Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Effectively managing personnel--as well as one's own behavior--is an extraordinarily complex task that, not surprisingly, has been the subject of countless books touting what each claims is the true path to success. That said, Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton's Now, Discover Your Strengths does indeed propose a unique approach: focusing on enhancing people's strengths rather than eliminating their weaknesses. Following up on the coauthors' popular previous book, First, Break All the Rules, it fully describes 34 positive personality themes the two have formulated (such as Achiever, Developer, Learner, and Maximizer) and explains how to build a "strengths-based organization" by capitalizing on the fact that such traits are already present among those within it.
Most original and potentially most revealing, however, is a Web-based interactive component that allows readers to complete a questionnaire developed by the Gallup Organization and instantly discover their own top-five inborn talents. This device provides a personalized window into the authors' management philosophy which, coupled with subsequent advice, places their suggestions into the kind of practical context that's missing from most similar tomes. "You can't lead a strengths revolution if you don't know how to find, name and develop your own," write Buckingham and Clifton. Their book encourages such introspection while providing knowledgeable guidance for applying its lessons. --Howard Rothman
Book Description
Unfortunately, most of us have little sense of our talents and strengths, much less the ability to build our lives around them. Instead, guided by our parents, by our teachers, by our managers, and by psychology's fascination with pathology, we become experts in our weaknesses and spend our lives trying to repair these flaws, while our strengths lie dormant and neglected.
Marcus Buckingham, coauthor of the national bestseller First, Break All the Rules, and Donald O. Clifton, Chair of the Gallup International Research & Education Center, have created a revolutionary program to help readers identify their talents, build them into strengths, and enjoy consistent, near-perfect performance. At the heart of the book is the Internet-based StrengthsFinder® Profile, the product of a 25-year, multimillion-dollar effort to identify the most prevalent human strengths. The program introduces 34 dominant "themes" with thousands of possible combinations, and reveals how they can best be translated into personal and career success. In developing this program, Gallup has conducted psychological profiles with more than two million individuals to help readers learn how to focus and perfect these themes.
So how does it work? This book contains a unique identification number that allows you access to the StrengthsFinder Profile on the Internet. This Web-based interview analyzes your instinctive reactions and immediately presents you with your five most powerful signature themes. Once you know which of the 34 themes -- such as Achiever, Activator, Empathy, Futuristic, or Strategic -- you lead with, the book will show you how to leverage them for powerful results at three levels: for your own development, for your success as a manager, and for the success of your organization.
With accessible and profound insights on how to turn talents into strengths, and with the immediate on-line feedback of StrengthsFinder at its core, Now, Discover Your Strengths is one of the most groundbreaking and useful business books ever written.
Customer Reviews:
Talents, strength and weakness.......2007-10-22
I read this after it was mentioned and lauded at a conference I was at, and am very glad I did. I have talked with several people about this since I've read it, and it's prompted me to sit down with one employee to review his strengths and career paths within our organization that would help him fully utilize what talents he has. While I agree that there does not seem to be a lot of specifics about exact steps to implement these ideas, frankly I've found that a lot of the time when there are exact steps they don't fit the management model we have anyway.
I have also been thinking about the implications of this book as a mother of a pre-teen daughter, and the concern I have with self-confidence issues as she enters the mysterious world of teendom. While there is a book (by another author, forward by Buckingham) coming out Feb 2008 that seems to talk directly about kids ands strengths that I will get and read, in the mean time I think that several of the lessons are very applicable to understanding and raising teens. Rather than spending time and energy - and creating frustration - by working on creating a talent that isn't there, instead as she gets older we'll work on focusing on the talents that are there and ways to work around, compensate for, etc. weaknesses. That does not mean she doesn't have to do certain homework (!), but it will mean that the way we approach studying, getting projects done, and activities at school will be focused on playing to her strengths; hopefully building these skills to support her strengths will only help her as she moves on in life.
Great to Use with Employees.......2007-10-15
I've used this book with my team to help them learn about themselves as well as each other. Its a great tool to help people understand how they are "wired".
Strengthsfinder is a powerful tool.......2007-10-01
I have not yet read any of the book, but bought it for the key to taking the online Strengthsfinder assessment for a graduate class in career and workforce development. (NOTE: MAKE SURE TO BUY A NEW COPY OF THE BOOK IF YOU WANT TO GET AN "UNUSED" KEY TO TAKING THE STRENGTHSFINDER ASSESSMENT ONLINE.)
The assessment alone was well worth the price of the book. Structuring one's professional development or career pathing around one's strengths (instead of around one's weaknesses) is an energizing way to invest in one's work self. If you only take the assessment and never read the book, you will have gotten your money's worth.
Regarding the book, my professor tells me it goes a good job at applying the Strengthsfinder to the work world and management.
book.......2007-09-21
great product. exactly as stated it would be. great book. very uplifting!
If you want to know your strengths.......2007-09-21
I read this book and took a class on it, there are coaches that are trained all over the world that will help you discover and use your strengths in every day life. Loved this book. They even have a book for every age, (young students, adults, and college age)
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-02-13
I really enjoyed this book. One reason is because it is a short book, and another is that it is written in easy, understandable terms.
Best place for on line purchases.......2006-03-02
As always, very happy with the service received by Amazon. Pront delivery and in perfect condition.
Overall a very good book.......2005-12-09
This is a very well written book. I used this book as part of my MBA program. No frills or fluff - just goes right to the point and explains it well in relatively fewer words. Also helped me tremendously in my job and the knowledge gained from this book does helps me in doing a better job. A must read for all managers.
Easy to understand.......2005-10-26
This book gets right to the point. Even though it is direct it also offers excellent examples to help you understand the information quickly.
Well written and solid intro to the field of Org Behavior.......2004-07-13
"Essentials in Organizational Behavior" is a solid text for a course surveying the field of Organizational Behavior. Its sixteen chapters are grouped into four parts. Part I introduces the field of organizational behavior, its goals and functions within an organization along with some challenges and opportunities.
