 in-depth interviews with middle managers from a variety of organizations including Gateway, ABC, Rawlings, Intel, Bank of America and others. The surveys revealed an underlying disconnect between many middle managers and the corporate goals and vision of the organizations they work for.

Ignited is written to motivate and inspire middle managers to realize that they can make a significant contribution to their organizations, careers and personal lives. Ignited is intended to offer a better solution to managers who struggle to perform well in the complexity of our modern business world. Thompson defines Ignition as "the coming rebirth of purpose and power that managers in The Middle can experience if they choose to make it happen."

This inspirational book is divided into three parts. Within these divisions are 14 chapters. Part 1 is entitled "Get More Power" and it offers some sound pointers for improving the personal perspective and basic thinking of managers. This of course leads to an improvement in behavior and decision-making. Experienced managers will find many of these tools to be common experience, but younger managers will glean much from this part of the book. Part 2 is "Get More Purpose" and is the heart and core of Ignited. This section includes seven keys that emphasize the unique value that managers offer in the middle. Thompson refers to these keys as "Ignition Points" that make changes happen when clearly understood.

Part 3 is entitled "Get More Success" and it is dedicated to help the reader develop a balance between the daily pressures of a management career and making your personal life happy and successful. In this part of the book the author offers a five-step program to restore balance to a stressed out manager. This chapter alone is worth the price of admission!

Ignited is a book that anyone who has ever been in a management position can appreciate and relate to. It is easy to read and offers practical information based on research, common sense and experience. If you are in a middle management position, or have a friend who is, you will find this book a way to ignite your career to another level.

Middle management is one of the toughest positions in corporate America. You're expected to run things successfully, while often not having enough sway and power to implement your plans. A book that aims to remedy that is Ignited: Managers! Light Up Your Company and Career for More Power More Purpose and More Success by Vince Thompson. An excellent book that should be on the shelf of every manager...

Contents:
Introduction - Living in Quake Country; Base Camp - The Ignited Quiz
Part 1 - Get More Power: Action with Traction; The Manager's Universe; Leadership in Limited Space; Managing Your Emotions; The Deadly Lack of Empowerment Trap
Part 2 - Get More Purpose: Ignition Point 1 - The Process; Ignition Point 2 - The People; Ignition Point 3 - The Message; Ignition Point 4 - The Landscape; Ignition Point 5 - The Strategy; Ignition Point 6 - The Story; Ignition Point 7 - The Spirit
Part 3 - Get More Success: Selling From The Fulcrum; Your Own Sense of Balance
Index

The reason why people put themselves into "the middle" is to make a difference in the lives of their coworkers and the company in general. But it's not an easy road. Ignited starts with a quick quiz that will give you a general idea as to how your attitude plays out in relation to your job. Then the three parts of the book help you find your path to a more effective role in the company. Part 1 talks about general principles of management that might sound like common sense, but that often get lost in the midst of the battles. I really was struck by the effectiveness of the "universe mapping" exercise. It shows you who you are linked to in terms of your success. Following that up with an attempt at mapping your boss's universe can then give you the insight as to what you need to do to make them successful (and yourself in the process). Part 2 then gives you the tools you need to effectively run the areas that are uniquely yours as a manager... your people, your message, and so forth. The final part of the book then sums up the newfound power and opportunities you have as an ignited manager, and gives you the roadmap on how that new position and knowledge can be leveraged for your success and balance in life. By the time you've worked through the book and focused on the changes outlined, you should be infinitely more involved and effective in your position.

Rather than read yet another book on how a CEO leads, focus instead on reading something targeted to your specific situation and circumstances. This is that book.

Ignited is a treasure chest overfilled and brimming with insights, tips, techniques, motivations, and inspiration for the people who are the backbone of organizations-- middle managers.

Ignited is an eminently practical book that lends itself to immediate use from word one. I recommend when you sit down to read the book that you have a highlighter pen, a number of bookmarks and some note paper-- this may not be formatted as a workbook, but you'll end up treating it as one and applying its advice as you progress through it.

