Book Description
Positioning, a concept developed by the authors, has changed the way people advertise. The reason? It's the first concept to deal with the problems of communicating in an overcommunicated society. With this approach, a company creates a 'position' in the prospect's mind, one that reflects the company's own strengths and weaknesses as well as those of its competitors. Witty and fast-paced, this book spells out how to position a leader so that it gets into the mind and stays there, position a follower in a way that finds a 'hole' not occupied by the leader, and avoid the pitfalls of letting a second product ride on the coattails of an established one. Revised to reflect significant developments in the five years since its original publication, Positioning reveals the fascinating case histories and anecdotes behind the campaigns of many stunning successes and failures in the world of advertising.
Customer Reviews:
Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind, 20th Anniversary Edition (Purchased on 09/04/2007) .......2007-10-05
I still haven't received my purchase, so reviewing it will be a tad bit difficult...
Got inspired!.......2007-09-21
I've got inspired from the basics in positioning. It delivers good examples of many American companies' positioing. I got inspired so that I can get my paper done very soon.
The best book ever on marketing/advertising/brand management.......2007-09-13
I make every new employee read Positioning no matter what their job description because it is really a book about the "battle for the consumer's mind", and that battle is waged in every department of every organization.
Positioning is the rule book for marketing success and the great thing is all the examples. Yes they are somewhat dated, but they make the rules easy to understand.
This is the book nobody at Ford read before they redisigned the Taurus from number 1 in sales to a hole in the ground.
If you work in brand management or advertising you must read this book. It should be stashed in a "break-glass-get-book" thing at every exit of every ad agency.
If you are studying marketing at college, you should memorize every word in the book and major in something else, and come out with the equivalent of a double major.
The importance of perception.......2007-05-13
If there's one thing that makes Positioning a classic and something that should be on the reading list of any marketer is the fact that it highlights what is the core of any marketing- perception is reality. It doesn't matter how good your product `really' is, or how hard you try, what matters is how your target perceives you vs competition. That basic truth, and how you could occupy the most desired position in the target's mind is the crux of this book. Perhaps some of the examples could get updated, but bottom line, this is the definitive book to read for any aspiring marketer.
- Mainak Dhar, author, Brand Management 101: 101 Lessons from Real-World Marketing
outdated.......2007-03-30
Positioning makes a few basic points that are helpful for someone who is not familiar with marketing basics. However, the examples are so outdated that some now disprove the authors' arguments. The more detailed chapters make less sense in an electronic culture. This book is really only useful now for those broad, basic ideas in the first chapters.
Book Description
The Exclusive Story behind Intuit's Hard-Won Success
It's a modern-day David and Goliath story for the business world: a company dreamed up at a kitchen table, built on explosive PC growth, and forced to battle a giant in the race to revolutionize an industry. This is the story of Intuit, creator of renowned software products like Quicken, QuickBooks, and TurboTax-the company that beat mighty Microsoft and changed the way 25 million people manage their finances.
Written by Intuit veteran Suzanne Taylor and seasoned business manager Kathy Schroeder-who were granted exclusive interviews with founder Scott Cook and other key figures- Inside Intuit tells this company's original and fascinating tale for the first time. The book vividly recounts each dramatic stage of Intuit's development: from initial conception to "bet the company" investments; from strokes of marketing genius to disastrous product launches; and from battles for survival to successive victories against arch-rival Microsoft-the company no one else could beat.
Evident throughout this account is the power of Intuit's relentless customer focus, which guided the company from tiny start-up to a 6,000-employee, $1.4 billion business. Instructive and inspiring, Inside Intuit chronicles an enduring company's extraordinary success against overwhelming odds.
"This important book doesn't take any shortcuts in analyzing the building blocks of success. Taylor and Schroeder have written a fascinating blow-by-blow account of the thousand and one decisions that have made Intuit what it is. Highly readable, thorough, and extremely well researched Inside Intuit is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand success in Silicon Valley."
-Emanuel Rosen, author, The Anatomy of Buzz
"Inside Intuit is more than the history of a start-up that grew to dominate a major software category. It is a blueprint of success for entrepreneurs and investors who want to build great businesses in difficult environments."
-Roger McNamee, cofounder, Silver Lake Partners and Integral Capital Partners
"Inside Intuit is a very entertaining book. Any entrepreneur at heart will enjoy and learn from the story of how Scott Cook and Tom Proulx faced so much adversity and came back from the brink of disaster to build a very successful, highly admired Silicon Valley company. Readers can learn many lessons from both Intuit's successes and mistakes. In the end, good ideas, hard work, determination, and strong values really do pay off!"
