5 comments about Treat People Like Dogs!: Six Tasks for Passionate Leaders.

1. What an inspirational treasure this book is! From the title of the book that makes you do a double take to the wonderful pictures that make you yearn to mix it up with those huskies, this book teases you into an understanding of the six tasks of passionate leaders. Norton teaches us to (1) Get a worthy quest! (2) Bring life to your values! (3) Get the right people in the right jobs! (4) Obtain permission to lead! (5) Develop an iron will! and (6) Foster community support. The book hangs together so very well with the teachings coming through with such vivid clarity.
   
   The book works at several levels. On one level, you are fascinated by the stories of the North Country. The book is simply a GOOD READ. On another level, these stories are parables that serve to embed the leadership tasks into your own understanding. The book is EASY TO RELATE TO. On yet another level, Norton throws you gems and nuggets that trigger memories of your own experiences. The book INVOLVES YOU. I marveled at the gems that triggered my own mind. The couple of references to fractals brought back the images of the days when I first got my Amiga and was introduced to the then stunning fractal graphics it could produce. There are dozens of other references that were mentioned in passing that triggered feverish activity in my mind.
   
   When I read the book, we were experiencing a cold snap, so all those stories of snow and ice and all made me bundle up even more.
   
   The six leadership tasks really come through!!! The metaphors did their job in a very clever way!!!
   
   A JOB WELL-DONE!



2. This book lays a foundation that is inspiring. I did not realize the heroic struggle of the Yukon Gold rushers. They had their quest and used all the resources at hand, including an incredible human and dog relationships. Norton draws from this history to consolidate a model for passionate leaders. Even though the book focuses on leadership, it spoke to me about the quest in my life. The book helped me get clarity on my personal journey. It is well worth a look.



3. Robert Norton uses the enchantment of the Yukon Quest and all that is involved in the Quest to identify six tasks for passionate leaders. The book provides a refreshing and stimulating perspective on the topic of leadership.
   
   It invites the reader to partake in personal reflection and provides very clear, simple steps for being a passionate leader.
   
   I thoroughly enjoyed this book and, as a university student, have a far clearer definition of leadership than any textbook has ever provided!
   
   I assure you, this book won't disappoint!



4. This is a wonderful book to revisit sound leadership principles as well as for those who love dogs. Norton is very adept at telling stories and linking concepts in a way that makes his mission become alive and interesting.



5. Robert Norton use the Yukon Quest Dog Sled race to captivate the reader about leadership. He focuses on the way a veteran competitor treats and motivates his team.
   
   Norton focuses on 6 tasks for leaders and uses the dog team to illustrate. He also skillfully relates these analogies to leading in the corporate world.
   
   As I am involved with leadership development and having read a great number of leadership books in my profession, I found myself captivated by the unique and innovative approach to the material. All readers can learn something about themselves and leadership from this book.

3 comments about Cheetah Project Management.

1. This book is a great read! It is fast paced and hits on all the major project phases. Each phase is laid out in easy to understand writing with great diagrams and charts. I firmly believe that you can use this book to help all your projects.



2. Cheetah Project Management is a must for anyone involved in project management currently, or someone considering PM as a career. In simple, straightforward language it outlines the steps and processes toward formalizing a project agreement.
   
   An easy read that truly impacts all phases of the project manangement cycle. I highly recommend this book!



3. Book Review - Cheetah Project Management
   Reviewed by Frank Townson, PMP, Director - Strategic Planning, PMI-OVOC
   
   Cheetah Project Management
   Michelle A, LaBrosse, PMP - HNB Publishing, New York, NY, USA, 2004. ISBN: 0-9728061-2-1
   
   Are you new to the field of project management and don't know where to start? If so, this book can really help you. If you are an experienced project manager and have struggled with issues of teamwork and having a successful project launch session, then this book can help you. Or have you been handed a project in disarray that needs major disaster recovery work? Again, this book can help you.
   
   In Cheetah Project Management, the emphasis is on the team: "If the team is aligned on its project priorities, then it will better understand and work towards aligning its actions" notes the author. Using a team-based approach, the author takes the reader step by step through an e-commerce project case study and demonstrates how to build team consensus on customer/stakeholder requirements, who needs to do what and when, individual roles and responsibilities, determining the critical milestones in the project, identifying and assessing risks, and preparing accurate cost estimates including a clear understanding of cash flow needs and level of effort.
   