The author, Vince Thompson, has many years in management and so writes from personal experience as well as education and research. His analyses, explanations, and suggestions all give you a sense of his having "been there" and confidence in his advice.

Thompson gives you a solid grounding in all the essentials of managing both up and down the organization and then shows how to leverage those essentials into formidable skills that ignite your management style, your organization, and your career. The essentials include understanding and applying the principles of networks and networking, team-building, access-gaining, self empowerment and leadership-- all from an uncommon perspective. He helps you learn to become a key (and highly effective) manager by harnessing the power of knowledge of organizational processes (what is done, when, why, how, and by whom) and people in or related to the organization (who does what, knows what, has what connections, has what power, etc.). He tells you why. He tells you exactly how. And, he provides clear and interesting examples and anecdotes to illustrate his points.

His own enthusiasm and excitement, paired with his knowledge-packed narrative, will ignite you.

In a remarkably thorough and informative Introduction, Vince Thompson observes that managers in what he characterizes as "The Middle" are "the connective tissue in their organizations. Only they have the ground-level expertise required for success, the links to people above and below them in the corporate structure, the insights into customer needs, competitive realities, and the organization's strengths and weaknesses." Thompson wrote this book for them but also for those to whom they report because, as he correctly insists, the potential contributions that managers in The Middle can make are too often ignored or under-valued. Thompson's book offers a better solution: "a way for [managers in The Middle] to stay within the corporation and begin making the kind of difference [they] want to make, taking back [their] businesses, careers, and lives in the process."

First, Thompson asks his reader respond to ten questions that comprise "The Ignited Quiz." The purpose of the responses is merely to suggest (rather than measure) to what extent the respondent is an effective and empowered manager in The Middle. In this context, I am reminded of what Ernest Becker suggests in his book, The Denial of Death. No one can avoid physical death but there is another "death" that can be denied: That which occurs when we become wholly preoccupied with fulfilling others' expectations of us, both in our personal lives and in our careers.

Thompson then carefully organizes the material that follows "Base Camp: The Ignited Quiz" within three Parts. First, he offers some basic tools for improving the thinking and behavior of managers in The Middle. Next, he provides seven "Ignition Points" that are keys to the unique value that managers in The Middle can create. Finally, in Part III, he explains how to create a balanced fulfilling life while earning a living. They are not mutually exclusive. The challenge is to understand what really is most important in one's life, then achieve and then sustain an appropriate balance of those values dreams, objectives, needs, interests, and obligations.

Of special interest to me is what Thompson has to say about what he calls "Quake Country," a land of perpetual change. "A place where companies merge, morph, rise, and fall at an ever-accelerating pace - where the only thing certain about the latest management buzz phrases - from `failing fast,' `coopetition,' and cannibalization' to `process commoditization,' `productive friction,' and `social networking' - is that they will be replaced by new ones tomorrow, each change leaving the essential business problems behind." Much of value has been said and written about the difficulties that C-level executives face when struggling to make sense of and then respond to such an environment. Indeed much has been said and written about the extent to which C-level executives (especially CEOs such as Dennis Kozlowski at Tyco, Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Schilling at Enron, John Rigas at Adelphia, and Gary Winnick at Global Crossing) have exacerbated these difficulties. To the best of my knowledge, very little attention has been focused on those who manage in The Middle. Hence the importance of Thompson's book.

Here is a representative selection of Thompson's key points:

"The concept of Management Value Added (MVA) is based on a simple question that you should ask whenever you're making a decision about how to invest your time and energy: `What value does management add?' And how could your actions `add value' to any situation in business? That's right - by helping to meet your bosses' needs. The goal of MVA is to ensure that you are adding the value most important to your boss and company but also that you are always adding value in every situation." For example, managers must understand that if they are going to a meeting, they better be well-prepared to add value to discussions. Perhaps a better example would be a situation, what Bruce Bodaken and Robert Fritz characterize as a "managerial moment of truth," when supervisers have an opportunity to provide constructive criticism to a report-to that will be of substantial value to her or his performance and thus to the overall performance of the given organization.

