Authors: Thomas J. Stanley.
Hardcover, 320 pages
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication Date: 2004-05-01


Reviews :

    Eight years ago, Dr. Thomas J. Stanley swept aside the mythical magic curtain of wealth to reveal The Millionaire Next Door. America found out just who and how common the truly wealthy were in this country¨and we learned the characteristics and habits that made them so. Now the author of the follow-up The Millionaire Mind focuses on one of the least understood but increasingly rich demographics: Millionaire Women Next Door.¨Why write another book that profiles millionaires?¨ Stanley asks. ¨The vast majority of the millionaire respondents (92 percent) in The Millionaire Next Door were men. . . . I felt that it was indeed time for successful businesswomen of the self-made variety to be heard.¨ And heard they are in this book that is destined to become every bit as informative, quoted, and inspirational as the author¨s earlier works. Readers everywhere will be fascinated by Stanley¨s thoroughly researched findings and conclusions. More than a simple extension of his studies of male millionaires, Millionaire Women Next Door presents groundbreaking concepts involving the nature, lifestyle, and business choices of successful American women that reach far beyond the scope of the author¨s previous studies. The book examines the choice of businesses elected by self-employed women, ranking over 150 categories in terms of their profitability and probability of success. It also describes the women¨s background, highlighting the fact that most millionaire women were raised in nurturing family environments that were literally training grounds for success, instilling the values that make this group one of the most generous in American society as demonstrated by its level of giving to charities, family, and friends. While many characteristics such as frugality and simplicity of lifestyle are similar to those of their male counterparts, Stanley demonstrates that most millionaire women work harder and do better¨at school, in business, and in investment practices. Millionaire Women is sure to be one of the most read, reviewed, and discussed books to come out this year. Make your own wise investment for a wealth of solid sales....

Authors: Jack Canfield. Mark Victor Hansen. Dahlynn McKowen. Tom Hill. John Gardner. Elizabeth Gardner. Kyle Wilson.
Paperback, 320 pages
Publisher: HCI
Publication Date: 2006-09-19


Reviews :

    A Celebration of dreamers who became doers...

Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul is a compilation of short stories from entrepreneurs, both large and small, who share their experiences of success, failure and courage, with a little helpful advice mixed in.

Many of these stories, told for the first time here, will enlighten you to new methods of entrepreneurship or simply help you believe in the possibilities of getting started. People such as Doris Christopher, a stay-at-home mother, introduced her love of cooking to others, thus founding The Pampered Chef; sticking to his instincts and putting value at the core of his business, Tom Chappell, founder of Tom's of Maine, explains how success can go way beyond the balance sheet; and Carol Gardner intimately shares a desperate time of debt and divorce, until along came a bulldog named Zelda, followed by a greeting card line -- Zelda Wisdom -- which became one of Hallmark's number-one sellers. These entrepreneurs and many more will inspire you with their amazing life experiences and fascinating beginnings....

Authors: John U. Bacon.
Hardcover, 135 pages
Publisher: Doubleday
Publication Date: 2006-04-11
Edition: 1st

Reviews :

    Creativity and innovation are widely recognized as essential to success in business, and so many aspects of our lives. For over two decades, Cirque du Soleil has been a world-renowned laboratory of creativity, enthralling audiences around the world by fusing dazzling acrobatics, staging and choreography, and music, along with beautiful costumes and technical effects to inspire and create magical, almost otherworldly theatrical experiences. In The Spark, Cirque's former president of creative content, Lyn Heward, invites readers inside the world and ideas of Cirque du Soleil through the story of an ordinary man searching for meaning in his work and life.

Like so many other people in their careers, sports agent Frank Castle has lost the passion he once had for his job. But a chance encounter with an inspiring Cirque du Soleil director takes him inside Cirque du Soleil to meet the artists, directors, designers, and technicians who create, shape, and perform in their acclaimed shows. As the story unfolds, the artists reveal surprising secrets about the sparks that ignite their creativity — from the pressure of deadlines and the exhilaration that comes from risking it all, to the chance encounters and everyday occurrences that have changed the way they live and work. As Frank comes to discover, every one of us is creative — wherever we work or whatever our job title is — but it’s up to us to tap into that powerful force.

