Book Description
Customer service is the single most pressing problem for business managers and people in any service or sales operation, especially at the retail level. In fact, many experts believe that you build a business from the customer up. In Customer Mania!, Ken Blanchard, one of America's biggest bestselling authors and inspiring business leaders, writes of the key to customer service -- creating a people-oriented, performance-driven, customer-first organization. Along with coauthors Jim Ballard and Fred Finch, Blanchard explains why the customer is the right starting place from which to build a successful business. By drawing on examples from the world's largest restaurant company, Yum! -- owner of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's, and A&W Restaurants -- the authors explain how any company, large or small, can develop a unified, people-first, customer-oriented culture. Packed with practical insights, Customer Mania! emphasizes four critical steps:
• Set Your Sights on the Right Target. The bottom line grows from taking care of customers and creating a motivating environment for your people.
• Treat Customers the Right Way. Determine the kind of experience you want your customers to have as they interact with every part of the company.
• Treat Employees the Right Way. Use strategies ranging from smart hiring to training and development to managing performance and creating a recognition culture.
• Build the Right Kind of Leadership. You can't do it all yourself, so let your people put their own brains to work and then support them all the way.
By relying on these concepts, businesses everywhere can cultivate passionate and engaged team members who contribute to the company's overall success. From CEO to middle manager to the person facing the consumer, Customer Mania! is a vital tool for enhancing their experience -- and their customer's.
Download Description
"Customer service is the single most pressing problem for business managers and people in any service or sales operation, especially at the retail level. In fact, many experts believe that you build a business from the customer up. In Customer Mania!, Ken Blanchard, one of America's biggest bestselling authors and inspiring business leaders, writes of the key to customer service -- creating a people-oriented, performance-driven, customer-first organization. Along with coauthors Jim Ballard and Fred Finch, Blanchard explains why the customer is the right starting place from which to build a successful business. By drawing on examples from the world's largest restaurant company, Yum! -- owner of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's, and A&W Restaurants -- the authors explain how any company, large or small, can develop a unified, people-first, customer-oriented culture. Packed with practical insights, Customer Mania! emphasizes four critical steps: . Set Your Sights on the Right Target. The bottom line grows from taking care of customers and creating a motivating environment for your people. . Treat Customers the Right Way. Determine the kind of experience you want your customers to have as they interact with every part of the company. . Treat Employees the Right Way. Use strategies ranging from smart hiring to training and development to managing performance and creating a recognition culture. . Build the Right Kind of Leadership. You can't do it all yourself, so let your people put their own brains to work and then support them all the way. By relying on these concepts, businesses everywhere can cultivate passionate and engaged team members who contribute to the company's overall success. From CEO to middle manager to the person facing the consumer, Customer Mania! is a vital tool for enhancing their experience -- and their customer's. "
Customer Reviews:
A page-turning read steeped in the senses of yesteryear........2006-11-06
Former college instructor and journalist R. D.. Snowcroft presents The Blanchard Brothers Film Company, a novel set at the beginning of the twentieth century - when motion pictures were just beginning to spread as a form of popular entertainment in the nickelodeons frequented by the lower classes, while the upper classes watched theater and the middle classes attended vaudeville. In these times fraught with potential, the hub of motion pictures in America was on the East Cost, not the West; The Blanchard Brothers Film Company is a tale of two brothers whose vibrant studio flourished and faded. One brother was destined for fame and greatness in Hollywood; the other would fall into obscurity. The dynamics of the dog-eat-dog world of popular cinema, even in its infancy, make for a page-turning read steeped in the senses of yesteryear.
Another good book from Blanchard.......2006-10-30
This is an easy to read book with leadership principles for people in all levels of leadership.
This should be called "The CEO's Bible".......2005-08-24
I had worked for YUM! for 4 days when I went to my first Founder's Day celebration -the day that Ken Blanchard and David Novak (YUM! CEO) gave out these books. I didn't know what to think! The environment was SO different from what I was used to. Why were these people standing on chairs, hooting and yelling, cheering and clapping and having FUN at a biyearly meeting? How did they get so many people to volunteer to speak in front of a 3000+ crowd, when most meetings of under 20 you hardly ever get anyone to speak up?
I took the book home and read it cover to cover, trying to figure out what Customer Mania was and how do I become a Customer Maniac? I have worked in customer service for years, and the answer was simple: Do it right, and do it right the first time, because you WANT to. Things I had wanted to do under other bosses to help my customers get what they need and want, but was afraid to, because the Boss wouldn't understand or it would cost too much, or take too much time, or wasn't our department. At YUM! there is no such thing as "not my department". If that is a customer who needs your help, then that customer IS your department.
The book gives great anecdotes to illustrate his point in an easy to read, easy to understand manner. You feel as though Mr. Blanchard were sitting across from you talking to you in person. YUM! has a ways to go in really winning over its customer base, in assuring the customer that YUM! will be there no matter what to make sure they have a great experience in one of their restarants, but we are getting there.
And the marching band walking through the building to recognize outstanding employees? It's true.
Every CEO of every company should read this. The things that YUM! does to recognize its employees for a job well done on a daily basis doesn't add up to much in terms of time or money, but the return on that investment is phenomenal. Even as an entry level employee, I know that David Novak cares about the work I do and every day I give 210%, KNOWING that my leadership sees it and appreciates it.
I'm a raving fan of Customer Mania ! ! ! .......2004-12-18
Having had the honor and privilege of co-authoring Raving Fans with Ken Blanchard, I waited with eager anticipation for Customer Mania! Knowing Ken as I do I had set my expectations high. Ken has exceeded them!
Along with Jim Ballard, a co-author with Ken on the phenomenally successful Whale Done, and Ken's long time associate and friend, Fred Finch, Ken has crafted yet another typical Blanchard book - an easy read with easy to understand practical ideas that may be simple, but not simplistic. Customer Mania! focuses on the four keys of setting your sights on the right target, then treating customers and employees the right way and finally, building the right kind of leadership. The wisdom and direction on this last point alone make this book a must read for any manager serious about creating raving fans.