"People come and people go, but processes - once developed, codified, and set in motion - tend to perpetuate themselves until someone deliberately changes them (which is often easier said than done). The sum of the processes defines what the company does and determines whether or not it is successful."

Citing Steve Mummulo (of US Search) as an example of a "Linkmaker," Thompson sums up the lessons to be learned. "When you're trying to get something done, use the proper channels first. Then, if the official procedures don't work and you find you must make an end run, do it in a politically sound way: Explain your reasons, get your boss's support, and keep people informed. Above all, show results. If you can make your network pay off, you'll be a hero. If you don't, you won't."

Citing Henry Mintzberg's concept of "emergent strategy," Thompson asserts that it is the strategic role of managers in The Middle "not simply to execute the strategy dictated by the top executives of the firm, but to supplement it with creative ideas, initiatives, and inventions of their own, driven by their first-hand knowledge of developments in the competitive arena, their own capabilities, and the openings for profit they perceive."

Given the organizational constraints that limit, often discourage, and sometimes even punish open and honest communication (especially "bad news"), how can those who manage in The Middle help their team members overcome barriers when tough corporate challenges demand clear and frank communication? Thompson suggests these tactics: "Acknowledging the constraints. Establishing an important business context and purpose. Recognizing the crucial role of the team member. Creating a separate space where it's safe to be open. Rigorously avoiding any form of recrimination or retribution for negative or `politically incorrect' statements."

This review is somewhat longer than I originally intended but I consider the issues that Thompson addresses to be so important, and his insights and counsel about managing in The Middle to be so valuable, that I felt obligated to include several quotations from his narrative. If I understand Thompson's ultimate objectives correctly, they include the following:

1. Help those who manage in The Middle to be more effective as "the connective tissue," as "the links to people above and below them in the corporate structure." This will strengthen their organization and, at the same time, expedite their career's development as well as nourish their personal growth.

2. Help those "above" (i.e. in senior management especially CEOs) to understand, appreciate, and then take full advantage of what managers in The Middle offer as "connective tissue" and "links" as well as their insights into customer needs, their awareness of competitive realities, and their understanding of the given organization's strengths and weaknesses.

3. Help those "below" the superviser to whom they report. As Vince Thompson correctly observes, "If you help your boss achieve success with his or her boss (not by going around your boss but collaboratively), you're really onto something. You're focusing on the issues that matter most at the highest levels of the company - the ones that'll get you the most recognition, the most power within the firm, and permission to pursue all your other dreams and goals."

As I finished reading this brilliant book, I was again reminded that organizations and even individual careers resemble vehicles in many different ways. Here's one example that seems especially relevant. Let's say you have just purchased a 2005 "cream puff" Mercedes with a full tank of gas, new tires and a new battery, tight breaks, and it has just been washed. Looks new. And of course, it has been properly inspected, registered, and insured. Then when you insert and turn the key, nothing happens. Nothing. The car isn't going anywhere and neither are you until the ignition problem is solved.

For many people, particularly those who "insert and turn a key" in their organization and/or in their career...and nothing happens, this will be the most valuable business book they have read in years.

Ignited has several good ideas to help a middle manager creatively navigate the corporate minefield. I found several of the ideas worth trying out, and discovered that I was doing a few things right but needed to modify some behaviors. This is a fairly easy read but you need to take time with each section to evaluate your behaviors and style in order to get the most out of it.

Good book. Buy it.

Calano has distilled a lot of wisdom into his very readable book. I've coached over 1,000 executives, asking all what they'd do differently in their personal lives and careers, and what lessons they've learned; Calano has captured their best advice and much more.

