Business Books

No one knows this business better than Marisa. Buy this book and study it cover to cover. In tandem with my own book, "The Expert's Edge," you will never be without buzz again!

If you are a graphic designer, web designer, or web programmer... or really in any niche arena and want to establish yourself, this book is incredibly helpful and easy to implement. Step-by-step tips you will learn in this book you see everyday on main sites like Yahoo, MSN, blog articles and press releases. Even though a few of the items are dated as this book was written in 2004, this is like having the ear of an extremely helpful PR person with actionable, easy-to-follow reports to take home. If you are proactive with the points that Marisa provides, you will be well on your way to your goal.

If you want to start building your credentials, writing articles in magazines or on the web, a book, media training, making better presentations and pitches, or simply begin building your strong reputation, this is a must!

This is a wonderful book that shows you how to break into the media industry and limelight tactfully, thoughtfully, and proactively. Marisa's book teaches and inspires to no end, offering great guidance in developing your news hooks, coaching you on pitches, and showing you how to create and maintain relationships as your career builds momentum. It also enables you to create your own career without pandering to its readers, letting you choose your own path after Marisa has set out all the options. This is the kind of advice people pay big bucks to get, and as a writer trying to break in, has given me the confidence to go forward with no hesitation at all.

Whenever I pick up this book -- and whatever page I happen to read -- I find good advice.
The book is full of short topics and useful hints on PR and Marketing, things I need to know (or used to know and have forgotten) that I can immediately apply in many areas of my worklife.

Marisa DiVari knows all the secrets of how to promote yourself on radio, TV, and in print. She really knows her stuff. - William A. Gordon, author, publisher, and editor, "Gordon's Radio List"

I have to say that I find this book to be one oriented to men. And there are not many books on the marriage subject to be aimed at men. That alone sets it aside as a landmark in the firld.

Dr. Curtis has a background in both marriage and business counsulting. What he has produced here is a book that bridges the two. It's a book on marriage, but it is written in a style and using words that will be familiar to any MBA student. He uses words like Funding the Partnership, Branding and Marketing Your Relationship, Job Descriptions for Couples, Compensation and Benefits, Meetings and Retreats, Mergers and Acquisitions.

I'm not so sure that women, who approach life differently than men, will appreciate what this book is saying. But men will. It plays on the way men think, talk and understand.

I perhaps should re-word this comment. I like and understand the approach given in this book. It makes me think differently about the whole marriage situation. I don't think my ex-wife would have read it at all.

Until I read this book I would never have equated business with love. They appeared miles apart to me but now I see the connection. I am almost 80 years old and was married at the age of 18 in a different time with different concepts. I always felt that my marriage was better than most of my friends but realize it could have been improved by using some of the ideas brought out in this book. I hope others will read this enlightening book and benefit from it.

Reviewed by Stephanie Rollins for Reader Views (11/06)

Dr. John Curtis has a background in both business consulting and marriage therapy. I suppose it is inevitable that he would combine the two into a recipe for marital success. Dr. John Curtis penned "The Business of Love" to save the most important business venture anyone will ever delve into--marriage. If you do not think that marriage is a business, try getting divorced. I believe that you will see things differently.

Why does Dr. Curtis believe that marriage is a business venture? Dr. Curtis views each individual as a sole proprietorship. They have functioned on their own for many years. When they marry, they merge into a couple or a consolidated company. Dr. Curtis points to the unity candle that is used in weddings symbolizing the joining of the couple. Anyone who has studied business knows that mergers create complications in cultures.

Sometimes it is the small things that grate on a spouse's nerves. Does one person let the laundry pile up on the bathroom floor while the other loathes that horrible habit? Maybe one spouse expects all the canned goods to be faced the same direction. The other spouse may consider that to be over-the-top.

Dr. Curtis teaches his readers to discover what their expectations as a couple are before they become a couple; however, this book will help couples who did not do so. He teaches that everything needs to be laid out. Couples must discuss topics from religion to bill-paying. He also encourages couple and couples-to-be to discuss sex. Even if you have refrained from sex until marriage, it must be discussed.