Part II contains chapters two through six and focuses on how individuals function within an organization and the considerations managers need to have with values, personality, motivation, emotions, and how individuals make decisions.
Part III contains chapters seven through twelve and discusses groups in the organization. It begins discussion foundations of group behavior, some basics on work teams, communication, leadership & creating trust, power & politics, conflict & negotiation.
Part IV discusses the Organization System in chapters thirteen through sixteen. It begins with the foundations of organizational structure, culture, and then gets into the role of human resource policies and practices. The book concludes with Organizational Change and Development.
There is an epilogue to wrap things up, endnotes, and index and a glossary.
The book is clearly written. I like the way the author presents a variety of views and theories and never becomes dogmatic about a certain approach. Because it is concise it actually has a chance of being read (the usual 750 page textbook is largely left unread in most courses). However, to really become proficient in any of the many topics presented here the student will have to do much more study and practical work. I am confident that any teacher adopting the text for coursework would make the necessity for further study clear to the student. The endnotes do provide many fine sources for such study, but I would like to have seen some sources organized into a list of readings for study organized by topic. It would have added a few pages, but would not have overburdened this text.
In any case, this is a good introductory read for anyone who wants to a quick tour of the universe of Organizational Behavior.
Book Description
Do you know your Number?
What happens if you don't make it to your Number?
Do you have a plan?
The often-avoided, anxiety-riddled discussion about financial planning for a secure and fulfilling future has been given a new starting point in The Number by Lee Eisenberg. The buzz of professionals and financial industry insiders everywhere, the Number represents the amount of money and resources people will need to enjoy the active life they desire, especially post-career. Backed by imaginative reporting and insights, Eisenberg urges people to assume control and responsibility for their standard of living, and take greater aim on their long-term aspirations.
In 1999, Eisenberg was in the midst of downshifting from having served as the Editor-in-Chief of Esquire and other high profile positions. He was "half-in, half-out of the workplace" with an enviable consulting position at Time, Inc., and a family comfortably settled in the suburbs. That's when he received an unexpected offer from the Wisconsin-based Lands' End which, in the end, he couldn't resist. It meant uprooting his family and moving to the rural heartland, and taking on the challenges of an entirely new way of life. Before the move, he admits, "I was worried about the Number." Once in Wisconsin, Eisenberg confesses that the "Number was leading us around by our noses."
From Wall Street to Main Street USA, The Number means different things to different people. It is constantly fluctuating in people's minds and bank accounts. To some, the Number symbolizes freedom, validation of career success, the ticket to luxurious indulgences and spiritual exploration; to others, it represents the bewildering and nonsensical nightmare of an impoverished existence creeping up on them in their old age, a seemingly hopeless inevitability that they would rather simply ignore than confront. People are highly private and closed-mouthed when it comes to discussing their Numbers, or lack thereof, for fear they might either reveal too much or display ineptitude.
In The Number, Eisenberg describes this secret anxiety as the "Last Taboo," a conundrum snared in confusing financial lingo. He sorts through the fancy jargon and translates the Number into commonsense advice that resonates just as easily with the aging gods and goddesses of corporate boardrooms as it does with ordinary people who are beginning to realize that retirement is now just a couple of decades away. Believing that the Number is as much about self-worth as it is net worth, Eisenberg strives to help readers better understand and more efficiently manage all aspects of their life, money, and pursuit of happiness.
* According to Eisenberg,
"Number chasers" fall into four personality types:
--"Procrastinators" enter their forties and fifties ensconced in a cloud of avoidance and denial about the years ahead of them, or simply do not understand investing in their futures.
--"Pluckers" often lazily or arrogantly pull ephemeral, albeit specific, Numbers from thin air with little attention to developing a realistic and coherent plan to achieve their goals.
--"Plotters" crunch every practical aspect of their financial history, hoping to cement their Number in black and white, even at the expense of not having fun and leisure.
--"Probers" visualize their Numbers not as an end but as the means to pursuing dreams and passions, and completing inner and outer journeys to self-fulfillment.
* The current
"Debt Warp" is the "silent Number killer that afflicts young and old" that has been brought on by our "whip-it-out credit-card culture."
* The
"Lost Years" describes a person's 20s, 30s, and 40s wherein sensible financial foundation-building bows to oblivious and careless spending, and the tug-of-war dichotomy between the "old Rest of Your Life" and the "new Rest of Your Life."
* A surprise
"Lifestyle Relapse" attack around retirement age can be induced by debt, aging, long term care, and self-absorption. Living longer and spending more, people will eventually experience dire consequences in response to the debt-drenched, expense account-driven lifestyles to which they have grown accustomed.
* The six tenets of the
"Eisenberg Uncertainty Principles" outline the dubious state of living in a carpe diem-addicted, indebted culture with little financial guidance or responsibility.
*
"Downshifting" is an important skill one needs to know how to do in the expanse between leaving a career and before death in order to maintain financial stability and a happy life.
Eisenberg's book is not an investment guide, but rather something wholly original: a revealing look behind our most common financial and emotional conflicts and how we can begin to get a grip on them. Eisenberg gives each reader a unique and unprecedented tool with which to virtually craft his or her future. This encompassing book is a priceless, step-by-step prelude to initiating, or continuing, discussions with a qualified financial advisor. The bottom line for The Number is that Eisenberg offers each reader a fresh and promising beginning to the rest of his or her life.
Download Description
"Do you know your Number? What happens if you don't make it to your Number? Do you have a plan? The often-avoided, anxiety-riddled discussion about financial planning for a secure and fulfilling future has been given a new starting point in The Number by Lee Eisenberg. The buzz of professionals and financial industry insiders everywhere, the Number represents the amount of money and resources people will need to enjoy the active life they desire, especially post-career. Backed by imaginative reporting and insights, Eisenberg urges people to assume control and responsibility for their standard of living, and take greater aim on their long-term aspirations.