Make Your Move is a concise, well-written book of insights for business and life. Jimmy Calano achieved extraordinary success early in life and has a diversity of rich, real-world experience to draw from. Because he is a true student of personal and professional success, he has invested time reflecting on his successes and failures and distills his findings in this tighly packaged book. Your investment of reading time will reinforce the important lessons you once knew but might have forgotten and reveal new ideas and techniques you can use in your journey. I recommend it.

Once again, Jimmy Calano has taken all the management speak and self growth mumbo jumbo, boiled it down, and written a clear down to earth enjoyable book that is a resource for anyone at any age. Pick a section, pick a page... the wisdom is there. Jimmy has a way of connecting the dots and connecting with the reader without preaching or being the source of all knowledge. Hes a mentor, a coach, a guide...and comes across as trusted friend...this book is about making the most out of life.

Captivating throughout, Make Your Move is a wonderful reminder that life is to live Large. Calano's personal experience, stories, and real life examples provide us with simple steps to reconnect to our inner passions, dust off our dreams, accept responsibility, move beyond our perceived obstacles,and make a difference in our life. A fun, easy read, value packed for those getting started in life and those who are seasoned.

As I read this book, I kept thinking, "How does he know me? He just nailed me on every excuse I've been making for not achieving my own potential." I speak and write books on attaining goals, yet, I fall short of reaching my own potential.

Every section, from overcoming procrastination to making my dreams much bigger rings true. Most important, though, the book spells out specific action plans so I can get out of my head and into action.

Save your bucks. Don't buy a dozen books on various aspects of self-motivation. The essential wisdom of them all is contained in this one book. It's a quick and easy read, and I especially like the organization into bite-sized sections. If you read this book and don't leap ahead in achieving your goals, read it again. Just follow 15% of his advice. You'll be unstoppable.

Oh, and it's full of real stories about real people we can all relate to. Not just CEO types or rich/successful people. If you're a Mailroom Supervisor with a dream, this book will show you practical steps that will help you make it come true.

You can use the framework taught in this book to make decisions and create circumstances for others to make right decisions. Very easy to read. Designed to be useful and practically relevant to making decisions for businesses.

This is a great read whether you're a college student or just interested in a very practical construct for understanding business analysis and decision-making. Don't view this as the dry, age-old, micro-econ, theoretical, drudgery. This is real-life, pragmatic, business economics that ought to be read by students, entrepreneurs and executives alike. Better than Levitt's Freakonomics since it's beyond just interesting facts, it's actually useful in business practice. Who can ever refer to a managerial econ tome as actually fun and engaging to read. This one is. Buy it, start it...and, I guarantee you'll finish it.

Imagine my surprise upon reading this book. I majored in Economics in college and vividly remember "waiting" for the more advanced classes to reveal something practical as I advanced towards graduation. That proved elusive. College economics texts were all much the same - theoretical and full of supply/demand curves. They were boring.
My complimets to Luke Froeb for taking a practical approach to this subject matter. In doing so, he has done his profession a favor and challenged the status quo. This is a unique book, and for the sake of future Economics and Business students I hope that its delivery and stylistic examples become the way this subject is taught from this point forward.

This book is a great read for beginners and experts alike. Its easy-to-relate examples make sure the message gets across - how to solve business problems using micro-economics.

The book is full of "easy to apply" tools in various situations. If you have read this book, your approach to problem solving will never be the same again!

Highly recommended!

Not your typical economics text - the writing is lean and precise, and the authors use examples that demonstrate the concepts in ways that business students will find useful beyond the classroom.

I've watched a lot of television in my 28 years. I've read newspaper articles, seen press conferences, and listened to radio interviews. But I never realized the deliberate steps those people were taking to get their message across.

I had no idea that there was a thought process behind how often to plug your new venture in a radio interview (as opposed to a newspaper interview). I didn't realize that you should address a T.V. reporter differently (and more often) than reporters in other media. And I certainly didn't think about the methods used to create those "talking points" we hear so much about these days.