Dr. Curtis approaches the start-up of marriage as a start-up of a small business. The first question you are supposed to ask yourself when starting a small business is, "What business are we in?" This leads to the formation of the vision statement, mission statement and objectives. For those who have not studied business, "The Business of Love" details each step. For those who have studied business, the application of business planning to marriage will seem like a no-brainer, but how many of us really have utilized this brilliant plan?

"The Business of Love" has many lists of topics to discuss with your significant other. Some of the items may not be relevant now. For instance, maybe you do not have children yet, so you may not think that those questions are relevant. Think about them anyway. Even those of us who do not plan for parenthood are surprised by it sometimes.

Vision statements, mission statements, and objectives are subject to change. Look over them from time to time. Alter them accordingly. From time to time look over the checklists in "The Business of Love." This is not a book to read and give away. Keep it and expect to reread it throughout your dynamic relationship. Dr. John Curtis brilliantly wrote "The Business of Love" to help all couples--married or not, male or female. Read "The Business of Love" and may your relationship grow splendidly.

A business trainer I worked with guaranteed that he could improve your company's bottom line. His main thrust was to improve employee performance one step. Employees at A level were given more responsibility. B level employees would become A's; most C employees moved up to B level. BUT he fired all D and E level employees. Working only with A, B and C level employees, annual personnel turnover dropped to single digits, and the most reliable employees were promoted to supervisory and administrative positions.

"The Business of Love" appears to me to follow the same strategy. Magic words do not exist that can transform slackers, beaters and cheaters into successful partners. Wasted years cannot be brought back. A major problem necessitates evaluating the person who is, or might become, your spouse. This does not mean remaking the partner, as much as developing yourself to the fullest to attract the best partner.

Curtis states in his dedication: "the key to a happy healthy intimate relationship is not to find the right person, but to be the right person."

All nine steps of business practices require hard work, and the spouse who is willing to invest time, energy and money into building or saving the marriage can learn those steps and apply them. The best place to find a person who will help build a successful marriage is not at the singles bar, not at the ball game, nor even at church. Look first in your mirror. Then read and apply the principles from "The Business of Love."

"The Business of Love: 9 Best Practices for Improving the Bottom Line of Your Relationship" is a self help book that applies successful business practices to marriage relationships. To approach marriage as a business joint venture may be radical, but due to the percentage of marriages that fail, perhaps this revolutionary new outlook is justified. Appealing to the success-driven members of generations X and Y, "The Business of Love" is reassuring in its practicality and specificity. The nine best practices include creating a vision of your relationship, developing your relationship's objectives, funding the partnership, branding and marketing your relationship, growing the relationship: mergers, job descriptions for couples, relationship feedback for partners, compensation and benefits, and meetings and retreats. A plethora of tables and graphs and illustrations are used to demonstrate the sound business principles that are applied in "The Business of Love." In all, Dr. Curtis' background as an organizational development consultant, business trainer and researcher has been put to innovative use. Billed as a practical book to help normal men and women with normal challenges, "The Business of Love" promises to decrease the failure rate of marriages (50% of all first marriages fail), based on sound business concepts proven to work.

As a newcomer making a transition to industry, this book is a very useful resource. I loved this book because it gave detailed information about different career options that one can choose in an industry. It provides pros and cons of a job, a typical day and more importantly the temperament and qualities needed to get the job done well. I absolutely loved Toby Freedman's organization and attention to details. I know that I will be using this book often as a reference.

In these turbulent times, uncertainty regarding job opportunities and corporate stability in biotechnology creates pause for individuals seeking to contribute to this dynamic industry. Such individuals may be recent graduates or seasoned professionals with talents spanning life sciences, business development, finance, human resources and intellectual property law. Recognizing these concerns, author Toby Freedman, drawing upon her experience as an executive recruiter and interviews with over 200 industry professionals/executives, presents a comprehensive analysis of career pathways relevant to biotechnology and drug development.

"Career Opportunites in Biotechnology and Drug Development" is presented in two parts. Part one focuses on landing a job in industry. In this section, strategies are presented for finding entry into biotech, preparing a functional resume and preparing for and performing in interviews. In part two, opportunities in the various sectors relevant to biotech are presented. The book is extremely easy to navigate and provides insight on virtually all contributing components of this diverse field.

