Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving by Samuel Sanders is a compelling, award-winning, go-to guide for creativity in your business world. This author inspires motivation in managers and entrepreneurs everywhere, even those who don't really see much of a connection between business and creativity. It's about ideas and how to solve problems with creativity. If the ideas on the show "Shark Tank" have you wondering why you can't come up with something new, useful, or innovative, you aren't alone. Many people are more creative than they give themselves credit for. They just need something to pull it out of them. Well, this book is the mechanism to do just that.

Sanders brings a self-help guide that will build skills and knowledge in problem-solving, observation and analysis, achieving the correct mindset, knowing the value of sharing ideas, and judging their likelihood for success and sustainability. Sometimes you just need inspiration, and this book has it in droves. You have exercises that you can do on a personal level, and tips on how to see your surroundings in a new, fresh way. What I like about the advice is that it isn't just theory--it's actionable. You can take the content and use it wherever you are and whatever you do, whether it's coming up with a bold plan to take your company or team to the next level, or approaching your boss about a special individual project. This advice would be especially helpful to recent high school or college graduates eager to excel. If "100 meaningful ideas a week" sounds impossible, or desirable, this is the book you need to read. It can be a little difficult changing the way you think about yourself and your creativity, but this author's writing style is easy and encouraging. As a matter of fact, this book would be a great addition to a classroom or book club discussion. My favorite section is on stigmas, how to identify them, and how to erase them. Everyone can use a little more creativity, and Your Next Big Idea: Improve Your Creativity and Problem-Solving by Samuel Sanders is the jumpstart to take it from stale to stellar.

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

How did a former host for NBC Sports' Golf Channel become a successful entrepreneur and celebrated public speaker? Kraig Kann shares his incredible journey to prominence and the techniques that have propelled his business to success in Can You Get Our Attention? Discover how to overcome life’s obstacles and gain the courage and self-belief to continue when your competitors do not. How can you set your business apart from others in your field and build a loyal customer base? Learn how to build a brand that is desirable, inviting, and professional. The effectiveness of every strategy has been tried and tested by Kraig and his many students. From building a reliable following, understanding trends so you remain relevant to social media marketing, and powerful communication techniques, Kraig’s methods will ensure your business will be built on a strong foundation that will withstand increasingly fierce competition while maintaining its excellent reputation.

Can You Get Our Attention? by Kraig Kann is an incredibly helpful and insightful read. What sets Kraig’s guide apart from other guides in this genre is the layout. I loved how he covered a subject in-depth and used his own experiences to highlight how these methods worked. His section on effective communication was superb and I resonated with his thoughts completely: ‘There are a lot of people who talk. There are very few who actually say something.’ He encourages a strong self-belief and confidence in your abilities by focusing on human psychology in depth. His strategies are effective to help you maintain an optimistic and driven mindset when you have to face obstacles. The questions Kraig asks throughout are terrific and make you face problems or self-doubt logically. I thought the sections on using social media and understanding what makes a customer choose a product or service were brilliant.

There were also many encouraging and powerful pearls of wisdom throughout the guide. This was my favorite: 'You can work to be comfortable, or you can work to be outstanding for you and others. It’s your choice to make.’ His advice on setting and achieving goals was so simple and easy to implement. His advice on public speaking was absolutely amazing too, especially his insights into overcoming fear. Kraig’s style of writing is straightforward and to the point and a reminder that entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted but for those who will remain strong in the face of challenges. I strongly believe that taking Kraig’s techniques on board, building your brand is certainly going to be far less daunting.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

I Wrote A Book. Now What? by Beth Carter is a non-fiction self-help guide for those who are in the process of or have completed their manuscript and are ready to present it to the world. Carter provides an insider's mentorship and the tools necessary to take a reader's own book and get it into the hands of a publisher, and then hopefully readers themselves. The book begins with Carter's own journey, something she returns to throughout the guide and peppers alongside the more practical advice. This book runs the gamut from the absolute basics of writing to the more polished aspects, and how to create authentic prose with real-life experiences. There are loads of gems that follow, such as buying your name as a domain, pitching your wares, and even the choices between self-publishing and the traditional route, among many, many other tips.

Although she has written over a dozen books, having I Wrote A Book. Now What? fall into my lap introduced me for the first time to Beth Carter. I am not an author, just an avid reader, which in many ways works in my favor as I have no preconceived notions on what should or should not be done. I just know that I like to read good books, and I do not like to read unpolished ones of questionable quality. Carter writes in the comfortable style of a friend sitting down to chat over coffee. There is nothing patronizing or judgmental in her discourse, and her encouragement throughout should be enough to draw in the most apprehensive writers. As a layperson, I gained a massive amount of insight into the art of the craft and, as a result, my appreciation could not possibly be higher. I also learned that she has written a pandemic cookbook which pretty much cements her awesomeness in my own mind. I believe this book has all of the right tools to provide a road map to writers from all walks of the literary world.

