Lead

For the beginning entrepreneur or seasoned business person this paperback will give you plenty to think about. The writer candidly describes his mistakes as well as his successes, which I found refreshing. He showed me the common pitfalls facing businesses from their beginnings to their maturities in an organized fashion. I believe that the book will be a resource for me to be kept within arms reach in the office.

Found this book to be informative, comprehensive, and easy to read. Recommended for anyone thinking of starting their own business. Congratulations to Mr. Hearst for all his success.

Want to start your own successful business? Buy this book! In fact, buy 2 copies! I've nearly worn out my first copy from regular use. From a self-assessment review, all the way through growing your business and eventually selling it. Everything you need to do it right the first time is here. This book is overflowing with practical details of what to do, and humorous examples of what NOT to do in business from someone who has been there every step of the way. You cannot afford to be without this resource in your business toolkit.

This is Amy Laundrie's fourth novel in the Kayla Montgomery Mystery series, and she again combines elements young girls look for---mystery, romance, and horses. Ms. Laundrie clearly knows the horse world well. Her writing also shines with lovely details when her characters are out in the natural world. And readers will appreciate the unusual twists in the story, such as a crisis in a reptile museum!

I had a great time reading "Lead Us Not Into Temptation." Kayla is a likeable heroine, and she kept me wondering what she was going to do. There was plenty of action, suspense, and romance to keep me happy. Read it!

In this book a new Thoroughbred racehorse is beeing boarded at her Aunt's farm. Fortune is worth a mint and someone is trying to kill it. Is it Luke's boss, Rob's room mate, or Mark Armstrong who was "outbid"? While Kayla is torn between Rob and her new boyfriend Luke someone is endangering Fortune will Kayla come to her senses before it's too late?

Hello All:

As most people are aware, during its 2000 year history, the Roman Catholic Church has met and snycretized with many strains of non-Christian philosophy and non-Christian religion. The pre-Vatican II Church lied about this a great deal, but the post-Vatican II Church has been and is much more honest about it.

During this period of syncretization the Church used from the non-Christian religions what was compatible with the Church.

It is difficult to find honest Catholic works that address this issue in straightforward manner. However, this work of Guardini does do this, albeit obliquely.

For instance, if you, like me, have wondered about the similarities between the Greco-Roman-Teutonic conceptions of Fate and Destiny and the Church's idea of Providence, you can discern the answer to this in Guardini's book. I would say that Guardini's idea of Destiny is the central unifying theme of the whole book. As one specific example, in his chapter entitled "Acceptance," Guardini states:

[Begin Quote]
The beginning of all effort is the recognition of what is, even if that happens to be one's faults. Only when I honestly take upon myself the burden of my faults do I really become serious, and only then can the work of overcoming them begin...

We must also accept the situation and the circumstances of our life as they have been allotted to us. Of course, we can change and improve many things and shape them more according to our whishes, especially if these wishes are definite and the hand that seeks to carry them out is firm. But, basically, the tendencies that have grown out of the earliest years remain and determine what follows....

Another step is the acceptance of our destiny. Destiny is not accident. It possesses a logical consistency which is determined externally by the connection of events by but also internally by the nature and the character of the person involved. ....

...So the nature of a person forms, as it were, a\ sieve which permits certain experience to pass through and retains others. ...

To accept one's destiny really means to accept oneself and to be true to oneself. This idea took the form of amor fati in pagan skepticism, the "love" of one's own fate, born of defiance. Its Christian form is the assent given to the way that is outlined for us by our nature, because of our confidence that everything rests upon Divine Providence.
R. Guardini, Living the Virtues pp. 29-30.
[End Quote]

There is, of course, much, much more on this.

So, how to get there? This is not a theoretical book. Guardini prescribes the virtues of "silence" (virtually identical with the Buddhist idea of quieting the mind), "unselfishness" (not at all what you might think, but instead virtually in identity with the Zen idea of no-selfness, except that in this Christian version the "true self" emerges when we give up the "false self"; "disinterestedness" (which has many similarities with the detachment of the yoga of action); "patience," etc. There is a chapter on each of the foregoing in the book.

