Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-05-31
May 31, 2009 by Christian · Comments Off
- How to get the most out of Twitter #Hashtags. http://TwitPWR.com/fiV/ #
- 7 ways to be happier at work. Great tips from Jeff Stibel at HarvardBusiness.org. http://TwitPWR.com/fj6/ #
- How to use market research in a recession. Excellent article from John Quelch at HarvardBusiness.org. http://TwitPWR.com/fv6/ #
- Why you should encourage weakness. Peter Bregman with awesome insight! Excellent! http://TwitPWR.com/fv8/ #
- Business partners often behave like dysfunctional spouses. There’s a better way. http://TwitPWR.com/fvb/ #
- Want to keep your job? Stop trying to fit in. Peter Bregman always an excellent read. http://TwitPWR.com/fv9/ #
- Twitter images. The ultimate collection of backgrounds and themes. Pretty cool! http://TwitPWR.com/fve/ #
- Use green to grow (not just cut costs). Nicholas Eisenberger and Ted Grozier at HarvardBusiness.org. http://TwitPWR.com/fv7/ #
- How to shop for a bank for your business from the Wall Street Journal. http://TwitPWR.com/fvc/ #
- Gazing into the Twitterverse from Brian Solis. http://TwitPWR.com/geN/ #
- Smart Networking and the Art of the Ask. Liz Lynch always a good read. http://TwitPWR.com/geM/ #
- The #1 conversion killer in your copy (and how to beat it). Funny and so true. Thanks Sonia! http://TwitPWR.com/geL/ #
- The golden rule of online marketing. Brian Clark gives no non-sense advice. http://TwitPWR.com/geK/ #
- Screwed up your blog? Here’s what to do. From Jonathan Morrow at CopyBlogger.com. http://TwitPWR.com/geJ/ #
- 60+ great “how to” sites and resources. http://TwitPWR.com/geG/ #
- YouTube.100+ tools & resources to enhance your video experience. http://TwitPWR.com/geF/ #
- The art of artlessness: On living simply and naturally. Great read. http://TwitPWR.com/geE/ #
- How to let go and forgive. Amazing, awesomeness from Leo Babauta at zenhabits.net! http://TwitPWR.com/geC/ #
- 3 Ways to get more done with the power of less. Great article from Jerry Kolber at zenhabits.net! http://TwitPWR.com/geB/ #
- Google Wave. A complete guide from Ben Parr at Masahable.com. http://TwitPWR.com/geA/ #
- Top 18 social media resources for developers. http://TwitPWR.com/gez/ #
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Prime Witness
May 31, 2009 by Joint Venture Marketing · Leave a Comment
Prosecutor Paul Martini thinks that he has found the murderer of six people, but when no evidence links the suspect to the last two slayings, Paul realizes that another brutal killer is still free. By the author of Compelling Evidence. 85,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Enjoyable but don’t look for plausibility
I made the mistake of reading this immediately after polishing off Compelling Evidence (the 1st one in the series; Prime Witness is the 2nd). Steve Martini’s verbal tics and catch-phrases started to grate after I ran across them over and over again. That said, I found it an entertaining read, especially the courtroom scenes. Martini brings those vividly to life, and the constraints of the setting mean that his wilder flights of plotting fancy are kept (mostly) under control while we’re safely in court.
Which brings me on to another of my grumbles about this book: the characterisation is way over the top. We meet too many characters who are either angelic (for instance Sarah, Madriani’s sentimentally idealised daughter) or totally and one-dimensionally given over to wickedness. And as for the judges and their goings-on outside the courtroom… well, I had to laugh at the Grand Guignol implausibility. It makes for an irritatingly self-righteous authorial voice.
Despite all that, I’ll be reading the next in the series – but not until I’ve had a break from Martini, and the chance to forget some of his more annoying mannerisms.
3 Stars Too much information
Reading this book is like being stuck at a table with a number of lawyers at a social event…they’re alright on their own but, get them in a group, talking shop, and they’re the most boring people possible to anyone outside that legal circle. A serial killer is loose in a university town, killing couples in a vile, ritualistic fashion, when the bodies of yet another couple are found, supposedly killed in the same way. Paul Madriani is working as the town’s temporary Chief Prosecutor when Andre Iganovich, a Russian immigrant, working as a security guard at the University, is arrested and charged with the murders. The details of the investigation and eventual solving of the crime is, no doubt, absolutely right, but to anyone who doesn’t work in criminal law, the legal minutiae is not only beyond the comprehension of the untrained mind, but is deadly dull into the bargain.
