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First Things First- To Live- to Love- to Learn- to Leave a Legacy

5 stars (A MUST Read) - Having read more than a dozen books on the subject of mission statements, goal setting and time management, and also having taught workshops on the subject myself, this is the one book that I find most useful. As some other reviewers point out, it may seem a little heavy in parts, but the details are well worth studying. As the authors emphasize, time management doesn't begin with managing time, it begins with finding our own individual purpose, establishing our mission, and setting our goals to achieve that mission. This is more than a "how to" book. It is a "why to" book. It has the ability to persuade people that they need to set written goals. In teaching young adults, I have found some that insist they don't need written goals and that they certainly don't need a mission statement. My response is to encourage them to read this book. I appreciate how persausive the authors are in encouraging the reader to find the "main thing" without getting trapped into becoming a success in just one small area rather than fulfilling four areas of the "quadrant," including physical, social, mental and spiritual. Moreover, they bring home the necessity of finding balance and staying balanced in the different roles we have in our lives. After you read this book, I recommend that you consider reading "The Power of Full Engagement" by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, and "Finding Flow" by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. You won't be disappointed. 5 stars (A Revolutionary Resource!) - As someone who juggles many different responsibilities and a crowded calendar, I approached this title with high expectations. I was not disappointed! Covey here offers a revolutionary resource for time management. Rather than following the standard theme of how to do more in a given period of time, the author emphasizes the importance of setting priorities and planning ahead. His analogy of the clock and the compass is priceless in describing the two elements that shou...
Free Press :: Business & Economics & General :: Time Management :: Self-Help :: Personal Growth - Self-Esteem :: Personal Growth - General :: Entrepreneurship :: Conduct of lif :: First Things First- To Live- to Love- to Learn- to Leave a Legacy

 

Losing Moses on the Freeway - The 10 Commandments in America

5 stars (Text: 5 Title: 0 Marketing: - 10) - I purchased my copy of this abominably titled book in Borders, in the "Christianity, Practical Living" section. I am not a Christian and sought it out solely because of my familiarity with Hedges' earlier work. This is not a "Christian" book, any more than Krzysztof Kieslowski's "The Decalogue" (its model) is a "Christian" television series. Kieslowski and his writing partner, Krzysztof Piesiewicz, a lawyer from whose experiences several of the episodes were taken, focused "The Decalogue" on the fictionalized lives of people entangled in ancient moral dilemmas in bleak 1980s Warsaw. Hedges takes the same tack with ten non-fictional vignettes from life in 21st century post-industrial America. I find Hedges' writing almost unbearably intense; his moral authority clearly hard won. Even when I disagree with him, I have nothing but respect for his courage in refusing to look away. Here is a man who has obviously been deeply affected by what he has witnessed and experienced in life and is determined to learn---and teach---from it. That the teachings are very, very old only makes this book all the more worth reading, absorbing and passing on---whether you are a Christian or not. 5 stars (Losing Moses, but finding a great book. ) - I would highly recommend Hedges' book on the Ten Commandments. It is far more than your typical study guide. Rather, it provides a deep understanding of the ripple effect that our moral and ethical lapses have on those around us. In a world that is consumed with the end justifying the means, Hedges addresses in this decalogue the means that all might do well to consider. 5 stars (A New Code of Ethics to Live By) - Many Americans want to reduce the Ten Commandments to an idol to be worshipped in a public place. This book lives up to the original intent of the Ten Commandments - a guide to meditation on what really makes an ethical life. Read Jesus's Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters...
Free Press :: Religion & General :: United States :: U S - Contemporary Politics :: Ten commandments :: Philosophy :: Moral conditions :: Hedges :: Chris :: General :: Ethics & Mora :: Losing Moses on the Freeway - The 10 Commandments in America

 

Lean Thinking - Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation- Revised and Updated