In short, this is an excellent book, especially for others coming to Roman Catholicism from other religious traditions (e.g., academia, neo-Paganism, or Buddhism).

Lastly, Guardini wastes no ink whatsoever on the non-issues of abortion and sexual "sin" which seem to consume so much time of the uneducated these days.

You can use this book as a guide for living.

dale

Romano Guardini's books never disappoint, but I was a bit reluctant to start this one. Virtues, in my mind, were manly things, the word "virtue" being derived from the Latin word "vir", the genered male. Guardini's list of virtues -- patience, acceptance, disinterestedness, kindness, courtesy, unselfishness -- seemed too tame, too domesticated.

I was wrong. One comes to appreciate that Guardini's virtues are absolutely essential in this world that tries to distort human nature. These "quiet" virtues orient us toward our essence and allow us to appreciate the singularity of everyone else and everything in God's creation. They are an antidote to the noisiness, the emphasis of grand gestures, the resentments of modern living. They all point to ways to "take possession" of oneself under the umbrella of humility before the Divine.

A book to be read chapter at a time, followed by reflection.

When I went to college 25 years ago I read the original book "The Virtues" as a required reading. After all this time I still remember the impact this book has had on me! It is the only textbook that I have remembered & cherished.I have bought copies to give to friends as gifts,and now that my children are teenagers,I will be giving them their own copies to keep.Guardini has a unique way of presenting the virtues.It is the best book on this subject !

"Liberate the Leader" by Claudia Rose celebrates the possibilities of leadeship by women. Since I believe that women are wired better than men for leading roles that require compassion, collaboration and advocacy for a cause, I see this as a most important book. I have known Dr. Rose as a student and later as a colleague of mine, and consider her to be an outstanding thinker and writer who is also a person of action. This book is a must for women interested in leadership and for men intrested in unerstanding them well.

Dr. Rose gives women the courage to lead in the same way that Suze Orman gives women the "courage to be rich." The best part of this book is that it has very insightful activities like journaling and writing a commitment statement. If YOU dedicate a few weeks of your time to working through Liberate the Leader and completing all the recommended exercises, you will be able to do ANYTHING. This book is required for any woman who has a bigger dream for her life!

Dr. Claudia, thank you so much for writing this book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it this weekend, and was encouraged to spend some reflecting on its lessons and their application in my life. What a useful set of tools you have created for women!

I [the Lord] will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

Pastor Robert J. Morgan of Nashville, Tennessee, author of 'On This Day' and 'Tiny Talks with God' uses the story of Moses and the Israelites, as an example to explain the ten (10) God-given strategies for difficult times. Remember when Moses and the Israelites were caught between "the devil (Pharoah) and the deep Red Sea?" God delivered them from the adversary and parted the Red Sea for thier escape. The same way we're overwhelmed by life's problems. God will deliver us, too. 'The Red Sea Rules' reveals even in the worst situation God will make a way. His promise and loving guidance will protect us through all the troubles, challenges and obstacles Satan puts in our way.

These ten (10) strategies will move you from fear to faith:
Rule 1. Realize that God means for you to be where you are.
Rule 2. Be more concerned for God's glory than for your relief.
Rule 3. Acknowledge your enemy, but keep your eyes on the Lord.
Rule 4. Pray.
Rule 5. Stay calm and confident, and give God time to work.
Rule 6. When unsure, just take the next logical step by faith.
Rule 7. Envision God's enveloping presence.
Rule 8. Trust God to deliver in His own unique way.
Rule 9. View your current crisis as a faith builder for the future.
Rule 10. Don't forget to praise Him.

No matter where you are in life's storm-east or west, up, down and under. God will make a way. No sea is deeper than the ocean of His Love. No army, force or enemy can overcome His throne of grace and His work in our lives. Just like the reality of the Red Sea, God will always make a way for His trusting children, even if He must split the sea to do it. Sometime time ago, a friend told me of this book of how much of an impact it made in their life. It was the only book that they would refer to in time of encouragement and hope. If you're going through a difficult time in your life I recommend this. It's my companion I can look to. A reminder that there is a God who loves and cares to make a future plan for all of us. Just trust Him.

