» Career/Business

18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Thing Done {#Book Spotlight}

The Book Faery — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:03:55 +0000

Based upon his weekly Harvard Business Review columns (which is one of the most popular columns on HBR.com, receiving hundreds of thousands of unique page views a month), 18 MINUTES clearly shows how busy people can cut through all the daily clutter and distractions and find a way to focus on those key items which are truly the top priorities in our lives.

Bregman works from the premise that the best way to combat constant and distracting interruptions is to create productive distractions of one’s own. Based upon a series of short bite-sized chapters, his approach allows us to safely navigate through the constant chatter of emails, text messages, phone calls, and endless meetings that prevent us from focusing our time on those things that are truly important to us.

Mixing first-person insights along with unique case studies, Bregman sprinkles his charming book with pathways which help guide us — pathways that can get us on the right trail in 18 minutes or less.

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Business Plus; 1 edition (September 28, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0446583413
ISBN-13: 978-0446583411

BUY THE BOOK… Amazon | Barnes & Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Peter Bregman is the CEO of Bregman Partners, a global management consultancy where he is the advisor to CEOs as well as to their top management teams on leadership and workplace issues. He is based in New York City.

In 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done, Peter Bregman doesn’t offer a slew of strategies to accomplish all your activities per day. What he does offer is an approach to consider thoughtfully your priorities and ideas for truly accomplishing your top goals. His book helps readers build a more meaningful and satisfying life filled with focusing—as the title reveals—on the right things. - MARGARITA TARTAKOVSKY, M.S.

“Pick this book up and read it. Bregman’s wisdom, humility, and ability to tell a great story run through every page of this gem. 18 Minutes is the best blend of a business book and a self-help book I have ever read.” - Robert Sutton, Stanford University Professor and bestselling author of Good Boss, Bad Boss

“Feeling in control of your time is a key element of happiness. In the thoughtful, practical, and often funny 18 MINUTES, Peter Bregman explains how to make sure we have plenty of time to do the things that matter most to us — so that our lives reflect our true values and priorities.” - Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author ofThe Happiness Project

The Story Template: Conquer Writer’s Block Using the Universal Structure of Story {#Book Review}

The Book Faery — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:10:54 +0000

THE STORY TEMPLATE is a programmed learner that allows the writer to develop her story from chaos. The book uses a series of exercises for the writer to construct her story’s four foundational pillars; learn how to use the “secret weapon” of story structure: the story template; build character depth and believable change; and construct subplots. THE STORY TEMPLATE then reviews writing techniques, and finishes with discussions of editing, writing the synopsis and query letter, submitting one’s work to agents, and types of publishing that the writer may wish to pursue.

List Price: $15.95
Paperback: 260 pages
Publisher: Taegais Publishing, LLC (July 25, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0981899730
ISBN-13: 978-0981899732

BUY THE BOOK… Amazon | Barnes & Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Amy Deardon is married with two children, and spends much time taking care of her family. In her life BC (before children) she was a scientist who did bench research. She is also a Christian who came to faith under protest through studying the historic circumstances surrounding the death of Jesus.

Amy has written one novel, A LEVER LONG ENOUGH, about a small military team that travels back in time to film the theft of Jesus’ body from the tomb. This book won two awards.

Visit the author’s website.

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…THE STORY TEMPLATE is just that, a template for shaping your story. Deardon provides tips and exercises throughout the book to get the writing process flowing. I personally had every intention of following her writing process in writing my own novel for November’s NaNo (National Novel Writing Month) but unfortunately wasn’t able to spend the time I had anticipated for the month with other aspiring authors. I did however get the chance to read the book and glad I did because it helped me with a better starting point than before. I had fears that blocked me from starting anything out on paper but was able to get somethings down. That, after a year of thinking on this particular story idea, is progress in my book. I really enjoy free-writing now and it helps open up my mind and remove fears of not having anything to say. For the person in me that isn’t a planner but would rather skip everything and just dive in, I will admit, it was difficult at first to go through the beginning exercises. I wondered to myself, why I was spending all this time going through exercises to write the background of the story and not actually writing my story, word by word, line by line, and page by page that I had wanted so badly to do. But after completing some of those exercises, I found myself more in tune with my story idea. I had more understanding of it and could create a foundation I know will help me to continue and make a stronger story people could really resonate with. Who knows? Maybe by this time next year, the story will be completed and in the throes of editing? I know…it seems like a long time but with me and my busy schedule, a year sounds like a good goal to me. So I plan to continue going through the exercises and re-reading the sections in Deardon’s book. This will definitely be a book I keep on my resource shelf.

My Book Rating: 4 out of 4 stars

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old…or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

AND NOW…THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Writing a novel or screenplay sounds like a great idea until you sit down to start. Where do you start? Many different methods exist to write the story, ranging from extensive preplanning to venturing onto the first page without an idea. This book describes an approach to developing story–laid out as a sequential series of exercises to facilitate implementation–that you can use whether you prefer a structured or loose approach to writing. You can use it at the start to develop an idea fragment, or later to rescue a partial or completed manuscript that doesn’t seem to be working. The method works whether you want to write plot-driven (genre) or character-driven (literary) stories. It enables you to efficiently use your time and creativity by breaking down the process of story building into a logical plan. You will not waste time sitting at your keyboard, wondering what you should write and how you can organize your ideas into a complete manuscript.

The idea for this book originated from my own learning process in producing a novel. Having written scientific articles, newspaper columns, and other nonfiction, when I decided to write a novel I was surprised by how difficult it was to get the words down. I tried outlining, and I tried just going ahead. I had wonderful ideas, but although the scenes I wrote were exciting the story itself often seemed somehow “wrong.” I threw out more pages than I care to remember. Through sheer grit I finished the novel, but when I thought about writing another my heart sank. I decided to first solve the problem of understanding how story worked.