One huge strength of this book is that it is based on the real life business experience of Yum corporation. The frontline insights and tips must have cost Yum millions upon millions of dollars to learn. I note Amazon is selling the book for $13.57. That's got to be the greatest deal since the Dutch bought Manhattan!
Customer Mania! is a worthy companion to Raving Fans and I urge every one of the more than a million people who have bought Raving Fans to order their copy of Customer Mania! now!
Book Description
While most books focus solely on the role of cholesterol in heart disease, Reverse Heart Disease Now draws on new research that points to the surprising other causes. Two leading cardiologists draw on their collective fifty years of clinical cardiology research to show you how to combine the benefits of modern medicine, over-the-counter vitamins and supplements, and simple lifestyle changes to have a healthy heart.
Customer Reviews:
Amazon Super Saver shipping takes a long time..........2007-09-28
An excellent book if you are interested in being proactive about heart health. Plenty of information regarding the use of supplements for heart disease. Definitely worth the read.
A patient's review.......2007-05-15
THIS BOOK SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR EVERY PRACTICING CARDIOLOGIST IN THE AMA. IT JUST MIGHT EXTEND THE HEALTHFUL LIVES OF A FEW MILLION PEOPLE.
Optimistic assessment for heart patients, but some info overload too........2007-04-11
In the final chapter of the book, the authors set out what they call the "four pillars of healing." These are:
1. A healthy diet to help you achieve a healthy body weight.
2. Appropriate over-the-counter supplements and prescription medications for your condition.
3. Exercise.
4. Use of mind/body techniques to control unhealthy moods, attitudes, and behaviors.
The main text of the book, however, does not give equal emphasis to these four "pillars." The authors use 2 chapters and 71 pages to discuss over-the-counter supplements. They discuss prescription medications in one 17 page chapter. They discuss diet in an 11 page chapter. They discuss exercise in one short 5 page chapter. They discuss stress management in one 10 page chapter. Supplements get much more coverage than all other treatments combined. The authors acknowledge that heart disease (plaque build up in your arteries) is a lifestyle disease (p.217). They recommend lifestyle changes, but the overwhelming impression you get from the book is that over-the-counter supplements are the most essential treatment for heart disease/plaque build up in your arteries.
The authors are so enamoured with supplements, that they give you a full regimen with estimated costs. They estimate the cost to follow their supplement recommendations at from $100 to $500 a month. You will take a handful of pills daily if you follow their supplement recommendations. For many, this prospect may be just as unappealing as taking a handful of prescription medications.
One major weakness in the book is that the authors don't provide any footnote references in their text. They provide an extensive list of books and articles at the end of the book, but there is no realistic way to see whether these actually support the many claims of the authors throughout the book.
The authors also describe a surprising number of obscure techniques for testing for heart disease - many of which your doctor will never have heard of and won't know how to interpret. Given the pervasiveness of heart disease in our society, we don't need more sophisticated testing techniques. Just assume that you need to act to prevent or treat it. The most effective techniques for preventing and treating heart disease are lifestyle changes that we should all adopt anyway.
The authors claim to practice integrative medicine. I was still surprised to see that they have a 9-page chapter in which they support the use of intravenous and oral chelation therapy. And yet they also at times recommend bypass surgery and angioplasty. I was not surprised that neither surgery nor chelation made it onto their "four pillars" list. Yet, for these authors, integrative medicine seems to mean that "anything goes."
Throughout the book the authors rely heavily on their own clinical experience in treating heart patients. They discuss success stories with patients who had even very severe problems. The authors are refreshingly optimistic that even severely afflicted heart patients can achieve symptom relief and a fairly normal life. That is certainly one of the valuable messages of this book.
This book provides a lot of interesting information about a whole lot of methods for diagnosing and treating heart disease. Notwithstanding the usefulness of the "four pillars," the book is weak in describing a plan of action for you. Too much emphasis is placed on over-the-counter supplements. We know heart disease is treatable, but there is no magic bullet treatment. Give yourself the best chance by also incorporating ALL of the other "pillars" into your prevention or treatment program.
Must Read.......2007-04-10
Everyone should read this book. It contains valuable information whether you have heart disease or just want to try and prevent it.
Up to date and useful.......2007-04-01
This accurate and up-to-date book presents useful information on heart disease in easy to understand language.
Book Description
Jenn Corbin, a lovely, slim, brown-eyed blonde, appeared to have it all: two dear little boys, a posh home in one of the upscale suburbs of Atlanta, expensive cars, a plush houseboat, and a husband -- Dr. Bart Corbin, a successful dentist -- who was tall, handsome, and brilliant.
But gradually their seemingly idyllic life together began to crumble. There was talk of seeing a marriage counselor. Bart was distraught; Jenn seemed disenchanted. She needed to reach out to someone she could confide in -- beyond her mother and her sisters. Then, just a few weeks before Christmas 2004, Jenn was found dead with a bullet in her head, a revolver beside her. From the position of the body her death appeared to be a suicide. But Gwinnett County detective Marcus Head was not totally convinced, nor was Jenn's family, who could not believe she would take her own life.
And how was this death related to another apparent suicide fourteen years earlier -- that of Dorothy "Dolly" Hearn, a spectacularly beautiful dental student? A star athlete and homecoming queen in high school, Dolly later dated Bart Corbin in dental school. Was there a connection, or was the answer to be found in a secret -- even dangerous -- relationship Jenn Corbin was having outside her marriage? For Too Late to Say Goodbye, Ann Rule has interviewed virtually everyone in any way related to the story -- the victims' families, police investigators, prosecutors, and sources from Georgia to Australia -- to uncover the truth behind the headlines of these two sensational deaths. What emerges is an incredible tale of jealous rage; of stunning circumstantial and physical evidence that runs from the steamy to the macabre to almost-unheard-of forensic techniques; and of a tragic irony -- a fateful discovery that motivated the killing. The definitive unraveling of one of the strangest murder investigations of our time, Too Late to Say Goodbye is perhaps the finest achievement of a truly great writer's career.