As The Spark makes clear, there is no single formula for creative success–each of us must unlock the power of our imagination in our own way. An inspiring tale that draws on behind-the-scenes stories from the most creative people in entertainment as well as some out-of-this-world Cirque du Soleil magic, The Spark is an unparalleled guide on how to make creativity a part of everything you do.


Lyn Heward is the former President and COO of Cirque du Soleil’s Creative Content Division and is currently acting as executive producer for a variety of special projects. John U. Bacon, a veteran journalist and public speaker, has won numerous national writing awards and is the author of three books....

Authors: Sydney Finkelstein.
Paperback, 336 pages
Publisher: Portfolio Trade
Publication Date: 2004-05-25


Reviews :

    It’s an all too common scenario: A great company breaks from the pack; the analysts are in love, the smiling CEO appears on the cover of BusinessWeek and Fortune, the stock soars. Two years later, the company is in flames, the CEO is under attack, and the stock has tanked.

Why does this sort of thing keep happening at respectable companies like Motorola, Quaker, and Sony, all of which have very smart, hard-working senior executives? And how can you tell if it’s about to happen at your own company?

Why Smart Executives Fail answers these and many more crucial questions. Sydney Finkelstein, a distinguished professor at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, carried out a six-year study of leadership failure, the largest of its kind. After hundreds of interviews with insiders at top companies that got into major trouble—such as GM, Mattel, and RiteAid—Finkelstein figured out the common causes behind failures in wildly different types of companies. He explains "the seven habits of spectacularly unsuccessful people" that drive smart managers to make catastrophic mistakes.

As much about psychology as it is about business, Why Smart Executives Fail tells the stories of more than fifty great business disasters and includes exclusive interviews with many of their leaders, in which they explain what really led to their disastrous decisions....

Authors: Dave Lakhani.
Hardcover, 224 pages
Publisher: Wiley
Publication Date: 2006-05-19
Edition: 1

Reviews :

    Praise for The Power of an Hour

"The master at getting what you want from others now tells us how to get what we want from ourselves! This is really a great book, and I recommend it highly-for you, for your team, and for your children."
-Bob Burg, author, Endless Referrals

"If you want to make predictable, systematic change in your life or your business, buy this book. Each chapter is a stand-alone system that results in powerful change . . . fast."
-David Hancock, The Entrepreneurial Publisher, CEO, Morgan James Publishing

"Dave's methods helped me take my business from $0 to $10 million in sales.If you're a creative business owner who wants total focus and massive success, run, don't walk, and get this book!"
-Stephanie Frank, author, The Accidental Millionaire

"The Power of an Hour is a mighty powerful way to sort out your financesby first sorting out yourself!"
-Mark Joyner, #1 bestselling author, The Irresistible Offer

"The disease of the twenty-first century, no matter who you are or what you do,is Time Deficit Disorder. Dave Lakhani offers a brilliant solution in this book.Get it and take the cure-you'll be surprised how much better you feel!"
-David Garfinkel, author, Customers on Demand...

Authors: Margaret J Wheatley. Myron Kellner-Rogers.
Paperback, 135 pages
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Publication Date: 1998-01-01
Edition: 1st

Reviews :

    Presents clear, stunning examples of life as creative, playful, and self-organizing -- and applies these teachings to all types of organizations. "A vigorous, path-breaking application of findings from the cutting edge of science to questions about how to live a life." -- Publishers Weekly ...

    Strikingly different from most business books--it opens and closes with a pair of very powerful black-and-white photo essays, for example--A Simpler Way lays out a fascinating and productive reexamination of the traditional tenets of organizational behavior. Internationally known consultants Margaret J. Wheatley (Leadership and the New Science) and Myron Kellner-Rogers focus on the basic themes of play, organization, self, emergence, and notions of coherence to explore how people really systemize their existence. The authors draw upon science, poetry, philosophy, and other unconventional corporate resources to suggest a completely original method of working together. "There is a simpler way to organize human endeavor," they write. "It requires a new way of being in the world. It requires being in the world without fear. Being in the world with play and creativity. Seeking after what's possible. Being willing to learn and to be surprised."

