Bergers Book Reviews

The Skinny on Networking

Author: Jim Randel
Publisher: Rand Media
Genre: Business
ISBN: 978-0-9844418-1-5
Pages: 156
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” But how do you get to know the people who can assist you when you need it most? Our inner circle of acquaintances – friends and family – can occasionally help. But it’s best to broaden our network and increase the likelihood of being able to call on just the person who can address our need.

In The Skinny on Networking, Jim Randel shows us the power of having a large network, and how to go about creating it. He discusses the concept of “connectors” – those who seem to know just about everyone. Social capital is explored, and why it’s not always a good idea to ask for big vs. little favors. And Randel shares his thoughts on how best to use the internet through social media and blogs.

For many folks, networking is difficult, but Randel encourages us to work on this important skill every day. A network that grows organically takes effort, but it’s well worth it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

March 27, 2012 Posted by Bergers Book Reviews | business | Leave a Comment

Happiness at Work

Author: Jessica Pryce-Jones
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Genre: Business
ISBN: 978-0-470-74946-3
Pages: 256
Price: $24.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

How happy are you at work? If you are happy, do you know why? Or if not, what could be contributing to your unhappiness? Although employers seldom stop to think about happiness and how it affects their bottom line, Jessica Pryce-Jones has compiled some evidence that suggests this is something that businesses need to address.

Happy employees have more energy, are more engaged at work, are more motivated, have more confidence, achieve more of their goals, take less sick time, and contribute more than unhappy employees. They also tend to stay in positions longer, since they enjoy what they do.

In researching the factors involved in happiness at work, Pryce-Jones discovered 5Cs. Contribution, Conviction, Culture, Commitment, and Confidence are all explored in detail, with explanations of how these affect happiness. Some issues are dictated by company rules and policies, but some things are within an employee’s control, since they involve shifts in attitude or actions that can be taken to make work more tolerable.

But if you should find yourself in a situation that makes you very unhappy, the best thing for you and the company is for you to look for another job that is a better fit. No one should be so unhappy at work that it spills over into your health and personal life.

Smart companies understand the 5Cs and how these contribute to overall employee productivity and involvement. Happiness at Work is a useful and informative guide in helping employers create environments and structures that keep employees happy and productive.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

April 11, 2010 Posted by Bergers Book Reviews | business | Leave a Comment

Red Hot Internet Publicity

Author: Penny C. Sansevieri
Publisher: Cosimo Books
Genre: Business / Reference
ISBN: 978-1-60520-724-7
Pages: 320
Price: $18.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

In the days when publishers had a budget for promotion, authors did nothing but sit back and collect royalties. Now if an author wants to be successful, he’s going to have to do a little work after his book hits the shelves. Red Hot Internet Publicity will show you exactly what to do and how to do it.

Advertising has been proven to be less and less successful, as we’re bombarded with thousands of messages a day, but word of mouth is still one of the best selling strategies. The Internet offers a myriad of possibilities for spreading that word.

Many marketing strategies are available to an author. Some can be relatively expensive, like having a professional website built, but others can be nearly free, like maintaining a Facebook or Twitter account. Advice on holding teleseminars, setting up a book trailer, and sending out regular email newsletters, as well as many other ideas are also provided in this comprehensive marketing guide.

As an author of a picture book, I read this book with a mixture of professional curiosity and the desire to provide a review. I found there were so many ideas I’d overlooked when my book came out in print, and I’ve got a “to do” list that will keep me busy for quite a while. But now I understand what I need to do to get my name out there and make my book a success.

Penny C. Sansevieri has worked in the publishing industry for over 15 years as an author, freelance writer, publicist, and instructor. She’s distilled the knowledge she gained from this experience into Red Hot Internet Publicity. In the last 15 months she’s helped to launch 10 bestsellers, so she knows what she’s talking about. This valuable marketing guide is a must-have for any author who’s serious about selling his book. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

December 22, 2009 Posted by Bergers Book Reviews | business | Leave a Comment

Get Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Author: David R. Portney
Publisher: Kallisti Publishing
Genre: Marketing / Public Speaking
ISBN: 978-0-9761111-7-7
Pages: 260
Price: $24.00

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Attracting clients to your business can feel like an overwhelming task. You can try email or traditional mail, word of mouth, and advertising. But these techniques can cost a lot of time and money, and often bring in very little new business. Or you can try a different approach – seminars and public speaking.

