Scott's bookshelf: all en-US Thu, 17 Apr 2025 08:19:40 -0700 60 Scott's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Brute Force 123416781
Growing up in the aftermath of an apocalyptic event known as "The Bad Week" hasn't been easy for Cross Agarwal. Decades ago, in a world before The Bad Week, he would have been graduating from college, starting a career, and living on his own. But in a post-apocalyptic time when mankind is in ruins and on the verge of self-destruction, Cross works in his father's subterranean cobra farm, tries to avoid getting involved in the turf war between his town and the Southern Basin, and wonders if his future will ever be anything but bleak. When a group of aliens appears by surprise and invites a select group of humans to join them, it could be Cross's chance to not only find his own place in the universe, but to also help prove that humanity is good for more than just violence.]]> 352 Scott Meyer 1950056082 Scott 0 currently-reading 4.04 2023 Brute Force
author: Scott Meyer
name: Scott
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Nameless Sovereign 1: A Cultivation Progression Fantasy]]> 216166220 Gods. Devils. Men. Red will surpass them all.

Red wakes without memories in a cursed prison � the moonstone mines. To escape, he embraces a dark power that would put him in the crosshairs of cultivation sects if discovered. He must disguise his true abilities while racing to advance his cultivation � outpacing the moonstone mines� deadly curse.

But cultivating is more than just a pursuit of survival. Red seeks the strength to understand the nature of his mysterious power and the truth behind his own forgotten past.

A weak to very strong cultivation adventure with well-earned, realistic progression.

Dive into an epic xianxia cultivation story perfect for fans of A Thousand Li, Desolate Era, I Shall Seal the Heavens, and Cradle!

First on Royal Road with over 2 million views, now professionally edited and available on Amazon and Audible narrated by Griffin Puatu. Buy a copy or read free with Kindle Unlimited!]]> 618 Nameless Author 1956021655 Scott 0 to-read 4.21 Nameless Sovereign 1: A Cultivation Progression Fantasy
author: Nameless Author
name: Scott
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Last Steward (Galaxy in Flames #1)]]> 211063361 From the embers of a galaxy in flames, destiny calls upon an unknown guardian.

Captain Axel Finn has spent his life running salvage missions with an alien crew and their war bot. This motley group has found refuge on his ship from their own tumultuous pasts. But little do any of them know, beneath his gentle demeanor, their steadfast captain is far from the peace following, adventure seeking giant of a man they all love. His pacifist ethos meant to safeguard them has edged them to the brink of financial ruin and drawn dangerous enemies.

Forced into a risky salvage operation, the crew uncovers an alien relic not of this galaxy.

Expecting treasure to pay their debts, they instead find an artifact of the Wrath, an extraterrestrial species that once decimated entire worlds. To decipher the true nature of their discovery, Axel seeks Rangnar Soki, a deadly bounty hunter famous for his pursuit of the Stewards—legendary warriors who stood against the Wrath in bygone days. But as the mystery of this artifact deepens, and hunters close in, an old enemy threatens to set the galaxy ablaze.

Axel must accept his legacy and unleash the monster within or watch everything he loves burn. ]]> 500 Nicholas Sansbury Smith Scott 2
Oh, they had "plasma swords" and power suits, but they didn't do anything special at all. In fact, rather than use orbital lasers (which they had) they dropped soldiers on the ground to fight hand to hand. It made for an exciting action scene but totally unrealistic.

It would have been better to make this a fantasy world than try to be sci-fi and have no tech integrated in your story.

Also, the big mystery of the main character was spelled out early in the book and the big finish wasn't set up at all. It was a deus ex machina ending.

Not reading the rest of the series.]]> 4.31 The Last Steward (Galaxy in Flames #1)
author: Nicholas Sansbury Smith
name: Scott
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/04/16
date added: 2025/04/17
shelves:
review:
The premise was interesting, but the world of this book was very disappointing. The aliens were all very human-like in culture and even eating the same things. The setting was far future on multiple planets--and their military had less tech than ours does today.

Oh, they had "plasma swords" and power suits, but they didn't do anything special at all. In fact, rather than use orbital lasers (which they had) they dropped soldiers on the ground to fight hand to hand. It made for an exciting action scene but totally unrealistic.

It would have been better to make this a fantasy world than try to be sci-fi and have no tech integrated in your story.

Also, the big mystery of the main character was spelled out early in the book and the big finish wasn't set up at all. It was a deus ex machina ending.

Not reading the rest of the series.
]]> <![CDATA[HBR Guide to Leading Teams (HBR Guide Series)]]> 24945392 192 Mary Shapiro 1633690415 Scott 3
The writing is very formal, but not overly complicated.

It's best and worst quality is that it's brief. You can read it quickly, but it doesn't have lots of specifics on each element. It's like reading an executive summary of the big ideas on team leadership.]]> 3.66 2015 HBR Guide to Leading Teams (HBR Guide Series)
author: Mary Shapiro
name: Scott
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/13
date added: 2025/04/15
shelves:
review:
This is a decent summary of the elements of team leadership, from getting diverse skills to setting shared standards to debriefing well.

The writing is very formal, but not overly complicated.

It's best and worst quality is that it's brief. You can read it quickly, but it doesn't have lots of specifics on each element. It's like reading an executive summary of the big ideas on team leadership.
]]> <![CDATA[Thinblade (Sovereign of the Seven Isles, #1)]]> 11698192 A newer cover for this ASIN can be found here

When second son Alexander Valentine loses his brother to an assassin’s arrow, he discovers that his family protects an ancient secret and reluctantly finds himself at the center of the final battle of a war that was supposed to have ended two thousand years ago.

Pursued by the dark minions of an ancient enemy, Alexander flees to the mountain city of Glen Morillian where he discovers that he is the heir to the throne of Ruatha, one of the Seven Isles, but before he can claim the throne he must recover the ancient Thinblade. Seven were forged by the first Sovereign of the Seven Isles and bound to the bloodline of each of the seven Island Kings in exchange for their loyalty to the Old Law. Each sword is as long as a man’s arm, as wide as a man’s thumb and so thin it can’t be seen when viewed from the edge. Thinblade is the story of Alexander’s quest to find the ancient sword, claim the throne of Ruatha and raise an army to stand against the enemy that has awoken to claim dominion over all of the Seven Isles.]]> 328 David A. Wells Scott 3
They even did the totally unrealistic partial reveal of critical information, only to have the mentor say, "That's enough for tonight. You're tired. I'll tell you more later." No one would actually accept that in real life, that's just the author artificially saving information for later.

Not horrible, but given all the other amazing books out there I'd recommend skipping this one.]]> 3.85 2011 Thinblade (Sovereign of the Seven Isles, #1)
author: David A. Wells
name: Scott
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/13
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves:
review:
I was disappointed to find this book written poorly. Not only was this full of classic tropes (young man from the a medieval countryside who discovers he is prophesied to fight the evil wizard...) the backstory was dumped all at once, the characters were all single-faceted who say exactly what they want, etc.

