Goal Books

After suffering a severe liver laceration when kicked(unintentionally)by a fleeing horse, it was difficult for me to regain confidence around our own young horses. Fear and dread would flow through my body as my daughter and
I drove to the ranch to ride. While reading Kelly Marks' book I began to practice the techniques she recommends to help build self-confidence. Daily
journal writing of success stories with our horses began to have subtle effects on how I would react on the ground and in the saddle with my horse.
We became a team and I became a leader within the herd. I have not only regained self-confidence but have become and even better "horsewoman" than
before the accident. Thank you, Kelly Marks!!

Kelly Marks' s new book is most useful and entertaining. Within is an enormous collection of helpful strategies for managing the moments of trepidation that life with equine beings can contain. It is a veritable tool kit of ideas which can just as easily apply to life in general as to life with horses. One of her suggestions was to try singing nursery rhymes, so, to a sometimes obstreporous young Arabian, his owner sings "Mary had a Little Lamb". Great results! We are grateful! Octavia Gooch

I have Kelly's other books and enjoy her perspective on horsemanship. This book is not about horsetraining, it is about working on THE HUMAN, so if you are looking for specific horsetraining information, this is not it. However, it is an excellent guide for anyone not achieving their goals, whether it be with the horse(s) in their life, or any other part of their life. There are specific assignments in the book to help the reader - so reader involvement is required. This book would be great for any riding instructor who is interested in non-traditional methods.

If you are a Business Analyst and you've just been told your next project will use a Business Rules engine, you are no doubt wondering "how do I capture and document these Business Rules things"?
This book is a great help for that - it explains where business rules sit relative to business process models and use cases (narratives), what they are and what types there are, and then outlines a method on how to go about capturing and documenting them.
I am using the book for this purpose and its a good starting point; note that I am modifying some of the practices and documentation formats to suit the context of the project I'm working on. The author has no problem with this and in fact cheerfully suggests when it may be needed.
There are also details about maintaining business rules over the lifetime of a system and some technical stuff (now looking to be somewhat dated).
The extra bit of knowledge I would add (from the BA Book of Knowledge) is that if your project doesn't use a separate business rules engine or component, then don't bother capturing them separately but just do what you have done before and put the business rules in the relevant Use Case documentation.
Note to the Technical Folk: this isn't the book for you as it's really for business analysts and managerial types and has very little implementation details (see the DROOLS open source project for an example of these details) If you do want to read it, borrow or interloan it via your local library.

Dear Amazon.com Reader,

Information systems often fail because the IT analysts, architects and builders don't know how to talk to the non-IT business people. On top of that, a major stumbling block in the development and delivery of effective solutions can be found in problems associated with all aspects of integration. Fortunately, a solid and well-grounded Business Rules approach can offer significant advantages in overcoming these hurdles.

Not many people may realize this, but Unisys was the proud inheritor of almost forty years of knowledge and experience in such key business critical areas as Business IT, OLTP, Mission Critical Systems, Decision Support (e.g. Data Warehousing, MAPPER etc.), Business Modelling (e.g. MAPPER/ESD - expert systems development and delivery - highly integrated Business Rules repository and rules engines) and most importantly major systems analysis, development, delivery, integration and management. Many of these assets were inherited from the hugely inventive Sperry Univac, other great ideas came from Burroughs.

But most of all, the real assets of a smart company are its people - and it shows. Tony Morgan has written a book that meets a real need - i.e. it addresses the question "so what's the big deal with Business Rules" - and in passing, will inform, inspire and educate the reader in a way that only someone who knows what they are writing about can.

The central theme of the book is the application of Business Rules to the task of aligning IT with business goals, a task that is talked about by many, yet achieved by few. Tony Morgan maintains the readers attention by not only giving a clear and uncluttered description, with focused examples, of what Business Rules are all about, but also uses references to other aspects of IT and business - which I found immensely enjoyable.

All in all, I found this book about as enjoyable as having an interestingly pleasant discussion about Business Rules, Business and IT in general over a couple of beers in the local bar. So, I personally would recommend this book to anyone who wants a very good introduction to Business Rules and their role in "Aligning IT with Business Goals".

