Business Books

I have known and worked with Ardi Kolah for a number of years and have found no one with such an in-depth understanding of the legal side of marketing.

In today's highly litigious society, knowledge of what is permissible in marketing is essential, even more so given the complex regulatory framework in which organisations operate today.

This book is well written, easy to understand and is a must for any truly professional marketer.

I have known Ardi Kolah since he was an outstanding post graduate law student here at University College London. On the basis of that contact I am sure that Essential Law for Marketers is an exceptional book in terms of its content and clarity of writing. It is important that such a book be read by all law students who are interested in working within the creative industries and those who need a robust introduction to the way in which law has influenced this important sector.

Ardi Kolah has captured many of the substantial legal issues that marketers could face as regulation and compliance standards increase. This book offers clear explanations of relevant law, with examples and practical advice for maintaining marketing momentum.....

Ardi Kolah's Essential Law for Marketers has been written with the legal virgin in mind and that includes a surprising number of advertising practitioners who should at least have a basic knowledge of the laws governing their business. This book is full of practical tips and suggestions that will also be relevant to the seasoned campaign director and is sure to prove essential reading for anyone in the advertising industry who needs to get up to speed with this complex area.

If you want an intelligent overview of the application of the law for marketers, then this is it. It should have been around years ago ...

For years I have struggled by living month to month beyond my means. I felt helpless and out of control. Dr. Dink explained it in the most simpliest of terms. Just a little work made the most difference. I recommend this to anyone who wants to take control of their finances and start living their dreams!

A friend of mine gave this book to me while I was in the hospital recovering from a severe case of Crone's disease. Prior to reading Dr. Dink's excellent financial advice, my idea of a sound money decision was betting it all on black at the Roulette table! He really broke it down for me in a way I could understand. Thanks, guys.

Dr. Dink's prescription for financial wellness really hit home...even for a guy with a Masters in Business Administration in Finance. His book would definitely be valuable for someone trying to gain some basic knowledge of financial management. However, what really distinguishes Dr. Dink's book from others is his ability to bring abstract financial concepts down to earth and help us to understand how often our financial situation drives our decision-making regardless of how much money we make. In challenging us to "stop chasing our bills and start chasing our dreams" he reminds us that life is too short to allow credit cards bills to stand in the way of happiness. By setting his financial program within a very practical context, Dr. Dink did a great job of keeping me interested and his witty stories and useful examples were the icing on the cake. For anybody interested in taking back their life from banks and credit cards, Dr Dink has the financial cure for you.

Finally a book for those of us that don't understand the world of finance! I highly recommend this book and let me tell you why.

This book has some very practical advice about getting out of debt and staying out of debt. The author also provides some insights into investing. What this book has that I have not seen in other finance type books, is the ability to draw in the reader ... you don't feel like you are reading a finance book but rather you feel as if you are having a discussion with a friend, an advisor .... yes, even a teacher. Dr. Dink is indeed a teacher. I felt as if I had sat down with him and he was telling me about the mistakes he's made, the mistakes that are common and then what to do to avoid them. For those of us who have made those mistakes [and there are lots of us] you feel like you're not alone and his advice is easy to follow. Of course, that doesn't mean it's easy to DO what he says ... but it's easy to understand his advice.

Dr. Dink has a conversational way of writing. The reader gets a glimpse of his personal life and how these finance 'lessons' worked for him, his friends and others.

I found that I was able to read this book quickly, and I'm sure will be going back to it for advice. As a business professional, I found the information valuable. I'd recommend it for younger people as well, especially those starting out. It's a great gift for college students in particular.

This book comes across like a cross between Will Rogers and Tony Robbins in helping you take charge of your financial life. It has a personal, in-touch feel that will make thinking about your finances more interesting and comfortable . . . even if you have some serious issues. The advice is consistent with the most advanced techniques, but presented in a way that is easy to absorb and apply. This book can be effectively used by most middle income households headed by someone with at least two years of high school education. The typical family using this approach should improve net worth by many hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next three decades. Buy it, read it, and live it!

This book would be fun to read, even if you weren't interested in household finances. The writing and the slant are very appealing.

Dr. Dink is a charming fellow. He admits all of his own weaknesses and mistakes in a totally disarming way. While many "experts" on personal finances try to elevate the subject, the effect is to make people feel embarrassed by their mistakes. Dr. Dink has a fundamental respect for others and for himself that make you feel right at home.