-Dan Rudolph, Senior Associate Dean/Chief Operating Officer, Stanford Graduate School of Business
"I was thrilled to read the inside story of how Intuit was born and raised. I've always admired Intuit's strict attention to customer needs and feedback. Now I have a much better idea of how that culture was created."
-Stewart Alsop, General Partner, New Enterprise Associates
"Inside Intuit offers readers the secrets behind that company's extraordinary success. The authors' insights into how Intuit trounced Microsoft alone are worth the price of the book!"
-Andrea Butter, coauthor, Piloting Palm: The Inside Story of Palm, Handspring and the Birth of the Billion Dollar Handheld Industry
Customer Reviews:
good read.......2007-05-07
This book has a compelling start and middle but tails off towards the end. I will read it again soon though....I liked it.
A nice inside view.......2007-02-12
Being an Intuit supporter for 15 years as well as an alpha tester of Quickbooks for windows I admit with no hesitation I am biased when it comes to Intuit related things. This book exceeded my already high expectations as a great inside view of the start, sputtering and surge of Intuit. The Microsoft connections were very interesting to read as well. Being a business owner it showed how culture dedicated to providing excellence to the customer can pay off as well even though it looks like it might cost alot to perform. It was an easy read and I strongly recommend it....
Not Quite the Whole Story.......2005-05-31
The book is written by insiders. They make the new CEO out to be quite a hero. Better ask some Intuit customers about that.
Great Case History of a Continuing Business Model Innovator!.......2004-05-02
How many companies have survived direct battles with Microsoft? Not very many. How many lived to win over direct battles with Microsoft? Even fewer. Intuit is in that elite company. That experience alone would make the book worth considering.
The authors have done an outstanding job of building on that potentially fascinating subject matter by successfully capturing the key elements of how Intuit has continued to succeed as a business model innovator through four CEOs. I was especially pleased to see that the book captures the values that led to this innovation, the organizational and process methods used to stimulate and pursue the innovation, and the motivations of the key innovators.
In addition, the book moves down into the organization to capture the thoughts and emotions of many of the Intuit employees as it moved from its P&G style focus on customer needs to a broad-based expansion through acquisitions to a GE-style disciplined approach to achieve performance in key areas.
In fact, this book was so fine that I had to ask myself what was missing before I could spot any flaws. The only area where the book is a little light is in describing the details of how Intuit's software development changed over time, and what the lessons were. Now, don't mistake my point. There's plenty on that subject (especially when Intuit was a start-up), but there could have been more . . . if this book were to become a case history source on software engineering.
But no book can be everything to everyone, and currently there are few books that explain continuing business model innovation through generations of senior management. So Inside Intuit becomes a must read for those who want to master this critical leadership and management task.
By the way, Inside Intuit is a very apt title. The authors seem to have had unrestrained access to company insiders. The book comes away much richer as a result than any other Silicon Valley saga that I can remember reading. Most of those books focus on one to three people in the company, and leave it at that.
As I finished the book, I wondered what improvements in its continuing business model innovation Intuit will make next. I can hardly wait to find out!
Wonderful!.......2004-04-04
When Inside Intuit arrived in the mail, along with four other books I'd ordered, it was the first one I picked up to browse. Seven hours later, I finished the book! Reliving the experiences, placing myself in the events (I worked for Intuit for over fourteen years - by way of ChipSoft), was an overwhelming experience for me.
I remember the first time I met Scott Cook. Leo Redmond, at the time managing the Intuit Supplies Group, and I had just finished lunch in Palo Alto. As we drove back to his office, we talked about Quicken and how it was the second product I bought for my first computer in early 1989 (the first was Sim City). Leo said that he'd like me to tell Scott about it. Scott was excited - "You have five years of Quicken data?" He told me to install the latest Quicken beta as soon as I got home - he wanted to know how it handled large data files (mine was over two megabytes at the time). That was nearly ten years ago.
What an experience! Having been hired by Evy Chipman in late 1988 and working closely with every top-echelon executive on the ChipSoft side (Gaylord, Harris, Gleicher, Lane), I never thought I'd be so intimidated - stammering - as I chatted briefly with Scott in his office.
Reading Inside Intuit brings you into Scott's (and many others) office - you are in the presence of greatness when you read this book.
Book Description
Praise for Heavy Hitter Sales Wisdom
"Steve Martin takes a much-needed look at how successful executives read verbal and nonverbal messages, which allows them to quickly understand the subtext of their customers' minds. The best part is that the author shares effective strategies that put more fun into selling and more money into salespeople's pockets."
—Gerhard Gschwandtner Founder and Publisher, Selling Power magazine
"Steve Martin's interesting examination of great leaders in history and the parallels he draws between waging a war and waging a sales campaign should be required reading for enterprise salespeople."
