Business Books

I've joined InVeStworks, the system that evolved from the theories set forth in this book. Read this book and learn how to use all that is good about network marketing companies and leave the craziness behind. You can really start for $1 a day ($30 a month)! Plus, you can integrate the network companies you already work with, leverage your involvement, create passive income and build good karma all the while.

Reading Suzanne's book reminds me of Occam's razor and lex parsimoniae

"...the simplest solution tends to be the best one."

Suzanne has taken what used to be complicated (and barely works), and has boiled it down to the essential elements.

This is what makes the InVeStworks Model System so powerful!

"Financial Freedom" clearly and succinctly shows how everyone can achieve their financial goals, while helping others at the same time.

This book can change your life. Simple, Effective, no nonsense system that anyone can use to create financial freedom in their life.

A break away from traditional business and investing, Suzanne lays out a truly unlimited income potential using The InVeStworks Model System.

If you're tired of things the way they are, ready to earn the kind of income you deserve with minimum effort, and ready for change in your life then this book is a must read for you.

Take control of your life and live it more abundantly starting today. Get the book, visit the site, and when you're ready contact us. We are all here to help you live a better life.

James Wolfe

I first read "Financial Freedom on $1 a Day" by Suzanne Kirkland Kincaid, at the beginning of May, 2006 and am pleased to say that it is already paying for itself with me. I'll share with you some of my observations and experience:

I have tried various MLM programs ranging from vitamins to cell phone service to legal services and dropped out within a year on every one of them. I couldn't keep up with rah-rah meetings and conventions, product purchases, negative responses from my friends, etc. The main thing about all of them is that the money goes to the top echelons and very little comes to the networkers. I experienced high levels of frustration with them.

When Suzanne's book came to my wife's attention, I said, "Oh, no, not again!" Margaret was inspired by what she had heard and said I should just read what Suzanne had to say. We called Suzanne to get first-hand information on the book and the program and had a wonderful conversation that lasted over an hour. Suzanne explained her premise for the Investworks plan and how simple it was and how inexpensive it was. What I especially liked hearing was the exclusion of greed, fear and competition from the mix.

In short, we decided to give it a try. You can read all of the reasons to try this investment model in "Financial Freedom on $1 a Day". Here is what happened to us:

We started in early May. Suzanne's book helped us through the procedures for registering with three small affiliate companies. They showed us how to bring in others and they filtered other people to us as affiliate partners so that we could hit the ground running. It is wonderful... It is all for one and one for all!

We partners help each other and have become friends who have not yet met face to face, but I know we will meet. We keep in touch by phone and with e-mail.

In just 5 weeks, we became self-funding with just one leg of partners growing to 7. This is not a get rich quick scheme. It will take time to make a lot of money, but it will pay for itself very quickly if you generate 3 partners who will each generate 3 partners, etc. That is all it took for us and we are making a tidy profit already... not a lot, but we feel like winners with our progress.

Give it a read... I think you'll like it...

Dr. Stephen M. Van Coops, Ph.D.
Sumaris Center
Lake Havasu City, AZ

I'm very pleased to share my thoughts about the 'concept' described in this book.

As a Financial Advisor, Business Consultant and Coach + having had over 20 years experience as a Network Marketing//MLM professional [a business model I respect] - I must confess that at first, I was very, very 'skeptical' of Suzanne Kincaid's Investment strategy as explained in her book.

Much of what I read seemed to quarrel with some long-standing beliefs I have had about both business and investments in general - and about MLM in particular. I'm extremely cautious by nature (as my clients expect me to be).

As well, since I'm on the Board of Directors - as Canada's representative - for the D-R-A (MLM-Distributor Rights Association) - a global non-profit organization which protects the rights of Network Marketing distributors everywhere - I probably tend to do more extensive due-diligence than most :-)

However, after ordering her book from Amazon.com (in hard copy) - and really studying it - and after visiting her InVeStworks Website many, many times - and learning of her outstanding reputation, of her high integrity, her principles and values - and then speaking at length with her on different occasions - it all began to 'click' for me.