I chose twenty entertaining, modern novels in different genres, and fifteen more-or-less recent films (and I’ve since confirmed my preliminary observations with tens of more stories). One at a time, I took them apart: I made a list of each scene, then did a word count or timed the scene, calculated percentages and other statistics, and graphed each story onto a five page chart. I studied each story’s progression, then compared the progressions of different stories to determine common pathways. I also read all that I could on constructing stories. The writing how-to literature was heavy on techniques (plotting, point of view, characterization, dialogue)–all of which are important–but there wasn’t much on blending it all together. Screenwriting how-to books were stronger on structure, but still didn’t give me all I needed.

I studied story after story, puzzling out how they were built. First, I identified elements called story posts, and found that these posts fell reliably within the timing of the whole. Then I found consistent trends of progression in the plot, as well as consistent trends of development and interactions in the characters. My biggest surprise, in fact, was finding just how unvarying were the underlying levels of the story. I also identified a unit of story construction I call a “bubble” that bridges the gap between the high concept ideas for the story and individual scenes.

Once I had my background knowledge, I coached students to develop their stories, and thereby constructed an algorithm for the practical application of this theory.

So, what is this “story template” that is the title of this book? Is this a formula or blueprint you can mindlessly follow, like a paint-by-numbers canvas?

In a word, no. I like to call what I found a template since it describes the shape or progression, on a deep level, of virtually all stories. Recognizing this pattern in a story is something I liken to sketching a face. An artist will tell you that a person’s eyes are about halfway down the head, and are separated by another eye width. The bottom of the nose is halfway between the eyes and the chin, the mouth is proportionally between the nose and the chin and extends to imaginary vertical lines drawn below the eyes’ pupils, the tips of the ears hit about eyelid level, earlobe tips at bottom-nose level, and on and on. Faces are infinitely varied, yet if the artist ignores these rough proportions, no matter how carefully sketched the face will always look “wrong.” Similarly, you will use the template to ensure that your story elements are proportionally correct and all present. The template gives you a guide, but never dictates, what you can write.

Getting the story shape right is the first, and (in my opinion) the hardest step to writing a gripping novel or screenplay. Without good structure, the story tends to meander without a point: although it may have high action, it is characterized by low tension.

You may want to first read this entire book to get an overview of story before starting with the exercises. Keep in mind that shaping a story is intensive work, and it will take you weeks or even months to get your story organized. This is normal. Don’t get discouraged, and don’t skimp on the exercises. Take your time to thoroughly work through each step. At the end, your story will be much stronger, and the actual writing will go like a dream.

This book is not sufficient for producing a finished story ready for publication or production. You will need to master further writing techniques such as characterization, description, dialogue, transitions, editing, etc. I will touch upon a few of these to give you some direction, but the only way to get really good is to practice. Fortunately, many excellent books are available for help. See Appendix One to start.
Outline of The Plan

I like to use the metaphor of constructing a house to envision building a story. To assemble a house, you move from larger to smaller elements to sequentially put something together. Only after you have worked through many tasks is it finally time to do the fine details of painting the windowsills and installing the wallpaper. Similarly, while you have ideas about character arcs and plot twists, and maybe you’ve even written some scenes, you will be well served to develop a direction before writing through your manuscript. If you write your first draft as the ideas occur to you, then this will comprise your story planning. You’ll find that you probably don’t have enough material to form an entire novel or screenplay, and even if you do it may not hang together. Believe me, this is a laborious and frustrating way to go.

The Story Template gives a series of actions for you to do that will allow you to develop your story ideas with a minimum of angst and wasted energy. Some exercises will be quick, others will require a great deal of thought, and perhaps even a marination of thought, before finishing. Don’t be in a rush–some of your best ideas will come as you play with character or event possibilities. As you continue to develop your story you will probably revisit different components of these exercises, going back and changing previous work, as you move through this programmed story outliner. That’s okay. Just go with the flow, and have fun.

When you’ve finished with these exercises, you will be ready to start writing your manuscript, with ease and flow and speed, because you will have already done the hard organizational work. Even if you want to change the story as you’re writing, you’ll be able to do so with an understanding of how to balance the changes. You will have a detailed roadmap that will allow you to bring your vision–your book or screenplay–to completion.
Writing Tools

You are a writer. Before you start, you need to assemble the following items:

1. A tool with which to do your major writing, either a computer, an old-fashioned typewriter, or paper and pencil. If you do handwrite your notes, you may want to treat yourself to a special pen that you love, and is only to be used for your magnus opus.

2. A system to organize your template exercises. I prefer hard copy: printing out computer files, or writing on loose leaf paper, then placing the sheets in a three-ringed binder. This notebook may inspire you and give you a sense of accomplishment as you look through to see how much you’ve done. Not as recommended is keeping files only on computer because they’re harder to flip through, mark up, and juxtapose ideas; or a spiral or bound notebook because you can’t replace pages or change their order. But do what works for you.

3. A small notebook to carry with you at all times. Use this to jot down any thoughts that come to you.

4. Index cards. Get two packs, and we’ll go over how to use them to story board. Also get a roll of masking tape and a permanent marker (thin tip) for bold marks. Finally, you may want to purchase an index card binder to permanently keep your cards in order.

Getting the Words Down

Here are some tips to help you get the words down:

1. Decide on a daily quota of words that is manageable. A good starting goal might be 300, but remember to keep pushing this number up as you become accustomed to the writing process. Create a log to record your daily output. Post this on your refrigerator or otherwise keep it prominent in your daily life.

2. Set aside at least fifteen minutes at a time in which you can remain undisturbed. Aim for an hour or more if you can.

3. Don’t start your writing session by checking your e-mail or doing anything else except for writing.

4. Turn off anything that might distract you–music, radio, or television. Some people can write through these things, but try without for a few days to see if you do better.

