Careers Books

If you are serious about getting and staying organized, this book is for you. If you want someone to just give you a system to try that does all the organzing for you, then don't get this book. I really liked this book because of the simple steps Kathy Waddill breaks things down in. I now look at little things in my house and think, is there a better place for that, do I use that, is that in a place that will create a problem later? I have a husband that has to have a lot of stuff for his job and this has helped me to be able to keep his things organized, too. I do not like to have to use a lot of steps and complicated systems where I won't know how to keep things clean because it won't fit the system. This book is not like that at all. Great resource for those who want help with things they need to keep or get rid of.

I certainly agree with some of the reviewers: the book is boring; reading long, useles stories is just time consuming. It is not supposed to be a momoir: it should be a MANUAL "how to organize your life". You cannot learn it from a book which is, in many ways, not very well organized.

Kathy has done a great job defining 9 strategies import to organizing. She begins with understanding your environment and the challenges currently in your life and then teaches the steps necessary for thining out your belongs, setting your environment up to be successful, and the strategies to maintain it.

Some things to think about from this book:
*If things are too hard to put back, they usually just stay out.
*Have a place for everything so you can keep everything
in its place.
*Store things as close to their point of use as possible.
*The more steps it takes to do something, the less likely
it is to get done.
You can read the first chapter if you go to the author's website.

I found this book easy to read (although, a little repetitious) and the strategies outlined in the book are highly useful to get and stay organized. The book is full of examples stories, including sevearl short ones and one Full-blown-crisis, in each Chapter(strategy). The story format can be motivating if happen to see yourself in one of them. However, the story format may be boring if you are looking for specific tips on organizing.

The strategies are useful whether you are completely disorganized or evenly mildly disorganized. Quiz type questions at the back can help identify which strategy or strategies are giving you trouble, and you go from there. Since sustaining a good system seems to be the most difficult part, this review section will be useful for quick refresher if things start piling up again.

My opinion is that this book paired with another that outlines specific tips would be more useful than this book alone. (And I plan to get another, after I check out some more reviews:)

My personal experience with this book - most of what I read was common sense type stuff, and after reading, I realized I'm not as dis-organized as I though I was! The sections on sorting and weeding highlight that keeping something just because you "paid good money for it", or because "you might need it someday" are NOT good reasons to fill your valuable space with useless items. In the back of mind, I knew this, but hearing it from an outsider, gave me the extra push I needed. I went through every closet in my house, and had a much easier time tossing or donating things. I admit I had let myself grieve over a few sentimental items, but it feels great to have the space back. I'm moving on to living spaces and organizing my time better now that the storage spaces are is in order.

It is a good resource but you will be able to improve not as much as this book has promised, Because you need a coach or trainer in order to get the most out of it.

Voice Power was recommended to me by several friends and I have found it to be well worth the investment. It's helped me at work and it's made me feel more confident. Again I highly recommend this book. It's an easy read and I don't understand why anyone who actually read it would say otherwise. Jay Morgan MO

Voice Power was one of the most brilliant pieces of material I've read. I applied Renee Grant Williams' techniques to my everyday life and I watched as people responded to me differently to me. When I was on stage singing or even over the phone making sales calls, the knowledge I gained from this book improved my method of conveying my message to people.
Whether in public speaking or one on one communication, I think anyone who practices Ms. Williams' teachings will see the results they've wanted.
I am glad that Renee lists the Major recording artists that she has worked with. Others have referred to this as "name dropping" but I view it as a resume. Without it, we would not know her level of credibility, or the degree
of success she has had. When I know someone has been influencial in mammouth stars such as Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, The Dixie Chicks, Hannah Montana, etc., I know I'm not dealing with inexperience and would be wise to
take what she says for gold because that's what it is.

-Kristi Miller, Berea, KY

Being a video / film producer for over 20 years I know what's needed in voice delivery. I found this book enlightening, the exercises instructive and Ms Williams's humor delightful. She obviously coaches those at the top of their game and understands vocals as an instrument and tool. I hire voice talent. This will now be my recommended book on voice.

