Economic-Life Books

From the outset, readers might think that this is a book for children. In actuality, this is a new-age book about Ping, and Ping being metaphoric about every and each of us that is seeking for meaning of life. Some of us are perfectly contented with the way they are and they are happy enough pottering around the well. However, there are some of us that are curious about what's beyond the well and they would go searching. Naturally, there are times when we aren't able to see beyond the woods and there are times when we are just about to give in and give out because to get to our destinations can prove difficult and almost impossible. Then, someone comes along (in this instance, in the form of an ageing but wise Owl) who would give us inspiration and dispense with anecdotes about life which subsequently strengthen our resolve to keep on going when the going gets tough. For many of us that believe in good-ending, this book brings us back to reality. Just when we think that everything is looking up, everything go pear-shaped. That's when we are at the cross-road (not at the cliff) deciding if we shall continue going or turning back. The book ends open-endedly and it's entirely up to you to decide what you wish to do with your own lives. I applaud the author for being courageous in doing so rather than being condescending, in preaching the readers to do what he deems is the right thing to do. On the contrary, he empowers the readers to actualise their actions which they see fit. Highly recommended and truly inspirational!

The person who rated this book with two stars is the perfect example of someone in need of reading more books such as this one. Learn to relax, open your mind, and enjoy. Put your red pen down while reading this book, because it's not needed. The book was very well written and very smooth in vocabulary choice. As a teacher, I would find it easy to use as a read-aloud in a high school classroom. It was very uplifting and inspirational, while still making me think and reflect on my life. Amazon customer for four years and never felt moved enough to write a review until now!

I loved reading Ping, it made me laugh and think and it made me realize how to advise my employees on the importance of accepting risk and dealing with change. This book is especially rich in wisdom and insight for graduates, supervisors, managers and executives and can help create a more supportive workplace. As a Christian, I came away with many insights that I had not realized before. The story of how Ping is mentored by a wise owl is an upliifting one, owl's teachings like those of Jesus, Moses, Mohammed and other prophets and spiritual leaders is an invitation for us all to become living examples for others to follow. This is a small book with a huge message that I invite all to discover.

Ping is an amusing and enlightening story that reveals profound truths about how to deal with change in your work and in your life In this simple parable Ping is a frog in search of a new pond who confronts his "stuckness," and overcomes his fear by discovering and welcoming the power of change. The lesson from this witty and endearing read is that change is ultimately about taking action and control of our own destiny. It is something that we all have the power to do. The question is, "Will
we?" The story of Ping is a tale of empowerment. That empowerment is a gift we can give to our selves, not something that is bestowed by others. At 90 pages this book is a life manual that should be part of every curriculum. As a business enhancement it is inspiring. If you are in management of a company that goes through changes, you need not only to read this, but give it to your employees too.

I loved this book for it's postive motovational message and lessons that one can apply to their career and life. The story follows a frog named Ping who is forced to find a new pond when the one that has offered him security for so long has dried up. The journey he takes is inspirational and teaches us that despite great obsticales our goals are always within reach if we would learn to reach within. Like Who Moved My Cheese, Ping is a book that will be enjoyed by recent graduates and seasoned business professionals.

Just like there are styles for organzing, procrastination, behavior and thinking, there is a style for selling--by gender! What a great heads up this author gives us for recognizing and more effectively interacting with someone in a business and sales situation. The exercises in the book were easy and usefuil because they helped gain some clarity around my own style. An easy and informative read.

I found this book to be easy-to-read, informative, and interesting.

The author tells you the what, the why, and the how of specific elements of "pitching" and she includes colorful examples to make her point.

She clearly breaks down the process of "pitching" into key elements and describes how to maximize the effectiveness of each element while including the major concerns of the other party.

(If anyone has seen the movie "Working Girl" with Melanie Griffith and Sigourney Weaver, you know how much work Melanie puts into her "pitch" and about the conflict between the "pink" woman, Melanie, and the "blue" woman, Sigourney.
This book describes certain elements of that movie to a T!)

The book hit the nail on the head when it said that as a woman you could jeopardize your chances of success if you are too feminine or too masculine. (This is not immediately obvious in most professions, and I have found that this is quite a fine line to walk in and out of the workplace.) Adjusting your style to suit the comfort level of your audience and being able to attend to the verbal and nonverbal behaviors of your audience are also discussed in this book.

Anyone that has tried not to pitch like a girl, female or male, has learned that what may seem like a simple natural motion into a complicated series of motions of from a specific grip on the ball, flex the wrist, position the arm, rotating the shoulder, twisting at the waist, leaning back, and moving my weight to the front foot for the throw.

What women might think is an innate ability to throw a baseball, or "pitch", is a very specific sequence of motions carefully learned over and made to look effortless through practice and refinement.