5 stars (Start eliminating waste!) - Buy this book, and pull up a stool! Thanks to Lean Thinking, I'm shedding waste right now. Wow! It's explosive! 4 stars (Impression of "Lean Thinking" as a Business Tool) - I found the book to be quite informative, applicable to any business, and a "must have" in our company library and in any company laying claim to being a "learning organization." 2 stars (Basic Basic Basic) - This book offered very little new information other than the basics that any of us who have ever done process improvement already know. Although the authors mention how Lean works in non-manufacturing environments, their examples are almost purely manufacturing. Not a bad read for a college student, but a waste of time for practitioners. Totally an introduction. ...
Free Press :: Business & Economics & General :: Value added :: Strategic Planning :: Organizational effectiveness :: Organization Development :: Management - General :: Ind :: Lean Thinking - Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation- Revised and Updated

 

The 8th Habit- From Effectiveness to Greatness

5 stars (A Masterwork) - Steven Covey is one of the greatest writers alive on the subject of Effectiveness. This book and his 7 Habits are two classics of self-help that deserve a place on your motivational library shelf. 2 stars (for the systems analyst in all of us!) - This book does have a lot of good stuff, way too much good stuff, way way too many concepts and principles to coalesce into a main idea. I sometimes enjoy the self help genre because they are usually inspiring and fun. Not so here. Unfortunately, I think Covey has made this too systematic. It lacks the emotional content, inspiration factor. Give me a Tony Robbins CD over this any day! Covey's 7 Habits was a much more focused and enjoyable. 1 stars (Bedraggled mess. Not effectively presented. ) - Poorly conceptualized. Those are the only words to describe the Eighth Habit, a length tome based on one principle that promises to be the "holy grail" of principles, but instead feels like a soggy loaf of day old bread. I am a disciple of Covey since 7 Habits first came out; own the CDs and listen to them, even now, yearly. They contain realistic, practical advice (not a "Cheerleader" like Tony Robbins et al) that allows you to integrate seven simple skills into your thought pattern. The Seven Habits are lively with example and crisp in its scope. The Eighth Habit, however, is more ethereal, more of a notion as to what the habit of purpose should be than it is a true guidepost on the compass of life (to use Stephen's analogy). Rather than climbing the ladder of success only to find that it is placed on the wrong wall--as Covey so eloquently professed in his milestone first bestseller- this book would preach that it can help you can find "the wall", a true purpose in your life. Therein lies the rub, as the mushy substance of the book does not allow intriguing storylines for example, and the essential notion of the book rapidly becomes repetative and lackluster. I strongly advise those who have n...
Free Press :: Business & Economics & General :: Vocation :: Success :: Self-actualization (Psychology) :: Self-actualization (Psychology :: Self-Help :: Satisfaction :: Psycholog :: The 8th Habit- From Effectiveness to Greatness

 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

5 stars (Book Buy) - Seller was very quick and the condition of the book was in great condition. Would buy again. 5 stars (EXCELLENT) - It is a living way book that it is going to make you notice, enjoy and experience vital aspects of your life. 5 stars (Get This Edge) - In today's competitive world, you need every edge you can get. When so many people have read this massive best-seller, you need to read it just in order to be on a level playing field. You will definitely learn a few things, and will probably carry around several of the key concepts in your everyday work world. ...
Free Press :: Self-Help & General :: Success :: Self-Help :: Psychology :: Psychological aspects :: Personal Growth - Success :: Motivational & Inspirational :: General :: Characte :: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

 

Now- Discover Your Strengths

4 stars (Don't buy this book used!!!!!!!) - The book requires the user to take an on-line preference test to determine your "strengths". The publisher controls the process by printing a code on the inside of the jacket cover. Once the code is used, it cannot be reused. Thus, anyone who buys the book from someone who has already used the code to take the test will be unable to take the test. The book is almost worthless without the ability to take the online test. 5 stars (Useful business tool) - We purchased this great book and another must read book, Optimal Thinking--How To Be Your Best Self, for our customer service teams. This book gave us tremendous insight into individual and team talents and strengths. We then used Optimal Thinking to make the most of the identified strengths and to protect worst event scenarios when weaknesses could have severe consequences (example: Katrina). I think that the days of ignoring such weaknesses with "just be positive, it will all work out fine" are over for most of us. 5 stars (Play To Your Strengths) - The follow up to "First, Break All The Rules" (another excellent book), "Now" focuses on discovering and unlocking your strengths so that ulitmate you are playing with your best foot forward. Included when you buy this book, is a password that allows you to go on-line and take a test compossed by the same people who wrote the book, that will allow you to see what your top strenghts are. Great for any business professional or anyone looking to see what career path they might want to take. ...
Free Press :: Business & Economics & Management :: Motivational :: Motivation (Psychology) :: Management :: Employee motivation :: Careers - General :: Career Planning (General :: Now- Discover Your Strengths