I'm not sure this book prepared me to immediately jump in front of the cameras. But, it caused a definite shift in my thinking. This book is an important first step for anyone who is naive about the effort required to effectively communicate with the public (via the press). It's also vital for those who are cynical about preparing for interviews, or worried about "selling out" for the purpose of gaining attention.

This book could easily be subtitled "How To Respect Your Audience." Mr. Walker spends a fair amount of time explaining that when you don't properly prepare yourself and your message, you do a huge disservice to your audience. I recommend this book as a primer in dealing with the media. It gives lot of techniques with examples. But, most importantly, it explains the rationale for each tip. Because all the techniques, tips, and tricks in the world won't help you if you don't firmly understand and believe in the power of preparation.

I wasn't to excited as I started reading this book, but it got much better. I found quite a few great ideas and helpful information if you are going to be on television. TJ Walker really gives some good tips and advice on how to sit, what to wear, what to do with your hands, and common mistakes so that you can avoid them.
I have been researching analogies since I came up with my 3 message points and am trying to come up with my own.
I would recommend this book, it is a quick read and will give you some valuable information if you have to go "on the air".

T.J. Walker is a true genius when it comes to looking good in the media. His advice, based on decades of media exposure himself, paired with a solid foundation in media best practices, have yielded the #1 methodology for getting the right message across and looking good in all forms of media. His advice is sharp, insightful, accessible and immediately applicable. His books, CDs and his personal coaching have been invaluable to me and my business.

Media Training A-Z is the #1 book I've found on this topic and I recommend it highly to anyone who plans or hopes to be in any form of media spotlight - TV, radio, or print. The advice in this book is packaged concisely enough to be read the day before you're on air, but dense enough to prepare you thoroughly - and even teach the pros a new thing or two...

TJ Walker is a clear and concise in his Media Training A-Z book. this is a very user-friendly book that is a perfect handbook for anyone who needs or wants to work with the media.

When it comes to talking to the press, people are largely divided into two camps. The first doesn't think it's anything to worry about and the second is terrified of the prospect. Media Training A-Z from TJ Walker has a little something for both groups.

I've worked with a few people who fall into the first camp. The CEO who doesn't think he needs to "waste" any time preparing for the interview ends up having a rambling, hour-long conversation, during which no message is communicated. The reporter is left with little that's usable and often takes their pick from the dozens of messages they heard. Once the interview is published or aired, the CEO complains about being misquoted or "taken out of context."

To them, Walker communicates the importance of preparing for the interview. He advises that you not enter an interview "without knowing in advance precisely the exact quotes you want to see in tomorrow's newspaper or tonight's newscast." He includes examples from the political world of how communicating can make your career (think Ronald Reagan) or break it (Howard Dean).

For the novice about to face an interview, Walker dissects it into its various parts and lays out a systematic plan of attack. The book is also loaded with tips and tricks that Walker has drawn from more than 20 years of media training experience. From what to say, wear and even drink, Walker conveys it all.

The book is not flawless. Some people may find them helpful, but the acronyms Walker uses for memorization reminded me of high school and were so long that the acronym was almost as difficult to remember as the concept to which it was related. I also could have gone to Walker's web site to find his other products and thus have done without the 30 pages he devotes to them at the end of Media Training A-Z. But those minor detractions are more than made up for by the balance of the book.

A final note for leaders (of non-profits, companies, churches, etc.): speaking to the media will most likely be unavoidable at some point in your tenure. Because what you say to the media could eventually be seen/read/heard by thousands of people, you should do your best to make sure you say it well. Media Training A-Z made me a better communicator and helped me teach my clients to do the same. Whether you're a public relations pro or prepping for your first TV interview, this book is a valuable resource.

In a world of hype advertising where what is claimed so often bears little resemblance to reality, this book (and specifically its book jacket) is a refreshing change. This book delivers exactly what the publisher says. And, delivers very well!