Thank goodness that someone could break down the motions of promoting the best of my skills and qualities to another person, for explaining how we are "pitching" all the time in our lives and the importance being able to do it effectively, and for explaining how "blue" people, "pink" people, and people with "stripes" are different.

This book helped me assess my audience more accurately, make adjustments to my "pitch" to increase my effectiveness, and decrease my level of stress while "pitching"!

Ronna Lichtenberg's Pitch Like a Girl reached the top of my reading stack just in time! I was literally in the midst of sending out promotional packets for my new business when I realized I needed to hold the mail until I finished her book. Ronna's practical advice was like a slap to the forehead - of course I should frame it that way, of course that's what potential clients will need to hear! Even my therapist agreed with Ronna's idea of selling my business as Me, Inc. instead of "just" . . . me. This is a great tool for women who struggle to sell themselves. Gini Hamilton, Communications Consultant.

Pitch Like a Girl is a book that at first glance gives the impression of simply being a primer for females in the modern workplace. As a male reader, my initial reaction was there wouldn't be much in it for me. I was wrong! The author has done an excellent job of revealing the clear and significant differences between men and woman in the workplace. Modern culture perpetuates a silly myth that men and woman are equal in every way... they just have a few parts different in anatomical design. The plain truth as Ronnie Lichtenberg explains is that we are "wired differently". This does not make one sex better or superior than another. We are unique by design and react differently in various situations. Men and woman also approach problems and challenges from different perspectives. This is as it should be, and trying to be something you are not, or conforming to others' expectations only leads to frustration.

Pitch Like a Girl is a refreshing book because the author believes women in the workplace don't have to change who and what they really are to succeed. She believes the real secret to success is to tap "more fully and consciously into the woman you already are". Litchenberg proposes that the key to fulfillment is to bring more of yourself to work, and to receive more back from it. To promote this she encourages the reader to discover their own "pitch". The "pitch" may be different for each individual, but as a powerful tool it will help you to exercise your natural skills of persuasion to influence others toward your point of view. This is accomplished by developing the skill set most women have acquired by nurturing and building personal relationships.

I enjoyed reading Pitch Like a Girl and it reminded me of the many barriers that still exist in the workplace for women. It also highlights the problems created when talented females feel forced to think and react just like their male counterparts. This fine publication is a pleasure to read and many parts are Lichtenberg's own autobiography which helps explain her philosophy and passion. The book is broken down into five chapters and each is seasoned with checklists, sidebars and thought-provoking questions. Pitch Like a Girl also includes some self-analysis testing and even has one appendix for guys to read.

Overcoming cultural expectations can be difficult. But, to be successful and fulfilled at the same time means being who and what you are intended to be on the inside and outside. This book will appeal to both female and male readers because it teaches us to respect each other for our mutual differences. When you understand and appreciate these differences, and view them as genuine strengths, you know that what the French mean when they say, "viva la difference".

Pitch Like A Girl is a book for both genders. Although this book is addressed to women, if you are a man, you'll find most of it applies to you, too. Because, as Lichtenberg amply illustrates, there may be fixed tendencies arising from "hard-wiring" in the different male and female brains and hormonal systems, but tendencies are subject to manipulation by socialization, by learning and by choice. So, we all end up with both blue (traditionally male) and pink (traditionally female) characteristics.

Ronna Lichtenberg provides her readers with three exceptional tools to improve communication and transactions across the styles that divide us:

1) She simplifies relevant scientific literature on the roles played by physical, psychological and sociological gender differences and makes it easy to understand and interesting to read.

2) She provides handy set of color-coded categories for how those differences work. That set is very useful for accurately interpreting other people's words, behaviors, expectations and intentions.

3) She gives exact, specific instructions on how to use your new understanding to get ahead in business -- and get what you want elsewhere.

In Pitch Like A Girl, you will learn to how to recognize and value both blue and pink characteristics (and your own particular blend) and use your tendencies for your highest benefit. You'll appreciate that the so-called "gender gap" in communicating is really a "pink" and "blue" gap that occurs within genders as well. So you'll be better able to talk to, negotiate with and make presentations to anyone by identifying his or her overall tendencies. In that, this excellent book adds substantially to the literature on male-style and female-style communication (such as Deborah Tannen's books You Just Don't Understand and That's Not What I Meant).

Of course, the book is about more than communications. The author's expression of the need for assertiveness and self-promotion in what she calls the "Me, Inc." approach is of interest to both "pinks" and "blues". As the saying goes, if I had a nickel for every time I explained the concept to both male and female clients, well...I'd have a whole lot of nickels. Let me just say, if you only get this one concept out of this and apply it, you'll be much more effective as an employee, an entrepreneur, a boss or whatever else you are. It is golden.