They even did the totally unrealistic partial reveal of critical information, only to have the mentor say, "That's enough for tonight. You're tired. I'll tell you more later." No one would actually accept that in real life, that's just the author artificially saving information for later.

Not horrible, but given all the other amazing books out there I'd recommend skipping this one.
]]> <![CDATA[The Steward Investor: Investing God’s Resources for Eternal Impact]]> 61171112 What if we could move deeper through the basic principles taught in most stewardship books, toward achieving the eternal and redemptive objectives of the True Owner? The Steward Investing God’s Resources for Eternal Impact is not just another stewardship book about competent money management or generosity. Instead, using scripture and real-world examples, it helps us discover our duty as God’s money managers and provokes us to invest differently. Challenging modern temporal financial planning constructs, like maximizing financial returns and minimizing risk for ourselves, it shows how we can optimize positive, enduring outcomes for all stakeholders, including employees, communities, and the planet, all while advancing the kingdom of God.

Simmons directs readers to adopt a wholistic view of investing that aligns with Great Commission and Great Commandment outcomes. You will be challenged and inspired to reevaluate your portfolio and to start your own journey toward investing for eternal impact as God’s steward investor. Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money. . . . Tell them to go after God . . . to be rich in helping others. . . . If they do that, they’ll build a treasury that will last. (1 Tim 6:17-19, MSG) ]]> 308 Donald Simmons 1613148461 Scott 0 currently-reading 4.48 The Steward Investor: Investing God’s Resources for Eternal Impact
author: Donald Simmons
name: Scott
average rating: 4.48
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Experience Jesus. Really: Finding Refuge, Strength, and Wonder through Everyday Encounters with God]]> 216052988 New York Timesbestselling author John Eldredge reveals the path of the "ordinary mystic," and invites readers into the refuge of experiencing deep, lasting,realcommunion with Jesus.

In this present age we are all becoming disciples of the Internet. We are addicted to distraction. We idolize our instant access to a never-ending avalanche of information. We think we're finally holding the keys to a better life.

But if that's true, why are we wrestling with ever-increasing levels of anxiety, dissatisfaction, and despair? The fact is, we live in a world of weary, skeptical pragmatism--and it's keeping us from experiencing the God we are dying without.

John Eldredge presents a powerful alternative to the soulless, disenchanted world we find ourselves living in the path of the ordinary mystic. Readers who join Eldredge on this journey will

regain childlike faith in the reality of God's constant, available presence to those who seek him;discover the biblical foundations for the mystical tradition in Christianity; andlearn practices, habits, and prayers that will transform their ability to hear the voice of Jesus in their day-to-day lives.

Every human yearns to return to Eden, to a state of unbroken communion with the God who created us for adventure and intimacy with him. The mystic is awake to the truth that God is still with us--and we experience the refuge of his powerful, healing presence if we learn to open our hearts to him.]]> 256 John Eldredge 1400208653 Scott 4
It gently walks you through the historical and biblical roots of encounters with God, from the grand to the daily conversations. It includes prayers you can try and exercises to slow yourself down to truly listen.

If you're not already a Christian, it won't explain any of the fundamentals so you probably shouldn't start here.

If you're not a beginner on spiritual encounters, then you'll probably won't learn anything new.

But if you're the person this book was written for, it could be a life changing thing to step from a Christian philosophy to an active relationship with God with daily dialogues.]]> 4.44 Experience Jesus. Really: Finding Refuge, Strength, and Wonder through Everyday Encounters with God
author: John Eldredge
name: Scott
average rating: 4.44
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves:
review:
This book is written for a very particular person: a Christian who has an intellectual faith and little to no experience with the emotional/mystical/supernatural.

It gently walks you through the historical and biblical roots of encounters with God, from the grand to the daily conversations. It includes prayers you can try and exercises to slow yourself down to truly listen.

If you're not already a Christian, it won't explain any of the fundamentals so you probably shouldn't start here.

If you're not a beginner on spiritual encounters, then you'll probably won't learn anything new.

But if you're the person this book was written for, it could be a life changing thing to step from a Christian philosophy to an active relationship with God with daily dialogues.
]]> <![CDATA[The Three Value Conversations: How to Create, Elevate, and Capture Customer Value at Every Stage of the Long-Lead Sale]]> 25704208 Bestselling authors reveal how B2B sale pros must engage with customers to command and control every step of long lead buying cycle



The most successful salespeople understand that they are fundamentally storytellers. The reality is that to succeed in sales, you need to master the art of customer conversation. The best story told in the best way will always win. Being remarkable and memorable in your conversations is very important—but it goes beyond great delivery. You must be able to articulate value.



The Three Value Conversations provides the tools and methods you need to differentiate yourself and your solutions from the competition, elevate value to the right decision maker, and maximize all sales opportunities across the entire long lead buying cycle. The audiobook teaches you how to:



� Create value for your prospects by identifying and advising them on problems, potential threats and missed opportunities
� Articulate why your prospects need to choose you over rival competitors
� Elevate the value of your offering to your prospect’s senior-level decision-makers
� Demonstrate the business and financial acumen required to make a compelling, credible business case for your solution
� Identify unconsidered needs that only your solution solves
� Embrace the natural tension that occurs between buyers and sellers to capture and protect the value of your opportunity from unnecessary discounting



Not just another sales process book, The Three Value Conversations equips you with practical, hands-on concepts for engaging prospects and customers at any moment in the buying cycle with the specific stories and skills to create, elevate, and capture value.]]> 0 Erik Peterson 1511312742 Scott 3
But the tactics of how to do each conversation well were all things other books have already explained--and done so better.

And then about halfway through the book I realized that all the examples and tactics apply to large public companies. That's not bad, per se, but I wish they had been clear on that from the beginning.

All that would have given them 4 stars, but the last third of the book included a long, boring section explaining public company accounting. (The idea of knowing these numbers as sales opportunities is interesting, but stopping to write a chapter to teach us the basics was distracting from the core book content and dry to read.)

All in all, it's not wrong, but I'd recommend other sales books over this one every time.]]> 3.97 2015 The Three Value Conversations: How to Create, Elevate, and Capture Customer Value at Every Stage of the Long-Lead Sale
author: Erik Peterson
name: Scott
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/13
shelves:
review:
There are some good ideas in this book. The core concept that there are 3 conversations to have with a client and what they are is insightful.

But the tactics of how to do each conversation well were all things other books have already explained--and done so better.

And then about halfway through the book I realized that all the examples and tactics apply to large public companies. That's not bad, per se, but I wish they had been clear on that from the beginning.

All that would have given them 4 stars, but the last third of the book included a long, boring section explaining public company accounting. (The idea of knowing these numbers as sales opportunities is interesting, but stopping to write a chapter to teach us the basics was distracting from the core book content and dry to read.)

