Economic-Life Books

The thing which brings this book the best form of credibility is Mrs. Daniels had access to the very subjects of the book. While I was reading it, I laughed, sighed, shook my head, smiled and many other feelings and words (some of which I cannot repeat) came out of me. For me, this was something I've seen for a while now. I'm happy I am not the only one who has felt these things and seen the things which were discussed in the book. It is not a pipe dream: the author, as well as the people she interviewed, don't give us a 1+1=2 solution to the condition of the corporate world for young Black Americans, because it would not be realistic. I would recommend this to any young Black American (or the old-school cats for that matter) who is looking to take that step to corporate America. It will open eyes for some and re-inforce existing ideas for others.

Black Power, Inc. is the book for which I've been waiting for quite some time. Daniels covers the real thought process of today's black professional, being a continuation of the previous generation's achievements, yet something altogether different. Today's black professional sees him/herself as a freedom fighter of a different brand, with corporate and entrepreneurial success as the new 'cause'. As I read this book, I found myself shouting 'Yes!' and 'Finally!' at the thought that there were actually others in the professional world who thought like me. The poignant analysis of the post-civil rights generation and its prevailing thought process was everything I needed to give me perspective and understanding of what my real purpose for acheivement has always been. If you are a young, striving, achieving, believing, competent, and driven black professional, this book is for you. This book IS you.

I must say that Cora Daniels is very insightful as she brings a voice to of us who are "Working While Black" I found myself nodding in affirmation to a lot of the things she made mention of. I discuss situations like the one's addressed in this book on a regular basis with friends and old college classmates. It is amazing how our careers span out over different professions not to mention cities and states yet we still can recall similar incidents. This book is a definite read if you are "Working While Black" or if you are not Black and wish to gain some insight into how your Black colleagues may feel.

What more can I say about this book that hasn't already been said by the other gracious reviewers... except read it. If you want to know what it's like to be a black person age 25 - 40 and work in Corporate America then READ THIS BOOK. If you want to know what your African American co-workers are going through daily then READ THIS BOOK. If you are responsible for a diversity program at a fortune 500 company then please READ THIS BOOK. If you are a Sista and you plan to enter Corporate America then READ THIS BOOK. Finally, if you are "Working While Black" then READ THIS BOOK... I promise it will make you feel better and increase your drive to succeed in spite of the circumstances.

Reading the book felt like one of the venting sessions that I need every now and then to keep my sanity. The book was a reflection of the many experiences that I have had and also have witnessed. It was nice to feel that I was not alone and that there is an answer out there and our generation will help find it.

There are people who will swear by this book, there are people who will hate the book. There is no middle ground, i have checked and tried it out. Either you love it or you hate it. Poetic Nonsense in finesse and the finest form.

This will cure your longing of the cluetrain manifisto stuffs. Beautifully written and meaningless at some point, but you goona love it i guess, you gonna crave for more, and then subscribe the newsletter.

GO buy the book, and immerse yourself. I have read some part of the book more than 3 times. Amen.

I just finished Bombastic Transcripts, so if you have bothered to read this at all you're probably wondering so what did this monkeyboy think? Good question, honestly I am still pondering it mulling it over in my head and probably will for a bit. It is a quick read, it's an interesting read, but fundamentally it's not a light read. It takes a little time for digestion and pondering... I suspect I will read it again in the next month or two and reconsider, hell maybe throw this whole review out.

So here's my advice go buy the book, RageBoy needs the cash. If you like Tom Robbins, Hunter S Thompson, and the Gonzo style read away, you'll enjoy it. Perhaps you will find some stuff to digest, even without ingesting any substances on the Schedule I drug list.

If you didn't like Cluetrain Manifesto, Gonzo Marketing, or any Gonzo writing buy the book anyways, for the reasons stated above. Then hide the book in your bookshelf and wait until a really dark night, one in which your soul is screaming for mercy while the night rages in a Category 5 Hurricane and your only fresh reading material is a copy of Reader's Digest you have flipped through already 15 times. Your mind goes hungry, for something unanswered and unknown, and you will recall this book hiding in some dark corner of the bookshelf covered in dust and a three month old edition of Fast Company magazine. You will pull it off the shelf and find yourself drawn to the words expressed inside and the walls of illusion come crashing down inside your mind. Either that or you'll take a gun and pull a Hemmingway. Doesn't much matter to me, if you survive reading it you might even find yourself signing up for Entropy Gradient Reversals, but let me warn you the shotgun is alot quicker and painless, but it's not nearly as much fun.

