Five Reasons You Should Buy This Book Today

Do you want to write profitable and persuasive copy? Then start with this book. <br /><br />Here are five reasons why you should buy"Brilliant Copywriting" today:<br /><br />1) It's clearly written and teaches you loads of useful things<br />2) The tone is light so it's fun to read<br />3) There are great practical examples and quotes you can learn from<br />4) The interviews with famous copywriters are invaluable<br />5) I'm a copywriter myself and it's one of my favourite textbooks<br /><br />"Brilliant Copywriting" is a real"must-have" if you want your copywriting to perform better. Why not give it a go?

Business questions that make you think and promote dialogue

"Any fool can offer you answers. It takes genius to ask the right questions." Albert Einstein. <br /><br />I like this book a lot ... a book with questions that make you think and rethink. <br /><br />I like playing the devil's advocate ... this book gives great inspiration for being it. <br /><br />This book is an obvious choice for consultants. For it is just as obvious for many business people. Why ask the consultant, if you can get the questions for a book's price? But also remember how many times you participate in a decision-making process and/or meetings where you would like to make a great contribution ... read this book and you will get a lot of inspiration for contributing. <br /><br />I have very many business books, but this paperback I often take with me for the travel before an important meeting. Either because I want to see if there are questions that I have forgotten to write down or - if I am the presenter - to understand what questions my audience or superiors could or should ask me! <br /><br />Remember that you often may need fresh ideas and questions when you go to the fifth board meeting of a particular business or perhaps the fifth board meeting in the same week! <br />The problem may be that the participants all are somewhat into the same mindset. This book will always provide you with some very important business questions that should enable the meeting to take a new and interesting angle. <br /><br />I never managed to read this book from cover to cover. To me, it is more a reference book with a lot of skilled questions that will make me think about a particular issue. <br /><br />The author Tom Lambert covers most business areas: vision and mission, people, leadership, decisions, numbers, markets, change, etc. <br /><br />I personally also like using the great strategic questions suggested in EXECUTION by Ram Charan & Larry Bossidy as well as in WINNING by Jack Welch. Both are great books by business people that I really recommend. Both are available in audio editions as well. <br /><br />Peter Leerskov, <br />MSc in International Business (Marketing & Management) and Graduate Diploma in E-business

Brilliant

I recently purchased this book because of the great reviews it had and I wasn't disappointed. The book tells you everything you need to know about running a florist shop and is written in such a wonderful way. Coming from a finance background the business side is spot on and Alan Peck and his late wife had the perfect mix of skills to make it a success. The book is so easy to read and the author comes across as a really nice person. I only hope I can put the valuable knowledge I have gained from this book to good use in the future. Thank you so much for giving me the benefit of your experience.

Zen and the Art of Entrepreneurship

The book is about the 'Self' as businessman/woman. The key is the, periodic, precisely ordered and focused exercises. <br /><br />These are questions, Michael Gerber, aims at the heart and soul of being/becoming an entrepreneur. And so one is, if one is open to the questioning, able to pinpoint within oneself the barriers to becoming a truly creative person. Then, after self-reflection, one may come from a space, which was previously closed and oppressive, to an open and experiential one. <br /><br />There is a storyline in the book showing clearly how the entrepreneur becomes so easily a robot and a machine in the current business ethos. So how does one stay alive and renewed in what is essentially a mechanised business world? Well, this book tackles this dilemma - by making one confront oneself and ones susceptibility, and then enabling one to recover integrity and creativity from within oneself. Because, ultimately, it is not the techniques and methods which make for success, but who one is and how well one knows oneself, and continues to discover oneself. <br /><br />The book has its highest value in enabling self-knowledge as an entrepreneur.<br /><br />Michael Gerber in the book does, however, always present the avenues and methods for success in the greatest of practical detail (for example on sales he covers internet portal, direct mail etc. etc. etc. etc. - it's all covered - with advantages and disadvantages and practical application). There are downloadable worksheets, all very ordered and practical where one can try out, test and keep records about ones experiments with oneself, the business and the marketplace.<br /><br />I would have liked to say more on the practical side of the book, because it is hugely practical and applicable. But it is a year since I read a borrowed copy and don't have it in front of me. I am now ordering a copy for myself.<br /><br />Entrepreneurship, in my view, is a difficult business. It is one of the greatest challenges to oneself. It can be a disheartening and even degrading experience. Thank you, Michael Gerber, for enabling me to know the dangers, and for giving me clarity and understanding at the beginning of my new business.<br /><br />Finally, this is not a quick fix book, although because of the practical detail it can be used like one. But beware, for the book is about a journey one decides to make/take - and there are many adventures to be had along the way! :)<br />