5. If you’re stuck, do free-writing where you talk to yourself on paper. Something like, “I’m trying to figure out what Jason’s problems with Mike might be in this scene. I was thinking about…”

Let’s get started.

***Special thanks to Amy Deardon for sending me a review copy.***

Today’s B&N #FREE e-books {#Book #Spotlight}

The Book Faery — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 16:43:41 +0000

I love my Nook Color and I love getting free e-books for my Nook even more. So many free books to choose from! If you’d like to be a Nook Friend so we can borrow books between each other, feel free to add thebookfaeryreviews@gmail.com as a friend.

Please note that these were FREE as of TODAY. I can not guarantee that they will be free at a later time from this post. Hopefully you’ll get the chance to download them while they remain free.

Below are today’s latest free finds (click the covers to the download pages)…

SELF-HELP

BUSINESS / FINANCES

ADULT FICTION

CHILDREN’S FICTION

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

CLASSICS

MISCELLANEOUS

Found any new free ebooks lately?

I am a LinkShare affiliate. Some images contain a Linkshare which compensates me a little.

Salary Tutor: Learn the Salary Negotiation Secrets No One Ever Taught You {#Book Review & #Giveaway}

The Book Faery — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:38:37 +0000

Jim Hopkinson details a novel way to get the the raise you deserve. Using these ten steps, you will be able to confidently and effectively negotiate your salary. With helpful tips and questions throughout, this book gives readers the tools to conquer “the evil HR lady.”

While other books or websites might list a few standard bullet points on the subject from an expert in the HR field, Jim takes a “novel approach,” weaving interesting stories, case studies, graphs, humor, and personal experience to make the topic come alive. The book also educates the reader on:

Discovering the two simple – but vital – questions you need to answer for success
Harnessing your social media network to gather valuable information
Mastering successful FBI negotiation techniques to your advantage
Creating a one-of-a-kind document to secure the highest salary range
Using Jim’s “Right back at Ya” Method to regain control of an interview

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Jim Hopkinson is a Marketing Director at Conde Nast Digital, working on the online marketing, analytics, and social media strategy for brands such as Wired and GQ. He hosts a popular marketing blog and podcast called The Hopkinson Report, which mixes entertaining coverage of new media marketing trends, interviews with entrepreneurs, and analysis of companies driving the growth of the digital age. His energetic and passionate approach has been called “audible caffeine.”

Jim also teaches a class called Social Media: Strategies for Marketing Success at New York University, enjoys serving as a mentor for young business professionals, and was named one of min’s “Top 21 Social Media Superstars” in 2009.

An avid sports fan, prior to Conde Nast Jim spent 8 years at ESPN, first as a technical producer in Seattle, followed by online marketing for ESPN.com and Mobile ESPN in New York City. Before ESPN, he was the third employee at a Boston-based multimedia startup that pioneered the use of MPEG video within interactive applications. Jim has a BS in Business Administration from Bryant College. – FROM AMAZON

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…Interesting book that was both helpful AND surprising in tactic. Apparently I need to brush up on being more assertive in getting what I want. Hopkinson shares some great advice as he shares what he learned throughout his career. Some common sense or at least what I already knew, some good ones I need to try, and some more bold and has me squeamish in performing the tactic. Overall though, it’s a good book to read through when making career changes and salary negotiations. With my annual review coming up tomorrow in my day job, I’ll be grabbing some of his tips to use.

Thanks to Planned Television Arts (PTA), we’re giving away THREE copies of Salary Tutor by Jim Hopkinson to readers of The Book Faery Reviews.

MANDATORY ENTRY…Leave a comment below with who you think would benefit from this book.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES…

1) Follow @farrah1230 on twitter and tweet about this giveaway (use the tweet button in the post)

2) Become an RSS feed and/or email subscriber (see top left sidebar)

3) Like The Book Faery Reviews on Facebook (see left middle sidebar)

Please note that giveaway notifications are done within post comments, on the Facebook page, and within the monthly newsletter.

Mailbox Monday…08.22.11

The Book Faery — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:07:44 +0000

Mailbox Monday is where other bloggers write about the books they received the previous week. The Mailbox Monday is now going on a blog tour with the host for the month of July being Life In The Thumb. Visit her blog to see what books made it her way and check out the others who are participating like me in the Monday Mailbox Meme.

Salary Tutor by Jim Hopkinson (Non-Fiction – Career) - Jim Hopkinson details a novel way to get the the raise you deserve. Using these ten steps, you will be able to confidently and effectively negotiate your salary. With helpful tips and questions throughout, this book gives readers the tools to conquer “the evil HR lady.”

Discovering the two simple – but vital – questions you need to answer for success
Harnessing your social media network to gather valuable information
Mastering successful FBI negotiation techniques to your advantage
Creating a one-of-a-kind document to secure the highest salary range
Using Jim’s “Right back at Ya” Method to regain control of an interview

52 Things Kids Need from a Mom by Angela Thomas (Family / Women’s Non-Fiction) - Bestselling author and mother of four children Angela Thomas brings her trademark storytelling and biblical teaching to this book of encouragement for moms who, in the daily whir of busyness, long to connect with their kids in new ways.

With compassion and creativity, Angela presents 52 inspirations to help moms experience intentional mothering, intentional living, and intentional joy as they:

talk to their child as though he is fascinating
learn to play one video game
plan activities that set a child up for success
be the groovy mom once in a while
make memories and savor them

Moms at all phases of parenting can adopt one idea a week or try several at once. This is a fun, guilt-free resource to help every mom lead with God’s love and delight in the small moments that make up an abundant life.

A Christmas Secret by Candace Hall (Children’s Fiction) - When Santa’s reindeer discover a lost kitten named O’Malley, they have no choice but to rescue him and bring him back to the North Pole. Soon all the residents of the North Pole are doing their part to save O’Malley, including Broome, the head elf, and Wilma the mouse. Because only those who were born in the North Pole can live there, everyone decides to keep O’Malley a secret—until O’Malley goes missing. Will O’Malley be able to stay in the North Pole? What will Santa think about A Christmas Secret?

