Reader Views

The Chic Entrepreneur: Put Your Business in Higher Heels

Now more than ever, women are smashing down business barriers and taking their lives – and income levels – into their own hands.  But the growing number of entrepreneur-type businesses that pop up each year also brings an equally growing number of company failures.  In a man’s world of money and management, what’s a girl to do? 

Author and business owner Elizabeth W. Gordon hopes to help struggling women with their business ownership dreams with her new book, “The Chic Entrepreneur:  Put Your Business in Higher Heels.”  In it, she outlines her strategy for successful planning and execution in operating a thriving company in today’s market.  But it’s not just ‘success’ that she’s striving for – it’s an ‘above and beyond’ attitude to thrust your enterprise further than you ever thought possible.  I especially loved her comparison discussions - Payless or Nordstrom, Wal-mart or Whole Foods, DMV or Google, Generic or Nike, etc – that initiate those really deep, soul-searching questions you have to ask yourself when in business.  Even further, whether or not you are settling for average or pushing to make yourself the elite in your field.  Each chapter ends with issues to contemplate and even apply, if necessary to make your business more ‘chic.’ 

“The Chic Entrepreneur” is a must-read for any woman either already self-employed or planning to in the future.  Not only does the book stress the importance of ‘failing to plan is planning to fail,’ but it sparks plenty of creativity in making your business stand out above others.  Further, honesty and integrity play a key role in being a ‘chic entrepreneur’ so Gordon hopes to instill these values in her readers as they travel the road to ‘business owner.’  Brilliant, insightful, and fabulously feminine, “The Chic Entrepreneur” will motivate and raise the bar for any female professional.

Does your company need a kick start?  Or are you tripping on the path towards entrepreneurship?  Elizabeth W. Gordon’s “The Chic Entrepreneur: Put Your Business in Higher Heels” gives you a leg up on working in the self-employed business world.  Strap on your stilettos and get ready to climb!

The Chic Entrepreneur
Elizabeth W. Gordon (with Leanna Adams)
Robert D. Reed Publishers (2008)
ISBN 9781934759042
Reviewed by Vicki Landes for Reader Views (5/08)

The Connected and Committed Leader

As the author of my own leadership book, “Leading Beyond Tradition,” and a leadership instructor and coach, I read many leadership books.  With the great number of such books available, the book that proves to be successful in the market will provide a separate and distinct approach to leadership.  I looked for such an approach in “The Connected and Committed Leader,” and found it.

Laura Lopez provides her readers with a unique, yet interesting comparison between what you do at home and what you do at work.  She draws the comparisons that leadership in one positively influences leadership in the other.   She brings considerable experience and expertise from her time as VP of Coca Cola, one of the more successful companies in the world, and she should be listened to.  Her anecdotal information provides the context from which to apply the content in the book.

To get the most benefit from the book, the reader needs to ask and answer questions – honestly and thoroughly.  First, do you want to lead, and more importantly, are you ready?  Are you ready to take on the challenges leadership brings – because what you do significantly influences others around you, both at home and at work.  She also provides great content on achieving real and measurable results in the workplace.

But if the reader is to take anything from the book, it is that leadership is not a part-time commitment, either at work or at home.  Ms. Lopez gives the reader Seven Essential Leadership Insights – each in its own right works, but when the dots are connected between all seven, there is an equation equally real success.  I encourage people, executives, managers, supervisors, students, and those who aspire to leadership positions to read this book.  It is a winner, and I have added “The Connected and Committed Leader” to my extensive library of leadership and management books.  Well done Laura Lopez.

The Connected and Committed Leader
Laura Lopez
Living Leadership Press (2008)
ISBN 9780979867316
Reviewed by Bill Cooper for Reader Views (6/08)

Recipe for Negotiating Business Deals Successfully

There are many books on the market dealing with business negotiating and with basically the same information “Recipe for Negotiating Business Deals Successfully” has.  However, this book is different from any other I have read and researched.  This a thin book – less than 100 pages – but it has such a concise “recipe” it outshines other books that take hundreds of pages to explain the same thing.

