Business, Finance & Law Books

Book SynopsisThe first book to present practical methods for using the technique of scenario planning to chart a company's course. The program offered here is based on methods developed at Royal Dutch Shell and popularized by Peter Schwartz in the bestselling The Art of the Long View.Table of ContentsPartial table of contents: INTRODUCTION TO SCENARIO LEARNING. Integrating Strategy and Scenarios (L. Fahey & R. Randall). Using Scenarios to Identify, Analyze, and Manage Uncertainty (B. Marsh). BASIC APPROACHES TO CONSTRUCTING SCENARIOS. Scenario Planning: Mapping the Paths to the Desired Future (D. Mason). Testing Your Strategies in Scenarios (C. Perrottet). Scenarios for Global Investment Strategy for the New Century (P. Schwartz & J. Ogilvy). SCENARIO APPLICATION IN DIVERSE CONTEXTS. Competitor Scenarios: Projecting a Rival's Marketplace Strategy (L. Fahey). MANAGING THE ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT FOR SCENARIO LEARNING. Articulating the Business Idea: The Key to Relevant Scenarios (K. van der Heijden). The Cross-Scenario Planning Process (D. Randall & R. Wilson). Notes. About the Author. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA holistic approach to harnessing a company''s processes to achieve true customer satisfaction Every move that a corporation makes is a mixture of input, action, and output-in short, a process. To keep customers, employees, and shareholders happy, corporate management must juggle conflicting priorities. These competing priorities result in conflicting processes. To help achieve true customer satisfaction, manage-ment needs tools that allow for a holistic approach to analyzing these processes. This book provides that tool. It shows corporations how to analyze and enhance their critical processes in order to deliver the highest level of service to their internal and external customers. Providing a clear understanding of what process mapping can do for a company as well as practical applications for each step in process mapping, this useful guide outlines a proven method for assuring better processes and building a more customer-focused company.Table of ContentsPreface vii Chapter 1 Process Mapping: An Introduction 1 Process Identification 2 Information Gathering 3 Interviewing and Map Generation 4 Analyzing the Data 5 Customer Mapping 6 Spaghetti Maps and RACI Matrices 7 JayKayCo Case Study 9 Chapter 2 Drilling Down into the Process 19 Process Defined 20 Exercise 2.1 Identifying Inputs, Transformations, and Outputs 21 Processes, Units, Tasks, and Actions 22 Exercise 2.2 Identifying Units within a Process 23 Identifying Inputs and Outputs to Units 24 Exercise 2.3 Unit Inputs and Outputs 24 Defining Task and Action Levels 25 Exercise 2.4 Identifying Tasks, Actions, and the Related Inputs and Outputs 25 Comprehensive Example 27 Exercise 2.5 Drilling Down a Human Resources Example 27 Solutions 32 Chapter 3 Process Identification 49 Finding the Story 51 Exercise 3.1 Identifying the Process Trigger 51 Exercise 3.2 Determining Which Actions Are Trigger Points 52 Exercise 3.3 Identifying All Customer Trigger Points 53 Identifying Company Processes 54 Exercise 3.4 Naming the Processes 54 Exercise 3.5 Naming All Potential Triggers 55 Business Process Timeline Worksheets 56 Exercise 3.6 Supporting Processes 56 Exercise 3.7 Additional Supporting Processes 58 Comprehensive Example 59 Exercise 3.8 Defining the Hiring Process 59 Solutions 63 Chapter 4 Information Gathering 75 Describe the Process 77 Exercise 4.1 Improving Process Descriptions 77 Exercise 4.2 Providing Process Descriptions 77 Identify the Process and Unit Owners 79 Exercise 4.3 Matching Owners to Processes 79 Interviewing the Process and Unit Owners 80 Exercise 4.4 Identifying Good Objectives 80 Exercise 4.5 Writing Objectives 81 Exercise 4.6 Identifying Risks 82 Exercise 4.7 Determining Risks to Objectives 82 Exercise 4.8 Identifying Key Controls 83 Exercise 4.9 Identifying Measures of Success 85 Process Profile Worksheet 86 Comprehensive Example 87 Exercise 4.10 Completing the Process Profile Worksheet 87 Solutions 90 Chapter 5 Interviewing and Map Generation 103 Interviewing 104 Map Generation 106 Exercise 5.1 Process Mapping Basics 108 Exercise 5.2 Decision Trees 111 Exercise 5.3 Verb/Noun Format 111 Exercise 5.4 A Simple Process Map 115 Exercise 5.5 Building Your First Complete Map 116 Comprehensive Example 117 Exercise 5.6 Putting It All Together 117 Solutions 122 Chapter 6 Building the Map 139 A Comprehensive Example 140 Exercise 6.1 Mapping the Hiring Process 140 Solutions 155 Chapter 7 Analysis of the Process Maps 167 Review the Process Profile Worksheet 168 Review the Process Map 169 Exercise 7.1 Analyzing Approvals 169 Exercise 7.2 Analyzing Process Map Loops 170 Exercise 7.3 Analyzing Delays, Rework, and Handoffs 171 Exercise 7.4 Analyzing the Forms 172 Exercise 7.5 Analyzing Unfinished Activities 173 Exercise 7.6 Analyzing the Hiring Process 174 Solutions 177 Chapter 8 Customer Mapping 187 Steps of Customer Mapping 189 Defining the Job 190 Exercise 8.1 Defining the Job 190 Identifying Key Tasks and Actions 191 Exercise 8.2 Identifying Key Tasks 191 Actions, Inputs, and Outputs 192 Exercise 8.3 Actions, Inputs, and Outputs 192 Measures of Success 194 Exercise 8.4 Determining Measures of Success 194 Ranking Measures and Determining Success 196 Customer Profile Worksheet 197 Exercise 8.5 Completing the Customer Profile Worksheet 197 Creating the Customer Map 199 Exercise 8.6 Building a Customer Map 201 Exercise 8.7 A Comprehensive Customer Mapping Project 201 Solutions 207 Chapter 9 Spaghetti Maps and RACI Matrices 223 Spaghetti Maps 224 Identifying the Key Steps 226 Exercise 9.1 Identifying the Key Steps 226 Building the Actual Map 227 Exercise 9.2 Building the As Is Spaghetti Map 228 Analyzing the Spaghetti Map 229 Exercise 9.3 Building the To Be Map 229 Exercise 9.4 Spaghetti Mapping the Hiring Process 230 RACI Matrices 234 Exercise 9.5 Determining Responsibilities 234 Building the RACI Matrix 237 Exercise 9.6 Building a RACI Matrix 237 Analyzing the RACI Matrix 239 Exercise 9.7 Analyzing the RACI Matrix 240 Solutions 242 Epilogue 255