—Jay Fulcher, Chief Executive Officer, Agile Software
"This powerful book provides real-world strategies you can use to increase sales immediately!"
—Brian Tracy, President, Brian Tracy International, author, Getting Rich Your Own Way
"Heavy Hitter Sales Wisdom goes beyond the traditional description of sales cycles to the heart of selling. It's about the emotional connection with the customer, but also the attack and destruction of the competition."
—Olivier Helleboid, Vice President, Software Operations, Hewlett-Packard
"Heavy Hitter Sales Wisdom provides field sales generals and sales soldiers with tons of strategy, persuasion techniques, and common-sense approaches to winning the hearts and minds of prospects. This book will add new weapons to your arsenal."
—Tim Kelliher, Senior Vice President, Sales, DHL Global Mail
Customer Reviews:
I begger to diff from other reviewers........2007-09-02
I do not see this book as useful for sales professionals who are trying to find a practical way to improve their performance. Maybe this book, and the author's other book, are not for prctical sales person like me. I found a whole lot more other books worth my time. I would not recommand my sales staff to read this book at all.
A Review Worth Reading.......2007-01-04
Excellent sales book. Certainly a more useful read than most of the other material out there and more fun too.
A must for anyone in sales. 20 year veterans and folks just entering the field will benefit. No quantum physics references in this one though...
The Advanced Version of Heavy Hitter Selling.......2006-11-26
If you liked Heavy Hitter Selling, you'll love Heavy Hitter Sales Wisdom. The ideal reader is someone who has five to ten years of experience in selling enterprise-wide software or other cross-department products and services to large organizations. In this new book, Steve Martin (not the comedian) connects sales professionals to military strategy and tactics as expounded by Sun Tzu, Napoleon and George Patton; the persuasion methods used by Jesus, the Buddha and Ronald Reagan; and hard-won lessons from his own career displayed as brief stories with suggested actions.
What the book doesn't handle nearly as well is a situation where you are developing a new market and your customers need to be educated about the potential of any offering in this area. Perhaps Mr. Martin will handle that circumstance in a future book.
The best part of this book came in the author's compelling use of military analogies to closely fought competitive selling situations where lots of people are involved from both the potential customer and the vendors. He made lots of connections that I had never thought of before and deepened my understanding of gaining an advantage in the competitive selling process.
As with Heavy Hitter Selling, I found his description and application of neuro-linguistic programming to be somewhat over simplified and at variance in places with the training I received in this subject from Dr. Richard Bandler and Anthony Robbins. But his work in this area will undoubtedly stimulate you to want to learn more . . . which is good.
The persuasion examples were well chosen and analyzed. I particularly liked his analysis of the meeting of Jesus with the Samaritan woman (John 4:4-30) as an example of effective communications.
I was skeptical, however, of his conclusions about how George W. Bush defeated John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election. I think the issue was more complex than the way the two communicated to voters, but I agree that communications style was part of the difference between the two candidates.
I found myself taking lots of notes and rereading several sections. I don't do either one very often with selling books. Mr. Martin once again demonstrates that he is in the first rank of business authors on the subject of selling.
Wisdom of Great Leaders apply to Sales Field. Great work........2006-11-15
Steve Martin makes a excellent work in this book using war and great leaders how example tha can be transpolated to sales field.
I agree completely with Steve about you must analyze and understand sales like a no bloody battle where you can use some tools of war in order to get better positioned to defeat your competitor.
The message here is use the power of communication, better you communicate, better results you get. I can see this in my daily work where when you better communicate your message, better chances has to advance and win the sale. Steve has emphasized in great form about improving communication and aligning " word catalog" ( more references in his preview book " Heavy Hitter Selling" ) with your customer and now with Heavy Hitter Wisdom, Steve deliver another excellent book where he explains in a very clear way how to apply war strategies and tactics to win the sales.
Great work Steve!!
Proven Sales Wisdom.......2006-10-19
This book uses very easy to understand concepts to help experienced sales representatives evaluate what they can do to further improve their sales wisdom. Selling is a skill and in dynamic markets, top performers will always be looking for that edge as things change, this book helps to clearly explain what should be done and how to do it. This book challenges us to reach greater levels of sales success. A must have for any sales professional that is determined to stay at the top of their field!
Book Description
The first entry in Berrett-Koehler's new Ken Blanchard series of fun and practical business books
Customer Reviews:
I Love Referrals!.......2007-10-19
As a business coach, one of the main concerns of my self employed professional clients have is how to get enough customers to fill their practice. I belong to a referral based business club and recently, I have had an opportunity to see the toll taken by business people who have a "hunt and kill" mentality. The premise of "The Referral of a Lifetime" is that by nurturing a loyal client base in similar and related businesses, more like farming, you are able to build a self sustaining business that will reap rewards years ahead.
