Sales Books

I bought this book one week before I passed CA State Exam. I'm loving it! It gives all the nuts & bolts to a rookie for a quick & sound start in the business. This book is a must-have on the shelf for every new agent, period!

New or 'aged' agents will get many valuable tips from this book. It is just packed with useful information that a successfull real estate agent (Dirk) has learned over the years. Don't make the same mistakes. Learn from his experience and be a top producer.

This book is a must read for anyone considering a career in Real Estate as well as a refresher for experienced agents trying to get their business back on track. Dirk Zeller manages to distill a vast amount of experience down into a basic plan for success. (No magic bullets are promised: It involves honest work, but this book will help you manage your time better and allow you to concentrate on revenue producing activities.) For me personally, my biggest problems as an agent have been time management and spending too much time on non-revenue producing activities. These two areas of the book are worth the price alone. Highly recommended!

This is a very comprehensive book for beginners and experienced realtors. It seems to be losely based on the teachings of Mike Ferry by an experienced agent who actually did what he writes. I highly recommend it with one reservation: much of it is very similar to the book The Champion Real Estate Agent written by the same author. If you buy one of the books you don't really need to buy both.

This book does have some usful tips. However, the author is obviously a career salesman. He appears to have grown his career from real estate sales to selling his own products ( seminars, web sites, and sales coaching). He equates financial success by selling, to being a quality agent. His focus seems to be on the typical salesperson's perspective ie. ABC (always be closing), not matching the client to the property they want, like and can aford.

This is a must-have in your personal library. A complete book from E. Allan Poe. AMAZING!

As a child, I couldn't put any of Poe's short stores down, now a few decades later, nothing much has changed. I was thrilled to add this book to my collection, it is well made, and comprehensive collection. All of this at a great price.

The book arrived just in time and it is in excelent conditions. This edition contain all my favorites works of Edgar Allan Poe. I recommend it!

Despite all who have attempted the genre since, Poe remains the supreme master of the horrific short story. From this collection I select "Berenice" to comment on, not only because it is a classic example of Poe, but also because it deals with a subject so typically his, that of obsession.
There is little point in trying not to "spoil" a Poe story by avoiding telling the final outcome, for in this story, as in much of his work, the fascination lies not in a teasing or elaborate plot leading to a surprise revelation, but in morbid, gristly dwelling on the awful texture of misery, melancholia and near madness. One can read them repeatedly, and they still taste satisfyingly rank and vile.
In this short story of brooding obsession, Egaeus looses his wife, Berenice, to illness, and in a fit of abstraction and obsession opens her grave and rips out the part of her that his mind has fixated upon: her teeth. Nasty and simple, but unforgettable.
There is little joy in Poe's world. Love, hope and happiness are only shown as a prelude to loss, to provide a fading dusk against which the blackness of the tragic end stands out more clearly.
It's interesting that some of Poe's readers complained to the editor when Berenice was published in the Southern Literary Messenger in 1935. This was early in Poe's career, and he reports the subscription list of this periodical as 700. In December of that year he was made editor, and by the time he left the subscription list numbered 5,500. Obviously then, as now, there was quite an appetite for horror amongst readers.

Graham Worthington, author, Wake of the Raven

I've bought a few complete Poe collections over the years, and this one is my favorite. The font size is not squashed down to save pages at the expense of my eyes, and it does seem to be complete. It's also an attractively put together book.

Poe is essential reading for anyone interested in horror, and for any apsiring writer. He not only is a master of horror, but he's credited as being the inventor of the detective story.

"The Raven", "The Pit and the Pendulum", "The Cask of Amontillado", "The Black Cat", "The Masque of the Red Death", "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", and everything else you're looking for plus stories and poems you may never have heard of yet are all in here.

This is a great volume at a great price. I'd also recommend: The Best of H. P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre, Cold Streak, It (Signet Books), Coraline, & Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance.

Competition is fierce and having the best marketing department or newest product is not good enough. All successful Sales professionals possess skills that set them apart from their competitors and effective writing should be at the top of their skill set. In her new book, Power Sales Writing, Sue provides the tools that will inspire the reader to develop or enhance their writing effectiveness and ultimately set them apart from the competition. Power Sales Writing has a prominent position on my bookshelf - a must read!