For women in particular, though, Lichtenberg addresses in depth issues all women face, pink, blue or evenly-striped. Issues that men are unlikely to face for many physical and cultural reasons. Best of all, she doesn't just help you understand them, she has ideas for exactly what to do about them. Men can just skip on to the generically useful parts.

This little book is not about giving up everything, but rather it is about keeping only what really matters--in things, in commitments, and in life.

"Simplifying isn't meant to leave your life empty--it's meant to leave space in your life for what you really want to do..."

Here is an easy to read book perfectly timed for the New Year. It is not just another book on dealing with clutter, but more of a how-to book on dealing with the realities of life today. Whether you want to learn another language, keep your desk in order, loose weight, or whatever, the author sets you on your way to actually accomplishing your goals.

"...focus on doing less, but doing it more effectively and, in effect, accomplishing more while reducing stress."

Check out the chapter headings:

PART I: THE PRINCIPLES
1. Why Less is Powerful
2. The Art of Setting Limits
3. Choosing the Essential, and Simplifying
4. Simple Focus
5. Create New Habits, and the Power of Less Challenge
6. Start Small

PART II: IN PRACTICE
7. Simple Goals and Projects
8. Simple Tasks
9. Simple Time Management
10. Simple Email
11. Simple Internet
12. Simple Filing
13. Simple Commitments
14. Simple Daily Routine
15. Declutter Your Work Space
16. Slow Down
17. Simple Health and Fitness
18. On Motivation

I have been a follower of Zen Habits and was overjoyed to learn of this book. Right now we are suffering muchness and it is not making us individually or the world better. This book is just what is needed. I urge you to buy this, follow the advice and share it with friends. Less is better and Leo is a master at helping you find more with less.
Blessings to Leo.

My copy of Leo Babauta's new book, Power of Less, The: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential...in Business and in Life, arrived Friday evening, and by late Friday I'd read it cover to cover. Now, on Sunday, I'm starting it again. It may be about "less", but is contains more than my brain could take in with a single read.

Leo, the owner of the wildly popular ZenHabits blog, has written one of those classics that apply to both our business and personal lives. In brief, The Power of Less is a treatise on the small steps (see my blog post on the Kaizen way) we can take to simplify our lives and in the doing find far more joy and success than all of our manic behavior could produce.

The book begins with Leo's own story of being an debt, overweight, smoking, workaholic who rarely saw his family. His life was chaotic and he never had time for the things and people he loves. (Sound familiar?) Then, he made the choice to simplify his life in small continuous ways; first he quit smoking by focusing all of his energy on that one goal.

Then, he attacked other goals, one at a time, like becoming a runner, eating healthier, starting a successful blog, and getting out of debt.

One by one the goals were met (and exceeded). Leo has run two marathons, has doubled his income, became a vegetarian, decluttered his home, lost 45 pounds, and spends quality time with his family. Today, Leo's blog is one of the top 50 blogs in the world, with more than two million readers a month. If that doesn't make you want to adopt his principles, nothing will!

The Six Principles of Simple Productivity
The Power of Less is divided into two sections; the first walks readers through the six principles of simple productivity:

1. Set limitations
2. Choose the essential
3. Simplify
4. Focus
5. Create habits
6. Start small

Part II details practical tips for implementing the six principles in key areas including e-mail, health, time management, filing, Internet, and decluttering your work space.

Simple Doesn't Mean Easy
While the principles are simple, it doesn't necessarily mean they're easy to implement. Anyone who has started a new habit (like a diet) knows that for sure. However, with small continuous improvement, the principles are achievable.

For example, Leo has weaned himself off e-mail to checking only twice a day. I probably check e-mail 100 times a day - - and just as a nutritionist wouldn't ask us to cut out every unhealthy food in one day, they would encourage us to cut-back. For me, that would mean (first) KNOWING how many times a day I check e-mail, and then (second) cutting back a little, then a little more, and then a little more. Until I reach a point that e-mail doesn't rule my existence.

The Principle of Choosing the Essential
While all of the principles serve as stepping stones to a life of more, the one that hangs me up the most is the principle of choosing the essential. And it's a bugaboo that's been with me life-long. As Leo says, once you know the essentials you'll be in a position to eliminate the chaos of incoming information, commitments, and clutter.

Thankfully, the section on choosing the essential has a series of questions to help define what's essential - and this is the section I'm currently re-reading - because it's the most difficult for me. I know absolutely that once I have those essentials defined, the remaining principles will be far easier to integrate.

The reason this principle is so important to me is that in knowing the essentials, I'll know which projects or tasks have the highest priority - because they're the ones that will have the biggest impact on the essentials. For me, this is the key to having the life of what truly IS more.

Putting the Principles Into Action
As a life-long "clean desk" advocate, I was ahead of the game on the decluttering principle, but way behind on e-mail, Internet, commitments, and health.