All in all, it's not wrong, but I'd recommend other sales books over this one every time.
]]> <![CDATA[The 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life]]> 13129810 If you crossed Jason Bourne with Julia Child, you’d end up with Tim Ferriss.� � Marco Canora, Chef-Partner of Hearth & Terroir

�Wildly inventive.. [a] rangy, obsessive immersion in food and its many wonders. [T]he tools needed to learn to cook well can be deployed in every manner of endeavor, from skinning a deer to memorizing a deck of cards. The author distills them into minimal, learnable units and examines how to order the units so as to keep readers engaged in their endeavors. Ferriss is a beguiling guide to this process, at once charmingly smart aleck-y and deadly serious, and he aims to make readers knowledgeable and freethinking.� - Kirkus Reviews

"Tim Ferriss distills kitchen wisdom like a rotary evaporator on power surge. The results are potent, lucid, and delicious." - Nick Kokonas, Co-Owner, Alinea, Next, The Aviary

WHAT IF YOU COULD BECOME WORLD-CLASS IN ANYTHING IN 6 MONTHS OR LESS?

The 4-Hour Chef isn’t just a cookbook. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure guide to the world of rapid learning.

#1 New York Times bestselling author (and lifelong non-cook) Tim Ferriss takes you from Manhattan to Okinawa, and from Silicon Valley to Calcutta, unearthing the secrets of the world’s fastest learners and greatest chefs. Ferriss uses cooking to explain “meta-learning,� a step-by-step process that can be used to master anything, whether searing steak or shooting 3-pointers in basketball. That is the real “recipe� of The 4-Hour Chef.

You'll train inside the kitchen for everything outside the kitchen. Featuring tips and tricks from chess prodigies, world-renowned chefs, pro athletes, master sommeliers, super models, and everyone in between, this “cookbook for people who don’t buy cookbooks� is a guide to mastering cooking and life.

The 4-Hour Chef is a five-stop journey through the art and science of learning:

1. META-LEARNING. Before you learn to cook, you must learn to learn. META charts the path to doubling your learning potential.

2. THE DOMESTIC. DOM is where you learn the building blocks of cooking. These are the ABCs (techniques) that can take you from Dr, Seuss to Shakespeare.

3. THE WILD. Becoming a master student requires self-sufficiency in all things. WILD teaches you to hunt, forage, and survive.

4. THE SCIENTIST. SCI is the mad scientist and modernist painter wrapped into one. This is where you rediscover whimsy and wonder.

5. THE PROFESSIONAL. Swaraj, a term usually associated with Mahatma Gandhi, can be translated as “self-rule.� In PRO, we’ll look at how the best in the world become the best in the world, and how you can chart your own path far beyond this book.]]> 671 Timothy Ferriss 0547884591 Scott 4
Partly, it took so long because it's not a standard book with a single through line to read. He mixed multiple topics together, from learning how to learn languages to the science of weight loss to how to cook a particular dish.

Partly, it took so long because I would stop and try out some of the cooking dishes before continuing to read. To be clear, I haven't tried making all the meals in the book yet--that's not how I decided to define being done with the book.

And partly, it took me so long because it's not in an audio format, which makes sense given all the charts, images, etc. and it's a huge book, so I don't ravel with it. So I have limited time when I can sit and read a hardcopy book at home.

However, I'd say that it was worth the effort to read through this book. Maybe, though, I'd encourage you to give yourself the freedom to flip around and enjoy the sections you want without feeling the pressure to read it all.

That's the only reason this is 4 stars, not 5. It's so much that you can get lost or feel overwhelmed by the book. I think he would have been better off publishing 5-6 smaller books that were in a series. ]]> 3.94 2012 The 4-Hour Chef: The Simple Path to Cooking Like a Pro, Learning Anything, and Living the Good Life
author: Timothy Ferriss
name: Scott
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves:
review:
I have been picking away at this book since it first was publishes, 13 years ago, and I finally would say that I've "finished" reading it.

Partly, it took so long because it's not a standard book with a single through line to read. He mixed multiple topics together, from learning how to learn languages to the science of weight loss to how to cook a particular dish.

Partly, it took so long because I would stop and try out some of the cooking dishes before continuing to read. To be clear, I haven't tried making all the meals in the book yet--that's not how I decided to define being done with the book.

And partly, it took me so long because it's not in an audio format, which makes sense given all the charts, images, etc. and it's a huge book, so I don't ravel with it. So I have limited time when I can sit and read a hardcopy book at home.

However, I'd say that it was worth the effort to read through this book. Maybe, though, I'd encourage you to give yourself the freedom to flip around and enjoy the sections you want without feeling the pressure to read it all.

That's the only reason this is 4 stars, not 5. It's so much that you can get lost or feel overwhelmed by the book. I think he would have been better off publishing 5-6 smaller books that were in a series.
]]> <![CDATA[How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen]]> 112974860 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER � A practical, heartfelt guide to the art of truly knowing another person in order to foster deeper connections at home, at work, and throughout our lives—from the author of The Road to Character and The Second Mountain

As David Brooks observes, “There is one skill that lies at the heart of any healthy person, family, school, community organization, or society: the ability to see someone else deeply and make them feel seen—to accurately know another person, to let them feel valued, heard, and understood.�

And yet we humans don’t do this well. All around us are people who feel invisible, unseen, misunderstood. In How to Know a Person, Brooks sets out to help us do better, posing questions that are essential for all of us: If you want to know a person, what kind of attention should you cast on them? What kind of conversations should you have? What parts of a person’s story should you pay attention to?

Driven by his trademark sense of curiosity and his determination to grow as a person, Brooks draws from the fields of psychology and neuroscience and from the worlds of theater, philosophy, history, and education to present a welcoming, hopeful, integrated approach to human connection. How to Know a Person helps readers become more understanding and considerate toward others, and to find the joy that comes from being seen. Along the way it offers a possible remedy for a society that is riven by fragmentation, hostility, and misperception.

The act of seeing another person, Brooks argues, is profoundly creative: How can we look somebody in the eye and see something large in them, and in turn, see something larger in ourselves? How to Know a Person is for anyone searching for connection, and yearning to be understood.]]> 304 David Brooks 059323006X Scott 4
So, if you're looking for a place to start, an overview of the big ideas on how to make authentic human connections, then this is a great book. ]]> 4.09 2023 How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen
author: David Brooks
name: Scott
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/11
date added: 2025/04/12
shelves:
review:
There's not a ton new here, but Brooks is a great writer--both in that he chooses words that make things vivid and create emotional experience as well as he synthesizes a lot of ideas well.

So, if you're looking for a place to start, an overview of the big ideas on how to make authentic human connections, then this is a great book.
]]> <![CDATA[We, Humans - How subconscious narratives set us up to unhuman. Empowering seeds for reflection and action. Guided u-turns from confusion to clarity, from hurt to healing.]]> 216781353 “Great insight into everyday human behavior.�


“I love this book- it’s simple, and each chapter plants a little seed that then slowly but surely grows into a self-reflective seedling.�


Simple answers to complex adulting questions that we all have - why is humaning so difficult?