Once I understood this concept in INVESTMENT terms - I understoodit. In fact, MLMrs especially, need to be very careful NOT to equate this strategy to the typical MLM Home Biz - it's not.

This is an 'Investment' Home Business - one that just happens to select a number of small Affiliate companies [at first] for its revenue streams - in the same way that a Mutual Fund selects a broad base of 'Brick & Mortar' companies within it's umbrella.

In any event - not only could I then see the simplicity and beauty of what Suzanne Kincaid had developed + the enormous financial potential - for anyone who would truly 'commit' to, and stay with it - I also saw her larger vision, and I could understood the much "bigger picture" behind this new (to me) concept called InVeStworks.

In my opinion, this is a brilliant idea for creating what I call - 'Principled Prosperity'.

It's a revolutionary way for the masses to not only become financially secure - but for them to also touch the lives of others in a special way - to fund worthy causes - to make our world a better place.

I am one who absolutely abhors 'hype' - but I must say, I enthusiastically endorse Suzanne's cause here.

She has developed a simple but powerful "hybrid" program which is quite remarkable. It consists of a "group" of Multi-Affiliate businesses (a MIX of small 'Internet' businesses - virtual companies) under one Roof. These companies are held 'within' an INVESTMENT Business Strategy / concept (InVeStworks).

To me, this Home Biz idea looks very easy for people to participate in - it's very affordable for them (at only $1.00-$1.50 per day) - and it appears to have the potential for an exceptional ROI (Return On Investment) - as well as giving the protection of not having all their eggs in 'one' basket.

This Vehicle would seem to meet the 2 primary and critical tests for creating Wealth and Financial Freedom:

==> (1)- Leveraging of one's time, effort and money;

==> (2)- Creating 'multiple' streams of ((passive)) income, for diversification and safety.

I absolutely give this book [and concept] a 5-Star rating.

Sincerely,

Peter Arnold, CLU, CFC / Founder
Business Achievers Academy / Canada

This is an outstanding read. I will not look at a fire engine, firefighter or the FDNY in the same light after reading this book.

Always managing and being a firefighter in parallel never truly made me a better person. Now after having read Salka's book and truly understood my management style and applying Salka's hints, I feel I am truly a good manager. My staff has noticed the change as has my senior managers. I have passed the book along and regularly mentor my newer managers with this book. Do not pass this book up!

As an officer in a volunteer fire department and having a real world management job, I was able to use everything this book gave me. At first, I did buy the book to be a better fire department officer but I found myself using many of the principles in everyday business life. This book is one of the easiest educational reads I've ever experienced. Hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I did.

The New York Fire Department (FDNY) seemed a company of heroes in the months after September 11, 2001. Later, when investigations revealed the enormity of the blunders and the degree to which petty political infighting had literally doomed firefighters to death, the FDNY lost a bit of its luster. But FDNY traditionally has a core of strong leaders, and John Salka is one of them. In this book, he shares his leadership philosophy. It's no slur to observe that this is a leadership book for firehouse buffs who are as interested in firefighter yarns as in leadership. The leadership principles outlined here are sound but not new; what is fresh is that the author illustrates those principles with fire fighting stories, clearly far more interesting than war stories from accounting - even if a bit remote from most people's everyday business reality. After all, few business people risk their lives in their daily work, and probably no business has the esprit de corps of a firehouse. We recommend this book to business people across the professions. The ride inside the fire truck will keep you engrossed in its solid leadership lessons.

Salka's advice is modeled on the leadership lessons of the New York City Fire Department. He takes many of the basic principles of effective leadership that are used to define the officers of FDNY and applies it to real life situations that can be used at any level of leadership by comparing these situations to those faced by the firefighters and their daily battles.

This book's real strength comes from Salka's approach: he writes to the front line supervisor/manager, the folks who are often on the first tier of management. While many books, as good as they are, assume that the reader is in a position to affect policy and choose their entire team, "First In" speaks to managers whose responsibility is the daily performance of the staff.

In addtion to great advice that can be put to practical use by leaders at any level, Salka regails the reader with colorful stories of the men and women of the FDNY. Overall, a great read.