I only have one thing to say about this: "The Solution is Poetry". Excellent reading. Warning, you may not get it if you consider yourself too smart and significant.

This is the crash course in understanding the fundamentals of the necessity of change as seen through the eyes of the author, Christopher Locke. Everything you previously thought was lore is turned on its head in riotous fashion in The Bombast Transcripts. Each chapter takes apart some standard you thought was a given, an immutable and constant attribute of practically every aspect of life in the western world.

The best part is that Chris does it in so many different ways in one book. There's flat out ranting and there's cutting ridicule including interviews with himself, Rupert Murdoch and the famous one with Mr Ed. (Yes, the horse.)

Using those cliched critic's terms of rollercoaster ride or rollicking good yarn don't do this volume any justice whatsoever. In fact, this book defies any label you might care to ascribe.

In fact, I defy anyone to come up with a label for this book.

That was my introduction just over a year ago to Entropy Gradient Reversals and the evil genius mind(s) behind it, Christopher Locke/RageBoy. From that first mind-blowing, breathless reading of his newsletter, I was alternately charmed, alarmed and disarmed by the decidedly unpretentious Chris Locke. His new book, the Bombast Transcripts, a collection of essays previously published to the Entropy Gradient Reversals mailing list, contains that first newsletter that caught my imagination, and so many more.

As I've read through this book, I have found myself again reacting to it in the visceral way that I had to become accustomed to as one of his faithful Valued Readers at EGR. While some may call him pompous and crass, I find him to be merely open and honest. Then again, I've always had a soft spot for intelligent, over-indulgent, semi-vulgar Don Quixotes. His chosen windmills are big business that don't have a clue (IBM et all, no small potatoes here) and, while a book about business practices would normally make my eyes glaze over while putting me in a semi-catatonic state, I find this book to be human and engaging at every turn. Each essay stands on it's own as either a rant or a screed, yet each could also be expanded into its own little book. Irreverent, engaging, transforming, contemplative, hilarious....and each page is more of the same.

While I read Locke's words, I get the feeling that I am a part of something much bigger and more important than anyone can guess, especially those that think the internet is nothing more than a collection of chatrooms and porn sites. No, I get the feeling I'm getting a glimpse of a creation, a rapturous inferno of truth and emotion, two key elements that, when exposed to each other under the heat of RageBoy's passion, cause a brilliant flash of evolution that could change the world as we know it. What a wonderful world that would be.

Idealistic? Maybe. Bombastic? Hardly. Evil Genius?? Indeed.

I work in advertising so I read a lot of marketing books. Unlike many, I really liked reading this book.

Deming is a great story teller. The original parables introducing each concept help you grasp and remember the main points of the book. And Deming's personal account of his brand experiences are not only hilarious, but help drive home the key concepts.

I've never seen branding described this way -- Maybe because most who work in the Ad Biz are overly concerned with being clever, instead of communicating memorable, helpful advice. I really believe anyone in business would benefit by reading this book and applying it's principles to their own brand.

What a book! I recently saw Mr. Deming's presentation at a national conference in Dallas. After his presentation, he did a book signing and I bought The Brand Who Cried Wolf. I had it read from cover to cover by the time I got home the following day! This is one of the most inspirational and TRUE books I've ever read. Mr. Deming has not invented anything new here. What I mean is, the processes and ideas are already out there, but the way in which he explains them - with the stories and the humor and the compassion - it's just incredible. I found myself captivated by his style and message during his presentation and the same thing happened reading the book. It's just full of wonderful ideas that you can immediately apply to your personal and professional life. I am buying a copy for every member of our customer service department. Whether you're a professional wanting to improve your organization, or an individual wanting to improve the relationships with those around you, this is the book! I highly, I mean HIGHLY recommend it!

This book reads more like a fast paced, New York Times best selling story, rather than a business book. Don't get me wrong, this is definitely a business book. In fact, probably one of the best business books I've read in many years. But it doesn't read like one. It's fun, full of incredible ideas and processes, inspirational and incredibly transfomational. When reading this book, I felt like I was having a conversation with the author. That's how he writes. As if he's standing there having a one on one discussion with you. Because of Mr. Deming's ideas and unique processes, I have already changed the way I approach situations and relationships, both personally and professionally.