While A Simpler Way may appear too New Age for some readers, this beautifully produced book hits the mark by bringing together an array of unexpected ideas as the authors look anew at established theories of human behavior to propose a decidedly unique way of promoting organization and achieving success. --Howard Rothman...

Authors: David Marcum. Steven Smith.
Paperback, 272 pages
Publisher: Fireside
Publication Date: 2008-09-09
Edition: Reprint

Reviews :

    The Questions

Arrogant, self-centered, stubborn, and insecure -- words that most people associate with ego. But in this original, eye-opening work, authors David Marcum and Steven Smith argue that the upside of ego is as powerful as the downside and answer questions about ego that have been a mystery to most people.

In his landmark book, Good to Great, Jim Collins showed that one of two key traits defined leaders who transformed organizations from good to great: humility. But if humility is so powerful, why don't more of us have it? Why does ego allow us to reach good results but never great ones, unless balanced by humility? Why do we need ego to personally succeed, while having it often interferes with the success we pursue?

The Answers

Using five years of exhaustive research, Marcum and Smith provide compelling evidence and matter-of-fact answers on striking the balance between ego and humility to reach the next level of leadership. The authors include case studies to illustrate how ego subtly interferes with success but also how ego sparks the drive to achieve, the nerve to try something new, and the tenacity to conquer adversity.

The Early Warning Signs

We all have moments when ego costs us everything from an honest conversation to a job or promotion. Through cross-disciplinary research, egonomics reveals how to detect four early warning signs that ego is becoming a liability, including how:

• being too competitive makes you less competitive

• defending ideas turns into defending yourself

• winning ideas can be halted by the creator's own intelligence and talent

• desiring respect and recognition can interfere with success

The Keys to Egonomic Health

Three key principles keep ego healthy:

• humility: striking the crucial balance between too much ego and not enough

• curiosity: blending free thinking and discipline without bias

• veracity: removing fear of giving or getting feedback to produce water-cooler honesty

With a clear focus on elevating the way you do business, egonomics is a liberating approach to becoming a rare and respected leader....

Authors: Al Stubblefield.
Hardcover, 240 pages
Publisher: Wiley
Publication Date: 2004-11-30
Edition: 1

Reviews :

    "This crystal-clear book offers to any who will listen invaluable, detailed guidance on how and why to move toward a true culture of excellence in hospital care. It isn't easy, but, as their results show, it's a journey well worth taking."—Donald M. Berwick, MD, president and CEO, Institute for Healthcare Improvement

The Baptist Health Care Journey to Excellence presents tested principles and best practices to help improve your corporate culture and customer satisfaction, which will lead to loyalty, stability, sustained productivity, and profitability in your own organization. Order your copy today!...

Authors: Richard J Leider.
Paperback, 172 pages
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Publication Date: 2005-01-01


Reviews :

    "Purpose" and "calling" seem at first to be grand words, applicable to only a gifted few. But career coach Richard Leider argues that everyone possesses a true calling, as well as the unique talents needed to support it. Filled with useful tools for self-assessment, The Power of Purpose helps readers uncover their own talents and aspirations, and shows how to incorporate "the common sense of soul" into everyday life. Interviews with people of all ages provide inspiring examples of those who have created lives filled with meaning and passion....

    The Power of Purpose: Creating Meaning in Your Life and Work, by respected life/work planning specialist Richard Leider, is a lofty yet down-to-earth guide for people struggling to find their true professional callings. Developed through the author's considerable personal experience and extensive interviews conducted over the past 20 years, it's designed to serve as a jumping-off point for those who'd truly like to combine their "own unique gifts" with "the needs of the world" to carve out a vocational niche that's both individualized and highly rewarding. A helpful guide to using the material in a reading group is included....

Authors: Marshawn Evans.
Hardcover, 240 pages
Publisher: Wiley
Publication Date: 2008-12-03
Edition: 1

Reviews :

    If you're a working woman who wants to get ahead, S.K.I.R.T.S. in the Boardroom will equip you with the strategies you need to combine confidence and compassion, style and substance, and beauty and brains for professional success. It will help you navigate the male-dominated corporate world and keep you inspired when you're unmotivated and unsatisfied with your career. A must for any woman who wants to maximize her professional potential, this book offers sensible, straightforward, and long-overdue advice....