Best regards,

Martyn R Jones

This book introduces the concept and mechanics of business rules, and is essential reading for anyone involved in eliciting and writing requirements, or developing specifications. I want to disclose that I am a staunch advocate of business rules, so take this into consideration as you read this review.

This is one of two books on the subject. The other book, Business Rules Applied by Barbara von Halle, is more suitable for an experienced practitioner or someone responsible for implementing business rules as an enterprise methodology. This book, however, focuses on the basics and addresses topics, such as object orientation and development, that are not found in von Halle's book. Both books are valuable, but to different audiences.

What I like most about this book is that it painstakingly describes how to define business rules, and how to clearly and unambiguously describe them. Moreover, the approach given in this book employs the object constraint language, which is a part of the unified modeling language (UML) version 1.1. As such it shows how to integrate business rules into use cases, and to develop artifacts that align to organizations that are using UML or the Rational Unified Process, as well as object-oriented frameworks in general.

My favorite chapters were 3, which is about defining business rules (getting them right) and 5, which covers controlling business rule quality. To me these are the keys to understanding and using business rules, and both chapters were clear and filled with examples. I also liked the appendix, which covered logic - another essential knowledge factor for analysts who are involved in requirements and specifications.

If you're new to business rules or are exploring them, start here. Even though the von Halle book is better suited to experienced practitioners, I would still recommend this book to members of that audience who are working in object-oriented environments or are using UML. If you are also using UML, do consider also reading Alistair Cockburn's excellent book titled Writing Effective Use Cases because that book is completely consistent with the material in this one.

This book is a great read! It is fast paced and hits on all the major project phases. Each phase is laid out in easy to understand writing with great diagrams and charts. I firmly believe that you can use this book to help all your projects.

Book Review - Cheetah Project Management
Reviewed by Frank Townson, PMP, Director - Strategic Planning, PMI-OVOC

Cheetah Project Management
Michelle A, LaBrosse, PMP - HNB Publishing, New York, NY, USA, 2004. ISBN: 0-9728061-2-1

Are you new to the field of project management and don't know where to start? If so, this book can really help you. If you are an experienced project manager and have struggled with issues of teamwork and having a successful project launch session, then this book can help you. Or have you been handed a project in disarray that needs major disaster recovery work? Again, this book can help you.

In Cheetah Project Management, the emphasis is on the team: "If the team is aligned on its project priorities, then it will better understand and work towards aligning its actions" notes the author. Using a team-based approach, the author takes the reader step by step through an e-commerce project case study and demonstrates how to build team consensus on customer/stakeholder requirements, who needs to do what and when, individual roles and responsibilities, determining the critical milestones in the project, identifying and assessing risks, and preparing accurate cost estimates including a clear understanding of cash flow needs and level of effort.

Ms. LaBrosse defines Cheetah's Accelerated Project Management as "A process that covers the complete framework for a project team to quickly launch its projects, initiatives and ideas." She then takes you through that framework demonstrating how, in just one day, using the methodology, templates and techniques she provides, a project team can develop a complete project plan covering customer/stakeholder requirements, project scope, project schedules, and project budgets. Building upon the eight components of the accelerated project management (APM) framework, she shows project teams how to:

* Clearly communicate with people on the project team and stakeholders/clients about the project.
* Accurately define the problems the project will help stakeholders/clients solve.
* Specify the requirements of the project in terms of how stakeholders/clients will use the project deliverables.
* Clearly define the end points of the project to rein in costs.
* Create a high performing project team that is aligned on their roles and responsibilities.
* Determine exactly what is needed to get started with the project and what represents completion (and success).
* Create measurements to ensure the project meets stakeholders/clients' acceptance criteria.
* Define reviews and approvals at each stage of the project.
* Assess, quantify, and prevent risks that could derail the Project.
* Define the priorities of the project in terms of cost, schedule, and quality.
* Identify the constraints and conflicts on doing this project.
* Determine the staff and resources required to complete the project.
* Create dependency schedules of the interim deliverables with an easy to visualize graphical mapping technique.
* Use a quick three point estimating technique to calculate budgets associated with work and resources needed to get the job done.
* Adjust the project plan based on issues that arise during the execution of the project.
* Record the lessons learned in a way that can used to improve the next project.
* Identify how to use what has been learned doing this project.