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fresh look at what it means to lead from two of the biggest names in leadership In these turbulent times, when the very foundations of organizations and societies are shaken, leaders need to move beyond pessimistic predictions, trendy fads, and simplistic solutions. They need to turn to what's real and what's proven.Trade Review“This book cuts through the clutter and reminds us of what really matters. The introduction alone is worth the price of the book.” —PATRICK LENCIONI, president, The Table Group, and author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and Getting Naked “The leadership truths Kouzes and Posner lay out have not only endured the test of time but are even more relevant now in a world transformed by Twittering Millennials. Buy copies for yourself, your boss, and also for leaders of your organization.” —CHARLENE LI, author of Open Leadership, and founder, Altimeter Group “The Truth About Leadership provides some of the best practical advice on leadership I’ve read in a long time. If you have not read Kouzes and Posner and you manage people, shame on you. Start here. If you have read their work and your workplace needs a shot in the arm, you’ll find this book a quick, engaging jewel that will help you become a more trusted, credible, and valued leader.” —ADRIAN GOSTICK, author of The Carrot Principle “I’ve always been a big proponent of simple truths. That’s why I love the new book from Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, The Truth About Leadership. Jim and Barry spell out ten fundamental truths about leadership and every one of them is right on. If you want to do a fact check on your leadership expertise, read this book!” —KEN BLANCHARD, coauthor of The One Minute Manager® and Leading at a Higher Level “Regardless of your experience, age, generation, or life stage, The Truth About Leadership will remind you of the vital role leaders play in our lives, renew your interest in understanding what makes a leader great, and rekindle your desire to be an inspiring leader yourself.” —LYNNE LANCASTER, coauthor of When Generations Collide and The M-Factor “Elegant in its simplicity and powerful in its depth, The Truth About Leadership dazzles the reader with evidence-based knowledge and practical inspiration This is that one in a million book that serves to pull an entire field together for the reader. No matter how many books you’ve read on leadership, you will better understand each of them after reading this remarkable book.” —COLONEL TOM KOLDITZ, PhD, professor, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and author of In Extremis Leadership “This is a book a leader should put on his or her nightstand and read a chapter a night to refresh on what is important from a leadership perspective.” —STEPHEN ALMASSY, Global Vice Chair, OCA/Industry, Ernst & Young Global LimitedTable of ContentsIntroduction: What Everyone Wants to Know About Leadership. Truth 1: You Make a Difference. Truth 2: Credibility Is the Foundation of Leadership. Truth 3: Values Drive Commitment. Truth 4: Focusing on the Future Sets Leaders Apart. Truth 5: You Can't Do It Alone. Truth 6: Trust Rules. Truth 7: Challenge Is the Crucible of Greatness. Truth 8: You Either Lead by Example or You Don't Lead at All. Truth 9: The Best Leaders Are the Best Learners. Truth 10: Leadership Is an Affair of the Heart. Epilogue: Leaders Say Yes. About the Authors. Acknowledgements. Notes. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSolve your traffic troubles and turn browsers into buyers When web design expert Ben Hunt set out to quantify the difference between an ordinary web site and a great one, he expected to find the key in design simplicity. But when his team more than doubled the conversion rates for a wide range of sites, they identified simple yet powerful solutions involving design, copy, appropriate analysis, classic optimization techniques, and targeted testing. You''ll find the fixes easy to implement, and they''re all right here. Understand the essentials - your market, your proposition, and your delivery. Create a site that is seen by the right people, provides a compelling experience, and generates the desired action. Learn how to use testing to improve your site''s conversion rate. Discover the holistic nature of web site optimization and why multiplicity matters. Examine dozens of simple techniques foTable of ContentsAcknowledgments. Foreword. Foreword. Introduction. Part I Designing for Traffic. Chapter 1 How to Transform Your Web Site's Success. Does This Sound Like Your Web Site? The "First Best Guess" Method of Web Design. A New Perspective on Web Design. The New Approach. Chapter 2 Search Engine Optimization Fundamentals. Keyword Research. On-Page SEO. Off-Page SEO. Chapter 3 Expanding Your Reach. What Are You Really Selling? Researching Your Markets. Marketing Joe's Miracle Hair-Gro. Chapter 4 Using the Awareness Ladder. Your Key to Reaching Deeper Markets. Why the Old, Narrow Model Fails. The New Concentric Model. Chapter 5 Working Through the Awareness Ladder. Save the Pixel. Bridge Natural Health. Muazo. Imagic2015. Me2Solar. Ville & Company. Bolwell RV. EasySpeedy. Applying the Awareness Ladder to Your Site. Part II Designing for Conversion. Chapter 6 Making Your Site Sell. The New Approach to Design for Conversion. Step One: Modeling Your Site's Funnels. Step Two: Analyzing Your Funnels. Step Three: Optimizing Conversions Through the Funnel. The Three Elements of Conversion. Chapter 7 Get Their Attention. Optimization Discipline. Getting Attention: The Power of Appeal. Make Your Appeals Relevant. Self-Interest. Emotion. Designing for Attention. Chapter 8 Keep Them Engaged. Affirm the Positive Signs. Resolve Concerns and Build Trust. Build Interest. Make It Easy. Chapter 9 Call Them to Action. Classes of Next Steps. Build Momentum. Six Tips for Crafting Compelling Calls to Action. Put It All Together. Chapter 10 Executing Your Web Site Strategy. Target Early Opportunities. Create Core Content. Add More Funnels. Generate Traffic. Consider Step 0. Keep Going! Chapter 11 Optimizing Your Web Pages. Google Website Optimizer. My Optimizer Tips. The Way of Optimization. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSmart financial strategies that can secure your financial future There are more than 600 exchange traded funds on the market today, and new ones are opening every day. Total worldwide invested assets in ETFs now tops $500 billion.Trade Review“If you had to choose just one investment book to read this year, this could be it. … Included in “Year’s Top Investment Books” in the 2011 Stock Trader’s Almanac, Super Sectors provides useful background on ETFs, the pros/cons of each sector, basic technical tools, trading strategies, and psychology - really a masterpiece of overview of sound investing and trading with plenty to learn and review for those on all levels of expertise. —Cliff Wachtel, FXinsights.com, November 2010 “If you have considered investing by sectors using ETFs, then Super Sectors is the book for you.” —Stockerblog.com, October 2010 "This book provides a highly accessible and pragmatic approach to the subject of investment vehicles. For the relative newcomer to active investing, it offers several nuggets of useful information. For veteran system developers interested in further honing their trading acumen, it serves as a refresher of key concepts." —Bruce C. Greig, Financial Analysts Journal, January 2011Table of ContentsPreface xiii Acknowledgments xvii Part I Five Wall Street Fairy Tales and Why the Conventional Wisdom is Flawed 1 Chapter 1 The Bear Facts about Bear Markets 3 The Bear Facts: Another Bear is Out There Waiting to Maul Your Portfolio 3 Conclusion 7 Chapter 2 The Fairy Tale of Buy and Hold 9 Ten Years of Negative Returns 9 Impact on Retirement 11 The World is Changing 18 Conclusion 18 Chapter 3 Four More Wall Street Fairy Tales: Conventional Wisdom That Could Cost You Money 21 Is Asset Allocation the Answer? 21 The Fairy Tales Revealed 23 Conclusion 24 Part II Why Exchange Traded Funds? 27 Chapter 4 History and Growth of Exchange Traded Funds 29 From Zero to 836 in 19 Short Years 29 Conclusion 32 Chapter 5 Types of Exchange Traded Funds 33 Standard Exchange Traded Funds 34 Index Funds 34 Market Cap and Style Funds 35 Bond Funds 35 Sector Exchange Traded Funds 35 Global Regions and Country Specific Exchange Traded Funds 36 Inverse Exchange Traded Funds 37 Leveraged Exchange Traded Funds 38 Actively Managed Exchange Traded Funds 41 Currency Exchange Traded Funds and Exchange Traded Notes 42 Conclusion 43 Part III Sector Rotation: What It Is and Why It Works 45 Chapter 6 Sector Rotation—The Traditional View 47 There’s Always a Bull Market Somewhere 47 Nine Basic Sectors 49 Will This Time be Different? 50 The Business Cycle Has Not Been Repealed 51 Why Use Sector Rotation? 52 Conclusion 52 Chapter 7 The New Science of Sector Rotation 55 It’s a Brave New World 55 Are There Only Nine Sectors? 56 The Velocity of Money and the Incredible Disappearing Investor 56 Conclusion 65 Part IV Trading Systems Designed to Outperform the Indexes 67 Your Personality 67 Your Lifestyle 68 Your Goals 68 Chapter 8 Almost Like Buy and Hold 69 But It’s Not That Easy 71 Cut Your Losses and Let Your Winners Run 72 “Almost Like Buy and Hold” Trading Rules 73 Conclusion 74 Chapter 9 The Simple Trading System 75 Conclusion 82 Chapter 10 The Golden Crossover Trading System 85 Conclusion 90 Part V The Sector Scoring System: Trading Concepts, Challenges and Conundrums 91 Chapter 11 The Five Signals for Entering a Trade 93 Signal No. 1: Point and Figure Charts Buy Signals 93 Signal No. 2: Point and Figure Charts: Trend and Bullish Price Objective 98 Signal No. 3: Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) 101 Signal No. 4: Relative Strength Index (RSI) 107 Signal No. 5: Relative Strength 108 Conclusion 110 Chapter 12 Scoring Your Trades 113 Selecting What You Want to Trade 113 Scoring Your Trades: The Heart of the System 114 Scoring the Indicators 123 Conclusion 130 Chapter 13 Getting Out is Harder Than Getting In 131 Selecting What You Want to Trade: The Other Side of the Coin 131 Getting Out of a Trade: How, When, Where 132 Risk Management and Position Size 144 Exiting a Trade or “What Now?” 146 Signs of Weakness 147 Conclusion 150 Chapter 14 The Psychology of Trading 153 The Biggest Single Risk to Your Trading and Investing Success is You 153 Begin at the Beginning 154 Greed, Fear, and the Herd 154 Three Secrets to Trading Success 156 Trading and the Art of War 160 The Five Essentials for Victory 161 Trading With the Buddha 162 What Happens When Your System Stops Working 163 How to Manage Drawdowns 164 Conclusion 165 Part VI Super Sectors: Five ‘‘Super Sectors’’ That Could Change Your Life 167 Chapter 15 Super Sector No. 1: The Rise of Asia 169 A Closer Look at China 169 The Story Doesn’t End with China 171 How Can You Participate? 172 Conclusion 173 Chapter 16 Super Sector No. 2: Energy 175 The Bad News about Supply 175 The Bad News about Demand 176 Economic, Political, and Social Impacts 177 Possible Solutions 177 Possible Outcomes 178 How Can You Participate? 179 Conclusion 180 Chapter 17 Super Sector No. 3: Health Care 181 The Aging Baby Boomers 181 Baby Boomers and the Cost of Health Care 182 Growth in National Health Care Expenditures 182 Possible Solutions and Outcomes 183 The Ever-Growing Medical Monster 183 How Can You Participate? 184 Conclusion 184 Chapter 18 Super Sector No. 4: Technology 187 A Connected World 187 Highways in the Sky 189 Emerging Technologies 190 How Can You Participate? 190 Conclusion 191 Chapter 19 Super Sector No. 5: Financials 193 The Financial Sector 193 Warren Buffettology 195 The Dollar and Global Currency Markets 196 Interest Rates 197 Precious Metals 197 How Can You Participate? 198 Conclusion 198 Chapter 20 Ask the Experts: Insights and Advice from Today’s Top Investors, Traders and Managers 201 Larry Connors 201 Dr. Marc Faber 205 Keith Fitz-Gerald 207 Todd Harrison 211 Gene Inger 214 Carl Larry 216 Timothy Lutts 217 Tom Lydon 220 John Mauldin 223 Lawrence G. McMillan 224 Paul Merriman 228 Robert Prechter 230 Jim Rogers 233 Matthew Simmons 234 Sam Stovall 236 Cliff Wachtel 238 Gabriel Wisdom and Michael Moore 241 Conclusion 245 Appendix ETF Resources 247 Web Sites 247 Exchange Traded Funds Providers 247 Books 248 Notes 251 About the Author 253 Index 255

Read more less

Book SynopsisGet customers, clients, and co-workers to say yes! in 8 minutes or less This revised second edition by a leading expert of influence continues to teach a proven system of persuasion. Synthesizing the latest research in the field of influence with real-world tested experiences, it presents simple secrets that help readers turn a no into a yes. Every secret in this book has been rigorously tested, validated, and found reliable. Learn dozens of all-new techniques and strategies for influencing others including how to reduce resistance to rubble Make people feel instantly comfortable in your presence Decode body language, build credibility, and be persistent without being a pain Expert author Kevin Hogan turns the enigmatic art of influence and persuasion into a science anyone can master The amazing secret of The Science of Influence is its simplicity. After you read this book you will immediately understand why peopleTable of ContentsAbout the Author ix Preface x Acknowledgments xiii 1 Influencing Others to Change 1 2 The First Four Seconds 13 3 The Delta Model of Influence 33 4 Credibility: The Pivot Point of Persuasion 57 5 The New Principles of Influence 65 6 Introduction to Omega Strategies 85 7 Framing Principles, Persuasion Techniques, and Influential Strategies 107 8 Applying the Laws of Influence 131 9 The Influential Secret of Oscillation 157 10 Mind Reading: How to Know What They Are Thinking 167 11 I’ll Think About It 173 12 How Their Brain Buys . . . You! 207 13 “I Will Do the Work for You”: Magic Words That Unlock Minds 219 14 The Power of Thinking without Thinking 233 15 Influence in Sales and Marketing Online and in the Real World 243 16 The Problem and Opportunity of Memory in Influence 259 17 Women: Influencing Women to Buy 267 Bibliography 287 Index 295 Need a Speaker? 305

Read more less

Book SynopsisA practical guide for investors who are ready to take financial matters into their own hands The Warren Buffetts Next Doorprofiles previously unknown investors, with legendary performance records, who are proving every day that you don''t need to work for a hedge fund or have an Ivy League diploma to consistently beat the best performing Wall Street professionals. These amazing individuals come from all walks of life, from a globe drifting college dropout and a retired disc jockey to a computer room geek and a truck driver. Their methods vary from technical trading and global macro-economic analysis to deep value investing. The glue that holds them together is their passion for investing and their ability to efficiently harness the Internet for critical investment ideas, research, and trading skills. The author digs deep to find the best of the best, even finding those who are making money during these turbulent times Contains case studiesTrade Reviewan easy read I m confident you ll find someone to inspire you in The Warren Buffetts Next Door . (Interactive Investor Blog, December 2010). The Warren Buffetts Next Door will entertain you (Fool.co.uk, December 2010).Table of ContentsForeword xiii Acknowledgments xv Introduction: Thou Shalt Covet Thy Neighbor’s Portfolio xvii Chapter 1 Vagabond Value 1 Tangible Tactics 3 Who Is Chris Rees? 6 Rees’s Rules of Investing 10 Case Study: Abatix Corp (OTC: ABIX) 11 Rees: In His Own Words 12 Reflecting on the Financial Meltdown of 2008 12 Chapter 2 Options Apostle 15 Sell Options, Have Fun, and Make Money 18 Who Is Bob Krebs? 20 Krebs’s Rules of Investing 24 Case Study: Annaly Mortgage (NYSE: NLY) 29 Krebs: In His Own Words 32 On Avoiding the Big Loss 32 A Silver Lining to the Crash of 2008 33 Chapter 3 Lady’s Man 35 Knife Catching 37 Who Is Mike Koza? 42 Koza’s Rules of Investing 46 Case Study: Radian Group (NYSE: RDN) 48 Koza: In His Own Words 50 On Comparing the Market to Whitewater Rafting 50 On Professional Money Management 51 Chapter 4 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice 53 Magpie Investing 56 Who Is Kai Petainen? 60 Petainen’s Rules of Investing 63 Case Study: Ternium, S.A. (NYSE:TX) 65 Petainen: In His Own Words 67 On Jim Cramer, John Stewart, Stock Analysts, and “Sisu” 67 Chapter 5 Network Miner 69 Peer-to-Peer Profi ts 71 Who Is Alan Hill? 77 Hill’s Rules of Investing 79 Case Study: China Energy Corp. (OTCBB: CHGY) 80 Hill: In His Own Words 83 On China’s Emergence 83 On Change 83 Chapter 6 Ramblin’ Jack 85 Buying Hiccups 87 Who Is Jack Weyland? 93 Weyland’s Rules of Investing 96 Case Study: Iomai 98 Weyland: In His Own Words 100 On Health Care versus Other Sectors 100 On His Approach to Investing 100 Chapter 7 The Oracle of Manitoba 101 Warren Buffett Meets Sir John Templeton 102 Who Is Randy McDuff? 104 McDuff’s Rules of Investing 107 Case Study: Companhia Brasileira de Distribuicao (NYSE: CBD) 111 McDuff: In His Own Words 114 On Utilities and Recession-Resistant Stocks 114 Post–2008 Crash Investing 114 On Retirement Investing 115 On New Money versus Old Money 115 Chapter 8 Mexican Gold 117 From Detective to Deal Maker 120 Who Is Andrew Swann? 124 Swann’s Rules of Investing 129 Case Study: OceanaGold (TSE: OGC.CA) 131 Swann: In His Own Words 133 On Owning Physical Gold 133 On Whether He Is a Speculator or Investor 133 On Living in Mexico 133 Chapter 9 Stock Angler 135 Do as I Do, Not as I Say 138 Who Is Justin Uyehara? 142 Uyehara’s Rules of Investing 143 Case Study: Medivation (NASDAQ: MDVN) 145 Uyehara: In His Own Words 147 On His Goal of Becoming a Money Manager 147 On Price-Earnings Multiples 147 On the Market’s Strong Rebound from 2008 147 Chapter 10 Bear Market Hero 149 Bear Tracking 151 Who Is John Navin? 157 Navin’s Rules of Investing 160 Case Study: PowerShares DB U.S. Dollar Index Bullish (NYSE: UUP) 162 Navin: In His Own Words 163 On Playing Blackjack and Investing 163 On Technical Analysis versus Fundamental Analysis 164 On the Goldman Sachs Scandal Fallout 164 Chapter 11 Legendary Investor Incubators 165 Marketocracy (www.marketocracy.com) 166 ValueForum.com (www.valueforum.com) 168 Value Investors Club (www.valueinvestorsclub.com) 170 Motley Fool Caps (http://caps.fool.com) 171 Covestor (www.covestor.com) 172 kaChing.com (www.kaching.com) 173 RiskGrades (www.riskgrades.com) 174 Investor’s Business Daily (www.investors.com) 175 American Association of Individual Investors (www.aaii.com) 176 FundAlarm (www.fundalarm.com) 177 StockCharts.com (www.stockcharts.com) 178 Other Sites to Bookmark 179 Notes 183 About the Author 187 Index 189