5 Stars Engrossing
What a great book. This is the first book I’ve ever read by Steve Martini and I can’t wait to start the next (Compelling Evidence). Prime Witness was engrossing from start to finish. My only reservation is that I would have liked to have seen a little more courtroom action. I don’t recall prime Witness being made into a motion picture, but it sure seems like a great candidate.
4 Stars excellente
I have refrained from reviewing Steve Martini’s books even after consuming a slew of them, mistakenly believing his work will speak for him.
It appears not!
For those who doubt his ability, and are content to take potshots, I recommend Prime Witness.
When a killer who was on the lam is caught over the border in Canada, there is relief in the community that the murderer has been caught. Now they want justice–justice for the the spate of double murders that took place over a period of months. Enter Paul Madriani and Adrian Chambers.
Paul has been appointed temporary DA of Davenport county, and is the lead prosecutor in this case; Adrian, his arch-enemy, will be defending Iganovicth, the alleged killer.
Getting Iganovitch convicted could be the least of Madriani’s woes, because he must deal with a possible copycat killer, the quicksand of county politics, two backstabbing justices, and an adversary for whom hitting below the belt is akin to a pat on the back.
Paul Madriani’s hope in all this is to find the elusive Prime Witness.
The book finishes on a high note; with a conclusion that leaves you with the stark reality: you’ve been following the wrong scent.
This book lacks the courtroom drama other books in the series have: That might be because Paul is playing in the wrong team–according to Harry Hinds. Instead there is a greater emphasis on the legal process.
I love the brief descriptions of the Coconut and the Prussian, the colorful painting of Chambers; the other characters enliven the story. I do have misgivings about the level of estrangement of Paul’s wife.
Like most books in this genre, this one is simply written, though unlike many others, of which I could name a few, this one is highly entertaining.
The Prime Witness is definitely worth a peek.
1 Star half star if I could
WOW was this book a stinker! I mean really…first of all I had to search for the name of the main character in the book. Second I didn’t realize that this was the second book in a series thus I was completely lost when Martini talked about things that happened in the first book. Also while I usually like first person books this one was just WAY to hard to follow. I felt that most of the characters that we met in the first book where not fleshed out in this one, again losing me. This was my first Martini book and it will most likely be my last.
The Legal Impact of Climate Change Leading Lawyers on Preparing for New Environmental Legislation Assessing Green Programs for Clients and Working with on Climate Change Issues Inside the Minds
May 30, 2009 by Joint Venture Marketing · Leave a Comment
The Legal Impact of Climate Change is an authoritative, insider’s perspective on the regulatory impact of potential climate change legislation and the challenges and opportunities these changes pose for clients. Featuring partners and chairs from some of nation’s leading law firms, these experts guide the reader through the recent environmental regulations that affect corporate operations and speculate on what further reform is expected in an effort to fight the threat of global warming. Emphasizing the importance of implementing strategies that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and increase the potential for greener enterprises, the authors offer advice on utilizing the media to publicize clients environmental efforts, developing sustainable relationships with government agencies, and assisting clients in auditing their current carbon footprints. Additionally, these leaders reveal their tips for on staying on top of new developments in the climate change arena and preparing clients for future compliance standards on the horizon. The different niches represented and the breadth of perspectives presented enable readers to get inside some of the great legal minds of today, as these experienced lawyers offer up their thoughts around the keys to success within this ever-changing field.
Inside the Minds provides readers with proven business intelligence from C-Level executives (Chairman, CEO, CFO, CMO, Partner) from the world’s most respected companies nationwide, rather than third-party accounts from unknown authors and analysts. Each chapter is comparable to an essay/thought leadership piece and is a future-oriented look at where an industry, profession or topic is headed and the most important issues for the future. Through an exhaustive selection process, each author was hand-picked by the Inside the Minds editorial board to author a chapter for this book.