Customer Reviews:
Ann Rule has done it again!.......2007-10-17
Ann Rule has produced her usual very well researched, well documented and thorough summation of lives vicously cut short. I own all of her books and have read every one. I wait anxiously for each new one to come out. She is enormously knowledgable and compasionate. I have never been disappointed by her writings, and Too Late to Say Goodbye is no exception!
LAF
Too Late to Say Goodbye.......2007-10-01
Ann Rule has authored over 28 books and has been called the Queen of True Crime stories. I've read several of her books, and, while this is not her best, it is very well-written and tells an interesting story. Bart Corbin, a dentist, was charged with murdering two women fourteen years apart. One was his girlfriend and the other his wife, and both women were attempting to extricate themselves from their relationships with him. He was extremely possessive and had a bad temper, though he claimed that both women had committed suicide and had staged the death scenes to appear that way. He probably would have gotten away with the first murder if he hadn't committed the second. Anyone who likes true crime stories will like this book.
Best Author-Best Books.......2007-09-17
I have read every Ann Rule Book there is. She never dissapoints you. She writes a true and real sense of what happen without being gory or disrespectful to the victims. This book was I think one of her best books and I feel deeply for the familys of the victim. You will come away feeling as if you know the family.
Riveting and compelling.......2007-09-17
Ann Rule is simply the best true-crime writer around, not only because of her writing style but also because of her meticulous research into the lives of the psychopaths and narcissists who commit the crimes and their victims. She makes us understand not only how and why the crimes occurred but also why the victims became involved with the murderers and why they stayed for them until it was too late (very few of her books deal with stranger-to-stranger murders; most involve intimate partners).
Here, the young wife of an Atlanta-area dentist is found shot dead in her bed, an apparent suicide...until it's discovered that one of the dentist's girlfriends had also died in almost exactly the same way. That death had been ruled a suicide - but the unbelievable coincidence ( a man loses two of the women in his life to self-inflicted gunshot wounds?) led to the first case being reopened.
A compelling page-turner.
Not as good as some of her books.......2007-09-17
I have read almost all of Ann Rule's books and I am a huge fan. I have to say I was disappointed in this one tho. I was very surprised to see many grammatical, punctuation and spelling errors and discrepancies in dates and places. I wonder if she didn't have a proof reader??? Still, I did enjoy it, but wish I had waited for the paperback.
Book Description
While everything appears to be collapsing around us -- ecodamage, genetic engineering, virulent diseases, the end of cheap oil, water shortages, global famine, wars -- we can still do something about it and create a world that will work for us and for our children’s children. The inspiration for Leonardo DiCaprio’s web movie Global Warning,
The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight details what is happening to our planet, the reasons for our culture’s blind behavior, and how we can fix the problem. Thom Hartmann’s comprehensive book, originally published in 1998, has become one of the fundamental handbooks of the environmental activist movement. Now, with fresh, updated material and a focus on political activism and its effect on corporate behavior,
The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight helps us understand--and heal--our relationship to the world, to each other, and to our natural resources.
Customer Reviews:
save our planet.......2007-10-18
Everyone should read this book, it will open your eyes. We should all know whats going on in our world. The media which is run by big business as well as our government,which is also run by big business, will not tell you. These big conglomirates don't want you to know what harm they are doing to our planet, our eco system and our bodies. If this doesn't stop we will all die and so will our world as we know it. Think about your children and grandchildren. Look what's happening to them now from antibiotics and hormones in their food and chemicals in their water. Al Gore understands whats happening with the Greenhouse effect on our planet, But that's just the tip of the iceberg. (thats begining to melt) N. Broad Danielson,CT.
If this is the answer, we are doomed. .......2007-09-23
As a biology teacher, I bought this book because I thought it would be a scholarly analysis of the current environmental crisis. Instead, it is largely a diatribe against all the "evils" of Western civilization, followed by plenty of New Age mumbo.
Here are a few gems of the author's "analysis":
--All human civilizations throughout history can be divided into just two groups: Old Cultures and Young Cultures. Old Cultures universally loved each other, lived in peace, respected the earth, helped old ladies cross the street and lived sustainably. Young Cultures (Europe, USA) rape and pillage, are resource-extracting, and practice despicable acts like ownership of property and buying and selling things in an economy, rather than communally sharing all the resources.
--To get back to Old Culture, you should leave your job, home and 401k and join with small bands of like-minded individuals to buy enough rural land to build basic shelters, grow crops, and grab your own solar energy. This will re-create the small, sustainable, "tribes" of the past.
--The author proposes walking outside with the book and attempting to talk to plants and animals, waiting until they talk back. At one point, he caresses a tree and apologizes to it.
--Just by thinking good thoughts you can effect planetary change. Since the entire planet is interconnected by a "morphic energy field" any good thoughts dumped into it will improve the whole "cosmic soup."
--If you get to the end of the book, the afterword tells you that you are an exceptional person (literally, a "Chosen One") and that you should run out and buy 10 more copies of the author's other books to distribute to friends.
If this is the "strategy" of the new environmental movement, we are doomed. The author is clearly passionate about the issue and is attempting to drive deep cultural change to solve the problem, but his prescriptions are hopelessly utopian. I don't see how aboriginal mysticism is going to scrub the carbon dioxide out of our air or invent a better fuel cell.
Instead of buying 10 copies of this book, try Jared Diamond's "Guns, Germs and Steel" or "Collapse."
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed
If there is a more important and powerful book out there, I haven't found it........2007-09-02
Better than anyone I've ever read or heard, Hartmann explains the cultural and environmental crises we have wrought, how we got there, and what we can do to overcome them. It is full of factual evidence and well-thought-out insights.
Hartmann is a brilliant and prolific writer as well as an Air America radio host. If everyone would read it, there would be a lot more hope for our future.
Everyone should READ THIS.......2007-08-01
A brilliant book, very well researched and taking us thru the times in a very easy to read style. It is not fiction but feels like a good thriller at times with a cannot put down flavour to it. It is educational and informative and moves thru the subjects systematically with a deep spiritual element towards the end and finalising with an action plan and on a positive note that all is not lost. I initially borrowed this from my library but decided I want to add this to my collection of books - it is so good ! Happy reading and please share what you have read with others so that there is a world movement to improve our environment for this earth belongs not only to humans but to all other living creatures and plants as well.