Hot Chocolate With God by Camryn Kelly w/Jill & Erin Kelly (Juvenile Non-Fiction, Christian Resource) - Written for young girls 8-12, this brand-new series combines the writings of the Kelly girls with journal/activity elements in an engaging, exciting companion book to every girl’s walk with God. Each book in the series includes scriptures, fun facts, journal writings, and fun personal quizzes. Girls will be able to express their deepest thoughts and feelings, as well as share everything from their favorite ice cream to the things that make them cry.

In this first book, it’s all about the reader. Finding out who you are can be a fun process that will take you a lifetime-and this book gets girls started out in style! A self-guided tour through every area of a girl’s inner life, this book encourages girls to find the answers to small questions (What’s your favorite color? Your favorite ice cream flavor?, etc.) as well as large ones (What makes you sad? What makes you angry?)

A section on dreams and special gifts will also be included. All little girls have dreams of what they want to be when they grow up, and this book will help them discover which of the special gifts talked about in the Bible they have been given.

With activities ranging from word searches, create-your-own story fill-in-the-blanks, true/false questions, journaling space, a companion web site, fun facts, and scriptures, this first volume in the HOT CHOCOLATE WITH GOD series promises hours of fun and self-discovery!

Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish by Grace Burrowes (Historical Romance Fiction) - All she wants is peace and anonymity…

Lady Sophie Windham has maneuvered a few days to herself at the ducal mansion in London before she must join her family for Christmas in Kent. Suddenly trapped by a London snowstorm, she finds herself with an abandoned baby and only the assistance of a kind, handsome stranger standing between her and complete disaster.

But Sophie’s holiday is about to heat up…
With his estate in ruins, Vim Charpentier sees little to feel festive about this Christmas. His growing attraction for Sophie Windham is the only thing that warms his spirits-but when Sophie’s brothers whisk her away, Vim’s most painful holiday memories are reawakened.

It seems Sophie’s been keeping secrets, and now it will take much more than a mistletoe kiss to make her deepest wishes come true…

The Virtuoso by Grace Burrowes (Historical Romance Fiction) - The highly praised trilogy of Regency romances by award-winning author Grace Burrowes concludes with gifted pianist Valentine Windham, youngest son of the Duke of Moreland. Val retreats to the country after an injury robs him of his musical ability, only to learn from impoverished widow Ellen Markham that he can be loved even when his music falls silent.

The Highlanders Heart by Amanda Forrester (Historical Romance Fiction) - Fleeing into the wilderness to escape an abusive marriage, Lady Isabelle Tynsdale would sooner face down a wild boar than spend another night with her wretched husband. Battered by the elements, desperate to elude a band of attackers, and defending herself against, as fate would have it, a wild boar she is rescued by the handsome Laird David Campbell.

Campbell knows holding Isabelle captive for ransom is his best chance to temper the storm threatening to destroy his clan. The ransom of an English countess should be more than enough to pay off his debts to England and save him from an unwanted marriage. But Isabelle didn’t escape her husband just to become another man’s captive and Laird Campbell is seriously misguided if he thinks she’s going to go quietly.

The Storm That Is Sterling by Lisa Renee Jones (Paranormal Romance Fiction) - Sterling Jeter, Renegade Super Soldier, is fearless, powerful, and wildly unpredictable. His life-threatening mission is to save the beautiful, brilliant astrobiologist Rebecca Burns from ruthless villain Adam Rain. But their immutable mutual attraction threatens to put them in the path of death… or worse…

All book summaries come from Barnes & Noble.

Mailbox Monday…06.13.11

The Book Faery — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 03:44:49 +0000

Mailbox Monday is where other bloggers write about the books they received the previous week. The Mailbox Monday is now going on a blog tour with the host for the month of June being The Bluestocking Guide. Visit her blog to see what books made it her way and check out the others who are participating like me in the Monday Mailbox Meme.

I believe I missed a book or two from the previous week so I figured I’d catch up and add them into this week. The week’s have been running together lately so to be honest, I’m not sure when these arrived over the past 2 weeks.

In The Heat of The Bite by Lydia Dare – Chivalry is far from undead…
Matthew Halkett, Earl of Blodswell, is one of the few men in the ton who can claim to be a knight in shining armor- because that’s precisely what he was before being turned into a vampyre. When he spies a damsel in distress in the midst of a storm in Hyde Park, his natural instinct is to rush to her aid…

But not every woman needs to be rescued…
Weather-controlling witch Rhiannon Sinclair isn’t caught in a storm-she’s the cause of it. She’s mortified to have been caught making trouble by the imposing earl, but she doesn’t need any man-never has, and is sure she never will…

But when Rhiannon encounters Matthew again, her powers go awry and his supernatural abilities run amok. Between the two of them, the ton is thrown into an uproar. There’s never been a more tempestuous scandal…

The Lady of The Storm by Kathryne Kennedy – Storm lord’s daughter Cecily Sutton’s powers over sea and sky have put her life at risk. Giles Beaumont is reluctant to protect her, until he falls under her enchanting spell…

Credit Repair by Robin Leonard, J.D. & Attorney Margaret Reiter – When debts pile up, it can be impossible to see a way out. And in the meantime, a bad credit report can prevent you from getting a mortgage, car loan, credit card, apartment or even a job. Let the sensible strategies in Credit Repair help you take control now, clean up your credit report and live debt-free.

Access your debt situation
Correct errors and improve your credit report and your situation
Prioritize your debts
Negotiate with creditors to reduce debts
Add positive information to your credit report
Avoid identity theft and credit scams
Reduce mortgage debt through new government programs
Build a solid credit history

The 10th edition of Credit Repair is completely updated with the latest legal developments. New chapters discuss how bankruptcy and foreclosure affect credit.