My favorite chapter is chapter eight. This is where he teaches the reader how to truly understand their own brand. No faking, no veneer as he puts it. No pushing hot buttons to make a sale. Just understanding who you are and then creating sincere and unique interactions with those around you. This in turn will get people to trust you forever and become your evangelists. I also love his take on the ripple effect. As he writes "Your actions generate far reaching ripples." He tells about the real effects of our actions, both positive and negative, then he gets into a true story about Sears that is both eye opening and absolutely hilarious!

This book is going in every office in our organization. It's a fast read and one you'll want to read over and over again. I highly recommend this book to anyone with the sincere desire to improve their personal and professional image. Or as Mr. Deming puts it- your Brand.

Wow! What a great book. It arrived this afternoon - never intended on finishing it this evening. After reading the first chapter, I was hooked. It's that good! This is the second book on branding I've read this month. The first was "Footnotes" by Kenneth Cole. That book, also excellent, shows the finished product. In "The Brand Who Cried Wolf", Deming shows you how to get there... and stay there. Whether you run a large corporation or a home based business, you will learn a great deal from this fun read. Just like Disney, Deming understand the power of a good story. Each of the ten chapters cleverly starts with a brief fable to illustrate a key point. Deming then follows up with countless up to date examples of how companies succeed, and more importantly, fail to achieve success in branding and customer satisfaction. Deming really hits the nail on the head with his comparison of Costco and Walmart.
This is a very well written book filled with stories to inspire. The type of writing that obviously comes from years of experience and a passion to help others. As Deming mentions in chapter eight, "you can't fake sincerity".
To sum it up - Don't think you need to be a business owner to buy this book. This is a great lesson of customer satisfaction and communication skills for anybody who interacts with others on a daily basis. Deming seems well versed in what it takes to form a successful relationship - both personal and business. I'm just glad he took the time to share some of his insightful stories with the rest of us.

I'll admit that I was a bit skeptical when I first felt that the title of this book didn't sound grammatically correct to me (I'm the guy muttering "It's 15 items or FEWER" to my wife, every time we're near the express lane at the supermarket) - I thought that the right title should have been "The Brand THAT Cried Wolf." But, Deming quickly and convincingly explains that "The Brand" is more than an inanimate corporate symbol ... it's my company, it's my department, it's me ... and, thus, deserving of the "Who" in his title. Deming uses a pleasing blend of children's fables (which, I will admit, were enjoyable to get caught up on and, in some cases, to read for the very first time), business cases, hypothetical situations and personal experiences and anecdotes to put his principles into meaningful perspectives. I continually found myself playing a mental game of "Can You Top This" with Deming every time he gave examples of unique, emotional, memorable business experiences that caused him to become, as he would put it, a "Brand Evangelist." Likewise, I found myself playing the same game (probably with a little more fervor) whenever he gave his examples of such poor service that caused him to become a "Brand Antievangelist."

Coincidentally enough, just 2 days before reading this book, my family and I rented a movie that seems to be a perfect and real-life exemplification of Deming's "You-Are-Your-Brand" hypothesis: "The Pursuit of Happyness." Based upon a true story, it's about Chris Gardner, a down-on-his-luck salesman who can't buy a break, even after he is given the "opportunity" to compete against 19 other unpaid interns at a stock brokerage for 6 months for one permanent position. His successes started only after he began creating unique experiences for his prospects and clients rather than just those typically provided by such brokerages. His first big "splash" took awhile, but the ripples that resulted got him the business he needed to beat the other 19 and earn the job. (I wish that I had read this book first!)

Definitely a good, fast and worthwhile read. And definitely not you father's book on branding. And that, here, is a good thing.

An important presentation of basic coaching principles ( with a unique slant ) that will be of great value to anyone seeking self improvement. It's not just about coaching, but is more about life defining ways of viewing yourself and the world.
This is an important compliment to Seligman's Positive Psychology; the plus is that it makes looking at 'what's right' more fun (in other words, it's not a dry, academic presentation). Read this book and you will begin to find yourself resisting the inclination for looking at life as a sequence of problems.
I'd say that this should be a must-read for all life and career coaches -as well as individuals seriously seeking to shift their view of themselves and others.