Five ways Starbucks does it better

Starbucks executives claim that the company's customer-friendly, socially responsible policies amount to a new business model, and author Joseph A. Michelli generally agrees. Certainly the company has been innovative and wildly successful. Unfortunately, Michelli's decaffeinated, artificially sweetened account of Starbuck's retailing prowess often reads as though the writer is giving a boost to the company's PR department - and the book cover design doesn't help, with its Starbucks signature colors, logo (dutifully trademarked, as is every mention of every cup of Frappucino®) and inset of the brown, corrugated paper the company uses for cupholders. Some of Michelli's examples of Starbucks' caring policies are banal - opening early or providing a free cup of tea are not major innovations, nor are they transferable examples. Yet the book usefully illustrates how far good service and community relations can go. Each chapter provides a readers' guide and sidebars about how to apply Starbucks principles to your business. We recommend sipping it for applicable tips and interesting stories.

A PASSION FOR PURSUIT OF THE TRUTH

David Einhorn is the founder and President of Greenlight Capital,"a long-short value-orientated hedge fund" which he began in 1996.<br /><br />This book, his first, chronicles his 5 year battle against Allied Capital, a significant business development corporation that invests in small, mostly private businesses. In 2002 as part of normal research into potential investment opportunities, Einhorn uncovered serious flaws in Allied's accounting proceedures. He came across many examples of the valuation of certain assets held by Allied, in the accounts of the company at substantially above the quoted market prices and write-downs were only recorded when it determined that money would be permanently lost thus presenting a deliberately erroneous (some might allege fraudulent) picture to shareholders and potential investors. Guessing that when the truth was out, Allied would record losses resulting in a possible big fall in its share price, Greenlight Capital went short on Allied's stock.<br /><br />When Einhorn first asked Allied to explain the incorrect overstated treatment of assets in its balance sheet, it immediately went on the offensive and Einhorn was personally vilified by senior Allied executives spearheaded by the CEO and COO. These personal attacks intensified over a number of years and included (and later admitted by Allied) an attempt to steal his phone records as well as alleged external pressure which resulted in his wife losing her job at Barrons. <br /><br />These unwarranted attacks only seemed to make Einhorn even more determined to pursue his quest and with other'whistleblowers' that came forward with further disturbing information of malpractices, presented his irrefutable findings to the Small Business Agency and the Securities Exchange Commission, the two regulatory authorities responsible to the public for the proper running of Allied. To say their response was enthusiastic, diligent or grateful was a monster over-statement and was very reminiscent of the limp-wristed, 'cold-shoulder' reaction that Harry Markopolos (No One Would Listen) got when he blew the whistle on Madoff's Ponzi Scheme - several years before Madoff walked into a police station and voluntarily confessed. The sluggish activity in listening to Markopolo's well evidenced submissions resulted in Investors losing a further estimated $40 billion.<br /><br />This book is a tribute to the single-minded determination of the 'small man' against the Goliathesque federal regulatory authorities - not that David Einhorn is lacking in stature, he and those that worked with him are excellent examples of true grit and determination. Before reading this book I was very doubtful of the ethics of short selling, but now I am much less so, which is indeed a compliment to David Einhorn's candour and fairness.<br /><br />A unique book and I look forward to his next book.

Not very insightful and really just selling her services

Reading these other reviews, don't you think they look a lot like advertisements? It couldn't be that the author asked a few friends to put in glowing reviews could it? I was very disappointed in my copy, there was nothing I couldn't have picked up on the web and seemed designed to get you to pay more for her to write a plan for you. waste of money and time.

Are you an entrepreneur?

Robert Kiyosaki makes a very persuasive case as to why we should all become entrepreneurs. The book is full of examples, both from Robert's life, the parables from his"Rich Dad", and elsewhere. I really liked the examples and the clarity of the message.<br /><br />The persuasion however is the real power of the book. If you are considering making a change from employee to entrepreneur then I suggest that you read the book, absorb the messages, take an honest look at yourself and decide whether entrepreneurship or employment is the right choice for you.<br /><br />The only two downsides are that Robert plays up too much the entrepreneurial side versus employment, I don't think its better it's just a different choice. And a warning for UK english readers the book style is definitely US english!

Wonderful!!!

What a wonderful book!!! It demonstratively shows how we can all be creative by imitating the creative thinking strategies of the creative giants throughtout history. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has any interest in becoming more creative.