Dr. Dink, by comparison to the media stars you see on television every day telling you what to do financially, comes down to your level (wherever that may be) with sympathy and understanding, points out that you are okay and can succeed, and helps you to see your own way to accomplishing what you want.

Three aspects of the book are particularly commendable:

1) The decision process of Q-Q-Kachoo. The book describes the process far better than I can here in a few words. The essence is to use three perspectives simultaneously: total cost carefully quantified over time; looking at the pros and cons of a decision (a la Ben Franklin); and checking your gut (seeing how you feel about the decision). If all three point in the same direction (positively or negatively), chances are that you have made a good decision. Many very sophisticated decision-making techniques apply these same fundamental concepts, just in more complicated ways. If you are interested in learning more about that subject, see Smart Choices.

2) Creating comfortable ways to draw your attention to the main areas where you can increase your income, reduce your expenses, save and invest money better. This is not rocket science nor brain surgery, but the details can easily get lost . . . and bad decisions follow. Dr. Dink gives you a simple, quick way to spot those opportunities and find your own, pleasant solutions.

3) Providing detailed examples from a variety of perspectives. Many of these will hit home for you. Everyone, for example, will resonate to the idea of paying green cash for things as a way to save money. We all spend less when we have to dole it out, bill by bill, than when we can use a credit card or a check. You don't have to do pay in cash, but you will appreciate the power of the example . . . and perhaps sometimes you will use this approach to your advantage when it makes sense.

As you can see, Dr. Dink's strength is that he has great common sense and a wonderful common touch about human psychology and finances. He doesn't do this kind of work to build himself up ego-wise. He is truly a servant of clients. Very nice, Dr. Dink!

After you have finished applying the lessons of this book to your own finances, I suggest that you become a Dr. Dink, Junior, and share the lessons with someone else you care about. In helping someone else learn these principles, you will reinforce and extend your own learning.

Keep your eye on your financial vital signs, and a long, healthy financial life will follow!

In these trying and chaotic times, Firms of Enderament offers a refreshing new look at capitalism and what it really takes for a business to be successful in today's complex and ever shifting markets.
The authors start by identifying and studying the practices of comanies that honor and serve their customers, employees, suppliers,partners, investors and even the commuities in which they operate. After identifying 28 companys which score high marks in these areas, then and only then do the authors take a peek at the bottom line performance of this group. They then compare these bottom line results with their counterparts which are driven by the traditional and singular focus of shareholder wealth.
The results are eye opening as the FoE's profit performance is 8 times that of those companies which compulsively and almost exclusively pursue the bottom line in the interest of shareholder return. The book makes a compelling arguement that nice guys (business people) can finish first and that by paying attention to its stakeholders rather than just its shareholders a company can excel even beyond the paragons described in the works of Jim Collins.
Firms of Endearment is an excellent work and should be included in the curricula of business schools around the world.

Much like Gary Hamel's book The Future of Management, one needs to read this book with an open mind. It is an exceptional book and one that I am giving away to my clients this coming Holiday. It is thought provoking and enlightening. Above all it stresses that companies have a need above profit. That profit is the score, not the game itself. Perhaps had the management of Enron and others of that ilk truly believed in a purpose beyond profit, corporate America would not being wearing SOX today.

There's a difference when you fly Southwest vs. United. You feel different shopping at Costco than you feel shopping at Wal-mart. Why? That question is explored and answered in the book Firms of Endearment: How World-Class Companies Profit from Passion and Purpose by Raj Sisodia, Jag Sheth, and David B. Wolfe. This is one of those books that will cause you to think about why you feel as you do towards certain companies, and how those feelings translate into real profits.



