Reviewed by Bil Howard for Readers' Favorite

An estate plan, budgeting, and investment are essential elements in helping to secure your financial future. In Frank J. Eberhart’s book, The Sexy Little Book of Finance III, is an easy to follow, fill-in-the-blanks workbook to help you design the road map to your personal success.

Eberhart begins with estate planning and discusses wills and the consequences of not having one, trusts, probate, and executors and their duties. He also discusses the importance of having the information concerning your business interests written down when the time arrives for others to sort things out and protect the assets for which you worked so diligently. In book two, he discusses the differences between your personal, business, and retirement budgets and how each affects your success. He further discusses the different aspects of your health care as you continue to age, including Medicare and Medicaid, as well as long term health care and a basic formula for how much life insurance you should have. The third book discusses investment strategies for different levels of risk and best probable returns over a long term, including 401Ks and IRAs and the best way to protect those investments to insure maximum benefits after retirement. He also discusses different characteristics that one must consider in a financial advisor. All three books blend well and work together to help the reader plan all three parts of their financial future.

The Sexy Little Book of Finance III is a simple and easy to follow guide which leads the reader through the necessary steps in each of the three areas in order to help plan and execute their goals. The workbook is as easy as filling in the blanks on a form with excellent guidance from the author. Straight forward, easy to use and excellent advice makes The Sexy Little Book of Finance III a book that will provide an excellent return in knowledge for a very small investment of time.

Reviewed by Suzanne Cowles for Readers' Favorite

How Do I Keep My Employees Motivated? The Practice of Empathy-Based Management by George Langelett, PhD is a brilliant play-by-play book for business managers. Organized into five easily digested chapters, the in-depth book also comes with a summary of the overarching concept, daily worksheets and an extensive suggested reading list. Dr. Langelett, an experienced college professor of management and economics, explores a new paradigm to manage employee behavior based on the neuroscience of the brain. At the core of his thesis is “empathy,” a skill that everyone has which can be used to motivate an employee’s ethical decision-making through shared trust. The old system of monetary rewards only fosters a short-term gain in changed behavior. Personally connecting with the emotional side of the brain and making a person feel accepted and understood is the only way to win staff loyalty. Other topics examined are: the benefit of consequences versus punishment, fostering hope in an environment to maintain motivation, giving undivided attention and controlling body language. The remainder of the guide focuses on the proper responses to work-related situations to defuse the fight-or-flight response, which produces stress.

While there are shelves full of managerial books on the market, Dr. Langelett provides just the right combination of scientific research to support his original thesis. I especially enjoyed his focus on treating employees like people rather than machines. Many of the personal examples given to illustrate ideas were touching. The top-notch book presentation format and professional editing quality were visible throughout, as were the importance of the subject matter to the author and care for minute details. This excellent manual is a must-have reference for anyone who routinely manages staff and needs a better way to increase productivity with lasting results.

Reviewed by Gail Sosinsky Wickman for Readers' Favorite

Why Do My Employees Hate Me and Other Answers You May Not Want to Hear by William J Eisenbrandt is certainly not a book for every business owner. If you like your business advice in the form of sweet parables, if you want quick and easy fixes, if you are offended by the word "dumbass," if you become indignant at the thought that the problem with your business could by you, don't read this book. If, however, you are the kind of business owner who takes personal responsibility for the success or failure of your business, and you are willing to take a good look at what you can do to improve your workplace, your reputation in the community and your bottom line, Eisenbrandt's book is a solid source of the wisdom he has gained in his years as a business consultant for Vertical Business Group, the consulting and management firm he founded.

The chapters in the 175 pages of Why Do My Employees Hate Me and Other Answers You May Not Want to Hear cover topics ranging from employees relations and motivation to customer retention and control of expenses. Eisenbrandt includes interesting views on social media and marketing, particularly regarding the current money-sucking obsession with brand awareness. He also enters into the philosophical, discussing how your financial success is good corporate citizenship.

Throughout Why Do My Employees Hate Me and Other Answers You May Not Want to Hear, William J Eisenbrandt remains focused on the responsibility and impact you, the business owner, have in matters of success. For those of you who see this as empowering, this book is a valuable resource, and I highly recommend it.

