With a new Afterword by the author and a new Foreword by MarkCuban In this commanding big-picture analysis of what went wrong incorporate America, Alex Berenson, a top financial investigativereporter for The New York Times, examines the common threadconnecting Enron, Worldcom, Halliburton, Computer Associates, Tyco,and other recent corporate scandals: the cult of the number. Every three months, 14,000 publicly traded companies report salesand profits to their shareholders. Nothing is more important inthese quarterly announcements than earnings per share, the lodestarthat investors—and these days, that’s most of us—use to judge thehealth of corporate America. earnings per share is the number forwhich all other numbers are sacrificed. It is the distilled truthof a company’s health. Too bad it’s often a lie. Alex Berenson’s The Number provides a comprehensiv, brutallyfactual overview of how Wall Street and corporate America losttheir way during the great bull market tha

Mega-bestselling author Ken Blanchard and celebrated businessleaders Don Hutson and Ethan Willis present an inspiring story thatreveals the secrets to becoming a successful entrepreneur. In THE ONE MINUTE ENTREPRENEUR, Ken Blanchard (coauthor of the #1bestselling business classic The One Minute Manager), Don Hutson,CEO of U.S. Learning, and Ethan Willis, CEO of Prosper Learning,tell the inspiring story of one man’s challenges in creating hisown business. Through a powerful and engaging narrative, weconfront many of the typical problems all entrepreneurs face instarting up their business, from finding new sources of revenue tosecuring the commitment of their people and the loyalty of theircustomers. More important, we learn the secrets to becoming asuccessful entrepreneur, including how to build a firm foundation,how to ensure a steady cash flow, and how to create legendaryservice. In addition, the book offers invaluable advice, deliveredthrough One Minute Insights, from such entrepreneurs and t

Book De*ion In his phenomenal bestseller, Emotional Intelligence, DanielGoleman mapped the territory where IQ meets EQ, where we apply whatwe know to how we live. Spending over a year on the New York Timesbestseller list, Emotional Intelligence provided the evidence forwhat many successful people already knew: being smart isn't just amatter of mastering facts; it's a matter of mastering your ownemotions and understanding the emotions of the people aroundyou.Now, in Working With Emotional Intelligence, Goleman shows whyemotional intelligence has become the new yardstick for success forCEOs and junior hires alike. Drawing on both unparalleled access tobusiness leaders and in-depth research, he documents that starperformance in every field depends more on emotional intelligencethan IQ or technical skills. And the impact of emotionalintelligence is even greater at the top of the leadershippyramid.Goleman vividly shows how self-awareness, motivation,influence, conflict management, and team-building pl

This is a book for people like us, and we all know who weare. We make our own hours, keep our own profits, chart our own way.We have things like gigs, contracts, clients, andassignments. All of us are working toward our dreams: doingour own work, on our own time, on our own terms. We have no realboss, no corporate nameplate, no cubicle of our very own.Unfortunately, we also have no 401(k)s and no one matching them, nobenefits package, and no one collecting our taxes until April15th. It’s time to take stock of where you are and where you want tobe. Ask yourself: Who is planning for your retirement? Who coversyour expenses when clients flake out and checks are late? Who issetting money aside for your taxes? Who is responsible for yourhealth insurance? Take a good look in the mirror: You are. The Money Book for Freelancers, Part-Timers, and theSelf-Employed describes a completely new, comprehensive system forearning, spending, saving, and surviving as an independent worker.From

What is that makes urban myths so persistent but many everydaytruths so eminently forgettable? How do newspapers set aboutensuring that their headlines make you want to read on? And why dowe remember complicated stories but not complicated facts? In thecourse of over ten years of study, Chip and Dan Heath haveestablished what it is that determines whether particular ideas orstories stick in our minds or not, and "Made to Stick" is thefascinating outcome of their painstaking research.Packed full ofcase histories and thought-provoking anecdotes, it shows, amongother things, how one Australian scientist convinced the world he'ddiscovered the cause of stomach ulcers by drinking a glass filledwith bacteria, how a gifted sports reporter got people to watch afootball match by showing them the outside of the stadium, and howhigh-concept pitches such as 'Jaws on a spaceship' ("Alien") and'Die Hard on a bus' ("Speed") convince movie executives to investvast sums of money in a project on the basis of almost noinformati