Fortunately, simplifying these areas are a matter of making small continuous changes (the Kaizen way), instead of radical ones. For instance, one of the life issues discussed is making time for what we love. As a self-employed person, I get so caught in the flow of work that I forget what I really love.

However, once prompted by The Power of Less, I really thought about what I love - then I made a list, and one-by-one will begin implementing them in my life.(and being a true Kaizen-ista) will NOT try to take on all of them at once!) By the way, my list includes learning to kayak, to play the harmonica, and hiking.

A Perfect Time for a Perfect Book
As I wander the Internet, I hear over and over the desire for simplification. The entrepreneurs I know have all hit the wall at the same time - - they're on information overload, have massive (and unattainable) to-do lists, poor health, wretched time management, cluttered desks and minds, and no fun.

If ever there was a time for The Power of Less, it's now.

Leo knows what he's talking about when it comes to simplification, and his book is a great example of the Zen principle of "no more than necessary". Not only is the content written with simplification in mind, but even the book itself is an objet d'art of clean and simple... the book is small and portable with easy-to-read print. Leo puts the ideas from the book into the very book itself. A+

First, let me say this: The content in this book is worth 5 stars. Leo is the absolute best at making anyone realize what is important in the world, and act on it. If you've had it with other self-empowerment books, the kind that use phrases like "thrive off of synergy" and "discover the true version of yourself" and "unlock the millionaire within you" and other absurdities that clog the self-improvement industry of books, then The Power of Less will be an absolute relief. The general mantra is easy to swallow and understand: focus your efforts on one thing and you will be more effective.

The book is simple and direct with little fluff. It's aimed at everyone, not just the big-time business managers and the yuppie type. As a student and writer, I find that 7 Habits and Getting Things Done and the like, while they're great, just don't feel like they're aimed at me. The Power of Less is, though. And it's undiluted greatness. There's no New Age-y stuff in here, nothing really abstract. Just solid, practical approaches to the problems that everyone faces.

Here's the one catch, though: at least 85-90% of the content in this book is fundamentally equivalent to what's been posted on his blog, Zen Habits (zenhabits dot net). Leo's techniques rely on simplicity so much that there are really only so many ways you can spin it.

There are a lot of reasons to buy this book: it goes a little bit deeper in its explanations, it is a great summary and introduction to everything on Leo's site, it supports Leo after all of the hard work he has put in to helping your average Joe like me make his life and his world a little bit better, and it introduces his ideas in a logical order.

But you can get explanations the same fundamental approaches and set of tips for free on Zen Habits, so if you're looking to pinch pennies while still taking serious steps forward in your life, you might instead just want to go through his site.

This review is not a knock on the book at all. It's just a reminder that there's a free digital alternative. That's a tip Leo himself would approve of.

A "must read" for anyone truly interested in the political climate in today's Russia. A combination of the author's knowledge, her writing skill, and her predictable, tragic end make this book a "thriller" to read as well as an accurate compass in describing the unfortunate direction in which the "New Russia" is headed today.

the forward starts off "(she) could have left russia--remember that as you read these journals." what comes across initially as anna's relentless account of putin's rise to autocratic dominance is more of an alarming and disheartening account of russia's systematic devolution where democracy, freedom of press and the semblance of a worthy society were fleetingly promised as they were taken away. incredible heart-wrenching accounts of the moscow theater and beslan school massacres as well as the two chechen wars.

A must read for anyone who wants to understand the "new" Russia. One hopes others will have the courage to take up Ms. Politkovskaya's crusade in exposing the corruption so rampant in Putin's (and now Medvedev's)Russia.

This is a riveting account of a life constantly in peril. The translation is equally outstanding, conveying both the "conversationalism" of a "diary" and the formality of the more essential elements.

Anna Politkovskaya's "Russian Diary" is a gold mine of information and provides unparalleled insights into Putin's Neo-Soviet Russia.

Many believe that Politkovskaya was murdered for her indepth investigative reporting into all aspects of Putin's regime. In this book she makes it clear that Russia is rapidly sliding into a dark and deep abyss.

Politkovskaya reveals the rampant corruption prevalent in the Russian government and its total disregard for the Russian population, human rights, and basic democratic principles.

"Russian Diary" is a first-hand account of the growing power of Russia's criminal community and its alliance with Vladimir Putin, the rampant greed and lawlessness of the new Russian business elite, the unbridled brutality of the Russian security services, and the gross incompetence of the Russian military.

Politkovskaya believed that Russia was headed for another major war in the Caucasus against the mountain peoples it has been terrorizing and murdering for the last decade.

This is a sad and depressing story that is all too familiar to those with firsthand knowledge of the Soviet Union and Russia.