Now this is NOT the multi-level marketing model where I get you to produce to my benefit with the only promise is that you get OTHER people to promise benefit to you. (Don't get me started down that road!)
The key here is reciprocity. I give business to you and you will want to give business to me. Templeton talks about building networks of friends and business relationships that will last a lifetime based on excellent customer relations, integrity and generosity. Too often I have seen people in business so desperate to make a living that the wreck havoc where ever they go. I wonder to myself, do they really know that this won't work forever and that their "scorched earth" business plan will ultimately backfire?
I make this book required reading for my serious coaching clients and it is in my top 3 books that I recommend to any business person for long term success.
Simple and Powerfull.......2007-06-15
Tim Templeton offers a fun, crisp read that brings to life a simple but powerfull network marketing system that virtually anyone in business can adapt to their own style.
I have given away several copies to my leads group memebers and have my copy all marked up with highlights.
I's a keeper.
PROMISED MUCH - DELIVERED NOTHING.......2007-06-11
There are very few good books on referrals - This is not one of them
Relationship Marketing.......2007-04-12
Tim Templeton's book is an excellent resource for any one who wants to learn about relationship marketing. This book is a perfect fit with the BNI philosophy of "Givers Gain". Building relationships that last a lifetime will generate more business than just going for the "sale". Reading this book will help you to start building those relationships.
Golden Rule in real life sales.......2007-03-25
This book is a blueprint for putting the Golden Rule into your business. This is just what I have been looking for, validation that you can do the right thing AND make money.
Book Description
Once every decade a book comes along that becomes the standard in a field of study, the indispensable reference that every thoughtful practitioner must have on the shelf. Like Samuelson in Economics, Drucker in Management, and Porter in Strategy, Rayport and Jaworski have written what leaders in the New Economy are calling the standard in e-commerce strategy formulation.
e-Commerce presents managers and strategists with road-tested frameworks for competing in the New Economy. This presentation is organized to facilitate the decision-making process for formulating e-commerce enterprise strategy. The text progresses from framing market opportunities to a discussion of New Economy business models, customer interfaces, and communication and branding issues through to implementation, evaluation, and valuation of the online enterprise.
The textbook and companion casebook, E-Commerce and Cases in E-Commerce, are the first volumes produced for the McGraw-Hill/MarketspaceU learning series on e-commerce. McGraw-Hill/MarketspaceU have formed an alliance to develop and deliver exceptional higher education teaching materials on the latest business practices and theories by leading thinkers in the field of e-commerce. McGraw-Hill/MarketspaceU aim to equip present and future executives, managers, and strategists in becoming successful creators of value in the new economy. To accomplish this goal the alliance offers a multi-media suite of cutting-edge tools to help navigate the world of e-commerce. These tools include E-Commerce and Cases in E-Commerce, MarketspaceU.com, the McGraw-Hill Online Learning Center (OLC), and the McGraw-Hill E-Business Power Web.
MarketspaceU is part of Marketspace, a Monitor Group company. Monitor Group is a family of professional services firms linked by shared ownership, management philosophy and assets. Monitor’s roots can be traced back to the Harvard Business School – where a number of its founders studied and taught in the 1980s. Marketspace was founded in 1998. Jeffrey Rayport and Bernie Jaworski (two of its founders) are the principal authors of the first books produced by the McGraw-Hill/MarketspaceU alliance.
e-Commerce has already received early critical acclaim from academic and Internet business leaders:
“Rayport and Jaworski have defined the ‘space’. e-Commerce is a primary weapon in the e-business frontier. Do not let your competitors read this book--buy every copy…” Jeff Taylor, Founder and CEO, Monster.com
“Finally someone has put it all together! These leading thinkers have put in one place a brilliant and comprehensive framework for thinking through, planning, teaching and managing e-Business. And – beyond that – this book is a portal to a stream of the most complete set of online, video, and other resources for e-Business learning to date. Great insights. Powerful tools.” Ralph Oliva, Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of Business Markets and Professor of Marketing, Pennsylvania State University
“e-Commerce is the first textbook to show how firms gain competitive advantage in the New Economy. The authors introduce a number of new and innovative concepts, frameworks, and tools that benefit both students and managers. This book is destined to become the standard New Economy text in leading MBA programs.” John Quelch, Dean, London Business School
“This is a wonderfully designed pedagogical device. The chapters build foundationally, so as to empower the student to deal with unique New Economy concepts, like the DCF approach to valuation etc., towards the end. The chapters are filled with case vignettes, viewpoints, and thought bytes that draws the self-selected reader in, and engages them in a sophisticated debate regarding the Internet economy. The highlight of the book, for me, was the way linkages were provided to existing management concepts. Thus the reader is not left wondering what the connection to the old paradigm is, in fact the reader gets a working dose of those ideas in the book chapters. This makes the book a stand-alone, comprehensive text with a cutting-edge tone and content.” Kastori Rangan, Eliot I. Snider and Family Professor of Business Administration Harvard Business School
Customer Reviews:
Obscure and too expensive.......2002-12-27
As a professor of ecommerce I think that the authors have unnecesarily obscured a subject that deserves a better prose and a more logical thread of reasoning.Theirs is a text written for other academicians and contributors to the HBR, not for students, unless they are candidates to a very high academic degree. ...