The Greatest Love On Earth by Mary Ellen Dennis – Set in the exotic world of a 19th century circus, Dream Dancer sweeps readers into death defying feats, dangerous rivalries, and a love that has all the thrills and romance of the greatest show on earth.

Bold, beautiful star equestrian Calliope Kelley has two passions in life: her father’s circus and daredevil animal tamer Brian O’Connor. When the circus is destroyed by fire and Brian disappears, Calliope changes her name and becomes engaged to another man. But then Brian returns and everything in Calliope’s new life goes topsy-turvy…

For my anniversary this past Friday, we celebrated 11 years of marriage, hubby found a 1920s copy of the novel Vanity Fair. I say 1920s because I couldn’t find a publishing date in the book BUT it was stamped 1928 inside the book when it was entered into a particular library. LOVE HIM!

Change Anything: The Science of Personal Success {Review}

The Book Faery — Tue, 03 May 2011 09:05:20 +0000

If you’re like most human beings, you’re stuck in one or more areas of your life. And if you’re like most human beings, you’ve tried several promising solutions but continue to remain trapped and discouraged – despite your best efforts. Yet you still want to change.

Perhaps you’d like to kick a bad habit (maybe even an addiction) or start exercising regularly and eating in a more healthy way. Or maybe you’d like to improve a sluggish career or bolster a struggling relationship. Problem is, most of us think we lack the willpower to change.

But suppose willpower isn’t the answer? Suppose the real key to changing your life has nothing to do with willpower?

The truth is, there are Six Sources of Influences that affect our daily decisions. CHANGE ANYTHING explains what they are and how you can make them work in your favor – helping you achieve your goals. By learning how these Six Sources of Influence apply to your life, you can put these subtle but strong forces to use in a positive way that brings substantial results. Based upon the latest social science research, CHANGE ANYTHING details findings from studies of thousands of Changers who have dramatically improved their lives by eliminating stubborn habits. Fascinating real-world examples will empower you to reexamine the way you go about your business and your life.

The bottom line? Willpower is not the answer. The key to change is in understanding all of the subtle but powerful influences that shape your choices.

At last, one straightforward book with a solution for changing any behavior. At last, a promising set of new skills that can put you on the right track. From the authors of the national bestsellers Crucial Conversations, Crucial Confrontations, and Influencer comes a new book that helps you CHANGE ANYTHING. – FROM THE BOOK JACKET

Hardcover: 288 pages
Publisher: Business Plus (April 11, 2011)
Language: English

“Individuals who have the power to change their behavior are individuals with power. Master the skills taught in Change Anything and reach a new level of personal influence.“

Stephen R. Covey, author, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Leader in Me

ABOUT THE AUTHORS…Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler are three-time New York Times bestselling authors, world-class speakers, and leaders of VitalSmarts, a state-of-the-art, innovative training company that has taught two million people worldwide. VitalSmarts has consulted with more than 300 of the Fortune 500 companies.

Visit the Website – Follow on Twitter - Like on Facebook

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…I am all about improving myself and think all should be constantly working at improving themselves. Because of this, I am always learning new things and re-evaluating my life. Look at my shelves and you could tell this by seeing all of the business and self-help books adorning them. As soon as I got the email asking if I’d be interested in reviewing CHANGE ANYTHING, I couldn’t help myself to want to soak up some more self-improvement tips; or more, I wanted to help myself with something fresh and new.

CHANGE ANYTHING is broken up into 3 main parts with subtopics in between and the book is mainly based on the Six Sources of Influences. I personally wanted to get straight into the How to Change Anything section of the book, specifically, Career and Financial Fitness but I knew before I got there, I needed to understand the six sources which would help achieve change in the areas I wanted.

Part I: The Science of Personal Success
- Escape the Willpower Trap
- Be the Scientist and the Subject
Part II: The Six Sources of Influence
- Source 1: Love What You Hate
- Source 2: Do What You Can’t
- Source 3 and 4: Turn Accomplices into Friends
- Source 5: Invert the Economy
- Source 6: Control Your Space
Part III: How to Change Anything
- Career: How to Get Unstuck at Work
- Weight Loss: How to Lose Weight and Get Fit – and Stay That Way
- Financial Fitness: How to Get – and Live – Out of Debt
- Addiction: How to Take Back Your Life
- Relationships: How to Change Us by Changing Me
- Conclusion: How to Change the World

The good news, is that once you read and understand the six sources, you can go back to the book at later dates to evaluate more the areas of change you are in need of at any particular time. Therefore, this is a book to keep on the shelves and come back to.

CHANGE ANYTHING was a positive book that I found easy to follow and the tips (sources of influences) were either things I’ve already known, things that were common sense, and things that made sense to me even though I hadn’t really done them before. Explanations and real-life examples were used throughout the book and made it all the more easier to follow by writing out a visual of sorts.

Do I think these sources will change my life? Hmmm…we’ll just have to wait and see!

The Surprising Reason Start-Ups Don’t Get Funded – Cynthia Kocialski {Guest #Author}

The Book Faery — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:34:26 +0000

Admit it. You always wondered. What would it be like to be an entrepreneur, and start and build a company? Where would you even begin?

When someone finally makes the decision, what goes through the entrepreneur’s mind?

“I want to be an entrepreneur … What should I build? … Think …. Aha, I’ve got it. That’s a great product idea. But what exactly should it look like? …. Define it… Specify it … Tweak it … Now, how do I get the funding for the project? Let’s go talk to some investors …. I am an entrepreneur!”

So out into the world the entrepreneur goes, filled with confidence and enthusiasm, anticipating a warm reception from the world. What happens next? Nothing.

Why? The entrepreneur focused on the product, defining each feature, and crafting every bell and whistle. The entrepreneur engaged in the deliberate creation of the product. Investors never disbelieve or question whether the product can be built. Never. Investors’ concerns are always everything else.

