Book Description
You have more information at hand about your business environment than ever before. But are you using it to “out-think” your rivals? If not, you may be missing out on a potent competitive tool.
In Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning , Thomas H. Davenport and Jeanne G. Harris argue that the frontier for using data to make decisions has shifted dramatically. Certain high-performing enterprises are now building their competitive strategies around data-driven insights that in turn generate impressive business results. Their secret weapon? Analytics: sophisticated quantitative and statistical analysis and predictive modeling.
Exemplars of analytics are using new tools to identify their most profitable customers and offer them the right price, to accelerate product innovation, to optimize supply chains, and to identify the true drivers of financial performance. A wealth of examples—from organizations as diverse as Amazon, Barclay’s, Capital One, Harrah’s, Procter & Gamble, Wachovia, and the Boston Red Sox—illuminate how to leverage the power of analytics.
Customer Reviews:
Covers the basics of both the what-is and the how-to of fact-based decision making.......2007-10-04
Mark Twain once said something to the effect that it isn't what you don't know that gets you into trouble, it's what you know for certain that isn't so that will get you. Too many businesses are run on assumptions, guesses, and inertia. What we are doing now worked in the past so lets keep doing it. Shareholders lose a lot of money when their businesses are run with that kind of thinking.
This book is about fact-based decision making. It is really more of an introduction to the subject than a detailed text, but it is still quite useful for those wanting to learn the basics of the subject. The first five chapters discuss what analytics are, how you compete using them, and the growth path from wondering what an analytic competitor is through the fives steps to becoming one. They also discuss what it means when using internal data that you completely control, and what it means when you do it using data you control and supplier or customer data that you do not control.
The last four chapters take on the practical side of implementing a road map to becoming an analytic competitor. I particularly enjoyed the chapter emphasizing that all your plans will fail if you don't have the right people. Systems alone won't do it. The next chapter discusses the kinds of systems you need. The last chapter discusses the future of analytics.
For the right audience, this is a fascinating book. The stories about businesses succeeding by using analytics or getting themselves into serious trouble by ignoring them are all good and entertaining. Be careful, though. Some of the stories talk about instances (such as the Red Sox losing the World Series by letting the pitcher go beyond his statistical maximum pitching range) rather than trends and large numbers of events. Statistics don't work on instances. That is, at any given moment a coin might come up heads or tails. Just because there have been ten heads flips in a row does not mean you should take less than 50-50 odds on the next flip. It is still 50-50. That pitcher might have won, might have lost that game and it would have become part of the statistical information. However, for the stats to become powerful, you would have to be able to make a strong prediction over a series of games that he pitched. That is, if he goes beyond X pitches in 10 games he will lose about 8 of them. That means he still wins two (or one or three) and you don't know when in the series the wins will come.
The idea that very small observations can be exploited for big advantage is very important in today's ever more competitive business climate. For example Harrah's learned that moving the odds on slot machines one-tenth of one percent in their favor did not affect customer play at all, but netted them at extra $80 million (company wide). Marriott's hotel management system improves hotel performance by a couple percent. Remember that these improvements incur little cost, so most of the improvement flows quickly to the bottom line.
I thought that might get your attention. Read it so you can learn and profit from it.
Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
A limited introduction to business analytics.......2007-09-21
MY RATING SYSTEM:
* - if you have to chose between torture and reading this book, then you might want to consider reading the book - although it depends on just how severe the torture would be.
** - if you've lost your job and have quite a bit of free time on your hands, and don't have anything else better to do, then you might want to consider reading this book; don't expect to learn much or really be entertained. It will however, help you pass the time until your death.
*** - meh...I'm indifferent. Reading this book will not alter your life in any significant way, yet it is not so horrendously dreadful that your taking the time to read it will be a complete waste of time.
**** - Good book to great book zone here. You should probably read this book if you have some spare time. This book could be interesting, entertaining, or informative.
***** - Outstanding book! Make time to read this book - you'll learn or be entertained or intrigued. The book might even be good enough to provide original or helpful insights into the world that we live in.
REVIEW:
Competing on Analytics serves as an interesting, albeit limited, introduction to the concept of using complex data collection, management, and analysis techniques to gain a competitive edge in business.
For me, the book served as a useful introduction, but fell far short of satisfying the objectives I had in mind when I first came across it. What I was expecting was a book that provide a detailed guide to developing and implementing an analytical approach to business decision making. While early on the authors acknowledge the limitations of the book, I found what followed to be less than satisfying.
The book contained a variety of examples of companies that were using analytical techniques to improve the quality of business decision making, and discussed a variety of business areas in which companies might want to adopt such analytical techniques but failed to present comprehensive case studies that would provide real guidance to readers. I would have liked to have been led through a few cases, from a diverse set of industries, where the authors describe what information was collected and why, how the information was manipulated, analyzed and presented, and how the entire analytics process was influenced by and/or influenced the company's strategy and performance. Instead, the book left me with the impression that I need to go out an hire a consulting firm to lead me through the development of an analytics program.
One of the most ironic components of the book was that while it touted the use of analytical techniques and objective analysis to motivate business decision making, it's argument was largely based on anecdotal evidence of a handful of companies that have adopted analytical approaches.
Good Overview of Business Analytics.......2007-09-20
Technology & the easy with which information spreads has rendered many products and services easily replicable. Companies need to compete on the basis of something their competitors can't recreate. What companies don't have ready access to is each other's data, i.e., on customers, suppliers, & processes. What companies do with this data is what can set them apart from competitors.
Davenport & Harris describe how data is transformed into competitive advantage by discussing the types of information used in analytics, the stages of becoming a more analytic corporation, and many examples of companies who have applied analytics to successful operations. Problems encountered down the road to becoming more analytical were similar to those described in another recent book on the criticality of enterprise data, Information Revolution by Davis, Miller, & Russell.
This book contains no numeric formulas or specific procedures for using analytics, but it is an excellent as an overall survey of business analytics as used today.