There are some really great concepts in this book. It is written by what I'm guessing is a left-brain author who promotes tapping into your intuition and creativity from all parts of the brain. If there were more cartoons and graphics to break up all the text, it would have appealed to my right brain more and I would have given it a five-star rating.

Kurt Wright presented a seminar to our management team ten years ago and it changed my life. I was fortunate to participate in a tele-seminar with him that was even more valuable. His approach to asking "right" questions that allows the other person to arrive at their own conclusions has deepened my relationship with colleagues, friends and family. It has totally changed me from a micro-manager to someone who trusts others to achieve objectives. I have rarely been let down when I showed confidence in other's competence to get things done.

(1/5)
When I was 20, I copied by hand Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People. By doing this I experienced a simple side effect, I made 7 million Deutschmarks. A lot of money in those days.
When I heard of Kurt and Patricia Wright's book, I copied/extracted the essence and sent my questions to the White House. You'll see, what's going to happen.
My only question to Kurt and Patricia is, why don't you change the title to the most effective How to Ask the (W)right Question and Succeed in Life. http://EnergyChallenge.de/091105.htm

This is a brilliant, provocative, intriguing, challenging, energising (literally!) book!

What was the best thing for me?

His concept of the Detached Control Achievement patterns (That's me!)

Other great things?

Clarity around how to GET my Life Purpose (two years of Landmark Forum training did not get me to GET that!).

We get more of what we measure (so measure what you want improved)

That I have a "powerful drive to learn" and all the behaviour/thoughts which go with that.

I look at the world through my own eyes, not those of others. No wonder when I ask people about me, what they see is so different from what I see myself! Powerful insights for me here.

And that I need to envision at least 10 years ahead (last year I created a goal of being "Alive, Alert and Active on my 100th birthday" so I've been thinking along the Right lines.)

It's amazing how my perspective changed when I thought in terms of having another 45 years of life to map out and plan!

This is not just a book - it is a working manual for driving through life on maximum revs!

An incredibly insightful book that details how to achieve long term career success through an actionable, commonsense plan that will pay dividends immediately. Mr. McGovern is very adept at presenting both the big picture of what it means to have "a career" and then outlining a process for getting there. And doing so in an engaging writing style that makes this great book an easy read.

Highly recommended!

I found this a very interesting and actionable read. I really liked the concept of a "Career Pyramid" as opposed to the traditional depiction of the "corporate ladder." I thought this was an innovative way to plan your career with the end in mind.

My only complaint is that after reading the book I logged on to Mr. McGovern's new website looking for the Pyramid Builder Tool mentioned in the Author's Note and couldn't find it. I sent an email to the author saying as much and received a reply that the book was orginally not supposed to be printed until January '06 and that the web team hadn't gotten the Tool up yet. Hopefully it will be functioning in the new year as I am anxious to see what it can do.

This is a great "manual" for the young professional who is looking to advance in their career. The author mixes practical advice with real life anecdotes that keeps you turning the page. Highly recommended!

Very sound advice and a must read for new college grads entering the work force. Follow these 'secrets' and you will outshine your co-workers who don't pay attention to their careers.

Wow! This book kept me turning the pages. Mr. McGovern shares his life experiences with his readers with eloquence and style. It's well organized and yet, easy to read. The book is written from Mr. McGovern's heart as he shares his real life experiences as a career expert. Not just another business book! I'm planning on giving one to each of my friends.

On the days when I find myself reflecting on what is happening locally and globally,I pick up Building a Life of Value. This book is a thoughtfully planned treasure that allows me to connect my thoughts with those of the great thinkers and to appreciate timeless wisdom.

There is comfort and a sense of connection between the covers. Humankind has been struggling with integrity and justice and tolerance for thousands of years. Inside this book are 14 chapters filled with words that uplift, inspire and make me smile.

I keep Building a Life of Value beside my computer, so that I can open its pages frequetnly, and reflect on life and my connection to the past. I urge you to buy a copy and do the same!

Reading this book reminds you that your values are always a work in progress, that there is always room for development. I really like the way it is organized, with the author's thoughtful reflections at the beginning and end of each chapter and the values put into complimentary sets. It's hard not to find inspiration here, as there are many wonderful quotations as well as many good questions. The best thing about this book for me is that you can pick it up at any time and find something meaningful in it depending on your mood or need at the time. It has challenged me to think about what values are at the core of my belief system, which foster other values and what I need to work on.