First of all, Cradeur is to the point immediately.  There are no long-winded explanations but there are direct, brief, and effective statements to follow.  For example, after a short explanation Cradeur gives the following chart (as it relates to cooking chicken soup):

Chef = Negotiator
Recipe = Strategy
Pot = Culture
Ingredients = Elements of the Strategy
Cooking = Negotiating
Soup = The Deal
People Tasting the Soup = Counterparts of the Deal

For those of us that can relate to cooking, we can relate to Cradeur’s chart very easily.  As I look at the chart again, I’m thinking “how simple is this!”  Yes, of course, negotiating a deal is no different than creating a pot of soup.  Yet, as many of us know, we envision in our mind negotiating a deal is and/or will be hard.

Throughout the book Cradeur has illustrations making it even more clear to us of the simplicity.  For example, she shows spices and an onion as the “ingredients that directly influence the negotiation.”  There is a large section in the book identifying the ingredients, e.g. assumption, constraint, vendor lists, competitors, etc.  Cradeur also covers how to add an alternative plan as well as developing a strategy, looking at critical success factors, as well as finally closing the deal.  And, as a bonus she covers how to negotiate with people from different cultures. This addition is extremely important as we move our businesses globally.

Dana L. Cradeur presents readers with a concise, well-developed strategy and steps to take their business to a higher level and be in a place of negotiating with ease and confidence.  “Recipe for Negotiating Business Deals Successfully” truly is “the only book you need” on negotiating deals in your library.

Recipe for Negotiating Business Deals Successfully
Dana L. Cradeur
Dana International Consulting (2008)
ISBN 9780980127744
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (6/08)

Pandemics Paradigms & Pachyderms: Change Made Easy

What weighs nine ounces, contains brightly colored pictures of jungle animals, and discusses such complex subjects as team building, crisis management, and pandemic preparedness in simplistic terms that anyone can understand?  The answer is Denver Roopchand’s engaging and educational book, “Pandemics Paradigms & Pachyderms.”

While the title of this book is somewhat complicated, the content is definitely not.  The narrative is laid out in simple fable form based on the premise that a herd of elephants on the African plain become nervous about a mysterious illness that has killed several animals at a watering hole a few days’ journey away.  The Matriarch of the herd, Alexa, wonders if a pandemic might be in the making.  The rest of the herd is not so sure.  Alexa decides that it is better to be safe than sorry and organizes the herd into disaster preparedness teams.  As the situation worsens, a nearby pride of lions and a band of gorillas also become convinced that a pandemic is in the making and decide to join forces with the elephants to meet the threat.  Working together, they manage to avert a serious catastrophe at the last moment.

Using fables to teach is not a new concept, but this approach is particularly effective for “Pandemics Paradigms & Pachyderms.”  There are several reasons for this. For one thing, the book reduces complicated concepts into easy to grasp ideas, and that is a big plus for intellectual Luddites like me who believe that less is always more.  For another, Doctor Roopchand knows what he is talking about. A quick review of his biography on the inside back cover makes that abundantly clear.  Finally, the book is the result of a family effort that includes inputs from his wife and children.  This seems to add charm and levity to an otherwise serious subject.

It would be tempting for a serious business management student to dismiss this book as a lighthearted “Doctor Doolittle Gets an MBA” type work. That would be a mistake.  There are numerous guidelines, task lists, and pointers on team building and crisis management throughout the book.  I particularly recommend the last chapter which provides lessons learned during the pandemic crisis. It’s almost as if Doctor Roopchand wanted to provide a crib sheet for anyone that might be tested on the book later.

“Pandemics Paradigms & Pachyderms” reminds me one of those all-in-one kitchen tools that slices, dices, and chops.  It can provide a quick read for busy executives who want to get a handle on crisis management and team building; as a source for lesson plans to train middle managers tasked with effecting change through reorganization; or as a source of information for readers of all ages curious about pandemics and the threat they pose to civilization.  It’s a great book, and to Doctor Roopchand, his family, Alexa, and all the elephants, lions and gorillas who made this book possible, I say.  Well done.  Well done indeed!