Drawing from her expertise as an IO psychologist as well as the foundations of human behavior and coaching science, author Ruchi Shah spotlights and normalizes adulting challenges into bite-sized idea seeds and usable micro-wisdoms.



We, Humans book is intentionally interactive. It is designed to generate cascading moments of relief and ease for the reader. It has 35 one-page non-bound chapters, a booklet with the author's tips, and a foldable easel for chapter display.



The chapters can be shuffled, shared, re-read, gifted, and placed on its easel for contemplation. Each chapter, in a conversational, non-preachy, non-shaming, and normalizing writing style, addresses a pain point common to many of us.



The book

Guided u-turns from pain to relief, from hurts to resilienceReminders of our innate goodnessCustomizable nudges to course-correctOpportunities to use our own intuitive intelligenceA place for all our voices and all our versions to feel welcomedA safe space for self-dialogueWays to articulate our humanness and understand others� humannessFitting and usable action steps for life-ing with certainty


]]> 76 Ruchi Shah Scott 4
The content is on how to "human better" by being more present and forgiving and intentional. I like some of it, disagree with some of it, was challenged to think by all of it.

And the format was amazing! It's not a traditional bound book, it's a book-shaped case. There is a booklet inside with the overview info and then each "chapter" is a removable piece, set in a frame. The frame even has built-in "legs" that you can bend out to make the book a desktop piece. You can decide which chapter to display in the case or even give one away if you think someone needs to read just that "chapter."

It's beautiful and the first real innovation on the physical book that I've seen since paperbacks were invented. ]]> 4.00 We, Humans - How subconscious narratives set us up to unhuman. Empowering seeds for reflection and action. Guided u-turns from confusion to clarity, from hurt to healing.
author: Ruchi Shah
name: Scott
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/10
date added: 2025/04/10
shelves:
review:
I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend--partly for the content and partly for the physical format of the book.

The content is on how to "human better" by being more present and forgiving and intentional. I like some of it, disagree with some of it, was challenged to think by all of it.

And the format was amazing! It's not a traditional bound book, it's a book-shaped case. There is a booklet inside with the overview info and then each "chapter" is a removable piece, set in a frame. The frame even has built-in "legs" that you can bend out to make the book a desktop piece. You can decide which chapter to display in the case or even give one away if you think someone needs to read just that "chapter."

It's beautiful and the first real innovation on the physical book that I've seen since paperbacks were invented.
]]> <![CDATA[New Sales. Simplified.: The Essential Handbook for Prospecting and New Business Development]]> 15863998 240 Mike Weinberg 0814431771 Scott 4
Mike is a good writer with real insight into the process. He gets specific--but doesn't aim for a script for all situations (which is unrealistic).

Note: it's a book about outbound sales (prospecting), what he calls "new sales." There are other books for inbound leads or selling to customer accounts--this is one is focused on "new sales."]]> 4.27 2012 New Sales. Simplified.: The Essential Handbook for Prospecting and New Business Development
author: Mike Weinberg
name: Scott
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/09
date added: 2025/04/10
shelves:
review:
It's a little bit dated at points (discussing the 2007-2008 financial crisis as a current event shaping sales) but the overall fundamentals are still good sales principles.

Mike is a good writer with real insight into the process. He gets specific--but doesn't aim for a script for all situations (which is unrealistic).

Note: it's a book about outbound sales (prospecting), what he calls "new sales." There are other books for inbound leads or selling to customer accounts--this is one is focused on "new sales."
]]> <![CDATA[The Golden Tower (Magisterium, #5)]]> 13612970
A generation ago, powerful mage Constantine Madden came close to achieving what no magician had ever achieved: the ability to bring back the dead. He didn't succeed... but he did find a way to keep himself alive, inside a young child named Callum Hunt.

Facing up to what he is, Callum has battled chaos and evil across four years of magical training at the Magisterium, eventually defeating the armies of chaos in an epic battle.

It came at a cost.

Now, triumphant and heartbroken, Callum Hunt has just about had enough, and is ready to complete his training. But the evil Callum faced has not given up just yet...]]> 256 Holly Black 0545522420 Scott 3
All in all, I enjoyed the series, but it wasn't a deeply thought out world and it clearly wasn't an ending that had been planned out from the beginning. There were no seeds planted earlier that we used to save the day at the end and there were no emotional call backs for the characters. :(]]> 4.01 2018 The Golden Tower (Magisterium, #5)
author: Holly Black
name: Scott
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/09
date added: 2025/04/10
shelves:
review:
The ending was actually a bit of a disappointment. The magic system got even more sloppy, with "new" methods that actually violated all the previous rules (with no explanation for why it worked this time). Some of the characters devolved into simplistic versions of themselves (especially the villain) and we quickly passed through the emotional moments at the end so it felt a bit rushed.

All in all, I enjoyed the series, but it wasn't a deeply thought out world and it clearly wasn't an ending that had been planned out from the beginning. There were no seeds planted earlier that we used to save the day at the end and there were no emotional call backs for the characters. :(
]]> <![CDATA[The Silver Mask (Magisterium, #4)]]> 13612968 200 Holly Black 0545522390 Scott 4 4.06 2017 The Silver Mask (Magisterium, #4)
author: Holly Black
name: Scott
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/08
date added: 2025/04/09
shelves:
review:
Fun continuation of the story. Lots of character growth, making up for a still pretty simplistic magic system even after 4 books.
]]> <![CDATA[The Bronze Key (Magisterium, #3)]]> 13612965 Magic can kill you.

Students at the Magisterium are supposed to be safe. Under the watchful eyes of the mages, they are taught to use magic to bring order to a chaotic world.

But now the chaos is fighting back. Call, Tamara, and Aaron should be worrying about things like pop quizzes and magic contests. Instead, after the shocking death of one of their classmates, they must track down a sinister killer� and risk their own lives in the process.

As Call, Tamara, and Aaron discover, magic can only be as good as the person who wields it. In evil hands, it has the capacity to do immeasurable harm, unless it is stopped in time.

In this striking third book of Magisterium, bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare present us with a school where anything, good or evil, can happen, and the only way to unlock the truth is to risk everything to find it.]]> 249 Holly Black 0545522315 Scott 4 4.08 2016 The Bronze Key (Magisterium, #3)
author: Holly Black
name: Scott
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/07
date added: 2025/04/08
shelves:
review:
The characters grow and change a lot in this one and the ending is very big. Fun YA series.
]]> <![CDATA[The Copper Gauntlet (Magisterium, #2)]]> 13612962
It’s not easy for Call . . . and it gets even harder after he checks out his basement and discovers that his dad might be trying to destroy both him and Havoc.