Although Ms. LaBrosse clearly focuses on the project team, she recognizes that individual roles and responsibilities must be well defined and agreed to by team members. She observes, "When everyone is responsible, no one is accountable." A key feature of Cheetah's Accelerated Project Management is single point accountability, meaning that one person is specifically responsible for each interim project deliverable, including risk countermeasures.

One of the clear strengths of this book is that it is reader friendly. It is not loaded down with jargon, nor does it preach its message. Rather, it presents a simple and straightforward methodology and guides the reader through it in a clear and readily understandable manner loaded with lots and lots of examples and clarifications. Simple tools and techniques are presented along with easy to follow templates. In determining risk probability and impact, for example, she employs a "highly scientific technique called the gut-feel index (GFI)".

The eight components of the APM framework are Project Launch, Project Agreement, Teaming Guidelines, Planning (including Risks), Scheduling, Staffing and Budgeting, Project Tracking, and Lessons Learned. Ms. LaBrosse presents and explains these components in a clear and effective manner. Noting that "People can achieve whatever they put their minds to", she provides the means by which a project team, working together, can achieve a highly successful and productive project launch event.

Recommended

Cheetah Project Management is a must for anyone involved in project management currently, or someone considering PM as a career. In simple, straightforward language it outlines the steps and processes toward formalizing a project agreement.

An easy read that truly impacts all phases of the project manangement cycle. I highly recommend this book!

You can get books with tips on how to make your life better. Other books will teach you what the psychologists have learned through researching happiness. This book does both. Caroline Miller combines research from the field of positive psychology with great coaching tips. The result? A must-have book that will teach you how to achieve your goals and be happier. I'll be recommending CREATING YOUR BEST LIFE to my coaching clients this year (and for many years to come). I'll also be encouraging coaching colleagues to read it. As coaches, we can learn a lot from Miller's study and practice of goal-setting theory!

This wonderful book is a must read for any couple, young or old. It's an easy to read, helpful book for anyone that desires getting the absolute most out of their lives and loves. From the "My 100 Things" list to the science behind the psychology, the authors do a fantastic job of engaging the reader.

I'm beginning my second three month round of 1-on-1 training with Coach Caroline and it (and the book) is a bargain at three times the price!

Miller and Frisch's book should be a permanent and well-thumbed fixture on the bed sides of both the consummate goal-setter and the weary New Years warrior.

In a world filled with self-help platitudes, "Creating Your Best Life" is the rare book that marries evidence-based research with its practical application. In doing so, it provides the enigmatic "how" that is invariably missing from other self-improvement books.

I highly recommend that you read this book with a pen and notebook in hand for it will ignite latent dreams and spark many good ideas!

Dare to Succeed is an inspirational, insightful,clearly and beutifully written book which provides practical information and "pen to paper" exercizes applicable to those individuals who want to make a significant change in their lives. I have been the executive director of the Entertainment Industry Referral and Assistance Center, an employee assistance Center serving the employers and family members of the industry for close to 25 years. During these years I've met so many people of various ages and backgrounds who are unhappy in their present job and feel dissatisfied with themselves for not pursuing their career goals. This book is an important first step in taking positive action towards getting back on track to achieving one's goals.

Dr. Campbell's book is a must have for professionals and the lay person alike. It is intelligent and well thought out. Anyone who wants to learn to set a goal and how to get to that goal will certainly succeed if they follow the plan in the book. The affirmation cards that accompany the book are a compliment to her work. She has borrowed words of wisdom from some of the most learned people and made them applicable to our every day needs. The book can be read in one day but cannot be put aside so quickly. It should become a favored companion.

I gave DARE TO SUCCEED to my mother, Louise Brown,for her birthday. She really loved this latest book by Dr. Debbie Campbell. She stated to me, "When I read DARE to Succeed: How to Transcend Your Fears and Achieve Your Goals it nudged my sensibilities and immediately made me think about and act on my goals. I started visualizing my own space just as I wanted it to be and have made a good start in fulfilling that aim. When this task is completed, I really believe, I, too, can achieve my writing goals."
My mother continued in depth, "On page 60, the words spirituality, health, harmony in relationships, and humor spoke out to me. If these values exist in a person, I feel it is possible for any fears to be overcome and success and satisfaction in achieving goals are possible. Dr. Debbie Campbell's book, DARE TO SUCCEED, is easy to read, inspirational and motivational, too."