In addition to supporting my insights regarding corporate structure and available career pathways, this book opened my mind to areas, ancillary to my expertise, where strong and relevant contributions can be made. I highly recommend "Career Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug Development" to both newcomers and experienced individuals desiring to participate in this exciting industry.

After reading the first few of chapters of "Career Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug Development," I couldn't force myself to keep reading, and so, I scanned the rest of the book hoping I would find something that would pique my interest. I did not. The book is very dry and boring and chockfull of business-speak generalities. It was like reading a user's manual. I expected something more interesting, exciting, and useful like "Bioevolution" by Michael Fumento.

The first 6 chapters of this book provide general career advice, giving an overview of what is expected in the biopharma industry, what it takes to succeed, how to write a resume, network, etc. The second, and major, part of the book breaks the drug discovery enterprise down into its various stages, describes the role of each step in the process, and details positions available at each stage. The positions described range from those that require a PhD or MD, to those that are accessible to those with a college degree, and so on. Freedman describes the types of positions, typical job titles and career paths, roles and responsibilities, typical tasks, and relative salaries and other compensation. She also describes in detail the pros and cons of each field, how to excel in the field, and what personal characteristics are most often found in those who succeed in that field. She predicts where the field is going and what job prospects will be like, and also talks about how to get started in each field. Finally, each chapter ends with recommendations for training, professional societies, and other resources.

The entire volume is well organized, with important points in callouts, and many clarifying diagrams.

Anyone who reads this book will come away with an understanding of the drug discovery industry, and how complex it really is. Hopefully, they will also come away with several ideas of places they might fit into that industry, and the resources and inspiration to follow them through. Overall, a very thorough book, and highly recommended.

This book is a great resource for career changers as well. I've worked in Biotech R&D my entire career, but now I'm looking for a position in marketing. An MBA gave me a solid understanding of the field but "Career Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug Development" has given me the industry specific vocabulary and knowledge to focus my search. I only wish I had read it sooner!

Jeanne tells it like it is, from the trenches, with practical recommendations for making customer experience management (CEM) work throughout the company. She lays out the common pitfalls, helps you think systemically, and guides you in getting it right the first time, or getting back on track. Jeanne helps you think through what makes sense for your particular situation. Thorough, excellent business examples, fun to read, useful diagrams and end-of-chapter guidance.

If the "customer is always right," the next question is, "Why do so many customers stop doing business with companies?" The answer is, "bad service." Customers refuse to buy from companies that render unsatisfactory service and ignore their complaints. Sadly, managers usually sound the alarm and demand new customer service initiatives only after the customers have fled. Author Jeanne Bliss, a veteran chief customer service officer, tries to explain the problem and to suggest ways to correct it. She offers so many detailed trees - in the form of questionnaires, bullet points, details and checklists - that you risk losing sight of the practical forest: the motives and methods for implementing better customer service. There is valuable information here, even if it is a bit shaded. For this reason, we particularly liked her clear, helpful and revealing chapter of first-hand stories from the field of customer service.

Jeanne writes a book for now on a role that too many people will say is before it's time. It is always about the client and yet organizationally no one puts enough emphasis on the client voice within organizations. Jeanne clearly shows her battle field experience in helping those that embrace the client, get input, direction and organizational buy-in to doing what is right for the client and thus the firm without being shot as the messenger.

Jeanne Bliss' book, Chief Customer Officer, is a "must have" for any business that wants to pay more than "lip service" to customer retention. There are great examples throughout from someone who obviously has been in the trenches. This is a fun book to read, not some academic tome doomed to gather dust in a dark recess. Get it, read it, and share it with others in your organization.

Not that I have an opinion.

Jeanne Bliss articulates not only the importance of putting customers at the center of your business, but conveys the challenges that prevent most companies from successfully delivering great customer experiences. The real-world techniques she introduces are essential reading for senior executives aiming to succeed by improving the delivered customer experience.