Reviewed by JP Bary for Readers' Favorite

If you’ve already read a few of the many self-help books for salespersons, Michelle Moore’s Selling Simplified—55 Fast Tips to Jump-start Your Real Estate Business might seem at the outset to be something of a rehash of the standard shibboleths that characterize the genre: commit to excellence, develop a business plan, manage your time, be trustworthy, be wise, be a team player, and dress for success. But I suspect the author included these items because they are important (which is why they tend to show up so often in the genre), and she didn’t want her readers to get into further details without emphasizing how fundamental they are. The virtue of her approach is that she writes with energy and precision and doesn’t labor over any of these subjects. Each of her tips is communicated in a few easy-to-read pages, and if you feel like you already know what she is driving at, you can always skip to the next one. Be careful not to skip too quickly, however, because as she progresses into the skills most intimately associated with real estate sales, such as the value of a planned presentation, and knowing the details of what you are selling (and especially the numbers), she drops in some very useful tidbits, such as the value of keeping a pair of mud boots in the car, eleven details that buyers need to know, and the value of using powerful words, such as “site” instead of lot,” “custom” instead of “standard,” and “initial investment” instead of “down payment.” Moore particularly emphasizes communication skills and gets into the importance of details like tone of voice, asking “involvement questions,” and responding to the predictable and unpredictable moods that home-buyers have. She helps readers create a process in which these skills can be used to facilitate closing deals in a way that is constructive and solid, rather than overly aggressive.

The book is filled with testimonials and self-promotional asides, yet there is a constructive lesson here too. She uses these to authenticate the value of what she is communicating and to “build the dream” for her readers, but she encourages them to do the same with their buyers. Finally, she reminds her readers to be balanced and have fun, emphasizing that they will only be successful in the long run if they make the job of selling real estate an integral part of a fulfilling life. I have read a number of books meant to introduce new real estate agents into the basics of selling. This is clearly the best.

Reviewed by Samantha Rivera for Readers' Favorite

Kole Crutcher has written "Electric Living: The Science Behind the Law of Attraction," a book that allows the average person to understand more about science and the way things work than they are likely to from usual sources. "Electric Living" is about the real science behind everything that happens in the world and in your life and how you can control it. It gives very detailed scientific explanations that break down the concepts so that an average person can understand the concepts. There are online videos that can help make understanding even simpler. This book is great for anyone who wants to know more about getting the things they want in life.

I'm definitely amazed after reading this book about all the different things that I learned. I never really understood a lot of science before but now that I have read it I am aware of a lot of scientific processes. I really wanted to learn more about how to get the life I really want and that is definitely what I learned. I really enjoyed reading this book because it provides a lot of interesting information and a lot of new information too. The author gives you lists of other sources as well and videos that better explain what you are being told or shown. This book can definitely help you change your life for the better without making you crazy about it. You won’t have to put in all those late hours at the office for no reason anymore because you’ll know the best way to get the promotion you want.

Reviewed by Jackie O'Neal for Readers' Favorite

"Selling with Intention: The Mindset and Tools You Need to Double or Triple Your Sales This Year" by Ursula C. Mentjes begins by emphasizing the value of understanding the nature of intentionality in connection with salesmanship. Mentjes enhances the text and adds visual appeal for readers by presenting motivational quotes, sales tips, and ready-to-use action plans in a sidebar format. What I found most compelling relates to the manner in which Mentjes draws upon ancient wisdom and Universal laws in terms of teaching the readers how to prepare to attract success. Overall, Mentjes does a great job of showing the readers how to embrace the bigger picture and what she terms “Your intentional sales plan” which highlights ways to determine annual goals.

I found the practical planning strategies and worksheets effective in that readers are quickly given the tools to apply what they have learned. Mentjes shares her personal experiences as the founder of a thriving business to underscore the salient points made about approaching sales with a positive mindset. I felt many readers would benefit by the case studies presented in terms of learning ways to improve upon sales techniques via self-evaluation. There is no doubt in my mind readers will gain clarity on productive ways to attract clients and at the same time explore their own strengths. Chock full of practical exercises, visualizations, and affirmations, Mentjes offers the entrepreneur a wealth of information about successful selling and growing a business. The book is a must read for the entrepreneur wanting to progress to the next level, or what Mentjes refers to as taking a quantum leap.