This book is not only packed with practical advice, but it's immensely entertaining as well. The chapters on breathing, delivery techniques and voice care are full of helpful and easy to understand suggestions. The section on using speaking devices such as rhythm, volume and silence is an absolute gold mine for anyone wanting to command attention before an audience. Kudos to the author for including a section on voice care. Thanks to the advice in this book, I recently ran to the pharmacy for zinc lozenges at the first hint of a sore throat. In addition to the practical tips, the personal anecdotes and clever writing style kept me smiling throughout. This book will stay within an arm's reach of my desk. What a great resource.

At the college level, the book is a good, thorough introduction to many aspects of computing. A computer science major might need a more technical text. But for students who want a general education in computing, or who might not necessarily have decided to major in computing, it is useful.

There is coverage of hardware and software. But the hardware discussion seems, to me, somewhat truncated. Though this is not necessarily a bad thing. The World Wide Web and the myriad applications that run on the Internet may well be more germane and interesting to readers.

As far as hardware goes, Moore's Law could be the most important idea to appreciate. This decades-long effect is what makes every electronic device that students have, possible and affordable. Just be aware of and appreciating this trend can keep the reader agile in the face of continual changes in computing.

Melinda Morse started a housecleaning business when she was in college, had $80 in the bank, needed an income, had to have flexible hours to stay in school, couldn't find a job. A friend suggested that she pick up just a few housecleaning jobs as a quick fix. She knew nothing about starting a business. In a few years she had learned a lot, probably more than she learned while getting her Ph.D.

This book starts at the beginning and talks about what's necessary to set this up as a legitimate business. It covers the legal, moral, and what I call the real rules about setting up a business. And don't kid yourself, it is a business with all the aspects of business that General Motors or IBM has. She presents a lot of sample forms in the book (If she had put these in Excell format on a web site somewhere it would be a great help.) that will help with expenses, what to do at each house, invoices, and keeping your ever present partner (if you wanted a parter or not) the IRS happy.

This book is very oriented to a house cleaning business - but house cleaning could well be considered to include janitorial, disaster clean up, etc. And the concepts she brings out are good for nearly any kind of small business. Good, well written book.

This book was extremely helpful. It really goes in depth on the topic. This is by far the best book on the subject and is loaded with helpful information.

I recently read this book by Laura Jorstad and I'm new to the housecleaning business. Because I have no background in this profession, but am considering offering a service like this one in my local community, I found Jorstad's book to be a good place to start. She provides a very good Guide to Services, which seems fairly well thought out, but obviously would revisions based on the cleaning business you start. Overall, the book was easy to read and has good ideas. I think whenever you decide to go into business for yourself (any business) you should do as much reading and research as you can. Therefore, I would not limit myself to reading just this source, but consider other home-based, house cleaning businesses to get more ideas and better understand what lies ahead for you.

This book is a rarity- ideas that you can really use. It makes looking for a job that much more sensible and straightforward. An invaluable addition to your library.

This is a book that teaches you how to find the right job for you! Not just taking any job that comes along for the sake of "getting a job". Details how to find more information on the company(ies) you are interested in working at, and how to use that information to your advantage. This is NOT the typical interview book - it's about getting the job and setting yourself apart from everyone else. Nice section on negotiating the offer as well. Quick read, definitely worth the time!

I picked this book up thinking it might be about new approaches to hiring the right people. When I quickly saw that it was about job hunting, I started to put it down but something about it intrigued me. Nick Corcodilos, author of ASK THE HEADHUNTER: REINVENTING THE INTERVIEEW TO WIN THE JOB had been in the headhunting business for 18 years when he wrote this book. Its premise is rather simplistic, but there is some useful information here for job seekers.

The first thing you learn in this book is to forget everything you know about the traditional methods of securing a position. IN summary, the book tells you, rather than send out countless resumes hoping for a few interviews, focus more on a few companies you wish to work for and be more diligent in your approach. In other words, instead of hunting with a shotgun and hoping a few pellets land your prey, use a rifle with a few well placed shots.

I won't say the book is without merit, but some of the advice does seem rather impractical. I can see how the techniques offered by Corcodilos could be very effective, I don't see many hiring managers allowing a job candidate to "control the interview" and "do the job" in the manner prescribed in many instances. If you can find a hiring manager tolerant enough to allow doing these things, you should be a shoe-in, but that's a big "if".