   Ms. LaBrosse defines Cheetah's Accelerated Project Management as "A process that covers the complete framework for a project team to quickly launch its projects, initiatives and ideas." She then takes you through that framework demonstrating how, in just one day, using the methodology, templates and techniques she provides, a project team can develop a complete project plan covering customer/stakeholder requirements, project scope, project schedules, and project budgets. Building upon the eight components of the accelerated project management (APM) framework, she shows project teams how to:
   
   * Clearly communicate with people on the project team and stakeholders/clients about the project.
   * Accurately define the problems the project will help stakeholders/clients solve.
   * Specify the requirements of the project in terms of how stakeholders/clients will use the project deliverables.
   * Clearly define the end points of the project to rein in costs.
   * Create a high performing project team that is aligned on their roles and responsibilities.
   * Determine exactly what is needed to get started with the project and what represents completion (and success).
   * Create measurements to ensure the project meets stakeholders/clients' acceptance criteria.
   * Define reviews and approvals at each stage of the project.
   * Assess, quantify, and prevent risks that could derail the Project.
   * Define the priorities of the project in terms of cost, schedule, and quality.
   * Identify the constraints and conflicts on doing this project.
   * Determine the staff and resources required to complete the project.
   * Create dependency schedules of the interim deliverables with an easy to visualize graphical mapping technique.
   * Use a quick three point estimating technique to calculate budgets associated with work and resources needed to get the job done.
   * Adjust the project plan based on issues that arise during the execution of the project.
   * Record the lessons learned in a way that can used to improve the next project.
   * Identify how to use what has been learned doing this project.
   
   Although Ms. LaBrosse clearly focuses on the project team, she recognizes that individual roles and responsibilities must be well defined and agreed to by team members. She observes, "When everyone is responsible, no one is accountable." A key feature of Cheetah's Accelerated Project Management is single point accountability, meaning that one person is specifically responsible for each interim project deliverable, including risk countermeasures.
   
   One of the clear strengths of this book is that it is reader friendly. It is not loaded down with jargon, nor does it preach its message. Rather, it presents a simple and straightforward methodology and guides the reader through it in a clear and readily understandable manner loaded with lots and lots of examples and clarifications. Simple tools and techniques are presented along with easy to follow templates. In determining risk probability and impact, for example, she employs a "highly scientific technique called the gut-feel index (GFI)".
   
   The eight components of the APM framework are Project Launch, Project Agreement, Teaming Guidelines, Planning (including Risks), Scheduling, Staffing and Budgeting, Project Tracking, and Lessons Learned. Ms. LaBrosse presents and explains these components in a clear and effective manner. Noting that "People can achieve whatever they put their minds to", she provides the means by which a project team, working together, can achieve a highly successful and productive project launch event.
   
   Recommended

No comments about A Guide To Active Credit Portfolio Management.

5 comments about The Complete Guide to Building a Successful Trading Business.

1. Really basic book. Don't get this if you're looking for the real math of investing. It has some decent ideas on how to start, but it's nothing to build a real trading system on. Much of it is weak in analysis, and he completely misses the point of Optimal F.
   
   If you're new, and want to build a foundation of basic knowledge this may be for you. But please don't actually invest any money based on the 'models' you learn in this book.
   
   It most definitely isn't the "Complete" guide, more of "Really basic suggestions" .. to Building a Successful Trading Business.



2. Really basic book. Don't get this if you're looking for the real math of investing. It has some decent ideas on how to start, but it's nothing to build a real trading system on. Much of it is weak in analysis, and he completely misses the point of Optimal F.
   
   If you're new, and want to build a foundation of basic knowledge this may be for you. But please don't actually invest any money based on the 'models' you learn in this book.
   
   It most definitely isn't the "Complete" guide, more of "Really basic suggestions" .. to Building a Successful Trading Business.