Customer Reviews:
Pulp Non-Fiction.......2007-10-24
This book was a waste of paper and time!
There is much false talk of how Eisenberg has hit "the sweet spot" on the back cover of this book. Bah! Humbug! Sweet nothings is more like it.
Entertainingly and personably written, it is, nonetheless, as informative as a Jerry Seinfeld tv skit about finances.
Eisenberg writes extremely well, but his efforts are all much ado about nothing in the end.
Read the last two short chapters at the bookstore and put the money you save on this hardback book into your 401K.
Get's the reader moving!.......2007-10-24
Look- this book is about ideas, not formulas. I just made an appointment with a Fidelity advisor and I'm motivated.
Fidelity is going to be my "mother ship" in 10 years and I'm driving 2 hours to meet with a field office. The author gave me the idea after his comical discussion on retirement. Also, he brings the humanity into the equation. Thank God somebody has the huevos to bring up the fine points of where we really want to be after slaving for an employer . Living in a planned community is fine for some, but would be purgatory for me and he "gets it". Thanks Lee- I'm going to pass this book on to one of my buddies.
The Number.......2007-10-08
I have read many books about planning for retirement and investing. I enjoyed this book immensely. I see that many reviewers were somewhat disappointed with the book. Since I am from the era of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance this book was right up my alley. We all are out there (or should be out there) chasing the number, but as with Zen there is a much bigger picture you must look at then just the number. My wife and I have had several conversations because of this book. As Mr. Eisenberg says in his book you can get a number with only a few taps of a calculator, but what you want to do with the rest of you life is a much deeper consideration. We feel that we are in a much better place to move forward with the rest of our life. Bravo Mr. Eisenberg!
Waste of money.......2007-08-26
Why can't we give "0 stars"? No insightful content. Self-important name-dropping. I felt cheated out of my $20+ for a book saying, "Retirement is about more than money."
More like 3.5 stars..........2007-08-09
A reader's perspective on this book will probably vary a lot based on their individual experience and knowledge. For some it may be eye-opening, for others it may be more like "tell me something I don't know".
It is a fast read, and full of interesting factoids. The history of how people have looked (or not looked) at their retirement plans (actual drawdown and spend, as opposed to micromanaging their 401ks) was interesting.
Pros:
- easy to read, light humored.
- Interesting stats, and good references to experts in the field
- Nice thumbnail sketches of types of individuals and their exposures to risk
- has some interesting frameworks. For example, think about your retirements spending as being equal to 4% of your intended nest egg. If you need more than 4% in retirement, you may need to save more to get your Number up.
Cons:
- may be too basic for someone who has done analysis for their actual long term planning. It should also come as no surprise that the current generation has their own accountability to save for retirement (not the government or your employeer).
- can be alarmist for people...i.e. Guess what, you could be in trouble. And even worse, you can't necessarily trust people who say they are 'experts'.
- middle section of the book drags a bit compared to intro, I thought.
In summary, if you have thought about retirement, but haven't yet really done some detailed planning, this book can be an enabler for how to think about plans. It won't solve your problems, but it will highlight the considerations you should be making.
I tend to believe that people get scared of the complexities in financial planning, when in fact, several basic principles can be applied to help an individual along a reasonably healthy path. The internet provides a lot of resources to do this, but there probably needs to be a better standard primer out there.
Book Description
Like Freakonomics, here is a book that combines counterintuitive thinking with stories from everyday life to provide a striking new view of how our world works. Ever since Einstein's study of Brownian Motion, scientists have understood that a little disorder actually makes systems more effective. But most people still shun disorder--or suffer guilt over the mess they can't avoid. No longer! With a spectacular array of anecdotes and case studies of the useful role mess can play, here is an antidote to the accepted wisdom that tight schedules, neatness, and consistency are the keys to success. Drawing on examples from business, parenting, cooking, the war on terrorism, retail, and even the meteoric career of Arnold Schwarzenegger, coauthors Abrahamson and Freedman demonstrate that moderately messy systems use resources more efficiently, yield better solutions, and are harder to break than neat ones. A Perfect Mess will help readers assess what the right amount of disorder is for a given system, and how to apply these ideas onto a large scale--government, society-- and on a small scale--in your attic, kitchen, or office. A Perfect Mess will forever change the way we think about those unruly heaps of paper on our desks.
Customer Reviews:
A Perfect Mess.......2007-10-16
A very interesting point of view. It explains why being tidy is not an efficient use of your time. A must read.
Disorder at its best........2007-10-09
I love this book it has shown me that it is ok to be disorganized, to a point. I bought it with a passing interest and the more I read the more I was able to line up the themes in the chapters with aspects of my life, which was rewarding and sometime eye-opening. The concepts in this book could prove to be useful to all types of people, but I mostly found myself examining the many examples as they related to my own business.
Great book!
TOTAL UNADULTERATED GARBAGE.......2007-09-14
I've reviewed a lot of books on Amazon; this may be the single worst. As a former "clutterholic", I know how clutter can literally destroy your life. Believe me, there is NOTHING good about clutter, and being a contrarian for its own sake, or to hawk books, is doing a disservice to the readers who are sincerly looking for help. You don't tell a person with a serious eating disorder that he/she is alright the way he/she is, and you don't tell a person with a serious clutter problem that he/she is alright the way he/she is!