I must say I am little disappointed. I would not tell someone not to buy this book but I would not tell someone to buy it. The book does deliver what it says on the cover. I am not so sure how powerful it is. It is about writing style and how to make it better, easier and faster. I am still trying to decide if I learned anything from this book that is of great value. I am sure I will reference this book in the future and for $10.00; hay what the hell. I have bought computer books for ten times that amount that I hated. If you have difficulty writing and getting your ideas on to paper maybe this book is for you. It is short and it is very readable. I would classify this as an average book. And sorry Sue since my name is not on this I just pounded it out on the keyboard and let the letters fall where they may.

Share this book with everyone in your organization that has any sales contact and increase their their effectiveness. Sue cuts to the heart of good writting skills. Her book is easy to read and offers countless tips on letter writting, e-mails and better communication.

Sue is a nationally recognized speaker who captivates her audience with pithy observations, high energy and charm. She has successfully translated that into a terrific guide that will be helpful to new salespeople as well as pros. My favorite part is how she points out the pompous phrases that are often used instead of everyday common sense language.

With all of the advances the age of technology has brought us, there have also been a few setbacks. One of those setbacks comes in the form of a lack of professionalism in writing. The email era has all but eliminated professionalism in business communications. POWER SALES WRITING by Sue Hershkowitz-Coore seeks to restore some of that lost professionalism. What we have here, however, is not just about improving the level of professionalism in email, but is applicable to all realms of business writing.

The author begins by introducing four questions that are basic components of all business writing. The professional writer should always begin their prewriting with these four basic questions. Doing so will insure the writer always achieves the desired result. There is an incredible amount of information on such a wide variety of writing tips, such as proofing, when and how to use buffers, and legal culpability in business communications.

The book seems to be aimed at a general audience (anyone who conducts business communication) as well as a specific audience, (copywriters). The content here is beneficial for both audiences and, I believe, meets reader expectations of either group. The last half of the book does slant more towards the professional copywriter, but can still be applied to general business communications.

In the last half of the book we find direction on sales letters. Here, the focus is on such things as sales letter characteristics, the power of testimony and using stimuli words (visual, auditory and kinesthetic) to appeal to various learning styles.

The final section really helps the reader to challenge him or herself from writing habits found less than admirable. This is somewhat of a melding together and condensed version of Richard Bayan's "Words That Sell" and Strunk's "Elements of Style". Of particular note, I found on the final page of text, a technique I have used for years. That is making a list of the ten most important things learned from the book, picking a couple to focus on for a month, then moving to the next two. The problem here is, for me, it was difficult holding my list down to ten items.

This is a critical edition for professional copywriters. It is beneficial for all professionals who must use written communication. I found the book exceptionally well written. Hershkowitz-Coore's obvious skill as a writer makes the book very easy to comprehend.

PowerPrinciples is a book that has literally changed my life. This book helped me put my goals into action. It is a huge motivator for anyone wanting to be more sucessful. It's a great read!

What happens to you on the inside -- your thoughts, emotions and imagination are reflected by what's happening on the outside - more sales, happiness, excitement, etc. If you try to change the outside without first aligning what's going on inside of you, only temporary change will happen.

Jeb's book is a master class in getting your inner game in order. He takes you through the program step-by-step. If you follow his guidance and are consistent with it, you will produce results. And great results are what makes selling fun. It is the best paid fun work there is.

Jeb Blount has captured the pure essence of success with Power Principles. He not only gives you the map to success, he shows you the steps to get there as well.

Power Principles is an absolutely Amazing read. With real life stories that we can all relate to, Jeb really hits it out of the park with this book.

It is more important than ever to have a clear understanding of how to achieve your dreams. Jeb Blount gives you everything you need and more with Power Principles.

Curt Fletcher, author of How to Sell More Homes and Increase Your Income

LOVED IT (sage and energizing advice packed in a quick little read)! This book inspired me to put important planning in place that I had been putting off because I was "too busy." It helped me shift and refine my focus and I'm sure results will follow and everyone in my company will benefit.

Power Principles is a book I will reread many times and I'll definitely be buying copies for my staff.

If you have ever met Jeb, you understand why this book is so great! He will teach you more in a hour than others can teach in a life time! This book is what I call "shelfable", meaning I will kept it FOREVER and read it again and again! What's next Jeb? Sign me up!

I absolutely love Jackie Collins, but I think that this book fell short at the ending.

I didn't like how Lauren eluded Nick for the entire book, even up to the last few pages. She seemed a bit too pretentous and untouchable. I thought she loved him?

Otherwise, I loved Nick and empathized with his pain. I had hoped Lauren would have been more of a likeable character.

I was expecting a little more from Jackie with this book. It was still an enjoyable read but nowhere in the league of some of Jackie's other books like "Chances".