Who Is The Audience.......2007-08-30
This book is meant for those who make things happen and need to gain a fresh perspective. It is not meant for those who know a lot but can't make things happen yet keep looking for more information, while criticizing a good effort, which without doubt could have been better.
Great Subject/Weak Effort.......2007-08-26
Not a lot of meat to this topic other than the obvious. Not very exciting stuff.
Amazon.com
If you judge books by their covers, Jack Welch's Winning certainly grabs your attention. Testimonials on the back come from none other than Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Rudy Giuliani, and Tom Brokaw, and other praise comes from Fortune, Business Week, and Financial Times. As the legendary retired CEO of General Electric, Welch has won many friends and admirers in high places. In this latest book, he strives to show why. Winning describes the management wisdom that Welch built up through four and a half decades of work at GE, as he transformed the industrial giant from a sleepy "Old Economy" company with a market capitalization of $4 billion to a dynamic new one worth nearly half a trillion dollars.
Welch's first book, Jack: Straight from the Gut, was structured more as a conventional CEO memoir, with stories of early career adventures, deals won and lost, boardroom encounters, and Welch's process and philosophy that helped propel his success as a manager. In Winning, Welch focuses on his actual management techniques. He starts with an overview of cultural values such as candor, differentiation among employees, and inclusion of all voices in decision-making. In the second section he covers issues around one's own company or organization: the importance of hiring, firing, the people management in between, and a few other juicy topics like crisis management. From there, Welch moves into a discussion of competition, and the external factors that can influence a company's success: strategy, budgeting, and mergers and acquisitions. Welch takes a more personal turn later with a focus on individual career issues--how to find the right job, get promoted, and deal with a bad boss--and then a final section on what he calls "Tying Up Loose Ends." Those interested in the human side of great leaders will find this last section especially appealing. In it, Welch answers the most interesting questions that he's received in the last several years while traveling the globe addressing audiences of executives and business-school students. Perhaps the funniest question in this section comes at the very end, posed originally by a businessman in Frankfurt, who queried Welch on whether he thought he'd go to heaven (we won't give away the ending).
While different from the steadier stream of war stories and real-life examples of Welch's first book, Winning is a very worthwhile addition to any management bookshelf. It's not often that a CEO described as the century's best retires, and then chooses to expound on such a wide range of management topics. Also, aside from the commentary on always-relevant issues like employee performance reviews and quality control, Welch suffuses this book with his pugnacious spirit. The Massachusetts native who fought his way to the top of the world's most valuable company was in many ways the embodiment of "Winning," and this spirit alone will provide readers an enjoyable read. --Peter Han
Book Description
Jack Welch knows how to win. During his forty-year career at General Electric, he led the company to year-after-year success around the globe, in multiple markets, against brutal competition. His honest, be-the-best style of management became the gold standard in business, with his relentless focus on people, teamwork, and profits.
Since Welch retired in 2001 as chairman and chief executive officer of GE, he has traveled the world, speaking to more than 250,000 people and answering their questions on dozens of wide-ranging topics.
Inspired by his audiences and their hunger for straightforward guidance, Welch has written both a philosophical and pragmatic book, which is destined to become the bible of business for generations to come. It clearly lays out the answers to the most difficult questions people face both on and off the job.
Welch's objective is to speak to people at every level of an organization, in companies large and small. His audience is everyone from line workers to MBAs, from project managers to senior executives. His goal is to help everyone who has a passion for success.
Welch begins Winning with an introductory section called "Underneath It All," which describes his business philosophy. He explores the importance of values, candor, differentiation, and voice and dignity for all.
The core of Winning is devoted to the real "stuff" of work. This main part of the book is split into three sections. The first looks inside the company, from leadership to picking winners to making change happen. The second section looks outside, at the competition, with chapters on strategy, mergers, and Six Sigma, to name just three. The next section of the book is about managing your career—from finding the right job to achieving work-life balance.
Welch's optimistic, no excuses, get-it-done mind-set is riveting. Packed with personal anecdotes and written in Jack's distinctive no b.s. voice, Winning offers deep insights, original thinking, and solutions to nuts-and-bolts problems that will change the way people think about work.
Download Description
"
Jack Welch knows how to win. During his forty-year career at General Electric, he led the company to year-after-year success around the globe, in multiple markets, against brutal competition. His honest, be-the-best style of management became the gold standard in business, with his relentless focus on people, teamwork, and profits.
Since Welch retired in 2001 as chairman and chief executive officer of GE, he has traveled the world, speaking to more than 250,000 people and answering their questions on dozens of wide-ranging topics.
Inspired by his audiences and their hunger for straightforward guidance, Welch has written both a philosophical and pragmatic book, which is destined to become the bible of business for generations to come. It clearly lays out the answers to the most difficult questions people face both on and off the job.
Welch's objective is to speak to people at every level of an organization, in companies large and small. His audience is everyone from line workers to MBAs, from project managers to senior executives. His goal is to help everyone who has a passion for success.
Welch begins
Winning with an introductory section called ""Underneath It All,"" which describes his business philosophy. He explores the importance of values, candor, differentiation, and voice and dignity for all.
The core of
Winning is devoted to the real ""stuff"" of work. This main part of the book is split into three sections. The first looks inside the company, from leadership to picking winners to making change happen. The second section looks outside, at the competition, with chapters on strategy, mergers, and Six Sigma, to name just three. The next section of the book is about managing your career -- from finding the right job to achieving work-life balance.
Welch's optimistic, no excuses, get-it-done mind-set is riveting. Packed with personal anecdotes and written in Jack's distinctive no b.s. voice,
Winning offers deep insights, original thinking, and solutions to nuts-and-bolts problems that will change the way people think about work.
"
Customer Reviews:
Winning Recipe.......2007-09-16
Jack Welch gives a comprehensive guide to winning in business. He provides practical advice on a broad array of topics to include: Leadership, people management, change management, setting strategy, crisis management, and budgeting. He gets personal too, giving tips on how to find the right job and how to find the proper work life balance.