This book is not terrible. I found it to be cliche at times, and it definitely contained a number of gender stereotypes, which the author would include and apologize for, which I found to be somewhat annoying. It's a quick read, so at least I didn't feel like I was wasting a lot of time. I have read a lot of books on women in corporations, and I didn't think this one was particularly new or innovative, and at times, the writing was poor. At the end of every chapter, there were exercises, and I did think those were helpful. For example, one suggestion was to write one hand written thank you note per week - not particularly innovative, but it is a good practice, I think, and a good reminder to do that.

In all, I think Lois Frankel's books are much better written, with much better advice.

It was a pleasure having Kathleen Archambeau host a recent Bank of America Diversity Brown Bag event in Concord, California that featured "Climbing the Corporate Ladder in High Heels". The buzz continues among male and female associates about Kathleen's book because it is not only a practical educational reference but an actionable guide for dealing with work/life balance. The book supports a core value we have taken to make our workplace a family friendly environment through inclusive meritocracy.

"Climbing the Corporate Ladder..." is a practical guide to career success. Extremely well-written. Inspires lots of "ah-ha" moments. Helps young and seasoned professionals remember to find a better work and life balance. Encourages readers to consider success from all angles. I loved it!

Not just for women. Kathleen provides important tips that all men can use to further their own careers. Provided in an easy to read and use format.

Full of insight and inspiring stories that will make any woman, regardless of her chosen field or career path, search her heart for the answers she needs to live a rewarding and fulfilling life. This book brings light and awareness to the often difficult and confusing choices we make along our journey through life. With humor and wit, Kathleen challenges us to look into the deeper parts of ourselves to identify what our true hearts desire is and then guides and empowers us with tools to achieve it.

A document of great vision and execution in a positive direction. A fine example of collaborative and cooperative thinking thich enhances the resulting effort. Everyone wants to work in a nurturing environment.

This is an excellent business book!

I recommend it to any CEO wondering how to maintain a profitable and healthy organization beyond next quarter's bonus.

John Abrams shows us how real business success can be achieved for the corporation and the community in this documentary of South Mountain Company. It is well written and packed with the tested principals and concepts that have built this successful, community centered business on Martha's Vineyard.

Imagine that true workplace democracy combined with commitments to ethical business dealings and social responsibility can lead to a high quality, sustainable, and profitable business! Corporate America should sit up and take notice!

I vote that we make this book required reading as part of the rehabilitation process of all incarcerated former corporate executives.

In an era in which corporations are measured on quarterly, single bottom-line returns, John Abrams presents a compelling case that a multiple bottom-line, values oriented, long term focus can be a successful business strategy in The Company We Keep.

In this well-written and compelling book, Abrams artfully examines the long-accepted American business concept of growth;and determines that growth for growth's sake is a short-term strategy leading to failure. He weaves over twenty years of experience in construction, design and sustainable building practices into a philosophical look at the meaning of work and success; the result provides the reader with fabric from which to examine his/her own company, work life, natural environment and style of doing business. Perhaps most importantly, the book is written in a warm, reflective style which makes it hard to put down and leaves the reader yearning for more insights and information from this writer, who provides substantial research and details to support his work and ideas. Just as a good movie creates long-lasting recollections of scenes, The Company We Keep brings daily reminders of wonderful stories and the confidence that strong personal and company values can indeed be the means to a successful and growing business.

Can a company built and grown on Abrams's hippie values of kindness, love, respect, honesty, and freedom of the individual actually be successful in this era rife with competition?

A friend recommended this book, as am a business owner, MBA, Gen X/ Y, who embraces these values to the extent that I'll never compromise, and have built a small, successful business with similar emphasis on treating people involved extraordinarily well. Profit, like in Abrams's story, was simply a bi-product. And the joy of knowing I'm doing good for so many interested parties is priceless.

So many lessons to be learned in this wonderful book! I couldn't put it down once I started reading. Abrams's completely open, honest approach is heart-warming and inspiring.

One can hold true to one's values, and still build a fabulously successful company, one in which the coworkers are also owners with a vested interest. And customers, too, are treated like partners. Emphasis on quality of work, versus growth simply for the sake of growth, is often illustrated.

This is one of those rare books one remembers long after reading. Each day since reading the book, I hear ordinary words like 'cooperation', which bring me back to the wonderful stories in this book and to the many studies well-noted in the book suggesting further evidence of people's natural urge to cooperate (and success in doing so).