Contents: A Whole New World; It's Not Share of Wallet Anymore - It's Share of Heart; New Age, New Rules, New Capitalism; The Chaotic Interregnum; Employees - The Decline and Fall of Human Resources; Customers - The Power of Love; Investors - Reaping What FoEs Sow; Partners - Elegant Harmonies; Society - The Ultimate Stakeholder; Culture - The Secret Ingredient; Lessons Learned; Crossing Over to the Other Side; Acknowledgements



On Wall Street, companies are usually judged on their profit. Squeeze as much out of your business as you can, cut costs wherever possible, and make sure you meet your numbers. To be sure, plenty of companies are successful under those rules (such as Wal-mart). But when you look at their performance over the last few years on the stock market, returns have been stagnant or have trailed the field. The alternative way to run a business is as a "firm of endearment" (FoE). These companies have a passion for what they do/sell, they have a strongly defined purpose for what they want to accomplish, and they look to contribute to society in more ways than just the quarterly dividend to shareholders. These FoEs, like Costco, Whole Foods, Harley-Davidson, and others, include stakeholders to mean all parts of society that they touch... shareholders, employees, the community, etc. The focus isn't on pure profit, but instead on contributing to the well-being of all the stakeholders. That's why a company like Costco can afford to pay their employees a living wage, have low turnover, and *still* turn a substantial profit. They have captured the hearts of their customer base, and that base will go out of their way to shop at Costco whenever possible. That's also why a company like Ikea can propose a new location and have nearly universal acceptance in the community, while a new Wal-mart location brings out protesters in force. There's obviously a lot more that differentiates FoEs from their counterparts in the marketplace, but once you recognize an FoE, you'll understand why they are successful by *not* following the same formula as everyone else.



It's tempting to think that all the FoEs covered in this book can do no wrong. That's not the case. JetBlue was/is an FoE that badly damaged their reputation during the winter when storms caused massive cancellations. It even led to the resignation of the CEO. Like other business books of this genre (In Search Of Excellence, From Good To Great), only time will tell how these companies will fare over the long term. It may well be that a decade from now, the stars of this book will have all fallen to the wayside. But I would venture to guess that the companies covered here will have a much larger margin of forgiveness than would other companies that are just focused on the next quarter...



This is a book that is highly recommended for anyone running a business. It should cause you to rethink the factors of success for your company, as well as point you in directions that could lead you to become an FoE in your niche.

This book identifies a batch of companies that have oriented their business model to providing a superior feeling in the minds of their customers. In many cases I absolutely agree with them.

Wegman's supermarkets for instance presents an excellent shopping experience. I particularly love their cheese department where knowledge people stand ready to discuss their magnificant array of choices and even to giving you samples to taste seemingly without end or sales pressure. In turn I buy far more cheeses than I would otherwise. We both win.

But then they turn to Wal-Mart and repeat a litany of alleged problems with employees, suppliers, and communities. My own experience with Wal-Mart is limited to one store in the small town where I live. But my experience doesn't match the alleged problems. I go there, the people, from the greeter at the door to the most junor sales clerk are friendly and willing to walk halfway across the store to help me find something. I talk to people who work there (away from the store) and they universally say that it is the best job they've ever had. Does the Wal-Mart experience depend on the store? Are the alledged problems just that, allegations? And for that matter, does every Wegman's have such an excellent cheese department? And what about Microsoft? Everyone (nearly) uses their products and most people hate the company. What does this say about their future? I guess we'll just have to watch and see.

This is a book that describes one way of doing business that has worked for a lot of companies. It provides a good insight into what these companies do.

In the Prologue, when discussing The Age of Transcendence through which the contemporary business world is now proceeding, the co-authors (Rajendra S. Sisodia, David B. Wolfe, and Jagdish N. Sheth) suggest that it is "a cultural movement in which physical (materialistic) influences that dominated culture in the twentieth-century are ebbing while metaphysical (experiential) influences become stronger. This is helping to drive a shift in the foundations of culture from an objective base to a subjective base: People are increasingly relying on their own counsel to decide what the truth is...That shift acknowledges a long-suppressed idea in a world largely guided by Newtonian certainty that chemistry Nobel laureate Ilya Prigogine says is scattering to the winds: Ultimately, everything is personal."

Thus do the authors establish a frame-of-reference for the thesis of their book: That each stakeholder in an organization tends to thrive best when all stakeholders thrive. That is, no stakeholder group is more important than any other. "It is disciplined dedication to the well-being of all stakeholders that separates firms of endearment from their competition." Stakeholder relationship management (SRM), the authors suggest, can achieve and then sustain superior business performance that, in turn, will create n a decisive competitive advantage. They are convinced that SRM business models will increasingly be seen "as the most efficacious way to achieve sustained superior business performance in years to come" but only if (huge "if") the interests of all stakeholder groups are brought into strategic alignment.

