Business Books

I really like Mary Hunts books I find them a lot more useful than books like the tightwad gazette which is way to extreme.Mary Hunts books are full of good useful information.

I subscribe to Mary's CheapskateMonthly.... and highly recommend both her website and most of her books. I have read and reread the books of hers that I own, of which this is one. If you're having finacial difficulties, get this book and subscribe to her newsletter - you can do this online or through the mail. I swear it's been the best money I've ever spent. And I have actually started to see a difference in my finances.

This is a good, solid, book covering the "basics" of money management. It can be said that Mary Hunt is just reiterating philosophies of money management that have been preached over the decades, if not centuries. Better, more comprehensive, readings include "The Millionaire Next Door", "Your Money Or Your Life", "The Complete Tightwad Gazette", and "The Richest Man In Babylon."

That being said, this book did introduce me to one innovative idea of which I have incorporated into my financial arsenol. It's what called the "Freedom Account". The Freedom Account is a fantastic tool devised by Hunt to manage payment of irregular,
non-monthly bills. The concept is not new, but Hunt's system is definitely the best I've ever come across.

My philosophy on reading books has always been that if I can get just one great new idea, then the investment in time and money is worth it. I can assure you that if you decide to buy this book, the "Freedom Account" system alone is well worth the investment.

Has worrying about money or paying your bills ever kept you up at night?

Me, too. Until I found this book.

About 7 years ago, our family was suffering from unbelievable money problems. Depressed and confused, I decided to stop by the bookstore and browse the personal finance section. There was only one problem. I didn't have twenty or thirty dollars to buy money management advice. I decided to get Mary's book and could not believe how many great examples and strategies she gave for reducing debt.
By following Mary's instructions, our family quickly began reducing our debt and wiped out almost $ 20,000 of credit card bills within a few years.
Her book is my money "Bible" and like scriptures in a holy work, I have highlighted paragraphs on almost every page that give insights into a subject that had always been beyond my control.

This book saved my marriage and brought me peace.
I highly recommend it. . . to everyone.

This is a good book for a great cause: getting and staying out of debt. However, after reading it, I liked Dave Ramsey's Money Makeover and Financial Peace University MUCH better - more thorough, great ideas, and fabulous examples of how a little money can grow w/ time - which this book, CM, is lacking.

Building on our human desire to connect with others, motivational speaker Keith Harrell uses the acronym, CONNECT, to present a seven-step attitude development process for personal success.

'C'ommit to win; develop a be accountable attitude
'O'pen up to opportunities; use a change embracer attitude
'N'otice what's needed and do what's necessary; have a be aware attitude
'N'avigate by your purpose; utilize a be vision centered attitude
'E'xecute ethically; practice a be performance and integrity driven attitude
'C'hallenge your challenges; have a be responsible attitude
'T'ranscend beyond your best; with a be the difference attitude

Promoting the ideas that 'thoughts matter' and that 'success requires a personal connection', the author says you must first `care' to connect, by developing your ICARE (Intensely, Committed, Attentive, Ready, and Enthusiastic) statements. "When you have a mind-set that says ICARE, over time you will change your beliefs. Your beliefs will change your attitude. Your attitude will help change your feelings. Your feelings will help change your actions. And your actions will help you to connect." A lot of linkages before getting to the actions piece, hence the need for commitment to stay the course.

The book is easy to read and contains inspirational stories about the author and others that help to bring the points to life. Perhaps in recognition of the difficulties with developing a 'just do it' attitude, each of the seven-steps contains numerous other thoughts on attitude for a successful life. The book may be more useful for its provision of winning attitude ideas than for the structured self-help program it promotes.

Dennis DeWilde, author of
"The Performance Connection"

I have taken alot of notes from this book. I use the tips and have incorportated what Keith Harrell says into my daily work and home life. I think it's a great read for anyone at any stage in their life.

Keith Harrell is AWESOME!! I had the pleasure of meeting him in person about a year ago at a convention that i attended in Nashville, TN. All of his material is incredible and he really helps you to think in a positive manner and to be able to share it with others!!