“Applicants looking for the competitive edge in gettingaccepted at the business school of their choice may want to perusethis book.” –Security Traders Handbook Every year, thousands apply for a finite number of places inbusiness schools. With similar grades, backgrounds, and goals,sometimes the only thing that can make an applicant stand out isthe application essay. It’s the best chance you have to shine andtip the balance in your favor. Essays That Worked for Business Schools shows that the bestessays are brief, sincere, and personal. Some are off the wall,some are bold, all are unique to their creator. One applicantwrites about starting his own airline. Another tells about thecorruption in his job as a defense contractor. And a third reflectson his license plate. From the thousands submitted each year, theforty essays in this book were considered some of the best byadmissions officers at the nation’s top business schools. As thiscollection demonstrates, with creativity and effor

In the On-the-Fly Guide to Balancing Work and Life ,Bill Butterworth brings his trusted brand of motivation to an issuethat affects us all, no matter what our jobs or where we stand onthe corporate ladder. As this charming little book makes clear, it is possibleto have it all: success at work and a fulfilling life outside theoffice. Designed to be read in one short plane ride—or over a hotcup of coffee or two—this book is the “Cliff’s Notes” for ahappier, more well-rounded life. Filled with stories about howsuccessful people from all walks of life have integrated their workand home lives and packed with advice on how you can learn to dothe same, the On-the-Fly Guide to Balancing Work and Life will change the way you work—and, more importantly, the way youlive. There’s no telling what you’ll learn when you read on thefly.

In 1984, The LittleKingdom told the story of Apple's first decade alongside thehistories of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Now Moritz revisits hisclassic biography in light of what Apple has become, offering forthe first time in paperback the only from the ground up account ofApple's early years.

Your Map for a Brave New Real-Estate World The days of real-estate mania—when you really couldn’t go wrongwith buying a home, then selling it in a few years for a lot morethan you paid for it—are over. Inflated prices and the “subprime”mortgage crisis have finally burst the bubble. Now, more than ever,it’s important for current and prospective home buyers tounderstand just what they’re getting into when they take thatplunge—and to think smarter when it comes to making the most oftheir biggest asset. The Wall Street Journal. Complete Home Owner’s Guidebook showsreaders how to become savvy home buyers—and eventually owners—notonly in this new, uncertain era but in any market: ? Understand the benefits and pitfalls of owning versusrenting ? Make sense of the housing market—ask the important questions,factor in the unforeseen costs, and explode the big myths of homeownership ? Take advantage of current opportunities if you’re a first-timehome buyer

With corporate scandals dominating the headlines on aregular basis, business ethics are more important than ever. Thisamusing primer highlights everything an aspiring CEO should knowabout maintaining integrity in corporate America. You llfind: - Guidance on making fair and honest business decisions - A quiz to test your own ethics - Advice on promoting ethical behavior - Simple lessons for making your workplace a positiveenvironment - And much, much more. It's the perfect gift for office newbies, seasoned executives,and college graduates everywhere!

Meet a genuine American folk hero cut from the homespun clothof America's heartland: Sam Walton, who parlayed a single dimestore in a hardscrabble cotton town into Wal-Mart, the largestretailer in the world. The undisputed merchant king ofthe late twentieth century, Sam never lost the commontouch. Here, finally, inimitablewords. Genuinely modest, but always sure if hisambitions and achievements. Sam shares his thinking in acandid, straight-from-the-shoulder style. In a story rich with anecdotes and the "rules of the road" of bothMain Street and Wall Street, Sam Walton chronicles the inspiration,heart, and optimism that propelled him to lasso the AmericanDream.

Is your in-box always full? Are you constantly workingovertime on tasks that "only you" can do? If so, you could benefitfrom delegating some of your workload. This volume shows you howto: · Identify which tasks to delegate · Decide whether to delegate based on employee, task, project, orfunction · Identify the skills required for each delegatedassignment · Make an assignment and monitor the work · Address problems with delegated assignments

Technological advances and the global marketplace are changingthe way we live and work. Doing the work you love is the critical factor to personal fulfillment and economic success. Noone understands this more than Laurence G. Boldt, whose Zen andthe Art of Making a Living helped many carve out new andrewarding career paths. But how do you find the courage to startthe search for a new career? And how do you tap into your own bestresources to discover what you want to do and what you’re good at?This remarkable guide offers simple yet profound strategies to helpyou answer those questions by focusing on four key elements to besought in any life’s work: Integrity, Service, Enjoyment, andExcellence. Boldt has reduced the quest for meaningful work to itsessence and will lead you to an understanding of what you could andshould be doing with your life.

Even if you aren't a marketer, you need tounderstand the essentials of marketing and how they relate to yourbusiness. This book helps you: grasp and navigate the basicelements of a marketing strategy and plan; understand your markets;and, plan effective marketing programs, advertising campaigns, andsales promotions.