Two Questions: Are all stakeholder groups of equal importance and do they have the same interests? Also, are all members of a stakeholder group (e.g. shareholders) of equal importance and do they have the same interests? These questions occurred to me as I read the first chapter, especially the brief discussion of the "distinctive" core values, policies, and attributes that firms of endearment (FoEs) share in common. Eventually, Sisodia, Wolfe, and Sheth provide answers to these questions, answers best revealed within the narrative.

If indeed "endearing companies tend to be enduring companies," how do the 28 FoEs that "made the final cut" for this book compare with the 11 companies praised by Jim Collins in Good to Great? "Over a 10-year horizon, FoEs outperformed the Good to Great companies by 1,026 percent to 331 percent (a 3.1-to-1 ratio). Over five years, FoEs outperformed the Good to Great companies by 128 percent to 77 percent (a 1.7-to-1 ratio). Over three years, FoEs performed on par the Good to Great companies: 73 percent to 75 percent." (FYI, there are no duplicates on the two lists.) As with the exemplary companies discussed by Thomas J. Peters in Robert H. Waterman, Jr. in In Search of Excellence, not all companies on any such list continue to meet the criteria that were the basis of their initial selection.

For me, some of the most interesting material is presented in Chapter 11, "Crossing Over to the Other Side." At one point, the authors cite Oliver Wendell Holmes's observation "I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity." They then quote one of my favorite passages in James O'Toole's The Executive's Compass:

"To move beyond the confusion of complexity, executives must abandon their constant search for the immediately practice and, paradoxically, seek to understand the underlying ideas and values that have shaped the world they work in. Managers who clamor for how-to instruction are, by definition, stuck on the near side of complexity."

According to Sisodia, Wolfe, and Sheth, the big challenge of the times is to transcend the zero-sum mindset because, given the profusion of new opportunities, absolutes (by nature limiting) are found everywhere on the near side of complexity. "They emerge from people's perennial quest for pat solutions, or `silver bullets,' as they are sometimes described. This is a key point because, as Sisodia, Wolfe, and Sheth explain, a zero sum mindset leads to the conclusion that one stakeholder group can only benefit at the expense of the other stakeholder groups...However, opportunities increase by an order of magnitude when the mind breaks free of zero-sum thinking."

There are specific reasons why endearing companies tend to be enduring companies and one of the most important is their having "the ability to transcend ruthless competition and embrace the fruits of cooperation [which is] the essence of evolved humanness."

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out Bill George's Authentic Leadership: Rediscovering the Secrets to Creating Lasting Value and his later book, True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership, co-authored with Peter Sims. Also Michael Ray's The Highest Goal, Adrian J. Slywotzky's The Upside: The 7 Strategies for Turning Big Threats into Growth Breakthroughs, Enterprise Architecture As Strategy: Creating a Foundation for Business Execution by Jeanne W. Ross, Peter Weill, and David Robertson as well as Ram Charan's Know-How: The 8 Skills That Separate People Who Perform from Those Who Don't, Lynda Gratton's Hot Spots: Why Some Teams, Workplaces, and Organizations Buzz with Energy - And Others Don't, Robert J. Herbold's Seduced by Success: How the Best Companies Survive the 9 Traps of Winning, Jack Alexander's Performance Dashboards and Analysis for Value Creation, and Michael Useem's The Go Point: When It's Time to Decide--Knowing What to Do and When to Do It.

This book is my 2 1/2 year old daughter's favorite book. She asks for it every night for reading time. She loves to say "Fix IT Duck" at the appropriate points in the story. The illustrations are great and add to the story. Make sure to pay attention to the pictures even on the non-worded pages (especially page1). I think this is the second book in a series of books about the Duck, Frog, Goat, and Sheep. I really like most of the books the the author has written.

This book is hysterical, my husband absolutely loves reading this book to our 3 year old daughter. Fix it Duck is passionate and believes there is a leak in his roof and goes to sheep for help. Hilarity ensues as Fix It Duck just ruins everything as he goes along but believes he is helping. The fun is at the end of the book when you realize that the leak started because Duck left the faucet on and he causes havoc as a result. We got a kick out of going through the book again afterwards and watching the frog try to track Duck down. Recommended very highly for the preschool set.