Read more less

Book SynopsisIf you''ve never traded futures but would like to, this book is highly recommended. An excellent introduction to the futures markets and also a useful reference source for the seasoned trader. --Thomas E. Aspray, Editorial Director and Chief Analyst, Traders'' Library No one explains complex financial strategies as clearly and intelligently as Todd Lofton. If you''re intrigued by the possibility of making money in the futures markets, Getting Started in Futures is the very best place to start your education. --Karl Weber, coauthor (with Jonathan M. Tisch) of The Power of We: Succeeding Through Partnerships Getting Started in Futures explains in simple, easy-to-understand terms everything you need to know to start trading futures successfully. You''ll learn how to forecast prices, how hedging works, and how to take advantage of new electronic trading opportunities. The updated Fifth Edition includes discussions on the increasingly important role of fTable of ContentsPreface vii Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Chapter 2: Basic Terms and Concepts 3 Chapter 3: Futures Markets Today 11 Chapter 4: The Speculator 21 Chapter 5: The Hedger 27 Chapter 6: The Green Stuff 31 Chapter 7: The Orders 39 Chapter 8: The Arena 47 Chapter 9: Fundamental Analysis 53 Chapter 10: Technical Analysis 61 Chapter 11: Hedging Revisited 89 Chapter 12: The Financial Futures 99 Chapter 13: Single-Stock Futures 123 Chapter 14: Money Management for Speculators 131 Chapter 15: Futures Options 141 Chapter 16: Rules and Regulations 169 Chapter 17: Contracts in Brief 175 Chapter 18: Discover Electricity 217 Chapter 19: Trading Futures Electronically 227 Chapter 20: Day Trading 233 Appendix A: More Chart Patterns and What They Mean 241 Appendix B: More About Point-and-Figure Charts 255 Appendix C: More About Moving Averages 261 Appendix D: More About Stochastics and Relative Strength 265 Appendix E: Single-Stock Futures Traded on OneChicago 269 Appendix F: Single-Stock Futures Traded on LIFFE CONNECT 273 Appendix G: Overseas Futures Markets 277 Appendix H: Firms with Direct Access for Electronic Trading 279 Index 281

Read more less

Book SynopsisAdvertising is a fantastic industry, but actually getting a job is difficult. This guide shows you how to land a job and how to thrive once you're in and the pressure is on.Table of ContentsForeword: Rick Boyko xiii Preface xv Acknowledgments xvii Who Wrote This Book: Bob Barrie, Rick Boyko, David Droga, Mark Fenske, Neil French, Sally Hogshead, Mike Hughes, Shane Hutton, Janet Kestin, Brian Millar, Tom Monahan, Chuck Porter, Bob Scarpelli, Chris Staples, Lorraine Tao, Nancy Vonk xix Introduction: The View from Down Here: Ignacio Oreamuno 1 Part I Breaking into Advertising 1 Was I Really Put on This Earth to Do Ads? 5If you can’t get an internship until after school, how can you know? / I really enjoy it, but sometimes I want to shoot myself. What do I do? / Am I talented enough for this industry? 2 School Daze 9A CD told me my school is a waste of money. Why go to school at all? / What are great copywriting schools? / Do I need a pricey portfolio school for “polished” ads? Or would you hire me based on good, unpolished pieces? Mark Fenske: It’s all about the osmosis, baby. 3 What’s a Good Ad, Anyway? 15Is reactionary advertising a good thing? Smart? Stupid? Evil? / Why do some award-winning ads not really say anything? / Do ads have to be hilarious to be effective? / Should ads be mostly in good taste or closer to the edge? / Shouldn’t ads portray good examples to kids and promote a healthy environment? / What do you think about sex in advertising? Brian Millar: How to do great creative work without being clever or talented. 4 Portfolio Preparation: Like Giving Birth, Only More Painful 28I’m the star in most of my ads. Is this a bad thing? / As a writer, do I need tight comps in my book? / What’s the right number of ads to have in my book? / What are some products you like seeing in student books? / How do you feel about “leave-behinds”? / How do you know when your book’s ready? / How do you make your portfolio wow an audience? / After two years as an AD, how much of my book can still be spec? / How many media should I show in my book? / Do you have to understand an ad right away? / Is it best to show all campaigns? / Different CDs like different ads. Who do I listen to? Sally Hogshead: Don’t send a fake foot to “get your foot in the door,” and other things to consider when putting your portfolio together. 5 Getting a Job in This Lifetime: It Can Be Done 38Every CD says, “Keep in touch.” Isn’t that BS? / Are Web portfolios as effective as sending your actual book? / Should you drop off your book completely unannounced? / How do you look for a job without your current employer finding out? / What chance does a junior have at a job in such tough times? / Is it plausible for a junior team to make a move together? / What are the best cities for cutting-edge advertising? / Should I hold out for good job out of school or take anything that moves? / How far is too far when trying to get a CD’s attention? How I Got My First Job, by Bob Barrie, Bob Scarpelli, Lorraine Tao, Nancy Vonk, Shane Hutton, Chris Staples, Janet Kestin, Mike Hughes, Rick Boyko, and Tom Monahan. 6 Internships: Purgatory, Rip-Off, or Free Education? 59How do you make the most of an internship? / If I do too many internships, do I get labeled the cheap labor guy? / Where do you put internships on your resume? / As an intern, how can I set up real job interviews when I work all day? Shane Hutton: How can I exploit thee? Let me count the ways. 7 What Place is Right for Me? 68How can I find a nurturing environment instead of a backstabbing one? / Does your first job determine your career path? David Droga: My two Australian/Singaporean/English/American cents/pence. Part II You’re the Chosen One. Now What? 8 Money—Not That You Care about That 75What’s the average salary for a creative director? / When do I ask for a raise—and how? / Do you think the big CD salaries are justified? / Does a lack of TV experience affect your value? Chuck Porter: Money. How much? How soon? 9 Fear and Self-Loathing: Snap Out of It 81I’m scared and insecure. How can I have ideas when I feel like this? / Every professional I’ve met intimidates me. How will I make it in the real world, competing against the very best? / I feel like I’m going to barf before every presentation. How do I get out of presenting work? 10 Brainstorming Techniques (You’re Going to Need Them) 85Any remedies for writer’s block? / I get blocked when I work in groups. What can I do when I’m never alone? Tom Monahan: Brainstorming. Or, making ideas happen, as opposed to waiting for them. 11 Awards. Yes, They Matter. How the Judges Decide 90What if you don’t win an award in your first year? / Are there two types of agencies, ‘suit’ agencies and those that win awards? / Do awards mean more money? / What makes an ad award-winning? Bob Barrie: Orson Welles never won an Oscar, but you can win a Telly. 12 Boss Problems: Try Not to Kill Him. Or Sleep with Him 100I think my CD hates me but not my partner. What do I do? / How do I avoid getting involved with my hot CD? / How do I know if my CD’s standards are high enough? 13 Partner Problems: Do You Need Counseling, a Divorce, or a Gun? 104How do I tell my CD that I’m better than my partner? / What if I want to kill my partner? / Should I leave if I’m in love with my partner? Lorraine Tao: This is my partner, Elspeth. No, not that kind of partner, my “creative partner.” 14 Copywriting 110Should I write long-copy ads if CDs don’t read them? / Do writers get credit if the solution is visual? Mike Hughes: Don’t you dare read this: You’ll spoil the research. Bob Scarpelli: Radio, can you see it? 15 Art Direction 119Was it easier to learn typography in the old days? / What’s the hardest part of being an art director? 16 Account Executives: They’re People, Too 122What makes a good account person? / How can I keep my creative team’s spirits up? / How good is the job security for account executives? / How can I coach creatives to stay on strategy? 17 Identity Crisis 127Can I market myself as an art director and a copywriter if I’m good at both? / Can you get hired just as a creative and then figure out what you want to do? / I want to be an art director, but I’m told I should be a copywriter. Help me. / Can a DR person make the big switch to general advertising? / Should I change jobs every couple of years to find my true interest? Neil French: You know how to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans. 18 Am I in the Wrong Place? 136If I’m not getting great assignments, should I make tracks? / What do I do if I’m getting good work, but rotten money? / Are all agencies nasty and backstabbing? Or is it just my place? 19 Ethics in Advertising: Not Necessarily an Oxymoron 139Do I have to be a jerk to do good work? / is it just my tough luck if someone steals my idea? / How do you deal with office gossip? / Should an agency fire a client if they’re not making any money? 20 CD Life (Be Careful What You Wish For) 147What’s the difference between a good CD and a great one? / How do you avoid hiring assholes? / What do you do to keep teams motivated? / What’s the best route to becoming a CD? / Is CD life all glamour or mostly pressure and responsibility? 21 Women: The Vanishing Act 152Can I have a baby and not lose my status in the agency? / Do you find it peculiar when feminists choose advertising as a career? / Is it crazy for me to want to be a CD some day? I keep hearing that the business is changing for women, but I sure don’t see it. / Do you think there’ll ever be a woman Lee Clow? 22 Age(ism): Is 39 the New 65? 156Where do creatives go when they get old? / How old is too old to get into advertising? / Can you stay in the game till your golden years? Rick Boyko: Avoiding future shock. 23 Staying Sane in an Insane Business 163I’m still in school and feel burned out. What if I can’t handle the real world? / Is it normal to work late every night? / My ideas are never good enough for my boss. Am I a hack? Chris Staples: I blame it all on Darren Stevens. 24 Miscellaneous: The Best Chapter of Any Book 169What if I want to tell my coworkers to eff off ? / How does one master the art of the schmooze? / Are headhunters helpful for a junior? / How should I feel when I did a bad ad? / Should I consider pharmaceutical advertising? / I have a great idea for a beer ad. How do I pitch it? 25 Strangest Questions: Maybe Even Better Than Miscellaneous 174Is writing publicity for a company that deals in adult film/toys damaging to a person’s career? / How do I interest an agency in my cat, who does incredible tricks? / I’m afraid my creativity has something to do with my sexual orientation. Any thoughts? Part III But Wait, There’s More! The Gurus Share Years of Collective Wisdom, and Embarrassing Photos 26 What I Know Now That I Wish I’d Known Then 179Brian Millar / Bob Barrie / Chris Staples / Chuck Porter / Janet Kestin / Lorraine Tao / Mike Hughes / Nancy Vonk / Tom Monahan / Rick Boyko / Shane Hutton / Neil French 27 What I Look for in a Junior 186Bob Barrie / Bob Scarpelli / Brian Millar / Chris Staples / Chuck Porter / Janet Kestin / Lorraine Tao / Mike Hughes / Nancy Vonk / Neil French / Rick Boyko / Sally Hogshead / Shane Hutton / Tom Monahan 28 A Century Ago, We Were Juniors, Too 192Embarrassing junior photos and early ads of the contributors Take the quiz! Appendix: The Inspiration Grab Bag 201 Index 207

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Encyclopedia of Commodity and Financial Spreads is divided by product category???energy, natural gas, meats, soybeans, corn/wheat, currencies, interest rates, and metals. The precise performance of each spread is identified???over the previous 20 years???and combined with a graph that displays visually the price performance of the spread.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Introduction. Chapter 2. Energy. Chapter 3. Grains. Chapter 4. Soybean Complex. Chapter 5. Soybeans vs Grains. Chapter 6. Meats. Chapter 7. Metals. Chapter 8. Softs. Chapter 9. Forex. Chapter 10. Interest Rates. Chapter 11. Chronological Summary.