So you don't have to be a neatnik after all!.......2007-06-09
The inside flap of the book says, "Ever Since Einstein's study of Brownian motion" scientistshave understooed that a little disorder can actually make systems more effective. But most people still shun disorder-- or suffer guilt over the mess they an't avoid! No longer do you have to be a neatnik to be PERFECT...a little mess goes a long way to creativity. The biggest surprise is that the authors show that strategic planning for corporation is not as effective as being nimble and responding to change. There are 13 chapters -- note not 12 -- just a bit messy, right? And they range from "The Cost of Neatness" to "The Aesthetics of Mess" . Written by Eric Abrahamson, professor of management at Columbia Business School and David Freedman, contributing editor and the tech columnist for INC magazine this is a highly readable and informative book. BUT don't think it's going to let you off the hook for being a clutter bug. Cluttering is just one aspect of "mess" and 'neatness'. Alas no rules for managers abougt how much mess and what kind of mess to include. Seems every manager that uses some degree of mess seems to do it differently. So I can't summarize it all for you hear. Plus I don't know why you're reading this. Me -- because I tend to collect clutter in my office. And then I put it in boxes and have to sort it out. EEKS...but I almost NEVER lose anything....same when I had a real office in a corporate environment. Even though I'm in high tech, I tend to use low-tech systems that don't take up much time in my busy and ever-changing world of consulting. Plus, I don't have to pay extra for people who work for me to just keep things NEAT....although now and then I do bring in people to help sort out supply closets etc and then I'm able to keep them in order for 6 months or so. You'll find your own rhyme and reason in this book. Plus it finally gives you a retort when people say you're office is 'messy' -- so was Einstein's and Edison's and more.
Don't buy this book if you count your paperclips.......2007-06-02
Despite the title, this book doesn't advocate disorder, at least not in the dictionary sense of the word.
For example, a neat-freak's desk, and one used by someone like me were compared.
The neat-freak has an "orderly" desk, with all paper filed out of sight. To get at any paper, the neatnik must take time to access the filing system: generally a matter of walking to a filing cabinet, opening a drawer, and riffling through folders.
The other desk is covered with piles of papers and folders. More often than not, the 'disorganized' worker has the paper he or she needs at or near the top of a pile within arm's length.
The point is that having the sort of rigid, non-priority-oriented, organization that many workplaces use isn't as efficient as a sort of ad hoc organization based on use and needs.
Even if you don't embrace the book's approach to organization, reading it will be an anodyne to the alphabetized drumbeat of advice from the compulsive pencil-arrangers of this world.
Book Description
Most investors spend too much time trying to outguess the market and not enough time thinking about their long-term financial futures. That’s why today’s retirees (and soon-to-be retirees) need strategies, not stock tips. Nationally recognized Certified Financial Planner®, radio talk-show personality, and author
Raymond J. Lucia shows you little-known concepts that can fatten your savings and boost your standard of living in retirement.
In an easy-to-understand and often humorous style, Lucia details how ideas such as nontraded real estate investment trusts, 72(t) elections, and equity-indexed annuities can give you, the investor, a leg up on the path to retiring in comfort and safety. Lucia brings his 30 years of experience to bear in revealing how and when to tap your retirement plans, ways to use your home as a source of retirement dollars, and how to lower taxes on appreciated company stock. He’ll also explain how investing in low-income housing tax credits can help you tax-wise even as you assist others.
Filled with hands-on, in-depth insights and practical advice, this book will give you all the tools you need to win at the retirement game.
Customer Reviews:
Helpful book !.......2007-10-01
This is the follow up to buckets of money. I learned a lot and enjoyed the approach. Some sections will be difficult for new investors to understand.....but stick with it, very good info and it is now one of my new reference books to review and share with others. Thanks Ray
Nondirected approach.......2007-09-10
The information given is a little disjointed and a common theme in integrated throughout without proving it.
ready-set-retire.......2007-09-09
Well written. In-depth analysis of bucket two strategies including annuities and complex trust/insurance alternatives. Recommend reading "Buckets of Money"- author's first book- prior to reading this book.
Good Book, but...........2007-07-09
Ray pretty much has a one size fits all philosophy. He is simply trying to get his name out there to promote his firm, which is not always known for doing what is best. He hosts a Radio show as well. If you are going to trust a radio guy, then make it Moe Ansari of Marketwrap.
Ready Set Retire.......2007-06-27
It was 5 star item for me as I have saved and have
< 10 years to retirement. It is easy to read and understand. It is a practical and conservative plan for a secure finacial retirement. You will want other books to cover other aspects of retirement but for a investment plan it is the best I have read.
Customer Reviews:
Worked for my husband.......2007-09-29
I bought this book for my husband. He graduated from college with a degree and no better job than what he started with. He wanted something better after he worked that hard to get a degree. He used this book as a reference for what he needed to do to get there. He is not a reader and he read this book in 2 days. Great book of ideas. And it worked for my husband on landing a better job and hopefully a career in his field.
This book immediately grabbed my attention!.......2007-09-18
I purchased this book for my brother who is currently going through a career crisis, but I enjoyed the first few chapters so much that I read the whole thing before I knew it! It is very insightful without being preachy, and provides a structured decision-making process. I would definitely recommend this book to someone questioning their career.
Inspirational and Thought Provoking.......2007-09-16
This book truly inspired me to get out there and change my approach to life. After graduating from college I found myself lost and under an immense amount of pressure to secure a J.O.B.
I purchased this book at one of my lowest points and after reading the first chapter I knew it would change my life forever. Dan Miller encourages you to find what makes you happy by taking a holistic approach to your life. The book encourages you to balance job seeking activities with those that help enrich your life as a whole. The idea is that when you are healthier, more confident and pleased with other areas of your life, the career path you love will be much more evident.
This is a great book for those who are not sure what their calling is in life or how to find it. Since reading it, I have gotten a great job in a career that I am thrilled to be involved in. I have recomended this book to a friend of mine who has also started to move forward in his personal and career development and has recommended the book to another friend of ours. Definitely a great choice!!!
Jaw-Dropping Near-Plagarism of What Color is Your Parachute .......2007-09-03
Having previously read Richard Nelson Bolles's classic What Color is Your Parachute, I was shocked at how much of the material in 48 Days to The Work You Love was a re-worded version of Parachute (first published commercially in 1972). In some sidebars Miller credits Bolles, but so much of the material (and format) is so dangerously close to plagarism that I intend to write a letter to the author and publisher asking for an explanation. This is especially galling since I am a big fan of Dave Ramsey and cannot believe that he is promoting this book unless he's never read Parachute.