A wake up call.......2007-07-23
This is a great book that addresses a number of critical issues, and it provides a good springboard to look at our future and how we must change to survive. Disappointing to some is that he doesn't reach any conclusions, however the purpose of the book is not to be "A idiots guide to survival" rather to force the reader to draw his own conclusions.
I feel that he either missed some research or simply left it out. Two cases in point are tribalism and democracy. What he said about ancient tribes is mostly correct, however there are strong indications that some ancient tribes that pre-dated modern civilization were exceedingly warlike and did kill their neighbors, just because they were not of the same tribe. I admit that they were the exception, but they did exist and perhaps they are the root of the modern civilization of dominance.
The other issue that could have been explored is the difference in democracies between republics and confederations. Republics always consolidate power and historically have failed as he points out. However he doesn't take a look at confederations which by his definitions are more tribal in outlook. I lived in Switzerland for many years and they are the oldest surviving democracy in the world at more than 700 years. The government was influenced by the Allemanes (sic) a German tribe that had a very grass roots form of democracy. I have lived all over the world in many different countries and the only place I have lived that had a genuine democracy that represented the individual was Switzerland. Interesting to note is that they are also the "greenest" country that I have ever lived in, recycling and environmental consciousness is a part of the culture with few exceptions.
Book Description
More than 85% of managers believe employees leave because they have been pulled away by "more pay" or "better opportunity." Yet, more than 80 percent of employees say it was "push" factors related to poor management practices or toxic cultures that drove them out. This gaping disparity between belief and reality keeps organizations from addressing the costly problems of employee disengagement and regrettable turnover with on-target solutions.The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave gives readers a deeper understanding of why conventional exit interviewing doesn't work, and what organizations can do to identify, prevent, and correct the root causes of these problems. This valuable book shows how to avoid job-person mismatches, how to align employee expectations with the realities of the position and the company, how to provide constructive feedback and coaching that breeds employee confidence, and much more.The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave incorporates data from surveys of 19,700 employees performed by the Saratoga Institute, an internationally recognized research organization.
Customer Reviews:
Helps get your mind around the problem.......2007-06-01
This book is well written. It lays the basis for why the reasons people leave is mis-understood. It gives specific guidance on things you can do to bring new employees in and keep them.
7 Hidden Reasons.......2007-01-10
This was a very informational book. It was a quick read and a great tool. Managers should be reading this book.
The 7 Hidden Reasons NOT hiding impact and value from readers . . ........2006-06-24
Leigh Branham has done it again. The phrase, "a must read" is probably overused and a bit shopworn today, but Leigh's book truly is "a must read" for anyone who leads, serves or depends upon people to get the work of the organization done. As with his earlier book, "Keeping the People Who Keep You in Business", Leigh's style is highly informative and academic yet warmly conversational and user friendly. His clear and compelling guidance will carry the reader to greater understanding and facility with the talent management challenges that are already upon us. The 7 Hidden Reasons is a comprehensive, no-nonsense and energizing learning experience.
Leigh's years of study, focus and practice in this crucial area of the talent management life cycle is clearly evident. Leigh is one of this Nation's leading experts in the world of retention and engagement.
Leigh's 7 Hidden Reasons really are hidden, quite real and too powerful to ignore. Enjoy reading this one . . .
News You Can Use in a Business Book.......2006-06-10
Branham has given us powerful and practical tips for running a better enterprise. The implications of understanding why good people leave their employer are far-reaching. The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave book tells us what tell-tale signs to look for, and how to conduct exit interviews so that we can collect the real reasons people jump ship and act on them. If you've ever experienced turnover and scratched your head about why folks are leaving (as I have), you will benefit from reading this book. It is very easy to read and a good reference book for the office bookshelf.
A good read for all levels of the organization.......2005-12-13
I am in the sales department of a top pharmaceutical company. Retention of top performers is a real concern in our industry. This book offers practical steps you can take immediately to improve retention. It not only shows what you need to do to be an employer of choice but also reinforced for us what we were already doing right. A must for all managers who care about the bottom line and know that taking care of your high performers is the way to see the best profits.
Book Description
Business
Customer Reviews:
Learn to Recognize How You Undermine Yourself.......2006-03-06
This short (and relatively inexpensive) book will help you recognize where your behavior is getting in the way of your success at work.
Bramson emphasizes the importance of seeking and really listening to the feedback you get from others without being defensive, since it often points to areas where you need to change or grow. He notes that many managers are not comfortable giving feedback directly, so they hint around the issues and hope the people under them will be able to read between the lines.
He also points out some additional pitfalls, such as what doing feels right in a situation may not be the best course of action, and that choosing behavior that moves us ahead does not come naturally.
An encouraging point is that we don't need to get rid of our bad habits, but we do need to modify or manage them to keep them from managing us. Bramson's model for image repair is very helpful, and for me was worth the price of the book.
If you are tired of tripping over the same old behaviors at work, try Bramson's prescriptions.
What your boss doesn't tell you book review.......2006-02-09
Not a lot new in this book. It focuses most on correcting really dysfunctional behavior, not on subtle defects.
Excellent Guide to the Prevention of Self-Sabotage.......2005-03-16
Watching several people I admire repeatedly sabotage their careers by failing to recognize and fix the same recurring personality problems caused me to take a break from German-Jewish history and read this book. I have been an employer and an employee, both boss and bossed, and believe that we all can use a good (emphasize "good") self-help book now and then. This book enables the reader to pinpoint self-defeating behaviors and correct them, or at least control them.
In my experience, there are three categories of criticism. The first one is task-related, and your boss will almost always give it to you: "This presentation should be reorganized." "We need a better argument for ...." "Next time include slides on the overhead projector." The second category is personal, but easily fixable, and your boss will give it to you (perhaps with some trepidation): "A tube top is just not 'business casual.'" "You need to start being on time for the 7:00 am meetings." The third category is what your boss will not tell you until it's too late: "you turn people off," "you are too aggressive" or "you are too indecisive." The reason she won't is that these criticisms are of difficult-to-describe personality traits and the message is always uncomfortable to deliver.