You can't help but love reading this book aloud to your little one! The rhymes, illustrations, and humor can't be beat. And there's something irresistible about "Fix it Duck!" My two year old always reaches for this book and when we get to a job for "Fix it Duck", he pumps his fist emphatically while singing "Fix it Duck!". I highly recommend this book, as well as Duck's other board book - Duck in a Truck.

This is a great book especially when you started with Duck in the Truck. Very cute story and great illustrations. Lots of detail in the illustrations that are fun to pick out.

What a wonderful story this is....poor Fix-It-Duck only wants to help and he keeps making things worse and worse. A delightful bedtime story you will enjoy again and again.

Napoleon Hill is the recognized expert on all things success. In this book, Hill reveals how you can grow rich, and keep your mental act together at the same time. Typical of Hill's writing style, the book is easy to read, and features numerous examples from his real life experience. Specifically, this book covers, among many other things:

Success while being yourself.
Developing a healthy ego.
Finding friendship and love.
Getting the job you want.
Turning challenges into success.

This book focuses on achieving success through positive relationships and a healthy mental attitude. For more information on achieving financial success, you may want to read "The 17 Principles of Creating Wealth," by Phillip Collinsworth.

This is a wonderful work of heart in which the author combines true, upllifting philosophy with practical advice. I get inspiration from rereading it.

Although Think & Grow Rich is the most famous book that Hill wrote, Grow Rich With Peace Of Mind is surely the most under-rated of all of Hill's books.

Grow Rich with Peace of Mind offers information not in Hill's other books and includes discoveries made by Hill after he wrote Think and Grow Rich. Grow Rich with Peace of Mind offers foolproof techniques for achieving power to earn a high income and to enjoy genuine inner peace at the same time.

Grow Rich with Peace of Mind can help you reach your all of your goals and enjoy it.

This is the best book I have ever read. I wish that I would have read it when I was 15 years old, instead of 50. I would have made many different choices in my life. It teaches one how to think and use the mind. I have bought 7 copies and given them to my closest friends and family. Buy it. ;-)

This book is so amazing. I rarely read a book more than once. I will reread this book and plan to read it again about every two months or so after working on my next fear. I did conquer one of my major fears in life while reading this book. I was on vacation and was in the process of flying back home. To say that I hated landings was an understatement. I use to grip the arm rests white knuckled, legs jammed forward, body pressed back in the seat terrified of the plane landing. While reading this book on the plane I was able to so completely over come my fear of landing that not only did I sit calmly in my seat, but as the pilot of the plane allowed the passengers to listen to all the communication with the ground tower, the tower controller made several mistakes that the pilot had to correct him on and then land the plane. All of this happened and I was completely at peace with what was going on. What I experienced was incredible.

This book is truly life altering. I look forward to finding Mr. Hill on the other side after this life and thanking him for this wonderful book.

The author's key premise is sound--high tech companies have lots of positions that low tech liberal arts types can fill. The key is how to break in and how to learn the jargon. This book is nuts and bolts, not an elegant read, but quite useful as a "how to" guide. This is for the person who doesn't mind "working up" into a position from the bottom. It's a good guide. Too many folks feel "stuck" in low paying "non-tech" jobs. This need not happen. This book has some good guideposts out.

Thanks to Bill's book, I made the career change from being a horticultural consultant for a laboratory to being a technical writer for an ecommerce company in the Silicon Valley. I got serious about my job search in November, finished Bill's book in January, started networking and going to industry meetings, started interviewing with companies in April and started my new job in May. Bill's book was right on the money. I work reasonable hours for a well-managed, successful company. THANKS BILL !

For us "low-techies", this is probably the best book out there to help cross the digital divide and begin a great career in high tech. Not only does Bill detail, in normal language, the industry and how to crack it, but also how to build your career once you're in. Everyone considering the leap into high tech should read this book!

A good book to include in your job search library. It will build your confidence in approaching high technology companies. You will see how to translate your low-tech but important skills into good positions in the contemporary job market.

Wayne D. Ford, Ph.D., author of "The Accelerated Job Search" docwifford@msn.com

I went to a seminar taught by Bill in April, and bought his book on the spot.

It is informative even to a person with no computer background, I was a bio major in college!!!