The saddest part is that I actually like the original material Miller presents on "life goals", embracing change and work-life balance. Unfortunately, his presentation is so repetitious, disorganized and thinly developed that I didn't get much value from his ideas.
I'm particularly annoyed that there's no 48-day plan presented in the book! I'm not kidding. Apparently Dan Miller sells workbooks that include the arcane mysteries of "The Plan", but I only discovered this after reading the entire book! As it turns out, this "book" is more like a marketing pamphlet for Miller's "Plan workbooks"). Can you say "refund"?
The only way you could possibly be happy choosing this book over Bolles's Parachute would be if you think Miller's trite animal metaphors and seemingly random Bible quotes (perhaps monkeys typed them?) make up for this book's awful shortcomings. If you've never read What Color is Your Parachute this book will be helpful and insightful, but you would have been better off reading the original.
Book Review: 48 Days.......2007-07-13
Did you know heart attacks increase by 33% on Monday mornings, more people die at 9am Monday than any other time of the week, and male suicides are highest on Sunday nights, just before the weekly grind? Dan Miller does, and impending death is just one of the reasons he wants you to find better work.
Dan Miller's 48 Days to the Work You Love provides a combination of the things you already know but need to hear again, and need to know but don't. This book will do more than help you strengthen old resolutions; it will teach you how to make meaningful changes in your career--and in the way you view work altogether.
First, Quit your Job
48 Days persuades the reader to leave the job that isn't working (no pun intended), and find something better. "Job Security" is no longer an excuse to stay where you are over-worked and underpaid. While in the early 80s the employment philosophy was work for a good company and they'll take care of you for life, today loyal workers are often (not fired but) "laid off", "downsized", "right-sized", "reorganized", reengineered", "put into the mobility pool", freed up to "pursue other opportunities", "uninstalled", and are often on the receiving end of "a cost containment exercise" (email other creative terms to Miller at work@48days.com). Why the change? Fifty years ago it took a lifetime for technology to make your job obsolete. Today it takes 4 or 5 years. Therefore, as Miller explains, "everyone lives on the edge of job obsolescence and the threshold of career opportunity"
Miller is so for you quitting your job that he writes, "You must develop a sense of what you can contribute that goes beyond 1 company or organization. A career path today will likely involve moving from organization to organization, creating a picture of rising circles, rather than a vertical ladder. In fact, a vertical rise within one organization will very likely move you away from your strongest areas of competence." And it will limit your earning potential, as Miller suggests "in changing companies you may be able to increase your income by 40 to 50 percent though that is unlikely to happen while moving up in one company."
48?
I have to address this, as you surely are wondering, why does finding the work you love take exactly "48 Days"? Miller explains that 40 days is a sacred time-span, and to this he adds eight "free days in the process to create your own plan". I can't decide whether this is blasphemous or just really hokey--to Christianize your book with an overused `sacred' numeric, and then casually change it. Still, it's certainly better than other possible titles: Every Worker's Battle, The Work Factor, Loving your Work too Much, and Work is Not that into You Either.
Despite the title, the book reads and flows well. It takes the lecture, vignette, lecture, vignette, lecture, vignette approach--which works--and most of the stories are really quite good. A few are perfectly cliché, of course. For those who haven't heard, if you help a struggling butterfly out of its cocoon, it will die. It needs to do that on its own. The same applies to hatching birds.
There are 4 Things you Need to Know
Often books are published that would make a good book chapter--the 4 points the author drones on about can be summarized in a couple hundred words. One of the best things about 48 Days is as soon as you think you know everything Miller is going to write, he introduces something else. For example, all this came from the second-half of the book:
* Fewer than 1% of job seekers find work by responding to an internet ad
* During an interview, your answer to any question should be no longer than 60 seconds
* The best times to have an interview are Tues-Thurs between 8-10am
* 2,322 of 2,756 managers rank enthusiasm as #1 in what they want in applicants
* Today people are paid for their productivity, not their time, not their seniority
* IQ contributes only about 20% to the factors that predict success
* 69% of businesses today cost less than $10,000 to start; and 24% cost $0
* The most successful people got there not by being in the most lucrative industry, but by doing work they loved
A Brick in the Wall
Finally, Miller reminds the reader that work is a part of life, it's not life itself. Don't sacrifice your family, community, church, recreation, or personal development for a job. He writes good advice I should take myself: "if you are working more than 45 to 50 hours a week in your job, you are limiting success in some other areas of your life. Don't expect all your fulfillment, value, and meaning to com from the work you do."
He also writes we should work out 4-5 times a week. This being said, I'm late for the gym...
Amazon.com
There's a big difference between "making a living" and making a life. Do you spend more than you earn? Does making a living feel more like making a dying? Do you dislike your job but can't afford to leave it? Is money fragmenting your time, your relationships with family and friends? If so,
Your Money or Your Life is for you.
From this inspiring book, learn how to
- get out of debt and develop savings
- reorder material priorities and live well for less
- resolve inner conflicts between values and lifestyles
- convert problems into opportunities to learn new skills
- attain a wholeness of livelihood and lifestyle
- save the planet while saving money
- and much more
Book Description
Find financial freedom in the new millennium with a new edition of the life-changing national bestseller
More than three-quarters of a million people everywhere, from all walks of life, have found the keys to gaining control of their money--and their lives--in this comprehensive and revolutionary book on money management. Considered the bible of the voluntary simplicity movement, Your Money or Your Life is now updated with a new Preface, Index, and Resource list to help you put the program into practice. This simple, nine-step program shows you how to:
* get out of debt and develop savings
* slow down the work-and-spend treadmill
* make values-based decisions about your spending
* save the planet while saving money
* Over three years on the Business Week bestseller list
* Your Money or Your Life made all major bestseller lists in hardcover and paperback, including the New York Times, USA Today, Business Week, Publishers Weekly, and Washington Post
Customer Reviews:
very practical handbook to finance.......2007-10-24
I enjoyed this book as the authors not only gave some very excellent insight into the current 'middle class' lifestyle, but also gave some really thorough data on how to do a 'hands on' handling of your own finances. Working out the true income level for your job is quite a new concept compared to other finance self help materials. Also, the historical data on the 'work week' was quite helpful. I enjoyed the humor as well as the emphasis on getting your own financial 'house' in order so that you can do what is really valuable for you with your life.