Jack's approach to budgeting is enlightening. He advocates setting targets, but compensating based on performance against last year and against the competition. This ensures energy is not wasted on efforts to come up with magic numbers and playing the common budgeting games. Rather, the focus is on finding opportunities for growth and eliminating obstacles. Wouldn't it be nice if your company followed a similar process?
There is much to learn in this one.
Nick McCormick - Author, Lead Well and Prosper: 15 Successful Strategies for Becoming a Good Manager
Guru to the MBAs, false prophet to the working grunt.......2007-09-16
He has his bits of general good advise, but nothing really wildly new except his enthusiam in regurgitating it. However, many of his philosophies seem like simplitic generalizations from the executive 30,000ft level. It's easy to come off like a fearless leader, full of direction, when it's other 'human resources' below you're squeezing like lemons for the needed juice of 'change', 'cost reductions', etc. He doesn't get into details of actually getting it done too much, which is typical of these high-power executive types. Doesn't sound like somebody who's really acquainted with the bloody, dirty nuts-and-bolts details of the low-level grunt world. His piece on dealing with Communist China is exemplary of this: why, we'll just re-invent ourselves perpetually to always be ahead of them... right! His point of view is that of Julius Cesar high up in his emperor's stand, whereas life looks a lot different if you're one of the gladiators or christians down in the sand waiting for his thumb signal!
Winning.......2007-09-15
This is the best business book on the shelf. Organizations should make this required reading for all managers and employees.
Great Business Book.......2007-09-03
I think that it is a very good business book. Jack Welch is been an icon in the business industry and his shares can help to improve anyone performance.
Great advice from a highly successful and experienced CEO.......2007-08-30
The writing style is excellent: simple and straight to the point. It's full of great advice from the icon of CEOs in the 80s and the 90s. Highly recommended!
Book Description
ow many authors would travel coast to coast on a bus to get their book into as many hands as possible? Not many. But that's just what Ron Clark, author of The Essential 55, did to keep his book and message in the public eye. And it worked. After his Oprah appearance, sales skyrocketed: we've sold more than 850,000 copies in six months! The book sat tenaciously on the New York Times bestseller list for 11 weeks. Ron Clark was featured on the Today show, and in the Chicago Tribune, Good Housekeeping, and the New York Daily News-not to mention the calls we've received from teachers and parents who want to get their hands on Ron's guidelines for teaching children.Now in paperback, The Essential 55 will be the perfect book for parents and teachers to slip into their own backpacks, to read on the train or at lunch, and to highlight the sections that resonate for them. And with an author who is truly a partner in getting his message to the masses, we just can't lose.
Download Description
Ron Clark's ESSENTIAL 55 rules were created to help him control his first class in rural North Carolina where the students had little interest in lessons, and the parents believed school was extended day care. In teaching these students to be orderly, respectful and to feel appreciated, he took a group of below-average students and turned them into stars (for example he took 5th grade students who were reading at a 3rd grade level to reading at 6th grade level and loving it). He continued his mission in Harlem, where he found a school that needed him the most and worked the same magic. But it's not magic. Ron Clark knows how to teach by using discipline and affection in almost equal measure. He devotes his time to teaching these kids how to live in the world so that they have respect for themselves and those around them;rules that apply to all of us. Some of the ESSENTIAL 55 include: how to accept compliments, how to return a greeting, how to gracefully lose a game. In hearing Ron Clark's engaging voice, combined with his confident manner at changing the lives of these kids for the better, any reader will feel she can influence a student, a young child or a son graduating from college and going out into the world.
Customer Reviews:
Review of Essential 55.......2007-09-09
Excellent book and one I recommend all educator's read. All of Ron Clark's rules can be used in every day life whether you are a child or an adult. I would also recommend buying the dvd, The Ron Clark Story. Its a must see for all people who are in the educational field.
This is a true story of an exceptional teacher in a real life school setting.
ok.......2007-08-09
This was ok. There were a few things I would use. A few of his ideas were a little over the top and I would have a hard time including into my day.
GREAT .......2007-07-04
I first heard of Ron Clark when my sister saw him on Oprah. She couldn't stop talking about how great he was and how inspirational. I'm a teacher and she said she almost ordered it for me from the show. The next year several teachers in my district were sent to a conference where he was to speak. Unfortunately, Ron became ill and wasn't able to appear. However, the next year I was sent to the same conference with a different group of teachers and he was there. All I can say is that the book is good, the movie moving, but they are no match to hearing Ron Clark speak in person. There's never a dull moment and he makes you feel that you can accomplish anything........it worked for his students and for me.
Mostly Great Rules - Would work best if you are a Dynamic Person.........2007-06-28
I really enjoyed reading this book. I don't know if I would have the guts to implement all of the "rules" and I think most of them work better when you are the "cool" teacher that Ron Clark is. I have tried to think up even one interesting story about myself that would compare to his background and I can't. I am kind of boring and was always a good student. His explanations of the reasoning behind the rules is great and so far it is the best teaching book I have read.
A Teacher's Must.......2007-06-05
I have 2 children that are teachers. I purchased both the move and the book for their education on how to treat and handle children in the classroom. They were excited over both.
Book Description
In order to survive and thrive in today's financial markets, you must seriously consider the use of options in your investment endeavors. Options allow you to reap the same benefits as an outright stock or commodity trade, but with less risk and less money on the line. The truth is, you can achieve everything with options that you would with stocks or commoditiesat less costwhile gaining a much higher percentage return on your invested dollars.
After numerous years as a market maker in the trenches of the New York Mercantile Exchange, few analysts know how to make money trading options like author Lee Lowell. In this well-rounded resource, Lowell shows both stock and commodity option traders exactly what works and what doesn't.
Filled with in-depth insight and expert advice, Get Rich with Options provides you with the knowledge and strategies needed to achieve optimal results within the options market. The book quickly covers the basicshow options are priced, strike price selection, the use of Delta, and using volatility to one's advantagebefore moving on to the four options trading strategies that have helped Lowell profit in this arena time and again: buying deep-in-the-money call options, selling naked puts, selling option credit spreads, and selling covered calls. Using these strategoes decisively, he says, is the fastest route to riches in the options trading game.