Now I am in software, as a Assistant Product Manager and really exceling, it is true what Bill says, it is the mindset and savvy that will carry you, the technical stuff you can and will learn along the way

I was able to apply the principles in his text in giving advice to ppl on how to get their own tech jobs (advising them to buy the book)

his book is fun to read, inspring, and chalk full on insider stuff it would take yeeeeeeeeeeeears to figure out on your own, frankly, it is one of the best investments you could ever make

This is a great buy for anyone out on their own for the first time, or for those of us who couldn't quite get it right the first time! Since reading it, I can now boast some stellar Hip Girl tire changing skills. And, just about the only thing clean in my apartment are the pipes which I now routinely tend to because of this book. My plumber boyfriend couldn't be more proud!

This book is fantastic! I am sending it for Christmas or birthday gifts to all of my married and single friends. It is so practical - especially the car tips - but also just a great book to read. There is definitely no book like this. Most helpful books are boring "how to" books - but not The Hip Girl's Handbook. These authors were able to include helpful information in a clever way so that this book is witty and fun to read. It also has an easy layout so I can reference what it is I am looking for pretty quickly.

I just wish I had this book years ago when I was first on my own away at college. I would highly recommend this book for any woman (or even young woman) who is, or wants to be, independent!

To a girl on her own for the first time, every small catastrophe is a threat to her burgeoning independence, even to her sense of identity and self. Corny as the title (and cover, fonts, and optimistic writing) may be, "The Hip Girl's Handbook for Home, Car, & Money Stuff" is a godsend and lifesaver. As a perpetually frazzled young woman who has been on her own for a couple years now, I can sincerely tell you that every new, horrifying experience in maintenance has been its own trauma worth calling the police department or landlord over (like the time I smelled gas, frantically called the fire department, and they laughed as they relit the pilot on my stove, for instance). But Jen Musselman and Patty DeGregori take the horror out of the inevitable, giving young women the power and knowledge to take on each catastrophe with a clear head.

The book is arranged just as the title implies: the 'home' section talks about picking out a home, navigating the breaker box, and unclogging pipes--things no girl should have to turn to a repairman or neighbor for. The 'car' section lends comprehensive advice as to the maintenance and repair of every gal's automobile, as well as how to recover control of the car in times of enormous distress (and the section delegated to Road Tripping alone nearly one-ups Cameron Tuttle?s "Bad Girl's Guide to the Open Road"). And lastly, the 'money' section pares down managing a checking account, as well as combating identity theft, into equally understandable, dare I say manageable, scenarios.

Not two days after I'd purchased my own copy of the book, I bought one for my best friend; do the same for the gals in your life. This is the one book every girl should keep front-and-center. The information jam-packed into this smiley little reference book is outright empowering: knowing how to take on every circumstance, no matter how wee or how devastatingly harrowing, gives a young woman both the confidence to take matters into her own hands, and consequently the blessing of new independence.

This is an essential for the independent Hip Girl who needs answers quick. A very fast and entertaining read. I highly recommend it!

I bought this book thinking that it would be a nice guide to have after reading all the other great reviews. However, this book is not all that. Most of the stuff in it I already knew. It is a good book if you are completely clueless about this stuff, however, for those that know SOME stuff about the subjects I recommend that you pass on it and find another book.

Only a small section of this book - a "FAQ" - is devoted to "how to agent your agent. Most of this book is a very well written insider's look at what an agent does, with lots of anecdotes from Rainford's work as an agent. Great if you don't know what agents do, but if you're a professional looking for that edge - I'm working, how to I get more out of my agent - there isn't that much you won't have figured out already.

This book is wonderful. Humorous and informative; my favorite combination. I am not an aspiring actress, and have only delt with Two Literary Agents in the sale of my first 4 books; however, I found Ms. Rainfords book an excellent resource. I would recomend this book to anyone who has an Agent; is thinking of getting an Agent; wants to become an Agent; or is thinking of leaving her Agent. Or anyone who is going to HOLLYWOOD to PITCH anything.

It's hard to believe Nancy Rainford hasn't written more books. Perhaps a humorous novel about her business? The book flows with the ease of a best selling novel!

5 stars to this one!

Marsha Marks

As an agent, I have a love/hate relationship with this book. On the one hand, I hate it for exposing so many of my secrets. But on the other hand, I love that it's so direct and honest. Nancy ran her own successful talent agency for many years and she obviously knows what she's talking about. So if you're my client, please don't buy this book. But if you're not, I suggest you pick this one up right away.