Call escapes to the Magisterium -- but things only intensify there. The Alkahest -- a copper gauntlet capable of separating certain magicians from their magic -- has been stolen. And in their search to discover the culprit, Call and his friends Aaron and Tamara awaken the attention of some very dangerous foes -- and get closer to an even more dangerous truth.]]> 264 Holly Black 0545522285 Scott 4 4.12 2015 The Copper Gauntlet (Magisterium, #2)
author: Holly Black
name: Scott
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/06
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves:
review:
Solid next adventure in the series. It continues to have great character development and not so great world building/magic system. The plot moves quickly and the characters keep me engaged. I'll read the next. :)
]]> <![CDATA[The Iron Trial (Magisterium, #1)]]> 20578940 295 Holly Black 0545522250 Scott 4 3.96 2014 The Iron Trial (Magisterium, #1)
author: Holly Black
name: Scott
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/05
date added: 2025/04/06
shelves:
review:
This was a fun YA magic adventure. Some of this is pretty classic story tropes (a boy in our modern world who is a social outcast discovers he has magic and goes to be tested for magic school). But there turned out to be some clever twists on the deal (e.g. he doesn't want to go to magic school). The world isn't especially well developed and the magic system is pretty basic at first, but the characters were really well developed and they carry the story to an interesting ending.
]]> <![CDATA[The Founder & The Force Multiplier: How Entrepreneurs and Executive Assistants Achieve More Together]]> 70922158
A Force Multiplier is a strategic partner for any entrepreneur, an invaluable asset to a Founder working toward building a thriving business. Known as an Executive Assistant or Chief of Staff, they are an entrepreneur's competitive advantage in accomplishing goals and scaling growth.

But what happens when a Force Multiplier is kept out of the conversation and left unfulfilled? And how does an entrepreneur work with their Executive Assistant without burning them out? In this updated version of The Founder & The Force Multiplier , Adam Hergenrother and Hallie Warner provide the candid insight they're known for. You'll learn the basics of forming a successful partnership, solutions to common communication challenges, and how to form a united vision that moves the business forward. You'll also learn how to plan for the future and lead together as Adam and Hallie share how they started several companies, created new content and training, and navigated growth over the past decade. This is a groundbreaking resource that will help you achieve more as individuals and be better together.]]> 274 Adam Hergenrother 1544534205 Scott 4
So, I had high hopes for this book--and it did a good job. What I loved most was how specific and tactical they got. It wasn't just vague encouragement, they did things like spell out their daily routines and showed how they handled some of the difficult parts of the job. It was authentic and vulnerable.

But I had to deduct a star because in the end they strongly urged people to follow their approach and work like them, from going to be early and getting early (even though only 10% of people are wired to be early morning people) and handling meetings the way they do (even though there are many other options for note taking and task reporting these days).

So, I strongly endorse the concept. Leaders, as soon as you can afford it, hire an assistant! And if you're wiring just like these two, then the tactics are going to be invaluable. But if you don't resonate with their methods, then don't worry. I've worked with assistants of crazy productive billionaires and genius start up founders who don't follow these tactics. ]]> 3.74 2019 The Founder & The Force Multiplier: How Entrepreneurs and Executive Assistants Achieve More Together
author: Adam Hergenrother
name: Scott
average rating: 3.74
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/03
date added: 2025/04/04
shelves:
review:
I have helped a lot of my CEO clients hire their first executive assistant--and my assistant and I have help the new pair to figure out their own working rhythm. I'm a big fan of this concept. When I got my first assistant it changed my life. (And that first assistant has gone on to become a leader in one of the most loved multi-billion dollar brands in the world.)

So, I had high hopes for this book--and it did a good job. What I loved most was how specific and tactical they got. It wasn't just vague encouragement, they did things like spell out their daily routines and showed how they handled some of the difficult parts of the job. It was authentic and vulnerable.

But I had to deduct a star because in the end they strongly urged people to follow their approach and work like them, from going to be early and getting early (even though only 10% of people are wired to be early morning people) and handling meetings the way they do (even though there are many other options for note taking and task reporting these days).

So, I strongly endorse the concept. Leaders, as soon as you can afford it, hire an assistant! And if you're wiring just like these two, then the tactics are going to be invaluable. But if you don't resonate with their methods, then don't worry. I've worked with assistants of crazy productive billionaires and genius start up founders who don't follow these tactics.
]]> <![CDATA[Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication]]> 214152124 Discover the ultimate guide on when (and how) to use virtual communication tools, from video to instant messaging and everything in between, written by management professor at The University of Texas at Austin and leading expert on virtual communication Andrew Brodsky.

Andrew Brodsky is here to tell you that, yes, that meeting could have been an email.

And that email? Maybe it should have been a voice memo (really!).

And your camera—it’s okay to turn it off, sometimes even better.

Many of us give far too little thought to how we communicate virtually at work—just going with the flow when we see another Zoom meeting has been added to our calendar or accepting the late night email chains as normal. And this has from employee burnout due to back-to-back-to-back video calls, to lack of connection with our colleagues or customers, to potential for embarrassment or misunderstandings with the wrong message forwarded or a tweet gone viral.

Despite our increasing reliance on communication technology for our work, until now, there has been no guide for navigating it. Which brings us to Ping. In this accessible book for workers of all stripes—remote, hybrid, and those who work fully in person, yet use communication technologies as part of their jobs—Brodsky dives into the big questions we all Which communication modes are the best for which situations? How can we interact most productively and authentically? How do we build relationships at a distance? How can we increase workplace inclusion using these technologies? And finally, how can we best deal with conflict via virtual communication?

Split into three parts, each section of Ping tackles core components of how to better navigate communication challenges and technology in contemporary workplaces. Every chapter highlights an important challenge faced when using communication technologies, like how to start new relationships or how to negotiate virtually.

With entertaining stories, interviews from top business leaders, and Brodsky’s cutting-edge social science research on remote communication tools, Ping is an indispensable guide for today’s modern workplace.]]> 336 Andrew Brodsky 1668055244 Scott 3
Instead of creative strategies on how to connect as a team virtually or interesting studies on eye contact via screen (what I was hoping for), it is full advice like turn off email notifications so you're not distracted (advice that was old in 2010) and checking for typos before sending an email.

So, if you're brand new to the world of virtual communication (like on your first job ever) then this has useful info. If not, then I'd skip it.]]> 4.27 Ping: The Secrets of Successful Virtual Communication
author: Andrew Brodsky
name: Scott
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/03
date added: 2025/04/04
shelves:
review:
I had to double check when this book was released because the advice felt like it was five years old at least. I didn't find anything terribly wrong with the content, but it was so very basic.

Instead of creative strategies on how to connect as a team virtually or interesting studies on eye contact via screen (what I was hoping for), it is full advice like turn off email notifications so you're not distracted (advice that was old in 2010) and checking for typos before sending an email.

So, if you're brand new to the world of virtual communication (like on your first job ever) then this has useful info. If not, then I'd skip it.
]]> <![CDATA[Magic Kingdom at War Volume 8: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure]]> 218553505 In All Wars, Loss Is Inevitable.

Matt has beaten another enemy Lord, acquired even more towns. He’s establishing a foothold in this crazy afterlife of his, doing battle on multiple fronts and winning.

But victory isn’t always guaranteed, there’s always a price to be paid when you face another on the field of battle.