Get Rich with Options is packed with real-life examples of actual trades and detailed discussions of how options can be used as a hedging, speculating, or income-producing tool. You'll learn how to set up a home business with the best options trading software, tools, and Web sites. And you'll begin to see options in a whole new light and discover how to become part of a small group of investors who consistently win.
Customer Reviews:
A little hype-y, but a very good introduction on how to use options..........2007-08-29
The majority of books I've read on investing in the stock market are focused on buying and selling of actual shares of stock. I vaguely know of options, using puts and calls to leverage blocks of stock for small amounts of capital. But Get Rich With Options: Four Winning Strategies Straight from the Exchange Floor by Lee Lowell does a good job in explaining how that all works, and how best to structure your option trading to incur minimal risk and maximum gain. It just takes a little bit to get past the "over the top" title...
Contents:
Part 1 - The Option Basics: It's All About the Calls and Puts; How Options Are Priced; Option Volatility; Stocks versus Options; Why Option Selling Is Your Key to Success
Part 2 - The Strategies: Buy All the Stock You Want for Half the Price; Getting Paid to Buy Your Favorite Stock; Option Credit Spreads - The All-Star Strategy; A Day in the Life of the Market Maker; Put Your Stocks to Work - Sell Covered Calls; A Bonus Strategy - Ratio Option Spreads
Part 3 - Getting Ready to Trade: Tools of the Trade; Brokers and Commissions
Conclusion; Index
Lowell has experienced the option trading life as both a member of a brokerage firm and as an independent trader. His experience comes into play in the book, as there are detailed analyses of some of his trades that illustrate the different strategies. Part 1 was perfect for someone like me who has heard of options, and perhaps knows the bare basics, but doesn't understand why and how they are priced. Now all those things like volatility and deltas make sense. Part 2 is where he gets into the strategies he uses to buy and sell options. A couple of them are pretty easy to understand once you have the basics down (like the covered calls). In fact, it's hard to imagine why more people don't do that. A few seemed more complex and confusing, such as the ratio option spreads. Perhaps with a few more readings, it might have sunk in. But I'm not sure I was prepared by the end of the book to execute those strategies...
The main knock I have against this book is that everything's successful and works in his examples. He's pretty clear as to where the risk lies in each of the strategies. And it's easy to see how options *do* mitigate your potential loss risk while giving you a much better chance of walking away with some profit. But unless you're trading thousands of option contracts with plenty in your brokerage account to cover your exposure, the average trader is going to be walking away with a few hundred or so in profit from these techniques. Not quite "rich", but far better than watching your stock plummet or stagnate over the years. And I *really* would have liked to see him show some of the trades that *didn't* go well. He alludes to nothing being perfect or a sure bet, but you certainly won't see him dwell on the imperfections here...
Overall, this is a good book that covers a complex topic in an understandable fashion. I would have preferred a bit less hype and salesmanship, but it's not so bad as to detract from some good information and advice.
easy to understand.......2007-08-23
I recommend this book for anyone interested in learning about options. It is easy to read and understand and will give you a good foundation.
great for more conservative investors interested in options.......2007-08-12
I thought this book did an excellent job of explaining some more conservative option strategies - such as buying a deep in the money call instead of buying the stock outright. Covered calls and put-sells are also covered plus 2 other strategies I doubt I would ever use. This book does not go into exotic and very risky option techniques. By the way, the title just does not fit the book.
I loved this book!.......2007-07-27
I recently started trading options successfully. The book is right on the money! As it clearly states, you must be right on the time and direction of the market, guessing won't cut it, unless you opt for the delta neutral strategies. I've read many options books and this one is the one I like the most, I highly recomend it.
Worth reading but lacks specifics.......2007-07-12
Mr. Lowell presents useful discussions of option basics as well as his favorite option trading strategies. He gives many examples of profitable credit spread trades, although all involve options on futures rather than securities. There is no explanation as to why options on securities are not included. I was also left wanting for some specifics on how he selects spreads with the highest expectation for returns, and how the he determines when to exit the spread trades prior to expiration. The information on available internet data sources is very good.
Book Description
the challenge every man faces...the fight every man can win
From the television to the Internet, print media to videos, men are constantly faced with the assault of sensual images. It is impossible to avoid such temptations...but, thankfully, not impossible to rise above them.
Shattering the perception that men are unable to control their thought lives and roving eyes, Every Man's Battle shares the stories of dozens who have escaped the trap of sexual immorality and presents a practical, detailed plan for any man who desires sexual purity-perfect for men who have fallen in the past, those who want to remain strong today, and all who want to overcome temptation in the future.
Includes a special section for women, designed to help them understand and support the men they love.
Customer Reviews:
Wow. I felt like these authors were looking into my soul........2007-09-23
Wow. I felt like these authors were looking into MY soul as they were writing. At times, it frightened me. It was amazing how well I could relate to what the authors were writing.
This book, which is written to Christian males, is all about winning the war on sexual temptation. It gives great advice on how a man can win this battle in as little as 6 weeks. It explored the natural tendencies of men and how our very maleness can lead us down the road of sexual impurity. The authors then turn the focus toward recognizing theses male tendencies and being "on guard" against them so that sexual purity can be obtained.
Some men have been quoted as saying, "It's natural for a male to look [at an attractive woman]." Is this [looking] stealing something that doesn't belong to you? The book answers this question. Also, if you want to be more captivated by your wife (and you may not think it's possible because you are already enamored by her), then I strongly encourage you to read this book.
I believe this book will enable you to win the battle on sexual temptation as well as strengthen your marriage (if you're married).
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I plan to read it multiple times.
Real.......2007-09-19
This book gives men an accurate perspective of lust. It provides reasons why lust is wrong by quoting scripture. It provides stories by the authors' personal lives to show that lust attacks all men and in a variety of ways. The book provides real ways to stop lusting. Finally, it provides expectations of the struggle.