I recently attended an Optimal Thinking for Leaders seminar by Dr. Rosalene Glickman who referred to Dr. De Bono as the world authority on creativity. She recommended to the audience of 500 to read this book and especially to take note of the "Small Map" and the "Big Map". Well, I have to say De Bono is a brilliant author, and I finally understand what creativity means and how to apply it most effectively during conflicts and other situations. I highly recommend this book.

I read the review written by someone from New York. I was surprised that he or she had the same feelings about the book as I had. This is a shocking book. On the one hand, it is excellent and teaches people a lot about how to think about a problem. On the other hand, the author is so self-conceited that sometimes I asked myself: if he is so creative, why didn't he invent ANYTHING apart from his own way of making money?
The funny thing is, that I still recommend this book!

Peter Fabri, Budapest, Hungary

In my estimation, Edward de Bono is the world authority on creativity. I have read most of his books, and seen him speak at the International Conferences on Thinking. This book will not disappoint you. I was especialy impressed with his explanations of the creative pause, focus, and how to come up with alternatives. His sensitizing techniques are unique and a must read for anyone who wants to optimize their creativity.

By now I think I have read about fifteen of De Bono's books and this is certainly the best. Many of the others seem to be mostly regurgitations of the the same old stuff. Does he get paid by the word? He claims to have written about 25 books, but I think he has to a great extent written one book over and over again. And he seems so pompous and arrogant. How can someone with such arrogance be creative? He never quotes others (perhaps to him there are no others) or cites other works on creativity, even in cases where his ideas were clearly not first his. This is an excellent book, but by an ego-centric author and that unfortunately colors all his writing.

In my estimation, Edward de Bono is the world authority on creativity. I have read most of his books, and seen him speak at the International Conferences on Thinking. This book will not disappoint you. I was especialy impressed with his explanations of the creative pause, focus, and how to come up with alternatives. His sensitizing techniques are unique and a must read for anyone who wants to optimize their creativity.

This book is an excellent guide to help all owners get their businesses on track! It is an easy read and has multiple tools/exercises that will pull your executive team together as well as your whole organization. It is a must read for those who are serious about growing their companies.

This is a great nuts and bolts process for operating a business. "Traction" is a simple read and walks you through a straight forward implementation plan. One of the best business books I have read.

I have put the principles of "Traction" into place in my business and now focus on the activity that earns us the most income. I use to be everything to everybody and spent too much time earning too little for too much activity. This book is a must read for all business owners!
Ed Primeau

This is my 3rd start-up company and it is off to the best start. We are exceeding our projections and we know it is because of we are executing the EOS Process. From vision to project accountability, the system is both simple and comprehensive.

Much of my career has been spent in consulting so I have had the privilege to see how a number of companies are run. I have not seen a more effective operating system than EOS. Traction provides the details you need to implement the process. It's not just concept and theory - it provides instruction that allows you to use the process. I recommend Traction & the EOS Process wholeheartedly.

By applying Gino's system, we have enjoyed over 30% growth year after year with high levels of accountability, leadership, and a system that continues to amaze us in its simplicity and effectiveness. Highly recommended.

I had this book on my wishlist for over a year before I finally bought and read it. I couldn't decide how good it would be, if it would really be worth a $10 bill--or if other books were more deserving of my cash. If you're in that position, this review is for you.

The chapters of this book alternate between stories of adventure and motivational or self-help chapters.

The adventure stories are enjoyable, and if, like me, you haven't had enough adventures lately they might inspire you. The story of his experience as a gaucho, near the middle of the book, is a great one. In the end of the book he compares fatherhood to an adventure, entertainingly comparing his daily routine to the imagined routine of a cave-man. These chapters are the better parts of the book.

The motivational/self-help chapters are filled with the standard exhortations, although here and there the adventure theme adds an intriguing twist, or a unique suggestion. If you really take them seriously, they might be quite helpful. So, although this book is not bad, it's not great, and I'd recomemend "Less Traveled" or "7 Habits" above it.

Conclusion: If you've read those two books, and if you think adventure is something your life is missing, then this book is worth the money and time.

Further conclusion: If you haven't done anything adventurous lately, and your life feels boring, then it's time you did. Reading this book might help you get off your tush, and then it's important that you read it.

I have read a lot of non-fiction selp help and spiritual books and I must say this one was a pleasure to read. The writer, who spent 20 years he says, completing this books shares with the reader what he learned mainly from his life experience not just "book larnin", so to speak, which makes this book a somewhat light but pithy and very interesting read.

The author uses a pattern whereby he writes a chapter that tells the story of one of his adventures in what I found was an engaging, honest and delightful way. It was hard not to want to find out how things turned out I found and hard, at times, to put the book down.