David R. Portney has over 20 years experience in running seminars, and he has distilled his wisdom in Get Your Money Where Your Mouth Is. In his easy-to-follow 30 day plan, he’ll show you exactly how to set up your own seminars and bring targeted clients to your doorstep.

People can think of many reasons why they wouldn’t be successful as a public speaker. Stage fright, lack of expertise, and the inability to plan for a speaking engagement hold them back from tapping into the incredible power seminars offer. But Portney shows us that we can easily get past these self-limiting beliefs by following his simple plan.

If you’re ready to move in a powerful new direction and reach out to clients eager to do business with you, you would be wise to read this book. Seminars and public speaking will be just what you need to bring in more new clients than you ever dreamed possible.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

November 7, 2009 Posted by Bergers Book Reviews | business | Leave a Comment

The Fun Minute Manager

Author: Bob Pike, Robert C. Ford & John W. Newstrom
Publisher: Creative Training Techniques Press
Genre: Business / Management / Human Resources Development
ISBN: 978-1-935291-04-6
Pages: 107
Price: $21.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Are you having fun at work? Many people could probably say they like their work and get along with their coworkers. But fun? Work isn’t supposed to be fun. Well, not according to Bob Pike.

Following the format of the popular One Minute Manager, Pike takes us through the thought processes of a manager who comes to believe work can be fun. In this fictional story, Bob listens to an inspirational speaker on the subject of fun in the workplace. Then he meets with several other managers who share their experiences and knowledge of how to implement fun practices.

Besides the obvious benefits of just being happier coming to work, fun, if structured properly, can also benefit the company. But as Bob found out, fun has to be handled in a way that doesn’t hurt anyone and also doesn’t hurt the corporate image.

Especially now, when economic times are tough, fun in the workplace can really make a big difference to employees’ states of mind. If you’ve ever thought about bringing more laughter, joy and happiness to your office, The Fun Minute Manager will be a terrific guide. Work doesn’t have to be a drudge – it can be fun, too.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

October 29, 2009 Posted by Bergers Book Reviews | business | Leave a Comment

Awake at the Wheel

Author: Mitchell Lewis Ditkoff
Publisher: Morgan James
Genre: Business & Economics / Entrepreneurship
ISBN: 978-1-60037-295-7
Pages: 117
Price: $13.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Og has an idea. A really Big Idea. But what is he going to do about it? Awake at the Wheel shows us how Og conceives of an idea and then attempts to bring it to the tribe for acceptance.

Like many of us who’ve come up with big ideas only to have others shoot us down, Og makes some mistakes. But in the end, he presents his “wheel” to the tribe so they can all benefit from it.

This motivational book is divided into three parts. First is the humorous tale of Og and his Big Idea. Next are the things Og learned from his experience. And last is a set of tools that will guide you in your own Big Idea generation.

If you’ve got a really Big Idea already – or if you just want to come up with one right now for your business – Awake at the Wheel will show you what you need to do to get your idea “rolling.”

Mitchell Lewis Ditkoff is the founder of Idea Champions, specializing in leading creative thinking and team-building sessions. This fun and information-packed book shares some of the techniques he’s developed in his years of experience working with Fortune 500 and mid-sized companies. I highly recommend it for any business person who wants to be more creative and successful in developing new ideas.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

June 25, 2008 Posted by Bergers Book Reviews | business | Leave a Comment

Lead Like a Pirate

Author: Christopher Novak
Publisher: Cornerstone Leadership Institute
Genre: Business / Team Performance
ISBN: 978-0-9798009-1-7
Pages: 88
Price: $14.95

Cornerstone Leadership Institute website
Buy it at Amazon

Ahoy, mates! Lead Like a Pirate is about to take you on a team building pirate adventure. Comparing a pirate ship to a business unit, five key business areas are covered. These are: Captain, Crew, Mission, Strategy, and Treasure.

A brief summary of a pirate ship’s take on these key areas is presented in a fun and light-hearted way. Then the group is asked to read three possible scenarios to determine the best fit for each area. A scoring system determines who’s next in line to be promoted to Captain.

The team leader is encouraged to make this exercise fun by having employees dress in character and role-play. Pirate-themed movies can also be viewed and discussed, to see how each of the key elements appears in the movie.

Although there’s not much new material presented here, this approach is novel and interesting enough to help participants see these concepts in a different way. If you work for an organization that welcomes unique team building ideas, this book would provide a fun learning experience.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

March 12, 2008 Posted by Bergers Book Reviews | business | Leave a Comment