Business

Facile formulas, catchy slogans, ten-step programs, and quick fixes too often dominate today's management training programs. But in organizations as in all of life, human behavior is seldom predictable, and business dilemmas do not easily lend themselves to gimmicks or simplistic answers. In "Management of the Absurd, " psychologist, educator, and former CEO Richard Farson presents a series of management paradoxes designed to challenge conventional wisdom and encourage managers to reexamine their assumptions about effective leadership.
Here, at last, is a dramatically new understanding of organizations and human relations. In his explorations of more than 30 paradoxical situations, Farson demonstrates the value of a radically different perspective on leadership and offers managers powerful new ways to cope with the many perplexing problems of organizational life. Managers at every level will recognize the very real dilemmas and complexities that Farson describes, and will be challenged by these provocative new views of the art of managing people.
Here are some of Farson's startling insights:

The better things are, the worse they feel.
Once you find a management technique that works, give it up.
Big changes are easier to make than small ones.
The more we communicate, the less we communicate.
Nothing is as invisible as the obvious.
Effective managers are not in control.
Organizations that need help most will benefit least from that help.

Many readers will share Michael Crichton's response to this book, as he observes in the foreword, "He irritated me. He provoked me. He made me nod, he made me smile, and he made me shake myhead....[He] reports more than experience; he gives us wisdom." Guided by "Management of the Absurd, " managers of the 21st century will be able to accept the inherent complexity of management situations and work through these dilemmas, not with manipulative and simplistic techniques but with understanding, compassion, and effectiveness.

Establish a Web presence without tears Advice from an expert who is also an artist Artists, galleries, crafters, resellerswant to sell your art online? Here s the complete guide to establishing an effective Web site that will draw hits, promote sales, and establish a long-term, credible presence. Collectorswant to buy art online? Here s your book! Author Marques Vickers reveals emerging trends for artwork, plus opportunities for licensed products, barter, print on demand, and much more. Links to more than 1,200 relevant sites, plus clear, candid advice from an art expert, make this book an indispensable roadmap to online success."

A practical guide for women who want to do b usiness at home while raising a family. Moneymaking Moms cov ers everything from making the decision to stay home to sele cting the right business to learning to think like an entrep reneur. '

One of the biggest problems people face when a family member passes is finding and acting on critical information such as final wishes and arrangements, financial accounts, wills, house maintenance records, etc.
My Family Record Book is a complete step-by-step guide that will help you keep tract of and organize: final wishes & arrangements, computer information and passwords, estate planning documents, employment records, insurance policies, tax records, retirement accounts, government benefits, real estate records, house maintenance and more!
Much more than a check list of information, this guide helps you convey how and why decisions were made so others can make informed choices about such items as:
- How to keep the household running smoothly
- Where to get cash and how to access financial accounts
- How to get into your computer and access passwords
- How and when to downsize
- Which ongoing services to stop and which to keep going
Whether you are planning for retirement, have aging parents, or are a caregiver or estate executor, this book will help you organize important information so everyone will feel in control and know what to do during a stressful time.
My Family Record Book is the easiest and best way to organize your records and instructions for you and your family. Most importantly, it provides you with peace of mind knowing that vital information is easily accessible and is a loving and important gift for those you care about most.
Order a copy of this book today and empower your loved ones with knowledge!

Reengineering has come and gone. Downsizing is part of everyone's vocabulary. "Temporary worker" is often a permanent employment status. The days of long-term company loyalty are over. As the 21st century looms and business cynicism increases, W. C. Fields holds up a mirror for us that uncannily reflects the state of the late 20th-century business world. Now his grandson, Ronald J. Fields, shows how his grandfather's outrageous verbal gems can be a godsend to managers, helping readers remember to "Start every day with a smile and get it over with."

Call Fields's sound bites cynicism or real realism, they are words of wisdom that today's managers and professionals can profit from. Never Give a Sucker an Even Break asks: How does an ordinary manager cope with an issue, and what is the strategy of a "W. C." manager? Substantive issues such as time management, customer service, negotiating, and developing team spirit are addressed in short, to-the-point bits of guidance that let busy managers confront issues head-on with style.

A perfect example of the gems in this book comes from the film The Pharmacist, in which W. C. Fields, as Mr. Delweg, spends an inordinate amount of time and attention satisfying every whim of a difficult customer who only wishes to purchase a one-cent stamp. The chapter goes on to ask: Is this the type of customer really desired by a business, or do the losses outweigh the gains in catering to such a person? It then goes on to answer the question and explain why not every person is the preferred customer for every business.