You Cannot Read This Book Soon Enough!.......2007-10-06
This book did a wonderful job of orienting me financially so that I could visualize where I was at financially and what I would have to do to have the kind of future that I wanted. In my case, I wanted to retire in my fifties to pursue my own interests. For me, working for others was just a way to make money to support my family, etc. Anyway, I read this when I was in my early forties, and I managed to retire in my late fifties. There were some fortuitous events that helped me along, but I give Joe Dominguez most of the credit (along with what retirement savings we had already accumulated).
This is not the best book for learning the essentials of how to invest and what not. The author's advice in this regard is probably too conservative. He advocates investing in treasury bonds only, and regards the stock market as too risky. Conventional wisdom is that investing in such bonds only is also inherently risky, and that you need to diversify among asset classes to control risk. However, it is unlikely that anyone I know is going to retire due to a "great year in the market". And of course, me and my friends that looked at the 20% a year (or greater) returns in the wild and wacky 90's and assumed that was the norm, either learned from guys like Joe, or we learned the painful lessons that so many before us have learned when the market melted down. The author's use of the long bond as a safe return is right on. Today, to enjoy a retirement income of $40k, you need about $800k invested, just not all in bonds.
You can readily find books that explain modern portfolio theory in easy to understand language. This book, with its simple planning and tracking exercises, has helped me to no end in understanding why I spend money, where I spend it, and how to get it under control. And the long term planning exercises, and the author's whole point of view on the subject, are priceless. I was so excited after reading this book, that I bought copies for my children (who were young adults). Their books went unread, but I am going to read it again. There has always been an extra copy around the house--one of the fortuitous events that has helped me along.
A Good Reality Check.......2007-10-06
I first read this book about ten years ago when I was working hard and watching the money go out faster than it came in. It was a great reality check on my life. Older now, and rereading it today it is still inspires me. It makes a perfect gift for younger people who are confused about the lack of personal satisfaction in their lives.
The basic premise that this is your life and you choose how you want to live it is its defining characteristic. The rest of your life flows from that. Acknowledging what has meaning for oneself and then directing one's actions to those ends can get lost in the day to day need to "earn a living."
It covers well the nuts and bolts of making these choices and giving you tools to enable accomplishing them. It is a little simplistic and conservative financially but given that it was written before the growth of the online economy it can really get you started.
Taking charge of one's life, not going with the flow, climbing up the corporate ladder, working at a job that is meaningless is well addressed. The next step is choosing how to live a meaningful life and examining other choices.
A book that has been helpful to me in this area is Internet Riches: The Simple Money-making Secrets of Online Millionaires, by Scott Fox. This book is a detailed practical guide to building an online business, full of strategies and thought-provoking ideas. Like Your Money or Your Life, it talks of building a life that is meaningful and gives you up-to-date tools for financial independence through self-employment.
Your Money or Life stops you in your tracks with its challenging thesis and Internet Riches gives you a new roadmap for implementation. Both are useful books with a positive message.
Disappointing book, doesn't live up to its title.......2007-10-04
I was shocked to discover they recommend investing only in bonds. Also their claim that inflation does not exist is bogus.
I can't believe they would recommend you quit a full-time job which usually has benefits to find part-time work which usually does not provide benefits. Have you tried buying your own health insurance? I have and it is not cheap. Sure, you get more time to yourself, but at the same time your earnings go down your insurance expenses go up. If you hate your job anyway you might consider doing this, but I don't see how they could recommend this in a general sense as a path to financial independence. The numbers don't add up.
While I think their advice to live within your means, make a budget, know where your money is going, calculate your net worth is all good, I think they have gone off the deep end on some of their other recommendations which makes me highly suspect of the book as a whole.
rethinking money.......2007-08-24
This book made me rethink how money works and how it can work for me. It is a reality test for how we really spend and it coaches you on how to get in control of your money instead of letting it control you. I reread this every once in a while to reset my financial vision.
Book Description
"CHANGE OR DIE. What if you were given that choice? We're talking actual life and death now. Your own life and death. What if a well-informed, trusted authority figure said you had to make difficult and enduring changes in the way you think, feel, and act? If you didn't, your time would end soon—a lot sooner than it had to. Could you change when change mattered most?"
This is the question Alan Deutschman poses in Change or Die, which began as a sensational cover story by the same title for Fast Company. Deutschman concludes that although we all have the ability to change our behavior, we rarely ever do. In fact, the odds are nine to one that, when faced with the dire need to change, we won't. From patients suffering from heart disease to repeat offenders in the criminal justice system to companies trapped in the mold of unsuccessful business practices, many of us could prevent ominous outcomes by simply changing our mindset.
A powerful book with universal appeal, Change or Die deconstructs and debunks age-old myths about change and empowers us with three critical keys—relate, repeat, and reframe—to help us make important positive changes in our lives. Explaining breakthrough research and progressive ideas from a wide selection of leaders in medicine, science, and business (including Dr. Dean Ornish, Mimi Silbert of the Delancey Street Foundation, Bill Gates, Daniel Boulud, and many others), Deutschman demonstrates how anyone can achieve lasting, revolutionary change.
Change or Die is not about merely reorganizing or restructuring priorities; it's about challenging, inspiring, and helping all of us to make the dramatic transformations necessary in any aspect of life—changes that are positive, attainable, and absolutely vital.
Customer Reviews:
Change or Die ... you gotta buy!.......2007-09-27
I consume an enormous amount of books - many of them audio to help expand my brain during commute time - for professional and personal development. This book was a jaw-dropper for me.