Could also be the name of Nancy Rainford's insightful and energetic book. How to Agent Your Agent is at once a fun breezy read and the advice every actor needs to set up for themselves a realistic philosophy and strategy creating their success in the wild business of show. To all but brandname actors the interior life of the creature called agent is a mystery. Ms. Rainford dismantles so many myths there's little choice but to draw clean slate on what you think you know about agents. Comparable to "The Art of War," the hunter must understand the nature, habits, and motivations of game sought. If you believe in the value of your craft and take your business seriously read this book not once but over and over. Take a walk in the agents shoes so the agent can walk with you.

This is a great book, I couldn't put it down. My husband and I are both actors, and we actually fought over who got to read it first (we alternated). I have already recommended this book to all of my friends who are actors. It is that valuable and should be required reading for every actor in Hollywood.

The book is not just a primer on the Hollywood protocol and pecking order, but "How to Agent Your Agent" goes into such wonderful detail so as to demystify how an actor should handle his/her agent. So many actors are constantly in a quandry of how to handle a situation with their agents, or they are downright dissatisfied with their agents. This book helps an actor to define what you have control over and what you can change. Years of experience are in this book to help keep actors from making mistakes when it comes representation.

Thank you, Ms. Rainford, for telling it like it is (and being such a great storyteller).

From internships and resumes to application essays, interviews, promotions and salary ranges, HOW TO LAND A TOP-PAYING FEDERAL JOB explores common myths about government salaries and connections, using interviews with over a hundred hiring managers to provide the basics of how the federal government hires and promotes within its ranks. From lesser-known ways of finding openings to negotiating salary and getting quickly promoted, this is an outstanding guide recommended for any library strong in job opportunities and career guidance.

I found this book to be of great value even though I used it in the hunt for a good position in the civilian world and not within the government.
A friend in the "G" gave me a copy of this book and told me that it was "hilarious." Granted, Ms. Whiteman has some funny cartoons in it and her style is an easy read. But more importantly, gave me the get-up-and-go attitude to put on my game face and apply for jobs with more than a modicum of confidence.
The book comes with a CD of resume templates and other useful cheat sheets, if you will. It helped me get my career organized in a tidy, presentable fashion. It also inspired me to produce some attention-grabbing cover letters that conveyed my skills persuasively and attractively in my application packets. After studying it, too, I felt that I was prepared for interviews, or I was after I conducted the practice sessions that she suggests where someone sits and asks you potential questions. It makes you think on your feet!
"How to Land a Top-Paying Federal Job" made a world of difference in helping me stay away from vague and long-winded answers and I was finally able to connect with prospective employers, including the one that actually hired me just last week. Whew.
I would really recommend this book to any harried jobseeker, whether they want to work for the government or a company. And I plan on using it again in my efforts to move up in the world for an even better position down the road.

I had been thinking about making a mid-life career move from the private sector to a Federal postion and was cluelessly submitting applications. I am now embarrassed by my early naivety and all the mistakes I was making. Lily's book completely explained the ins-and-outs of the Federal job hunting process. Its better than any online information or verbal advice I could find. Her book is a fun to read, step-by-step guide. Every chapter is packed with useful information and tactics.

As U.S. unemployment numbers rise, the timing could not be better for a book that helps navigate how to get hired by the nation's largest employer - the federal government.

Lily Whiteman's impressive "How To Land A Top-Paying Federal Job" -- available on Amazon.com -- explains exactly what you need to do to get hired by the federal government. A federal employee for more than 16 years, Whiteman is also a federal career coach who writes a career column for Federal Times and a contributes to the "Jobs" section of the The Washington Post.

A CD that accompanies the book provides an invaluable list of paid federal internships for recent graduates and fellowships for professionals. In addition, the CD features outlines on how to write the job application's essay, three pages of potential interview questions, worksheets, resume templates and much more.

Using real-life examples, success stories and tips, Whiteman dispels several myths, including that government salaries are low, the federal hiring system is difficult to understand and that it takes a long time to get hired for federal employment. In fact, after reading and highlighting this book, you will not only build up your confidence, but learn countless ways to get that federal job you have always wanted.

The book is divided into four parts, each focusing on the steps involved in obtaining a federal job. In the first part, the author provides concrete ways to find a federal employment, how to find success at a job fair and pages of online resources. The second and third parts discuss in detail how to take charge of the federal employment application process, including the KSAs and cover letter, and what to do before, during and after an interview.