Much more than eCommerce.......2001-08-16
This book is about much more than eCommerce. It is the handbook for doing business in the "New Economy". I have taught ecommerce courses in several universities and am familair with most of the titles avialable on this subject: none of them even come close. Read and study this book now before the competiton does.
The Bible of E-Commerce Strategy.......2000-12-22
Comprehensive and clear. A must read for anyone serious about winning in the E-Commerce space.
Book Description
Nonprofit Internet Strategies offers every charitable organization the opportunity to analyze their options and select the appropriate strategy to integrate traditional marketing, communications, and fundraising practices with their online efforts.
It is an excellent how-to guide--a practical manual for nonprofit staff written in non-technical language--prepared by experts in the field based on real-life experiences and case studies.
Download Description
Nonprofit Internet Strategies offers every charitable organization the opportunity to analyze their options and select the appropriate strategy to integrate traditional marketing, communications, and fundraising practices with their online efforts.
It is an excellent how-to guide--a practical manual for nonprofit staff written in non-technical language--prepared by experts in the field based on real-life experiences and case studies.
Customer Reviews:
Guide for Non Profits Fundraising.......2007-04-23
This source is a wonderful collection of information for non profit companies who want to expand to the Internet. It has real world suggestions, as well as IRS guidelines important to keep the tax status of the non profit. Recommend to all.
Essential.......2007-03-03
Frankly, I was feeling a bit out of touch. The most frequently asked questions in my workshops were about Internet fundraising, and I didn't have good answers. My quick fix: reading this book and coming away amazed, astounded, and shocked. First, by all the profitable Internet strategies out there (the book is packed with examples of stuff that works). Second, by the thoroughness of this book. Another reviewer said it was like a textbook. Don't think academic, though; think "everything you need to know between two covers" comprehensive. And practical as soup on a cold day. If I had to limit my library to just six books about fundraising communications, this title would be among them. I haven't had the privilege of hearing co-author Michael Johnston speak, but I have heard both Ted Hart and Jim Greenfield present at conferences. Purely useful, well spoken, based on vast experience.
Non-Profit Internet Strategies.......2006-03-18
This is a very complete guide to using the Internet for marketing and fundraising. It could almost be a text book for a college course - if colleges offered marketing for non-profits as a course. Great reference material.
One of the few must-reads for any nonprofit organization manager responsible Internet strategy.......2005-08-09
Those of us who manage nonprofit organizations have learned to use the Internet as a powerful communications medium. We invite the public to learn about us via our web sites and even to donate to us from a web browser. We've learned that this is just the beginning of the cultivation process, not the end. We've learned how to keep them coming back to the site. More importantly, we've learned to move them into our traditional cultivation processes once they make contact.
Our development officers have become accustomed to following up with those who've knocked on the door of our web site. We know that a donor who makes an on-line donation is often open to going deeper with the organization, and of increasing support -- if asked. We've learned to take these new-found supporters into our fold, and how to encourage more significant contributions from them.
Here's what else we've learned. We've learned to manage information in complex, server-based relational databases -- ours or those provided by firms who do this for us on their hardware. We share information internally via local networks and Intranets, and tie discrete offices together via virtual private network secure tunneling. We use extranets to facilitate strategic alliances with other organizations. To save money, we use voice over IP to replace traditional telephone circuits. We've even gone wireless.
Throughout all this, we gather information on our supporters and prospective supporters. We do so at Internet speeds, and with the organizing and retrieval efficiency of computers. We've learned to treat the information we gather with great care. The public support, we know, is a fragile thing.
Yes, we've learned a lot. If we haven't yet put all of what we've learned into place, we suspect that would if we had a clear, sensible roadmap to doing so within the confines of our budgets.
The simple truth is that the use of technology is one of the more challenging aspects facing those who manage nonprofit organizations. First, it's complicated. (Virtual private WHAT?!) Second, it's hard to have a clear idea of how to think about technology in the unique context of running a nonprofit organization. Third, it's hard to determine the best way to implement technological solutions when there are so many being thrown at us. Lastly, how can we be sure we're following best practices?