Read more less

Book SynopsisStart building your fortune with the ultimate insider's guide to real estate investing The Insider's Guide to Making Money in Real Estate explains why real estate is a consistently profitable moneymaker and how everyday people just like you can build their fortune regardless of their credit score or how much money they have in the bank.Table of ContentsIntroduction. PART ONE: Fundamentals of Real Estate. CHAPTER 1: Real Valid Reasons Why You Can’t Make Money in Real Estate. CHAPTER 2: Why Real Estate? CHAPTER 3: What It Really Takes to Succeed in Real Estate. CHAPTER 4: The Five Fundamental Wealth-Building Strategies of Real Estate. CHAPTER 5: What Type of Investor Are You? PART TWO: Getting Ready for Real Estate. CHAPTER 6: Categories of Real Estate. CHAPTER 7: Finding Hidden Money. CHAPTER 8: Creative Sources of Funding. CHAPTER 9: Understanding the Numbers. CHAPTER 10: Value Engineering. CHAPTER 11: Cycle of a Property. PART THREE: Secrets of Success through Teams. CHAPTER 12: Designing Your Team. CHAPTER 13: Interviewing Team Members. CHAPTER 14: Building a Team That Works. Appendix A: Frequently Asked Questions. Appendix B: Short Version of This Book. Meet Dolf de Roos. Meet Diane Kennedy. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Micro Cap Investor Learn how today''s smartest investors are discovering opportunities--and reaping profits--ahead of the Wall Street pros Micro cap stocks are all but ignored by professional investors who can''t risk losing their companies'' clients--and their own careers--to the sudden volatility and price swings that are common to the micro cap market. But it is just that volatility, plus their proven record for outperforming large cap stocks over the long term, that makes micro caps perfect for independent investors looking for market-beating returns. The Micro Cap Investor takes a behind-the-scenes look at this exciting sector to: * Detail a market-tested process for uncovering and investing in micro caps with the greatest potential to outperform the market * Reveal the ten key catalysts that take under-the-radar micro caps and propel them into the public spotlight * Explain how smaller investors can use the information Table of ContentsPreface ix Acknowledgments xi Chapter 1 Characteristics of Micro Cap 1 The Nebulous Micro Cap (What Is a Micro Cap Stock?) 1 The Micro Cap Dilemma (Why Do They Exist?) 5 Chapter 2 The Information Advantage 13 Understanding the Information Advantage: Efficient Market Theory 13 Weak-Form Efficient Market Theory 15 Semi-Strong-Form Efficient Market Theory 16 Strong-Form Efficient Market Theory 16 The Random Walk Theory 17 The Practical Answer 19 Venture Capital Theory 21 The Public-Private Bridge 22 Conclusion 24 Chapter 3 Micro Cap Stocks as an Asset Class 25 Investment Performance: Small versus Large Stocks 25 A Survey of Modern Portfolio Theory 26 Asset Allocation and Modern Portfolio Theory 33 Asset Allocation and Micro Caps 34 Economic Linkage 39 Venture Capital and Private Equity 39 Micro Cap versus Venture Capital 41 Chapter 4 The Micro Cap Asset Class and Portfolio Construction 45 Micro Caps in the Portfolio Asset Allocation 46 The Portfolio Contribution of Micro Caps 47 Conclusion 50 CHAPTER 5 Using the Information Advantage 51 Methods to Evaluate Principal Agent Actions 51 Management, Management, Management 52 Who’s Doing What: Insider Information 53 Management Style 59 Strategy and Planning Systems 59 Management Changes 61 Management Reputation 62 How the Company Develops and Promotes Employees 62 Conclusion 63 Chapter 6 Corporate Governance 65 The Company’s Social Relationships 67 Information Resources 68 The Company 69 Competitors 70 Customers 70 Suppliers 70 Trade Associations 71 Industry Professionals 71 Legal Documents 71 Public Company Federal Filings 72 SEC Reports 73 Annual Report Form 10-K 74 Quarterly Report Form 10-Q 77 Material Current Events Form 8-K 77 Not All Reporting Is Equal 78 CHAPTER 7 Micro Cap Stocks and the U.S. Domestic Economy 81 Why Micro Cap Stocks Appear Cheap Relative to Large Stocks 82 Fundamental Valuation Techniques for Micro Cap Stocks 89 Basic Financial Analysis of Micro Cap Companies 90 Price-to-Book Ratio 91 Price–to–Free Cash Flow Ratio 92 Low Price-to-Earnings Ratio 93 Conclusion 93 Chapter 8 Micro Cap Case Study: A Company with All the Indicators 95 Smart-Money Owners 96 Cheap Valuation 96 Skin in the Game 98 The Transaction 101 Chapter 9 Consolidating Industry Case Study 107 Case Study of Suiza Foods 108 Other Opportunities 116 Chapter 10 Gehl Company Case Study 133 Chapter 11 Pozen Company Case Study 147 Chapter 12 Private Investments in Public Equities (PIPEs) 155 Tracking PIPE Transactions 159 A Brief Case Study of a PIPE Transaction: Ptek Holdings 161 Chapter 13 A Framework for Investor Action 167 Chapter 14 Micro Cap Fund Investing 173 Index 181

Read more less

Book SynopsisMilton Friedman was lauded as the grandmaster of free-market economic theory in the postwar era. This book collects many of Friedman's papers on topics in economics that were published in the "Journal of Political Economy". It incorporates papers from 1948 to 1990. It is useful for those tracing the course of 20th century economics and politics.Trade Review"There are very few people over the generations who have ideas that are sufficiently original to materially alter the direction of civilization. Milton Friedman is one of those very few people." - Alan Greenspan"

Read more less

Book SynopsisGeorge Soros is unquestionably one of the most powerful and profitable investors in the world today, and his investment principles have only grown in popularity. In Alchemy of Finance, Soros reveals his innovative investment philosophies and his views of the world and world order. President of the phenomenally successful Quantum Fund, which has 4.Trade Review“…contains a detailed description of his trading methods and repays careful reading.” (Investors Chronicle, 1st April 2005) “…these updated classics are packed with investment wisdom…” (What Investment, November 2003)"Wer genau wissen will, wie das ungarische Finanzgenie gegen das Pfund spekulierte, kommt hier voll auf seine Kosten. In seiner Alchemistenküche gibt George Soros fantastische Einblicke in den Entscheidungsprozess eines mit allen Wassern gewaschenen Spekulanten." (WERTPAPIERE - Das Börsenjournal, 4. Dezember 2003)Table of ContentsForeword to the New Edition by Paul A. Volcker xi Foreword to the First Edition by Paul Tudor Jones II xv New Preface xix New Introduction 1 Part One Theory 1. Reflexivity in the Stock Market 49 2. Reflexivity in the Currency Market 73 3. The Credit and Regulatory Cycle 85 Part Two Historical Perspective 4. The International Debt Problem 95 5. The Collective System of Lending 107 6. Reagan’s Imperial Circle 115 7. Evolution of the Banking System 123 8. The “Oligopolarization” of America 133 Part Three The Real-time Experiment 9. The Starting Point: August 1985 145 10. Phase 1: August 1985–December 1985 153 11. Control Period: January 1986–July 1986 201 12. Phase 2: July 1986–November 1986 241 13. The Conclusion: November 1986 295 Part Four Evaluation 14. The Scope for Financial Alchemy: An Evaluation of the Experiment 307 15. The Quandary of the Social Sciences 317 Part Five Prescription 16. Free Markets Versus Regulation 325 17. Toward an International Central Bank 333 18. The Paradox of Systemic Reform 351 19. The Crash of ’87 355 Epilogue 371 Notes 377 Appendix 381