I received this book last week as encouragement from a friend. While I have yet to overcome the current obstacles in my own life, I am reassured and even confident that God is in control. God will be glorified! While I have been involved in church and even ministry most of my life, the simplicity of the Israelites' story and the profound truths the author has pointed out firmly establish why I can have hope as a Christian. The truths about God's love and care have never been clearer or more meaningful to me as the author directs me to reflect on God's providence for His own. I have been so blessed by this book that I came to this website to see about getting multiple copies through which I may encourage others! As my friend wrote wrote, "May the Holy Spirit use this humble book to encourage you and give you greater faith and hope for the future - we know, because God cannot lie - that His plans for us are only good!"

This is one of those books where the author takes a familiar Bible story (the Israelites at the Red Sea, the Egyptians at their back) and shines light on it in such a way that you say, "Wow, I never saw it quite that way before." He distills 10 thought-provoking statements that become the "rules", life principles that I'm working to commit to my feeble memory.

The book was recommended to me by a friend who stumbled across it while going through a very difficult time in his life -- he felt smack up against an uncrossable sea with an enemy in pursuit. God used the book to remind him of God's sovereignty and power in that situation. The life threatening situation became a life-changing opportunity. The same has now happened for me.

And all that in this tiny, easily digestible book. Awesome!

Philip Hodgson and Randall P. White provide practical instructions for dealing with change, as all leaders must. Rather than assuming that only certain personality types and traits are suitable for leadership in changing times, they addresses the behavior patterns that mark a successful leader. The authors place their behavioral concepts in a familiar context with case histories. The true value of their book lies in specific exercises that will enhance your ambiguity-coping skills. Some level-headed readers may be slightly put off by the seeming wackiness of some of these notions (they range from "spend some time around children" to "analyze how you spend your time") and the light-hearted tone (they do refer to Star Trek). Lighthearted or not, the advice in this book may just save your job - or your company's future. We recommend this book to senior executives, regardless of industry, as well as to anyone who is concerned about the fast pace of change and wants some help keeping up.

"Being on the tightrope is living; everything else is waiting." -Karl Wallenda (1904-78)

Do you act intuitively and act decisively? In the world, everything is changing so fast that you can't always control your own destiny, let alone feel confident enough to lead others through seeming chaos. This book demonstrates how you can become at ease with change and how you can analyze your own strengths so you can deal with ambiguity.

Aspects Covered Include:

The real work of leadership

Damaging illusions from the twentieth century
Motivation by mysteries
Risk tolerance
Polishing your Personal radar

The 8 Enablers - find out which type
of enabler you are.

Mystery Seekers - I started to highlight a ton of this area and figured
I must be a mystery seeker.
Risk-Tolerators
Future-Scanners
Tenacious Challengers
Exciters
Flexible Adjusters
Simplifiers
Focusers

However, you might have qualities of a Restrainer/ There are 8 Restrainers. I'm more than likely part "Detail Junkie." These are negative and overplayed sides of enablers.

Do you have trouble with transitions?
Are you unmotivated by work?
Do you fear conflict?
Can you put all the pieces of the puzzle together. What are
the signs of a "muddy thinker."
How can you communicate more effectively.
Are you hooked on detail?
Do you focus on the here and now or do you see the future?
Do you long for the bygone days?

My favorite section was the Enabler Section on "Mystery Seekers." It is a section that explains how this type of enabler gets energy from not knowing. They might even appear strangely happy when things don't work out perfect the first time. When writing recipes, this was true, because then I could test the recipe again! Ha!

"Imagine that everything was attractive. Imagine that the more you didn't know, the more you wanted to know. Imagine that maybe wanting to know was too weak a description, there was a hunger to know what drove you from whatever eles you were doing and pushed you to continually make further inquiries about the things you didn't know. Imagine insatiable curiosity. You are a Mystery-Seeker." pg. 30

More than likely, the "risk tolerant" segment is highly relevant right now. These types are not hampered by insufficient or ambiguous data.