3. This book was recommended to me and, all in all, I'm glad I read it. To me, it contains the journey of someone who has made a commitment to building a successful trading business and has applied his heart and soul to the task. While concise, it gives a complete step by step approach to building this business, including caveats one faces in this endeavor. Besides the ideas gleaned from the book and the sample trading systems included, I use the Table of Contents as a roadmap as I further build and constantly review by trading business.



4. Put simply I found this book to be exactly what it says; a complete guide to building a successful trading business.
   
   The layout and design are clear and concise, the material constantly relevant and the narrative always thought provoking. Throughout I was struck by the meticulous detail especially on the adminstrative areas like contingency planning (for most people these are the boring and most overlooked areas of trading - hint - that it's so exhaustively covered here should be telling you something). If you are someone who is just looking for quick fixes or holy grail systems this book will not give you what you want, it will however tell you what you need to hear.
   
   The section on simulation was particularly useful for me being an area I personally needed to better understand and again the detail is extensive. I am also someone who likes to dip in to books for reference material afterwards and the way this book has been designed and written it is perfect for that as the author has been very careful to cross-reference relevant topics elsewhere in the book so each area is completely covered.
   
   In all I found this to be an excellent addition to my trading library.



5. Paul King has written the definitive book on trading as a business. This is an essential handbook for those that want to make their livelihood from trading. I see too many novices believe that they can make a living in the markets without a sound business plan. The Complete Guide to Building a Successful Trading Business outlines all the components needed to succeed. From cash flow to business management, to the trading plan itself, Paul leaves no stone unturned. I recommend this book to beginner and professional traders alike.

5 comments about Tape Reading and Market Tactics (Fraser Publishing Library).

1. This is a good book on volume if you are just getting started. He goes over how to spot accumulation and distribution in detail. However, you can tell that this information has been copied in so many other books on price and volume action of a stock. So if you have a good understanding on volume then I wouldn't buy this book. I bought this book on the recommendation of IBD and after reading I didn't learn that much. I would buy How to Make Money in Stocks if you don't already have it, instead of this book.



2. As an active and profitable day trader (who makes a living trading) , I've read almost all the classics, in my opinion better than any book i've read! Definetly as good as "Reminiscences of a Stock Operator".

   Wish all books were so succinct, i would've finished college in 1 year.

   If you want to make money, read it!




3. IMHO, one of the two best traders books ever written, alongside Reminiscenes of A Stock Operator. As opposed to most traders' books that are very much focused on price-centric indicators and pays lesser attention to volume, tape-reading is truly a gem that observes the important co-relation between price and volume, the latter being the fuel of every play.

   Tape-reading doesnt predicts target prices of a stock play as opposed to most methods (eg elliot wave) but lets volume (or lack thereof) be the ultimate determinant of a continuation of a move or otherwise. Since I have never been a technical indicators' fan, I now trade solely on tape-reading principles with simple charting techniques using candlesticks (paying due attention to volume on formation of important patterns) and doing very decently ever since.

   Great stuff !!!




4. Price and volume tell the tale for what is happening with a stock. The auther provides an excellent course on how to read the price ad volume action of a stock. No need for fancy wiz-bang technical indicators if you can read the tape.
   
   Get this book. Combine with all of Bill O'Neils books and you have a great foundation.



5. I read the reviews before purchasing and they were outstanding and was shocked when the book arrived because the publishing date was well disguised as this book was written in the 1930's. The forward was updated twice - the last was in the early 1970's. If one would like a nostalgia look at tape reading this book is for you.

5 comments about Program Management Professional (PgMP): A Certification Study Guide With Best Practices for Maximizing Business Results.

1. Well written, well organized, great content, focused on the PgMP and practical program management. It's a bit pricey but well worth it.



2. This is a great book but in my opinion there is no single book that is going to provide everything you need to know about program management. Since there is no published list of recommended reading for new program managers or PgMP candidates, here is mine:
   
   First, buy the PMI Standard for Program Management so that you have the official way of performing program management according to the Project Management Institute.
   
   Next, buy the Handbook of Program Management by James Brown. This book really helped me to transition from the theory of the PMI standard (which contains no detail on how to do anything) to the next level of detail. It is a great resource but doesn't cover everything that is contained in the PMI standard.
   