Chapters Include:
1. Barry J. Trilling, Partner, Wiggin and Dana LLP – “Climate Change and Sustainable Development: Business Challenges and Opportunities and the Role of Lawyers in Meeting Them”
2. Richard R. Capozza, Chair, Energy and Utilities, and Environmental Practice Areas, Hiscock & Barclay LLP – “Climate Change Issues Affect Corporate Risks and Opportunities”
3. Arthur J. Clarke, Counsel, Herold and Haines PA – “Climate Change Ushers in a New Paradigm for Regulatory Compliance”
4. Matthew Coglianese, Partner and Director, Environmental and Green Construction Group, Peckar & Abramson – “Climate Change as a Growing Business Concern”
5. Dennis Cameron and Dale E. Cottingham, Shareholders, GableGotwals – “Preparing Now for Future Regulatory Impact”
6. Phillip L. Conner, Shareholder, McNair Law Firm PA – “The Major Climate Change Issues and Priorities”
7. Jay T. Waldron, Shareholder, Williamson & Wyatt – “Navigating Environmental Law for Client Success”
Money and Meaning URL New Ways to Have Conversations About Money with Your Clients A Guide for Therapists Coaches and Other Professionals
May 30, 2009 by Joint Venture Marketing · Leave a Comment
The first book of its kind to introduce a model to help you create conversations about money with your clients, Money and Meaning provides a framework and tools to provide a safe environment in which to have conversations and resolve conflicts. Written by a respected expert in business, financial, and relational issues, Money and Meaning is filled with useful case studies and helps you open the door to thoughtful conversations that explore and resolve money’s multiple meanings.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars A Easy Tool to allow people to discuss their values and money decisions
Because I had been shown how to use the cards that Judith Stern Peck describes in Money and Meaning, I was quickly able to adapt them to situations in my financial planning practise and understand how they are easily used and adapted to different situations.
By separating into two piles -the cards that are meaningful and those that are not meaningful to you – then selecting from the meaningful ones, the 4 that stand out most, one can begin to identify and have a language to talk about their most important values. By repeating this exercise as it relates to making a financial decision, one can begin to look at the differences in how financial decisions may be in alignment or very different from one’s core values. This is a non-threatening way for people to begin to reflect and then have meaningful conversation about it.
The book gave me some wonderful ideas about how to apply this technology to my client situations. The case studies made me think about my own values and how they may be impacting clients and potential clients. The case studies include single people, couples and parents in various situations.
Having had a head start with the cards, which are in the back of the book, I have used this with my partners, in a group retirement seminar and, of course, have been able to reflect on my own values and financial decisions.
I highly recommend the book to professionals who are working with clients and don’t know how to approach financial conversation in an open way with them. This will give good examples to draw upon.
It is also a good tool for anyone who wants to just take a look at their own values, their process in making financial decisions, how the two differ, if they indeed do. The book presents a way to gain insight and have conversation among family members, parents, children, business associates or life partners.
A worthwhile read and very worthwhile exercise!
3 Stars My professional opinion
This is a guide for therapists, coaches and other professionals who work with clients that need to unblock money communication issues in order to increase effectiveness in the receiver’s life.
Peck has a way to use cards and a process for using them to help clients align their values with money and then to use a second set of cards that will allow client’s to see where their last decision-making process about money is disconnected with their values alignment.
This process then allows the client to begin an open conversation about money with you. It also shows them how they can begin talking about money with other significant people in their life – spouse, other family members, even their accountant or financial planner.
The language the author uses isn’t at grade 8 level like newspapers or most books. It is written on a college or higher level which makes some parts of the book difficult for this reader to get the gist of unless read two or three times. I found the case studies much too wordy. A common issue found when if it were written tighter, the book would no longer be long enough for a book or they would need some additional filler material.
I did like learning about how to use the cards. I would have preferred a simpler outline summary in each chapter that said, Step 1, 2, etc. The case studies do show some practical applications that run a wide gambit of how to use it.
When I re-read each chapter, highlighted the “how-to apply” steps I could see a clearer picture.
Have patience with this book. Don’t think it will be a quick read. On the other side the methodology is very sound and great information to have if this could help your clients. It is another model to use.
I haven’t worked with it yet with clients. I will however be doing so after I re-write the information so it’s in a simpler format for me to go through the process.
Good bibliography in the back that lists some additional materials that I thought would be interesting to explore.