Reviewed by Alice DiNizo for Readers' Favorite

Author Janet Pucino has been there and done well in the world of business. Now she writes "Not in the Club: An Executive Woman's Journey through the Biased World of Business" for the enlightenment of the person who is entering or is considering a possible entry into a corporate organization. The author admits in her introduction that she would not change any of the choices she made in positions, roles, and on-the-job challenges for they helped her develop strength and management acumen (p.13). She defines 'The Club' as a group of people in a company that values its members' contributions and surrounds them with a social network of power that leads them to opportunities and financial success(p.9). Nicely put, but the author also writes that 'The Club' won't be on any organizational chart. It is a group of people who may have power over others and require conformity to a set of rules or a code of conduct which might include golfing together or sharing a pitcher of beer at lunchtime. But as women ascend the ranks of management, they are often not admitted into 'The Club' or if they are, "their ideas and solutions are routinely dismissed or devalued by Club members" (p.31). Janet Pucino writes so that the reader will know how to survive. On p.80, she writes: "Although aggressive behavior from men is accepted, when it comes from a woman, it's perceived as irrational or out of control."

"Not in the Club" is a well-written, authoritative book with a good bibliography that should be read and absorbed by women thinking of entering corporate life. Its pages are filled with practical advice from the author. She recommends checking what percentage of the senior management team of a company are women, and tells the reader to "learn from others, leverage the critical elements of success, demand resources and support, be aware of your contributions and make informed choices that are right for you and your organization." Pucino writes clearly and potential corporate members should take her advice to heart.

Reviewed by Lori M for Readers' Favorite

With three graduate degrees in leadership and management, I really enjoy reading books on those subjects and “Leadership Soup” by Kamran Akbarzadeh didn’t disappoint. Sure, there are a lot of books on leadership out there and a lot of research, but it is how the author presents the information that is going to make the difference. Akbarzadeh has created a unique way to present this information to either the novice reader on the topic or the well-read scholar. Not really intending to make a pun, but “Leadership Soup” is a book that is easily digestible for any reader and its simple yet important principles can be readily applied.

The author explains that leadership isn’t necessarily about a big office, a big title, or the accompanying salary and lifestyle. Leadership is about instilling a mission and sense of purpose, both in ourselves as well as in others. His passion is for people to use their own passions and serve others by developing their leadership skills. He compares “Leadership Soup” to our eating chicken soup when we are sick in an effort to be well again to using his principles to get a healthier outcome in life and in business. He defines authentic leadership as guiding others with sincerity and setting directions with integrity. That is definitely a recipe for success. He attacks the debate of whether leaders are born or made, confesses that leaders aren’t perfect, and talks about the need for leaders to be proactive. This is a good book for business students, managers, and business leaders.

Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

The current economy leaves many of us with knots in our stomach. The stock market is volatile, jobs are uncertain, and retirement and social security benefits are eroding due to inflation. "Big Wave Surfing" offers hope in this insecure environment. Mentioning technology terrifies many workers, but it is the wave of the times. No longer can a factory worker expect to get by with their work ethic and their brawn. Manufactures want and need employees that are willing to adapt with the times. Kenneth J. Thurber Ph. D urges readers to look at their talents and develop them. Challenge yourself to invest in “skills that you need to survive!” A business, no matter what size, must become efficient in management and marketing.

Thurber creatively uses the image of a wave to illustrate what the reader must do to prosper: spot the coming wave, wait for it, meet it and maneuver it our way to successfully ride it to shore. "Big Wave Surfing" is written in an easy to read style offering tidbits of information on technology, promoting, and other strategies that will help you succeed in today’s economic market. The reader will find Thurber’s ideas to be unique and outside the box. This book is chock-full of interesting anecdotes and illustrations which are interesting and add much to the text.

This book teaches you to prepare yourself through education and research, learn what to watch for, be patient, and then grab your opportunity when presented. I found this book to be very helpful and encouraging.

Reviewed by Lori M for Readers' Favorite

Only 22 pages into reading the book, author Brenda Bence already had me hooked. She challenged the reader to set a time for three minutes, and within that time frame, to write down everything you can think of that you CANNOT do with a paperclip. What a creative, stimulating thinking and writing exercise! Her point was that not long into the exercise you realize that you can do far more with a paperclip than you would have originally thought.

I like the title of Chapter 15, "Develop a Superiority Complex." In it, Bence points out that we already have assets that can help us build a terrific brand. I thought the cover graphic on the book was right-on-target for the book's title, Smarter Branding Without Breaking the Bank. It depicts a safe with door slightly ajar, and money poking out. Very clever.

In this book, the reader really can learn proven marketing strategies that they can put to use right away with little to no expense. The formatting, organization, development, and flow of the book were logical and easy to follow. Among the lessons you'll learn in this book include the chapters, "Frame Your Competition," "The Power of a Bull's Eye," and "Don't Just Sit There on Your Assets."

Anyone who is wanting to increase their market share, sell more products/services, or start their own business would benefit from reading this book. It's well-written, practical, and immediately implementable. I really enjoyed reading it.