Read more less

Book SynopsisSony vs. Samsung is business history at its best! It explores the divergent fortunes of these two electronics giants in the last decade and identifies the true reasons behind Sony''s decline and Samsung''s rise. Contrary to popular belief, Chang shows that success (or failure) does not simply arise from different strategies. Rather, it emerges from major decisions that are deeply rooted in the companies'' organizational processes and their executives'' political behavior. This book is a must-read for any senior executive. Constantinos Markides, Robert P. Bauman Professor of Strategic Leadership and Chairman, Strategy Department, London Business School Sea-Jin Chang has produced that rarity in a business book--one that is as valuable to practicing managers as it is insightful to academic researchers. In this fascinating comparison of two modern global giants, he applies his high resolution research microscope to their changing fortunes by dissecting their contrasTable of ContentsPreface. Chapter 1. Sony and Samsung: Portraits of Two Global Competitors. Part 1: Strategic Analysis. Chapter 2. Prince and Pauper in the Analog World. Chapter 3. Digital Dream Kids and the Digital Sashimi Shop. Chapter 4. New Kids on the Block. Chapter 5. Wannabe Globals. Part 2: Organizational Process and Leadership. Chapter 6. Same Silos but Different Outcomes. Chapter 7. From Founders to Professionals Managers. Chapter 8. The Future of Sony and Samsung Electronics. Endnotes. Glossary. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDisruption? It's nothing new. Just look at any of the breakthrough business ideas of the last thirty years-from Federal Express overnight delivery to Saturn's fixed sticker price-and you'll see a perfect example of the principle of disruption in action.Trade Review"The impact this work has had on the industry is visible everywhere" (The Drum, October 17th 2008)Table of ContentsTHE ROAD TO DISRUPTION. Retrospective. Discontinuity. THE DISRUPTION DISCIPLINE. Disruption. Convention. Vision. DISRUPTION IN PRACTICE. Disruption Methodology. Disruption Sources. DISRUPTION AND THE ROAD AHEAD. Disruption in the Information Age. Disruption and the Role of the Agency. Disruption Web Site. Acknowledgements. Bibliography. Advertising Campaigns. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWiley Online Trading for a Living When to get in-when to get out Build, test & trade a winning system Online brokers, research & market data For those who are well suited to day trading and short-term trading, the futures market is one of the best games in town.Trade Review"Larry Williams, the astute and experienced trader, has presented the reader with many computer-tested patterns that should give one an edge up in the hard world of day trading. He not only gives the patterns, he explains the 'why' of market action and what it takes to be successful from a psychological and money management standpoint. This is one of the best practical books ever written on trading by a veteran trader. Buy it."-John Hill, President, Futures Truth Co. "Larry possesses an incredible talent to differentiate between what is important in life as well as in the markets. In his book, he shares insights into market behavior and short-term price dynamics that are useful to beginning and experienced traders alike. Whereas most day trading books merely discuss the market in generalities, Larry focuses on computer-tested techniques that can actually help make traders profitable. This is Larry at his best and finest!"-Tom DeMark, President, Market Studies Inc., author of New Science of Technical Analysis and New Market Timing Techniques "Day Trade Futures Online is another must-have Larry Williams trading book. That's because nearly all the profitable futures traders I've known have attributed their trading success to an idea or concept learned from Larry. When Larry speaks, you better listen."-Gary Smith, author of How I Trade for a LivingTable of ContentsPREGAME. What You Need to Get Started. All About Brokers. Internet Resources. THE SHOW. Volatility Breakouts-The Momentum Breakthrough. The Theory of Day Trading. Patterns to Profit. Separating the Buyers from the Sellers. Attention, Day Traders. Special Short-Term Situations. When to Get Out of Your Trades. STRATEGY AND SUMMARY. Thoughts on the Business of Speculation. Money Management-The Keys to the Kingdom. A Word in Closing. Appendices. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrading for a Living Successful trading is based on three Ma s: Mind, Method, and Money.Table of ContentsPartial table of contents: Trading--The Last Frontier. The Odds Against You. INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY. Fantasy Versus Reality. Self-Destructiveness. Trading Lessons from AA. Winners and Losers. MASS PSYCHOLOGY. What Is the Market?. The Market Crowd and You. Managing Versus Forecasting. CLASSICAL CHART ANALYSIS. Support and Resistance. Trendlines. Chart Patterns. COMPUTERIZED TECHNICAL ANALYSIS. Moving Averages. The Directional System. Williams %R. Relative Strength Index. THE NEGLECTED ESSENTIALS. Volume-Based Indicators. Herrick Payoff Index. STOCK MARKET INDICATORS. New High-New Low Index. PSYCHOLOGICAL INDICATORS. Consensus Indicators. NEW INDICATORS. Elder-Ray. TRADING SYSTEMS. Triple Screen Trading System. Channel Trading Systems. RISK MANAGEMENT. Money Management. Afterword. Sources. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTransform the way your business works. Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques can be applied to all business challenges. As a leader or manager in either the public or private sectors, whatever your industry or size of organisation, you can use NLP to improve your business by changing the mindsets of everyone you work with. When tailored for practical business application, NLP can help you to identify and deliver efficiencies, hold onto clients in the midst of increasing competition, improve morale and increase organisational performance and results. Change Your Business With NLP is the first genuinely practical guide for managers, showing how to use NLP techniques to overcome specific business problems. You will learn how to: Improve your results as a leader Build an exceptional team Manage change more effectively Change your organisation’s culture Create more effective client and customer relationships Transform your presentation skills Increase the overall performance of your business Bestselling author Lindsey Agness, an international change management consultant and certified trainer of NLP, uses step-by-step techniques and a broad range of case studies to show you that NLP can deliver measurable results in business.Table of ContentsAbout the author. Acknowledgements. Introduction: Why is NLP important for business? Part I Transforming Leaders with NLP. Chapter 1 Building strategies for success. Chapter 2 Winning state of mind. Chapter 3 Modelling world-class performance. Part II Transforming Teams with NLP. Chapter 4 Constructing high-performing teams. Chapter 5 Encouraging creativity. Chapter 6 Having courageous conversations. Part III Transforming Organisations with NLP. Chapter 7 Managing change effectively. Chapter 8 Changing the rules of the game. Chapter 9 Developing global organizations. Part IV Transforming Customer Service with NLP. Chapter 10 Influencing with integrity. Chapter 11 Powerful presentations. Chapter 12 Exceeding expectations. Are you ready? What next? Appendix 1 NLP Grid. Appendix 2 Language used by different representational systems. Appendix 3 What have you learned about NLP? Bibliography. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCoaching as a technique to help managers develop their skills and fulfil their potential is now one of the most used in business. As well as professional business coaches, managers themselves are required to coach their staff these days. This book comprises twelve case studies in coaching, based on individuals who were unhappy with their professional lives - relationship difficulties in the office, managing emotions, a new management culture after a merger, problems with staff experienced by an entrepreneur, and motivation in the workplace are some of the situations that are covered. Of these case studies, ten are based on difficulties experienced by the individual and two are about coaching teams of people. By analysing such cases in detail and the role of coaching in each, the authors present the best practices and techniques in business coaching.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDramatically improve inventory accuracy with bestselling author Steven Bragg''s step-by-step guidelines Inventory Accounting is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to setting up an inventory accounting system and keeping it running at maximum efficiency. This hands-on book provides accounting professionals with essential information on how to: * Set up an accounting system that efficiently handles accumulating inventory costs, summarizing accounts, and standard journal entries used to record transactions * Use best practices to increase the efficiency of inventory-tracking and costing functions * Install unique controls to combat inventory fraud * Implement a step-by-step checklist of activities for inventory counting procedures * Save hours of valuable time researching various GAAP reference manuals * Adapt inventory tracking and costing systems to accommodate a variety of manufacturing systems Spanning the entire spectrum Table of ContentsPreface. About the Author. Chapter 1. Inventory Data Collection. Chapter 2. Inventory and Manufacturing Systems. Chapter 3. Inventory Control Systems. Chapter 4. Inventory Fraud. Chapter 5. Inventory Measurements and Internal Reports. Chapter 6. Budgeting for Inventory. Chapter 7. LIFO, FIFO, and Average Costing. Chapter 8. The Lower of Cost or Market Calculation. Chapter 9. Applying Overhead to Inventory. Chapter 10. Joint and By-Product Costing. Chapter 11. Obsolete Inventory. Chapter 12. Inventory Transaction. Chapter 13. IRS Inventory Rules. Chapter 14. Counting Inventory. Chapter 15. Inventory Best Practices. Chapter 16. Inventory Transfer Pricing. Appendix A: Dictionary of Inventory Terms.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCapital Group is one of the largest investment management organisations in the world, and yet has always shunned the publicity courted my many other leading institutions. For the first time, Charles Ellis takes you inside one of the most elite and yet private investment firms.Table of ContentsForeword xi Introduction 1 Chapter 1 The Founding 9 Chapter 2 Staying Alive 25 Chapter 3 The Multiple-Counselor System 35 Chapter 4 Organizing the Core 49 Chapter 5 Mutual Fund Distribution 61 Chapter 6 Crossing the Rubicon: Capital Group 91 Chapter 7 Shareholder Services 101 Chapter 8 Acquisitions and Start-Ups 123 Chapter 9 Capital Guardian Trust Company 139 Chapter 10 Global Investing 165 Chapter 11 Emerging Markets 185 Chapter 12 Managing People 201 Chapter 13 Management 223 Chapter 14 Compensation 249 Chapter 15 Investing 265 Afterword 291 Appendix I Summary Statement of Corporate Objectives and Goals 301 Appendix II Outline of Basic Managerial Beliefs 307 Appendix III Growth of the Capital Group Companies, Inc 309 Index 311

Read more less

Book SynopsisToday's customers are overwhelmed by information and endless consumer options. In this environment, salespeople don't have all day to convince the customer. In fact, Mark Joyner says that salespeople actually have about three seconds in which to convince the customer to buy; after that, it's game over.Table of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgements. Author Biography. Introduction: (Three Seconds). Chapter 1. The Magic Window. Chapter 2. The Core Imperative of Business. Chapter 3. The Big Four Questions. Chapter 4. What is The Irresistible Offer? Chapter 5. What is Not The Irresistible Offer? Chapter 6. Elements of The Irresistible Offer. Chapter 7. The Great Formula. Chapter 8. Offer Intensifiers. Chapter 9. The Offer Continuum. Chapter 10. The Great Offers in History. Chapter 11. Word of Mouth from Flaming Lips. Appendix A: Selling Yourself in Three Seconds or Less. Appendix B: A Note to Salesmen. Glossary. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisGetting Rich Your Own Way outlines and explains practical, proven, fast-acting processes and principles that have been used by men and women around the world to move from financial frustration to success and affluence.Table of ContentsPreface. Introduction. 1. Learn How to Become Rich. 2. Become a Money Magnet. 3. Invest for Success. 4. Start with Nothing. 5. Build Your Own Business. 6. Market and Sell Anything. 7. Get the Money You Need. 8. Think and Grow Rich. 9. Learn from the Best. 10. Lead the Field. Index. About the Author.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrump Strategies for Real Estate offers unbeatable insider advice for every serious real estate investor--beginners and old pros alike. For more than twenty--five years, author George Ross has been one of Donald Trump's chief advisors and intimately involved with many of Trump's biggest real estate deals.Table of ContentsForeword By Donald Trump. Preface. Chapter 1. Sell yourself Like Trump: Five Personal Qualities You Need To Succeed in Real Estate. Chapter 2. Think Big: How Trump Chooses Properties to Invest In. Chapter 3. Principles of Negotiation: How Trump Uses Them. Chapter 4. High-Powered Real Estate Negotiation Techniques and Tactics. Chapter 5. The Trump Touch: Create "Sizzle," Glamour, and Prestige to Get Higher-Than-Market Prices for your Properties. Chapter 6. Raising Money: Tactics for Attracting Lenders and Investors. Chapter 7. Get Help From the Best real Estate Specialists You Can Find. Chapter 8. Why Trump Building Projects Are Always On Time and Under Budget. Chapter 9. Trump Marketing Strategies: Selling the "Sizzle" Sells the Product. Chapter 10. How to Manage Property Like Trump: Treat It As A Customer Service Business. Chapter 11. Holding Strategies and Exit Strategies. Index. About the Author.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is the first full collection of all 122 of Russell Ackoff's f/laws - previously only available in two separate books from Triarchy Press (Management f-Laws and Systems Thinking for Curious Managers.) Each f/law in this full collection is accompanied by Ackoff's own witty and acerbic explanatory text and (in the printed edition) by his original drawings and cartoons. The collection reverts to Ackoff's original typescript without any commentary or other introduction. As Ackoff himself says: "Over time I have become aware of some very important truths about the practice of management. These truths, which I call the 'F/laws of Management', contradict assumptions that are commonly held by managers. These simple management truths are much more important than the fundamental, but complex, truths revealed by scientists, economists, politicians, or philosophers. The truths these wise thinkers reveal are at most frosting on the cake. The truths presented here are the cake." This definitive collection distils Ackoff's wisdom and a lifetime of experience about management, leadership, innovation, teamwork and organizations. It should be required reading for anyone who works in an organization.Trade ReviewFrom reviews of previous books by Russ Ackoff that included his f/laws; "This book is fun - not something one can often say about a management book. It's also a compact piece of distilled wisdom. - Take each f/law in turn and ask how it applies to you, to your role in the organisation and the organisation as a whole. Do it seriously and you might learn a lot." Charles Handy ~ Management Today; " - you are in the presence of one of the profoundest and wittiest brains ever to engage with the bizarre human activity called management." Simon Caulkin ~ The Observer ;" - an instructive gem that should be required reading for anyone interested in effective management." Prof. Sheldon Rovin ~ Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania ;"If you ever need a reality check after stumbling out of some appalling management meeting, or just need cheering up on a long business trip, this is the book for you. Just about every myth or pompous delusion about management gets punctured - " Stefan Stern ~ Financial Times ;" - profound thoughts in digestible bites... easy to read yet full of wisdom. How much better our organizations would be if managers could learn these lessons!" Prof. Michael C Jackson ~ Hull University Business School. ;"Wit and wisdom in small doses on the deep rooted abuse of hierarchical power. It takes a Russ Ackoff to unveil myths and illusions of this kind." Goran Carstedt ~ Formerly President, Volvo Cars and Ikea Europe

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA super-stylish new handbook from Merchant & Mills containing all the answers to sewing’s most frequently asked questions. Providing an overview on the art of sewing, this handy volume is packed with information on the tools and materials you will need, seasoned with homegrown tips on essential good practice. Topics given the full Merchant & Mills treatment range from the planning stages through to putting the finishing touches to your project. Measuring and marking, form (including darts and gathering), seams, ease, hems, interfacing and closures such as buttons and zips are all covered. There is expert advice on using and understanding patterns, performing basic alterations, and of course plenty of tips on making the most of any dressmaker's best friend – the iron. Successful sewing is very achievable: just make sure that you have this book to hand at all times, and bear in mind the Merchant & Mills motto: do it once, do it well.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA memoir in the form of a series of sharply etched vignettes that shift astonishingly in time and mood, and range in place from Africa and the US to the streets of London. It demonstrates that no moment is isolated, and that privilege, conflict, race and gender are inherent in all our encounters, from the banal to the extreme

