Style: Toward Clarity and Grace
Joseph M. Williams - 1981
A logical, expert, easy-to-use plan for achieving excellence in expression, Style offers neither simplistic rules nor endless lists of dos and don'ts. Rather, Joseph Williams explains how to be concise, how to be focused, how to be organized. Filled with realistic examples of good, bad, and better writing, and step-by-step strategies for crafting a sentence or organizing a paragraph, Style does much more than teach mechanics: it helps anyone who must write clearly and persuasively transform even the roughest of drafts into a polished work of clarity, coherence, impact, and personality."Buy Williams's book. And dig out from storage your dog-eared old copy of The Elements of Style. Set them side by side on your reference shelf."—Barbara Walraff, Atlantic"Let newcoming writers discover this, and let their teachers and readers rejoice. It is a practical, disciplined text that is also a pleasure to read."—Christian Century"An excellent book....It provides a sensible, well-balanced approach, featuring prescriptions that work."—Donald Karzenski, Journal of Business Communication"Intensive fitness training for the expressive mind."—Booklist(The college textbook version, Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace, 9th edition, is available from Longman. ISBN 9780321479358.)
How to Be Rich
Napoleon Hill - 2010
Why Not You? This is the guiding question of How to Be Rich. To answer it, this compact book gleans must-read passages, powerful meditations, and tantalizing wealth-building techniques from the collected work of the greatest motivational writers ever. Each chapter in How to Be Rich is short enough to read in a grocery store checkout line-yet powerful enough to challenge years of ingrained, self-limiting thinking. How to Be Rich boils down the cumulative insight of leading self-help and positive-thinking guides into one surprisingly concise rule book for releasing your hidden potential. Chapters include: -To Prosper, Let No One Control You by Christian Larson -What We Are Seeking Is Seeking Us: The Mind as Magnet by Julia Seton -The Immense, Secret Power of Gratitude by Wallace D. Wattles -Why Doing More Work Than We're Paid for Leads to Wealth by Napoleon Hill -In Order to Get, We Must Give by Ralph Waldo Trine -The Power of Meditation by James Allen -Fourteen Steps to Success by Joseph Murphy
Strategic Storytelling: How to Create Persuasive Business Presentations
Dave McKinsey - 2014
Based on intensive study of presentations developed by leading management consulting firms, this step-by-step playbook shows you how to craft stories using proven narrative frameworks, design data-driven slides, and master your verbal and non-verbal delivery.
Boundaries for Leaders: Results, Relationships, and Being Ridiculously in Charge
Henry Cloud - 2013
Henry Cloud gives leaders the tools and techniques they need to achieve the performance they desire—in their organizations and in themselves. Drawing on the latest findings from neuroscience, Dr. Cloud shows why it's critical for leaders to set the conditions that make people's brains perform at their highest levels. How do great leaders do this? One way is through the creation of "boundaries"—structures that determine what will exist and what will not.Here you will learn seven leadership boundaries that set the stage, tone, and culture for a results-driven organization, including how to:• help people focus their attention on the things that matter most;• build the emotional climate that drives brain functioning;• facilitate connections that boost energy and momentum;• create organizational thought patterns that limit negativity and helplessness;• identify paths for people to take control of the activities that drive results;• create high-performance teams organized around the behaviors that drive results; and• lead yourself in a manner that protects the vision.The strong call to action in this book is that leaders are ridiculously in charge of all these elements, and they must own what they either create or allow to exist.Filled with inspiring and practical examples from Dr. Cloud's coaching practice, Boundaries for Leaders is essential reading for everyone who aspires to lead companies, teams, and cultures defined by high performance and healthy relationships.
Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age
Sherry Turkle - 2015
And yet we have sacrificed conversation for mere connection. Preeminent author and researcher Sherry Turkle has been studying digital culture for over thirty years. Long an enthusiast for its possibilities, here she investigates a troubling consequence: at work, at home, in politics, and in love, we find ways around conversation, tempted by the possibilities of a text or an email in which we don’t have to look, listen, or reveal ourselves. We develop a taste for what mere connection offers. The dinner table falls silent as children compete with phones for their parents’ attention. Friends learn strategies to keep conversations going when only a few people are looking up from their phones. At work, we retreat to our screens although it is conversation at the water cooler that increases not only productivity but commitment to work. Online, we only want to share opinions that our followers will agree with – a politics that shies away from the real conflicts and solutions of the public square. The case for conversation begins with the necessary conversations of solitude and self-reflection. They are endangered: these days, always connected, we see loneliness as a problem that technology should solve. Afraid of being alone, we rely on other people to give us a sense of ourselves, and our capacity for empathy and relationship suffers. We see the costs of the flight from conversation everywhere: conversation is the cornerstone for democracy and in business it is good for the bottom line. In the private sphere, it builds empathy, friendship, love, learning, and productivity. But there is good news: we are resilient. Conversation cures. Based on five years of research and interviews in homes, schools, and the workplace, Turkle argues that we have come to a better understanding of where our technology can and cannot take us and that the time is right to reclaim conversation. The most human—and humanizing—thing that we do. The virtues of person-to-person conversation are timeless, and our most basic technology, talk, responds to our modern challenges. We have everything we need to start, we have each other.
Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results
Rob Biesenbach - 2018
More than facts and data alone, stories are fundamental to capturing and expressing our ideas, wishes, and beliefs ... and getting the results we want. The right story can help you: -Nail a job interview -Earn a raise -Close a sale -Build trust with an employee or colleague -Strengthen relationships with customers -Become a more comfortable networker -Win over a skeptic -Rally a team -Align people with a strategy -Promote your brand -Raise a toast -Deliver a eulogy -Get out of a speeding ticket -And more... WHY THIS BOOK? The market is flooded with a dizzying array of books, experts, and resources on business storytelling. This book cuts through the hype to clarify and demystify the storytelling process. So if you're intimidated and think you can't tell a good story, Unleash the Power of Storytelling offers step-by-step instructions for finding, shaping and telling powerful stories. On the other hand, if you think there's nothing new to learn about storytelling, it's probably more complicated than you think. Here you'll learn about the essential ingredients that go into any good story and how to avoid common storytelling pitfalls. A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR THE BUSY PROFESSIONAL Taking a fun, no-nonsense approach, Unleash the Power of Storytelling will teach you: -The hard science behind why stories work -A simple three-part structure for telling any story -The role of emotion in fueling great stories -How to cut the clutter and focus your story on the essentials -How and where to find great stories -Tips for delivering your stories in the most effective way possible The book also contains tons of practical examples showing you how to use stories in job interviews, presentations, customer calls, employee meetings -- even how to craft the right story for a wedding toast or eulogy!
The Art of Work
Jeff Goins - 2015
This is a book about discovering your life's work, that treasure of immeasurable worth we all long for. Its about the task you were born to do. As Jeff Goins explains, the search begins with passion but does not end there. Only when our interests connect with the needs of the world do we begin living for a larger purpose. Those who experience this intersection experience something exceptional and enviable. Though it is rare, such a life is attainable by anyone brave enough to try. Through personal experience, compelling case studies, and current research on the mysteries of motivation and talent, Jeff shows readers how to find their vocation and what to expect along the way.
The 7 Secrets of the Prolific: The Definitive Guide to Overcoming Procrastination, Perfectionism, and Writer's Block
Hillary Rettig - 2011
How perfectionism plays a more serious role in underproductivity than most writers realize. And how some criticisms and rejections can linger, hidden, for years and even decades, undermining your productivity.Then she shows you how to interrupt the Cascade, recognize and defuse the perfectionism, and recover from the criticisms and rejections so that you can regain your energy and commitment and do more great writing than you might have ever thought possible.Unlike the superficial and gimmicky solutions some other books offer, Hillary's are based on a new way of looking at yourself, your work, and the world. She developed her method over more than a decade of teaching at some of the country's premier literary and cultural organizations, including Mark Twain House & Museum, Grub Street Writers, and The Loft, and while coaching hundreds of successful creative, business, and academic writers.The 7 Secrets of the Prolific also features unique and timely sections on writing for the Internet (and coping with its hypercritical culture), and how to respond to the many clueless and/or challenging comments and questions people direct at writers (e.g., 'When will you get that thing done?'). And the section on Values-Based Time Management will help you reclaim time for your writing (and other priorities) you never knew you had.Whether you write for work, school, or fun, The 7 Secrets of the Prolific will help you become the productive, fulfilled, and joyful writer you always wanted to be.