Are your employees, clients, friends, spouse, children, and colleagues frequently missing your point? The root causing is likely your lack of connecting with them. Keith and Hattie have packed some valuable and practical tips in this fantastic read, grab a copy!

CONNECT is very well written and contains plenty of wisdom necessary to succeed in business as well as life.

Keith Harrell uses CONNECT as an acronym to get his points across.

C - is for commit to win. Unless there is a total commitment, most importantly with yourself, your efforts will fall short.

O - is for open up to opportunities. Too many people have a closed mindset. If you want to succeed, open to opportunities.

N - notice what is needed

N - navigate by your purpose. You need to understand and be guided by your purpose in life.

E - execute ethically

C - challenge your challenges. Don't run from your challenges. Challenge them.

T - transcend beyond your best.

Then he gives us the BE - Attitudes to go with each CONNECT point. Before you DO, you must BE and the BE - Attitudes are a good reminder of what we should be. If we simply try to do, we will not succeed. There needs to be alignment of who we are with what we do. Therefore, the BE - Attitudes.

Harrell not only gives us the CONNECT points and the BE -Attitudes, he goes into great detail explaining the importance of the points and how they effect our performance and success.

The book is filled with interesting stories that bring home the points. At the end of each chapter is a series of exercises designed to implement the theory of the book.

If you truly want to succeed in business and in life, you must connect with others. No one is an island. Keith Harrell does a great job of giving you the tools to connect. You still need to do the work yourself.

Having worked with Gary on many annual reports (some of our photos he shot are in this book), I can honestly say that it was a pleasure to work with such a consumate professional such as Gary and his assistant, Matt Proulx. We spent countless hours, days and weeks on location capturing some of the greatest shots our firm has ever produced for our clients. This book was being written as we were shooting several reports (see page 152 for a great example of what a photographer is usually given to work "magic" with) and what he says is absolute gospel when it comes to the photo road warrior. Much of the time spent is hurry up and wait and then race like mad to get the shot because of circumstances out of the control of the photographer. Gary's best advice inside this book tells the seasoned pro or aspiring one how to save time, money and sanity while trying to get the best possible shot. Practical, straightforward, and always grumpy, Gary Gladstone will make you a better photographer if you listen to what he is telling you. Buy this book if you desire to be the best corporate photographer you can be.

Gary Gladstone has taken the art of being a good photographer and crafted a book on how to be a successful professional photographer. Its not enought to take good photos, and this book shows you what else you need if you are thinking about making money, and not just spending it, in pictures.

I'm a begginer in this field, there is no doubt this is a good book. But, if you are a begginer too, don't buy this one, because it has just 30 pages for "TRICKS & HINTS" out of 160. There are a lot of photographs, but it is a shame there is no explanation on what lences, nor films, nor speed shutter, etc. he is using.
He only talks about "HOW TO DO BUSSINESS", it is good, and about dealing with people (your assistant, your clients), this is usefull too.
By the other hand, I don't think it is more usefull how to packing your equipement than how to take a good photograph.
So, the title of the book has got nothing to do with the content. WATCH OUT!!!

This is just a wonderful book for anybody building a business as a freelance photographer. Gary tells you the inside stuff that many pros even keep from their assistants. The book loaded with real world examples of how problems get solved and how to steer your job planning to keep from getting in trouble later. If you're going to shoot outside your studio, then this book should put your mind at ease with strategies. He walks you through real problems with examples of how to avoid or get out of jams.

Gladstone teaches how to think your way through a job. The chapter on assistants is a much read if you're thinking of starting that way.

The visuals are great! Makes you want to run out and start shooting. I just love this book. Thanks Gary.

Walt Moon

It gives you hard won experience from a photographer at the top of his field. From what (and how) to pack for a travelling assignment, to making sure you get paid on time.

But not only that, Gary Galadstone gives you the benefit of his creative mind too. How to creatively shoot your way out of tricky situations. Turning potentially hopeless locations into great photographs.

I got the impression that Gary was trying to include as much as possible in this book. He could have left loads out and it would still have been a good book.

Just buy it, you wont be sorry. I'm sure I'm not the only person to have wished he had read it at the beginning of his career.