Unfortunately, the problems that your boss will not discuss with you (until after you have lost that promotion or job) are the very problems that are the most serious and can have the biggest ramifications for your career. That's where this book comes in. It contains a step-by-step process for identifying your trouble spots and addressing them. If you're not brave enough to actually engage people in discussions about your flaws (as the book suggests), it contains several chapters on common personality problems and suggested substitute behaviors. It also contains a chapter on repairing your image, if it comes to that.
The book takes a non-judgmental approach, pointing out that many personality characteristics may be hereditary. Yet, that makes it no less important to address them. (For example, if you knew that you had a gene which predisposed you to getting lung cancer, wouldn't you be even more careful not to smoke?) I learned a great deal from this book. Since none of us is perfect, I would highly recommend the book to anyone who wants to catch and fix bad behaviors early on, before they can ruin your career.
Great and Useful.......2000-03-06
I found this book to be quite useful, it gives you a different perspective on your job, and how others may be viewing what you do. It helps you to think out of your box.
Amazon.com
As baby boomers hit their 40s and 50s in record numbers, they're beginning to realize that middle age isn't what it used to be--that the old assumptions about these difficult years just aren't true anymore. Barbara Sher, the author of such motivational bestsellers as Live the Life You Love, believes that midlife is the beginning of something better than mere youth, a time when "you start to live your life to suit who you really are." Instead of worrying about your slowing body or unrealized expectations, Sher says, why not focus on new opportunities to take risks and try new experiences, or to take another crack at personal goals you never had a chance to go for in the past? Sher's unique view of aging is a heartening one, and it is sure to bring encouragement to those who would like to see "the big 4-0" as a beginning rather than an end.
Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Barbara Sher has transformed the lives of millions with her phenomenally successful books, workshops, and television appearances. Now, in a work that explores and demystifies one of life's most challenging and bewildering passages, she shatters the myth that turns midlife into a crisis and offers a bold new strategy for creating a new life after forty.
Barbara Sher shows you how to rediscover the inspired, enthusiastic adventurer you wanted to be before you became the responsible adult you had to be. According to Sher, it's never too late to start over. In fact, midlife is the perfect time to do so, a time when dreams for the future and experiences of the past finally come together. "The second life," as Sher calls it, can be even better than the first. More important, it would have been impossible to make these crucial realizations until now. Discover:
How to make life's built-in "time limit" work for you
Which of your "regrets" can point the way to a more rewarding life
How to identify--and overcome--the illusions that stop you from living your dreams
Dozens of ways to recapture your freedom... without succumbing to "road fever," trophy-mate collecting, or other midlife maladies.
Combining step-by-step strategies with provocative exercises and motivational techniques, this extraordinary book reminds you of the dreams you abandoned along the path to adulthood, providing all the tools you will need to weave those aspirations into a richly textured, meaningful life. Beginning with the empowering notion that everyone has a future, Barbara Sher shows you how to turn each of midlife's challenges into a catalyst for dynamic change. Indeed, no matter what your age, it's only too late--to reclaim your creativity, recapture your long-lost dreams, and embark on an exciting new life--if you don't start right now!
Customer Reviews:
From despair to renewal.......2007-06-21
I know my title might sound a little dramatic, but it is true all the same. I have read several of Barbara Sher's books, and all contain immensely helpful ideas, but this one literally saved me from what the poets would call a "slough of despond."
When our youthful dreams don't pan out, and time flies by as it does, a lot of us find ourselves mired in middle age with no idea how we got there and nothing interesting to do, seemingly condemned to dwindle away into a miserable old age.
I was in a complete quandary in my fifties. Years of disappointing circumstances left me feeling totally hopeless about my future. That "life begins at 40" stuff seemed like nonsense to me, only for people who were physically fit and well off - neither of which was I.
I had no idea what I was going to do with myself, either for employment or satisfaction of any kind in life. Thank goodness I stumbled across one of the PBS shows with Barbara Sher. Even though it was about another of her books, "Refuse to Choose," it was there that I heard of "It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now." Her presentation was so appealing, straightforward, and logical, that I had to get the book.
Don't ever think that the idea of "never too late" is a cliché; it is TRUE, if you follow Barbara's brilliant steps, laid out so clearly in this book. You will never again feel that you are alone if you read it; and you will absolutely find a way to make the most of the rest of your life, WHENEVER you begin. But DO begin! Do read every word of this wonderful book and I promise you this uniquely insightful and empathetic author will make it worth your while.
I know there are a few Amazon reviews that take issue with Barbara's ideas about the unimportance of trying too hard to stay "beautiful" all our lives. All I can say is it was a relief to me to let go of the narcissism that our culture imposes on us. It doesn't mean we don't care about ourselves, just that we realize the importance of developing and emphasizing our other qualities.
I shall always be grateful for the "second life" that I have created for myself with Barbara Sher's invaluable help. The way she taught me to look at things was completely unexpected. I never was and still am not a "self-help" book reader. But Sher's books are somehow above and beyond that description. I hope that this one in particular stays in print forever, so future generations of people will be helped as I was.
By the way, even though it took me to be in my fifties to "discover" Barbara Sher, I highly recommend her books, this one especially, to much younger people. If you read this when you're 25, you won't be so likely to fall prey to the many myths about our older age selves.
Mid-Life Crisis? Any Crisis? Buy This Book, It Will Help.......2007-05-12
Dear Friends:
Full disclosure -- I am a big fan of Barbara Sher's other books :)
But when I first bought "It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now" -- I was skeptical. How, I thought, could Ms. Sher convince me that a whole new "second life" awaited people entering middle age?
I was in the depths of a full-blown midlife crisis (very physically sick, mentally depressed, unemployed, many other personal losses, nearing age 50) -- this didn't seem like a transition to a new life, more like the end of my life, period.
But Sher's book gently walked me through all the destructive myths that people entering midlife believe -- and then showed me why the myths were wrong, and how I might construct a newer, more satisfying "second life" based on ideas that I had not previously considered.