I am a huge believer in the power of mentors, coaches, mastermind groups and the like. In my studies and interviews of peak performers from all walks of life, getting constructive help from others is very often cited as a key to a given peak performer's success.

Now tons of books have been written on coaching, but there has heretofore been a dearth of books on masterminding. Authors Vitale and Hibbler have wonderfully filled this niche. They have written an interesting and valuable how-to book on assembling and maintaining an effective mastermind group. Especially valuable for the self-employed who are void of the valuable networking often provided by the traditional corporate workplace.

Caveat emptor: If you looking for a deep psychological treatise on exactly how masterminding works neurologically, this is NOT the book. But, if you want a nuts and bolts guide to masterminding, this book rocks. Exactly as advertised by the publisher! How refreshing, and useful.

We are the product of the half dozen people with whom we spend the most time. Assemble and maintain the right mastermind group and one can't help but to be more successful. This book will show you how to make that happen.

It is a good book on the Masterming group model. It is clearly and simply written. I get more out of books that I enjoy, and this is a pleasure to read, engaging is aterm I'd use to describe it.

Lots of helpful information. I formed a mastermind group that was fairly effective, now I am looking to take that to the next level with some of Joe's ideas.

Meet and Grow Rich contains everything you could possibly want to know about mastermind groups and then some. As a coach and consultant to what I term creative multipreneurs who are starting or growing a small business or businesses, I recognize the value of having a good, strong support team in place as a catalyst to success. Authors Joe Vitale and Bill Hibbler offer all the nuts and bolts on how to start your own mastermind group plus give many real life examples of the different types of groups that fall under this moniker. The second half of the book is filled with all sorts of tips, advice, and how-tos from several contributors who share their first-hand experiences. All the answers are here.

I was so inspired, I immediately contacted four self-employed colleagues and started my own group, as well as created a facilitated mastermind coaching groups program as a service of my coaching practice.

Susan Henderson
www.susanhenderson.com

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R21LH09NLC588Y The fastest way to create wealth and success in your life is to use the principles of mastermind groups first introduced by Napoleon Hill best selling author of Think and Grow Rich. When you understand the principles you will accelerate your results to new heights much faster and easier than you ever imagined possible.

Meet and Grow Rich gives you multiple examples of how to run a mastermind group effectively so you can produce the results you want in your life quickly and easily. It also cuts down your learning curve to success.

Profiting in Turbulent Times

Wealth Without a Job: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Freedom and Security Beyond the 9 to 5 Lifestyle

Laid Off? Don't Stress! How to Get from Mad to Glad

I found 4 reviews out of the 23 that didn't look like there were planted. Mind you, the 4 reviews that look legit were very positive, so it may be a good product. Still...I can't recommend buying it if these are the tactics used to sell it.

This was so helpful to me and my band. A lot of tips and advices which were very useful when we first arrived in the jungle called the music business. A great book with a lot of useful information for new artists and also for people who were in the music business for a long time.

Seeing all of these reviews for this is breathtaking. I myself have nothing but good stuff to say about this bundle. This bundle encouraged me to start out on my own- and I haven't looked back since! This is a great bargain and great resource for us newbies!

This is such a great bargain for us professionals out there. This bundle teaches you from the ground up how to survive, and turn a profit in this cuthroat business. I cannot say enough good stuff about this bundle- but don't take my word for it. Get your copy today, before your competitors do!