I found this book so generous with tips, codes of practise and his experience I felt I had to personally thank the author, and THAT doesn't often happen!

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!

"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

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

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!!!!

Phyllis Davis shares her wit and wisdom in this practical resource guide that helps readers navigate their way through complicated business and personal situations. This book emphasizes that respect and civility in the workplace is not a luxury, it is a calculated business strategy that will increase employee and client loyalty and drive bottom line results. An enriched work environment is a merely happy by-product.

For companies that strive for excellence, becoming proficient in Business Etiquette will help elevate their staff's professionalism to an even higher level.

Phyllis Davis guides her reader through an endless array of business settings -- from exchanging business cards to global travel -- and spells out proper etiquette for each situation. Interwoven with her clear, concise advice are dozens of thought-provoking case studies that reinforce her message. The result is an invaluable, easy-to-read resource that I'm recommending to many of my clients.

E2 goes far beyond mere rules of polite behavior. It focuses on personal success. It shows how etiquette engenders powerful impressions, sustained credibility, and lasting influence. Ms. Davis is concerned with helping readers create impact everywhere in their business lives, from shaking hands to conducting effective meetings to climbing the corporate ladder. This is a book to be read more than once. In fact, it will stay on my shelf as a ready reference for years to come.

E2 is poignant, powerful, progressive and TIMELY. Ms. Davis has opened our eyes to the basics of communication, the art of listening, and most importantly, the need for accountable leadership. It's not just a book on etiquette, it's a book hailing the age-old virtues of wisdom, accountability and RESPECT.

E2 Using the Power of Ethics and Ettiquette...offers sound advice to the novice and seasoned professional alike. Ms. Davis writes in straight forward language and an attractive format that will serve as a guide for me for many years to come. I'm certain that those of us drawn to civility and committed to living and working in integrity will want all of our friends and colleagues to read this book.

E2 Using the Power...is a very a timely book. As I read it, highlighted passages, and earmarked pages, I realized how it is and will be a timeless companion for me and for anyone who desires to live in a more civil society and enjoy satisfying relationships (in business and in life). Ms. Davis' book stikes at the core of what is possible, how we would all like to live, and effective ways to conduct ourselves in business. Bravo Ms. Davis !! You've turned the lights on so we can all be our best and SHINE !

Great book for advanced undergrad and grad students. Personally, I think this book is as good as the Greene, but much cheaper.

This is a fine book, but probably not the one you want to buy if you are looking for ONE all-encompassing reference. The approach is interesting, but unusual, with all the pros and cons that come with originality. It is for graduate students, or very advanced undergraduates, as it requires quite a lot of previous knowledge of linear algebra and statistics.
What is unusual about this book is that it covers most topics within a unifying Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) framework. Many many estimators are treated as special cases of GMM. The book is clear, and the notation is mostly OK, even if the chapters on panel data and systems of simultaneous equations are a notational nightmare, partly because of the choice of treating everything in a GMM framework. Another unusual aspect of this book is the emphasis on certain regularity conditions (such as ergodicity) that are usually used in a time-series framework, but are not commonly seen in cross-section analysis. I studied (also) on this book as a graduate student, and overall I liked it. The only real minus are the exercises, which contain so many hints that they become trivial (really, I am not a genius...). Worse, they only require mindless application of linear algebra.

One UNimporant cons of this book is the fact that (cover aside) it is... ugly! How could the publisher choose the boring "Times New Roman" font for this book!? But this, of course, does not really matter....

Overall, a useful and good book, but if you are looking for ONE textbook in cross-section econometrics Wooldridge is probably a better choice, and if what you are looking for is ONE book in time series, Hamilton is likely to be what you want on your shelf.

Mr. Hayashi has written an excelent textbook, which has become the standard in PhD programs as far as I know. I agree with other recomendants that Hayashi has been original to explain econometrics from a newer and more efficient point of view. But there is more: Hayashi has devoted a lot of effort to create exercises to teach students instead of contributing to some professor's questions data bank.

I have a love/hate relationship with this book. Perhaps I should state as a precursor that I was never formally trained in economics before learning econometrics. And, that the last time I'd done matrix algebra or calculus was some 15 years prior.