After you read a fact based chapter, the author then writes a chapter that summarizes the life lessons he learned from his experiences in a point by point manner although he still weaves his life into these chapters as well. These chapters I found easy to follow and yet packed with good life advice. Some of it is probably a review of what you may have heard somewhere else but has the ring of experience behind it that makes it seem more real. For example, from one of his encounters with one of the last real life gaucho's we are given his (the gaucho's) meaning of life summarized in a few sentences- "There is nowhere to go. There is nothing to do except to be of service." Then, the author expands upon that statement in the following chapter.

The author's proclivity for action makes this a good read in particular for those seeking to become better people but lack the personal motivation to pursue a more sedentary sitting meditation practice. The author's perspective is interwoven with a spiritual foundation but emphasizes an active pursuit of one's growth to reach a more spiritual point of view. That is, using everday life as a tool for growth. It also emphasizes the fact that one can become a more complete person without having to embark upon the adventuresome and risk taking life that he did. (Oh yes, some of his fellow adventurer's were woman as well and there is definitely something in here for woman, even householder's, as well.)

My only criticism is the author's political naievete' which he sort expresses at the end but not blatantly, but that doesn't detract from the highly entertaining way that hard earned and quite useful life messages are communicated to the reader. (I probably only noticed the political stuff more because of my own sensitivity to that arena not because the author is trying to blantly push a political message because he is definitely not.)

If you are a "seeker" looking for a change of pace and refreshing read I think you will find it in this book. At least I did. In fact, I hope to reread it to remind myself of the useful messages conveyed if I can put down all of the other books that I have committed myself to, that is.

Salz tone of high adventure combined with self-deprecation (he actually advocates falling off your horse as an excellent way to establish rapport with the natives) definitely makes for an entertaining read.

While his of the Andes and Patagonia (from which one can learn an astounding number of ways to use one's hands when they are frozen solid) are gripping, Salz should be more readily compared to Richard Bach than Sebastian Junger.

Salz manages to give concrete ways of getting the spirit of adventure into your life without having to get your passport stamped... or even leaving your own backyard!

I'd recommend this book highly to anyone who feels like the grind of everyday life is getting them down. I look forward to his next book!

Jeff Salz is adventure. Every minute of his life is filled with the quest for it. His talent at sharing this with others is amazing. To follow Jeff's sharing is to find the love of adventure within the folds of your own life. Or to break out of those folds and do something that is so you, so on your edge and so filled with aspects of your own unlived life that you know aliveness from the inside out. You can live great aliveness and inner peace at once. Jeff has the gift to show how.

I SAW THIS BOOK WHILE I WAS ON CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SPREE AND I BOUGHT IT AS A GIFT. I STARTED READING IT AND I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.I ENJOYED IT SO MUCH THAT I HAD TO RETURN TO THE BOOKSTORE AND BUY TWO MORE COPIES. THIS BOOK STIRS THE ADVENTUROUS PART OF THE SOUL. GREAT READ!!

This book is a must for anyone with the desire to excell in life and be at peace while doing so. Excellent for management training. Required reading in my company.

I purchased this book several years ago and have misplaced it since moving so I'm back for another copy. Why? Because this book was an integral part of my life and gave incredible insight on how to manage conflict from a spiritual perspective. If you're looking for "entertainment reading" ( 3 stars? C' mon!)this isn't it.
However, if you are like me...a spiritual person who has to deal with conflict somewhere in your life, and would like to do it without losing something precious...your integrity...this is the book for you.
This is also not a "feel good, everything's gonna be ok" type book. Definately, as the the other reviewer said NOT metafizzy in the least. It is a book that will help you discover ways to deal with conflict and confrontation with grace. If you are like me, and had parents that were too busy/dysfuntional to teach you how to defend yourself (in an honest ethical way) you will find great insight here. Like the i-ching, I would just randomly open a page and read it's meaning. This is also a great book to give to a friend who may be having passivity issues.
This book is not for the faint of heart..or someone who does not realize the value of sticking up for yourself when the time comes. It is for those who realize that conflict just IS...like it or not, and those who would like to fight back with honor.
Thanks Frank Rivers...your wisdom is sorely needed. :o)

This extraordinary book by Frank Rivers deserves more stars than would fit on this page. Frank Rivers deals with ideas formerly reserved for mysticm and the most esoteric disciplines in a charmingly down to earth manner. He gets a lot of mileage out of the Owl analogy, and it works. The reader, male or female, can easily identify with both the fledgling and the wise old owl of Frank River's examples. This fascinating treatise on conflict, paradox and martial principle has so much more substance and clarity than one would expect from such a relatively unknown work. I especially recommend it to readers who don't normally enjoy warm and fuzzies, or self-help conflict-resolution type books. I also recommend it to those struggling with the inconsistencies and injustices of life. Again and again Frank Rivers makes the principles of life, of reality and conflict, as concrete and usable as an idea or words on paper can get. I plan to read this book several times in the next few years. I put Frank Rivers "The Way of The Owl" right up there with James Carse's "Finite and Infinite Games" and consider it much more accessible to the person with an average interest in this type of subject. Although I found the book deeply spiritual in nature, I also found it well in line with fundamental beliefs. A Baptist minister and a Buddhist monk would both enjoy the insights Frank Rivers presents to the reader. A great book for carrying around and reading at those odd moments.