This One Pulls No Punches.......2007-08-28
We're living in an age of unbridled sensuality and desire, when almost nothing is taboo, and ideas such as morality, purity, sanctity, and respect are considered highly subjective concepts. Though temptations of the flesh have always been with us - and always will be with us as long as we have the old sin nature inside - it has never before been harder for men and women alike to control their thoughts, minds, and dare I say it ....hormones.
The battle for purity of mind, thought, deed, and heart has escalated to a fever pitch, and countless of men and women alike have hurt others and been hurt by others in the areas of sexual purity. Television ads, billboards, magazine inserts - even in the once harmless Ladies Home Journal - promote life-styles and standards of living that open even the best person to thoughts and desires that, if left unchecked, can run roughshod over good intentions and the way we'd like to live.
Men, in particular, have suffered greatly in this area; and though it's not entirely their fault, the rising numbers of divorce and extramarital affairs inside the church - even among those who have served long and faithfully in the ministry - speak very loudly and clearly that something is wrong.
"Every Man's Battle", by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker, is one of the best devotionals targeting men and the battle for purity that I've come across in quite some time. It's practical, down-to-earth, and both authors "roll up their sleeves" and get right to the nitty-gritty details. It has a two-pronged approach: though it affirms men struggling with purity that they're not monsters, mentally ill, cursed, or alone in their fight; it also pulls no punches when it comes to their admonition to clean up their thought lives and behavior patterns.
"Every Man's Battle" also goes into great depth analyzing the male perspective and thought process - even going into biological detail as to why it's so hard for many men to keep pure - without succumbing to the age-old excuse, "boys will be boys". Much of what they discuss makes a tremendous amount of sense on a simple every day level, but at the same time they back everything with Scripture from God's Word.
It's very practical, and it doesn't just talk about the struggle for sexual purity and give enthusiastic exhortations and admonitions, it lays out and devises easy-to-implement action steps for any men to clean up their lives and obtain purity. In the battle for sexual purity, this isn't just a "Recon & Intel" report, it's a battle strategy aimed at one goal: to win, under the power and strength of God.
Finally, the best part about this book is the fact it's been written by two Christian men who have fought long and hard against the very beast troubling so many men. Other devotionals and books I've read about sexual purity and temptation have been on the ball and scripturally accurate, but they always read a little flat because you got the idea that though they were well researched and written, none of the authors really spent "time in the trenches". These guys have, and they aren't only recommending "good practices they've researched", but battle plans that saved their purity and marriages.
Great Book!.......2007-08-27
Another new bestseller which I highly recommend - The Exclusive Layguide: When Dating and Having Sex with Incredibly Hot Women is No Longer Mirage Even If You Don't Look Like a Model or Don't Make a Fortune
A Must Read for Every Christian Man.......2007-08-01
I just finished reading this book and found it very informative and enlightening. It is biblically based and a fun read. I believe it will help me both in my walk with Christ and in my relationships with my wife and family.
It's a MUST READ for any man who wants to grow spiritually with God. And when you finish, ask your wife to read it as well.
Book Description
Praise for The Peebles Principles
"Don Peebles is an example of what entrepreneurs are all about. In this engaging and witty book, Peebles shares insights from his own success in the world of high- powered real estate. What makes this book different is Peebles doesn't just focus on the positive, he discusses the failures too—something every entrepreneur can expect in his journey to success. This book should be on every aspiring business- person's bookshelf to be read again and again."
—Robert L. Johnson, Founder, BET and Owner, Charlotte Bobcats
"The Peebles Principles provides a fun read and a bird's-eye view of the ever- changing world of a real estate entrepreneur. It is a good gut check for would-be entrepreneurs to ask if they have what it takes."
—Dr. Peter D. Linnemann, Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania
"Wow! What magnificent inspiration The Peebles Principles is for anyone seeking to be involved in business. The ground rules found in each chapter are absolute gems, and those alone make the book worth buying."
—Cathy Hughes, Founder and Chairperson, Radio One, Inc.
"This book is a brilliant example of entrepreneurship, creativity, and principles. Peebles walks you through many of his successful deals, from their inception to their completion. Once you start the book you won't be able to put it down until you've finished the last page."
—Dr. Sanford L. Ziff, Founder and Chairman, Sunglass Hut International Inc.
Customer Reviews:
Should Be Required Reading!.......2007-09-24
I can't stop talking about this book! I first heard Mr. Peebles on the Steve Harvey morning show. I was impressed. Then, I had the pleasure of hearing him speak at a Michigan Minority Business Development Council/General Motors event. I was even more impressed. I took home my autographed copy of his book that day and began reading it. I was addicted! I could not put it down! Every spare moment I had, I was in this book! He literally becomes your mentor. This book is a practical application manual. He shares what went wrong and what went right, he names names and pulls no punches! Mr. Peebles has put to shame many other authors, claiming to want to teach us how to become rich in real estate or other industries, for holding out on us!
Must read for ANYONE aspiring to do big deals!.......2007-09-23
This is a very easy to read, step-by-step book of the anatomy of a deal. Often we say that we would like to be the lamp in the room of a big deal and Peebles puts us there time and time again! The candor and honesty expressed regarding the deal structure and his thoughts behind the decisions made was nothing short of generous! I have been in business for seven years. I could not figure out why my firm had not advanced to the next level... Now I understand! For a man, independently wealthy, he charitably gives the rest of us some insight to advancing our own goals and closing our own deals! I have recommended the book to at least 10 colleagues in two weeks!
I love the Peebles Principles.......2007-09-04
I read books all the time about very successful people, most happen to be in industries other than in the Real Estate industry that I am in. I have also read about a lot developers like Donald Trump, but until know this is one of the most successful Minority Developers I have the pleasure of studying. The ability to stand fast with no legs to stand on is a lesson in itself. You have to believe you are adding value in any relationship for all to feel a certain equality.