We used this book as part of a taught graduate course. It took half a semester to go through the first two chapters - an investment of time that proved well worth it for the rest of the topics which were covered in the remainder of the semester.

Basically, if you can understand the first two chapters on ordinary least square regression for finite and large samples, the required assumptions and properties, then the rest of the chapters are a piece of cake:
- generalized method of moments for single and multiple equations
- panel data
- time series analysis (including unit root analysis)
- extremum estimators
- maximum likelihood
- cointegration.

In short, the book covers all major econometrics topics and does so in a succinct, clear manner. The way in which Hayashi builds on each topic, showing that all models are basically different versions of the same method, with slightly different assumptions is just brilliant. It put statistics in a different light for me, and gave me a much deeper, intuitive understanding of it than any other book or class had done before.

There is a caveat however. This book assumes that you have substantial mathematical grounding. In particular, I found the succinct use of notation, without any verbal explanation, irritating at first. I invested quite some time in a mathematical economics book reminding myself what sets were, rules of matrices, calculus functions, expectations and probability.

Without the support and input of our brilliant teacher who (very patiently) took us through the end of chapter exercises step-by-step, I would never have managed to successfully read this book on my own! While those exercises honed my skills and deepened my understanding, I relied heavily on Hayashi's home page notes and hints to complete them.

For those of you that have strong mathematical skills and an economic background, this book is probably one of the best introductions to econometrics. For those of you who do not, it will prove to be a difficult read at best.

What's certain is that after succesfully completing it, your econometrics and statistical skills will provide a solid enough basis for any graduate program.

Yes, indeed I also think this one is the best around. Some points I'd add are:

Hayashi's book is the only econometrics textbook I am aware of (IMHO, these are certainly not all, but quite a few) that is truly complete. Not only from a material point of view - it covers both time series and cross section material in a unified framework (as opposed to Wooldridge). The empirical exercises are useful (outperforming, say, Davidson/MacKinnon) and yet you can also go on to read theoretical papers or Amemiya after having read Hayashi's coverage of asymptotic properties of GMM and M estimators. Finally, also more towards the theoretical side, it provides some first training in hands-on programming, as opposed to some books that tell you where to click in eViews.

Furthermore:

- A corollary of the above comments is of course that it's not very detailed in each of the fields covered. E.g., all you find on limited dependent variables is Probit, Logit, Tobit.
- It's well managed: the typo list (which isn't very long, I should emphasize, especially for a 1st ed.) is always up to date
- The typsetting really is debatable. I find it unpleasant to have italics, boldface, boldface italics, verbatim environments etc all on one page. Less is more.

I managed to get a copy of the Entrepreneurial Connection, and found it Enlightening. It fills in some of the holes and answers the questions entreprenuers are seeking everyday.

The author promised me what I was looking for was in this book. For the most part, He was right.

This Book offers Insights from a collection of infamous Entreprenuers. They are truly Words Of Wisdom.

-Deep

I bought this book from Gurmeet (Gurmeet graciously autographed my copy - Thanks GS) at TiECon 2001, and when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I've read it twice, and I received different insights each time. It's immaterial that this book is exclusively about entrepreneurs of South Asian origin. This book is ideally suited for ANYONE who wants to try to understand the deeper spirit of entrepreneurship, the sacrifices, the pain, and most of all the gratification of success. This book will inspire and it will prod the reader to reflect. TEC illustrates true grit and determination, and it will leave the reader with a deeper appreciation of American capitalism.

One insight gained from my readings: Immigrant values coupled with American capitalism/rugged-individualism/opportunity is an unbeatable combination.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

This book gives a very crispy insight into the mindset of a successful enterpreneur

After having read this well captured compilation of successful entrepreneurs, it has helped charge my entrepreneurship ambitions to a whole new degree! It is a 'must read' for all those considering an entrepreneurial life or live one!

Cheers Gurmeet

Ben Nagrani

the book throws light on the hardships successful people faced to reach the pinnacle of success which a comman man may not understand. it really gives inspiration to new starters like me to face the tough times with enthusiasm and not loose hope. Discussions are very well handled. very good questions which goes on to cover a lot of aspects. Overall a very good book for learning with amazing messages.