I can vouch for the genuine success in business of the author of Fitting In, Standing Out. The author states that she was 14 when she knew what she wanted to do, but actually she was only about 8 or 9 when she first had her dream of being a CPA of an extraordinary nature. She was truly one who let nothing stop her to achieve her goals.

The only thing missing from her tale is that there were so many that had to fight for women's rights first to allow her dream to come true, and they should also be acknowledged. The author also overlooked the support from family she received to help her achieve her goals and that the truly successful person maintains a balance of both career and family.

The FISO factor is an imaginative way to approach a way to succeed in the corporate world.

Blythe's book has become the centerpiece of how I fit leadership and personal development into a tight circle - when I look at all the leadership, consulting and other books; they fit into one of the FISO Factor Catalysts. This makes FISO the foundation, the leadership platform as Blythe states, of personal success. I've now recommended this book to over 100 people without hesitation. Life long learning dictates continuing to read new books and developing ones' self and FISO with the six catalysts is the center of the mind map. When you have read your Zig Ziglar and Stephen Covey, sit down with this book as you develop your mission statement and you will be rewarded. But remember, to successfully execute your mission statement, you will need the skills to fit in and stand out - the FISO Factor.

Author Blythe McGarvie presents a thoughtful, intelligent analysis of the paradox of leadership success - the simultaneous needs to "fit in" and "stand out" She teaches the prospective executive how to build a strong platform of leadership, resting firmly on this seemingly contradictory foundation. McGarvie explains that to be accepted and allowed to thrive, you must learn how to integrate or "fit in" to your company's culture and structure. Then, you must also "stand out" by visibly exhibiting your strengths, intelligence and talents, so you can move up the ladder. Drawing on her extensive executive experience, she breaks the "FISO Factor" down into six basic elements including fiscal savvy, honor, perceptiveness, networking, thirst for knowledge and worldwide citizenship. We recommend this well-reasoned, thought-provoking leadership development program to anyone who is searching for the keys to unlock the executive suite.

Ethical standards and implications can make or break a company today" example, Enron. "In late 1999, several years before the high-profile revelations of corporate misconduct that began emerging in and after 2001," a survey of employee perceptions of organizational and leadership integrity discovered that 76 percent said they had observed violations of the law or company standards in the past twelve months. Clearly, U. S. employees are witnessing ethical and legal misconduct at work. Thus, a crisis in integrity leads directly to a crisis in trust. Integrity is a business imperative.

Prior to the "Scientific Revolution," mysticism was an integral and unquestioned part of human beliefs. The North Star has spiritual and mythical significance. Alternately called the Fire Star and the Chief Star by different groups. Integrity is clearly the Chief Star of today's business leaders because it creates a context for everything they do. Integrity's definition has evolved over the years but today its primary meaning as a "steadfast adherence to strict moral or ethical code" is widely acknowledged. Ethics is a key quality in long-term leadership success.

Globalization is our passport to business opportunity. Corporations exist in an ever-connected global community. Global citizenship enables leaders to transcend geographic boundaries. However, globalization is controversial today, viewed by many as un-American.

Everyone ages, but we all know people who never seem to get old. Sure, they have wrinkles and gray hair, but because they also have a sparkle in their eyes and active, open minds, we tend not to perceive them as "old." How do these people retain their youthful countenance? "Often, it is their interest in the world, their curiosity. They have discovered a wellspring of renewal that drives passion, alertness, and spirit. It is a love of learning." Business cannot hope to prosper in a foreign country, "be it Romania, China, or Peru, without an appreciation for the values, beliefs, social mores, politics, tastes, and fears of the people in that country. Philosophy, history, and literature can provide the access to thoughts and feelings of a culture."

Business is but one aspect of life's experience, hardly distinct or isolated from the environment in which it functions. "Business success depends upon people and therefore upon awareness of politics, social trends, attitudes and values, and a myriad of other expressions of human emotions, fears, drives, and desires. Literature and philosophy are the best sources for appreciating whatever universals might exist among people over time and place. Literature and history allow for a more time sensitive and culturally determined appreciation of the human condition." The author's father obtained his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1969.