Reviewed by Erin Nicole Cochran for Readers' Favorite

Rohit Bhargava’s non-fiction business book, Non Obvious Megatrends, is a treasure trove of brilliantly predicted trends that are set to change the face of society, if not the faces of the individuals around us, although hopefully not in any literal sense. One of my favorite quotes within Non Obvious Megatrends is: “Trends can help us anticipate the future and change what we do and think.” And Non Obvious Megatrends does just that; it will ultimately and entirely change how you view the can’t-sit-still-for-a-second technological world that we’ve been living in for the past two decades or longer. Its narrative is sharp, witty and understandable.

After reading Rohit Bhargava’s Non Obvious Megatrends, I felt more intelligent. I doubt if my IQ went up, but what you feel about yourself is more important than the reality of what someone might put down on paper. One of the things that I really liked was that Non Obvious Megatrends is a continuously revised edition. By the time most authors put something out, it’s already outdated by however many months. To me, this felt very in line with what we’re seeing today as a society. Bhargava includes several advances in technology in other countries that many may not know. One that stayed with me was a “slow checkout line” in Scotland, designed to be used by patrons who are elderly or physically and mentally disabled so that they won’t be rushed by other customers. Another ingredient that always resonates with me personally is the use of quotes and newly coined terms. Some from bygone brilliant minds and those still present, bridging the past to the present. Rohit Bhargava’s Non Obvious Megatrends is a book you won't put down, and it’s one that you can count on to continuously be updated.

Reviewed by Erin Nicole Cochran for Readers' Favorite

Act Like an Author, Think Like a Business: Ways to Achieve Financial Literary Success by author Joylynn Meleke Ross is filled with inventive ideas and routes to creating a business out of your books. The tone feels so close to you and the recommendations right to the point without any added fluff that it resonates in a way that feels like unadulterated gospel. One of the many admirable quotes within Act Like an Author, Think Like a Business, in reference to an individual’s work, is: “It not only entertains, but it teaches. It encourages. It moves the world. It motivates the world.” Her book spoke to me as a person and as a writer, just as I know it will speak to you and open doors and capabilities you didn’t know you had within yourself.

Act Like an Author, Think Like a Business, by author and entrepreneur Joylynn Meleke Ross, touched me in a lot of ways. I enjoyed how she tied religious aspects into her book; it brought a whole new dimension and a different thought perspective in myself. It is not preachy in any sense of the word. It’s inspiring. Not having read many pages of the Bible myself, I always find passages or quotes from the Bible a bit exciting and new, instead of old hat. There is so much to be offered within this book. Joylynn Meleke Ross also offers many links and Facebook groups that you can join to learn more information. She truly wants you to be successful as a writer and as a business, which is inspiring in and of itself. Grab this book quickly. I think before long you will see Act Like an Author, Think Like a Business on a bestseller list.

Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite

The 60 Minute Startup: A Proven System to Start Your Business in 1 Hour a Day and Get Your First Paying Customers in 30 Days (or Less) by Ramesh K Dontha is a ground-breaking book that proposes a proven methodology in starting and running a successful business in just one hour every day for 30 days. This may sound impossible, but the serial entrepreneur takes the reader on a step-by-step path that explains how this works. In this book, the author explains the concept of “agile entrepreneurship” and shows readers how they can use it to start their business online and get their first customers in a very short time. There is a lot of information and tips in this book and readers will learn what they need to identify and focus on strong ideas that win, pinpoint their unique marketing strengths and learn how to use these to win customers, find the tools to beat wasting time and other resources, and a lot more.

Even if you never planned to start a business online, Ramesh K Dontha makes you want to start one. The message in this book is so unmistakably clear that it helps readers find clarity with their own thoughts and understand the opportunities that are there for them. The accessibility in language and the confident writing reflect the authority of the author. From knowing how and where to start to creating customers and selling what people want to buy, from finding one’s unique value proposition to asking the most important questions, from tips on pricing, setting up shop online to protecting one’s success and much more, the author offers advice that wannabe entrepreneurs and existing ones need to know. It is intelligently written, easy-to-read, and packed with valuable information.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Analytics of Life: Making Sense of Data Analytics, Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence is a work of non-fiction in the business and technology sub-genres, and was penned by author Mert Damlapinar. As the title and subtitle suggest, the subject matter of the work concerns the growing field and practices of data analytics, but it also intends to teach readers exactly what AI is and how it is used in different business circumstances. Managers, strategists, entrepreneurs, consultants, and many more influential figures in both small and big businesses can find valuable information and reputable sources to back it up. What results is a fully comprehensive guide to applying data analytics in any business and joining the revolution.