Not realllly what I was looking for.....

I'm starting a small business. I figured I'd best brush up on my book-keeping skills so I went to my local Boarders and ended up buying this.<br /><br />Bit of a dissapointment. Admitedly I've only read the first two chapters in depth, but that's enough for me, and it obviously was for the author, because the first two chapters (well, just the second chapter really) are the only ones that brush upon pure book-keeping. And it doesn't even do that very well. The examples are vaugely supported, but have little to no explanation as to where some of the figures come from. I actually had to get a calculator out to understand exactly what they were trying to illustrate and still came up short.<br /><br />Don't be fooled by the"Revised and Updated" seal of approval either. Supposedly having been revised in 2003, it only deals with cash or cheque payments, with no consideration of electronic or debit payments. Also in the tiny section on computerised book-keeping it recommends that your computer will most likely have a Windows based operating system which is (and I quote)"a graphical interface which provides an intuitive and efficient work enviroment for your personal computer", ha! Unbelieveable! I bought the book to learn about recording cash flow, not to learn the basics of Personal Computing! It gets better.... it recommends that this intuitive operating system will most likely be Windows ME! Laughable!<br /><br />But I digress. This book was updated in the sense of a few extra paragraphs to include Limited Liability Partnerships and suchlike, and the rest of the book was obviously left without tweaking.<br /><br />If your parents want to understand how to balance their cheques and maybe keep financial records of the logers rent then this is the book for them. If thats not what you're looking for (which let's be honest...it's not) then steer well clear!<br /><br />I'm off to Boarders tomorrow to ask the nice manager guy if he would give me a refund.

Buying a House in Italy

A very comprenhensive book giving all the details of what you need to be aware of when buying a house in Italy. Would recommend it.<br /><br />

Confidence Booster

I am not a habitant of Silicon Valley, nor does my business require huge venture capitalist funding. But it is ambitious, and it is scary as hell to pioneer a market with any kind of business.<br /><br />This book was useful because it made me feel I'm not alone, any idea CAN work, and the price of success is usually little more than ambition.<br /><br />I thoroughly reccommend this if you consider yourself ambitious and amongst those who change the world.

Excellent book!

This is a very clearly written book using plain language that everyone will understand. Contains lots of good, sound advice on running a successful salon. It is a must for anyone who is going into the beauty business for the first time, and it will serve as a good reminder for experienced salon owners; keep it on the shelf as a reference book.<br /><br />

Tremendous amount of info & highly recommended

I got these books from one of John Lees property events which was amazing! This book covered everything I needed to learn lease options in the UK (unlike many of the other books which seemed to be for the US!) The first part of the book helped me get to grips with how lease options works in theory which helped me understand the concept. Then the book covered the creative strategies and gave me the tools, advice and information in actually doing property deals using these techniques so I could start on my own. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who is wanting to learn about Lease Options - it gives you understanding from beginner level to advanced.

Informative

Tells you everything you need to know about setting yourself up in business as a lifecoach and what you're letting yourself in for. It actually put me off doing this, but I'm grateful for the information and advice contained within this book. If you're thinking of making a living out of lifecoaching, this book is very helpful.

Not Just for beginners

I have been running a Pet Sitting business for the past 5 years and thought I was doing a good job, but after reading this book I could immediately see ways of improving my business and becoming more professional and therefore more successful. I would recommend this to anyone, from a Cat Sitter or Dog walker to a full Pet Sitter offering all services.

GREAT BOOK

I was given this book by a friend and find it to be very informative. I'm not sure why one reviewer called it boring. 'How to' books were not meant to be exciting novels, they are meant to show someone how to do something. This book shows step by step the best way to run your own guesthouse and gives the reader the chance to decide if this business is for them. I would recommend it to anyone thinking of purchasing and running their own guesthouse. I would like to thank the author for doing such a great job. He helped me make my decision.

Outstanding inspiration!

With phrases such as"failure cannot live with persistance" and / or ideas like"invent the rules", Rachel Bridge presents a brilliant short stories' collection of people who one day woke up and decided that was it, that was the day they were paying a fair (or unfair) price for taking control of their own destinies. That's just the way you will learn how 40 successful brit companies, among those Bighams, Daily Bread, The Ice Box, Dating Direct, Green Baby, PJ Smothies, Reef One, The People Book, etc.were born and came to be... inspiring book, brilliantly written (summed up) and easily asimilated... get it and read it, satisfaction guaranteed! Actually, I cannot wait to receive her second book"My Big Idea"...