Work It: Secrets for Success from the Boldest Women in Business
Carrie Kerpen - 2018
Packed with actionable tips and stories from the likes of Sheryl Sandberg, Aliza Licht, and Reshma Saujani, this inspiring book reveals their counterintuitive secrets for success, including: - How and when to say "no" - whether it's a dream job that just isn't the right cultural fit or a low salary proposal, as well as when to say "yes"- How to make your career work for you and your family rather than the other way around- How to develop your own FAB PAB (Fabulous Personal Advisory Board) - a support network of women - rather than work with a single mentor- The importance of talking openly about money - from job offer negotiations and cash flow management, to fundraising venture capital dollarsWith advice on everything from mastering social media to navigating office politics and the seemingly impossible work/life balance, Work It arms every woman with the courage and skills to achieve success and happiness on her terms.
Transformational Speaking: If You Want to Change the World, Tell a Better Story
Gail Larsen - 2009
Speaking coach and consultant Gail Larsen presents a proven program that liberates the "speaker within" and transforms even the reluctant orator into an agent of change. While most books on public speaking focus on polishing your presentation and overcoming fear, Larsen's holistic blend of spirit and logic goes far beyond the standard format, making TRANSFORMATIONAL SPEAKING a must-read for even the most seasoned speechmakers. With her uniquely inspirational approach, Larsen reaches out to those who want to make a genuine difference in our world by changing minds through touching hearts. TRANSFORMATIONAL SPEAKING offers insightful advice on everything from defining your message and refining your delivery, to managing the dynamics of a room, handling logistics like a pro, and building a connection with an audience of any size. Larsen has helped business executives and entrepreneurs, community and social change leaders, and healers and life coaches become active movers and shakers through the power of effective communication.
The Prosperous Coach: Increase Income and Impact for You and Your Clients
Steve Chandler - 2013
Say to your clients what no one else would dare to say. And you will have all the clients you ever desire. Whether you are a new coach or you already have a six-figure coaching practice, The Prosperous Coach will show you how to: • Access a set of tools you can use to begin creating your own clients immediately • Sign clients you love while maintaining your integrity • Match your unique skills and talents with the clients you serve • Develop a system that works for you for referrals and new clients, time after time • Make bold, life-changing proposals • Move beyond the deep-seated beliefs that hold most coaches back from success for themselves and their clients • Overcome—forever—the two levels of fear that coaches face • Move from people-pleasing to powerful service • Be a world-class coach with highly committed clients And so much more... Praise for The Prosperous Coach: "A must-read for every coach. Rich Litvin and Steve Chandler offer a revolutionary approach to creating a career and business that you love. No internet marketing. No email list. Just one great relationship at a time." -- Marci Shimoff, #1 NY Times best-selling author of Happy for No Reason "The sad truth of the coaching industry is that many of the most caring people give up after a time because they can’t make enough money to survive and thrive. Steve Chandler and Rich Litvin are on a mission to give every coach the chance to succeed on their own terms." -- Michael Neill, founder of Supercoach Academy and author of The Inside-Out Revolution "The Prosperous Coach grabs you by the collar in Chapter 1 and doesn’t let go. My heart is still racing. This is one of the most direct, bold, and provocative books I’ve ever read. You are doing your clients a disservice if you don’t finish it and act upon it immediately." -- Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby and author of Anything You Want "Once in awhile a book comes along which gets you to focus on what really matters – human relationships! The Prosperous Coach is one of those rare gems which inspires, challenges, and allows for no excuses. Its contrarian approach may yet change your business and your life for the better. Grab a copy now!" -- Shama Kabani, best-selling author of The Zen of Social Media Marketing "Rich Litvin and Steve Chandler are business thought leaders who count. They shatter the myth that you can’t create wealth whilst making a big impact on people’s lives." -- Chip Conley, founder of Joie de Vivre Hotels and author of Peak "In The Prosperous Coach, seasoned pros Rich Litvin and Steve Chandler reveal the secrets that have catapulted them and their clients to outrageous success." -- Mandy Evans, author of Emotional Options "Rich and Steve have written a fantastic field-guide for creating a successful coaching practice." -- Jamie Smart, author of Clarity "Litvin is a rare breed: a world-class coach who is also an expert at understanding the business of coaching." -- Dr. Sean Stephenson, author of Get Off Your BUT "This book will shake you up. It will challenge you. You will have to show up and serve boldly in order to get the results they promise.