NLP In A Week is a simple and straightforward guide to neuro-linguistic programming, giving you everything you need to know in just seven short chapters. From communicating more effectively to creating greater rapport with others, you'll discover the ability to change what isn't working in your life and increase what is.

This book introduces you to the main themes and ideas of NLP, giving you a basic knowledge and understanding of the key concepts, together with practical and thought-provoking exercises. Whether you choose to read it in a week or in a single sitting, NLP In A Week is your fastest route to success:

- Sunday: What is neuro-linguistic programming?
- Monday: Identify empowering and limiting beliefs
- Tuesday: Recognize how we represent information to ourselves
- Wednesday: Use precision questions to find out what people mean
- Thursday: Identify different communication filters
- Friday: Use the six levels of change and reframing
- Saturday: Increase your options

ABOUT THE SERIES
In A Week books are for managers, leaders, and business executives who want to succeed at work. From negotiating and content marketing to finance and social media, the In A Week series covers the business topics that really matter and that will help you make a difference today. Written in straightforward English, each book is structured as a seven-day course so that with just a little work each day, you will quickly master the subject. In a fast-changing world, this series enables readers not just to get up to speed, but to get ahead.

From the winner of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Economics, Richard H. Thaler, and Cass R. Sunstein: a revelatory look at how we make decisions--for fans of Malcolm Gladwell's Blink and Daniel Kahneman's Thinking Fast and Slow

New York Times bestseller
Named a Best Book of the Year by The Economist and the Financial Times

Every day we make choices--about what to buy or eat, about financial investments or our children's health and education, even about the causes we champion or the planet itself. Unfortunately, we often choose poorly. Nudge is about how we make these choices and how we can make better ones. Using dozens of eye-opening examples and drawing on decades of behavioral science research, Nobel Prize winner Richard H. Thaler and Harvard Law School professor Cass R. Sunstein show that no choice is ever presented to us in a neutral way, and that we are all susceptible to biases that can lead us to make bad decisions. But by knowing how people think, we can use sensible "choice architecture" to nudge people toward the best decisions for ourselves, our families, and our society, without restricting our freedom of choice.

More than 750,000 copies sold

Most of the denizens of the Antarctic penguin colony sneer at Fred, the quiet but observant scout who detects worrying signs that their home, an iceberg, is melting. Fred must cleverly convince and enlist key players, such as Louis, the head penguin; Alice, the number two bird; the intractable NoNo the weather expert; and a passle of school-age penguins if he is to save the colony.
Their delightfully told journey illuminates in an unforgettable way how to manage the necessary change that surrounds us all. Simple explanatory material following the fable enhances the lasting value of these lessons.
Our Iceberg Is Melting is at once charming, accessible and profound; a treat for virtually any reader.

During the past decade, leaders have increasingly relied onself-managing work groups, multifunctional teams, andcross-national executive groups to create the organization of thefuture. Yet groups are not a panacea for organizational problems;conflicts between individuals or factions within a group oftencreate seemingly contradictory situations?paradoxes?that canprevent the group from reaching its goals.

In this groundbreaking classic, Kenwyn Smith and David Berg offera revolutionary approach to understanding groups and overcoming theproblems that often paralyze group members, the group as a whole, and relations among groups. They explore the hidden dynamics thatcan prevent a group from functioning effectively. And they show howan apparently paradoxical suggestion?for example, inviting asuccess oriented group to risk failure, or affirming the benefitsof going nowhere to a group focused on moving ahead?can breakaction barriers, overcome conflicts, and improve groupperformance.

Smith and Berg offer a different way of thinking about groups thatwill open new avenues of inquiry for professors and students ofgroup behavior, and they propose many innovative ideas that willprove valuable to consultants, trainers, therapists, and others whowork with groups on a regular basis.

What manager is not anxious about the future? We live in a white-knuckled age of rapid technological change and global instability. But uncertainty is not the enemy, says management expert Paul J. H. Schoemaker. It is where the greatest opportunities are. To unlock these opportunities, however, requires a very different approach to strategy and implementation. In this pioneering book, Dr. Schoemaker presents a systematic approach that combines concepts such as scenario planning, options thinking, and dynamic monitoring to create novel strategies for profiting from ambiguity.

Building on his experience with more than one hundred consulting projects in fields ranging from health care to manufacturing, from utilities to financial services, Schoemaker shows how major corporations throughout the world have used his pathbreaking methodology to prepare for an uncertain future and profit from it. In this first comprehensive approach to the subject, Schoemaker shows the reader (1) how to develop and analyze multiple industry scenarios, (2) craft nimble strategies with just the right amount of flexibility, (3) implement them using an options approach, and (4) make real-time adjustments through dynamic monitoring. As a leading academic thinker and practitioner, the author draws on the frontiers of decision science, organization theory, strategy, and cognitive psychology to integrate the most practical contributions these various fields have made to navigating uncertainty.