We need help to sort all of this out -- even those of us who are not exactly new to all of this. As it happens, I've been deeply immersed in technology in the nonprofit context for years, having designed and lead the team that created one the first on-line systems utilzing the donor-advised fund gift methodology as the means to enable the public to donate to any 501(c)(3) public charity from a single web site donation portal. I designed and built some of the first on-line charitable donation systems for nonprofit organizations and educational institutions. I am a programmer and a web site developer. I am a computer science student; one of my hobbies is exploring the theory of utilizing quantum mechanics to construct a computing device. I am a lawyer. I have administered large and small fund development programs, and advised them. I even co-founded a couple of nonprofit organizations -- a pre-K through 8th grade school and a charity that feeds and clothse the poor. I have read just about every posting to every CharityChannel forum since inception, and read every article on the topic that I can get my hands on. I've written some articles, too.
Yet I am the first to admit that the Internet, even the Internet in the nonprofit context, is too big and complex to try to make sense out of it without turning to those who have specialized in a particular aspect of it. It's no different in law. My field is tax-exempt organization law. I wouldn't be the one to advise you on your automobile accident.
That is what interested me in the new book Nonprofit Internet Strategies: Best Practices for Marketing, Communications, and Fundraising. It taps the experts in each subject to write a chapter. This approach makes great sense to me.
The book sets out to show us how to leverage the Internet to:
--Advance our organization's or institution's cause.
--Raise more money both on-line and off by establishing relationships with new donors, and deepen the commitment of existing donors.
--Inform the public and our stakeholders.
--Raise public confidence and trust through better communication and transparency.
It succeeds. Each of its chapters is contributed by a leading expert in the topic discussed. The editors -- Ted Hart, James M. Greenfield, and Michael Johnston -- also contributed chapters of their own. Some of the writers will already be familiar to many of my CharityChannel colleagues because they've taught a Summit session, or a distance class. Some have penned articles for CharityChannel, or posted to one of the professional forums.
I recommend the book for anyone who is serious about doing a better job harnessing the Internet for their organization or institution. You can read it cover to cover as I did. It is also suited to picking and choosing particular chapters of interest.
The book is for busy nonprofit managers who must work within real-world budgets and who are pulled in a thousand directions by the demands of their jobs. It is for those who want to have a clear roadmap of how to proceed. The book is not for techno-geeks, as such. Even if you barely know how to turn on a computer, you can read this book without difficulty. Of course, if you happen to be technologically savvy, so much the better.
This book is for large organizations with big budgets and complex needs. It shows how to think about technology, and how to approach it even if the organization is well down the road with technology.
It is also for small organizations with limited budgets and big dreams. That is because technology in our sector has matured to the point where there are strategically-powerful solutions that do not require large expenditures. What is required, rather, is a clear understanding of where and how to proceed.
Of course, no book can do it all when it comes to the Internet and the nonprofit world. But this book is one of the few must-reads for any nonprofit organization manager responsible Internet strategy.
College Textbook with all the liberal bias.......2005-08-06
The information in Nonprofit Internet Strategies is sound until about page 100. The information comes from a variety of those working in the field and is an amalgamation of over 15 authors. This book tends to be redundant and far left leaning politically, unfortunately. It is clear to me that these individuals wrote their chapters at the same time and did not coordinate who was to discuss what subject, also.
The examples and case studies are without a doubt far left leaning politically at best and in some cases downright anti-american. A case study example from page 158 lists President Bush and Tony Blair on a deck of cards that Greenpeace sold had the actual letter to their donors saying the following:
"These limited edition playing cards are hot! Back by popular demand, they're a spoof of the 'Iraq most wanted' deck. The Greenpeace cards name and shame world leaders who are sitting on the true weapons of mass destruction-nuclear weapons."
This book is filled with left-wing examples of cyber-activist companies dubbed "nonprofit companies." Having worked with 3 multi-million nonprofit companies, I think the two are different.
There is no way a person can make it all the way through this book because the information repeats itself so often.
The book would make a stereotypical college textbook. I do not recommend this and its a shame because the experts seem to really know their stuff. It could have been a must-read for nonprofit management, marketing, and IT personnel - but it isn't. They ruined it with their hidden agendas, lack of chapter/author coordination, and poor editing.