For Matt Fang, that time is coming soon. And the only question is will it break him or will he continue to be the shield that humanity requires.

Magic Kingdom at War is a tactical, base-building, crunchy LitRPG novella series by Tao Wong, bestselling author of the System Apocalypse, A Thousand Li, Climbing the Ranks, the Hidden Universe and Adventures on Brad series.]]> 137 Tao Wong 1778552323 Scott 2
So, the result is that I don't care about the little battles or the ups and downs of the moment. I haven't gotten invested in anyone and I was really bored reading about the battles and stats (that I usually love).

This author did a great job with the Thousand Li series so it was disappointing to find this series to be a dud.]]> 4.31 Magic Kingdom at War Volume 8: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure
author: Tao Wong
name: Scott
average rating: 4.31
book published:
rating: 2
read at: 2025/04/02
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
The story seems to get slower and less interesting as the series goes on. Not only does the main character resist adding other thinking beings to his team, he has yet to have a single conversation about the backstory of any of the ones he has. We know nothing more about the world, from the rules to the purpose, even after 8 books into the series. And the main character hasn't grown since book 2.

So, the result is that I don't care about the little battles or the ups and downs of the moment. I haven't gotten invested in anyone and I was really bored reading about the battles and stats (that I usually love).

This author did a great job with the Thousand Li series so it was disappointing to find this series to be a dud.
]]> <![CDATA[Magic Kingdom at War Volume 7: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure]]> 217322103 New allies just mean new enemies

When you're at war with inter-dimensional enemies for the fate of humanity, every step forward just brings you closer to the enemy.

Matt's realising that his new allies might be useful, but it also expands his borders. In a mad scramble to strengthen his units before he next show drops, all he can do is keep pushing.

Magic Kingdom at War is a tactical, base-building, crunchy LitRPG novella series by Tao Wong, bestselling author of the System Apocalypse, A Thousand Li, Climbing the Ranks, the Hidden Universe and Adventures on Brad series.]]> 123 Tao Wong 1778552226 Scott 3 4.27 Magic Kingdom at War Volume 7: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure
author: Tao Wong
name: Scott
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/02
date added: 2025/04/03
shelves:
review:
Continues to be a slow series--kind of disappointing. Almost done with the omnibus.
]]> <![CDATA[Magic Kingdom at War Volume 6: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure]]> 216062427 Crush your enemies and see them fall at their feet

Faced with cavalry and horse archers alike, Matt Fang finds his armies out of position and reeling. He's going to have to pull back, concentrate his forces and pull off some miracle if he doesn't want to be a victim of his latest opponent.

Good thing he's got new allies and even more units to play with. Now, all he needs is the time to get them in place.

Magic Kingdom at War is a tactical, base-building, crunchy LitRPG novella series by Tao Wong, bestselling author of the System Apocalypse, A Thousand Li, Climbing the Ranks, the Hidden Universe and Adventures on Brad series.]]> 100 Tao Wong 1778552153 Scott 3
Note: These are all very short and I got an omnibus with multiple books in the series. Each book feels more like the next section in a single story, not a full book in itself.

I'll finish this omnibus but I'm probably not going to finish the series.]]> 4.25 2024 Magic Kingdom at War Volume 6: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure
author: Tao Wong
name: Scott
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/01
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves:
review:
Still very small world and slow story pace. :(

Note: These are all very short and I got an omnibus with multiple books in the series. Each book feels more like the next section in a single story, not a full book in itself.

I'll finish this omnibus but I'm probably not going to finish the series.
]]> <![CDATA[Magic Kingdom at War Volume 5: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure]]> 216061247 Friends in Unexpected Places

A new Hero has emerged and with her appearance, some questions have been answered. However, encountering a new enemy to the north has Braskar and the new army rushing to battle once again, even as Matt desperately tries to locate enough units to bolster his defences.

He's growing, fast; but in doing so, stretching his resources and leaving his towns and villages vulnerable.

Security and victory balance on a knife's edge, and Matt's tottering.

Magic Kingdom at War is a tactical, base-building, crunchy LitRPG novella series by Tao Wong, bestselling author of the System Apocalypse, A Thousand Li, Climbing the Ranks, the Hidden Universe and Adventures on Brad series.]]> 103 Tao Wong 1778552048 Scott 3
Note: These are all very short and I got an omnibus with multiple books in the series. Each book feels more like the next section in a single story, not a full book in itself.]]> 4.21 2024 Magic Kingdom at War Volume 5: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure
author: Tao Wong
name: Scott
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/01
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves:
review:
Back to a slow pace. Obvious things that could expand the world are skipped, like the new character explaining her story or even her abilities didn't happen.

Note: These are all very short and I got an omnibus with multiple books in the series. Each book feels more like the next section in a single story, not a full book in itself.
]]> <![CDATA[Magic Kingdom at War Volume 4: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure]]> 215950054 The worst thing about winning a battle? The mountain of paperwork that comes after.

Matt Fang may have won the fight, but now he’s left with a new town to manage, a whole new race of units to command, and a lot of catching up to do.

He's still stuck in this strange realm, one of the last defenders of humanity against an enemy he doesn't understand. No training manual, no clear answers—just endless conflict.

But he's got a job to do, even if it's not the one he signed up for.

At least ruling a Magic Kingdom at War beats punching in at the office.

Magic Kingdom at War is a tactical, base-building, crunchy LitRPG novella series by Tao Wong, bestselling author of the System Apocalypse, A Thousand Li, Climbing the Ranks, the Hidden Universe and Adventures on Brad series.]]> 142 Tao Wong 177855203X Scott 4
Note: These are all very short and I got an omnibus with multiple books in the series. Each book feels more like the next section in a single story, not a full book in itself.]]> 4.17 Magic Kingdom at War Volume 4: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure
author: Tao Wong
name: Scott
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/01
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves:
review:
This installment finally delivered a big plot change and character growth. I'm hoping this means the story is about to pick up the pace.

Note: These are all very short and I got an omnibus with multiple books in the series. Each book feels more like the next section in a single story, not a full book in itself.
]]> <![CDATA[Magic Kingdom at War Volume 3: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure]]> 214660595 One throw of the dice to win it all.

Matt's in trouble now. The enemy lord has tricked him into over-extending, forcing Matt's Hero to retreat in disarray. Now, there's nothing stopping the enemy from launching an attack against his fort, nothing but a few last wood elemental units and Irvine himself.

There's a path to victory here, he's certain. But it's a risky one, and after dying once, Matt's finding it hard to find the courage to roll the dice again.

Magic Kingdom at War is a tactical, base-building, crunchy LitRPG novella series by Tao Wong, bestselling author of the System Apocalypse, A Thousand Li, Climbing the Ranks, the Hidden Universe and Adventures on Brad series.]]> 104 Tao Wong 1778552021 Scott 3
Note: These are all very short and I got an omnibus with multiple books in the series. Each book feels more like the next section in a single story, not a full book in itself.]]> 4.17 Magic Kingdom at War Volume 3: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure
author: Tao Wong
name: Scott
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/01
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves:
review:
Again, very slow development of the people and the plot.