   Then, buy this book as your advanced reference and PgMP guide to round everything out. It has good coverage of the PMI material and provides advanced topics not covered in depth in James Brown's book but still very important for success in program management. It also has practical guidance on how to prepare for the PgMP exam if you are studying for that.
   
   I almost bought the PgMP exam specification as well, but this book has a lot of it reproduced already so I decided to save some money.
   
   These three books together are my PgMP study plan and are also what we're using in my company's Program Management Professional study group.
   
   One criticism of this book is that the "case studies" that are presented are pretty simple (almost an afterthought). But from a content and learning perspective, this is not a distraction.



3. This book does not have much material in it relevant to passing the PgMP exam. Also, there are lots of incompatibilities with the Standard and it has a dry and confusing presentation style, and is TOO brief...each topic ends before it really begins. Not very readable book... I took the exam and this book's role in helping me pass the exam was almost ZERO. The exam is a totally different beast, different from this book.
   My recommendation is that just read the Program Management Standard and perhaps Rita's book on PMP because they are more readable and more helpful for the exam than this book. Mostly, it's your experience that will help you in the exam.



4. As a disclaimer, I use and advocate Steve Rollins' portfolio management text [co-authored with Gerry Kendall]. As a result I might have tended to expect more out of this book than others on the market, rather than really accounting for the fact that the PGMP test has not been around very long. That's why Rita Mulcahey, who guarantees results, hasn't got a PGMP course out yet, which should tell you something right there.
   
   As a program managers' guide this is an excellent book and provides some nice templates and ideas. It provides a bit more emphasis on the "soft side" skills and more coherent examples than most texts are able to work in. Of the program managers' guides on the market as of July 2008, this is the one you want near your desk.
   
   As a PGMP study guide, which is after all its primary title, you will find this text problematic, because you will have the idea that the exam will follow some predictable course. This text is quite difficult to map to the PMI program management standard or to PMI's exam structure specification guide. However -- so is the exam! After taking the exam, I can report that if your study model is the PMP exam, with its rigid focus on what processes are sub-sets of other process, then you are going to be wasting a whole lot of time.
   
   This book's examples and sample questions are by far the closest of the several texts I used, in both content and spirit, to what I found on the PGMP exam. The rest of the book is not particularly tied to the exam content; it tries to thread the needle between exam-focused material and useful operational material. Its bias in that effort is toward practical material, which makes it quite useful for a practicing PGMO, particularly where there isn't much institutional experience, and I would recommend it for that purpose much more than simply as an exam crammer (which I would argue was the authors' intent in any case).
   
   So, if you're going to invest in a pre-exam reader, you might as well get this one so you can get an idea of what the questions might look like. Content-wise, it won't increase your fact-knowledge much, but going into such a horrifically expensive exam completely cold seems foolhardy. But the exam is not about the PMI standard - it is a whole lot of mini-scenarios, some of which are somewhat realistic and some are very contrived. If you are even thinking about spending this kind of time and money to take this exam, you can probably pick out enough of the obvious school-solution answers to get to 50% and your experience will take you the rest of the way. If you don't have that experience, or even if you do then if you aren't a good test-taker, you're not going to enjoy this exam no matter what books you read.



5. I bought several PgMP exam and program management books and this is the only one that I keep on my desk and consistently refer back to. It's a great reference book.

1 comments about Managing Your Career (Lessons Learned) (Lessons Learned).

1. I'm grateful that my colleague encouraged me to read all three titles in the Harvard Business School Press "Lessons Learned" series. Of the three --"Leading by Example", "Managing Change" and "Managing Your Career" -- the latter offers the most insightful and varied advice for anyone planning a business career.
   
   There are, of course, no magic formulas for success, and the business leaders interviewed here do not pretend there are. What emerges from their stories, though, are some essential competences, values and habits of mind that aspiring executives must possess or acquire if they are to forge successful careers in the business world.
   
   Be proactive in seeking out mentors, courses and experiences that will help you develop your leadership abilities; strive to maintain your integrity at all times--it's almost impossible to regain it once it's lost; develop strong resilience, perseverance and a can-do attitude--these are the attributes you'll need in order to rise through your company; open yourself to different worlds--peoples, places, cultures --in order to experience new ideas and perspectives on things; and, don't worry about the people you've offended on the way up; success breeds selective memories--they'll only remember the good things about you!
   