More than any other capability, skill in seizing initiatives in shifting, unpredictable circumstances is the key to success. Profiting from Uncertainty provides a road map to do just that. This book was first published in 2002, well ahead of the mega turmoil that befell the world in 2008 and beyond. The methods and tools described here have been used by many companies and are even more relevant today than when originally published. You can't do without them.

From figuring out what your dream is to quitting in a way that exponentially increases your chance of success, Quitter is full of inspiring stories and actionable advice. This book is based on 12 years of cubicle living and my true story of cultivating a dream job that changed my life and the world in the process. It's time to close the gap between your day job and your dream job. It's time to be a quitter.

RICHARD BRANSON, one of the world's most famous and admired business leaders, argues that it's time to turn capitalism upside down-to shift our values from an exclusive focus on profit to also caring for people, communities and the planet.

As he writes:
"It's a vibrant and definite sea change from the way business was always done, when financial profit was a driving force. Today, people aren't afraid to say, Screw business as usual!-and show they mean it.

"It's amazing how I keep coming across the same message, from bustling global cities to the townships of South Africa to small villages in India to G8 climate conferences.

"It's no coincidence that so many people are talking about the same thing. There's a real buzz in the air. Change is happening.

"People often associate me with challenges, with trying to break records while sailing the Atlantic or flying in a jet stream in a balloon or going into space with Virgin Galactic. But this book isn't just about fun and adventure and exceeding one's wildest dreams. It's a different kind of business book. It's about revolution. My message is a simple one: business as usual isn't working. In fact, business as usual is wrecking this planet. Resources are being used up; the air, the sea, the land are all heavily polluted. The poor are getting poorer. Many are dying of starvation or because they can't afford a dollar a day for lifesaving medicine.

"But my message is not all doom and gloom. I will describe how I think business can help fix things and create a more prosperous world for everyone. I happen to believe in business because I believe that business is a force for good. By that I mean that doing good is good for business.

"Doing the right thing can be profitable. I will show how this works step by step in the following pages. It's the core message of this book. I often say, 'Have fun and the money will come.' I still believe that, but now I am saying, 'Do good, have fun and the money will come.'"

"Congratulations on your fascinating book. I have learned much from reading it and, of course, feel its strong motivational quality. It is unusual and different and is bound to do a lot for any person who reads and applies its principles."
-Norman Vincent Peale

For more than three decades, Zig Ziglar, one of the great motivators of our age, traveled the world, encouraging, uplifting, and inspiring audiences. His groundbreaking best seller, See You at the Top, remains an authentic American classic. Its basic premise-that you can get everything you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want-has guided generations of readers to personal success.

This revised and updated twenty-fifth anniversary edition stresses the importance of honesty, loyalty, faith, integrity, and strong personal character. See You at the Top emphasizes the value of a healthy self-image and shows how to build it. Setting personal goals is an essential part of any program for success. This important book tells you how to set-and achieve-those goals and provides step-by-step instructions on how to change the way you think about yourself and your surroundings.

See You at the Top is widely used by corporations large and small, schools, government agencies, correctional institutions, and sales organizations-wherever motivation and self-improvement are considered major priorities. It has been translated into more than a dozen languages, including French and Spanish, and has sold more than one million hardcover copies. It is also available from Pelican as a CD, mp3, and audiocassette.

Finally, the real story about corporate America with its increased reliance on consultants. Since the 1990s, consulting solutions have become the de facto standard for solving business problems and providing cover for corporate decision makers. This is not the typical CEO whitewash, or business management primer. Steve Romaine offers a view never before shared with management or stockholders as he takes a hired gun's journey beginning at the outside looking in, and ending at the pinnacle of a corporation's power.
Based on his experience of working for IBM, his later role as a self-employed consultant, and finally his responsibilities as senior vice president for NationsBank, Romaine makes it clear that the issues leading to the collapse of Enron were not isolated events. Soldier of Fortune 500 explores corporate cronyism between executives and their consultants, and builds a convincing case of how, without the proper safeguards, such cozy relationships can lead to pervasive problems, placing stockholders, employees, and the future viability of the American corporation at risk.
This book is a must read for corporate managers, employees, and anyone involved with the consulting business.

Rules to live by from Roger Stone, master of political dark arts, advisor to Donald Trump, and subject of the award-winning documentary Get Me Roger Stone

Here are the lessons of a lifetime of work helping influence America's politics and culture, learned from working for Richard Nixon and use to help make Donald J. Trump the 45th President of the United States.