Note: These are all very short and I got an omnibus with multiple books in the series. Each book feels more like the next section in a single story, not a full book in itself.
]]> <![CDATA[Magic Kingdom at War Volume 2: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure]]> 212592932 Another Day, Another Gold Piece, Another Unit Destroyed

Matt’s encountered his first opponent and is getting a hang of being lord of all he surveys. Of course, that’s only a few hexes away from his fort, but it’s the thought that counts. Now that he has an objective, he’s going to need ramp up unit production, balance gold production and the egos of his two Heroes.

Just another day when your Magic Kingdom is at War.

Magic Kingdom at War is a tactical, base-building, crunchy LitRPG novella series by Tao Wong, bestselling author of the System Apocalypse, A Thousand Li, Climbing the Ranks, the Hidden Universe and Adventures on Brad series.]]> 110 Tao Wong 1778552013 Scott 3
Note: These are all very short and I got an omnibus with multiple books in the series. Each book feels more like the next section in a single story, not a full book in itself.]]> 4.02 Magic Kingdom at War Volume 2: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure
author: Tao Wong
name: Scott
average rating: 4.02
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/01
date added: 2025/04/02
shelves:
review:
Very slow second book. The characters grow very little and the world expands almost none at all.

Note: These are all very short and I got an omnibus with multiple books in the series. Each book feels more like the next section in a single story, not a full book in itself.
]]> <![CDATA[The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant]]> 218319936 "The definitive look at the most remarkable business story of this era."

—Morgan Housel, New York Times best-selling author of The Psychology of Money and Same As Ever



"The Nvidia Way is a riveting history of Nvidia’s unexpected ascent to the top of the tech sector—and a compelling case for why cofounder Jensen Huang is one of history’s great CEOs."

—Chris Miller, New York Times best-selling author of Chip The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology



A deeply reported business history of the chip-designer Nvidia—from its founding in 1993 to its recent emergence as one of the most valuable corporations in the world—explaining how the company’s culture, overseen by cofounder and CEO Jensen Huang, has powered its incredible success.


Nvidia is the darling of the age of artificial its chips are powering the generative-AI revolution, and demand is insatiable. For all the current interest and attention, however, Nvidia is not of our time. Founded more than three decades ago in a Denny’s in East San Jose, for years it was known primarily in the then-niche world of computer gaming. In fact, the company’s leather-jacketed leader, Jensen Huang, is the longest-serving CEO in an industry marked by near constant turmoil and failure.


In The Nvidia Way, acclaimed tech writer Tae Kim draws on more than one hundred interviews—including Jensen (as he is known) and his cofounders, the two original venture capital investors, early former employees, and current senior executives—to show how Nvidia played the longest of long games, repeatedly creating new markets and outmaneuvering competitors, including the original semiconductor giant, Intel, which now finds itself well behind the upstart. Kim offers revelations at every step, among



An authoritative, myth-busting account of Nvidia’s founding in 1993.
How Nvidia managed to overcome early missteps that would have killed most start-ups.
The benefits of Nvidia’s flat organizational structure, which allows even low-level employees to contribute to the direction of the company.
How Jensen’s obsession with solving the Innovator’s Dilemma—the problem of an entrenched market leader falling to smaller, nimbler companies—drove him to reinvent his approach to corporate strategy.
How Nvidia saw the coming AI wave sooner than anyone else, and how it bet its future on a technology that had not yet arrived.



A rare view into Nvidia’s distinct culture and Jensen’s management principles, The Nvidia Way is a book for our moment as well as an instant classic of business history, with enduring lessons for entrepreneurs and managers alike.]]> 268 Tae Kim 1324086726 Scott 4 Nvidia went from being a company only tech nerds and gamers knew about to one of the biggest companies in the world--and one of the most important. (The AI revolution we are living in was built on their unique chips.) And they did it through a faster and more intense innovation process than any of their peers--literally 3 times faster than their competitors.

This book is a good overview of their history and their leaders. It had less of the business lessons than I hoped, but it was still worth reading to get an understanding of one of the critical companies of our times.

How am I smarter, better, or wiser because of it?
I understand their hardware much better, which helps me understand the AI revolution better.

Was I entertained/did it keep my attention?
It had some good parts and it also got bogged down in technical details in a few parts. But overall it was an engaging read.

Would I recommend it to others?
If you're a tech leader (or consult to them like I do) then knowing about this company is essential. For the rest, there's probably not enough insights or ideas that you can apply to your company. (The author doesn't even attempt to create general principles, just tells their story.)]]> 4.36 The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant
author: Tae Kim
name: Scott
average rating: 4.36
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/31
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves:
review:
What's the big idea and/or unique approach of this book?
Nvidia went from being a company only tech nerds and gamers knew about to one of the biggest companies in the world--and one of the most important. (The AI revolution we are living in was built on their unique chips.) And they did it through a faster and more intense innovation process than any of their peers--literally 3 times faster than their competitors.

This book is a good overview of their history and their leaders. It had less of the business lessons than I hoped, but it was still worth reading to get an understanding of one of the critical companies of our times.

How am I smarter, better, or wiser because of it?
I understand their hardware much better, which helps me understand the AI revolution better.

Was I entertained/did it keep my attention?
It had some good parts and it also got bogged down in technical details in a few parts. But overall it was an engaging read.

Would I recommend it to others?
If you're a tech leader (or consult to them like I do) then knowing about this company is essential. For the rest, there's probably not enough insights or ideas that you can apply to your company. (The author doesn't even attempt to create general principles, just tells their story.)
]]> <![CDATA[Magic Kingdom at War Volume 1: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure]]> 212587639 Dying the first time sucked. Matt's trying to avoid a repeat performance.

For Matt, joining Earth's last line of defense was exactly the purpose he had been seeking. Having to save the world after being reincarnated in a magical realm might be enjoyable, in a soul-crushing responsibility kind of way.

But trading his office cubicle for the battlefield chaos of a 4x game world wasn't what he had in mind. The world map is made out of hexagrams, the units are semi-sentient and his opponents have a head start. As if that wasn't enough, there's no instruction manual for this nightmare.

Now, Matt’s going to have to figure out how to rule a Magic Kingdom at War� or face annihilation along with the world he once knew.