I loved this book. I could not put it down and since the first time I read it, I have read it twice more. There are some great plotlines in this book that keep you on your toes.

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I'm not a huge Jackie Collins fan, I've read some of her stuff and most of it just isn't my cup of tea. This one though! WOW! Its such a great story, peppered with flashbacks and different points of view. You just WANT Nick and Lauren to get together and just when you think they might, some tragedy yet again looms, ripping them apart. Its a smooth read, and hard to put down, so make sure you have lots of time on your hands because you won't want to stop reading. I first read this book about 6-7 years ago, put it on my bookshelf and just a few months ago pulled it out again. By this time, I had remembered the main story line but had forgotten a lot about the characters lives and the circumstances that bring them together...like the tornado....the murder....the marriages...wow.

If you're a Danielle Steele fan, but like me, think her stuff is a bit too syrupy sometimes, then this is for you. Jackie Collins pulls no punches in this one, just shooting straight from the hip and telling it like it is. Its a GREAT book, buy it for your collection and you WONT be sorry!

when the book said love story i thought it was going to be one of jackie's regular sleep around love story, but surprisingly this was a book of true love and not just true lust. great book i couldnt put down. =)

The 1st time I read Dave's book was great but the 2nd time was exceptional. I run a reasonably sized sales team. Earlier this year, we fell pretty far behind early in the quarter. As part of my strategy to stay focused, I re-read Baseline Selling 30 minutes at a time each night. It was as if Dave was sitting next to me helping to get the team back on track. By the time I finished the re-read, the team was 20% ahead of quota. There are so many scenarios in sales but I really think Dave has seen them all. Baseline Selling helped me to isolate the weakness in each team member and coach them through a simple adjustment that made all the difference.

Dave Kurlan provides a great tool for a sales person to quickly identify where their prospect is in the sales cycle / timeline. This book is required reading for my sales people. It helps new sales people learn how to think through the sales cycle in a more clear and healthy way; and it helps seasoned sales people clarify where people actually are in the sales cycle.

GREAT BOOK, EASY READ.

I have found this book very useful. Dave writes in a way that is very good to understand. Also very useful to have other books to refer too.

I have been selling for 20 years, and have been exposed to a very large number of selling systems. The vast majority of selling systems are extremely complex, and difficult to remember. Baseline Selling includes all of the vital direction of the more complicated systems, without being complicated. I have read the book 5 times, and use it for training new salespeople. You lose nothing and gain everything by switching from S.P.I.N., Customer Centric, or Solution Selling to Baseline Selling. Great work Dave!

Kurlan has created a universally adaptable flow allowing a fill-in-the-blanks mentality for tracking the sale of ANY product or service REGARDLESS OF the length of THE SALES CYCLE, COMPLEXITY of the decision hierarchy or DEPTH of the decision team! It works whether you use his easy-to-execute tactics or your own!

This book grabbed me at the start. I liked the ingenuity of the plot to smuggle Hitler out of the country, and enjoyed meeting the characters on both sides of the chase - the Russian pursuers and the Germans aiding Hitler. I liked meeting Stalin and Hitler as characters. This novel fell short of a great thriller because the main characters did not develop and the secondary ones were not so interesting. And while the plot was good, there were times that it was less than gripping. Still, I did enjoy this novel, and recommend it if you want a light, fun, chase thriller with a historical backdrop.

I first read "The Berkut" almost 20 years ago and the story has never left my mind. I recently purchased a used copy and read the book again and it was everything I remembered it being.

This is an intensely character driven story with the fall of Germany and the Nazi party as the backdrop. While Heywood bends a few historical facts to make his story work, there is sufficient accuracy to occasionally convince you that you're reading a work of non-fiction. Heywood does a masterful job of creating characters you can identify with and understand, even sympathize with. No small feat when you're reading about Nazis.

This is a book that begs to be brought to the small screen as a mini-series.

This was a great book and nearly impossible to put down. The suspense and action in the novel will keep you on the edge of your seat, as it did to me. It's an absolutely brilliant mix of historical fact with fiction... even better than early Clancy novels like "Hunt for Red October". I would recommend this to book to anyone; regardless of their tastes and preferences.