I no longer felt isolated with my problems, as Sher quoted from happily-married, prosperous, successful clients -- who, despite outwardly being in much better shape than me -- were asking all of the same distraught questions about "now I'm 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 -- what do I do with the rest of my life? Is it too late for many of my goals? Is this all there is?"
Sher answers that it isn't too late -- "middle age" and "old age" in our era are very different than they were for previous generations. We have opportunities that they never had, but we must become aware of them.
Now, I recommend that interested readers read the whole book -- while it is written in clear, lucid language, Sher pulls no punches in discussing in the first few chapters how many of us arrive at middle age feeling "life sucks, and then you die."
But gradually, as you travel through the book, answering the questions she poses for the reader, you slowly start working out new, positive ways of thinking about your future.
The book made a big difference in my life, and helped me start climbing out of the pit I had fallen into. I am doing well in my life nowadays, and eagerly looking forward to the next 30-40 years, with many plans and ideas. Hopefully, the book will do the same for you.
I also recommend the book to people younger than 40 -- if I had been able to read this book in my 20s or 30s, it might have helped me make a better adjustment to entering middle age.
Don't Be Fooled By The Title.......2007-04-14
I loved "Wishcraft" when it first came out decades ago. Then, it was relevant to my life. Now in my fifties, retired from a physically-active job for medical reasons, and planning my future, I bought this book. The next day, I returned it.
Barbara seems to think that forty is old. Odd, considering she's older than I am. Just please be aware that if you're over forty, this book is not going to be terribly relevant to your life. It's probably terrific for people under forty, but if you're past early mid-life, forget it.
Another thing that made me question the validity of Barbara's more recent work was her insistence that once you've nabbed a partner, or settled into a career, or otherwise gotten your life together, you should put away your mirror and let yourself go. Yes, I'm serious. I'm paraphrasing, but that's the advice. And it's psychologically unsound.
My advanced drama class used to put on shows for retirement homes and long-term care centers. One thing I learned was that when a person (of any age) stopped caring for their appearance, it was a sign of depression and, in many cases, giving in and giving up. I also know, from a personal experience with clinical depression, that the quickest way to lift your spirits -- even a little -- is to dye your hair or buy a great new outfit. This applies to men as well as to women. Yet Barbara Sher encourages us to just forget about our physical appearance. I wonder how much longer she'll be writing (or doing anything else).
Angela Lansbury, on her wonderful videotape of several years ago, said that when she got older and was given more matronly acting jobs, she gained more than a few pounds. And she decided it was all right. She was older. She didn't have to prance around in a swimsuit. But Ms. Lansbury couldn't stand it, and lost that weight. She respected herself too much to just let it all hang out. From what I've learned, that's healthy. What Barbara Sher advocates is not.
Again, this book is probably helpful to younger people. But the "any age" she refers to in the title doesn't go much past forty.
One Little Disagreement With Ms. Sher.......2007-04-05
This is a thought-provoking book geared especially towards Boomers looking to improve the path they're on or recreate themselves for the next part of the journey.
One little problem though. Ms. Sher recommends "forgetting" about beauty. Er, if at any time, this is the time of your life when you should pay attention to your looks. I'm not advocating extensive plastic surgery or spending hours staring at ones reflection; nor am I saying attempt to appear to be 25 again. When you read of women in their 50's and 60's developing eating disorders, that's frightening! But to live a rich, full life you need to look after yourself and make the best appearance you can in order to move about comfortably in the world. Ms. Sher may say toss out the lipstick; I say head to Sephora for a makover.
Other than that, Ms. Sher's books and viewpoints are worth the investment of your time and effort. Lots of food for thought and action steps outlined.
An inspiration!.......2007-03-17
This book was an absolute inspiration to my mom. She picked up this book after some life struggles and she is so encouraged by the self discoveries Barbara Sher helps her find through this book.
The author's kind and thoughtful approach helped her through a very difficult time and inspired her to be a strong, independent woman in today's tough world.
Book Description
Newly revised workbook, Before It's Too Late, will help you create a complete record-keeping journal. This easy-to-fill-out book takes you through a simple step-by-step process of recording your vital information pertaining to financial investments, insurance policies, personal property, will and trusts, employment history and benefits; names and phone numbers of legal and financial advisors, final arrangements for funeral services, obituary and disposition of remains. When it is completed, you will have an estate and funeral planning guide that will give your family the ability to fulfill your written instructions. Your loved ones will have peace of mind knowing that they are making the right choices, strengthening their ability to cope with the big decisions and small details of your death.
Customer Reviews:
Before It's Too Late.......2007-03-08
It is everything I could possible want to inform my family and friends of my intentions upon my death. I also ordered one for my son and daughter, and my two sisters and brother. They were equally impressed with the product.
An excellent planning tool!.......2006-03-12
The "Before It's Too Late..." workbook is excellent. It's the easiest method I've seen to start the process of documenting important information your family needs if you are incapacitated or in the event of your death. The death of my mother not too long ago was stressful for all the family, but the lack of information added to the difficulty. We didn't even know if she had a safe deposit box. We weren't absolutely sure what type of funeral service she would have preferred. We did the best we could with locating paperwork and making decisions, but many times we asked "well, is that what Mom would have wanted us to do?" or "where do you suppose she put that?" A lot more information is needed by the family than what you find in a will or similar documents.
This workbook is low-tech (no complicated software to load, etc.) -- just a workbook to fill in and change as time goes on. I was amazed at the thoroughness of the topics covered--things I'd never thought about. You don't just fill in the blanks; the questions force you to think about your preferences. Although I'd had a will for years, the process of filling in the workbook motivated me to review it and consider about just what information others might need after I'm gone.
I've seen a number of similar products offered, and I'm sure they're fine, but the "Before It's Too Late..." workbook is just outstanding. It's economical, it's easy to use, and I think it's a real gift to your family.
Be organized and clear-headed now.......2005-03-12
before the death of a loved one makes you forget your own name. I've got 5 of these: parents, in-laws and as executor for a friend. Three of them have been used when I got 'that call'.