 

The New Feminine Brain - How Women Can Develop Their Inner Strengths- Genius- and Intuition

5 stars (The New Feminine Brain) - Not as easy to understand by the lay person as I had hoped, but great information. 5 stars (The New Feminine Brain : How Women Can Develop Their Inner Strengths, Genius, and Intuition) - This is a very unique book.....I found it fascinating. 5 stars (A Must-Read for All - including men) - Mona Lisa Schulz, MD and PhD, is an amazing intuitive who has synthesized the physical, emotional and neurological aspects of women to describe "how they work." She has given us the power to understand our bodies in order to create a more balanced, enjoyable life. Her examples are brilliant. Her synthesis is cutting edge. A must-read for all!!! ...
Free Press :: Self-Help & General :: Women's Health - General :: Women :: Psychology Of Women :: Psychology :: Mental health :: Intuition :: Health&Fitness :: Health & Fitness :: Die :: The New Feminine Brain - How Women Can Develop Their Inner Strengths- Genius- and Intuition

 

The One Thing You Need to Know- About Great Managing- Great Leading- and Sustained Individual Succes

5 stars (Lucky employees have managers who apply this book....) - This book provides an excellent insight and discussion of the priorities that managers and leaders should make while attempting to guide their employees and others around them to personal and group success. Once these priorities are established in the leader or manager's repertoire then their success is set to follow as well. Managers should follow the simple guidleines presented in this book, to create and gain employees who are engaged which in turn contributes to the success of the manager. ...and successful managers have lucky employees! 5 stars (An Excellent Book Despite the Questionable Title) - REVIEW: The title of this book was an immediate turn-off for me because of the hyped-up nature of the phrase, "The One Thing". I'm always on the look out for charlatans who tend to make use of such exaggerated claims more often than the average author. However, I decided to read this book anyway since I read the two books that Marcus Buckingham is coauthor of, First Break All the Rules and Now, Discover Your Strengths, and those two books are two of my favorites. I'm glad I read this book and I now have a third favorite book having Marcus Bucking ham as an author. In short, the knowledge I gained from this book will help make me a more successful manager. The author has a clear and concise theory and uses the right amount of practical advice on managing and leading people and organizations. Perhaps the most important thing I learned from The One Thing is the difference between managing and leading. These terms are thrown around all the time in mass market business books, but this is the first one that I have read which very clearly defines the distinction between the two and concisely and practically explains how the roles differ in an organization. The book is well worth the read for this insight alone. Also, the book is fairly well organized and is written in an easy to read style typical of...
Free Press :: Business & Economics-Leadership :: Marcus Buckingham :: :: The One Thing You Need to Know- About Great Managing- Great Leading- and Sustained Individual Succes

 

The Business of Software- What Every Manager- Programmer- and Entrepreneur Must Know to Thrive and S

5 stars (Truly the book that every software entrepreneur should read) - In many ways this is the book I had been trying to find for years. There are many good books on starting up companies, and high-tech companies in particular but not much good literature specifically about the software industry as a whole. This books focuses on software as a business and how the industry really works. I am managing a start-up software business and the information in this book is invaluable as it really changed my thinking about what the company is, how it operates, and what it takes to become a success. If you come from a technical background, and starting or thinking of starting a business, then this book is a must-read. 5 stars (A Great Read) - This review is also available on my blog: DLS Thoughts . I just finished reading "The Business of Software" from Michael Cusumano. Overall a well written book on the fundamentals of the software industry. The book focuses essentially on the analysis of the business model for a software company. There isn't really anything striking new in Cusumano's analysis of software companies' business model, but the author does a good job in outlining the choices offered to software companies and how their business model will have to mature as companies and technologies mature. Essentially, there are 3 choices for a software company: * A pure product play (Some would argue that with the advance of open source and the broad adoption that it has been getting lately, that pure plays are getting much more difficult). * A mix of products and services. * A pure service play. I found very interesting Cusumano's analysis of a typical enterprise software company revenue over the course of a five year business lifecycle. For every 1 dollar of product license fees, $2.15 dollars can be derived from services and maintenance. That's more than 70% of the cumulated company revenue. In many cases, services on sold products end up being a life insurance aga...
Free Press :: Strategic Planning :: Industries - Computer Industry :: Business & Economics & Finance :: Business & Economics-Strategic Planning :: Business & Economics-Indu :: The Business of Software- What Every Manager- Programmer- and Entrepreneur Must Know to Thrive and S