A beautiful story and a must-read for anyone in business who wants to keep his/ her soul! Thank you for sharing your heartfelt, model example of developing a very successful business with values, Mr. Abrams!! The book is a classic. Will revisit it often, and already sent several copies to friends.

In an age of every type of self-help tale imaginable, this is the best business book I have read period; it makes perfect sense. The Openness the author is willing to share and the research behind it is tremendously thought provoking. I have purchased numerous copies to share with my friends.

Like any avid reader I picked this book in the summer and put it in the pile of about 200 "to read immediately." To be candid, I very likely would not have picked it up as soon as I did, but with my business in transition I felt I would give it a try.

The substantive issues summarized on p. 238 really cause the book to stand out; the author takes the building of South Mountain and allow its principles to transcend the story itself. At my bedside I keep a copy of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's "The Gift from the Sea" and often read passages. In it she writes: "Island living has been a lens through which to examine my own life in the North. I must keep my lens when I go back. Little by little one's holiday vision tends to fade. I must remember to see with island eyes. The shells will remind me; they must be my island eyes."

Later she queries, "Can one solve world problems when one is unable to solve one's own? Where have we arrived in this process? Have we been successful, working at the periphery of the circle and not at the center?" Her question is similar to a familiar passage of Tolstoy's a deceased client of mine, a hero himself, often quoted: "Everybody wants to change the world, but they don't want to change themselves."

The leap of faith John Abrams took in changing the culture of South Mountain is a great example of starting from the center. He has worked hard and with creative aforethought in solving one's own corporate problems with a view to the outside world. This is not an idyllic story of a community business developed on the the Island of Martha's Vineyard. It is a practical guide, but how fortunate the author has been that view is with "island eyes."

Back to p. 238, you wonder: "I don't know yet, nor do I know whether I will ever know, to what degree we can build on the foundations we have created and to what degree we can improve our skills. Neither do I know to what extent our experience can help others go down the path toward economic democracy and community entrepreneurship. I don't know whether, in time, many more people will share ownership and control of the companies they work in."

I think John Abrams has the model right here to make great changes in our corporate world. One can only imagine if many small and large businesses utilized this modus operandi. One only needs to pick up the business page of any major newspaper to think the world(`s problems) would be better off.

I have been a part of the company for 21 years and took sole ownership a little over 4 years ago. Similarly to South Mountain, we are an established enterprise which, for a variety of reasons, are at crossroads in our growth and development. I would like to consider tailoring the South Mountain model to my company and go down the same path. Nonetheless, this read is for any business manager/owner with a company big or small as its applications ring true.

This book makes a complicated machine like computer very easy to understand

The best thing I love about this book is the writing style of Prof. Freedman and how easily and clearly it can crystallize, the otherwise complex computer terminology, components and concepts. The explanations used here are vivid. I have owned a copy since 1997 and I have never been disappointed with anything that I needed to look up, for instance 'kludge' is described here as - "Also spelled 'kluge' and pronounced 'klooj'. A crude, inelegant system, component or program. It may refer to a makeshift, temporary solution to a problem as well as to any product that is poorly designed or that becomes unwieldy over time."

It will be hard to obtain better explanations than they are written in here.

There are several other similar Encyclopedias around which I have never looked at, because I had no need to look for another Encyclopedia.

Unlike most other computer dictionaries/encyclopaedias in its class, the inclusion of a companion CD-ROM gave this "Computer Desktop Encyclopedia" a comfortable jump-start in the superiority contest.
The book (and its attached CD-ROM) covered, in the most definitive way, all the important terms and acronyms that apply to today's computer and networking technologies. Hardware, software, and allied peripherals were adequately represented.
It is descriptive and well-illustrated, and included all the commonly used file extensions. With over ten-thousand terms and definitions, its scope is rich: in comparison to what exist now.
This computer encyclopedia ranks among the best currently on sale. However, potential buyers may be frustrated (at the moment) by its limited availability.