This is a very good book, I've read several real estate books in the past and this one is one of the better ones. Content is more down to the real world and has a lot of number crunching which is great. Recommended reading.

This is a book that turns conventional wisdom on it's ear. This book was eye-opening for me in much the same way that "Rich Dad Poor Dad" was years ago. This book is a great starting point for anyone interested in real estate investing. I also recommend looking up their podcast on I-tunes called "The Real Estate Guys".

I learned of the book through a weekly podcast of Real Estate Guys Radio, which is hosted by the authors. I have read many books on real estate investing, but this one really challenged my thinking on several philosophies. (I hate to admit this, but I had some similar ideals to the fictitious Conrad Soomer in the introductory section).

Since finishing the book, I have created a written plan and made an offer on a six unit apartment building. I have also re-evaluated my previous guiding principle of paying down loans faster and am planning to pull some equity out of existing properties.

I strongly recommend this to any reader who understands that real estate investing is a proven way to build net worth, but needs a kick in the pants to get started.

I gained so much from reading (and re-reading sections) of the book, I bought copies for all my RE partners. I read A LOT of real estate books and was very impressed with the ideas and the presentation. A must for newbies to help you get the concepts down and experienced people to reflect and review and learn some new things.

These guys have a great and entertaining way of writing about real estate. They are also honest, there's none of this "make a million overnight with real estate" garbage. Instead they lay out the foundations for changing your mindset, which a lot of books dont even mention. How are you going to win at the real estate game if you have the wrong mental attitude and work ethic going in? After they change your attude, they lay the foundation for getting started in real estate, and telling you realistically that there will be ups and downs, but over the long haul, like a 15 year or more period, you will make substantial wealth with real estate. Loved the tone of the book as well, funny and frank with their information. They have a home study course, which I'm sure goes into more detail than this book does, and I'm going to order it. But this book is a great place to start.

This book explains the general principles of financial planning and gives other resources of useful information. It also talks about some specific situations. While it cannot teach you how to do it yourself, it is a good start for everyone who needs to do financial planning!

This is a great book. It is full of helpful information on the financial planning process. I highly recommend it!

If you are cautious on your personal finance and don't want to just listen to your financial advisor, the book might be good for you. It covers a lot of topics of personal finance. The second part is especially good. It talks about the financial issue at life time changes such as marriage, becoming parents, divorce, etc. Very solid information on tax issues. A lot of tips on tax saving.

When I started teaching financial planning to US Air Force officers planning on reentering the general economy it was a little known subject and you had to scout up your material from pamphlets, magazines and newspapers with help from stockbrokers.
"Ernst & Young's Personal Financial Planning Guide" published by John Wiley & Sons, which is the same publishing house that publishes the JK Lasser's tax manual puts the information all in one volume.
Of intense interest to us is the chapter on starting your own business, which as authors we are doing in our senior years. The material is geared to the younger generation who are just starting out, but the advice is sound and easy to understand without an extensive background in accounting and economics.
Financial planning is rough at this period in our history, because of the skyrocketing prices of necessary goods and services not used in the consumer price index, hence they are excluded from inflation percentage calculations. Gasoline, medicines and health care are three I can name, off hand, that affect the general population, but fall outside the index. This phenomena is not addressed in the planning guide, but then Congress has not touched it since the Johnson adminstration either. It is not something that winning the lottery will answer for an individual, but it is like trying to hold a large balloon half-full of water in one-hand and keep it round.
"Personal Financial Planning Guide' is the best we have found for a realistic look at all aspects of financial planning. The table of contents and index are outstanding for locating information.
Nash Black, author of "Taxes, Stumbling Blocks & Pitfalls for Authors 2007."

Absolutely one of the best financial planning reference tools around! If your personally planning to restructure your financial life or hire a professional to do it for you, then this book is a must have. It provides a wealth of information as well as an extensive array of guidelines and tips for every area of your life . I especially like that it brings to light concerns of areas you may not be immediately affected by (aging parents) but should be planning for now. Having hired a professional, this book has proved Indispensable in that we have been able to knowingly select and plan individual or particular methods of approach towards our financial futures and better implement them through a professional planner!!!