I've never been a big fan of quotations until I listened to a dear friend say the words to the one that changed her life, and I adopted it as my own too. Now, whenever I need a dose of inspiration or wisdom, I simply pick up the book and start thumbing through the chapters until one catches my interest and captures what I'm feeling or needing to hear at that moment in time.

I'm hooked!

This book gave me the opportunity to really take a new look at my values, and values in general. The author's essays before and after each chapter and the wide range of quotations selected made me think in new directions about what I value and why --- and on so many topics!

I like that fact that Merchey categorized the quotations into 14 different
"value sets". I'm also impressed with the index. It's arranged by author and topics. This is usually not the case with books of quotations, but then, this is not your average book of quotations. It's a distillation of centuries of great wisdom and philosophical thinking. It's really a
one-stop shop for wisdom.

Building a Life of Value is a keeper. It's a great source for inspiration and would be a wonderful reference book for anyone's personal or educational library. A must have!

Building A Life Of Value was definately a great addition to my collection of life inspiring works. In recent times, I had been faced with some difficult challanges to my belief system. In taking a few personal improvement days, I reviewed Merchey's guide to values, and Steven Covey's work on maintaining Focus, and slowly but effectively developed a clear understanding of the values that where guiding me. I am back on track now and owe much to this body of inspiration. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking at their life's journey and taking ownership of it's direction.

Everyone contemplates being successful and self-fulfilling in their lives, but there are many who never master their own realities, or pursue their real zest for life. Often times, it is because we become limited and weak in our pursuits. Through this book we are allowed to experience a personal transformation, helping us realize that it is only by serving others that we are able to discover the many ways to overcome our own struggles in life. Living a life that is full and rewarding is an attainable possibility. This is truly an uplifting and inspirational story that is guaranted to motivate and bring pleasure to everyone who reads it. Through parables, it is easy to instill the values our children will be able to take with them at a young age and beyond. My only regret is that this book was not written sooner!

This book resonated with both the child and the adult in me. While I super enjoyed the well-written adventurous and page-turning drama, the adult in me is inspired to find out how my own life lessons can teach me to use my wisdom to mentor and benefit others.... Uplifting!

This book is amazing and gratifying! It opened my eyes to the real responsibilites and obligations we have to ourselves and to each other. The lessons are clear-cut. Believing in yourself, when others may not necessarily, and having the resolution and strength to follow through with your own convictions. It is also the understanding that the endeavor to collect material wealth and retiring in luxury isn't always the most satisfying, but a keen awareness of what you do for others is where the quest for true happiness lies. This is a funny, humorous, and clever way of examining the positive affects we can instill in our lives and the resolution to finding true fulfillment.

The Caterpillar That Roared is an authentic parable that sincerely impacts all ages in the community of heart. Children will be touched in the innocense of the story and baby boomers in the wisdom of the words. I have given the book to my teen-age sons as I encourage them in their journeys hence, ensuring their lives follow the passion that gives them joy. I have given it to my fifty, sixty and nearing seventy year old siblings as they begin to assess their legacy, their impact, and their lives as they close in on retirement. It is a sweet, spirited parable that speaks to us all and should become a permanent fixture in our minds and hearts. It is a read worth living!

The reason this book is hitting everyone at just the right time is that it is written in parables allowing each of us to apply the insights to our own circumstances. Whether you are changing jobs, locations, partners or downsizing this book is for you. Take time to read it slowly and reflect on each message. Read a chapter a day or a chapter a week allowing plenty of time for reflection and application of each treasure of information. It is well worth it. It is a book that you will read more than once during your transitional journey. Thanks for helping us ROAR into our next stage of life.

this is an understated gem of a book. typically you find the core of a book lying within a few chapters but I felt this book was very balanced, each chapter contributing a different perspective to how to create clients for life.

the authors illustrated each principle with a real example and its the lives of the great men / women that provides genuine inspiration to go further.

as an advertising professional, I like the framework presented here very much, it provides a practical basis for creating solid, long-term client relationships, no fuss, the real meat.

Strongly recommend this book. The professions would be better off if it were more widely read. An inspiring and enjoyable read, with interesting asides and illustrations. An antidote for aspiring individuals working in low-trust, money focused organizations.