Roger Stone is a freedom fighter to his admirers, a dirty trickster to his detractors. He is flamboyant, outrageous, articulate, and extraordinarily well-dressed. Here he lays out the maxims that have governed his legendary career as a campaign operative for four American presidents.

As a raconteur, pundit, prognosticator, and battle-scarred veteran of America's political wars, Roger Stone shares his lessons on punking liberals and playing the media, gives an inside look at his push to legalize marijuana, details how much "linen" to show at the cuff of an impeccably-cut suit, lays out how and why LBJ orchestrated the murder of JFK, and reveals how to make the truly great marinara sauce that is the foundation of Stone's legendary Sunday Gravy.

Along the way, Stone dishes on the "cloak and dagger" nitty-gritty that has guided his own successes and occasional defeats, culminating in the election of the candidate he first pushed for the presidency in 1988, Donald J. Trump.

First revealed in the Weekly Standard by Matt Labash and commemorated by CNN's Jeffrey Toobin, the blunt, pointed, and real-world practical Stone's Rules were immortalized in the Netflix smash hit documentary Get Me Roger Stone--part Machiavelli's The Prince, part Sun Tzu's The Art of War, all brought together with a highly-entertaining blend of culinary and sartorial advice from the Jedi Master of political dark arts.

From "Attack, attack, attack!" inspired by Winston Churchill, to "Three can keep a secret, if two are dead," taken from the wall of mob boss Carlos Marcello's headquarters, to Stone's own "It is better to be infamous than to never have been famous at all," Roger Stone shares with the world all that he's learned from his decades of political jujitsu and life as a maven of high-style. From Stone's Rules for campaign management to the how-to's of an internet mobilization campaign to advice on custom tailoring to the ingredients for the perfect martini from Dick Nixon's (no-longer) secret recipe, Stone has fashioned the truest operating manual for anyone navigating the rough-and-tumble of business, finance, politics, social engagement, family affairs, and life itself.

Surviving the Cost of College is an essential down to earth, parent to parent, financial planning guide that provides a comprehensive list of options and strategies to pay for college. Surviving covers: -Financial planning around the FAFSA Federal Formula with long and short term financial strategies to reduce your Expected Family Contribution and increase financial aid. -A complete review of federal aid, loans and institutional scholarships. -An explanation of the four major tax deductions available to parents. -How to find a college that will give you the most money. -How to protect your assets from being consumed by FAFSA. -Eight quick options to reduce college costs. -How to prepare for and complete the FAFSA and PROFILE applications quickly and stress free. Surviving describes numerous ways to reduce college costs including, why two children in college at the same time is cheaper than having them attend separately, why you should eliminate student savings, how much a student can earn without being penalized and how veterans can use their benefits to pay for their children's education.

Sitting in a hospital room after her father suffered a major heart attack, Paula Marshall watched her dad desperately try to decide who would run the family business. Even though Paula had worked for the company for a decade, she expected her brothers to takeover for her father. Then something unexpected happened. Faced with the impossible choice of selling his business or passing it down to his only daughter, who became pregnant at 17, her father took the bigger gamble. Since that day, Marshall has taken The Bama Companies to new heights. Now a major corporation with plants globally, Bama has set benchmarks in producing quality products to the nation's largest restaurant chains. Now, Marshall tells her story of going from teen mom to successful CEO, and the challenges she's faced along the way.

By now it's clear that whether you're promoting a business, a product, or yourself, social media is near the top of what determines your success or failure. And there are countless pundits, authors, and consultants eager to advise you.

But there's no one quite like Guy Kawasaki, the legendary former chief evangelist for Apple and one of the pioneers of business blogging, tweeting, Facebooking, Tumbling, and much, much more. Now Guy has teamed up with Peg Fitzpatrick, who he says is the best social-media person he's ever met, to offer The Art of Social Media--the one essential guide you need to get the most bang for your time, effort, and money.

With over one hundred practical tips, tricks, and insights, Guy and Peg present a bottom-up strategy to produce a focused, thorough, and compelling presence on the most popular social-media platforms. They guide you through steps to build your foundation, amass your digital assets, optimize your profile, attract more followers, and effectively integrate social media and blogging.

For beginners overwhelmed by too many choices as well as seasoned professionals eager to improve their game, The Art of Social Media is full of tactics that have been proven to work in the real world. Or as Guy puts it, "great stuff, no fluff."

In a book that is certain to ignite an explosive controversy, Herrnstein and Murray dare to reveal their belief that it is intelligence levels, not environmental circumstances, poverty, or lack of education that are at the root of many of our social problems.