The last part provides a collection of strategies, tips and real-life examples on how to excel at your job and earn the promotion you deserve. Examples include taking advantage of professional organizations (a list is included on the CD), agency-paid training opportunities (Web sites included) and how to improve your annual evaluation.

Particularly helpful are charts and tables scattered throughout the book. In one table, Whiteman provides a guide for those interested in Capitol Hill jobs, and in another, the author offers tips how to write and market professional achievements. Additionally, complete with examples, Whiteman offers constructive advice on how to prepare a resume and cover letter that sets you apart from others and dramatically improves your chances for an interview.

I highly recommend this book. Lily Whiteman's book is to Federal employment what John Lucht's classic "Rites of Passage at $100K to $1M+" is to private sector employment. Her book explodes the many myths about Federal government employment, and explains in a straightforward manner (1) how to research great Federal work opportunities, (2) how to land great Federal jobs, (3) how to negotiate Federal job offers once received, and (4) how to thrive in the Federal government when working there.

The book is well-written, easy to understand, and full of great examples and practical, easy to implement advice. The section on negotiating Federal job offers is especially useful. Lily Whiteman is a Federal employee, and her examples are based on her experience and those of the other Federal employees. The book is very valuable, and has been very helpful to me and many others. Whether you're looking to enter the Federal workforce or improve a current Federal employment role, this book is indispensable.

Definitely on my recommended book list. A must read for women in business.

Susan Bock
The Success Coach for Women in Business
www.SusanBockSolutions.com

A fabulous book full of insight into women who are creatively self-employed and employed for companies and adding a feminine touch.

I am enjoying this book very much. I don't feel so alone in my disappointments and revelations about owning my own business. It is nice to read about other women's choices and how they run their businesses. I realize now that I am doing everything the best I can, even though I am flying by the seat of my pants most days. I have also picked up another book called "Zero to Zillionaire," by Chellie Campbell. She is one of the women interviewed in "How to Run your Business Like a Girl". Both are excellent reads and I highly recommend them.

I enjoyed this book very much, especially since one of the profiled entrepreneurs has a very similar business to what my dream is; it was a surprising peek into the work I aspire to create and integrate into my daily life.

As far as information goes, this is not an all-encompassing "what to do" to check off your list as you go about starting a business; but rather, an uplifting and inspiring read that affirms the burning desire within yourself to launch a venture of your very own. Wanna-be-business-owners need to be inspired from time to time as our very creative natures overanalyze details to the point of discouraging ourselves from even making that first step.

Upon beginning the read you are welcomed with the profound statement that if you have a strong desire to start a business, very few things will satisfy that desire, other than starting a business. What a refreshing thing to hear! - that I am not simply obsessed for some odd reason - reading this book helps me come to an understanding of my own entrepreneurial spirit.

We all long to make our mark on this world in some small way, and for some, that mark is to create a company from one's own passion and ideals and vision. At the VERY least, this book is a must-have to reach for again and again for inspiration.

This was a nice book. It points out that women and men typically have different motivations for starting their own businesses. The author says men are usually starting a business for their healthy ego and to make money. And women instead start a business so they can have more control in their lives. There might actually be some truth to that - at least for the older generation of men and women who start businesses.

I'm actually part of the younger generation of men and women born in 1962 or thereafter. And I don't think men and women (my peers) are all that different today when starting a business. Both sexes in my generation are faced with job opportunities that lack security, pension plans, and wages that can be lived on comfortably. Both sexes are faced with escalating gasoline prices without a commensurate jump in their salaries. And both sexes are competing for the same jobs. Both sexes are quitting the corporate world and starting their own businesses today because they see more opportunity AND CONTROL in doing that instead of collecting a W-2.

This book talks about the unique strengths of women, and the author may have a point there. But I don't think (1) trusting intuition, (2) focusing on relationships, and (3) putting more emphasis on life balance are strengths that women have a lock on.

But what men of my generation have an abundance of is male role models in business. And the wonderful thing about this book is that the author has interviewed a few successful women entrepreneurs and documented their stories so women in my generation can read the book and benefit by hearing from female role models in business. Female readers can gain words of wisdom from other women who have been there and done that. And that's what makes this book so good. 5 stars!

PS. A nice companion book to this one is Small Business Big Life (ISBN: 140160336X). Consider giving it a read.