In 1865, an Oxford mathematician named Charles Lutwidge Dodson self-published a flight of fancy which has entranced both children and adults ever since. "Writing as Lewis Carrol, Dodson created an excellent parable for all aspiring leaders" by the title, "Alice In Wonderland." Historically, the integrity of corporate leaders has often been questioned. "The Robber Barons of the late 19th century, men such as Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius and William Vanderbilt, and J. P. Morgan, were accused of building great personal fortunes by unsavory means. Interestingly, the widespread use of the derogatory label dates to the 1930s and the era of the Great Depression, which is often blamed on the manipulations of business leaders or poor government responses. During both world wars, corporate leaders were accussed of profiteering."

She ends with this quote, often attributed to Dale Carnegie: "Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get." It is her hope that this book helps you find both, in business and in life.

This is an unusually good book, combining two strong selling methodologies.

It gives an outline and techniques that are required in the marketplace.
It is excellent at the outline and detail for reaching VITO and then understanding how to sell them.

When I first learned there was a new book that combines VITO (Very Important Top Officer) training with Sandler Institute training, I was intrigued. Not only have I reviewed two of Anthony Parinello's books but I have also worked in sales departments that put his practices into motion. To top it off, I also attended a six-week Sandler Institute course on selling. What's interesting is that in the past I found some of the Sandler training conflicted with what I'd learned from the VITO books. Even with the obvious polarities in strategy, "Five Minutes With VITO" by Parinello and Sandler Institute CEO David Mattson comes off as a marriage made in heaven.

What stands out most in the book are Parinello's teachings on taking on a VITO-like attitude, visualizing success, and establishing rapport with the top officer of the company. For instance, he says:

YOUR JOB AS A TOP SALESPERSON HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR PRODUCT'S FEATURE SET, OR THE SPEED OF YOUR WIDGETS, OR THE NUMBER OF TIMES YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS WON AWARDS FOR ENGINEERING OR SERVICE OR PUBLIC RELATIONS EXCELLENCE, OR THE POPULARITY OF YOUR BRAND. THAT'S ALL INTERESTING, AND IT'S ALL POTENTIALLY IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S NOT WHAT YOU DO TO EARN YOUR PAYCHECK...BECAUSE IT'S NOT WHAT VITO BUYS!

YOUR JOB IS SIMPLY TO REACH OUT TO LARGE NUMBERS OF VITOS AND HAVE EFFECTIVE SALES CONVERSATIONS--CONVERSATIONS THAT MIRROR VITO'S OWN SELLING PROCESS. SPECIFALLY, YOUR JOB IS TO EXECUTE, WITH DUE DILIGENCE, THOSE CRUCIAL FIRST FIVE MINUTES--THE FIVE MINUTES THAT WILL VERY LIKELY DETERMINE THE COURSE THE ENTIRE RELATIONSHIP WILL FOLLOW.

Not only that but it's filled with templates for cold calling, good advice on getting past gatekeepers, and it encourages you take action after every chapter. Sandler's teachings on discovering pain, budget, and decision-making authority fit in nicely. Some of the prior VITO books dealt with how to get in the door. This one deals with what to say when you get in. Though it was my understanding that Sandler Training at one time didn't believe in mailing information prior to a cold call, Parinello does and continues to provide examples on what to mail much like his other books.

The advice in "Five Minutes with VITO" is not without its flaws though. Some of Parinello's pitches sound a little too much like what other salespeople say (something Sandler once discouraged, and this book says to avoid in regards to not doing what the competition is doing). Plus it doesn't take into consideration that many companies have adopted some form of VITO tactics. Therefore, they may send the same type of letters and postcards and make the same type of pitches on the phone and in person and create a saturation of cookie-cutter junk mail and clone-like telephone strategies. (I've seen this happen in my real life consulting experience.)

If you've never read any of Parinello's books or if you haven't read Sandler's classic "You Can't Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike at a Seminar" this book is a nice introduction to both styles of training. But if you've read previous VITO books, you'll find that there isn't much new information here. However, having seen both schools of thought on sales in practices that resulted in new business for companies I've worked with as an employee, a consultant, and a contracted lead generation strategist, how could I not recommend this book? It should be a welcome addition to your sales library.