How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends: Revised and Updated
Don Gabor - 1983
This revised and updated edition offers easy time-tested ways to improve anybody's ability to communicate in business and social situations, either in person or in cyberspace.
How to Lead in a World of Distraction: Four Simple Habits for Turning Down the Noise
Clay Scroggins - 2019
Pastor and author Clay Scroggins describes spiritual disciplines and tangible daily steps to help you incorporate four noise-cancelling habits into your daily life:Finding simplicity – how does simplicity bring clarity?Speaking to yourself – you're not crazy. Many of us do it; and there are real benefits!Getting quiet – silence is difficult. Why emotionally healthy leaders make time for it.Pressing pause – what does the word sabbath even mean, and why is it so important--on both a practical and a spiritual level?By embracing these habits--business, church, and ministry leaders will be able to identify and understand their emotions and develop a calm and effective leadership style.In this follow up to his bestselling book, How to Lead When You're Not in Charge, Clay Scroggins focuses on the real dangers of distraction and how to create space for personal evaluation and exploration.-------------"This book is such a valuable resource - not just for leaders but for anyone longing to make a difference in the world." (Dave Ramsey)"Clay helps you move beyond the distractions to a moment-by-moment awareness that will help you regulate the way you think, act, and feel." (Ian Morgan Cron)"In this book Clay provides leaders with practical ways to turn down the noise personally and organizationally." (Andy Stanley)
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
Lynne Truss - 2003
She proclaims, in her delightfully urbane, witty, and very English way, that it is time to look at our commas and semicolons and see them as the wonderful and necessary things they are. Using examples from literature, history, neighborhood signage, and her own imagination, Truss shows how meaning is shaped by commas and apostrophes, and the hilarious consequences of punctuation gone awry.Featuring a foreword by Frank McCourt, and interspersed with a lively history of punctuation from the invention of the question mark in the time of Charlemagne to George Orwell shunning the semicolon, Eats, Shoots & Leaves makes a powerful case for the preservation of proper punctuation.
Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide
John Cleese - 2020
John Cleese shows us how.
Creativity is usually regarded as a mysterious, rare gift that only a few possess. John Cleese begs to differ, and in this short, immensely practical and often very amusing guide he shows it's a skill that anyone can acquire. Drawing on his lifelong experience as a writer, he shares his insights into the nature of the creative process, and offers advice on how to get your own inventive juices flowing.What do you need to do to get yourself in the right frame of mind? When do you know that you've come up with something that might be worth pursuing? What do you do if you think you've hit a brick wall?Not only does he explain the way your mind works as you search for inspiration, he also shows that, regardless of the task you've set yourself, you can learn to be better at coming up with a promising idea, refining it and knowing when you're ready to act on it. We can all unlock new reserves of creativity within ourselves. John Cleese shows us how.____________________________'Humorous and practical ... Whether you're hoping to write a novel or paint a masterpiece, you're sure to feel inspired' OK Magazine'His candor is endearing ... An upbeat guide to the creative process' Kirkus'A jovial romp ... Cleese fans will enjoy, and writers and other artists will breeze through, picking up a few nuggets of wisdom along the way' The Festival Review'A sincere and thoughtful guide to creativity, and a very useful book' Graham Norton'Wise words on the serious business of being silly' Sunday Business Post