My biggest complaint about this book is, it is very repetitive. Though smallish at just over 200 pages, what is said here could easily have been reduced to a 50 page booklet with the same effectiveness. Job seekers will learn from this book, but be prepared to read basically the same information, over and over.

I must say I really found Nick Corcodilos' take on job interviewing refreshing. He clearly states that we spend far too much time trying to answer specific questions. We should take control of the job interview and show the hiring person that we can do the job. I find much of his information very valid and very worthwhile. Is is always practical, maybe not.

I like that he emphasizes you must do more than post your resume online on a few job boards and hope for the best. This honestly is a frustrating and almost pointless way to search for a job considering less and 2% of people who post resumes find jobs via this search method. He really stresses that you shouldn't be spending all of your time applying to these jobs, but find the hiring person at the company you want to work for and present yourself there.

Unlike most job interview books he really stresses you are on a marketing campaign, and you should do your best to market yourself to people who really do the hiring. While some people view the information as redundant, I think he has valid points. He is passionate about his message. He really feels your job search should not be a passive act, but you are out there for yourself.

I would highly recommend reading this book, and adapting some of his suggestions to your job search. While the material can be redundant, it is worthwhile, and really serves to emphasize a very solid message of you need to participate actively in your job search. You must also shine above the other canidates when your interview comes.

Overall, I appreciated Nick Corcodilos's book. He analyzes with wit what exactly is wrong with America's employment system and provides innovative advice about how to revolutionalize the typical interview process by "doing the job" instead of answering typecasted questions that have nothing to do with the actual work or the person's ability to do the job.

However, this book is impractical for many reasons. One reason I did not like this book is that it is obviously addressed to a highly educated audience that want to work solely in the private sector. It gives no practical advice to those who want to work in government or non-profit, where the ultimate goal is not necessarily to "make the company more profitable", as Corcodilos repeatedly posits. In the government sector, you are NOT going to be considered for employment unless you fill out the required pre-employment screening forms, no matter what. Corcodilos also tacitly implies throughout his book the assumption that all employers are benign by continually asserting that "the employer wants to hire you". Most of us know that this is simply not true. Many employers size up potential employees based on factors irrelevant to the job, such as their race, ethnicity, age, sex, weight, height, personality, attractiveness, and whether they think this person would be a threat to their job or position in the future.

Another reason I do not like this book is that it does not give practical advice about how to sell one's self when the position they are interviewing for or seeking is new, or when the person is trying to break into an industry that they don't have much experience in. These people are not going to be able to convince a hiring manager to let them "do the job" if they don't know what that "job" is going to be like in the first place because it is new and experimental, or if they don't have much ground to stand on because of a lack of industry-specific experience. I would have liked to see a section on how people can convince employers to give them a chance based on their current skills and potential, but that is not addressed in this book.

I agree with another person's review that there are definitely many managers out there who would not allow a candidate to "take control of the interview". Many employers are not even competent enough at conducting the typical interview, much less for allowing the candidate to take control of it - this requires a certain level of imagination and open-mindedness on the part of the employer, something a lot of employers and/or their hiring processes unfortunately do not have. More practical advice could be given about how to maneuver during typical interviews and to demonstrate how much the job applicant really knows or is capable of.

In short, this book contains a lot of truths and creative ideas, but important ones were left out, and they are not altogether entirely practical.

book! This can help straighten out your attitude, especially if you are always negative. If you already have a positive attitude, it's still great! :)

I sometimes like Maxwell's writing. This is a book that presents accurate data and analysis, with conclusions that are helpful to projects I work on. For example, "16,000 executives were studied. Observe the difference between executives defined as "high achievers" (those who generally have a healthy attitude) and "low achievers" (those who generally have an unhealthy attitude):
High achievers tended to care about people as well as profits; low achievers were preoccupied with their own security.
High achievers viewed subordinates optimistically; low achievers showed a basic distrust of subordinates' abilities.
High achievers sought advice from their subordinates' low achievers didn't.
High achievers were listeners; low achievers avoided communication and relied on policy manuals."