Okay, First I would like to point out that I have not seen or read this product yet. I hope that it is everything that the other customer reviews claim. After reading through them, though, something seemed a bit off. EVERY review was 5 stars. Not a single review even mentioned a flaw or an area that they wish had or hadn't been addressed. I then checked the other reviews posted by all the reviewers. With the exception of the first two, the other twenty had not posted any other reviews on anything else. I looked at the dates of the posted reviews, almost all of them are clustered VERY closely. I may be wrong, but I believe that someone is trying to overinflate this CD / Book. I don't know if it is someone who just loves it so much that they are misguidedly trying to help out, or if it being done directly by the person / people behind the book. If the latter is the case, how can I trust anything from such a dishonest shyster? If the former, then the author should see if Amazon can help legitimize or remove the reviews. This is 11-24-06. It will be interesting to see if the other reviewers all of a sudden start reviewing other titles in order to help seemingly legitimize their claims. I really want this product to be as good as it sounds. I would buy it in a heartbeat if this were true. I am left in a bit of a quandry, however. I apologize deeply to Ty if my conjecture is incorrect, and this review in any way hurts your sales. That is not my intention. I just loathe con artists. I have also tried to research Ty Cohen. He seems to me not to have much impressive in his resume' other than the fact that he has sold a lot of how-to courses. If he has impressive, verifiable, big name credits, by all means, somebody post them. I would really like to know what they are.

Russ really has the ability to not only do but also to concisely and clearly make known what actions to take and not take while building a network marketing organizaton.

Anyone who reads and applies these steps should surely experience success.

THIS BOOK MAKES MY FRIEND CRAZZZY ABOUT MELALEUCA. HE IS A GREAT PERSON AND BELIEVES WITH ALL HIS HEART IN MELALEUCA. I THINK THAT IT IS A GREAT COMPANY AND I WOULD SUGGEST YOU TO INVEST IN ITS PRODUCTS HIS NAME IS ROBERTO ZUNIGA HIS TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 1 631 816 4690 HE WORKS WITH THIS BEST SELLING AUTHOR. GIVE IT A GO AND TRY THIS AMAZING AND UNIQUE CONCEPT.

This is not a feel good book, motivational book, or a book on self improvement. This a book of facts and information, valuable facts and information, that if learned and applied will enable the reader to reach their fianacial goals. Outstanding! It is a must have for anyone wishing to gain have control of where they are going!

I have never been so impressed with a networking 'hands-on' book as I am with "Network your way to Millions" by Russ Paley. In my 14 years as a network marketing trainer I have had the honor of prospecting and helping such greats as Richard Kall, an icon in the industry. Russ has captured the true deliverence for the beginner as well as the seasoned professional in his long overdue masterpiece. Paul Kupetsky aka The Midas Muffler Man.

RUSS GIVES STEP BY STEP INSIGHTN ON THE BUILDING OF A NETWORKING BUSINESS. A MUST FOR ALL LEADERS

If you need a basic understanding of how the oil industry brings oil to market, this book is for you. I found it to be a very enjoyable read.

This book delivers on it's promise of making the lay person knowledgeable about this field. Actually, a pleasure to read.

Well done Norman J Hyne, what an excellent edition. You explain how this complex industy works in very easy to understand chapters and supporting diagrams. Well worth the price.

I was looking for a book giving a comprehensive overview ofthe petroleum industry Upstream processes.

I found it. This is a great book with a practical sense and the figures and tables needed to build Your own frame of information.

If You need a practical understanding of the industry to build a business case, or figure out Oil Co needs. This is where to start

I am a graduate geologist and I found this book ideal in my circumstances as an introduction before I got some petroleum work experience.It is very well written ,even a layperson could get a good appreciation for the wide encompassing subject matter.It is not aimed at specialists or those with a lot of experience in the petroleum geoscience.However, it is one of the best text books I have read.

When I bought this book, I hope to discover some facts about piano making and I am happy with the purchase. This is a good book for everyone because is the point of view of a writer and is the general view just like everyone who isn't in the piano world just piano technicians, piano teachers, buyers,dealers; is great for pianists, musicians and all the people who wants to know how is the making of a piano for one of the greatest piano makers, isn't a technical book, have historical facts in the way of anecdotic, humorous, and some factory language.