His vision and tenacity to follow through, seems to be a trait a lot of Entrepreneurs lack. This is a real How To Book, most will try to cafeteria style it, and do it there way, bit it will not work. From the moment I finished reading it,I started trying to build political contacts. I will be giving my first campaign donation this year. I never understood the importance of who you know, not what it is that you know, until I read The Peebles Principles. I would just like to congratulate Mr. Pebbles on his massive success.
It seems as if Mr. Peebles is unstoppable know, I just recently read that he is constructing the most expensive Minority Owned hotel in Las Vegas as we speak. This just gives the average person that does not have a Harvard Degree the confidence that you can do it if you want it bad enough. In closing I would recommend this book to anyone that has ever wanted to pursue a career as a Real Estate Investor. It gives you a different path to the promised land.
Darrick H Scruggs
Can this genius possibly have more fun?.......2007-08-01
Read this book. It will force you to completely rethink just how you can operate within the free-market business world. My once forgotten career dreams of yesteryear have been rediscovered and are now being fulfilled with a renewed vigor. Mr. Peebles has an astute business mind coupled with a tireless desire to succeed with his ethics intact.
Real People, Real Stories, Real Lessons.......2007-06-12
The Peebles Principles is an excellent, but at the same time, easy read. I recommend it to anyone in business or thinking about going into business. His story should be an inspiration to all who want to succeed in business and in life, regardless of race or economic background. It is a must read for everyone in my family.
Book Description
It's an Easter Egg-stravaganza!
Lucille is having an Easter Egg Hunt at her rich expensive mansion! And guess what? The winner gets a play date to swim in Lucille's heated indoor swimming pool! Only, here is the problem. How did Junie B. get stuck wearing a big dumb bunny suit? And how can she possibly find eggs when she keeps tripping over her huge big rabbit feet? Being a dumb bunny is definitely not as easy as it looks. Will Junie B. end up with egg on her face? Or will the day deliver some very uneggspected results?
Customer Reviews:
Gracie's review of Junie B. Jones - Dumb Bunny.......2007-09-19
Junie B., First Grader: Dumb Bunny (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
I love all of Barbara Parks books about Junie B. Jones. I think they should make a movie of this book. I think this is the funniest of all the Junie B.books. If you have a little girl who loves to read or be read to, I cannot recommend all of the Junie B. books enough.
Would make a great addition to any Easter basket! This book is a little better than cheater pants!
Yes to Junie B........2007-07-24
My daughter has the whole collection she love keeping up with Junie B. I have not read a book in it's entire but from what I've read she is a very curious, funny little girl. I recommend this book and all the others also. My daughter was hooked after the 1st Barbara Parks books and althought she is older now she still cracks up laughing when reading. Totaling entertaining!
A very loquacious first grader with a vocabulary far beyond her age .......2007-06-05
After more than 25 books, Barbara Park's series about a very loquacious first grader with a vocabulary far beyond her age (and the writing ability to go with it) is still going strong. So I suspended my disbelief and read JUNIE B., FIRST GRADER: DUMB BUNNY to my six-year-old.
In this adventure, the rich girl in class, Lucille, invites everyone over to her mansion to participate in an over-the-top Easter Egg Hunt that will result in a play date in Lucille's heated indoor swimming pool. Lucille wants her boyfriend Sheldon to win, but Junie B. and her arch-nemesis May (the original "dumb bunny" in the title until Junie B. gets something of a comeuppance later on) are ready to pounce, pound and scrabble their opponents in order to get a dip in that grand pool.
There is a lot of falling down and Batman-type expletives (WHOOSH! SMASH!), and the kids are none too nice to each other until Junie B., in a sudden acknowledgment of good judgment, makes a quick and well-appreciated sacrifice to save the day. We laughed at some of the pratfalls, and Lucille's annoyed Nanna character was amusing as well. Junie B. shares the stage with a lot of different people, but she is clearly the star of the show, the story told from her point of view.
Whether humiliated in a pink bunny suit or gloating over her lack of selfishness, Junie B. thinks in capital letters with lots of exclamation points and writes in her journal about what she has learned. The journal entries are cute and engaging, and spell out the moral of the story without being too pointed, which we appreciated.
If this is your first Junie B. foray, it might be helpful to go back and read some of the earlier books first to relax into her strange environment. Otherwise, DUMB BUNNY certainly will offer fans of the series more of what they have come to expect from this little girl and her friends.
--- Reviewed by Jana Siciliano
Kids Love Junie B........2007-05-14
My daughter love this series. It's a little hard for me to read due to the poor grammar and name calling. Let's face it though most first graders have poor grammar. There are worse things that she could be reading. We have all of these books and they are well loved.
Hilarious tale.......2007-04-14
Barbara Park's JUNIE B. FIRST GRADER: DUMB BUNNY provides another excellent first grader tale: this taking place at Easter and telling of an Easter egg hunt with an unusual prize. But Junie B. gets stuck wearing an impossible costume and a series of mishaps might prevent her from her goals in this hilarious tale for grades 4-6.
Book Description
For today's poker players, Texas hold 'em is the game. Every day, tens of thousands of small stakes hold 'em games are played all over the world in homes, card rooms, and on the Internet. These games can be very profitable — if you play well. But most people don't play well and end up leaving their money on the table.
Small Stakes Hold 'em: Winning Big with Expert Play explains everything you need to be a big winner. Unlike many other books about small stakes games, it teaches the aggressive and attacking style used by all professional players. However, it does not simply tell you to play aggressively; it shows you exactly how to make expert decisions through numerous clear and detailed examples.
Small Stakes Hold 'em teaches you to think like a professional player. Topics include implied odds, pot equity, speculative hands, position, the importance of being suited, hand categories, counting outs, evaluating the flop, large pots versus small pots, protecting your hand, betting for value on the river, and playing overcards. In addition, after you learn the winning concepts, test your skills with over fifty hand quizzes that present you with common and critical hold 'em decisions. Choose your action, then compare it to the authors' play and reasoning.