Emanuel Carpenter
Author of "Dead Guys Don't Buy"

I like this book's approach to sales. It's got hard, tactical information that I'm using to build a better sales strategy for my business, and also has some good recommendations on how to overcome problems like Gatekeepers and prospects who back out of the sale. The part about equal business stature - where you learn how to sound like the person you're trying to talk to - landed me a couple of great appointments. After reading it myself, I bought a book for each member of my salesforce.

I'm using the 'Million Dollar Sales Game - Sandler Edition' for a team building exercise.

This book is a must for any sales person who needs to get to the executives of his prospects. I have managed sales forces for over 25 years and have found that all sales people struggle with both getting to and differentiating themselves at the "C: level. This book will walk any level of experience salesperson through the steps of 1) how to get to the CEO,COO, CFO,CIO ("C" level) how to differentiate yourself when you get to the meeting. My teams have started to use the principles contained within this book with great results!

"Five Minutes with VITO" is for those sales professionals who have the desire and commitment to WIN new business. The book outlines specific processes and techniques to get in touch with and in front of "The Very Important Top Officer", the ultimate decision-maker, and what to do and how to do it once you get there.
It is challenging! If you tough it out the results are incredible. The processes of "VITO Selling" coupled with the Sandler Selling System will make you effective and efficient in the brutal game of "Cold Calling".
The Broadcast Center referenced on page 201 of the book is a real bonus!

Robert Bell has been a friend to me for a few years now. He is a great leader who knows how to make things happen in business. I was very eager to read his book and learn the details of how he did it! For Bob it was hard work and much discipline/dedication. He is a superb example for anyone to follow who craves for bigger and better things in life! A must read!!

-Anna Kubit
Konsultar Corporation

Bell is really on of the country's more interesting entrepreneurs and he shares his insights not only from the head but the heart. The information I found most useful was how he made the connections he needed to keep pushing his "Banana Boat" products ideas forward. Nice job. Recommended for anyone in business.

'From Lifeguard to Sun King' is a must read for anyone desiring sage business advice in their quest for the American Dream. Robert Bell's creation of Banana Boat, relaunch of Sea & Ski, development of Sun Pill and ongoing commitment to overall Sun Health make him one of America's most formidable entrepreneurs. You'll find yourself cheering Robert on as he finds a way to bridle all his youthful, deviant energy into the great success story that he is today. The itemized success principles at the end of the book are an added bonus to an already engaging & important business guide. I look forward to the Sun King's next important contribution to society, as I know it's inevitable.

Great Book on Entreprenuership from someone who has actually started, built, run, and sold large businesses. Alot of people write about business success who have never actually 'done' anything...Mr. Bell is a true acheiver who has repeatedly succeeded in different businesses. Anyone can learn from this book. It is also an easy and entertaining read. Thank you, Bob Bell, for writing this book...it's generous of you to share your experience and wisdom.

Robert Bell lets us into his world from his modest beginnings to successfully building up the Banana Boat brand as a result of lots of hard work, creativity, commitment, determination, discipline, perseverence, and a brilliant business mind. A truly inspirational story for all whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or not! This story is particularly unique in that the style in which it is written has a very human element to it, very personable, as if Robert Bell was sitting directly across from you sharing his remarkable story. This motivational book will make you believe that anything is possible and not be afraid to dream big because those who do and follow their true passion in life can well be on their way to achieving the American Dream just as Robert Bell did. A must read for anyone thinking about starting their own business . . . you will not be disappointed!

I cannot say enough great things about this book. It is great for motivation in personal as well as professional life. I plan to read it again and again!!! I highly recommend this book to EVERYONE.

Although this book was written in the middle 1990s, the information is just as accurate today as it was then. Network marketing is on the move. In fact, since the stock market bubble burst, more people are coming back into network marketing than ever before.

This book make a great tool to build your belief in this industry. Great prospecting tool as well. If your prospects read this book and still have no interest, then they are not prospects.