Whether you want to win that new account or inspire yourfamily and friends, bestselling author and acclaimed speaker MarkSanborn shows us how to make every performance count. Every day, we are called to perform— at work, at home, in ourcommunities. But is it possible to make every performanceoutstanding, the kind that leaves people applauding for anencore? Mark Sanborn, leadership expert and bestselling author of TheFred Factor, says that anyone can achieve remarkable performancetime after time—no matter what their personality, strengths, orweaknesses. In The Encore Effect Sanborn demonstrates, through hisown experiences as well as those of the people he’s worked with inhis career, how you can cultivate the traits shared by remarkableperformers and achieve extraordinary results in all aspects of yourlife. The secrets lie in five steps: Passion: The fuel for remarkable performance Prepare: How remarkable performance begins Practice: It won’t make you perfect, but it

Over the course of a forty-year career in the worlds oflaw, sports, business, and politics, Ron Shapiro has worked withand advised an incredible variety of people. What he’s found isthat the secret ingredient for getting into the winner’s circle issimply the discipline of methodical preparation: that old-school,step-by-step way of having all your ducks in a row, whether you arean executive getting ready to do a deal or make a speech; a pitcherstudying the traits of opposing hitters and keeping a meticulousnotebook of their strengths and weaknesses; an international tradenegotiator who knows all about the issues and the people on theother side before sitting down at the table; or a surgeon whorehearses like a classical musician. Deep down, you know you should do it. But how often do you wingit and fly by the seat of your pants because “Gosh, I don’t havetime . . . I’ve done this before . . . I know what I’m doing”? Itis obvious that you have to get ready for whatever game you’replaying

Judging by all the hoopla surrounding business plans, you'dthink the only things standing between would-be entrepreneurs andspectacular success are glossy five-color charts, bundles ofmeticulous-looking spreadsheets, and decades of month-by-monthfinancial projections. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.In fact, often the more elaborately crafted a business plan, themore likely the venture is to flop. Why? Most plans waste too much ink on numbers and devote toolittle to information that really matters to investors. The result?Investors discount them. In How to Write a Great Business Plan, William A. Sahlman showshow to avoid this all-too-common mistake by ensuring that your planassesses the factors critical to every new venture: ?· The people--the individuals launching and leading the ventureand outside parties providing key services or importantresources ?· The opportunity--what the business will sell and to whom, andwhether the venture can grow and how fast ?·

This easy-to-use handbook features a battery of tests whichassesses logical, numerical, verbal, and abstract reasoning powers,as well as technological and clerical skills. Completely revised,updated, and expanded, the guide takes into account personality,motivation, and individual interests, and matches the resultsagainst an extensive index of over 400 careers.

Get Rich, Don't Bitch Today, more than ever before, wealth is something every woman hasthe power to create. Yet Jean Chatzky constantly hears all theexcuses why women can’t and don’t master their money. Now, shereveals the secrets and the strategies she created to take controlof her own money–strategies through which she gained her “moneyconfidence.” It’s time for you to find yours! In Make Money, Not Excuses Jean shares these valuablelessons: ? Where to start ? How to get over your “I’m not smart enough to deal with money”feelings ? Why being a “good-enough investor” will make more money for youin the long-term (while trying to be a “great investor” will driveyou crazy) ? How (and where) to save your money ? Why women make better investors––and higher returns––thanmen ? How to track where you’re overspending ? How to pay off your debt Jean is unsurpassed in her ability to explain money and investingin

Wondering how the most accomplished leaders from around theglobe have tackled their toughest challenges? Now you can find out- with "Lessons Learned". Concise and engaging, each volume in thisnew series offers 12-14 insightful essays by top leaders inindustry, the public sector, and academia on the most pressingissues they've faced. The contributors share surprisingly personalanecdotes and offer authoritative and practical advice drawn fromtheir years of hard-earned experience. The series launches withthree volumes, each of which centers on a timely topic: "Leading byExample"; "Managing Your Career"; and "Managing Change". A crucialresource for today's busy executive, "Lessons Learned" gives youinstant access to the wisdom and expertise of the world's mosttalented leaders. 50 Lessons' digital library holds more than 500individual lessons from over 100 high-profile leaders fromindustry, the public sector, and academia from companies andinstitutions around the world.

Book De*ion In this parable for a modern age, motivational speaker Sanbornrecounts the true story of Fred, the mail carrier who passionatelyloves his work and who genuinely cares about the people he serves.Sanborn illuminates the simple steps each person can to transformtheir lives from the ordinary to the extraordinary.