I have always considered the owl as my totem, yet didn't make the connection between owls and tai-chi, and integrity. Soul work is taxing to the spirit, we are not always dealing with people whose goals are harmony, co-operation, reverence for life. We need to be reminded that the Yin and Yang of daily life brings struggle, we cannot escape that fact, but we can be guided thru these conflicts with awareness, the most important of which is *Know Thyself*. It's a HOOT of a book, and I am delighted to have it.

To know one thing is to know one thousand things. To know one's self is to know the universe. This book provides reflective wisdom, which is self evident, that only serves to nurture the soul. The book does not provide answers, it provides questions. And the questions is more valuable than the answer.

Jim Hayhurst has identified and hit the motherlode of true career fit. Using memory and reflection as his tools of excavation he has illuminated the process by which any person can finally uncover/discover his or her own unique pattern of personal excellence and expression and then apply their knowledge to the discovery of the kinds of work that best engages that personal pattern. The satisfaction and elation that follows this congruence between one's work duties and the real life engagement of one's natural pattern is very real. Jim Hayhurst has made a vitally significant contribution to all of us who wonder about our place in the world of work.

Jim's book has helped me look at things so differently. He is a wonderful author, presentor and this is his best book so far.

Marti Smye

After reading Jim Hayhurst Sr.'s first book, "The Right Mountain," I was eager to read his second book, "Where Have I Gone Right?"
This latest book is an insightful, and well thought out book. It is an easy read, and yet delivers strong, and important messages along the way. It has a structure that allows one to first learn about themselves, and then apply this new understanding to any aspect of ones life.
A great read for anyone.

I read Where Have I Gone Right? this weekend. It is simple, direct, positive and easy to read. Frankly, after
spending time working through Bolles's What Colour is Your Parachute?, I wish I had met this book first. Where Have I Gone Right? asks the essential question and demands the critical work be done first - determining who am I? Without actually having done the "gone right" process (I intend to do so)this work gets to point more effectively and adds important dimensions and communication strategies such as reference points and personal allegories -that separate and enhance what Bolles and others have done for job and life seekers. In a very few hours this book gave me the understanding and the positive tools to get accomplishments, skills, values, relationships into synch-- and to help tell my story in a more distinctive and powerful way.

If word of mouth can be a tipping point for a new career and
life change manual-- Where Have I Gone Right? has my word and I will spread it to anyone who needs or wants to hear.

I picked up this book in the midst of my career search, and I am very glad I did. After completing the book, which was an easy read but contained meaningful lessons, I realized I needed to first take stock of myself. The book, "Where Have I Gone Right?" is a must read for anyone who is frustrated, confused, or on the edge of insanity during their job search. It is not an easy process, but with the help of this book you will start applying to the jobs that you are interested and passionate about. I highly reccomend this book at any point in a persons life, the lessons drawn out of its excercises are relevant to anybody, at any point in their lives

Finally, a career book that focuses on "play your own game" rather than trying to outsmart your competition. According to Dr. Barro's Right Fit Method, there is no external competition. The only person you will compete with is yourself.
Barro explains her method in an engaging, compassionate, and entertaining style. She entwines real people telling their own personal stories, coupled with her own anecdotes and interactive materials to convey her step-by-step system.
I loved her style. It's hard to believe that a career book could be a page turner but that's an apt description of WIN Without Competing! which is a one of a kind in its genre. I highly recommend this book for employees and entrepreneurs who are searching for new solutions at any stage in their lives. It's always the right time to learn how to "win without competing" to succeed in your professional and personal life.

WIN WITHOUT COMPETING offers sound career management advice for MBAs as well as others seeking to take a more thoughtful and holistic approach. It flows methodically, yet Dr. Barro's stories and humor enable the reader to embrace the principles contained therein. The text and principles are interspersed with exercises similar to many of the things found in career services. The focus is on differentiating yourself sufficiently so that you find the "Right-Fit" rather than engaging in endless competitive job searches.

Dr. Barro's book, released in 2007, examines career management from a whole-life perspective combining a methodical approach within a holistic framework. After an overview of the "Right-Fit" way, she begins with the importance of self-assessment, then branding yourself in order to present the "fit" to potential employers.