Pandemics Paradigms & Pachyderms
Denver Roopchand
Privately Published (2007)
ISBN 9780979232008
Reviewed by Ron Standerfer for Reader Views (5/08)

The Minimum You Need to Know (About Service Oriented Architecture)

Roland Hughes is the president of Logikal Solutions, a business applications consulting firm specializing in VMS platforms. Hughes serves as a lead consultant with over two decades of experience using computers and operating systems originally created by Digital Equipment Corporation (now owned by Hewlett-Packard). With a degree in Computer Information Systems, the author’s experience is focused on OpenVMS systems across a variety of diverse industries including heavy equipment manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, stock exchanges, tax accounting, and hardware value-added resellers, to name a few. Working throughout these industries has strengthened the author's unique skill set and given him a broad perspective on the role and value of OpenVMS in industry.

Mr. Hughes’ technical skill sets include the following tools that enable him to master and improve OpenVMS applications: DEC/VAX C, DEC/VAX C++, DEC BASIC, DCL, ACMS, MQ Series, DEC COBOL, RDB, POWERHOUSE, SQL, CMS/MMS, Oracle 8i, FORTRAN, FMS, and Java, among others. Being fluent in so many technical languages enables Hughes to share his knowledge more easily with other programmers.  

Highly technical in nature and not for beginners, this book series is an effort to pass along some of Roland’s insights and skills to the next generation. I suggest that one read the three previous books to get a thorough knowledge of all the valuable information that Mr. Hughes has to offer. Having said that -- I don’t mean to cut this volume short as it is loaded with equally informative material. Each book in the series covered specific topics and this volume is the fourth of that series. This volume, “The Minimum You Need to Know (About Service Oriented Architecture),” covers various topics and techniques for implementing a Service Oriented Architecture on the OpenVMS platform using ACMS, (the languages covered in a previous volume), “The Minimum You Need to Know to Be an OpenVMS Application Developer” and Java.  The primary focus of the book is porting FMS based business applications to Intranet and Internet applications using ACMS.

With clearly defined examples and many diagrams and flow charts, this 370-page volume even has a source code CD. From a technical aspect, I could not have found a more detailed explanation of ACMS and the innovative methods explained by Mr. Hughes. I gave “The Minimum You Need to Know (About Service Oriented Architecture)” my highest rating of A+ and recommend it to all the software geeks that could use more information on this subject.

The Minimum You Need to Know About Service Oriented Architecture
Roland Hughes
Logikal Solutions (2008)
ISBN 9780977086665
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (5/08)

The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing

Calvani and Edwards certainly produced a much-needed reference book that covers all aspects of becoming a book reviewer. Their concise narrative covers areas such as defining a book review and explaining the difference between it and a book report and press release; the don’ts; tips; ownership; as well as many other pertinent concerns.  They also include resources and how libraries, book clubs, booksellers, etc. are influenced by reviewers.

As an owner of a book review service I was very interested what other reviewers had to say about the industry and what advice they give potential reviewers.  Calvani is an author as well as a freelance reviewer and I’m sure much of the information came from her own experience although throughout the book there are excerpts of advice from other known online reviewers.  The authors of “The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing” are very much to the point and it doesn’t look like they missed anything.

Although this book is targeting potential reviewers, I encourage authors looking for reviews to peruse the book. The information about reviews, specifically if it’s a negative review is enlightening.  As well, there is an appendix with a list of online reviewers.  Although the list is somewhat dated, it is a very thorough list.  And, I don’t mean dated in a negative way but I encourage the authors to also research the net for new services that recently emerged or reviewers that didn’t make the list.

I do recommend “The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing” as a must-have resource guide.  Calvani and Edwards present a well-written gold-mine to potential reviewers as well as a source of information for experienced reviewers and authors.