Book Description
This book includes real-life examples from over 70 respected organizations, small and large, representing a multitude of industries using stories to drive results. Leaders from organizations such as Microsoft, Lands’ End, Verizon, U.S. Air Force, and World Vision demonstrate the strong positive influence stories can have. No abstract theories or platitudes are conveyed here. The book spells out how Kevin Roberts, CEO worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi, achieved sustained sales growth after several mergers and downsizings caused the organization to fall on hard times. It also shows how Erik Shaw, president and CEO of FivePoint Federal Credit Union, overcame resistance to an organizational name change, resulting in membership growth exceeding the national average.
Customer Reviews:
Once Upon a Time.......2007-08-30
"Once Upon a Time"--when we hear that phrase, it brings back magical memories of someone reading a story to us during childhood. Suddenly, we have warm thoughts of fantasies, fairy tales, princesses, and pirates.
As a professional speaker, I have recognized for a decade that people never outgrow their love of stories. I share stories with my audiences to maintain interest, motivate listeners, change opinions, and relay information.
Prior to my speaking career, I spent twenty-three years in management. For the most part, I shudder when I recall boring meetings, with presenters suffocating participants with an endless avalanche of facts and stats--with nothing in between to inject variety and liveliness.
That's why I welcome this book. Silverman illustrates that stories fit every type of business situation. "Facts," Sylvia L. Lovely says in the Introduction, "inform, but stories resonate." She explains: "Stories connect us in profound ways that go beyond mere intellect and get to the
deeper currents that move us to reflection and inspiration."
This book offers numerous examples from corporate leaders who use stories for training, sales, fostering traditions, reinforcing policies, generating teamwork, mentoring, facing change, clarifying complex financial transactions, and instilling an organization's mission and values.
Even as she supplies many model stories, Silverman still encourages readers to constantly unearth stories from their own locales. They're there, just waiting to be discovered and told.
Wake Me When the Data is Over recognizes that stories cannot replace data--but they can make the necessary data interesting, even compelling.
The Complete Communicator: Change Your Communication-Change Your Life!
Wake me up when the data is over.......2007-03-31
I found this book to be full of practical guidance about how to use storytelling more effectively in business settings. The book reinforced many of beliefs about the use of story as well as providing a great deal of evidence about its effectiveness. I recommend this book to those who wish to be more effective communicators in business.
storytelling and the wider applications.......2007-03-29
I found this book to be extremely useful in exploring the various applications of storytelling. As a practitioner in the field of organisational storytelling, I am always exploring various applications of the use of story. Lori's research into how organisations have used it has really helped me in my thinking around the applications of this powerful business tool and helped me bring this learning to our Australian clients.
Wake me up when you get to some substance.......2007-02-25
Wake me up when you find some substance to this book! The entire book seems to be a "who's who" of people who use storys, complete with their job titles, degree listings etc. I found virtually no help in how to create or use stories. I found this book boring and a complete waste of my time!
treasures.......2007-02-15
Very stimulating, indeed! Provides a panorama of practical applications of story telling in the private or public sector, derived from interviews with people who use the approach in their daily work.
Book Description
The rapid evolution of digital photography and the ease of distribution over the Internet has transformed the photo industry. Everything from marketing and sales to competitive pricing and job security has been affected. And now that the flood gates have come down, everyone from semi-pros to amateurs to the common consumer affects how business is done, whether it's pricing, assignments, or just getting your photos seen by potential buyers. In a market once dominated by agencies and seasoned professionals, succeeding in today's industry demands a fresh new approach. For those who are just starting out or those who are established photographers trying to compete more effectively in a changing market, Dan Heller's book Profitable Photography in the Digital Age provides a new and progressive approach to understanding and succeeding in the photography business in today's market. It will help established photographers find new strategies for diversifying revenue streams and adding nontraditional sources of income. For serious amateurs, this book explores realistic perspectives on what to expect and how to gauge their aptitudes for making it in this highly competitive arena. Profitable Photography in the Digital Age shows how photography is more accessible than ever to the average person, even though making money with photography can be more challenging. It also offers new ways of teaching (and learning) the basics of the photo industry apart from just making an impressive portfolio or reaching the right art director. It outlines some of the available paths to success, examines the methods available and provides the analysis on which methods achieve the desired results. While there is heavy competition, many new opportunities have opened up and more buyers are entering the field. "The digital era isn't just about making great websites or being great at photoshop," says Heller. "One must be able to work within that and many other mediums to broaden one's reach and market segments. What's more," he says, "the buyer's perception of images and the culture of the business has also taken an abrupt turn that isn't as accommodating to the traditional models as it once was." By following Heller's strategies and integrating the concepts presented in Profitable Photography in the Digital Age, anyone who wants to have a career in the photo industry will have the tools he or she needs to succeed.