This text presents cutting-edge ideas in straightforward language. It is the most thorough and accurate discussion of small stakes hold 'em available. Your opponents will read this book; make sure you do, too!
Customer Reviews:
excellent for a specific situation.......2007-09-20
Two + Two consistently publishes outstanding poker books, and Small Stakes Hold Em is no exception, so long as one understands the basic premise. This book is not a general guide to hold em, it doesn't cover tournaments or beating top level players - it is specifically written to help the experienced player target the beating of weak, often passive, usually loose players at the smaller tables, and nothing else. Although the authors make this point several times, it bears reminding and keeping in mind. You will not beat good players using the starting hand, pre or postflop play, or betting guidelines presented in this book.
That said, you are looking at a pretty typical Sklansky book. Sklansky does not insult the intelligence of the reader; he assumes the reader is already a decent to good player, familiar with Hold Em play and general strategy, and is not entering his first live game, but wishes to maximize his profits at that game instead. His advice is detailed, well explained, and when counter-intuitive, backed up by some persuasive reasoning. There are charts and tables, all kinds of hand breakdowns - most likely these are best NOT memorized but used more as a way of organizing your approach to the game situation. Rigid play will lead to losses, even at games well stocked with fish. And there are lots and lots of such games available, both online and live.
Not all small-stakes games will fit the profile as here defined - the reader/player will need to use his own judgement about passive/aggressive and loose/tight every time he plays - but when the circumstances are right, Sklansky's book is all about calibrating your game to extract the maximum advantage. And as such it has value and belongs on a poker players bookshelf.
Loose against Loose.......2007-09-06
I'm a long time player and started playing online a little while ago. So to get the feeling for online Poker I thought I'd start with small stake tables until I know my way out and then play my usual higher stakes games.
After a short while I realized that small stakes table are just horrible to play and that I need to adapt my game to the new situation. I went out and buy the book of Sklansky about how to play small stakes... after reading the book carefully and trying to follow most of his strategies I must say that I'd better have lost my money at a table than for the book. My new table experiences would have been more valuable.
What Sklansky suggests is actually to play loose against loose players! I've been playing for many years now and my tracks show that I'm pretty tight, solid and aggresive but since this strategy doesn't seem to work very well at small stakes online tables, I thought being open minded and reading about new ways would pay out. I know now that playing my usual way doesn't pay out as much as I'm used to at tables like that, but I also know that the way they explain how to play doesn't pay out at all but makes you even loose more money...
Most Likely better for Casino play.......2007-08-30
This book is quite good but I think most of the advice is more applicable in brick and mortar rooms where the action is more loose. Many of the examples in the book are games in where the pot odds are favorable to chase all your draws but that isn't the case even in games as low as .25/.5 limit online today. If you can find loose games then this book would probably be a very good addition to your library
Best Book on Limit Hold 'Em.......2007-08-16
I own several poker books and this is the one that I reference most often. Sklansky might be the best poker author of all time and his Theory of Poker is a must read for any serious player. Limit, and particularly low limit poker, is an entirely different game from No-Limit and the techniques that work well in no-limit often fail miserably in Limit. Don't buy the claim that you'll ever be able to earn a substantial income playing low limit, but diligently applying the concepts presented should result in + play. Low limit is a chase game for many and you need to have a rather thick skin to endure the many bad beats that you'll endure by playing correctly. Many players seem to have no clue that a three-flush after the flop should usually be thrown away if the only plausible out is to connect suited runner-runner. You'll want to chew on the table when your flopped 2 pairs gets caught on the river by the runner-runner chaser, but you need to endure! If you think that you'll be a successful player in low limit by using the bluff as your principal technique, think again. Bluffing works on occasion, when timed correctly, but you can't depend on your opposition to make rational folds. A recent example from one of my hands that pays off for the opposition: I was playing 3-6 limit with a kill pot. I was dealt pocket aces and raised. There was a raise and re-raise capped making the bet $24 pre-flop. Incredibly, 5 players stayed in. The flop came Ace - 5 - 8 rainbow, giving me a monster set of aces. An early position player bet, there was a raise and I re-raised. 4 players were still in the bloody pot! The turn card was a 9. More raising and the field was now down to 3, the pot was huge, but I didn't see how my pocket aces could lose. The river comes up a 7. You guessed it, I lost to a straight. The bozo called pre-flop with J-6 offsuit all the way up to a $24 bet, calls raises to the river and hits runner-gutshot runner and he wins a $240 pot! There's no justice in low-limit hold 'em. You may as well learn to live with it!
Poker Book.......2007-06-28
This is a very good book. I have added th book to my poker libary.
Average customer rating:
- The Ultimate Step-by-Step Selling Guide
- Better than the standard Spin Selling Book
- Practice makes perfect.
- Nice book, but too easy after reading SPIN Selling
- Indispensable part of the salesman's library
|
The SPIN Selling Fieldbook
Neil Rackham
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
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Similar Items:
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SPIN Selling
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Major Account Sales Strategy
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Secrets of Question Based Selling: How the Most Powerful Tool in Business Can Double Your Sales Results
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Solution Selling: Creating Buyers in Difficult Selling Markets
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The New Strategic Selling: The Unique Sales System Proven Successful by the World's Best Companies
ASIN: 0070522359 |
Book Description
Strategies and tools that guarantee big-ticket sales!
Neil Rackham's national bestseller SPIN Selling revolutionized high-end selling. Now, The SPIN Selling Fieldbook shows you how to actually put into practice the proven tools and techniques outlined in that cutting-edge guide. After a review of the SPIN method of selling, Neil Rackham zeroes in on the critical SPIN® questioning behaviors. He shows you how to apply the tools and techniques to your own selling situation, using practical, skill-building exercises incorporated into each chapter. Addressing the sales of services as well as capital goods, the Fieldbook provides you with a hands-on implementation guide for applying SPIN in a wide range of businesses from localized companies to large multinationals. Real-life case studies of sales forces at leading-edge companies such as Motorola, Johnson & Johnson, and AT&T help you explore additional techniques that go beyond the basics to boost sales with even the toughest customers and clients.