Jagdish Sheth and Andrew Sobel convincingly retrace in Clients for Life the journey that professionals can make to become extraordinary advisers to some of their clients. Their findings are based not only on their personal experience, but perhaps more importantly, on in-depth interviews with leaders of major corporations who have gained significant experience in buying services and seeking advice from professionals.

Sheth and Sobel make a distinction among expert for hire, steady supplier, and extraordinary adviser on the professional services continuum. Some professionals are sought-after advisers instead of being just an expert for hire who offers his expertise on a transactional basis or a steady supplier who despite his repeated engagements has not been admitted to the inner circle of close advisers. Sheth and Sobel call this broad-based, abiding client relationship which generates collaboration and insight a breakthrough relationship.

Sheth and Sobel have isolated seven attributes that great professionals successfully develop and integrate into a powerful whole to come to a breakthrough relationship with a client. At the bottom of the pyramid, there are selfless independence (meeting clients' needs while preserving integrity) and empathy. Knowledge depth and breadth, synthesis, and judgment represent the thinking process that is expected from an extraordinary adviser. Finally, at the top of the pyramid, there are integrity and conviction that make up the character expected from such an extraordinary adviser. Sheth and Sobel illustrate each attribute with examples that help the practitioner put their recommendations into practice.

Great professionals have to infuse everything they do with a soul of abundance (doing the right thing regardless of monetary outcome), mission, and self-renewal. Sheth and Sobel conclude their examination of breakthrough relationships with the pitfalls and dilemmas in client relationships. Not all clients are open to this type of relationship.

Sheth and Sobel bring to life the concept of client relationships in a way that consultants, and other professioanl service providers, can use immediately. The value of this book is that it takes the client's point of view when discussing professional relationships, rather than focusing on how to sell services.

And, the book goes beyond theory to give the reader specific actions to guide their interactions with clients, and become true advisors to clients. The book stresses how to make the transition from a service provider to a client advisor.

The book also points out the land mines in client relationships, and how you can avoid them. An experienced consultant may find many of the concepts in this book familiar, but you may question how well you're following the authors' great advice. Those who are newer to the business will find a well-researched template for building a practice of clients for life.

Michael McLaughlin, coauthor with Jay Conrad Levinson of Guerrilla Marketing for Consultants.

As a consultant, this book helped me focus on behaviors aimed at building a long-term practice rather than simply going from success-to-success. I say this not to toot my own horn (yes, I've had failures too) but rather because most decent consultants actually do OK--clients are generally happy. We appear to succeed on a regular basis. The great consultants, however, are the ones who build vocal followings...and that's where the value of this work rests.

My favorite thing about this book is the stories about real people and how they handled their situations. These "true stories" helped give me the courage to quit my job and turn my life around. In fact, after perusing this book, I quit the job I hated the very next day! I soon turned my life around. It was the best decision I ever made. The book really helped me muster my courage.

What I don't like about this book are the stupid personality tests. One of the questions were like "Are you sometimes impatient?" And the answer choices were "always," sometimes" or "never." So if I am sometimes impatient, should I answer "always?" I mean, I am always sometimes impatient. Or should I answer sometimes? These tests are poorly worded and are a complete waste of ink.

Well, it was about time, finding a book that answered all my questions about what I really wanted out of life and, but of course, my fears and doubts. I was so trapped in my job, believing every manipulation corporate America put into my head. Now, I know what I want to do, and I am not afraid to risk and lose. Job satisfaction is more important than the money I'll lose, or that I'll make in the future. I just want to be happy. Security? There's no security anywhere, so the only risk I can avoid is the risk of not trying it. You should, too. Just read the book, and see what I mean.

"An exceptional resource at the top of my list. It leads the way in the new millennium." Evelyn Kragie, EdD, John Hopkins University

"A fascinating and powerful formula for personal fulfillment and success." J. Michael Farr, Best-selling career author

"Chock full of information, suggestions, guidelines and case histories that will help you control your own life and career." S. Norman Feingold, EdD, President, National Career and Counseling Services, Washington, D.C.