Since each state's laws are different, it would be impossible to be comprehensive and give you all legal and financial options. While one reviewer is correct - it will not give advice or answer questions - this workbook WILL prod you with questions, organize your information, research, notes, etc. into one easy place. In those moments when you can't put two coherent sentences together, you can point to the book. If it had pockets to store copies of documents, I would give this 5 stars. That is the ONLY drawback.
While it's difficult to face our mortality, going thru this pre-planning process is an act of love.
Do this before it is too late!.......2005-01-20
If you love your family, you will want to have information handy for them in the event of your death. How many credit cards do you have? Where is your bank account? Do you have an IRA? Investments? Will? Living Will? They will need all kinds of information. Be kind to them and use the book which will take some of the burden from them when you die.
What a great find!.......2004-01-09
I strongly reccomend this book. I am a newly divorced mother of 2 young children who was shown "Before It's Too Late" by a friend. I realized that I needed to write down my own information now that I'm on my own again. My children are too young to serve as resource persons were I to die. In addition my family members live out of state. I feel secure knowing that this book, when completed, will help with the transition my children will be facing.
Amazon.com
Few parents enjoy those oh-so-important talks with children about the "facts of life." The fact is, you can (and probably should!) begin the conversation as soon as a child turns 3 years old. As for the delicate wording--Linda and Richard Eyre (Teaching Your Children Values) have plenty of suggestions in their comprehensive, step-by-step guide, How to Talk to Your Child About Sex. Starting with the "Preliminary 'As Needed' Talks with Three-to-Eight Year-Olds," the Eyres arrange their chapters by age, including the "The Age Eight 'Big Talk'" and numerous chapters on talking with preteens and adolescents.
The authors also describe what's normal sexual behavior for each stage of development and how to plant the seeds of appreciation of one's body and the later respect for commitment and love. They examine how parents can stay true to their moral and spiritual values while staying connected to their teenagers' sexual reality. Parents will especially appreciate the up-to-date research, such as current statistics about adolescent fears, desires, and activity surrounding sexuality. --Gail Hudson
Book Description
Linda and Richard Eyre stress that it's never too soon-or too late-to start discussing sex and values with your children, and they've got proven strategies to make it easier. How to Talk to Your Child About Sex provides thoughtful, clear, specific guidance on when and, most important, how to help children begin to understand sex, love, and commitment from the most positive viewpoint possible.Preliminary "as needed" talks with three-to eight-year-oldsThe age eight Big TalkFollow-up talks with eight-to thirteen-year-oldsBehavior discussions with eleven-to sixteen-year-oldsDiscussions of perspective and personal standards with fifteen-to nineteen-year-olds
Customer Reviews:
A Must Have For Parents of 7 yr olds and up.......2007-08-13
This is the book you have been searching for. I have a 10 year old son and a 7 year old daughter, and some would say I don't need a book about sex yet. Neither my husband nor I received the "talk" from our parents, so I felt I was in much need of some guidance.
I was very pleased with the content and tone of this book.
I couldn't put it down until I finished it.
It has something for each age group from 8 yrs to 19 yr olds.
The insights and guided conversations of how to broach the topic of sex were invaluable. Thanks to Amazon for the recommendation once I arrived to their site, and to the authors for the sharing of their experiences and knowledge. I now feel equipped and excited to answer the questions that I know my 5th Grader will soon throw at me.
Thanks for the opporunity to review this purchase.
PERFECT!.......2007-04-25
We have to say that this is the best book for "How To" we have encountered! It addresses all issues accompanied with sexual perceptions kids deal with today. Getting to the root of WHY parents need to be the 1st to talk and HOW to help children sort out the garbage that can send mixed signals about our relationship with ourselves and others. Moreover, it sends a message that you think your child is so wonderful and your love so great for them, that you will be the 1st to talk to them about it-- regardless if it is at 5, 8 or 10.
We have found 8 is NOT too early to talk about it.... If you have found this book later, then-- it isn't too late. Some of the language is a bit quirky-- but, as with most books, one must speak what comes out best for them. For us.... a "BIG HUG" was not the way to discuss SEX in all of its glory-- so we chose to use the words, "a special part of you". For us, sexual intimacy IS the most personal part of ourselves that we share. Love is the root and if parents don't have love and for themselves, each other, or their children do not feel love or understand what love means, then they will have problems dealing with sex and why it is so special. I agree that ALL children need to know from you that you are committed to your family and them as individuals. Tell them!!!
Sex is wonderful, very special and has a lot of facets that go unnoticed like: Modesty, respecting and protecting our bodies, loyalty, respect in general, and how nature plays a part in WHY sex is great, special and wonderful. The Eyre's touch on all aspects incorporated into sex, leaving out nothing.
Ultimately your timing may be different than theirs, but the concepts and delivery are good ways to get the "talk" done. Highly recommended. Don't miss reading what their children all have to say about the "big talk".
Love it.......2007-03-27
This book is great. I've bought it at least 3 times and keep lending it to my friends to never get it back. I must say it is not a book directed toward a liberal point of view, it is most definatly a more conservative parents book. If you have a hard time knowing where to start this book is great because it gives you full on conversations, everything you need to say for each stage of your kids life.
A great place to start.......2006-01-30
I thought this was a great book to help me focus my thoughts and take a positive approach with my kids on this subject. I am an Ob/Gyn and have no problem talking about the "nuts and bolts" of the subject, but what I appreciated about this book was the help it gave me in introducing the rationale for delayed gratification and how to give my kids an idea of why it is such a special thing. I agree with some reviewers about the discussions on masturbation and homosexuality being a bit intolerant (and unrealistic!) for my taste, but the authors are pretty straightforward about their values and say straight out that parents should take what resonates with them, and disregard what doesn't. I will just modify those topics for my kids, but I found the other 99% of this book very helpful.
I am so thankful for this book.......2005-05-05
I loved this book. Like another reviewer, my parents never talked with me about sex. Unlike the other viewer, however, I found this book very helpful. I was so scared to have "The Big Talk" with my children, because I had no idea what to say. When I read this book, I was able to relax about the conversation, and let things come naturally. I'm no longer scared about my children asking questions, because now I have answers.