There are a lot of concepts thrown out in the idea playground, but few that hit the heart of transformation in the way this one does. Alan D. busts apart several deeply ingrained beliefs by dissecting case studies that destroy "the conventional wisdom."
It's easy ... the lazy way ... to simply state that people don't change, or can't change. What he does masterfully is shows why we hit the walls of resistance, and how to pull it down brick by brick if we really want to.
There is nothing more exhilarating for me to read a book that literally changes the way you look at the world when you finish it. "Change or Die" is a must read for anyone seeking to expand their thinking and view of the world ... enough said!
Why We Need More Change.......2007-09-08
Change or Die deserves a wide audience, not as a self-help book, but as an important way to understand why so many elements of our society are not working.
We label more and more acts as criminal. We build more prisons. But crime doesn't go away.
We keep asking, "Who should pay for health care?" when in fact over nearly 80% of health "care" costs could be reduced (or even eliminated) by iifestyle changes.
Psychologists have long known that change is rarely a matter of willpower. Karen Pryor's Don't Shoot The Dog warns that most of our education and training systems are not based on sound psychological guidelines.
Deutschman, as a journalist, presents case studies showing how groups of people changed following a few key principles. They identified with a person, leader or community. They got to practice, over and over again. They learned to think "as if" they had already changed. And they learned to reframe their experiences.
So prisoners at Delancey Street become members of a community. They learn to act "as if" they're ordinary, law-abiding citizens. They develop what Deutschman calls a middle-class mindset.
Dieters who followed Dean Ornish's program first joined a support group. They practiced new styles of eating and exercise. And they reframed their views about health, moving from helpless patients to strong achievers who took charge of their own health.
These two examples are most powerful, although Deutschman includes a few others (a parole officer learns to talk to clients a new way and businesses absorb cultures). In fascinating first-person narratives, he recounts his own struggles with mastering college French and with his own weight loss. In each case, he failed with credentialed teachers at Princeton and a high-priced gym, respectively, but mastered French and exercise when he connected to teachers with whom he shared interests.
As a former professor myself, I would add that the university system combines learning with assessing. Sometimes those goals conflict. Faced with limited time and an expectation that not everyone can earn A's, not to mention consequences of getting too friendly with students, few teachers can create the connection that Deutschman describes.
Ironically, as a society, collectively we're like the patients in the Dean Ornish study. His patients knew they should lose weight and exercise. We know we're implementing programs that don't work. Why do we keep doing it? Why do we keep building prisons and creating health programs that don't address the causes of the problem?
And do we really need to learn from credentialed experts? Ornish's own change agent was the man who taught his sister's yoga class. It seems that relationships lead to therapy, not a particular set of techniques. It's little wonder that lightly-trained coaches, without the cloaks of power and professionalism, have been successful as change agents for many of their clients.
If institutions and widely held beliefs don't change, more of us may die, literally or metaphorically. That the unintended lesson of this deceptively simple book.
A terrific book.......2007-05-07
If at all possible I purchase the audio CD version of books, and the hard copy of the book as well. Being a frequent traveler, being able to listen to the book gets my creative thought flowing. I then can use the book to drill down on more information as time permits. I found Change Or Die to be a very interesting and helpful book. Being involved in organizational change initiatives, I found the book to provide insights as to why change is difficult, and most often why change initiatives fail before they can bare fruit. The book offers helpful strategies for helping people work through the process of change. Despite the negative statistics that the author cites regarding success rates of change initiatives, I found the book to be very hopeful - in that there are concrete things that we can do to help the change process along. I found the examples that the author uses to be very interesting. The book and the CD is worth multiple readings and listenings.
You might not die, but if you don't have that attitude you might not change.......2007-03-30
I was first attracted to this book when I spotted its stark black and white cover with the simple words "Change or Die". It was enough to get my attention on a flight layover, and I made a note to myself to check out the book when I got home.
I judge a book on if it's able to accomplish what it sets out to do. If it does at least that I'll give it 4 stars. If I feel the author went above and beyond the tour of duty to get his point across, I'll give it 5. That being said, this book is a solid 4, 4 still being very good.
Did this book get the point across that if you don't change you'll die? Actually, yes. The author uses several well-laid out case examples from heart patients to career criminals to demonstrate why change is so important; he also retells his own personal "change or die" story, which lets you know that he doesn't just talk the talk, he also walks the walk. Even though you may not be able to relate to all the people in the book (I am neither a criminal nor a heart patient), he brings their stories close down to a personal level and then details how they each used some version of the 3-steps to change (Relate, Repeat, Reframe) to bring their life and outlook to a new, positive level.
The case studies (stories really), the application of the 3-steps, and the simplicity are really the strong points of the book. I'm not sure if Mr. Deutschman is a psychiatrist or not, but the writing style came across as very down-to-earth and easy to read. It wasn't bogged down in any psycho babble, just 3 steps and how different people applied them to their lives, and the lives of others to change. That's it. Unlike other books covering the topics of change or psychology, it doesn't get cheesy or sugar-coated or cliched, and I was glad for it. This may also be a weakness of the book, since it really wasn't inspirational nor used "go-get-'em" language. That's not say it isn't, it is inspirational in its own way because you get to see how change is possible for even the most ordinary or hopeless situations. But I feel the author could have used a little more enthusiasm in his writing, that's a very minor quibble though.
Another small issue i have with the book, which is purely subjective, is that I wish the author spent a little more time on personal change, or at least gave more examples. There were perhaps 25-30 pages on personal change, and I bought this book expecting more of that. HOwever, I know this book was meant for the topic of change on a personal, corporate, and organizational levels so the author really did cover what he wanted. Hopefully, in the future he'll come out with a follow up dealing solely with the topic of personal change.
Overall, if you are interested in changing yourself, your company, or group, this is a solid book. You can read it in a few days, and not feel overwhelmed with complex psycholiteral language. Instead, there's a lot to learn from the many stories and cases presented here. You really will learn how the 3-steps to change (Relate, Repeat, Reframe) are applied, but it is still up to you to use them.