"A superb model for living the examined life and career." David V. Tiedeman, EdD, Vice-President, Lifecareer Foundation, Los Angeles, CA

"... excellent ... filled with constructive messages for opportunity, growth, and mastery ..." Pat Nellor Wickwire, PhD, President, American Association for Career Education

"Challenges you to change your life ... gives real encouragement and sound practical advice." Bill Hague, PhD, University of Alberta

"A 'must' read if you are at a career crossroad or contemplating serious changes ..." Les Hewitt, President, Achievers

"Challenges us to explore ... and find our best role in the future. I strongly recommend this book to anyone seeking a new career or a new meaning in their life's work." Warren Farrell, PhD, author, The Myth of Male Power and Why Men Are the Way They Are

One of the highroads to dissappointment and failure is job dissatisfaction.

I find it interesting that many people are unwilling to change jobs or careers while all the time complaining how bad their company is. Or people who get downsized and go right back in the same type of job.

Carole Kanchier, Ph.d offers a long overdue perspective. She says, "The choice is yours. You can complain or you can change."

Kanchier offers self evaluation. She suggests:

* Redine success. Maintain harmony between who you are and what
you do. Consider that job satisfaction may be more important
than money or position.

* Know yourself and what you want; Identify your mission in life.
Modify goals as you learn more about yourself.
Are you growing or standing still.

* Take career control. Think of building a career rather
than applying for a job. Develop a habit of lifelong
learning and self improvement.

* Enhance creativity. Trust and value intuition. Learn to
relax and have fun.

* Think positively. Learn to say "I can" rather than "I
can't" View setbacks as a learning experience. Listen
to motivational tapes. Reas inspiritional books.
Associate with positive people. Begin and end each
day with positive thoughts.

* Develop resilience: Balance fear of change with committment
Put on the blinders. Get tough. Break goals into small
success steps.

Dare to change your life and your job is a great book that
will help you take back your life and step up to success.

Carole Kanchier, Ph.d offers powerful and specific advice for those unhappy. She says, "The choice is yours. You can complain or you can change."

Here is what she suggests:

* Redfine Success

* Know yourself

* Take career control

* Enhance creativity

* Think positively

* Develop resilience

Overall a good read and I highly recomend it.

I just wanted to leave a bit of review here for my mom (the author). Hopefully she'll see this someday and know that despite what she has viewed as shortcomings, she has always been an inspiration not only to others but to her family and all those closest to her. I've had my own difficulties and was raised amidst many of hers. With a great deal owed to her example and support, I was able to carve a path from high school drop-out to acceptance at a prestigious university for the fall. You have been and continue to be an amazing mom and I love you!

If you haven't yet read this book, you are missing out on an experience everyone deserves to have. If you guys loved her debut work as much as I did, please keep an eye out for her upcoming titles. They're on the way!

-Andrew

The author tells her story about how she succeeded in her dreams and kept pushing herself further. She definitely makes the point that she was not a super woman along the way; she made plenty of mistakes. The author always seemed to have a clear sense about who she was and what she wanted. Her personal stories added a great deal about her advice. Her stories happened to her and she was simply not repeating stories of friends or patients. From who she was, to who became is an inspiring story. How the basics like writing letters helped her network. How she wanted to blast salsa music in her suburban neighborhood. Through the toughest times, the author maintained a strong sense of self.

I've just begun reading this, after picking it up and seeing answers to some of my own dilemmas in its pages. She says things with finality, and I don't always agree with her. For example, I like to think that, someday, I WILL drive a Jaguar. But, that said, when she talks about letting go of things that haven't worked in the past, and moving forward to a better future filled with achievable goals... this is a very good book for people who are depressed or otherwise feeling "stuck" in life. If you don't actually buy a copy yourself, ask your library to order it.

I am not an avid reader. I tend to read more newpapers, professional journals. When I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. I finished this book in one night. A record for me.

This book is uplifting, inspiring and true!!! I felt motivation I haven't felt in a long time since I read this book.

This is a very inspiring book. When I initially started reading, it felt like just another feel good book with general advice. However as I progressed it picked up and became quite interesting. The advice given by the author is not new or unique, but offered in the context of her own life experiences, become very useful.
One shortcoming of this book, as for many books of this nature, is that it seems to address primarily a younger audience. What about the readers who are now in their mid-forties, early fifties and have less time to start over and be effective? Understandably the author is in her thirties, hence this shortcoming. Nevertheless, I wish I had a book like this available to me when I was in my twenties, because the ideas offered are inspiring and most valuable.