I purchased this book due to the glowing reviews by amazon customers, sadly this is one of the few times that I've been let down. I'm an avid student of history and the Eastern Front of the Second World War is my forte. There is little historical fact in this book when it comes to the Soviet Union, Stalin, the Red Army, or the history of the war on the Eastern Front. The author takes well known, today, German myths and makes them a reality (for his time this might have been alright, but today it is too much to take). His conjectures are baseless, somehow Tiger tanks are on the Eastern front during the Moscow Counter-Offensive of 1941/42, if it wasn't for US Lend Lease the Soviet Union would have been under German rule, forgetting that Lend Lease made up 4% of the Soviet war effort. The Winter is what stopped the Germans, Red Army men do nothing but pillage, rape, dance, and kill in practically all the scenes at the beginning of the book. Sure, it's a fictional book, but the correct historical context could have been kept. There are many other historical errors, why Stalin ignored warnings about the invasion, Stalin screaming that Hitler promised the non-aggression pact would last for a thousand years when in fact the non-aggression pact was for a ten year period, and so on and so forth. If an author changes one event to suit his premise, that's fine, but changing the entire history of the war and that of the Soviet Union is just unacceptable.

Heywood is a master story teller who keeps you on your toes. This book took me away from my surroundings and put me back into Germany in the last, apocalyptic days of the Third Reich. I witnessed the escape of Adolf Hitler, saw the Russian NKVD Special Forces team went in, trailed him and his SS rescuers relentlessly, and took him off a ship, bound for Argentina and freedom.

The SS Men were men to be admired for their bravery and craftiness. Sometimes I almost wanted them to succeed as I trekked with them across the countryside of southern Europe with their Fuehrer. But then the Russian team, made up of a few men and one woman, were people I came to know really well and identified with. I followed their every step in their search for the monster of Berlin.

I really hated Joseph Stalin, especially when he kept threatening the most capable team in all Russia with death if they didn't bring Hitler to him alive. Stalin was a real slime in my view. Moreover I knew that he was genuinely wicked even more than Hitler was. But eventually he did reward the team generously for their work.

Intense suspense and action. A great read.

Heywood rocks

Fantastic Read, in particular for a novice like myself little or no previous marketing experience. I've my own business for a year now and this book not only showed me where i was going wrong, but it helped me to take stock of where I was and how to effectively market the business.

Don't you hate marketing books that have so much strategy you're not sure where to start? What I love about Duct Tape Marketing is that I came away with a laundry list of tactics that I could employ immediately and see fast results.

I first saw John speak in Cleveland and then had a chance to read his book. It's a quick read. Make sure you have a notepad next to you to take notes for all the things that you'll need to do as a result of reading this book.

This is especially an important book for anyone trying to figure out website and social media strategy. Excellent advice that works. Highly recommend this book.

This is really an amazing little book - such an easy read (John Jantsch style), yet PACKED with incredibly practical and simple marketing information for small business. I love hearing John's definition for Marketing! How Simple!! That makes marketing less about the product you are selling but more about the personal trust factor involved in the transactions. That permits ANY small business (including a start-up like mine) to compete in the marketplace - without having to compete on price! John's ideas are so effective and I have been putting them into practice since I first read the book 9 months ago (I've read it 3 times since). It's a good primer for the full Duct Tape Marketing coaching program, too! (Believe me, the book is just a teaser of what you get when you sign up for the full coaching program + awesome CDs!!) A great resource for any small business owner!!

"When I talk to groups of small business owners at workshops," writes John Jantsch, "I will often make the statement that when you properly target your clients, you will discover that you no longer have to work with jerks." It's all about identifying, defining and focusing on your ideal client. Peter Drucker preached the big picture: focus on your primary customer. Now Jantsch helps you zero in with detailed intentionality.

Buy this book and bring it to your next staff meeting and explain why "marketing is an all-encompassing outlook that must inform every activity of your business."

If you agree that 50 percent of advertising and marketing doesn't work (but no one knows which 50 percent), this book will not only help you--it will change the way you've been thinking about your mission and your customers. Jantsch is no huckster--he's all about marketing integrity. "Copycat Marketing is chock full of problems, but primarily it is a problem because it is dishonest," he warns.

Simply put, this book will help you create marketing that sticks. The goal: "Marketing is getting people who have a specific need or problem to know, like and trust you."

On the journey to find and serve your niche, the author suggests "you'll turn your sales calls into more of an audition." Ideas abound: 1) Offer an astonishing guarantee; 2) Perfect your "Talking Logo," a bit like your elevator speech, only better; 3) Create a Client Profile Tracker (simple idea--but you're probably not doing it); and 4) Call 10 clients and ask them six time-tested questions, including, "What could we do that would thrill you." Written for businesses; it also delivers great value to nonprofit organizations and even churches. It's the perfect next step after reading the Customer Bucket, one of 20 chapters in my book, Mastering The Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-profit.