I also recommend Who Stole The American Dream and Wave 4.

This is a great book to help build your belief in the network marketing industry. If that is the reason that you are buying it, this book does a great job. However, if you are buying this as a training manual, try somewhere else...

I received this book in the mail today and within 2 hours I learned more about network marketing than I have in the last three years. This book was wonderfully informative. I got some great ideas that I can't wait to put to work for my business.

Anyone considering a career in network marketing, should read this book first, it really put the industry in a clear perspective.

Michael has done what many people have spent enormous amounts of time and money trying to deliver a statement about what Network Marketing can do for you in your life. This easy and fun to read book portrays what life can be like if one is willing to take advantage of that little positive slight edge philosophy that is available to all of us.

It is a must have for anyone who is wondering about a career in Network Marketing or some one who is already experiencing the benefits and joys of the industry.

Once you start reading it you will not want to put it down and you will be wanting to go back and read it more than once.

Thanks Michael, you have made a difference in my career and life.

Reading this book provided me with good basic information about investing in the stock market. Some of the information is now outdated - the resources the author mentions as newspaper subscriptions are now available online, such as the Pink Sheets, the information bible about penny stocks. However, the basic information is still relevant, and I do recommend this book for other people who are thinking about investing in stocks for the first time.

A MUST READ for any beginner. If you're looking for your first book on Stocks, look no more, just buy this one.

This book is highly reccomended for all beginners. This book will give you the basis for everyting you want to know about the stock market. Period!

I loved this book. It talked about every facet of the stock market, but didn't go overboard with jargon. I knew absolutely nothing about stocks and after reading this book I am ready to learn more. It was well written, interesting, and, unlike some investing books, the author was not trying to sell anything. This is the perfect book for anyone who wants to invest but has no knowledge of the subject. I really enjoyed this book.

This book was an easy read to learn the basic terminology. And it's a nice reference book with a good "stock" glossary at the back of the book. After this, you'll be ready to read something a little for philosophical like Peter Lynch's masterpiece "One Up On Wall Street".

Geez, the management folks at VW are a bunch of arrogant bastards - much like the folks at Ford, GM and Daimler Chrysler. This book is a great history and a really interesting and enjoyable read.

I'm an avid VW driver, and when I saw this book I had to read it. It's great! The VW story is incredible, I never would have guessed that there was so much interesting history there.

The references to the advertising brought back some good memories. I remember each ad and how great they were.

A dfinite must read!

J.

I'm a die hard VW loyalist now. So when I saw this book I had to see what it was all about. Incredible story! Very well written!

It was incredible to read about all the things that went on within and without the company, it helps to understand the car a lot better :) If you're at all interested in VW's or car company history in general, this is a must read.

This is a top of the line book. It takes the reader through the history of Volkswagon in America. It speaks of the successes and failures and takes the reader behind the scenes to see how the company was/is run. Due to the history of Volkswagon, the book is entertaining and hard to put down. Kiley does a wonderful job of telling the facts in an interesting way. At times though, it does focus a lot on advertising which is both interesting and tedious. Although it can be hard to keep all the dates and people straight throughout the book, the experience of reading the book is fantastic. This is a great book for those who know a lot about cars and for those who are just merely curious.

This is a top of the line book. It takes the reader through the history of Volkswagon in America. It speaks of the successes and failures and takes the reader behind the scenes to see how the company was/is run. Due to the history of Volkswagon, the book is entertaining and hard to put down. Kiley does a wonderful job of telling the facts in an interesting way. At times though, it does focus a lot on advertising which is both interesting and tedious. Although it can be hard to keep all the dates and people straight throughout the book, the experience of reading the book is fantastic. This is a great book for those who know a lot about cars and for those who are just merely curious.

Well-done book, written concisely and full of information. I enjoyed the information against popular myths about the elevator pitch and giving presentations. I would recommend this as a great start for people going into pitch meetings.

This book was actually a gift for my husband. I remembered him commenting an article he had read about Stephanie Palmer and she impressed him. My husband is like a sponge. Always reading and trying to soak up knowledge. However, rarely does he comment out loud to me, unless the person or subject matter really zings him.