Catherine Franz
www.CatherineFranz.com
On Becoming a Person A Therapists View of Psychotherapy
May 28, 2009 by Joint Venture Marketing · Leave a Comment
On Becoming a Person A Therapists View of Psychotherapy
The late Carl Rogers, founder of the humanistic psychology movement, revolutionized psychotherapy with his concept of “client-centered therapy.” His influence has spanned decades, but that influence has become so much a part of mainstream psychology that the ingenious nature of his work has almost been forgotten. A new introduction by Peter Kramer sheds light on the significance of Dr. Rogers’s work today. New discoveries in the field of psychopharmacology, especially that of the antidepressant Prozac, have spawned a quick-fix drug revolution that has obscured the psychotherapeutic relationship. As the pendulum slowly swings back toward an appreciation of the therapeutic encounter, Dr. Rogers’s “client-centered therapy” becomes particularly timely and important.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Free Individual
The principles in the book ‘On Becoming a Person’ are good for anyone who loves all ideas on the Free Individual. Scientists who like theories of Personality must know this book.
2 Stars Not for beginners
This is not a book per se. It is a collection of lectures, speeches, talks, and papers from 1940 to this books original publication in 1961. Not really worth the price of admission. Go for one of Rogers more mainstream books. Not for beginners.
5 Stars A humble masterpiece
This book by Carl Rogers on client-centered therapy may lack the drama, the force or the cleverness associated with some books on other forms of psychotherapy. What it doesn’t seem to lack is a quiet wisdom that flowed from Rogers’ many years of experience and sensitivity to his patients.
Despite some redundancy, being a collection of papers and presentations from Rogers over many years, “On Becoming A Person”:
1) presents a branch of psychotherapy distinct from psychoanalysis and learning theories as well as from behaviorism, focused more on basically well people growing than on helping disturbed people get better.
2) is rooted in Roger’s positive view of human nature as basically good and constructive, as he discovered in encounters with his patients. Roger’s emphasis on empathic understanding, on not imposing theoretical speculations about the clients state of mind and on avoiding forceful interference would seem to avoid some of the abuses associated with some other psychotherapies.
3) presents ideas about the helping relationship that Rogers extended from psychotherapy into other areas such as education. Rogers’s nondirective approach suggested to him the possibility of a progressive education free of examinations, of grades, of conclusions, and even of teachers.
4) despite its “fuzziness”, Rogers does present some experimental evidence in favor of client-centered therapy as compared to those based on learning theory and behaviorism.
5) Rogers’ shows appreciation of the growing power of the behavioral sciences but expresses concern less this science, like other sciences, becomes manipulated by politicians to the detriment of people. He basically wonders, if a culture is to be designed, as Skinner had suggested, what safeguards there are on the designer.
Rogers may seem too rosy and to be cherry-picking his results. The kind of measurements he presents, such as a psychological test measuring “changes in the self” based on self reporting may seem too fuzzy. How long it takes, compared to other available approaches, to get effective change seems not to have been a primary consideration for Rogers and may explain the rise of more recent approaches like Cognitive Therapy and Constructive Living. As a lay person, I respect the humane treatment Rogers recommended toward those entering psychotherapy as clients.
A major contribution by Rogers seems to be his recognition that his clients were not objects to do things to but rather fellow people whose experience he could share in.
4 Stars EAsier view
I found this book a lot more enjoyable than most other psychotherapy books I’ve read and made getting through my psychotherapy class a lot easier
5 Stars Process vs Product
For this book, Carl Rogers assembled both original papers and revised papers, that he wrote between 1950 and 1961 for this book, to express his concepts of how one is ‘becoming a person’. It is an easy to read book and brings into focus much of the background to today’s self-help movement and the concept of ‘becoming a person’ rather than a finished product. The steps ‘to be that self which one truly is” (Soren Kierkegaard. He explains how change works as one grows into the unique individual who is very open, accountable, responsible and aware as well as the importatnce of empathy in our relationships especially within ourself. His work is as relevant today as it was then when it was very revolutionary. Do you know whether you see yourself as a process or a product? Give this a read and you may just find the answer for yourself.
How to Build an Irresistible JV Offer
May 28, 2009 by Christian · Comments Off
If you are convinced that a joint venture can lead to great profits and other benefits, you may be on the hunt for a potential JV partner. You have the enthusiasm, the spark, and the drive to make a joint venture work. However, the only thing missing is a partner. If you are going to recruit a JV partner to join your venture, you need to build an irresistible offer.