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe author offers practical straightforward guidance to modern methods of asset allocation. Explains why each stage in the business cycle--including recession--has its profitable investment strategy and provides various techniques for tracking the cycle in order to choose appropriate investments. A must-have for investors seeking guidance for the unknown changes ahead.Table of ContentsDiversification: The Medicine for Sleepless Nights. Securities in the Asset Allocation Mix. Mutual Funds. The Power of Compounding. Manage Risk, and the Profits Take Care of Themselves. The Business Cycle and Asset Allocation. Tracking the Typical Cycle. Asset Allocation as the Cycle Unwinds. Tracking the Stages: Market Action. Tracking the Stages: Business Cycle Benchmarks. Gold and the Business Cycle. Allocating Assets for Your Personal Investment Objectives. Conclusion. Appendices. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Applied Mergers and Acquisitions Workbook provides a useful self-training study guide for readers of Applied Mergers and Acquisitions who want to review the drivers of M&A success and failure. Useful review questions as well as problems and answers are provided for both professionals and students.Table of ContentsIntroduction to the Workbook. PART ONE: QUESTIONS. Chapter 1: Introduction and Executive Summary. Chapter 2: Ethics in M&A. Chapter 3: Does M&A Pay? Chapter 4: M&A Activity. Chapter 5: Cross-Border M&A. Chapter 6: Strategy and the Uses of M&A to Grow or Restructure the Firm. Chapter 7: Acquisition Search and Deal Origination: Some Guiding Principles. Chapter 8: Due Diligence. Chapter 9: Valuing Firms. Chapter 10: Valuing Options. Chapter 11: Valuing Synergies. Chapter 12: Valuing the Firm across Borders. Chapter 13: Valuing the Highly Levered Firm, Assessing the Highly Levered Transaction. Chapter 14: Real Options and Their Impact on M&A. Chapter 15: Valuing Liquidity and Control. Chapter 16: Financial Accounting for Mergers and Acquisitions. Chapter 17: Momentum Acquisition Strategies: An Illustration of Why Value Creation Is the Best Financial Criterion. Chapter 18: An Introduction to Deal Design in M&A. Chapter 19: Choosing the Form of Acquisitive Reorganization. Chapter 20: Choosing the Form of Payment and Financing. Chapter 21: Framework for Structuring the Terms of Exchange: Finding the “Win-Win” Deal. Chapter 22: Structuring and Valuing Contingent Payments in M&A. Chapter 23: Risk Management in M&A. Chapter 24: Social Issues. Chapter 25: How a Negotiated Deal Takes Shape. Chapter 26: Governance in M&A: The Board of Directors and Shareholder Voting. Chapter 27: Rules of the Road: Securities Law, Issuance Process, Disclosure, and Insider Trading. Chapter 28: Rules of the Road: Antitrust Law. Chapter 29: Documenting the M&A Deal. Chapter 30: Negotiating the Deal. Chapter 31: Auctions in M&A. Chapter 32: Hostile Takeovers: Preparing a Bid in Light of Competition and Arbitrage. Chapter 33: Takeover Attack and Defense. Chapter 34: The Leveraged Restructuring as a Takeover Defense: The Case of American Standard. Chapter 35: Communicating the Deal: Gaining Mandates, Approval, and Support. Chapter 36: Framework for Postmerger Integration. Chapter 37: Corporate Development as a Strategic Capability: The Approach of GE Power Systems. Chapter 38: M&A “Best Practices”: Some Lessons and Next Steps. PART TWO: ANSWERS. Chapter 1: Introduction and Executive Summary. Chapter 2: Ethics in M&A. Chapter 3: Does M&A Pay? Chapter 4: M&A Activity. Chapter 5: Cross-Border M&A. Chapter 6: Strategy and the Uses of M&A to Grow or Restructure the Firm. Chapter 7: Acquisition Search and Deal Origination: Some Guiding Principles. Chapter 8: Due Diligence. Chapter 9: Valuing Firms. Chapter 10: Valuing Options. Chapter 11: Valuing Synergies. Chapter 12: Valuing the Firm across Borders. Chapter 13: Valuing the Highly Levered Firm, Assessing the Highly Levered Transaction. Chapter 14: Real Options and Their Impact on M&A. Chapter 15: Valuing Liquidity and Control. Chapter 16: Financial Accounting for Mergers and Acquisitions. Chapter 17: Momentum Acquisition Strategies: An Illustration of Why Value Creation Is the Best Financial Criterion. Chapter 18: An Introduction to Deal Design in M&A. Chapter 19: Choosing the Form of Acquisitive Reorganization. Chapter 20: Choosing the Form of Payment and Financing. Chapter 21: Framework for Structuring the Terms of Exchange: Finding the “Win-Win” Deal. Chapter 22: Structuring and Valuing Contingent Payments in M&A. Chapter 23: Risk Management in M&A. Chapter 24: Social Issues. Chapter 25: How a Negotiated Deal Takes Shape. Chapter 26: Governance in M&A: The Board of Directors and Shareholder Voting. Chapter 27: Rules of the Road: Securities Law, Issuance Process, Disclosure, and Insider Trading. Chapter 28: Rules of the Road: Antitrust Law. Chapter 29: Documenting the M&A Deal. Chapter 30: Negotiating the Deal. Chapter 31: Auctions in M&A. Chapter 32: Hostile Takeovers: Preparing a Bid in Light of Competition and Arbitrage. Chapter 33: Takeover Attack and Defense. Chapter 34: The Leveraged Restructuring as a Takeover Defense: The Case of American Standard. Chapter 35: Communicating the Deal: Gaining Mandates, Approval, and Support. Chapter 36: Framework for Postmerger Integration. Chapter 37: Corporate Development as a Strategic Capability: The Approach of GE Power Systems. Chapter 38: M&A “Best Practices”: Some Lessons and Next Steps.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDetails all the issues and applications of reliability engineering relevant to the use and purchase of equipment. Introduces reliability terminology for the non-specialist. Discusses product procurement based on life cycle cost, the total expenditure of ownership as opposed to merely acquisition, procurement dependability specifications, equipment inspection frequency, optimization of replacement, overhaul tactics and schedules. Explains how to collect, analyze and monitor field failure data in order to build up dependable reliability data banks for future use.Table of ContentsPartial table of contents: Reliability Basics. Probability Concepts and Applications. Mean Time to Failure and Mean Time Between Failures. LIFE CYCLE COST PROCUREMENT. Life Cycle Cost: Concepts, Constituents and Models. Dependability and Life Cycle Cost. PROCUREMENT SPECIFICATIONS. Allocation of Subsystem Dependability Needs. COMPARATIVE PRODUCT EVALUATION. Product Selection and Evaluation. FAILURE REPORTING AND DATA ANALYSIS. Failure Reporting and Analysis. Aging Analysis of Repairable Equipment. INSPECTION FREQUENCY OPTIMIZATION. Inspection Frequency Optimization. REPLACEMENT AND OVERHAUL POLICIES. Replacement Policies: Concepts, Methods and Models. Replacement with Ongoing Technological Change. Appendices. Selected Bibliography. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPraise for Commodity Fundamentals Commodity Fundamentals is THE book for investors looking to enter the commodity markets. This informative guide is a welcome addition on the subject and is a must-read for commodity investors. -Jim Atkinson, President, Guinness Atkinson Funds Ronald Spurga''s Commodity Fundamentals is an illuminating and very useful guide for the subject. A welcome addition to any business library. -Robert F. Himmelberg, PhD, Dean, Fordham''s Graduate School of Business Administration A straightforward introduction crafted for the individual on the mechanics of commodity trading. The author efficiently negotiates the often confusing yet very topical commodity trading world for the individual. -Terence A. Mullervy, Finance Director, Glencore UK Ltd. Commodity Fundamentals provides you with the in-depth insights needed to make commodities trading a profitable, integral component of your overall tradingTable of ContentsPart One Should You Speculate? Chapter 1 Guidelines for Commodity Speculation 3 Chapter 2 The Speculator and the Commodity Exchanges 5 Chapter 3 The Mechanics of Trading 11 Part Two Techniques for Trading Physical Commodities Chapter 4 Technical Analysis 25 Chapter 5 The Risks of Speculation 29 Part Three Speculating in Metals Chapter 6 Gold 33 Chapter 7 Silver 41 Chapter 8 Platinum 47 Chapter 9 Copper 55 Chapter 10 Palladium 59 Part Four Speculating in Energy Chapter 11 Crude Oil 67 Chapter 12 Gasoline 73 Chapter 13 Heating Oil 77 Chapter 14 Natural Gas 81 Part Five Speculating in Tropical Commodities Chapter 15 Cocoa 91 Chapter 16 Coffee 99 Chapter 17 Sugar 107 Chapter 18 Cotton 113 Chapter 19 Orange Juice 121 Part Six Speculating in Agricultural Commodities and Meats Chapter 20 Grain 129 Chapter 21 Cattle 147 Chapter 22 Hogs 153 Chapter 23 A Word about Forecasting Supply and Demand in Meats 159 Part Seven Final Considerations Chapter 24 Commodity Funds 167 Chapter 25 Sources of Market Information 169 Glossary of Common Commodity Trading Terms 175 Index 181

Read more less

Book SynopsisPraise for Foreign Exchange Tim Weithers starts by telling the reader that foreign exchange is not difficult, just confusing, but Foreign Exchange: A Practical Guide to the FX Markets proves that money is much more exciting than anything it buys. This useful book is a whirlwind tour of the world''s largest market, and the tour guide is an expert storyteller, inserting numerous fascinating insights and quirky facts throughout the book. -John R. Taylor, Chairman, CEO and CIO, FX Concepts The book reflects the author''s doctorate from the University of Chicago, several years'' experience as an economics professor, and, most recently, a very successful decade as an executive at a huge international bank. These fundamental ingredients are seasoned with bits of wisdom and experience. What results is a very tasty intellectual stew. -Professor Jack Clark Francis, PhD, Professor of Economics and Finance, Bernard Baruch College In this book, TimTable of ContentsPreface. Acknowledgments. CHAPTER 1: Trading Money. Introduction. Trading Money. The Roles Money Plays. The Major Currencies. Some Interesting Questions. Appendix: Countries, Currencies, and ISO Codes. CHAPTER 2: Markets, Prices, and Marketmaking. What Is a “Market”? What Is a “Price”? Buyers and Sellers. Marketmaking. Summary. CHAPTER 3: Interest Rates. What Are “Interest Rates”? Inflation. Day Count or Day Basis. Compounding. Discounting. Types of Interest Rates. Interest Rates in the Real World. CHAPTER 4: Brief History of Foreign Exchange. Historical Background. The FX Markets Today. The Regulatory Environment and Central Bank Intervention. Summary. CHAPTER 5: The Foreign Exchange Spot Market. The Spot Market. Spot FX Quoting Conventions. Economic Interpretation. Purchasing Power Parity. Cross Rates and Triangular Arbitrage in the Spot Market. The Bid–Ask Spread in Foreign Exchange. Timing. Settlement. Market Jargon. “The Best Arbitrage Around!” CHAPTER 6: Foreign Exchange Forwards. Introduction to Forwards and Forward Pricing. Foreign Exchange Forwards and Forward Pricing. Interest Rate Parity (Covered Interest Arbitrage). FX Spot–Forward Arbitrage. FX Forward Price Quotes and Forward Points. Timing. Off-Market Forwards. Foreign Exchange Forwards in the Real World. CHAPTER 7: Foreign Exchange Futures. Background. Futures versus Forwards. Foreign Exchange Futures Contract Specifications. Margin. Why Use Futures? Options on FX Futures. Summary. CHAPTER 8: Foreign Exchange Swaps or Cross-Currency Swaps or Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps or . . . . Introduction. FX Spot-Forward Swaps. Cross-Currency Swaps or FX Cross-Currency Interest Rate Swaps or FX Bond Swaps. Summary. CHAPTER 9: Foreign Exchange Options. Option Basics. Equity Options. Put-Call Parity with Equity Options. In-the-Money, At-the-Money, and Out-of-the-Money. Theoretical Option Value and Option Risk Measures (“The Greeks”). Foreign Exchange Options. Put-Call Parity in Foreign Exchange. Perspective Matters. FX Option Premium. Volatility. Uses and Strategies. Appendix: Theoretical Option Valuation. The Binomial Model. The Black–Scholes/Garman–Kohlhagen Model. The Garman–Kohlhagen Option Risk Measures or “Greeks”. CHAPTER 10: Exotic Options and Structured Products. What Is an Exotic Option? Nonstandard Options. Digital or Binary Options. Barrier Options. Other Exotic Options. FX-Linked Notes. CHAPTER 11: The Economics of Exchange Rates and International Trade. Money versus Currency. Types of FX Exposures. Fixed versus Floating Exchange Rates. Implications of Monetary Policy. Trade Deficits: A Curse or a Blessing. Politics and Economics. CHAPTER 12: Currency Crises. The End of Bretton Woods. Bankhaus Herstatt. The ERM Crisis of 1992. The Asian Crisis of 1997. The Russian Crisis of 1998. The Turkish Lira Crisis of 2001. The Argentinean Peso Crisis of 2002. Summary. CHAPTER 13: Technical Analysis. Introduction. What Is Technical Analysis? Methods of Technical Analysis. Technical Analysis in Foreign Exchange. Technical Analysis Today. Summary. CHAPTER 14: Where Do We Go From Here? CHAPTER 15: Conclusion. APPENDIX. Precious Metals. Answers to the Chapter Exercises. Notes. References. About the Author. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA new, updated edition of the successful job hunter?s classic In this new Third Edition of The Five-Minute Interview, career guru Richard Beatty demonstrates how skillfully questioning an employer can establish an applicant as the best person for a position.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Types of Interview. Interview Techniques. Personal Inventory. Common Interview Questions. Basic Interview Strategy. The Five-Minute Concept. The Five-Minute Interview. Implementing the Five-Minute Concept. The "Voids" Strategy. The "Ideal Candidate" Strategy. The "Key-Problems-and-Challenges" Strategy. Avoiding Interview Disaster. Organizational Compatibility. The Trend toward Competency-Based Interviewing. Surviving Behavior-Based Interviews. Questions You'll Need to Ask. Interview Tips--Do's and Don'ts. Resumes That Win Interviews. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIf you're finding yourself tied down by piles of paperwork, endless unanswered emails and thousands of to-do lists, then this is the book for you! Become a more efficient, effective and productive you with Time Management For Dummies- your one-stop guide to taking control of your life.Trade Review"The book has timesaving ideas on anything from organising your desk to making the most of business meetings and delegating." (Sussex Express, October 3, 2008)Table of ContentsIntroduction 1 Part I: What Is Time Management? 7 Chapter 1: Replacing Bad Time Habits with Good Ones 9 Chapter 2: Getting On with the Task in Hand 19 Part II: Getting Your Time in Order 43 Chapter 3: Putting Everything in Its Place 45 Chapter 4: Organising Your Time and Your Tasks 57 Chapter 5: Setting Your Boundaries 73 Part III: Organising the Work You Do 85 Chapter 6: Making the Most of Meetings 87 Chapter 7: Saving Time by Organising Your Paperwork 97 Chapter 8: Dealing with Your Emails 109 Chapter 9: Handling Phone Calls 119 Chapter 10: Dealing with Distractions and Interruptions 135 Chapter 11: Perfecting the Art of Delegation 145 Part IV: Working from Home 155 Chapter 12: Finding a Time-Efficient Work Style at Home 157 Chapter 13: Setting Up Your Home Office 167 Part V: Looking at the Bigger Picture 179 Chapter 14: Your Money or Your Life 181 Chapter 15: Looking After Yourself 191 Chapter 16: Taking Time for Fun and Friends 205 Part VI: The Part of Tens 215 Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Be More Productive in Your Slack Time 217 Chapter 18: Ten Time-Saving Gadgets 225 Index 233