Customer Reviews:
A good dose of reality.......2007-08-12
The best book on the Photography business to date. It may be hard for some to swallow, but sometimes when you are forced to look in the mirror and evaluate the decisions you have made in your life and career, it's easy to criticize the one forcing you to do so. Dan has written a book that should be a classic for anyone even thinking about making money from photography at any level, be it just an amateur wanting to make a few bucks to support his equipment habit, or the serious photography looking to make a true career in the business. A must read for the new and the seasoned.
Profitable Photography is tough to get through.......2007-07-18
While this book was intended to be directed to photographers, I feel it is firstly just another sales book. The jargon and hairsplitting discussion on career direction and the importance of branding your product had a few nuggets of helpful information, nonetheless finding a way to apply it to my needs was a stretch.
yet another chatty "how to" book.......2007-03-18
I was all excited after reading about him on-line and I had the impression this would truly be an insightful book. Well, he talks a lot, most of it common sense. I'm pretty disappointed by it.
Just the Facts........2007-01-12
It's what you need to know. The good, the bad, and the ugly truths about the photography business. If you only want to buy one book on this topic, this is it.
Very well written book.......2007-01-12
I thoughly enjoyed reading this book. It has very up to date info about the internet. I also thought he covered many topics like business types, stock agencies, and webpages better than other books I have read. Highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to go into stock photography business. This book mainly deals with stock photography business, not other types of businesses.
Customer Reviews:
A Good Textbook for the Subject.......2004-12-22
While the title implies this is a good book for college writing, I found it lacking in that area. But the workplace side is well represented and thoroughly documented with examples and sidenotes "From the Workplace."
It is a practical, if somewhat dry, text that is very good at teaching business writing and presentations.
Book Description
In order to succeed in the new business environment, workers must learn how to influence people over whom they have no direct control. In this book, an experienced organizational consultant shows readers how to build alliances and persuade peers, not just boss them around. He uses case studies and anecdotes from his own practice to illustrate specific tactics that can be used in any work situation.
Customer Reviews:
The Influence Edge.......2004-03-25
This book provided me with a planning guide and influence strategies that I used to help me in a team meeting. I was able to gain agreement to get support I needed for my project. The information was great.
Influence - The Cutting Edge!.......2002-03-17
An excellent book, easy to read and understand. A book essential for any organization, big or small. It helps improve and streamline Internal Organizational Network. It provides step by step system to help in work situation. This is a tremendously helpful and eminently practical book. Alan Vengel teaches you the influence skills you need to enlist the cooperation of others, inside and outside the organization, to achieve your professional goals. Vengel offers tips for successful influence in real business situations. The techniques show how to influence without authority, sell your ideas, and build better relationships. The "push-pull energy" concept is impressive. Two very different ways of influencing people and mastering how to influence when and how. The exercises throughout the book definitely show you how to use it to design a very sophisticated and effective influence strategy. Master the artful skill of influence and adopt the techniques in a unique fashion. Its the Time factor and thought management to apply and sure, achievements drive your way to influence and reach your goals.
Afterall, Influence makes a Big Difference in Life! So cut the Edge and there, you reach the goals!
Very Practical.......2002-01-30
It's really taught me how to handle a very difficult person and very difficult work situations. I highly recommend it for anyone dealing with the public.
Essential To Any Organization.......2001-05-31
This book is essential to any organization, big or small. The author uses a logical, simple, yet very powerful step by step system to help anyone in any work situation. A very easy and effective way to increase cooperation from others. The exercises and hands-on applications really helped to further solidify what I had read and allowed me to develop my own personal strategical way of increasing influence. I highly recommened this book to those interested in improving and streamlining internal organizational networks.
Learn When to Push and When to Pull.......2001-05-05
This is a tremendously helpful and eminently practical book. I was especially impressed by the concept of "push-pull energy", the idea that there are two very different ways of influencing people and that you need to know when and how to use each one, or when to combine them. (Basically, push energy is assertive and pull energy is inclusive, i.e. pulling people in). It's a subtle concept but the exercises throughout the book show you how to use it to design a very sophisticated and effective influence strategy.
Books:
- Practical Business Ethics
- Psychology Applied to Work (with Study Guide)
- Quick Teambuilding Activities for Busy Managers: 50 Exercises That Get Results in Just 15 Minutes
- Selling To VITO (The Very Important Top Officer)
- Stop Sitting on Your Assets: How to Safely Leverage the Equity Trapped in Your Home and Transform It Into a Constant Flow of Wealth and Security
- Stop Telling, Start Selling: How to Use Customer-Focused Dialogue to Close Sales
- Stop Telling, Start Selling: How to Use Customer-Focused Dialogue to Close Sales
- Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace (2nd Edition)
- Technical Communication
- The Agenda: What Every Business Must Do to Dominate the Decade
Books Index
Books Home
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Strategy & Competition
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