When you approach a potential partner for a joint venture deal, you’re really asking them, “Do you want to go into business together?” You must remember that they are already in business and the real barrier you need to break down is their resistance and skepticism to joint ventures. How do you do that? Here are some tips you should use to build an irresistible JV offer.
Build Rapport
As a business owner or entrepreneur yourself, you know that people like to do business with other people they trust. You must present yourself as a trustworthy and competent business partner. Therefore, before you can even begin presenting an offer, you must present yourself.
Talk a while with your potential partner. Perhaps treat them to a meal (all tax deductible, of course) where you can relax and get to know your potential JV partner. Find the common ground you share, whether it is being raised in the same state, growing up cheering for the Cowboys, or being the youngest of siblings. Your common ground is the basis for building rapport. Find that connection that gets you both on the same level and playing field.
WIIFM?
While you are making your proposal your potential JV partner is thinking, “What’s in it for me?” Your job, after establishing rapport, is to present exactly what’s in it for him. Well before you meet with your potential JV partner, you must create a list of benefits that he will enjoy. These benefits could be, but are certainly not limited to:
- More profits – Who doesn’t want to make more money in business? Show how the JV will put more money on his bottom line.
- Less work – One great thing about JVs is the sharing of resources. Sharing the work load means more time spent on developing his business or making money.
- Bigger customer base – Don’t forget that you both will be combining current customer bases and building a new one as well. Get him thinking about his future marketing contact list.
Show Specific Details and Data
Don’t give vague figures and ideas like, “This will be great! We’ll make lots of money!” You need to show specific details about how your proposed JV will succeed. Work up charts, graphs, tables, or any visual element that will help your target partner visualize the success of your proposal.
Remember to keep it simple. Though you want to provide specifics, keep the details simple to understand. A potential partner bogged down in a mire of confusing details may not be ultimately receptive to the proposal.
Your irresistible JV proposal is just the beginning of a potentially long-term relationship. Take the care it needs to develop into an attractive and stimulating offer. The result could be a “yes” on your JV proposal and great success with your venture!
Christian Fea is CEO of Synertegic, Inc. A Joint Venture Marketing firm. He exemplifies how to profit from Joint Venture relationships by creating profit centers with minimal risk and maximum profitability.
To discover more Joint Venture Marketing Strategies join his free Joint Venture Marketing Wealth Report.
How to Do Local History Research Write Publish A Guide for Historians and Clients
May 27, 2009 by Joint Venture Marketing · Leave a Comment
How to Do Local History Research Write Publish A Guide for Historians and Clients
Thinking of writing a history? Or commissioning one? Local historians, church and institutional historians, genealogists, thesis-writers, and the people who commission them will welcome “How To Do Local History”. It is a brief and lively introduction to historical research, writing and publishing by a leading historian. This book explains how to use books and archives, and is full of practical tips on ‘reading’ the landscape, on oral history and on using illustrations effectively. The last chapter takes historians and their clients through the intricacies of internet and conventional publishing, using case studies of real books to explain terminology, scheduling, design, costing and selling. Although written for a New Zealand audience, readers in other countries will also find it useful.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Packed cover-to-cover with practical tips, tricks, and techniques
Written by Gavin McLean (senior historian at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage) and illustrated with a handful of black-and-white photographs, How To Do Local History is a step-by-step guide for would-be local history writers. From how to handle “difficult” or touchy issues in local history, to formulating the right questions to ask while doing research, to investigating both online and offline historical resources, and considerations to keep in mind when publishing – whether just publishing on a website or printing up a book – How To Do Local History is a seminal primer ideal for genealogists, church and institutional historians, thesis writers, and the people who commission them. “Develop an economical writing style in which you 1) tell the main story and ignore most of the historical sidetracks; and 2) cut the waffle. Compression requires self-discipline and hard work, but the results are worth it. Use your computer’s word-counting tool… Rewriting is the key to successful writing. And the key to rewriting is reduction.” Though written especially with a New Zealand audience in mind, How To Do Local History is packed cover-to-cover with practical tips, tricks, and techniques sure to prove useful regardless of the reader’s background.