The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing
Mayra Calvani and Anne K. Edwards
Twilight Times Books (2008)
ISBN 9781933353227
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (5/08)

Business Defined

The author’s approach in “Business Defined” was interesting and thought-provoking. This book could easily be used as a textbook in a Business Class, read by a person currently in business or by someone who is thinking about going into business. I have been in business for close to twenty years, and after reading this, I realized that I have several areas that I need to revisit in my approach to business.

The author, James Lemoine, realized several years ago when he was teaching a seminar to leaders that they all had different interpretations of what leadership was, many of them conflicting with each other. Over the following years, he also noticed that leadership was not the only definition that was not understood, but many others. Through this book, he defines business terms and practices in easily applicable ways. He best describes the book’s content as -- “’Business Defined’ is a study of the very core of the business world, the Philosophy of Business. In the traditional sense, this is not a business book. This is not necessarily a tome that explains how to make a fortune in investing, or how to design an advertising campaign that drives sales, or even how to close big deals and earn rapid promotions. The point of this book is not to teach the reader how to succeed in the business world. This book’s goal is to illustrate what these everyday concepts really mean, how they’re misunderstood, and how they can be applied in the most intelligent and profit-generating manner.”

Each chapter in the book begins and ends with a definition of a concept that is thoroughly examined in the chapter. These concepts include: business, communication, compensation, ethics, forecasting and quality of life to name just a few. The author not only breaks down each concept but also looks at it from different perspectives. In the chapter on human resources he not only looks at the human resource manager’s position but also at what the interviewee should be presenting in the interview. He clearly understands what it takes to run a company at an optimal level. The human factor is a huge part of this as he explains in his definition of “qual·i·ty of life [kwŏl’ĭ-tē əv līf] –noun. From a business standpoint, the personal factors important to employees, especially those regarding availability of time away from work, all of which should be managed by employers to maximize both employee productivity and time away from work.”

I also found several great concepts throughout the book that I highlighted to refer back to. I have listed a few of my favorites here: “Managers love to lead the creation of plans, but only leaders love to manage plans.” “Customers aren’t only the people who buy products from you. They’re the people who could buy anything from you, even if you just want them to buy an idea or a belief.” “However, any level of service less than ‘fantastic’ and better than ‘bad’ has absolutely no impact on customer retention.”

Overall, I found “Business Defined” to be very well-written, informative and easy-to-read. I highly recommend this book to anyone in the business community, students, or people who are thinking about going into business. Lemoine presents a concise look at important terms, yet gives detailed information about how an actual business works and how a successful business can be accomplished.

Business Defined
James Lemoine
Harbinger Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780615198897
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (4/08)

How to Mediate Like a Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes

Author Mary Greenwood does it again with “How to Mediate Like a Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes.” This follows her book “How to Negotiate Like a Pro,” which has now won six awards and this new one is just as impressive. It is a great book for anyone who works in mediation, is thinking about becoming a mediator or to use in a classroom when training mediators. The advice is simple, straight-to-the-point and effective.

There are only 55 pages in this book, but they are full of valuable information on mediation. My only experience with mediation was with my divorce and, after reading this book, I realized that the mediator was following a process. The mediator helped us make a very painful process short, effective and less expensive.

The author starts the book by defining what mediation is. Then she compares the differences between a negotiation and mediation. In chapter two she explains the role of the mediator and begins the 42 rules of mediation. The 42 rules include: setting ground rules, not showing emotion, letting the parties tell their story, being neutral and not having any bias, not letting the parties get bogged down, being the devil’s advocate and follow up. There are many other rules besides what I mentioned and they cover the topic from A-Z.

Following the chapters are several appendices with mediator’s opening statement, glossary terms, what makes a good mediator and resources. They are great references that are set up to be easily referred to. The resources also include what is available in every state.

I thought that this is a great book, straight-to-the-point and simple. I definitely walked away with good knowledge about what a mediator is supposed to do. I highly recommend “How to Mediate Like a Pro” for anyone who is a mediator or thinking about becoming a mediator.