   "Managing Your Career" contains many such insights from the real-life experiences of successful business men and women. It's attractively designed in a size that fits easily into pocket or purse and is easy to read, with concise stories and essential summaries or takeaways for each one.
   
   And there's a bonus. Buy the book and you get four free video lessons. All you have to do is go to www.fiftylessons.com/hbsp and type in the code at the back of your copy of the book.

5 comments about Rock To The Top - What I Learned About Success From The World's Greatest Rock Stars.

1. Steele does a great job of incorporating her experiences with music legends, as well as personal insight into the book as she teaches you how to excel at anything you do. I've never been much into rock, but this book was a gift from a friend and I actually enjoyed the entire thing. If you're looking for direction on how to rise in your organizations, it's all found in "Rock To The Top."



2. As a long time Houstonian, I grew up listening to Dana and Moby. Reading her book brought back so may memories of "back in the day" when Dana ruled 101! Back when 101 was THE station in Houston! I sure do miss those days...
   Dana is a great business woman and knows what she's doing! This book was a great read!



3. Dayna Steele, Rock to the Top is an inspiring read, written with stories from her experience with some of the world's greatest rock stars. In addition to what it takes to rock to the top in whatever profession you have chosen, do it with passion, preparation and treat people with integrity. The book addresses how to be successful and draws you into a world of winners, of what to do and what not to do in your adventure to Rock to the Top. We are the Champions is a subtitle in the book where it's mentioned, passion gives you energy. She writes with simple to remember subtitles and stories that make the points poignant and unforgettable. I would not characterize this as self help but certainly motivational and if that doesn't intrigue you then the pictures of the stars in the back of the book will. I have read self help and always end up wondering what the writer was going through and how they actually got there, leaving me with no more answers than when I started reading. This book leaves nothing to the imagination of how to be your best and be successful at your chosen passion. What will you learn about success from the world's greatest rock star stories? Everything you need to know to find your passion and enjoy the read while you Rock to the Top.



4. I've known Dayna for some time now, and even so, I never told her the story of the night Roger Glover of Deep Purple sat with me until 3am in a hotel lobby and told me everything that Dayna is telling you in this book! I was trying to make it as a woman in music business management, rock 'n roll end, and it was tough!! Thanks to Roger's great advice, I'm still able to do some good marketing and have a lot of fun ... in an entirely different area. To be succinct, everything he told me worked .. like a charm. Dayna is telling you exactly the same thing.
   
   So, I have recommended Dayna's book to all young musicians I know. Everything she tells you in there is true and dead on. Read it, read it again, and then read it again and take notes. Wait! She's already done the notes for you!
   
   I'm telling you. It's all there. Get this book. It is a must-have for anyone wanting to make it in the music business (or any other business)!
   
   Excellent.



5. Rock to the Top is a well thought out, quick read using radio and music analogies to illustrate a broad range of areas on how to be successful in business. From quality to organization, to technology to branding and publicity, Dayna covers it all. The summaries at the end of each chapter are helpful as well.
   
   Some of Dayna's stories are quite amusing, but she always describes her rock star interviews and friendships with honesty and objectivity. Stars are human just like everyone else, and she deftly applies what she learned from her numerous encounters for the business reader.
   
   I walked away with new tools (and some very good reminders-like always send a thank you note to the people who help you out) to use to market my book. Overall, I'd recommend Dayna's book to any entrepreneur or person working their way up through the ranks who enjoys rock 'n' roll!

1 comments about Your First Home: The Smart Way to Get It and Keep It.

1. This was the most reader friendly, helpful book I have ever read. I have very little knowledge about the mortgage industry, but this book taught me all that I needed to know. I was much more comfortable walking into the mortgage company and able to ask important questions I would not have know to ask before. I also loved that the book went over every step of the process toward homeownership. Mrs. Khalfani-Cox explained how to prepare yourself and your finances before you looked for a home. She then went over what to do when you were ready to look for a home. As though she had not helped enough she also explained what to do if you are one of the more less fortunate people that ends up in forclosure. No other book out there has done this. Lynette Khalfani-Cox is the greatest.

No comments about Federal and State Taxation of Limited Liability Companies (2008).