I also remember him indicating that Stephanie Palmer had a book out.
I decided to find the same book he was talking about, without hinting that I was going to buy it for him.

Well, I found it, he read it, he really liked it and got some excellent information from it. Now I am putting it on my list of the next books that I read.

He recommends this book and says it is helpful whether or not your are in a speaking position on any regular basis, a job you have that you may need to present yourself in front of anyone, or as he did to myself, just a housewife, he said would benefit me.

So, we give it an A+

this book is a must for anyone trying to improve their communication skills in any business. So much is done "in the room" and the fact remains that talent for the job and talent for getting the job are not the same thing. The author tells us things we may not want to believe but are things we are be better for knowing. It's like having ammunition, or a great coach with you when you go in for that interview or pitch meeting. I've already used some of the techniques and benefited greatly. Will most likely read this one a second time when another big meeting comes up.

We all have problems closing the deal. Whether it's pitching a screenplay to Spielberg, ironing out the final sale price with Trump, or negotiating who picks up the kids with the hubby/wifey.

This book provides an entire canon of strategies that can be used by different personality types in different situations. This isn't the stuff they teach you in school, but is precisely the type of knowledge and skills needed to be successful (or at least to avoid picking up the kids).

I can say first hand that the skills in this book helped me discover an unadvertised job in the industry of my dreams only a few weeks ago. Yesterday, I closed the deal and start next week.

I think that's worth doling out for the hardcover, don't you?

We don't often see everyone giving a book 5 stars - this one deserves it. The other reviewers have touched on some of the important points in the book, don't assume that you can extrapolate and get all the benefits just by reading the reviews - read, re-read, and study this book!

Although the book is focused on business applications specifically sales and moving up the corporate ladder - its tenants can be applied in most any interactions between people - friends, family, organizations, and of course business.

Palmer does not propose flashy or manipulative techniques; it's down in the trenches building solid and genuine foundations. She advocates thoughtful planning, with allowances for mis-steps along the way (and excellent advice on how to handle them).

A few of the gems that stand out for me relate to interacting with others - could be a boss or a (potential) client - organized a bit differently than in the book:

1. Before the meeting starts - do your homework, be prepared, dress appropriately (could be different that how client dresses), don't sit in the wrong chair.
2. Remind the others why you're there - the appointment could have been set days ago and they forgot.
3. Don't start your pitch too soon, develop rapport.
4. DO NOT try to be the smartest person in the room (even if you are) and do not be the center of attention.
5. When the inevitable interruptions happen - determine if it just a pause or a reason to break off the meeting for now. If getting back into the meeting after an interruption, easy back in with a brief summary of what was covered before the interruption.
6. Have a smooth way of informing the attendees on details that perhaps they should know, but perhaps don't remember (or don't know). "As you probably know, the Brothers Grimm are the nineteenth-century German professors..."

I could go on and on, but you need to read the book anyway. Go for it!

I am in the process of trying to open my own company. This book gives a pretty good general overview on what you will need to get started, and hopefully to be succesfull.

Ever since my husband and I started our business about two years ago, we are constantly in search of good books on small business management. Having read many of the books out there, Tom's is by far the best of its kind! Tom walks you through the life cycle of a small business, alerting you to the possible pitfalls and giving you advice along the way. Almost the entire book has been directly applicable to our small business, and has steered us in the right direction many times. Whether it's financial management, IRS questions or employees problems, Tom's book can help advise almost any small business owner today. Thanks, Tom!

It offers reinforcement for those things that I already knew I should be doing and insight into ideas that I had not thought of. One of the best things about the book is that it explains that even though you have problems as you go, its normal, but YOU NEED TO recognize them and FIX'em. I intend on keeping it at my desk with my other favorite: THINK AND GROW RICH.

SOMETIMES I FEEL RIPPED OFF AFTER BUYING A BOOK. THIS DEFINATELY WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE TIMES.

This book is a must for business owners, but as the name implies, it's not about venture capitol, it's about business sense. Nevertheless, it's a great book to have and refer to time and time again. It's timeless