You wouldn’t sell a product to a customer by saying, “Here’s our product, it’s wonderful, and its cost is reasonable considering how great it is”. It’s a generic statement, too vague to have meaning for the customer. Yet, entrepreneurs try to attract investors by saying, “The product is awesome, the market is big, give us money, we’ll give it our best effort, and in a few years, we’ll return your money plus more.”

This is exactly what most entrepreneurs do and it’s the reason they don’t get funded. Why should the investor believe you? Why should the customer believe you?

Entrepreneurs need to engage in the deliberate creation of the company, as much as they do with the product. They believe the product concept is what sells investors on the project, but it’s not. To the investor or partner, it’s the company itself that matters. Entrepreneurs need to create and build a company because for the investor, the company is the product.

The team is what’s most important to investors. High on their list is the team’s understanding of the customers and market – a deep and intimate knowledge of the nuances. Because the first stumbling point in a start-up is often the marketing, not the product. In fact, the product is what concerns investors the least.

The entrepreneur not only needs to sell the product to customers, but also needs to sell the company to investors. Even if an entrepreneur isn’t looking for investors, it is a good idea to know the investor’s perspective because investors have seen companies succeed and many more fail. This is the real funding challenge for entrepreneurs – understanding the investor’s viewpoint and building a company that investors want to be involved in. Everyone wants to be a part of the next big success story.

- By Cynthia Kocialski

Practical insights for entrepreneurs on how to go from an idea to starting a new business

Startup from the Ground Up by Cynthia Kocialski gives commonsense and actionable advice to entrepreneurs for building a thriving business from nothing but an idea. In this invaluable guide, you’ll discover:

Why it’s not enough just to have a great product

How to build a team and keep them, and why a team is more than founders and employees

How to take a product concept and turn it into a full-fledged successful business

Why it is so important to start marketing your product as early as possible

How to get customers to speak with you and how to interact better with them

When seeking outside funding, what investors will be looking for and how to understand and entice them

Kocialski gets you moving down the right path and thinking in the right direction. Launching a company relies on far more than just having a fabulous new product— this is just one piece to the puzzle, many are needed and all must work together in order to achieve success. Kocialski is the founder of three companies and has been involved in dozens of start-ups; she shares her experiences in a mix of observations, illuminations, and guidance that will change the way you think start-ups sprout up from the ground. Clearly written and told from an expert’s vantage point, Startup from the Ground Up is a guide for how to build a business from the very beginning stages.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Cynthia Kocialski founded three tech companies and has been involved with dozens of other startups. She has written a book about her experiences in start-ups companies, “Startup from the Ground Up, Practical Insights for Transforming an Idea into a Business”. She also writes the popular Start-up Entrepreneurs’ Blog (www.cynthiakocialski.com) and has written many articles on emerging technologies. Cynthia can be reached at cynthia@cynthiakocialski.com

Total Law of Attraction, Dr. David Che – Book Spotlight

The Book Faery — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:03:56 +0000

Are you struggling to get what you want in life?

Have you heard about the law of attraction and want to start using it to dramatically change your current situation?

If you answered YES to these questions, look no further!

Inside Total Law of Attraction, the REAL SECRETS of the law of attraction are fully explained in an easy to understand manner.

Here’s a sample of what you will learn:

Why positive thinking alone does NOT work. Discover what’s missing!
Quantum physics, Einstein, and the scientific principles behind the law of attraction.
Why believing is not just wishful thinking. It has everything to do with whether the law of attraction will work for you or against you.
What exactly is the so called ‘Ether’ or ‘formless substance’ in space and its importance to understanding the law of attraction.
The one law that is directly opposite, but of equal importance to the law of attraction. Most books never mention this. Miss this law, and you’re almost guaranteed to fail every time.
The little known reason why thinking about your desire too much can actually PREVENT you from getting it.
After following this practical step by step guide, you will be on your way to getting what you want!

http://www.totallawofattraction.com

Pub. Date: May 2010
Publisher: Blue Note Publications

Perspectives on Social Media – Giveaway

The Book Faery — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:21:58 +0000

PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING addresses 89 of the most compelling and important issues that marketers face on a regular basis when it comes to social media, providing advice and insight on how to deal with each issue from the perspective of two thought leaders in this arena: Stephanie Agresta from Porter Novelli and B. Bonin Bough from PepsiCo. Together, they discuss what social media is, how it has changed the marketing landscape, how to implement a tactical and strategic social media plan across your organization, how to best measure the ROI of a social media campaign, and more.

Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Course Technology PTR; 1 edition (October 4, 2010)

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…The Book Faery Reviews is giving away 1 copy of Perspectives on Social Media. This giveaway will run now through the end of November 2010.

TO ENTER…Leave a separate comment for multiple entries.

1) MANDATORY – Tell me one of your favorite social media applications.

2) Become an e-mail or RSS subscriber (see sidebar).

3) Follow me on Twitter.

4) Tweet this giveaway:

@farrah1230 from #tbfr is giving away a copy of Perspectives on Social Media here: http://bit.ly/auit27 #book #giveaway

5) Share this giveaway in a post somewhere else (leave the url).

Mailbox Monday…10.11.10

The Book Faery — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 05:00:01 +0000

Mailbox Monday is where other bloggers write about the books they received the previous week. The Mailbox Monday is now going on a blog tour with the host this month being Avis at She Reads and Reads. Visit her blog to see what books made it her way and check out the others who are participating like me in the Monday Mailbox Meme.

The Immortals by J.T. Ellison - It is Samhain—the Blood Harvest. Nonbelievers call it Hallowe’en. The night when eight Nashville teenagers are found dead, with occult symbols carved into their naked bodies. It’s a ritual the killers believe was blessed by Death himself.