 

Diffusion of Innovations- Fifth Edition

1 stars (No print? No good.) - The content is excellent. The digital format is largely useless. I bought the digital 5th edition to supplement my paper 4th edition. But, the digital rights management restrictions mean that I can't print selected pages to stick in a folder, read on the train, or scribble notes on. I can't even cut and paste particularly relevant bits into an electronic 'notes' file. The onerous digital restrictions are not suitable for an academic book like this one. 4 stars (Introduction to Diffusion) - This is a definitive reference on Diffusion Theory, but focuses on defining and clarifying concepts of diffusion. A history of the discipline and summary of the current concept's principles, it seems to serve mainly as a comprehensive introduction to the discipline. Presents a detailed theory, with excellent and numerous examples of Diffusion, illustrating the various principles presented. Not much on synthesis and trends. 5 stars (THE Foundation Work for Driving Change) - Virtually every piece of change management literature that I have read since being introduced to Diffusion of Innovation either has its foundation in this book or its thesis can be understood in terms of Everett's framework. Do not let the 1962 date of the first edition (up to fifth edition at this writing), make you question the work's currency. While it is regularly called a classic, it is in no way an antique. One caveat. Whether you are going to respond to D of I as positively as I did will depend in part on your cognitive style. If you are comfortable reading about abstractions that grew out of research from largely non-business fields of study and are comfortable personally having to make the leap from theory to practical application, you will value this book. If on the other hand you need a clearly defined process for applying the framework and have a hard time generalizing non-business research to your own world, you probably want to look elsewhere. Though D...
Free Press :: Sociology - Rural :: Social Science-Sociology - Rural :: Marketing - General :: Business & Economics & Finance :: Business & Economics-Marketing - General :: Bu :: Diffusion of Innovations- Fifth Edition

 

The Golfer-s Mind - Play to Play Great

4 stars (Good, but....) - This book is very similar to the other Psyche books. Very easy to read, not so easy to implement. 5 stars (A necessity for all serious golfers) - Buy this book, read it once, twice, three times... then read it again. If you have high expectations on the course and get frustrated when you fall short of these expectations, this book will be a great help to you. ...
Free Press :: Sports & Recreation & General :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Psychological aspects :: Golf - General :: Golf :: General :: Bob Cullen :: Bob Dr Rotella :: :: The Golfer-s Mind - Play to Play Great

 

Putting Out of Your Mind

5 stars (WELL DONE!!!!) - I RECOMMEND HIGHLY. THIS TAPE REALLY PUTS YOU IN A BETTER FRAME OF MIND IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH PUTTING. VERY WELL DONE. 5 stars (This is a must!) - My golf game has been transformed by this CD. What is so valuable is the perspective he offers on the mental side of the game. I was a horrible putter only a couple of months ago, shooting in the mid to upper 80's, and my handicap of 8 was rising. After listening to this,practicing what he recommends, I just won my flight and low net champion at the Club, shooting a 1 over total for 2 days! It does work. 5 stars (About Time) - So simple....gives good practice drills and backs up recommendations with real data...a must read!! Doesnt try to change anything about your technique just improves what you have. ...
Free Press :: Sports & Recreation & Golf :: Sports & Recreation :: Sports :: Putting (Golf) :: Golf - Instruction :: Golf - General :: Golf :: Bob Rotella :: :: Putting Out of Your Mind