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis compilation of original essays by an international cast of economists, regulators and industry practitioners analyzes some of the major issues now facing postal and delivery services throughout the world as competition from information and communication technologies (ICT) has increased. Competition has become increasingly important in the postal sector for some time in the form of alternative entrants providing mail delivery. However, the competition from ICT in the form of email and instant messaging, the Internet, Facebook and other forms of social networking and portable wireless devices such as the iPad and Kindle may be even more significant. Mail volumes are falling and the economies of scale that have made possible daily deliveries to every address are being eroded. This book assesses volume these declines resulting from this so-called `eSubstituion' and looks at the ways the postal sector can adapt to the rapid changes resulting from ICT. The impact of electronic invoicing on transactions mail, and the impact on bulk mail of electronic forms of advertising are examined. Strategies, including pricing and access policies, are discussed in the context of the increasing impact of ICT. A rethinking of the role of mail in an electronic age is taking place and this book provides the cutting-edge of this rethinking and the attempts of POs to reinvent themselves while continuing to meet the public's expectation of continuing ubiquitous daily deliveries of traditional mail products. Undergraduate and postgraduate students and researchers in regulation, competition law, innovation and public sector economics along with institutional libraries and industry professionals will find this volume informative and useful.Table of ContentsContents: Preface 1. Competitive Strategies under FMO and Intermodal Competition Michael A. Crew and Paul R. Kleindorfer 2. Invoicing in 16 European Countries Kari Elkelä 3. Does the Level of Price Elasticity Change with the Progression of Substitution? Heikki Nikali 4. Understanding the Impact of E-Substitution on Letter Mail Volumes: A Multi-Country Panel Study Meloria Meschi, Matthew Cherry, Carla Pace and Milena Petrova 5. The Future of the Portuguese Postal Sector and the Role of CTT Alberto Pimenta and António Manuel Amaral 6. Optimal Pricing for Mail and Welfare Implications in a Communications Market Philippe De Donder, Helmuth Cremer, Paul Dudley and Frank Rodriguez 7. UK Letter Mail Demand: A Content-based Time-series Analysis Using Overlapping Market Survey Statistical Techniques Catherine Cazals, Jean-Pierre Florens, Leticia Veruete-McKay, Frank Rodriguez and Soterios Soteri 8. Postal Markets and Electronic Substitution: Implications for Regulatory Practices and Institutions in Europe Martin Maegli, Christian Jaag, Martin Koller and Urs Trinkner 9. How Many Outlets if the USP Does Not Face Any USO? A Cross-country Comparison Claire Borsenberger, Denis Joram and Bernard Roy 10. Costing the Universal Service: Evaluating the Demand Response Isabelle Carslake, George Houpis and Christian Strobel 11. State Funding and Cost Sharing of the USO Under the 2008 EU Postal Services Directive Richard Eccles 12. Econometric Models and the Evolution of the French Post Office Network François Boldron, Frédérique Fève, Jean-Pierre Florens, Clémence Panet-Amaro and Christophe Valognes 13. Evaluating the Demand Effects of Reductions in the Frequency of Delivery Service Edward S. Pearsall and Charles L. Trozzo 14. The UK Service Obligation: What Do the Public Think and How Do They Value It? Rob Sheldon and Alison Lawrence 15. Assessing Anti-Competitive Behavior in a Postal Market Mary Davies 16. Price Discrimination in the Postal Sector and Competition Law Damien Geradin 17. Price Discrimination and Price Differentiation Within Direct Mail Felipe Flórez Duncan, Dawn Longman, Leonardo Mautino and Paul Dudley 18. The Economics of Postal Payment Channels and EU Postal VAT Tim Walsh 19. Impact of VAT Exemptions in the Postal Sector on Competition and Welfare Helmut Dietl, Christian Jaag, Markus Lang, Martin Lutzenberger and Urs Trinkner 20. Competition and Regulation in the Italian Postal Market Vincenzo Visco Comandini and Francesca Mazzarella 21. Strategic Responses to Recession: A Comparison of the United States Postal Service to Leading Companies Norma Nieto, Keith Strange and William Takis 22. The United States Postal Service Business Model: Lessons from the American Railroad Industry? David M. Levy and Matthew D. Field 23. Financial Inclusion and Postal Banking: Is the Survival of Posts Also There? José Ansón and Joёlle Toledano 24. The Dual Trend Towards Operational Efficiencies and Social Regulation in European Postal Services Dominique Bailly and Margaux Meidinger 25. Sustainable Growth and the Postal Sector: Universal Service versus Environmental Protection François Boldron, Claire Borsenberger, Helmuth Cremer, Philippe De Donder, Denis Joram and Bernard Roy 26. Offering Sensor Network Services Using the Postal Delivery Vehicle Fleet Michael J. Ravnitzky

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt's well established that interest rates significantly impact the stock market. This is the first book that definitively explores the interest rate/stock market relationship and describes a specific system for profiting from the relationship.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments. Introduction. PART I: Yield Curve Analysis. Chapter 1: Demystifying the Investment World. Chapter 2: Back of the Envelope Forecast Model. Chapter 3: Money Markets Matter. Chapter 4: Long-Term Bonds Give Advance Warning. Chapter 5: Expected Returns for the Stock Market. Chapter 6: Bond Quality Spreads. Chapter 7: Federal Funds Rates. Chapter 8: Summary of Yield Curve Analysis. PART II: Technical Analysis. Chapter 9: Market Breadth: Advancing Issues in the Dow. Chapter 10: The Volatility Index. Chapter 11: The Put/Call Ratio. Chapter 12: Moving Averages. Chapter 13: Using Moving Averages: The MACD Line. Chapter 14: Leverage: Short Positions and Margin Debt. Chapter 15: Summary of Technical Analysis. PART III: Cultural Indicators. Chapter 16: Changing Standards of Feminine Beauty. Chapter 17: Demographics. Chapter 18: Corporate Spending. Chapter 19: War and Rumors of War. Chapter 20: Summary of Cultural Indicators. PART IV: Choosing Investments. Chapter 21: Asset Classes. Chapter 22: Mutual Funds. Chapter 23: Exchange-Traded Funds. Chapter 24: Security Selection. Chapter 25: Final Summary. PART V: Capitalism at Work. Chapter 26: Outrageous Wall Street Stories. Chapter 27: America! America! God Shed His Grace on Thee. APPENDIXES. 2.1 Yield Curves and the S&P 500 Index, 1960–2004. 2.2 Chapter 2 Return Calculations. 3.1 U.S. Treasury Bill Spreads, 1960–2004. 3.2 Chapter 3 Return Calculations. 6.1 Speculative Bond Spreads (Ba1 and Lower Rated), 1991–2003. 7.1 Federal Funds Rates during 1987, 1998, 2001 Bear Markets. 7.2 Chapter 7 Return Calculations. 8.1 Ten-Year Note Total Return Index, 1960–2004. 9.1 All 30 Dow Industrial Stocks Fell on July 19, 2002. 9.2 Chapter 9 Return Calculations. 16.1 Playmate of the Year, S&P 500 Index, and the Russell 2000 Index, 1960–2000. 16.2 Monthly Playmates and the S&P 500 Index, 1982–2004. 19.1 Gross Domestic Product and War, 1800–2004. 19.2 S&P 500 Index and War, 1800–2004. 19.3 War in Iraq and the S&P 500 Index, 1990–1991. 19.4 War in Iraq and the S&P 500 Index, 2002–2003. 19.5 Chapter 19 Return Calculations, 1960–2002. 20.1 Part Three Return Calculations, 1960–2005. 21.1 Changes in Housing Prices, 1970–2004. 21.2 Returns Including Treasury Bills, 1960–2004. 21.3 Year-End Prices of Gold, 1800–2004. 21.4 Returns Including Gold, 1974–2004. 21.5 Euro Exchange Rates and U.S. Business Cycles, 1969–2004. 23.1 Gold and Nasdaq Return Calculations, 1974–2004. 23.2 Nasdaq Composite, 1984–2005. 24.1 Nasdaq and Centex Return Calculations, 1990–2005. 24.2 Nasdaq and Placer Dome Return Calculations, 1990–2005. Sources and Suggested Reading. Index. About the Author.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA comprehensive analysis of how the large corporation has impacted national and global governance. Wilks has made an important contribution to the literature on the changing political and social role of business in contemporary capitalist polities.'- David Vogel, University of California, US'Observers are increasingly realizing that that the large corporation has become one of the main institutions that govern our lives; the market economy, which in principle prevents corporations from possessing political power, today endows them with that power. Stephen Wilks here traces the extraordinarily important implications of this fact, and makes some sober proposals for tackling the problems it creates for democracy. Others have noted this phenomenon; here at last is a thorough study of it - detailed enough to satisfy the standards of social science; worrying enough to command the concern of policy makers; and written in an approachable style to attract the general reader.'- Colin Crouch, University of Warwick, UK'This is a book that needed to be written and Stephen Wilks has the academic understanding and breadth of practical experience to accomplish the task with authority and conviction. This is an important book, not only because it helps to fill a gap in a still under developed literature on the political role of the modern corporation, but because it raises important and disturbing questions about contemporary democracy.'- Wyn Grant, University of Warwick, UKThe large business corporation has become a governing institution in national and global politics. This trail-blazing book offers a critical account of its political dominance and lack of democratic legitimacy.Thanks to successful wealth generation and ideological victories the large business corporation has become an effective political actor and has entered into partnership with government in the design of public policy and delivery of public services. Stephen Wilks argues that governmental and corporate elites have transformed British politics to create a 'new corporate state' with similar patterns in the USA, in competitor economies - including China - and in global governance. The argument embraces multinational corporations, corporate social responsibility, corporate governance and the inequality generated by corporate dominance.The crucial analysis presented in this ground-breaking book will prove invaluable for academics, researchers and both under- and postgraduate students with an interest in the role of the corporation in politics and society across a wide range of fields including business and management (business ethics), politics, political economy, sociology, corporate governance and strategy.Contents: Preface 1. The Genesis of a Governing Institution 2. The Corporation as a Political Actor 3. Globalisation and the Enhanced Power of Multinational Corporations 4. Corporate Power in the UK: The Rise of the Corporate Elite 5. The Politics of the New Corporate State 6. Partnership and Policy in Britain s New Corporate State 7. Multinational Corporations as Partners in Global Governance 8. Corporations, Culture and Accountability 9. How Persuasive is Corporate Social Responsibility? 10. The Explosion of Interest in Corporate Governance 11. Conclusion: Fairy-tales, Facts, Foci and Futures Bibliography IndexTrade ReviewI consider this book to be an outstanding contribution to the study of the power of large business corporations; it takes a fresh perspective by making fruitful connections between (1) new institutionalism and political economy, (2) the domestic and transnational levels of corporate power and governance, and (3) different key corporate political agendas like CSR and corporate governance. --Martin Fougère, Hanken School of Economics, FinlandIn a much-needed and important overview and analysis of the field that should appeal to students of political science and corporate law, Wilks argues the forces that created the corporation have ''unleashed new autocrats, immune from effective political control''. His argument in The Political Power of the Business Corporation is that it is impossible to understand the ''structural dependence'' between the state and the corporation without studying the corporation in its mould as a political actor. --LSE Review of BooksTable of ContentsContents: Preface 1. The Genesis of a Governing Institution 2. The Corporation as a Political Actor 3. Globalisation and the Enhanced Power of Multinational Corporations 4. Corporate Power in the UK: The Rise of the Corporate Elite 5. The Politics of the New Corporate State 6. Partnership and Policy in Britain’s New Corporate State 7. Multinational Corporations as Partners in Global Governance 8. Corporations, Culture and Accountability 9. How Persuasive is Corporate Social Responsibility? 10. The Explosion of Interest in Corporate Governance 11. Conclusion: Fairy-tales, Facts, Foci and Futures Bibliography Index