When children are victimized, emotions always run high, and this case has the public both outraged and terrified: a dangerous combination. Recently reinstated homicide lieutenant Taylor Jackson knows she has to act quickly, but tread carefully.

Exploring the baffling culture of mysticism and witchcraft, Taylor is immersed in a darkness that threatens to unbalance the order of her world, and learns how unchecked wrath can push a killer to his limits.

Perspectives on Social Media Marketing by Bough & Agresta – PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING addresses 89 of the most compelling and important issues that marketers face on a regular basis when it comes to social media, providing advice and insight on how to deal with each issue from the perspective of two thought leaders in this arena: Stephanie Agresta from Porter Novelli and B. Bonin Bough from PepsiCo. Together, they discuss what social media is, how it has changed the marketing landscape, how to implement a tactical and strategic social media plan across your organization, how to best measure the ROI of a social media campaign, and more.

Immanuel’s Vein by Ted Dekker – This story is for everyone–but not everyone is for this story.

It is a dangerous tale of times past. A love story full of deep seduction. A story of terrible longing and bold sacrifice.

Then as now, evil begins its courtship cloaked in light. And the heart embraces what it should flee. Forgetting it once had a truer lover.

With a kiss, evil will ravage body, soul, and mind. Yet there remains hope, because the heart knows no bounds.

Love will prove greater than lust. Sacrifice will overcome seduction. And blood will flow.

Because the battle for the heart is always violently opposed. For those desperate to drink deep from this fountain of life, enter.

But remember, not everyone is for this story.

The Glamour of Grammar, Roy Peter Clark – Giveaway

The Book Faery — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:36:03 +0000

Early in the history of English, the words “grammar” and “glamour” meant the same thing: the power to charm. Roy Peter Clark, author of Writing Tools, aims to put the glamour back in grammar with this fun, engaging alternative to stuffy instructionals. In this practical guide, readers will learn everything from the different parts of speech to why effective writers prefer concrete nouns and active verbs. The Glamour of Grammar gives readers all the tools they need to”live inside the language”–to take advantage of grammar to perfect their use of English, to instill meaning, and to charm through their writing. With this indispensable book, readers will come to see just how glamorous grammar can be.

Read “Dream Blurbs”
Interview with Roy Peter Clark
Roy Peter Clark blogs at Writing Tools @ Poynter.org

THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…Thanks to Hachette Books I’m giving away 3 copies of the The Glamour of Grammar to a US resident (No PO Boxes). Now through the end of August 2010 you’ll get a chance to enter.

MANDATORY – To enter become an e-mail / RSS Subscriber (see top right inner sidebar) of The Book Faery Reviews and leave a comment below of who you think would like this book (it could even be you!)…

For additional entries…

Tweet – @farrah from #tbfr is giving away 3 copies of The Glammour of Grammar at http://bit.ly/cdHt5R
Share this giveaway on your blog or on Facebook

Good luck to all!

I received a copy of this book from Hachette Books who are also sponsoring 3 more copies for this giveaway.

Achieve Anything in Just One Year, Jason Harvey – Review

The Book Faery — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:00:17 +0000

TITLE: Achieve Anything In Just One Year
AUTHOR: Jason Harvey
PUBLISHER: Amazing Life Press
PUBLICATION DATE: January 1, 2010
PAGES: 376 pages
GENRE: Non-Fiction, Self-Help, Motivation

The last self improvement book you will ever need!

Learn to make small daily choices that will transform your life. Find your personal inspiration. Rediscover your motivation. Propel yourself out of an unfulfilling existence.

The key to a happier life is contained in the dreams you already have. Your aspirations can create new opportunities, a fresh direction for your life’s path. It is possible to unlock them. It’s never too late. You have started today by looking at this book.

With his accessible, unique approach using tangible daily steps to reach achievable goals, Jason Harvey can help you succeed by taking small steps to a better you.

Comprehensive and inspiring, Achieve Anything In Just One Year will teach you how to:

Set goals and stick with them
Take daily action that creates a ripple effect
Stay motivated, focused and balanced
Feel happier everyday!!!
Define, pursue and celebrate personal success

Learn to equip yourself with the tools to become your own personal life coach, without relying on outside motivation. You have the power to do anything you desire. The possibilities are within you. It’s time to nurture that spark and let it catch fire.

Jason Harvey is a Certified Life Coach and the founder of The Limitless Institute.

THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…Achieve Anything in Just One Year is said to be “the last self improvement book you will ever need”. Going through the book I thought the daily exercises could definitely help one achieve their goal(s) in that time-frame. In fact I’m going back through the book as it was intended; day by day. I think if I set my calendar up for daily reminders to complete the journaling exercise of the day I’d benefit greatly and be more motivated to keep going towards completion of a goal. My biggest personal issue is that I tend to start off strong and wane through. This book may be different for me. Each day is comprised of a daily quote to inspire/motivate you for the day and then there is just one page to read (in truth it’s more like a half page of reading). The paragraph digs more into the quote and you’re given an opportunity to journal an experience or complete some other assignment related.

So far the book looks promising but ask me again in a year after I’ve gone through the daily exercises. 5 stars so far…

Topless Prophet, Alan Markovitz

The Book Faery — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:39:08 +0000

TITLE: Topless Prophet
AUTHOR: Alan Markovitz
PUBLICATION DATE: October 1, 2009
PUBLISHER: AM Productions
PAGES: 307 pages
GENRE: Non-Fiction – Autobiography

One man’s story of what it takes to run a strip club empire – the dangers, secrets, pitfalls, surprises – and rewards – and the business lessons learned.

