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| Title: | Mission Success | ||||
| Author: | Og Mandino is one of the most widely read, self help and inspirational author in the world. This is only on of his thirteen plus books. | ||||
| Category: | Self Help | ||||
| What the book is about: | |||||
| As in several of his previous books the author provides us with a parable that gives guidance on how we can succeed as individuals.At the beginning of this story we are introduced to a rich American businessman who is visiting London at the time of transatlantic Concorde flights.
During his visit he reflects on his previous time in England. The bulk of the story covers his military service including his second world war bombing missions from England. During the war he spent his limited downtime in the company of an elderly lady who taught him the principles of success. The lessons she taught him were based on the teachings of the likes of Napoleon hill and other such mentors that she called her friends in high places. |
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| Would I buy this book: |
YES |
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| A Short paperback that leaves you feeling good. | |||||
| What I liked about this book: | |||||
| It was more up to date than some of the author’s previous books. Although there was an underlying theme of the seeds of success throughout, there was still enough of a background story to keep me interested. | |||||
| What I thought could have been improved in this book: | |||||
| As with other books which I have recommended, I couldn’t find anything major to improve on. Should anyone else have a view on things that could have been improved please feel free to comment on my blog. | |||||
| Formats available: | |||||
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| Where available: | |||||
| http://www.fishpond.co.nz/ | |||||
| www.thenile.co.nz | |||||
| Shop at Amazon.com! | |||||
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| Title: | Living the 80 / 20 Way | ||||
| Author: | Richard Koch is an entrepreneur and author of over a dozen books including The 80/20 Principle | ||||
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| What the book is about: | |||||
| Similar to Koch’s previous book (The 80 20 Principle) this book expands on the idea that 20% of our actions produce 80% of our results.Here we are shown that this well known business principle is just as relevant in every other area of our life. We are given plans and charts to guide us into working less whilst enjoying our life more.
Koch encourages us to be lazier in the areas that provide us the minimal (20% results) This isn’t just a book about efficiency; it’s about concentrating on the important areas of our lives. We are provided a three step plan to focus on the 20% of actions that give us the 80% of our results for each of the five areas of Self, Work & Success, Money, Relationships and the Simple Good Life. The process requires that we prioritize and then focus on one area at a time. We do not move onto the next area until we have completed the work on the first area. The main thing that we have to do to get the most out of this book is to Change our way of thinking into believing that Less is more. |
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| Would I buy this book: |
YES |
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| A great addition to the library. | |||||
| What I liked about this book: | |||||
| As you’d expect in a book that is about focusing on smarter use of our time the book is short enough not to be padded out with unnecessary information but big enough to provide a plethora of resources. I liked the focus on happiness and the practical everyday uses that this principle can be adapted to. | |||||
| What I thought could have been improved in this book: | |||||
| It might seem a little pedantic but as he used pie charts to provide pictorial clarity, it would have been more beneficial if the charts had been better labelled and printed in colour instead of grey and white. To me the idea of a graph or chart is that it summarises information and in this case the lacking in detail meant a slight lack of clarity for me. | |||||
| Formats available: | |||||
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| Where available: | |||||
| http://www.fishpond.co.nz/ | |||||
| www.thenile.co.nz | |||||
| Shop at Amazon.com! | |||||
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| Title: | The Difference Maker | ||||
| Author: | John C Maxwell, the world renowned expert on leadership and an evangelical pastor adds this to the list of over thirty books that he has authored. | ||||
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| What the book is about: | |||||
| This book is about the difference a positive attitude can make to your results.Unlike his previous books here Maxwell recognizes that attitude isn’t everything.
Previously he held attitude above other skills, here he recognises that competence is more important than confidence. Previously he would have changed staff for attitude, now he chooses for competence and then if necessary looks to improve their attitude. The premise of the book is that although a positive attitude isn’t everything if you had two people of equal competence, the positive attitude would make the difference to success. You don’t have to change all of your attitudes, just the major areas that are affecting you negatively This book talks about the five obstacles to a positive attitude in depth and how to overcome them. The five Obstacles being Discouragement, Change, Problems, Fear and Failure. |
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| Would I buy this book: |
YES |
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| The focus on overcoming obstacles gives this the edge on other attitude books. | |||||
| What I liked about this book: | |||||
| I like the fact that the difference maker is a balanced book and unlike other books on attitude this one isn’t so pollyannish.I liked the analogy that life is a hand of cards (dealt to us) and that our attitude is how we choose to play those cards.
I liked the quote the problem with experience is you usually get it after you need it. The exercises where very user friendly in the five obstacle areas to overcome. |
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| What I thought could have been improved in this book: | |||||
| Of all the books out there on positive attitude this is one of the more useful. I was hard pushed to find anything I thought could have been improved on.I will therefore leave this for others to address. | |||||
| Formats available: | |||||
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| Where available: | |||||
| http://www.fishpond.co.nz/ | |||||
| www.thenile.co.nz | |||||
| Shop at Amazon.com! | |||||