How to Mediate Like a Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes
Mary Greenwood
iUniverse (2008)
ISBN 9780595469628
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (3/08)

The Internet Financing Illusion

Vincent Panettiere details his personal journey in a nightmarish pursuit of global financing in his book “The Internet Financing Illusion.” The book is a diary of global scams and reveals the reality of internet financing fraud.

Early in 2003 Vincent Panettiere was exploring alternative financing for a new commercial venture as a film producer. He was drawn into an Internet global financial venture that became all consuming. He made application for and was promised funding of $ 28.5 million dollars in investment capital. Vincent takes the reader on his personal journey through the baffling and often menacing world of cyberspace.

Arrangements were made with 24 year old Anamika Biswas of Kolkata, India, who claimed to have $33 billion to invest in several companies. Twenty-four entrepreneurs from four countries applied for funding and provided investment agreements for future profits from their company’s new ventures.

I found myself absorbed in this intriguing narrative which includes the actual e-mails Vincent exchanged with Biswas and his fellow investors. These e-mails point out the incongruity, lies, and deceitful text that internet scam artists use to ensnare their victims. This first hand information and these instructive warnings are written to help keep the reader scam-proof in cyberspace.

While reading Vincent’s story, I personally received three e-mail notices telling me of my good fortune. They informed me of an inheritance waiting to be claimed, a lottery winning of $1,000,000 British pounds in a UK Lottery drawing and of participating in the estate of a tsunami victim. Even while deeply engrossed in the woes of Vincent’s diary of internet scams, I felt the excitement being $ 2,000,000 richer with just a click on the web link. I was just another of the millions of people subject to become victims of another internet scam.

The appendix is informational, instructive, and filled with illustrative samples of ways to recognize and report a suspicious financial funding illusion.

The fast moving plot, the colorful cast of characters, the global communication, and the legal maneuvers resulting from deceit, greed, and delusions, give promise of an award winning fictionalized movie script. Powerful writing, timely and fascinating “The Internet Financing Illusion” reads like a fast paced novel from the first page through to the final fast moving climax.

The Internet Financing Illusion
Vincent Panettiere
iUniverse (2007)
ISBN 9780595385676
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views

Marketing Your Small Business for Big Profits

The synopsis on the back of the book starts with “If you are ready for success…then this book will inspire you to take your business and your life to the next level!” Just reading this quote would inspire any person in a small business to quickly dig through all the information David Mason provides to be more successful. Being a small business owner myself, I’m always looking for ways to improve it. “Marketing Your Small Business for Big Profits” certainly didn’t disappoint me and I’ve already implemented some of his suggestions. My report: it works!

One of the most important things Mason stresses is to think of the customer, specifically to answer their question of “What’s in it for me?” He advocates that at the start of a “business relationship the prospect doesn’t care about you. All he or she wants to know about is the benefit, advantage, service, or personal enhancement you offer that no one else does.” Furthermore, this should be spelled out in the USP (Unique Selling Proposition). Often this USP is referred to as a tag line – the few words that tell the prospect exactly what you offer.

Throughout the book Mason has blocks called “Performance Development Insight” which basically are the aha’s. For example: A prospect who wants to be a customer will remain a prospect if the information on how to order your product and start benefiting from it is unclear. One that I had to smile at is “The litmus test for any direct mail piece is to ask yourself ‘If this were to arrive in my mailbox today, would I open it?’ How many of us sit by the garbage can as we sort out our mail and immediately throw out the direct mailings? I’m sure I’m not the only one.

“Marketing Your Small Business for Big Profits” is a short book, a little over a 100 pages. However, it’s extremely powerful and to the point. Mason doesn’t mince words; he just tells it like it is. His vast experience and knowledge comes through his writing and the reviews and endorsements from high-powered successful people are plenty. But, there is more. Mason not only shares facts in this book, he gives away a half-hour of his time to any buyer of his book. His telephone session of consultative coaching is worth $250.00, and you can get it for only $12.95 plus desire to succeed. Now, isn’t that enough to entice you to find out what David Mason has to say about your success in your business?

Marketing Your Small Business for Big Profits
David Mason
Morgan James Publishing (2007)
ISBN 9781600370779
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views