What is it really like to open and run a successful string of strip clubs? “It’s not at all what you think it is,’ confides Alan Markovitz, author of a new book and owner of the nation’s leading gentlemen’s club. Topless Prophet: The True Story of America’s Most Successful Gentlemen’s Club Entrepreneur offers a rare glimpse into the world of gentlemen’s clubs, taking us behind the scenes of the operations of one of the nation’s most successful club owners. Where other books provide insight on the scandalous side of strippers, escorts, and x-rated entertainment, Topless Prophet is as much a business book and autobiography of an ingenious entrepreneur as it is an exploration of what goes into staying on top of an industry filled with cut-throat competition, corruption, celebrities, and beautiful women who make a living dancing. Alan Markovitz, who owns several Penthouse Gentlemen’s Clubs and the country’s No. 1 ranked adult entertainment club (The Ultimate Strip Club List (www.tuscl.net), The Flight Club, Topless Prophet chronicles a first-hand account of a Detroit businessman who has helped change and grow an industry while overcoming many challenges, some life-threatening, some business-endangering. He has spent nearly the past three decades reformulating the ultimate fantasy setting for men.

Markovitz overcame many unique circumstances, including when he:

Had to testify against the Mafia when they threatened him.
Saw his club raided by the police as part of a smear campaign by a competing Eight Mile club owner – and spent the weekend in jail.
Was shot by one of his own dancers after he fired her.
Saw his dancers try to unionize to block a new compensation system.
Had one of his clubs tank after the local city (Ft. Lauderdale) changed the laws about alcohol being served in strip clubs.
Was blocked by political cronyism when he tried to open in Las Vegas.
Got sued for trademark infringement by Boeing.
Was accidentally shot by a drunken patron, an off-duty police officer.
Had his father, a Holocaust survivor who became his business partner, negotiate with a menacing biker gang that threatened his first club.

“The business of entertainment has a lot of glamour and glitz – and beautiful women for sure — but it’s filled with many forces that can challenge and chew you up in no time,” says Markovitz. “The key is to think ahead, exceed expectations, be ready for a fight, and be wise enough to know when to walk away.” Markovitz’s story begins with humble roots growing up in the Jewish middle class neighborhood of Oak Park, Michigan, the son of a television repair shop owner. He starts out like a kid in a candy store, working the bar for the neighborhood strip club as a teenager. Markovitz befriends the owner and seeks him out as a business partner when he ventures out to buy his first club at age 22. From there on he comes back stronger from every challenge, crisis, or adversity he faces along the way to establish himself at the top of the topless business.

Topless Prophet also shares Markovitz’s personal experiences, professional insights, and vision for the future of adult entertainment. He reveals just what it is about the allure of the dancers that captures men’s hearts and wallets. He tells us if customers really have a chance to date a dancer and discusses how he romanced some of the dancers. He also shares how one unhappy ex-girlfriend/stripper drove her car into his club looking for blood.

Markovitz shares many insights about how to be successful in business, and admittedly bares mistakes made along the way as well. He explains how he:

Moved the strip club experience from a blue-collar to white-collar audience.
First discovered moving dancers off the stage to tables and then customers’ laps – and went from paying his dancers to having them pay him.
Had to work alongside a business partner who hired two hit men to kill him.
Manages over 300 dancers at each club.
Attempted to bring the strip club setting to airplanes and golf courses.
Got swindled out of a million dollars when trying to buy a club.
Views expansion, upgrades, location, quality of service, the competition, pricing, and knowing when to wage a legal fight.

“The formula for success is fleeting,” says Markovitz. “Just when you think you know what it is, it changes. You can’t be complacent in this business.” Markovitz certainly knows what it takes to make millions and have fun doing it.

The Male Factor, Shaunti Feldhahn – Review & Giveaway

The Book Faery — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 04:42:17 +0000

Title: The Male Factor
Author: Shaunti Feldhahn
Publisher: WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group
Publication Date: December 29th, 2009
Paperback: 320 pages
Genre: Non-Fiction, Business

Many talented women today risk undermining their careers without realizing it, simply because they don’t understand how they are perceived by their male colleagues and customers.

In The Male Factor, best-selling author Shaunti Feldhahn reveals the inner reality behind men’s views — the unspoken expectations that no man would dare to publicly acknowledge, and no woman would learn from an HR department. These revelations include:

• Men’s unwritten ‘rules’ of the workplace
• How men perceive workplace emotion
• What common situations with female colleagues most frustrate men– and why
• Why revealing clothing can sabotage a woman’s effectiveness
• Why some men think flextime is fine, but equal compensation for it is not

The Male Factor equips women with the information they need to make informed decisions and compete on a level playing field.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR…Shaunti Feldhahn is a nationally syndicated columnist and the bestselling author of For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men and For Men Only, which together sold one million copies. She holds a Master in Public Policy from Harvard, worked on Wall Street and now lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

FIND HER HERE… Facebook – Twitter – Website

FROM THE BOOK FAERY REVIEWS…As a woman who’s worked many male-dominated workplaces, this book was a great eye-opener. It made me realize the mistakes I might have made that had I known how to act more like a man I may have gone further. This is definitely a book for all women to read when dealing with any sort of relationships with the opposite sex.

Definitely a keeper for my office shelves and one I’d read again when the need arose. 5 stars for a great resource book.

THE GIVEAWAY…MAIN RULE – Be an e-mail or RSS subscriber AND leave a comment with the name of one of her other books (visit her site). (if this rule is not followed then no others will count )

Additional Entries can be done by clicking on each link below or performing an action:

1 Extra Entry – Subscribe to my RSS feed
1 Extra Entry – Subscribe by email
1 Extra Entry – Follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/farrah1230)
1 Extra Entry – Tweet this giveaway. Copy, add url, and paste – @farrah1230 is giving away The Male Factor by Shaunti Feldhahn #tbfr
2 Extra Entries – Write a post on your blog or Facebook linking to my blog.

Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. This giveaway will run now through midnight on January 30th, with winner being announced February 1st. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winners will have 48 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen. Please check your emails AND your spam folders for an email from me if you are a winner.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.