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat’s wrong with buying regular coffee? Does Fair Trade necessarily mean ethical trade? What impact can consumers have on global economics? Fair Trade: A Beginner’s Guide reveals why Fair Trade means more than just bananas, coffee, and chocolate. Author and activist Jacqueline DeCarlo explains the principles behind Fair Trade and its development into a powerful economic tool. Packed with inspiring ways to make a difference, this book will encourage readers of all backgrounds to help end poverty,environmental destruction, and human exploitation.Trade Review"A valiant effort to fill an umet need in providing people a fairly inviting primer on fair trade." * Green LA Girl *

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince making his journalistic debut breaking into Piers Morgan’s office, BBC foreign correspondent Nick Bryant has rattled Donald Rumsfeld, had tea with President Karzai, and lunched with the Tamil Tigers. Now casting a sideways glance at his own profession, Bryant divulges the day-to-day realities of life in ‘Correspondentland’ – its glamour, its quirks, and its sometimes unsavoury practices. Whether in Washington DC, offering a window onto American politics as no insider can, reporting from a slum in India, or revealing why the BBC delayed the news of Princess Diana’s death, Bryant’s perspective is inimitable and always insightful. Part memoir, part travelogue, part exposé, this is an unmissable and unique view into the world of modern reporting, and an intimate portrait of the countries Bryant has come to know.Trade ReviewBryant is a genuine rarity: a Brit who understands America. * Washington Post *Outstanding. * Sydney Morning Herald *Refreshing ... Correspondentland strikes the right balance of observation and insight, skilfully leavened with a helping of humour and a pinch of self-deprecation. * The Australian *

Read more less

Book SynopsisActivist hedge fund managers represent a small part of the $1.5 trillion hedge fund industry, but their approach is causing a stir among traditional managers and the investment community because they are shaking up the corporate establishment and making money for their investors. These types of managers are here to stay and Extreme Value Hedging tells the story of their rise to power in the U.S. and how they are spreading their influential gospel around the globe to places like China, Ukraine, South Korea and Sweden. Author Ronald D. Orol has a unique understanding of this world and through this book he shares his unparalleled insights in an easy to comprehend manner. He discusses everything from activist investor efforts to breakup the clubby insider world of corporate boardrooms to their deal-making or breaking pressure tactics and courtroom battles. Orol skillfully makes his case for each subject by offering revelations and examples from insiders like Ralph Whitworth, (Relational InTable of ContentsPreface ix Acknowledgments xvii Introduction xxi Part One: From Raiders to Activists and Everything in Between 1 Chapter 1: Growth of Activism and Why Corporate Raiders Aren’t Around Anymore 3 Chapter 2: Nuts and Bolts: How Activists Became Who They Are Today 25 Chapter 3: The Pack: How Activists Are Working Together (But Not Offi cially) 53 Chapter 4: How Activists Use Litigation to Pursue Their Agenda 75 Chapter 5: Why Activists Target Certain Corporations and Leave Others Alone 89 Chapter 6: Overperked and Overpaid: The Impact of Activists on Executive Compensation 103 Chapter 7: Hedge Specialization: Good or Bad? 117 Chapter 8: Regulation and Activists: How the Securities and Exchange Commission Helps (or Hurts) Activists 135 Part Two: Institutional Investors and Activists 155 Chapter 9: Institutional Investors on Activist Hedge Funds: Love'em or Hate'em? 157 Chapter 10: Activists Taking on Large Corporations Must Have Institutional Support 163 Chapter 11: Institutions and Activist Hedge Funds: Breaking Up Deals Together Around the World 173 Chapter 12: Just Vote No and No and No Again 181 Chapter 13: Institutions Changing Corporate Bylaws so Activist Hedge Funds Can Get Down to Business 191 Chapter 14: Can’t Be Them? Then Fund Them 201 Chapter 15: Institutions Behaving Like Activist Hedge Fund Managers 209 Part Three: Activism 2.0 217 Chapter 16: Technology, Communications, and Activists: Gary Lutin, Eric Jackson, and Anne Faulk 219 Chapter 17: When Is an Activist Fund Really a Private Equity Fund, and What’s the Difference? 231 Chapter 18: Funds of Hedge Funds Stake Out Activists 247 Chapter 19: Distressed Investing: How Activist Managers Buy Debt and Provoke Companies 263 Chapter 20: Hedge Activists in Western Europe, Asia, and Canada 271 Chapter 21: East Meets West: Hedge Activism Goes Global to Emerging Markets 299 Chapter 22: Value Investing versus Activism: Which One Is Better? 319 Conclusion: Saturation or No Saturation? 333 Notes 339 About the Author 361 Index 363

Read more less

Book Synopsis"In this. often hilarious new book, Bethune tells how he approached his turnaround challenges. "-Fortune ". in an age where managing seems increasingly complicated, some of Bethune's prescriptions are refreshingly straightforward. "-BusinessWeek.Trade ReviewIn his new book FROM WORST TO FIRST, Continental Airlines CEO Gordon Bethune tells how he led Continental's transformation into an award-winning carrier after years as an unprofitable airline that angered employees and customers.-USA Today "Some of Bethune's prescriptions are refreshingly straightforward... Bethune includes some fresh examples of his plain-spoken management style."-Business WeekTable of ContentsHOW WE CLIMBED FROM WORST TO FIRST. Is This Any Way to Run an Airline? The Last Suppers, or Whose Problem Is It? Fly to Win, or You Can Make a Pizza So Cheap Nobody Wants to Eat It. Fund the Future, or If There Ain't No Funds, There Ain't Gonna Be No Future. Make Reliability a Reality, or It's Time to Act Like a Real Airline. Working Together, or Which Part of This Watch Don't You Think We Need? Success Has No Autopilot. A FLIGHT PLAN FOR SUCCESS. How the Sickest Patients Need the Best Doctors, and Concerning Tapeworms. Nobody Loses When the Whole Team Wins. Keeping the Lines of Communication Open. Predictability, or the Value of a Zippo. What Gets Measured Gets Managed. Crop Duster's Son. Why You Just Read This Book. Acknowledgments. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs the first comprehensive treatment of Classical economics from a modern Austrian perspective, this important history of nineteenth century economic thought discusses the key members of each school and reassesses their work. Professor Rothbard's approach offers new perspectives on both Ricardo and Say and their followers. The author suggests that Ricardianism declined after 1820 and was only revived with the work of John Stuart Mill. The book also resurrects the important Anglo-Irish school of thought at Trinity College, Dublin under Archbishop Richard Whately. Later chapters focus on the roots of Karl Marx and the nature of his doctrines, and laissez-faire thought in France including the work of Frederic Bastiat. Also included is a comprehensive treatment of the bullionist versus anti-bullionist and the Currency versus banking School controversies in the first half of the nineteenth century, and their influence outside Great Britain.Tracing economic thought from Smith to Marx, this book is notable for its inclusion of all the important figures in each school of thought and for assessing their theories in religious, political, philosophical and historical context. Economic Thought before Adam Smith, the first volume of Professor Rothbard's history of economic thought from an Austrian perspective, is also available.Trade Review'Rothbard's two-volume history of economic thought will inspire much fruitful discussion . . . Works that combine so much scholarship, clarity, freshness, and courage have become rare in economics.' -- Paul Heyne, The Independent Review'. . . the magnitude of Rothbard's achievement was such that his legacy is assured; his contribution to the cause of liberty in America will not only endure but continue to grow in stature. As an economist, he succeeded in firmly establishing the Austrian school of economics in America, expanding and refining the legacy of his own mentor, the great Ludwig von Mises.' -- Justin Raimondo, Chronicles'. . . an extraordinarily lively and provocative book. The world would be a poorer place without this stimulating and combative book. . .' -- D. P. O'Brien, The Manchester School'. . . it provides an extremely wide-ranging treatment of the periods and topics it covers. . . . this is a controversial book, written from a clear-cut standpoint. . . . an extremely exciting, even brilliant book.' -- Roger E. Backhouse, History of Economic Thought'To say that Murray Rothbard wrote with a polemical flair is an understatement of astonishing proportions. . . . The volumes are beautifully produced by Edward Elgar and anyone interested in Rothbard's thought, the history of economic liberalism, and the history of economic thought in general, will want these volumes in their personal collection. An Austrian Perspective on the History of Economic Thought is vintage Rothbard, which means that the volumes are very readable, always unique in interpretation. . . . In short Rothbard's An Austrian Perspective on the History of Economic Thought is a major contribution to the history of economic thought in general, and to Austrian economics in particular, and it deserves a wide circulation. It ranks with the contributions to intellectual history - not as a textbook of the wrong opinions of dead men, but as an original theoretical work whose intellectual story, if listened to, would surely overturn the received wisdom of our day and lead to a major recasting of the disciplines of economics and of political economy.' -- Peter J. Boettke, Economic Affairs'Murray Rothbard's two volumes are a monument of twentieth century scholarship.' -- David Gordon, The Mises Review'Rothbard's treatise makes a good case for the study of economic thought and provides a good introduction to Austrian economics by showing its links with earlier thinkers. . . friend and foe alike will benefit from Rothbard's atypical approach. His discussions of every thinker are enriched with insights on philosophy, history, religion, political movements, and the philosophy of science. The two volumes are jam-packed with information and research ideas.' -- Mark Thornton, Southern Economic JournalTable of ContentsContents: 1. J.B. Say: The French Tradition in Smithian Clothing 2. Jeremy Bentham: The Utilitarian as Big Brother 3. James Mill, Ricardo and the Ricardian System 4. The Decline of the Ricardian System, 1820–48 5. Monetary and Banking Thought, I: The Early Bullionist Controversy 6. Monetary and Banking Thought, II: The Bullion Report and the Return to Gold 7. Monetary and Banking Thought, III: The Struggle Over the Currency School 8. John Stuart Mill and the Reimposition of Ricardian Economics 9. Roots of Marxism: Messianic Communism 10. Marx’s Vision of Communism 11. Alienation, Unity and Dialectic 12. The Marxian System, I: Historical Materialism and the Class Struggle 13. The Marxian System, II: The Economics of Capitalism and its Inevitable Demise 14. After Mill: Bastiat and the French Laissez-Faire Tradition Bibliographical Essay

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a book written specifically for the manager, supervisor or other professional needing greater understanding and skill in counselling. Specialist training in this area of work is often complex and time consuming, going beyond what is essential for most workplace counselling situations. Bringing over ten years of experience working as both counsellor and as a trainer of counselling in industry, David focuses on the essentials of workplace advice and guidance, basing his book on his highly successful 'Counselling in the Workplace' courses. The book offers a careful balance between theory, skills and practical examples to help the beginner or the partly-experienced in providing a realistic service for a range of counselling situations. It covers: a comprehensive counselling methodogy; how to develop the most useful counselling attitude; skills in gaining rapport, questioning and information gathering; assessing the counselling needs of the 'client'; differences between supportive, problem solving and therapeutic counselling.

Read more less