Makes sense to me.
Jon

I own and operate a private school, ages 2yrs through 8th grade. I am very concerned over all of the negative information we are sending to our young people, our next generation. Parents, grandparents, friends and teachers need to bring back a positive outlook on the wonderful world that we live in. Young people need to hear and practice manners, respect, and understanding of other people. I have ordered this book for all of my 6th, 7th, and 8th. graders to study. I have also given a copy to my teachers so that we can all support this. Our young people need to hear, behave and be rewarded for approprite behavior. God Bless you.

Attitude is a funny thing. It plays a significant role in our daily successes and/or failures, whether people like us or not and our ability to lead. But, as John Maxwell points out in The Winning Attitude, we have complete control over our attitude in any given situation.

Winning Attitude explains how much our attitude effects our lives and what we can do to choose to have a positive attitude daily. Maxwell offers example after example of leaders throughout history who's attitude brought them to success even when those around them said it could not be done... even after they had failed time and time again.

Winning Attitude is one of Maxwell's earlier leadership books and was written from a decidedly Christian/Biblical perspective. Even if you have no interest in Maxwell's religious perspective the points he outlines are solid principles that every business person should take note of.

The book covers four main points:

I. The Consideration of Your Attitude
II. The Construction of Your Attitude
III. The Crashing of Your Attitude
IV. The Changing of Your Attitude

Each section paves the way for the next as Maxwell outlines how our attitude can make or break us in our professional and personal lives. This book is about creating a mentality for success. Every person's success begins and ends with our attitude.

Maxwell has written an excellent book encouraging readers to change their attitudes so they may experience more personal success. While the book is admittingly from an evangelical Christian perspective, anyone can benefit from the material.

Among the points covered include:

1. 7 aspects fo attitudes and how they can affect your life.
2. God thinks more of us than we do ourselves.
3. Do not allow your attitude or others to put you in a box and limit your potential.
4. 4 rules to remember when you have attitude problems.
5. Failures can be the road to our success - it is impossible to succeed without failure.
6. 4 outward causes of attitude problems.
7. 8 choices we can make to improve our attitude.
8. 5 types of opportunities we have to change our attitude.
9. 3 strengths we have for change.
10. 5 things to learn from prayer in Psalm 25:1-10.

Earlier reviewers are put off by Maxwell's "preaching". What do you expect? He was a preacher when he wrote the book!!! It still amazes me that people are still so hypersensitive to whenever Christianity and the Bible are mentioned in a positive light in a book. Perhaps those same reviewers are the very ones who need an attitude adjustment the most!!!

Read, enjoy, and be encouraged to know you have the Lord ready to help you when you need an attitude change.

Highly reccomended.

This book has literally changed my life. If you want to start following your dream, read this book!!!!!

This book has literally changed my life. I am compelled to move forward with my dream and to walk away from "jobbing" forever. I highly recommend this book to everyone who has a vision but lacks motivation. This book will inspire you, encourage you and motivate you to take the next step toward your dream. If you are tired of the ordinary do something extraordinary purchase this book and step into your destiny.

If you are happy with your life now, then don't read this book. Because once you do there is no going back, it will shake your foundations to the core.

I'm 35 and I've spent 10 years since college working job after job just trying to pay the bills, no more, this book ended that thinking.

For the first time since high school I can see the future I've always wanted and instructions on how to get there.

Thank you Delatorro

How do you maximize your dream while working at a job? This book will show you how! Del McNeal is the master motivator that gives your pracical advice to step into your destiny with gladness.

Excellent, fast read that you'll want to re-read once a year for life!

Pam Perry
Chocolate Pages Reviews

Delatorro's new book, "Caught Between a Dream and a Job" is such a real talk read. He gives you no fluff, just meat. As we all know most people working today are CAUGHT working hours they don't want on a job they don't want just to make ends meet. For those of us who like our jobs, do we want to work the hours we do...No! Most importantly did God put us on this earth to do what we are doing? Hasn't God placed more in us than we are using on our jobs? I love his quote, "LIVE LIFE BY DESIGN, NOT BY DEFAULT." Every working adult needs to read Del's book. Simply Awesome!