I think that the best way to use this book is to highlight your own qualities or areas you want to work on. I don't see why you can't be a bit of all 8 Enablers. It is like being a personality type with elements of each. I don't think anyone can be a specific type, but can be a combination and then certain aspects will be highlighted and more obvious.

Complex at first and I thought this would be over my head, but once I started to read it became much clearer to me. I think you will enjoy this book if you are a business leader or just want to analyze your own qualities.

In uncertainty, there is certainly room for change. ;>

This is an extremely useful book for its times. It comes along during (another) period of great unsettling uncertainty. Uncertainty never actually goes away, of course, but it's more pressing and obviously present at some times than at others.

The book makes the central point that "The real work of leadership is embracing uncertainty," that the defining mark of a leader is confidence with uncertainty, along with the ability to acknowledge it and deal with it. The authors present a detailed recipe for anyone seeking to enhance their ability to manage and exploit the uncertainty that often precedes change or destabilization.

The core of this book by Philip Hodgson and Randall White is a taxonomy of personalities that "enable" and "restrain" organizational change. Most of us will be able to quickly spot ourselves (and other key people) on their list. There are Mystery-Seekers, Future-Scanners, Tenacious-Challengers, Exciters, Simplifiers, Wet Blankets, and Muddy Thinkers, among the many. Case examples are provided for each type, along with recommendations about how to deal with them and take advantage of the possibilities that they offer. The book provides specific suggestions on how to grow into an "enabler" of productive change, aong with ideas about how to handle the restrainers.

The book is written in clear language and format, its terms are well-defined, and the style is very accessible. It is the kind of book that could serve as a quick reference whenever things bog down or get strange.

Experienced Direct Marketer, Kern is exactly the model you want to shape yourself to if you are in sales and direct marketing. I spend 8 hours a day generating sales leads for other businesses so I know what I am talking about. He is dead on with his methods. I also thought the Internet section was perfect for anoyone that does not currently use the internet as a research tool.

Russell Kern's Sure-Fire Direct Response Marketing is an excellent resource for improving your methods of finding and developing prospects. His coverage of topics such as handling focus groups, creating effective campaigns, and bridging the gap between marketing and sales make this a valuable tool for improving business-to-business marketing. The Internet chapter explores how to use this medium to your best advantage. Whatever your level of expertise, you'll find this book useful.

Russell Kern has done a great job with SURE Fire Direct Response Marketing. The book is well-conceived and comprehensive. Although it is specifically about generating sales leads, anyone who reads this book will find their knowledge of marketing and sales greatly enhanced.

Peter Bendor-Samuel has a gift for articulating the essence of a business process that all too often is misunderstood. When the process is misunderstood a potential extended enterprise instead becomes a tangled mess, lacking dicipline and focus. In his book, Bendor-Samuel reveals in laymen's terms the fundamental principles that will make for a successful relationship. Turning Lead into Gold is Bendor-Samuel at his best. The author never loses sight of the fundamentals (market-principles, well defined contracts and diciplined management) and provides effective metaphors for describing tactics that often undermine these principles. There are many practitioners in the industry who understand and demonstrate the keys to outsourcing excellence, but few who commmunicate them as elegantly. Whether you are considering outsourcing or are simply staying abreast of business trends, this book will serve as a worthwhile read.

As the founder of probably the smallest corporation in America, (Meltdown International Inc.), I don't have the resources, time or knowledge to do everything well. The only way companies of any size can survive and thrive in today's changing business world is to outsource acitivities that don't pay the light bill or distinguish themselves in the global marketplace.

But how do you do this? Giving away important processes like finance and accounting to an outsourcing provider is scary. This book gave me the courage and the confidence to outsource. It told me what to do, what NOT to do, and what to watch out for. It gave me clear guidelines on pricing going into a relationship and how to police performance during the life of the contract. It also gave me a blueprint for handling disputes because they do come up.