Steinway pianos are my favorite. Being that I am a professional country/blues pianist, if I can't play a Steinway, I would rather not play! James Barron wrote an historical account of the making of a Steinway. The piano is still made the way they started since the 1800's. No assembly line, no plastic parts, and no artificial wood. They are constructed by hand and skilled craftsmanship.

Why buy a $400.00 piano made in China? That is an insult not only to beginning and professional pianists, but an insult to the piano itself. In 2000, the piano celebrated it's 300th anniversary. Piano is the most famous house hold instrument.

This book is enjoyable, and educational even to those who do not play, but love to hear the glorious 88 keys hitting the strings. The harpsichord was a for runner of the piano. The difference was, you may beat the keys as hard as you can, but you still only received one level of sound. Strings were plucked, and the piano was made for the hammers to hit the strings. The harder you played, the louder a piano sounded. The piano changed the history of the world. I think two of the greatest pianist is Floyd Cramer, and Roger Williams.

Steinway takes you deep into the heart of their factory, and shows you how a piano is meant to be built and played. The history is fascinating.

K-0862 became a living...feeling...emotional entity by the end of this book........A very very original idea (to breath life into this piano) and well written. Actually EXTREMELY WELL WRITTEN book...My NEW favorite among all books...right up there with OVER THE EDGE OF THE WORLD......... The two most enjoyable....... educational........ books I have ever read!!!!!! KUDOS!!!!!!! I hated when i got to the end of this one!!!!!!

I took my copy of "Piano: The Making of a Steinway Concert Grand" to the beach with me. I read it in 4 days! Mr. Barron infuses a wealth of information into a wonderful story about this piano,and oh so much more. Before you know it K-0862 is a character you care about. I cannot imagine anyone not finding something to love about this book!!! Masterfully written!

Excellently and diligently written, this little book tells the story of one Steinway concert grand piano from conception to adolescence. Barron loves the piano, respects the Company, and is dilgent in showing the evolution of Steinway, as well as the creation of one, new opus - a 9 foot concert piano. Barron introduces us to the barons of Steinway and the individual craftsmen who hand make these excellent instruments. To me, the quality and individual character of each Steinway piano are no longer a mystery.

Each time I play my own small grand piano (a quality A B Chase, close replica of the Steinway model S), I think of the efforts that went into it. Unlike Yamahas and such, the Steinway is an almost hand-built piano from a Company which has never relented in its determination to produce the best.

The book also explains why age is not all that becoming in the tonal life of a piano. The instrument has a birth, a development, and an aging process which are measured in tonal character progress, not just years. The aged Steiway seems a time integral of all that has come before - including hundred year old designs and techniques, and all the way up to its last tuning.

If you think a piano is a piano, is a piano, Barron's book will change your outlook.

This is such a great read! The tools given were very useful and easy to implement. I definitely recommend this.

Proactive Sales Management shows sales managers how to effectively manage their sales force, motivate the sales team, effectively coach and counsel the sales organization, reduce reports to one sheet of paper and 10 minutes a week and forecast more confidently. A must read for any serious manager who is planning to boost sales and performance.

Many sales managers I know are some of the hardest working people on earth. They don't have time to read theory and work over months or years to apply it.

This book gives a good, practical approach which can be used immediately - invaluable to newly promoted sales managers or veterans. It's the type of book which lets you read a chapter at lunch then use the idea that afternoon!

Miller's approach offers insight and forthright advice on the keys to success in managing sales people.

Has chapters for the entire Sales Manager life cycle, from vision/culture to interviewing/hiring, to corrective action. Very basic and rudimentary rather than theoretical such as you'd find in sales management course texts. Maybe this is all that's necessary to gain the big picture rather than dealing with various minutia.

'ProActive Sales Management' is packed with practical tools for business executives to drive sales organization in a proactive manner. Miller has coherently illustrated how these tools fit together & help sales organizations to achieve the mission of proactively capture business opportunities; more importantly, he also shows managers how to gain better control of their life while achieving business goals.