Community Helpers is an extremely reasonably priced book that is packed with interesting information about many careers. The photographs of workers, enhance the details given about each occupation. As a teacher I was pleased to read the clear descriptions of so many jobs packed into one book! I recommend this book for all children thinking about their future and for the adults that are helping them to do this.

While this book isn't exactly what I'm doing, taking a position overseas, it was the main reasoning behind finishing up the last leg of my education overseas. It was a very well thought-out, researched book, written by two women who had worked extensively overseas and had real life experiences of many women who had worked overseas also. It ranged from journalist to big business. It covered many aspects, from making sure its for you, how to land the gig, preparing for the move, settling in, working well overseas and surviving culture shock at the same time and even moving back to your home country and dealing with repatriation. It had some great ideas, tips, resources such as other books and websites, and was very, very helpful. I highly recommend it and am very glad I purchased it. It will be a big help and I plan on taking it with me as a resource when I start law school abroad in the Fall.

Hi, I recently read this book and then interviewed the authors for a feature on ExpatWomen.com. I was so impressed with both the book and the authors that I contributed the following (unsolicited) review to The Telegraph UK site (subsequently published 14 May 2008). I hope it helps you learn more about the book and decide if it is the right book for you. Wishing you success abroad, Andrea Martins, Director, ExpatWomen.com.

"Could Rhonda Byrne be wrong? Could there really be another Secret? According to C. Perry Yeatman and Stacie Nevadomski Berdan, the authors of Get Ahead By Going Abroad: A Woman's Guide To Fast-Track Career Success, there is indeed another secret: working abroad gets you up the career ladder faster - especially if you are a woman struggling to break through the proverbial glass ceiling at home.

Perry and Stacie are living testimony to the power of working abroad. Perry was a 25 year-old account executive making US$25,000 a year when she moved from Baltimore, Maryland to Singapore to accept her first job overseas. Ten years later, with additional stints in Moscow and London, Perry catapulted to earning US$500,000 per year and found herself touring exotic cities with global CEOs and former heads of state like Margaret Thatcher. Today, Perry is one of the top fifty executives at Kraft Foods, the second-largest food and beverage company in the world.

Stacie moved to Hong Kong the day after her wedding, at age twenty-seven. She took up a vice-president position at Burson-Marsteller - the world's leading PR firm. Upon her return to Washington, D.C. only three years later, Stacie became a global managing director. By the age of 34, she was named a partner in WPP, Burson-Marsteller's parent company and ranked in the top 1 percent of the largest communications conglomerate in the world. Today, Stacie is a successful author and a sought-after speaker and consultant.

But it is not just Perry and Stacie who have shot ahead by going abroad. To prove their theory, the authors conducted a global online survey of more than 200 women who had spent significant time abroad. A convincing 85 percent agreed that going overseas had accelerated their careers. Now that's a figure not to be scoffed at.

As a former expat in Indonesia and Mexico, I loved reading Get Ahead By Going Abroad because it took me up close and personal with Perry, Stacie and other similarly successful expat women - who share insights never normally offered to anyone outside an expat exec's trusted inner circle. I also enjoyed the fact that the book is written differently from your standard how-to fare: it intersperses advice, checklists and get-ahead tools with loads of quotes from the 40 women the authors interviewed in-depth to make their material "real".

Whilst aimed at the niche female market, this book is a must-have for anyone wanting to: land an international assignment; negotiate the best possible contract; know what to expect when they arrive; and strategically transition themselves into a premium position upon repatriation.

If you fancy a stab at accelerated success, doused with the excitement of living in a foreign land, Get Ahead By Going Abroad is definitely one of those books you should Google today."

What a great book for the career woman, with a lot of ambitions. It outlines how overseas assignments can help in achieving a much faster path towards the corner office - and have a lot of fun on the way. The book is full of stories from very succesful women, who have bolstered their career by working abroad and also peppered with the funny tales it has brought to their lives. A great read.

I really enjoyed reading the tips, research and stories by these impressive women.

This all new guide by international career women brings a whole new light and love for the saying "the world is your oyster". With a collection of personal experiences and case studies with tactical how to's this book will tell you how to land that international assignment to fulfill your wanderlust. A great read to give you that push to leap towards the global career you have always wanted no matter your age or stage of life.