A must have for your equine library. Very readable with lots of useful information.

Michelle

This book covers more than most, and has up to date photos of what to expect. Packed full of information so that even the old pros will find one or two new things that they didn't already know before. In my opinion it is a must read if you ever plan on breeding your mare or handling a stallion in a breeding program.

I just received my book today and the amount of fascinating and useful information is just mind boggling! This is not just dry, textbook reading. The author sets forth the information in an engaging and entertaining manner.

Aside from the wealth of information, the photography and layout of the book is very elegant and artistic while being useful and informative.

A MUST READ for any serious horse breeder, or anyone entertaining the idea of becoming one!

Julie

This book should be required reading for all people of all ages. It covers everything from basic manners to goal setting and methods to achieve any goal. I read this in Jr. High and wish I'd had this book read to me in the cradle. It is applicable to any situation. Buy this book for your child - for yourself! Learn it, know it, live it!

A must read for all parents to give to their children as soon as they are old enough to understand what "attitude" is all about!

I read this book when I was a teen and it had an enormous effect on my concept of what is possible in life. A great graduation present for kids 12 - 18. Although I re-read it when I was older and got benefit then too. I am now 28 and still consider this to be one of the most influential books that changed my attitude when I was growing up

The late Mac Douglas was very active as a speaker/trainer in the 1970's. especially in the southeast. Aside from being a top trainer, he was also a top network marketer. His books, tapes and appearance were inspiring.

This book in particular, How To Make a Habit Of Succeeding is quite good. Mac talks about habits and how some habits can be good. In this case, Mac Douglas suggests the habit of succeeding.

I believe that Mac Douglas was/is one of the best trainers and also one of the most under rated authors ever as well. If you can find this book, read it. It's outstanding!

The first time I ever heard of Dr. Mack Douglas was in 1975 at a business seminar & rally for Seyforth Labs, Inc. Dr. Douglas was the keynote speaker. I bought this book and several tapes by Dr. Douglas and have been a fan ever since. Dr. Douglas mixes humor with content. I highly recommend this book and any tapes by Dr. Douglas that you can get your hands on. He was one of the best.

Dr. Mack Douglas was one of the top motivational speakers during the late 60's and through the early 90's.

I bought this book over 20 years ago. One of Dr. Douglas's popular phrases is: 'the greatest use of life is to so live your live so the use of your life will outlive your live.' Wow! Talk about purpose!

Mack was a powerful speaker and an equally powerful writer. His words will excite and motivate you.

Highly recommend for allserious achievers.

From his life examples Peter Daniels gives us a stunning pattern of establishing and maintaining clear, meaningful direction for our lives. His understanding of the power of a mission, and his explanation of the same is without a doubt the best work done in this field. He is clear, concise and everyone would benefit from these lessons. A fabulous gift

I was amazed when I read this book. It is packed with gems of wisdom. I recently gave a topic on goals and ended with Peter J. Daniel's poem (in the front of the book.) Everyone wanted to know where I got the poem from. If you can find yourself a copy of this book BUY IT. It may change your life.

I was very skeptical when I heard about life-changing books, but since reading this book, I am amazed at the huge pozitive effect it is having on my life. Peter J. Daniels comes from a poor family but that has not stopped him from becoming a very successful person. This book taught me how to create opportunities rather than waiting for them to happen. It is easy to read and understand and it also gives practical examples of how having the right attitude can do a lot more than just favourable circumstances. I wish I read this book when it was first printed and I am amazed at how accurate are the principles described by Peter J. Daniels. It's obvious that God gave Peter J. Daniels a lot of wisdom and I want to thank Mr. Daniels for sharing it with us in this high above average book.

the book is a perfect, step by step walk through life and the secrets to succeeding ! Read, observe, and impliment these secrets and success will follow!

Vince's new book organizes the complicated pursuit of living fully and joyfully into manageable bite sized pieces. There is a nice mix of useful tools and inspirational stories. I found "Invincable Principles" both uplifting and motivational, a nice read.

Vince is a song and dance of a different nature. Succeeded in life with a dream and determination to match. Unique and completely authentic he writes with a fresh and informative style. His book is loaded. If you only read one book this year I hope it's InVINCEable Principles.