I now outsource my finance and accounting to a provider 10 minutes from my office. (I want face to face chats about my money!)I also outsource my Web development and hosting to a company in the Philippines that does terrific work at a remarkably reasonable rate. I would never have even considered an offshore supplier if I hadn't read this book. It helped me understand the whole planet is now a source of suppliers.

The author's premise is that companies today have no option but to outsource. I have found in my own experience that is certainly true. I had no idea of how to go about it. If in doubt, read! This book was the perfect primer for a newcomer like me.

Turning Lead into Gold is a valuable piece of work for buyers as well as sellers of outsourcing. It clearly presents how this modern form of business alchemy turns operations that drain resources from companies into generators of value.

The hard statistics are accompanied by easy to understand case studies and explanations. I highly recommend it as a 'must read" for both parties to an outsourcing relationship as "pre-marital" counseling manual that will promote more successful and profitable alliances.

Thank you Peter Bendor-Samuel.

The are particular topics addressed in the tapes, as attitude, setting goals, and they are explored in extent with specific examples on how to achieve them. I consider that the topics themselves don't follow a "grand plan", they are more like self contained. This makes it less obvious the roadmap.
The reason for the 4 stars is because of the music that tends to be too much of it and loud, more like for a movie than for a serious developmental tape. The reading is difficult to understand because of the tone of voice of the reader. I wish publishers give more importance to the readers and not distracting from the topic with music that is not appropiate. For that is better not to have the music at all.

I wore the tapes out and had to buy a new set!

The first tape, Attitude, should be required listening for every high school student out there. Nightengale hits the nail on the head with this single tape alone. Our success or lack thereof is attributed to this very simple belief - our own attitude.

Aside from Napolean Hill, Earl Nightengale has single handedly been responsible for more millionaires in this world than anyone else! Why? The sound principles on these tapes spell out everything you need to know to motivate yourself and think things thru!

The magic word is "attitude" and the rest of it falls into place from planning to educating yourself. These tapes are not your run-of-the-mill new age airy-fairy positive thinking nonsense rather they comprise a sound plan for you to create and exceed your own goals whatever they may be.

In simple, straightforward language, Earl Nightingale takes our lame excuses for NOT being successful and refutes them all. "We are what we think about." What a basic, yet profound statement of which we need to be constantly reminded if we hope to become our best! I will keep this cassette series in my car and play it whenever I start to lose my focus or feel sorry for myself.

QRM is a manufacturing strategy that focuses on speed throughout the manufacturing process. All efforts are focused on lead-time reduction. Unlike other lean manufacturing clones, QRM distinguishes itself with some unique approaches. While I'm not willing to accept everything the author is pushing, I certainly found some valuable insights.
The author does an excellent job of explaining the concepts, providing enough detail and examples to ensure the reader does not go away confused.
I thought this was a really good book and would recommend it to anyone involved in manufacturing, but even more so to anyone involved with engineer-to-order or make-to-order manufacturing.

It was hard to put this book down when I first read it. As a manufacturing manager, it almost seemed as if Prof. Suri had spent time in my plant. Most of the topics he addresses in QRM are relevant to the issues I was struggling with. He writes about reducing lead time in all aspects of operations, even product development. His concept of POLCA to create a pull system for low volume, high mix manufacturing is innovative.

I recommend this highly to anyone who is trying to understand a manufacturing operation and how to improve it. It is easy to read and understand with concepts that work.

Like a lot of manufacturing books, this one tries hard to separate itself from all others by showing why every other system is so bad, and then claiming to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. If you can get past all the posing, this book has some fantastic ideas that are suprisingly simple and effective. It is a must read for manufacturing professionals (much like "The Goal"), and if you are in a job shop or custom fab facility, you have to get this book now! Warning: It is a very dry read so expect many long nights filled with coffee and more coffee, and more coffee. Because, typical of most mfg books, Suri feels he has to explain everything to the Nth degree, along with every related issue he can think of. This book could have been done in about 50 pages, so lets hope he comes out with a work-book that does just that... but it the mean time the information here is way to valuable wait for.

Cheers, Al.