Too Many Clients A Nero Wolfe Mystery
May 26, 2009 by Joint Venture Marketing · Leave a Comment
Too Many Clients A Nero Wolfe Mystery
The Arraignment
May 26, 2009 by Joint Venture Marketing · Leave a Comment
“Lean, speedy and packing a wallop of a plot twist” was Publishers Weekly’s verdict of Steve Martini’s The Jury. Now Martini crafts yet another legal nail-biter featuring perennial favorite attorney Paul Madriani.
After a lawyer friend is killed along with his client in a hail of gunfire outside the federal courthouse in San Diego, Madriani takes on another client who he believes is involved at the edges of the double murder. He takes the case not to defend the man, but to find out who killed his friend and why. Madriani is tortured by questions of conflict, his duty to a client who may have killed his friend, and the need to know the truth, wondering whether he himself had been marked for death only to have a friend die in his place. Soon he is drawn into a vortex of crime that spans the Americas.
As he searches for the killer, Madriani rides the crest of a dangerous wave of international drug deals and people who murder for money. Suddenly he realizes it is not heroin or cocaine that resulted in the murder of his friend, but a priceless piece of pre-Columbian art-something so dazzling in the information it holds as to be one of the treasures of the ages.
In a quest that takes Madriani from California to Mexico and the Guatemalan border, he discovers that while the motive to kill may be driven by distant, exotic, and ancient artifacts, the killer, like a serpent, lies much closer at hand.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars The Arraignment
This story starts off a little slow. You get to know the characters and get a feel for the setting. It is all based around this lawyer named Nick who gets killed. And how his friend Paul Madrini tries to help find out who did this. He gets into a couple of difficult situations in between.
Paul has to go through a whole bunch of people to find out all the missing links of the murder. He has to deal with insurance companies and Nick’s wives. Both his ex wife and his widowed wife. You have to sit tight and make it through the beginning chapters before the story really starts to pick up.
Once you start getting towards the end of this book the story starts to move at a very quick pase. When in the beginning you wanted to just put the book aside, but now yo0u can’t put it down. There are some pretty crazy action scenes towards the and then it happens. You find out who killed Nick and all the other guys and boy does it surprise you.
3 Stars Lawyers as Action Guys
This was my first Steve Martini book and I listened to the audio version. The audio is an abridged version so I am always a bit apprehensive as to what was left out.
I found the story to be interesting and it moved quickly. It was OK for light entertainment which is what I listen to when I am on the road and need to stay awake.
There were some technical errors concerning the weapons and their usage and the bad guys were really bad guys. I always have a little trouble with attorneys as action guys. I work with them all of the time (attorneys) and they are not very good as high speed low drag action oriented individuals.
But, I would definitely read another Martini book with the protagonist Paul Madriani.
3 Stars Some good spots here, but they are marred by the bad
Martini is an author that never quite gets it right. All of his books have some moments of high suspense and esoteric thoughts. In fact some of the action scenes here are written in a manner that escalates him to the top of the writers heap (though Martini does go over the top into the silly realm every once and a while). If you read this book, look for some of the more nuanced and downplayed moments of tension and think about how cleverly created they are. Madriani, the protagonist, is not often found in gun fights with dozens of soldiers and facing increadible odds. Instead, Martini places Madriani in smaller, more plausible predicaments and it works very very well. I wish that other authors who can hold a plot together a little better would take note of Martini’s gifts and incorporate them into their own works.
On the down side, the plot is terrible. It is not so apparant as you read the book, for Martini does a fine job of keeping you wondering exactly what is going on til the end. But when you reach the end and look back at what you have just read, I dare you to attempt to piece it together and call the actions of the characters here as lucid or rational. The more I think about the story, the more I wonder at the motives and resolutions and thus the less I enjoy the contemplation.
This is brain dead reading material here. Its fun, it clips along, and it will pass a few hours. Beyond that it is something to be avoided. Especially because their are so many better authors and books out there. Try Harlan Coben’s more recent titles, early Carl Hiassan, Dennis Lehane (Mystic River), or Patricia Cornwells first five or so novels.
2 Stars Not so much court-based…
I’ve read the whole Madriani’s episodes and I think this is the less interesting. In general, Steve Martini is really bright in portraying the defense-prosecutor in court fight. All of his “trial-based” books are very entertaining. I can’t say the same of this one – that is, in fact, a bit “far” from Martini’s usual milieu. It is, nevertheless, a good reading, but don’t expect Madriani at his best!