The tone of the book is substantive, yet light-hearted with stories and humor to illustrate what could be dry formulaic concepts. The book views her take on career management (and life) as a drama in Four Acts:

Act I Setting the Stage
Act II How the Right-Fit Method Works
Act III Apply the Right-Fit Method
Act IV The Right-Fit Method and You.

The heart of the book is Act II. It begins with self-analysis to discern your "Core Identity," in terms of:

Focus: Profession (One Profession; Concurrent Different Professions; New Profession)
Function: Setting & Situation (Status; Role; Industry)
Foundation: Passion (Fleeting or Sustained)

As the analysis continues, the reader develops a blueprint for approaching prospective employers and positions, providing a framework for goal setting. Using marketing analogies, Dr. Barro develops the concept of personal branding in terms of marketable transferable skills from the resume building stage through the interview and negotiating process.

Dr. Barro's reinforcement of the career management process as a two-way street (you want to make sure the employer is right for you just as much as the employer makes sure that you are right for them) is something that needs to be reinforced. Finding the right job is more than just compensation. The book combines general ideas and concepts with concrete and specific suggestions, including: what to bring or not to bring to the interview, how to dress or present yourself, and the importance of the first impression with everyone in the company that you meet.

Later chapters deal with strategies for fixing what's broken, and moving on when required. Finally, the book concludes with the application of her methodology to other areas of life.

It is certainly a book that I would recommend to someone serious about their career management.

Dr. Barro's book will help anyone-hiring or looking to be hired-find the right fit. She really goes step-by-step to lead you to success. Her book helped me to really understand who I am in my career and how I can use my skills to improve myself in my current job! She teaches you to ask some hard questions about who you are (and who you want to hire), but ultimately all that hard work pays off in a very rewarding career! Her book is a 'must have' for any career minded individual.

I've read more than a few of these in my day and I must say that Dr. Barro's book is one of the very best. Lucid, no-nonsense advice that will help you with your career--and your life.
Bill Gubbins

It's a dog-eat-dog world. Only the fittest deserve to survive. And you can indeed win through intimidation.

If anyone could be expected to attest to the above, it would be a corporate headhunter--which brings us to a new book with the unexpected title of "Win Without Competing" by Arlene Barro, Ph.D, a prominent search consultant, career coach, and educational psychologist. At first glance, the book would appear to belong in the "Warm and Fuzzy Self-Help Section" of your friendly neighborhood mega-bookstore. Well, Barro does convey warmth, but there's nothing fuzzy about her. She possesses the mien of a caring but uncompromising commander sending her clients into battle.

She minces no words about the sometimes cutthroat nature of the job market; she'd be the first to warn of snakes in the tall grass. There are no mantras here, no clicking of ruby slipper heels--only solid strategy peppered with no-nonsense aphorisms.

But, as implied by its title, the book is built on a fundamental paradigm shift. Barro's stated mission is to steer her readers to what she terms the "flawless fit"--the job and career for which one is uniquely suited. And when this concept is broken down to a molecular level of specificity, when a perfect DNA match is attained between the job-seeker and the job, it can be concluded with an almost scientific degree of accuracy that there is no real competition involved. The match by definition is symmetrical--not only must the individual fit the requirements of the job, but the job must fit the requirements of the individual.

To know where to look for your own flawless fit, you need to know precisely what it means for you. Thus, attaining a clear-sighted understanding of your core self is the first step on the journey. This quest for self-knowledge is nothing new--witness the teachings of Lao-Tzu, the meditations of Marcus Aurelius, the writings of Thoreau. Barro stands squarely in this timeless tradition, but presents it from a modern, practical perspective. Included throughout "Win Without Competing" are revealing checklists and personal surveys she's developed in her years of coaching clients.

One possible outcome of this personal assessment is the realization that you're not meant to be an employee at all--some of us, by nature, are entrepreneurs. Barro convincingly demonstrates that the principle of flawless fit also applies flawlessly in such instances.

Key to the strategic aspects of job search or entrepreneurship is what Barro calls "managing the process." She presents a detailed discussion of how to take charge and avoid succumbing to the obstacles and turbulence you're bound to encounter on the road to success, covering such matters as email communications, resumes, initial discussions and final negotiations--even what kind socks not to wear to an interview (a true-life cautionary tale shows how such a seemingly minor detail can determine the difference between getting the job and not).

Then Barro goes a step further and reveals a surprising reality: in many instances, the hiring company itself is unclear about what it's looking for. This presents an additional opportunity for the job-seeker to manage the process by presenting the prospective employer with options which could be to their mutual advantage. Here, as in its other sections, the book abounds with invaluable nuts and bolts advice.

The final chapter extends the discussion of flawless fit to encompass personal relationships and life in general. But for the attentive reader, the entire book serves as a road map for finding one's place in the world. "Win Without Competing" is a tangible example of its own title. It's bound to be a flawless fit for anyone committed to meaningful personal success.