With a foreword by Michael Gerber, author of The E-Myth Revisited, and afterword by Guy Kawasaki, author of The Art of the Start, this is a must-buy for your team's resource library. For me, the tipping point was the enthusiastic recommendation from another CEO. Jantsch sold my CEO friend and he sold me. That's Duct Tape Marketing.

Novice business owners, like me, will love this book. It lays out the foundation for marketing your business with no expectation of prior marketing experience. Great job, John.

My one gripe, and the reason I gave it 4 of 5, is that the author assumes that you, the business owner, have an established clientele. Start-up owners, like me, who want to kick off the marketing effort to establish a clientele, will have to "act as if" we do and fill in the blank spots with educated guesses.

John, if there's a sequel, please point out where start-ups differ from established small businesses and if we need to do something different to reach the same goal in that particular phase of marketing.

All in all, though, a great read.

well written by someone who knows how quickly a puppy grows into an adult and how quickly life ends for them. Pets never live long enough but perhaps that is why they are so precious and important in our lives. Thank you, Hans Wilhelm, for sharing your story.

A book I saw when working at the library and thought, someday, I'll need this book. 11 years later I did. Now, it's on a table in my family room, in honor of my father, Nick and yellow lab, Sammy, who both passed early this year, a few months apart and who were best buds.

This is such a sweet (and sad) book. I have it in my school library and it is a wonderful book for children to read. I love how the little boy loves his dog and the depth of his feelings. My son and I have reread it everytime we have had to say goodby to one of our beloved pets. I gave this book to our family vet recently and this is the one he liked best for his young son. I highly recommend it.

Read it cried as usual. Great for my daughter. Did not do much for me on the healing process.

Of the three books I purchased for my two young friends (boys, aged 6 and 10) who was experiencing the loss of their life-time friend, Charlie-the beagle... this was the BEST BOOK of the three.
The pictures are wonderful, the text simple but meaningful, and most of all.. it tells us all that we should love and express that love while our 'friends' are with us. "I'll Always Love You" brought tears to even the adults reading it with the children; also a good lesson that it ok to cry and grief for our four-legged friends even if we are a grownup.
I'd recommend this book for any age child.

I sought out this book on the advice of a priest and was not expecting the book to as useful as it was! I was immediately drawn into the book as it explained how a devotional life can be integrated into any state of life. I especially was thankful of the effort de Sales puts into explaining what is proper for one to do according to their vocation in life. Though I am Catholic, a Pentecostal friend once asked if Christians can meditate and immediately lent her this book and she has come back to me with many questions on the meaning of certain words, but has otherwise been very glad to read the book!

This book can be easily recommended to anyone seeking a deeper prayer life; young or old, priest or layman, Catholic or Pentecostal.

Although written so long ago, it really is wonderful for our day and age today! Very practical advise and food for thought in an easy to read style. There is so much to gain from reading this book, written for everyone.

This is an astoundingly helpful book. St. Francis de Sales manages to give all the benefit that you can reap from a spiritual guidance book. In one of the first chapters, he recommends finding an actual spiritual director- best advice. In conjunction with doing so, this is one of the most wonderful little treasures I have come across. It pertains to all people, of all states, too. I have other books- Divine Intimacy, Words of Love, Divine Mercy in My Soul, School of Jesus Crucified... each is priceless. But this little book is especially good- St. Francis speaks so simply, clearly and beautifully, and it is set up that one can easily pick it up and turn to the subject/chapter that he wants particular counsel on right away. This can help you advance quickly in the spiritual life, with confidence and love!

This classic is a wealth of insight and advice for nurturing a devout life. It predates and foreshadows the call for all to be saints at Vatican II and by faithful like Pope John Paul II and Saint Josemaria Escriva to sanctify the ordinary. This is a powerful and profitable book for our times from the great evangelist who won many back to the Catholic faith from the Protestant reformation. For the historical value as a classic it is well worth reading but as a practical devotional toward a truly devout life even today, it is a priceless treasure of the faith.

I was skeptical about starting this book, because most of the saints' writings I have read have been very theological or spiritual in nature, basically above my head. This one is practical and easy to follow. It makes sense for an everyday person who is just trying to grow closer to God. It applies to each individual no matter what your vocation or job and is specifically directed at those who are NOT priests or religious (although they probably would benefit, as well). This is a classic! A winner that will be read and re-read for years to come!