Customer Reviews:
The Ultimate Step-by-Step Selling Guide.......2007-06-25
I speak around the world on lead generation and marketing strategy. Neil did an outstanding job crafting "The SPIN Selling Fieldbook" to give you a roadmap on how to master complex sales strategy.
There is no other resource I can think of where you can "easily perfect" your approach and positioning sales strategy.
Neil gives you step-by-step plan that anyone can follow in their quest to excel at marketing their products or services.
The SPIN Selling Fieldbook gives you valuable "hands on" tools. I recommend the "SPIN Selling Fieldbook."
It is an invaluable resource that any salesperson or sales executive should have in their personal library.
Joe Heller, Trust Cycle Selling
Better than the standard Spin Selling Book.......2007-06-09
This field book is better than the original book was. If you are going to buy just one of the two you should probably just buy the field book. It allows you to apply the ideas very quickly.
Practice makes perfect........2006-11-14
Usually is not enough to read a book to have the knowledge, you need to practice, and that is what this book helps to, giving you ideas on how to put SPIN method into practice.
Nice book, but too easy after reading SPIN Selling.......2006-08-09
I bought this book together with SPIN Selling. I read the Fieldbook after reading SPIN Selling. If you've already read SPIN Selling, this book is not going to tell you much new things.
If you would read the Fieldbook instead of SPIN Selling, then I think the Fieldbook is not thorough enough, at least if you compare it to SPIN Selling.
In general I think the audience of this book is perhaps college students, or clever highschool students, but not really experienced salespeople. Maybe that's also because of the cartoons every now and then which make the book look like it's meant for younger people.
What I expected when I bought both books was that the Fieldbook offerd some transcriptions of salescalls, and an explanation of why certain aspects are wrong and how this could be improved using SPIN Selling. This was not really the case, it was more like a simple summary of SPIN Selling. So not really the Fieldbook I expected.
Anyway, the book is not bad, but I would not recommend to buy both SPIN Selling and the Fieldbook together. Also, if you're a serious and experienced salesperson I would recommend SPIN Selling. If you're new to sales or if you're still in college, I would recommend the Fieldbook.
Indispensable part of the salesman's library.......2006-07-19
This book is a practical guide for implementing the principles learned in the original book about 'Spin selling', however it is not necessary to have read the other book to make good use of this one. I think the SPIN methodology is a most valuable contribution from Mr. Rackham to the field of large sales and this book gives sound help to implement it.
Product Description
The recent boom of Texas hold em has forever changed the way the game is played. Many more people know how to play this game well. Even the loose players who come to gamble have become far more aggressive, making them more difficult to play against. So a basic tight and patient strategy will no longer guarantee that you can make a significant amount of money in games at the higher stakes. This is especially true short-handed, which have become increasingly popular in the online poker rooms. This text is the first to tackle the complex issues presented when playing short-handed and high-stakes limit hold em. But even if you happen to only play in softer games, many of the key concepts presented will still help you against the other good players in your game. Winning in Tough Hold em Games includes an examination of pre-flop play, covering issues at a depth of sophistication which have never appeared in print before including discussions of blind stealing, re-stealing, isolating a loose player, big blind and small blind defense, and blind versus blind play. Also covered are thorough sections on playing heads up and semi-bluffing. In addition, over 50 hands, taken from high stakes online games which were played by Stoxtrader, are presented along with appropriate discussion of the strategy involved. This book is a must read for anyone hoping to make a meaningful income from playing limit hold em. It is a serious text and should be beneficial for those of you willing to make the effort to master this material.
Customer Reviews:
Great! .......2007-08-14
Fascinating read. Not sure why these guys would want to share their secret, but I'm glad they did.
Good, but..........2007-08-05
Pretty good book overall. This is narrowly targeted at higher-stakes, short-handed, limit holdem players. It has general guidelines for types of hands, and then specific guidance for particular hands. I found the general guidance and principles to be extremely good. But the particular hands to be not so relevant for the games i play. It also has lots of math in there that is only marginally useful.
This book is a goldmine.......2007-07-06
I'm not one for writing reviews, but when I saw this book only had one to it's name, I had to say a few words.
I can honestly say this is the best book out there when it comes to beating tough 6 max online games. And I've read a lot of them!!
Stox is a genius. I've based my entire style of play on his "teachings" and I have been a successful online pro for 18 months. I hesitate to praise him too much because I don't want my opponents to get their hands on this book!!
I wont go into much detail other than to say there is a large and clearly explained section on Blinds play/defense which is a must read for any serious player. It has helped my game no end.
Flintoff 2+2
Good, Heavy reading.......2007-05-21
This is a book by a couple of respected 2+2 er's (If you dont know what a 2+2er is then this book is not for you (yet) )
It specifically addresses tough 6 max limit games, tough, being with the explosion of internet games and the recent US gaming laws it is getting harder and harder to find what we call loose, profitable tables.
It is concise and to the point and includes alot of PT stats (if you dont know what PT is again this book is not for you) to back up their reasoning.
In conclusion the book adopts an aggressive (as you should be when playing short handed anyway) style and deep thinking analysis of every play including actual hands.
However this is not a beginner book and you should be a winning player at full ring/6 max games limit medium stakes $2/4 and above to find this book useful. it is also good for those players who have plateued and are looking to improve.
Books:
- Cost Accounting (12th Edition) (Charles T Horngren Series in Accounting)
- Cost Accounting (12th Edition) (Charles T Horngren Series in Accounting)
- Crafting and Executing Strategy : The Quest for Competitive Advantage - Concepts and Cases (Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases)
- Critical Chain : A Business Novel
- Critical Chain Project Management, Second Edition
- Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century
- Designing Organizations: An Executive Guide to Strategy, Structure, and Process Revised
- Designing the Hamptons: Portraits of Interiors
- Dictionary of Finance and Investment Terms
- Dictionary of Real Estate Terms, Sixth Edition (Barron's Business Dictionaries) (Barron's Business Dictionaries)
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