And too bad it's out of print. While this book will not teach you how to use a PC, it will define every computer related (and often electronics) term you can imagine. I was surprised on some of the really obsecure terms this book contained that I didn't expect it to mention. I got this book used and after reading over some of it, I'd say this is a must have on any nerd's desk as the it compares up there with as good as an internet search for explanations of PC related terms.

I work people whose computer knowledge varies from very little to a serious computer user. This reference manual is one book that all levels can benefit from. This book is the perfect manual to answer the questions in an easy to understand format without all that technical jargon.

The book is over 1100 pages and is loaded with pictures and figures to give a visual representation of the definition which makes is easier to understand some of the concepts covered. There is computer definitions, vendor breakdowns, and certification analysis and application definitions.

Some of the topics covered are networking, computers, MACs and applications. Some of the technologies included are CISCO, CompTIA, ATM, FDDI, Ethernet and token ring. Also included is a cd-rom which has over 5000 more definitions not included in the book. Overall a great addition to my technical library.

Full of good ideas, provokations, insights, this is another great book from Clancy et al. I'd recommend a full set of their books to anyone, not a dud among them.

For more of a similar vein try:
- Marketing and the Bottom Line (ISBN: 0273661949)
- Marketing Payback (ISBN: 0273688847)

The binding is falling apart and I've highlighted so many pages that my copy seems to glow in the dark, but there's no mistaking the value of this book. Counterintuitive Marketing continues to be THE best marketing book available today, bar none. Why? Because while it debunks many of the myths surrounding the marketing industry with crystal clarity, it also gives specific details on how to make your marketing better. This is not an armchair read (although it moves pretty quickly). If you're serious about marketing or if you aren't getting the performance you or your bosses are expecting, then read this book. It's an eye opener.

The first half of Kevin Clancy's recent book, Counter-Intuitive Marketing, is the best marketing book I've read. Period. The second half will fly a thousand feet over the head of most marketing practitioners, and can only be enjoyed by dyed-in-the-wool marketing researchers. It doesn't matter. The bottom line is these counter-intuitive concepts will probably change the way you plan and implement your marketing programs. I enthusiastically recommend this book to everyone involved with business-to-business marketing and advertising.

Bob Lamons
Columnist
Marketing News Magazine

Counterintuitive marketing was an amazing book. I learned more about marketing and the decision-making tools that are available today from this book than I did in my MBA classes. If you are a serious marketing person, you need to read this book.

It's not BS--this is the way the smartest people in marketing make decisions. People who cling to outdated ways of thinking and are afraid of change probably won't like this book. The only way to make better decisions about marketing is to take the time to understand your customers. This requires research.

People who skim a few chapters, will miss important ideas. For instance, the authors explain how to use focus groups correctly--as a starting point in the research process. They never say don't use them, they say don't use them to make multi-million dollar decisions. That anyone in this day and age is basing a critical decision on the opinions of 6-8 people is crazy.

This book is the future of marketing. Anyone who says otherwise just doesn't get it.

I just read Clancy and Krieg's Counterintuitive Marketing and it was amazing. Loaded with content, solid research and practical advice. It teaches stuff about marketing I never learned in my NYU MBA program. I strongly recommend it. Then I read the screed (AKA review) by "Chanali from Asia." Who is this guy and has he worked for even a day in the real
world?

I had a fundamental problem. I had a problem with self-acceptance. I dint like myself. I did not like the way I was psychologically made up. And then I got to experience Mike's CPR work. As Mike weaved his design magic, I was able to see how what I seek out of life and relationships is my strength and I am able to leverage these to create abiding fulfillment in my life and work.

Clearly, Mike is the alchemist and resilience is the alchemy that he practices.

"Mike is one of the most amazing people I have met - and CPR for the soul - spells out a path of the future - and also the ancient path. I wish and pray that many people connect to their souls out of this fascinating book. I believe that this is a contribution of a planetary proportion- one that holds promise to transform the way we think about evolution- personal and collective"
- Kirron Gulrajaani, CEO, Eternale Learning, India

In early 2005, I had the privilege of attending a seminar conducted by Mike Jay on CPR for the Soul. By the end of the workshop, I walked away with a new found awareness of my life's path, and had developed a resilient design that efficiently supported the personal and professional direction that I wanted to take. I am elated to see that Mike has written a book that puts forward his profound ideas. As with his workshop,I found myself feeling as if Mike Jay once again speaking directly to my soul. He has succeeded in presenting complex thoughts and ideas in beautifully written and readily accessible format.