Author Mert Damlapinar has crafted the ultimate authority on AI and the fast-paced world of data analytics, and it is indeed an essential guidebook for anyone looking to explore the field in much greater detail and adapt these new technologies to their own business lives. One of the things which I appreciated most was that the technical jargon is kept to a minimum and always well explained, which means that laypersons are guided through the information to become knowledgeable instead of feeling left out of the loop. I liked the inclusion and discussion of different sources from publications and universities too, which gives a well-rounded viewpoint of the place of AI and data analytics in the wider world right now. Overall, I would highly recommend Analytics of Life for all readers, whatever their knowledge level, to learn more about this fascinating field and its implications and implementations in the business world.

Reviewed by Randy B. Lichtman for Readers' Favorite

For anyone in sales looking to progress to the next level, Next Level Selling: The Definitive Guide to Closing High Dollar Deals by Tom Fedro has some excellent fundamental lessons worth reading. Though the book states “Next Level Selling”, its lessons really are good for anyone selling to any level of business. The most valuable strategy explored in the book is known as PAM, a simple yet effective qualifying formula. Qualifying prospects is extremely important as it allows the salesperson to know the amount of time and effort to focus on with the prospect—or it may not even be a solid prospect.

In addition to discussing the PAM Qualification methodology and its practical use, the book is effective in covering many other important areas of the sales process: putting together an effective marketing program; the five sales personalities and how to manage them; and important infrastructure (including technology) which needs to be in place to support the sales efforts. Objections are often the symptom of the seven significant barriers a company could face and the book explores ways to deal effectively with them. In addition, common mistakes in selling are discussed and how to correct them. Finally, many companies do not properly investigate and know how to compete effectively with their competition and this book gives ways to research and plan strategies to beat them.

Next Level Selling: The Definitive Guide to Closing High Dollar Deals by Tom Fedro provides practical information supported by the use of actual case studies from his company to improve the efficiency of salespeople looking to increase the quality of their sales using the effective PAM qualification system. Excellent book for new and experienced salespeople! I am glad I had the opportunity to read and review it.

Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite

Writing can be challenging and scary yet rewarding, whether you're creating a proposal, grant, or resume. When writing, you must keep the purpose of the written material at the forefront - to influence an audience. With Write to Influence! by Carla D. Bass, Colonel, USAF (Ret), you can overcome any of these obstacles. Carla has taken nuggets from her training programs to develop this power-packed second edition that is designed to be your go-to guide for any type of writing assignment. The reader will learn through Carla's processes and procedures everything necessary about becoming a successful writer - from developing a solid framework and word sculpting to learning the essential elements for writing to influence your intended audience. This book is a must and highly recommended.

I loved Write to Influence! because Carla D. Bass does not overwhelm the reader but instead provides the material in bite-size chunks that are easy to learn and digest. The way that she structured the material gives the feeling of an instructor or educator guiding you through the process and being right by your side, step by step, as you formulate your written piece. Carla really breaks it down and challenges the reader on how to create a bid proposal, grant, report or resume, and much more but she doesn't stop there. To ensure that the reader thoroughly understands the material, she gives a quiz and exercises to test your skills at the end of the book. With this type of book in your library, you can't go wrong. Enjoy!

Reviewed by Rabia Tanveer for Readers' Favorite

Marketing on Fleek: How to Make Your Marketing & Professional Efforts Count in A Customer-Centric World by Kobi Ben Meir is a self-help book for aspiring marketers. The author shares his journey, how he came to this land of opportunities, and became a successful marketer. He takes his personal experiences, makes them the basis for this book, and gives readers the necessary tools to become successful. He shares pro-tips and advice right from his life experience and allows the reader to make the best of the information provided. You will find practical information to understand the market, how you can make something new work, and how to survive in a competitive market. This book will be perfect for small business owners who are struggling to enhance their marketing by using examples from this book. Readers will learn about current trends in marketing, how to market an online business, understanding customer behavior, and how to make marketing foolproof.

Marketing on Fleek deserves to be read from cover to cover. I was invested in the book from the moment Kobi Ben Meir shared his story. He made it a personal dialogue between the reader and himself. That elevated the whole experience for me. While the author made the information easy to understand, he gave excellent examples for readers to understand marketing better. The book is jam-packed with information that will help aspiring marketers understand the current trends in marketing and advertising. Kobi Ben Meir kept the flow going but understated; he allowed the reader to set their own pace and go with what feels right. I loved this approach. This is brilliant, educational, and real-life applicable. Helpful and educational.