Ken,
I purchased your book last month, "The Expert's Edge" (McGraw ill,2008), and gave it a read while on a 6 hour flight to Alaska for a 2 week vacation. Emerson would be proud of you! It was time well invested.

Your book gave me a clearer focus on concepts I knew, served as a refresher in other areas, and introduced me to new ideas that will lead me closer to not only becoming a thoughtleader in my subject field, but also a "Thoughtleader of Choice".

Thank you for taking the time to write such a valuable guide. I appreciated the fact that your writing "tone" was one of talking with me, not at me.

Your book has motivated me to not only get my own book idea moving forward, but also to get moving on another division of my company, "ClearVision Assessments LLC", where my original, well-researched psychological assessment tools will be published and serve as a distributorship for it and other respected assessment tools, thus
serving as a focus for the assessment activities of my practice.

Now I must not forget to bring the book with me when I see you again so I can have my copy signed! Wishing you all the best of success.

Dr. Robert W. Sopo, PhD, CHRP, CMC
President & CEO
RWS Group, Inc.

How would *you* market a new product? The usual approach is to talk about your product - and talk and talk and talk. Brag about it. Tell the world how amazing it is (or how cheap, or how desirable). Common wisdom says that the louder and longer you brag about it the more you will sell.

Ken Lizotte has a very different approach. He points out that people buy particular products or services because they know and trust the people behind them. Here's a vivid example (not from Ken's book):

Let's say you are choosing among three possible investments. One has an ad campaign with lots of statistics that demonstrate how rich other investors have gotten. The second investment's ad campaign features a famous sports figure doing a testimonial. The third investment is simply recommended by Warren Buffett in a New York Times interview. Which would you choose? I think I would trust Warren Buffett over the ad campaigns.

So did the big-spending campaigns win *your* mindshare? Or were you swayed by the credibility of one special individual?

According to Ken, your personal credibility and visibility are potentially the most powerful promotional tools you will ever have. You should be using them for personal gain and for the benefit of any endeavor you are associated with.

Ken's book is a concise, easy-to-understand guide for doing exactly that. There are two parts to the book. First, Ken explains what he means by becoming an expert (e.g. creating personal credibility and visibility). Then he gives the reader very clear step-by-step instructions for achieving expert status. And all of this is backed up by research and real-life anecdotes.

But don't expect instant results. Building credibility and visibility as an expert takes time - not because you need to amass more knowledge, but because you need to demonstrate your expertise in many, many venues. Ken makes a strong case, however, that the benefits are worth all the time and effort. After reading Ken's book, I would wholeheartedly agree.

Hamlet? A high school term paper compared to Lizotte's book. The Bible? A confusing rant of disconnected stories next to Ken's perfectly crafted epic. And don't even get me started on Hemingway, whose combined works in light of Ken's latest masterpiece are not even worthy of lining my bird's cage. No my friends, what Lizotte has done here has shaken the publishing industry to its very core. No more books need ever be written -- read this and sleep peacefully, knowing you've experienced all you'll ever need in wisdom, entertainment and humanity.

Ken's new book is wonderful and a must read for all consultants! It essentially outlines a road map for successfully navigating your way from professional with pearls of wisdom to savvy expert / thought leader. Throughout my consulting career I have had the pleasure to work with Ken first hand. And he has effectively captured this transformation process in his new book. His book is an easy read. It provides an overall strategy, practical approaches and how to's, testimonials from successful thought leaders and makes the business case for why you should invest your time and energy. When working directly with Ken you also benefit from his unconditional support and great sense of humor as you forge ahead. So, at a minimum read the book. If you have the opportunity to work with Ken then do that too! Happy reading!

Carol Bergeron
President of Bergeron Associates(tm)

Ken is nothing short of a wizard at making people famous. While working with him I've had more articles published in all the best places. Now he's captured the best of his wisdom in The Expert's Edge, and you have no excuse but to follow his advice and make a name for yourself that will produce dividends now and for years to come!