Change or Die CD.......2007-03-24
The CD was very imformative and very well done, however I would have loved to see a little more "how to" included. It talks about the 3 keys to change but could use more information regarding how to go about changing yourself, changing a loved one and changing a corporation. Still worth buying, I learned a lot and I think it is very accurate.
Book Description
The vision of a retirement spent playing golf or sipping martinis can be more of a dead end than a dream. For many people, retirement may span 30 years or longer and will not be viewed as an isolated economic event but rather a part of ongoing life planning.
In a comprehensive update of The New Retirementality, popular author Mitch Anthony revisits and expands on his groundbreaking concept of Retirementality—the ability to achieve the freedom to pursue life’s goals, at one’s own pace, on one’s own terms, and at any age. This book will help readers say goodbye to dreary financial opinions and hello to a whole new way of planning for retirement.
Drawing on the latest research on lifestyles and employment, Anthony debunks common myths about retirement, such as ""Age 65 is old,"" ""My retirement income will be spent on pills and doctor bills,"" and ""Retirement means not working."" Then, he gives readers a brand-new blueprint for retirement—from making a meaningful transition and maintaining a network of connections, to contributing through volunteerism and philanthropy, while ensuring there’s enough money to last a lifetime. Innovative ideas and planning techniques from top advisors in the financial world make this book stand out from others on the shelf. Anthony demonstrates that a life well lived after retirement should closely resemble life before retirement, filled with friends, family, work, travel, and hobbies. For the more than 77 million baby boomers on the cusp of retirement, The New Retirementality helps paint a detailed portrait of this ideal future and how to achieve it.
Highlights
Author Mitch Anthony reveals the latest thinking about retirement to show readers:Why our culture has undergone a transformational shift concerning retirement and how to adapt to this changeHow to calculate income for life using powerful new methods from leading analysts and plannersWhat are the vital signs that indicate retirement is the right decisionHow to live a vibrant life and find meaning outside the traditional world of work
Customer Reviews:
One of the best financial books I have ever read!.......2007-01-23
I highly reccomend this book to all of my financial planning clients. This book will challenge many of the traditional views/plans of most Americans and I believe will point you to an optimal plan for your life. It is a great read- very interesting. Mitch Anthony is a gifted author and his other books targeted to advisors are great as well.
Product Description
The newest edition of Natalie Choate's best-selling book. These are new books, (not used), direct from the publisher. Intended audience: lawyers, CPAs, financial planners, other professionals who advise individuals regarding tax treatment of their retirement benefits. The "Bible" on IRA distribution planning. Expected publication 10/1/06.
Customer Reviews:
"The Source" for retirement account rules and planning ideas.......2007-04-20
As an estate planning attorney with over 23 years' experience, I've had a long time to review the books in my field and discern the good from the bad, the worthwhile from the worthless. Without a doubt, Ms. Choate's exhaustive review and analysis of the IRS statutes, rules, regulations, private letter rulings, and planning ideas related to IRAs and qualified plans is THE "source" not only for myself but for 1,000s of attorneys and financial planners all across the U.S.
I anxiously await each new edition, feeling secure that now I'll be up-to-date again with the latest planning ideas, tips and techniques in this area of the tax law.
Written in a down-to-earth style but with complete footnotes and citations, Ms. Choate's book is the go-to source for my questions about: what are the basic rules governing the minimum distribution payouts from retirement plans? what special options are available to a surviving spouse? what are the rollover rules? can or should the beneficiary sign a "disclaimer"? what are the Roth IRA rules? can I leave my IRA to a charity? should I name the marital or credit shelter trust as beneficiary of my client's IRA? what are the pros and cons of doing so? what are the pitfalls of naming the family trust as IRA beneficiary? what are the IRS "trust rules" to follow when naming any kind of trust as beneficiary of a qualified plan or IRA? The list goes on and on...
If you do ANY planning or advising clients in the area of naming beneficiaries of IRAs or qualified retirement plans, you simply must have a copy of this 575-page book on your bookshelf. Well worth the modest expense!
The Professional's Reitement Benefits Bible.......2006-12-26
This book is, without a doubt, the single essential reference guide for financial planning, retirement planning and estate planning professionals. While written for professionals, it is accessable to non professionals as well.
If you have a question about distributions from a qualified plan or an IRA, you will find the answer here.
Books:
- Office Yoga: Simple Stretches for Busy People
- One Good Turn: A Novel
- Partnering with Microsoft: How to Make Money in Trusted Partnership with the Global Software Powerhouse
- Power Mentoring: How Successful Mentors and Proteges Get the Most Out of Their Relationships
- Represent Yourself In Court: How to Prepare & Try a Winning Case (Represent Yourself in Court)
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money--That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
- Secrets of Six-Figure Women: Surprising Strategies to Up Your Earnings and Change Your Life
- Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth
- Serious Play: How the World's Best Companies Simulate to Innovate
- Shy Bladder Syndrome: Your Step-By-Step Guide to Overcoming Paruresis
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Crafting and Executing Strategy : The Quest for Competitive Advantage - Concepts and Cases
- The Blue Edge of Midnight
- Globalising Intellectual Property: The TRIPS Agreement
- Mac OS X Bible, Panther Edition
- Modern Labor Economics: Theory and Public Policy
- The Camp Men: The Ss Officers Who Ran the Nazi Concentration Camp System
- Safely Prosperous or Really Rich: Choosing Your Personal Financial Heaven
- Advanced Accounting: Yorston, Smyth & Brown
- Learning for Innovation in the Global Knowledge Economy: A European and Southeast Asian Perspective
- In search of wild flowers: A preliminary to the systematic study of botany
Motivation & Self-Improvement
| Business Life
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently
Go Put Your Strengths to Work: 6 Powerful Steps to Achieve Outstanding Performance
StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup's Now, Discover Your Strengths
How Full Is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life
The One Thing You Need to Know: ... About Great Managing, Great Leading, and Sustained Individual Success