Book Description
According to Doug Andrew, the bestselling author of Missed Fortune 101, too many Americans are being led down the wrong financial path. Even worse, many Baby Boomers find themselves panicking --fearful that they've already fallen too far behind to ever catch up. In this indispensable and eye-opening guide, Andrew provides fresh new pathways to reaching financial security -- pathways that all Americans need to consider now. Centering on his Three Miracles of Wealth Accumulation: the Miracle of Compound Interest, the Miracle of Tax-Favored Accumulation, and the Miracle of Positive, Safe Leverage, Andrew explodes many of the commonly-held myths about 401ks, pensions, paying down one's mortgage, and other forms of retirement planning. Along the way, Andrew offers unique strategies that will not only increase your wealth, but also help readers enjoy their best years while securing their future.
Customer Reviews:
A Must Read.......2007-10-01
A must read for anyone owning a home and certainly anyone thinking about retiring. A real eye opener...This book is one you will want to share with family and friends.
Darrell
What your Life Insurance Agent hopes you NEVER read.......2007-10-01
When did Life Insurance become a good Investment?
Did they stop charging those 90% plus commissions on target premiums?
When did the Life Insurance Agent become a charitable organization?
Anyone who is believing this so called NEW way of thinking is either really bad with math or simply does NOT understand Life Insurance. There is a REASON you don't see REAL professionals using this concept they KNOW the TRUTH!!!
What is the ROI on my home Equity? MORE THAN ANY LIFE POLICY!!!!
After you learn how to subtract out all the commissions and fees, then the REAL cost of the death benefit, loan fees for your house loan fees for the life policy let's sit down and compare which approach works best. Having my house free and clear with NO COMMISSIONS to pay, no loans, and no INCREASING internal costs for the life insurance will BEAT any Life Policy I GUARANTEE IT!
Here is a shocker to reality. If you bought into this BS and mortgaged your house and placed the money into a life policy order a current statement for your policy showing the SURRENDER CASH VALUE in the first year, HOW MUCH did you LOSE? Then look at the 5th year how much have you LOST? Tenth year? Do the REAL MATH find out the REAL FACTS.
LIFE INSURANCE is one of the HIGHEST commissioned products in the financial industry if not the HIGHEST FACT! Where do you think that money comes from, YOUR POCKET. 90% first year target premium commission and then about 6% commission each year thereafter. Do the math if the insurance company is paying out 90% of the first year target premium in commissions and 6% each year how long does it take for YOU to make MONEY or even breakeven on your so called investment? It will take OVER 20 YEARS!
Here is a little KNOWN FACT there are currently MANY so called experts out there today TRAINING for a large fee many other life insurance agents and mortgage brokers how to SELL LARGE COMMISSIONED life insurance policies. They don't care if you need a policy or NOT they only care about SELLING a policy. Check the facts. Some are even paying for cruises for Seniors then encouraging them to apply for insurance. IT IS HIGHLY PROFITABLE to someone BUT NOT YOU the policyholder.
You will see many lawsuits in the coming years from these abuses when the you know what finally hits the fan.
By the way did you know that it was illegal for you stock broker to encourage you to take out a mortgage to buy an REAL INVESTMENT? It should also be illegal for Insurance Agents but it's not, well not YET, time will tell.
I wish more people would ask the harder questions before believing this new line of BS.
FACTS: Insurance agents make about a 30-50% commission on term life insurance and around 90-95% commission on whole life products. Keep in mind that this is the first year commission on the premium and subsequent year commissions are much lower with an average of 6% per year for whole life products and 4% per year on term life insurance products.
One of the great problems with whole life is only an expert can tell if a policy you own or are considering will ever become a decent investment. James Hunt, actuary for the Consumer Federation of America, who has analyzed thousands of policies, notes that whole life policies hardly ever yield a reasonable return unless held for 20 years or more.
So if you buy one be prepared to pay into it for the very long haul.
The key to a whole life policy is its internal rate of return -- the yield on the policy after all fees and charges are subtracted. A competent analysis can determine at a minimum whether the weight of the fees and charges built into one of these policies will ever allow a worthwhile return. Such an analysis will also pinpoint the minimum amount of cash value that you can derive from a policy at any given time interval.
Some financial planners, actuaries and accountants can perform internal rate of return analysis on your policy. The Consumer Federation has a service that will do this, calculating the real return year by year and comparing it with other investments.
Pointed out the problems but no good solution.......2007-09-12
I listened to the whole audio book. To summarize the book:
Don't pay off your mortage, pay interest only; don't deposit to 401K, cause you'll pay more tax afterwards; the only solution: buy Universal Life Insurance with all your money.
I am suspicous the book is endorsed by the insurace industry, since the pitfalls of Universal Life Insurance are all well known.
Quite Technical.......2007-09-11
This is the 1st book by Douglas Andrews that I got my hands on. I am enjoying the concepts. I bought the CD version so I am considering getting the book as well so that I can recreate his mathematical examples. I would like to copy his examples and it is difficult for me to catch all the detail while driving down the road. Over-all I believe these concepts and ideas to be first rate; every baby-boomer who has not already made it must get this book!
Clear & price extended financial planning concepts!.......2007-09-10
This book is a must read for any financial planner and anyone age 40-70 who is looking to plan for retirement
Books:
- Dangerous Angels: The Weetzie Bat Books
- Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1)
- Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future
- Doing the Animal Bop: With Music CD
- Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood
- Dry Ice (Dr. Alan Gregory Novels)
- Earthcore
- Eclipse (Twilight, Book 3)
- Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time
- Firing Back: How Great Leaders Rebound After Career Disasters
Books Index
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General
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Raving Fans: A Revolutionary Approach To Customer Service
Gung Ho! Turn On the People in Any Organization
The Secret: What Great Leaders Know - And Do
Full Steam Ahead!: Unleash the Power of Vision in Your Work and Your Life
The Leadership Pill: The Missing Ingredient in Motivating People Today