2 Stars It Happens in the Epilogue
Arraignment was my first Steve Martini book, and I followed the convoluted plot with interest. Much of the plot was implausible but still interesting and worth the time. However, when the denouement occurred in the epilogue, I was stunned. Mr. Martini ends the last chapter of his book with loose ends everywhere. This forces him to give the reader information in the epilogue that he has omitted in the plot. I will give Mr. Martini’s work one more chance, but I would not recommend Arraingment.
Creating Rainmakers The Managers Guide to Training Professionals to Attract New Clients
May 25, 2009 by Joint Venture Marketing · Leave a Comment
Creating Rainmakers The Managers Guide to Training Professionals to Attract New Clients
Every manager of a professional firm realizes that generating leads and landing new clients are critical components of any successful business venture. But transforming accountants, architects, attorneys, consultants, engineers, and other professionals into client-generators is not always easy to do.
Divided into two comprehensive parts-The Rainmaker Model and The Elements of Rainmaking-Creating Rainmakers outlines all the steps you should take to turn your professional staff into a powerful team of sales winners.
Filled with in-depth insight and practical advice, this book will show you how to:
* Generate leads
* Build a strong network of contacts
* Master a variety of sales techniques
* Develop capable successors to current rainmakers
* And much more
Based on more than 100 interviews with the principals of professional firms, including many of today’s preeminent rainmakers, this valuable guide has the information you need to help your company succeed.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars A fascinating and thought-provoking book
I am a consultant in a company which does not have an organised rainmaker system (yet). As such, much of what I read in this book was new to me and I have discussed its contents with my boss. I think that this book will help us to improve our business. It is full of insightful ideas.
5 Stars A bible for the training of business development staff.
I used this book in the planning of a training program for business development activities at the engineering/surveying firm, Psomas and Associates. We needed a training program for every level of staff from principals to marketing support staff. This book was amazing! It made the job sooooooo much easier! The information in this book was nothing short of inspiring and the success we are having in the program is testimony to the quality of the ideas and programs described in the book. I recommend it very, very highly!
5 Stars Who doesn’t need a little rain?
I am the author of the book Futures For Small Speculators and Single Stock Futures For Small Speculators as well as the president of Liverpoolgroup.com.
Our focus is in the futures, commodities, and option business. We trade oil, cattle, gold, currency etc. And each one of our employees is an “independent” contractor. The problem with that is the fact that often times this very independent entrepreneurial group has a hard time working together to develop client relationships.
Everyone is competing against everyone else. There is little to no synergy or teamwork.
This book showed me MANY examples of how to guide and direct the individuals of the group to be more cooperative with one another and how to help them make more money. I was astonished that I was doing somethings right, but the things that I was doing right were being negated by the actions I was doing wrong. Over and over again Mr.Harding says that rainmakers get in their own way when it comes to training other potential rainmakers and he is right! If I had not read this book I would have lost some valuable members of my team due defection.
This is a great book and was a joy to read. One reading is not enough. This book must be read three to four times with a highlighter and a notepad- so you can write down the numerous ideas that will occur to you as you read the book. Then keep this book as a reference that you can go back to time and time again.
4 Stars Rainmakers function better in a forest
By thinking of Rainmakers as separate from the organization, the firm severely limits its potential and actual benefits from the rainmaker’s efforts. This book is valuable for training potential rainmakers, but probably more useful in helping the firm to understand what the rainmaker is doing, why and how they can help. By focusing the energy of the firm on rainmaking, a much more powerful force will be generated to serve existing clients and encourage new business. This book provides a good basis for creating this new synergy for the firm.
5 Stars The ONE Guide to Read
Of all the books available on business development in the professions, this is the best of the best. Concise, practical yet never simplistic, Ford Harding hits the strategic issues of business development, then ties the issues to solid implementable actions. As an advisor to CPA and law firms, I consider this book to be the “course textbook” for learning the subject matter quickly. Professionals don’t have time for volumes of thick how-to manuals. Give it to them straight and quickly. This book does that. Every page unlocks another important concept in business development. When finished the reader not only knows the subject, but knows what to do next. Instead of throwing the book in a cabinet, it should be kept in a handy place, and as the professional becomes more experienced, it can take him/her to the next level of understanding, and to the highest reaches of successful rainmaking. A must read for any professional who wants to grow their practice.