I believe that it is critical that we develop a newer mindset for governing and overcoming the demands and circumstances that we find ourselves being faced with on a daily basis. This brilliantly considered book offers timeless and relevant information that can be learned by all of us to deal with today's challenges. Mike Jay has packed CPR for the Soul with an abundance of information designed to guide you through the process of creating "your" design that allows your heart's deepest desires to emerge.

In this age of increasing globalization and seemingly endless possibilities for transformation, Mike Jay encourages us to stop for a moment and ponder the paths that we have taken, and to discover how we can "live our lives and be lived by our lives" (p.14 ). The resilient design is well differentiated and then integrated as the internal and external aspects are aligned to create greater aliveness.

The back cover of the book suggests that this process "liberates you from having to change vs. doing the change." This phrase epitomizes the philosophy of Mike Jay, and is an essential ingredient that is core to the essence of his book. Not only has he committed much of his life's work to promoting resilience in others, he generously offers us the benefit of his wisdom on page after page. This wisdom is available for all of us, if only we choose to take the time to read and heed. Mike Jay is a genuine leader in the field of business leadership and developmental coaching. These qualities come through clearly in CPR for the Soul: Creating Personal Resilience by Design.

The concepts of CPR for the Soul give permission to EXHALE - to live from the discovery of our innate 'OKness'. In that knowledge, we express our soul's desire, we live the vital diversity that nature models and we are liberated from personal enslavement to unattainable values...this book provides the instruction manual that allows us to 'grow and flourish where we are planted'... who wouldn't want that wisdom?

If you find Personal, Business & Financial Resilience of interest to your SOUL, then this book, CPR For The Soul by the wonderfully brilliant mind of Mike Jay is for YOU!

I've studied many of this gentleman's written works over the past few years, and his New Book is his most brilliant work to date!

I had the good fortune to purchase the book before the public launch; and today I've now purchased others to personally donate to our local high School, library & church.

I wish Mike's book was part of every young person's curriculum even before college. They'd be better prepared for life's journey by reading it sooner rather than later!

This book gives you BREATH for your Soul!

Lynda Nurenberg,
Master Leadership Coach
& Professional Teleclass Recorder
avirtualpartner.com [website coming soon!]
avaluablelife.com [ditto]

This book definitely earns five stars. Its easy to understand, inspirational and great for people just getting started in the craft business. I felt she was talking right to me. I've been hesitating for a while about starting a craft business and have been inspired to go ahead and go for it. I found this book extremely helpful.

This book was very useful when I was starting my business. I really like the design of the book it is very cute. I also like the stories and interviews of small business owners. I plan to keep this book as a reference.

This book is amazing, it covers business forms, what to bring at craft fairs, how to name your business, advertising, publicity... you name it! I bought one to share, but I had to have my own it's so valuable. Thanks!

This book was fantastic. It is packed with so much information! It answered every question I had. If you are looking to start your own craft based business you must read this book.

What a motivator! This book is jam-packed full of good advice for starting up your own art/craft-related business. In the midst of a major DIY and craft movement, this book is just the ticket for anyone who has ever thought, "Hey...I could do that."

As an graduate from a fine arts college, I left school feeling overwhelmed about how to make it on my own. Taxes, laws, startup, recordkeeping -- it was all a blur, too much to handle at the time. But now I have (almost) everything I need in one little handy book. And trust me, I had looked everywhere for a book like this.

The interviews are great offered me the most insight for starting up a business. Much of the marketing advice was pretty common sense to me, but might be helpful for those who have no idea where to start. And of course, the design of the book is wonderful. Pardon me for a moment for focusing on aesthetics, but the rounded corners and simple graphic design is very appealing!

I would actually be interested in seeing another volume of this book that would be entirely about legal issues and recordkeeping -- this is the area where most of my questions are, and Craft, Inc. just grazes the surface of it. It would be awesome to read a simple, no-nonsense guide to business and legal matters, written in the same clear and entertaining style of this book.