Magic Kingdom at War is a tactical, base-building, crunchy LitRPG novella series by Tao Wong, bestselling author of the System Apocalypse, A Thousand Li, Climbing the Ranks, the Hidden Universe and Adventures on Brad series.]]> 123 Tao Wong 1778552005 Scott 4 3.97 Magic Kingdom at War Volume 1: A LitRPG Isekai Adventure
author: Tao Wong
name: Scott
average rating: 3.97
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/01
date added: 2025/04/01
shelves:
review:
There are some classic LitRPG elements, but a few new twists already. I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes.
]]> <![CDATA[Everyday Superhero: How You Can Inspire Everyone And Create Real Change At Work]]> 58468793 192 Tony O'Driscoll 0241502780 Scott 4 3.83 Everyday Superhero: How You Can Inspire Everyone And Create Real Change At Work
author: Tony O'Driscoll
name: Scott
average rating: 3.83
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/31
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves:
review:
Really fun graphic novel on how to get high performance from your team. I wish there was more time spent at the end on the better methods (first we see the bad methods, then the good ones). There wasn't a lot of detail on how to apply the ideas, but as an overview to get the ideas across, it worked well.
]]> <![CDATA[Speaking Secrets of the Masters: The Personal Techniques Used by 22 of the World's Top Professional Speakers]]> 3161258 274 Speakers Roundtable 0937539228 Scott 3 3.67 1995 Speaking Secrets of the Masters: The Personal Techniques Used by 22 of the World's Top Professional Speakers
author: Speakers Roundtable
name: Scott
average rating: 3.67
book published: 1995
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/31
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves:
review:
This is a series of essays from successful speakers. Some are pretty good (like the one on humor) but most are so basic that they're not helpful. And there's a lot of redundant advice, too. I've read a lot of speaking and I'd recommend you read the other books, not this one.
]]> Waverider (Amulet #9) 150824570 256 Kazu Kibuishi 0545828694 Scott 4 4.07 2024 Waverider (Amulet #9)
author: Kazu Kibuishi
name: Scott
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/30
date added: 2025/03/30
shelves:
review:
As usual, the art is stunning in this book. The story wrapped up the major threads and had some cool action moments. But there was a lot of preachy dialogue, which took away from the epic moment.
]]> <![CDATA[The Polymath: A Cultural History from Leonardo da Vinci to Susan Sontag]]> 51871714 The first history of the western polymath, from the fifteenth century to the present day

From Leonardo Da Vinci to John Deeand Comenius, fromGeorge Eliot to Oliver Sacks and Susan Sontag, polymaths have moved the frontiers of knowledge in countless ways. But history can be unkind to scholars with such encyclopaedic interests. All too often these individuals are remembered for just one part of their valuable achievements.

In this engaging, erudite account, renowned cultural historian Peter Burke argues for a more rounded view. Identifying 500 western polymaths, Burke explores their wide-ranging successes and shows how their rise matched a rapid growth of knowledge in the age of the invention of printing, the discovery of the New World and the Scientific Revolution. It is only more recently that the further acceleration of knowledge has led to increased specialisation and to an environment that is less supportive of wide-ranging scholars and scientists.

Spanning the Renaissance to the present day, Burke changes our understanding of this remarkable intellectual species.]]> 352 Peter Burke 0300250029 Scott 3
Sadly, this book is mostly just lists of names and citations. Literally whole chapters are just naming the people who were polymaths during a particular era in history, with citations showing which disciplines they made expert contributions in.

There were a few sections in between the lists of people from each era with some comments about how the academic world shifted pro-polymath or anti-polymath. And my favorite section of the book was a brief chapter on the personality characteristics and environmental factors that they shared.

There is a very strong type that shows up from ancient Chinese bureaucrats medieval artists to modern Latin American professors. Clearly, some people are wired to be this way, and when someone with that wiring ends up a particular environment, they turn into a polymath, whether or not the larger culture is pro-polymath or not.

But the vast majority of the felt more like reading the end notes on a research paper. I would have loved stories of their lives and/or comments on what we can learn from them.
]]> 3.27 The Polymath: A Cultural History from Leonardo da Vinci to Susan Sontag
author: Peter Burke
name: Scott
average rating: 3.27
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/29
date added: 2025/03/30
shelves:
review:
I've always been fascinated by the "Renaissance Man" idea, of being a master of many disciplines. So I was intrigued by a historical study of these men (and women) throughout history.

Sadly, this book is mostly just lists of names and citations. Literally whole chapters are just naming the people who were polymaths during a particular era in history, with citations showing which disciplines they made expert contributions in.

There were a few sections in between the lists of people from each era with some comments about how the academic world shifted pro-polymath or anti-polymath. And my favorite section of the book was a brief chapter on the personality characteristics and environmental factors that they shared.

There is a very strong type that shows up from ancient Chinese bureaucrats medieval artists to modern Latin American professors. Clearly, some people are wired to be this way, and when someone with that wiring ends up a particular environment, they turn into a polymath, whether or not the larger culture is pro-polymath or not.

But the vast majority of the felt more like reading the end notes on a research paper. I would have loved stories of their lives and/or comments on what we can learn from them.

]]> <![CDATA[Objections: The Ultimate Guide for Mastering The Art and Science of Getting Past No (Jeb Blount)]]> 40175355
Except for objections. There is democracy in objections. Every salesperson must endure many NOs in order to get to YES.

Objections don't care or


Who you are What you sell How you sell If you are new to sales or a veteran If your sales cycle is long or short - complex or transactional For as long as salespeople have been asking buyers to make commitments, buyers have been throwing out objections. And, for as long as buyers have been saying no, salespeople have yearned for the secrets to getting past those NOs.

Following in the footsteps of his blockbuster bestsellers Fanatical Prospecting and Sales EQ, Jeb Blount's Objections is a comprehensive and contemporary guide that engages your heart and mind.

In his signature right-to-the-point style, Jeb pulls no punches and slaps you in the face with the cold, hard truth about what's really holding you back from closing sales and reaching your income goals. Then he pulls you in with examples, stories, and lessons that teach powerful human-influence frameworks for getting past NO - even with the most challenging objections.

What you won't find, though, is old school techniques straight out of the last century. No bait and switch schemes, no sycophantic tie-downs, no cheesy scripts, and none of the contrived closing techniques that leave you feeling like a phony, destroy relationships, and only serve to increase your buyers' resistance.

Instead, you'll learn a new psychology for turning-around objections and proven techniques that work with today's more informed, in control, and skeptical buyers. Inside the pages of Objections, you'll gain deep insight


How to get past the natural human fear of NO and become rejection proof The science of resistance and why buyers throw out objections Human influence frameworks that turn you into a master persuader The key to avoiding embarrassing red herrings that derail sales calls How to leverage the "Magical Quarter of a Second" to instantly gain control of your emotions when you get hit with difficult objections Proven objection turn-around frameworks that give you confidence and control in virtually every sales situation How to easily skip past reflex responses on cold calls and when prospecting How to move past brush-offs to get to the next step, increase pipeline velocity, and shorten the sales cycle The 5 Step Process for Turning Around Buying Commitment Objections and closing the sale Rapid Negotiation techniques that deliver better terms and higher prices As you dive into these powerful insights, and with each new chapter, you'll gain greater and greater confidence in your ability to face and effectively handle objections in any selling situation. And, with this new-found confidence, your success and income will soar.]]> 226 Jeb Blount 1119477379 Scott 4
It's not a script, it's more a mindset. He doesn't promise magic words that overcome all objections. He helps you become the kind of person who can respond well when this happens.]]> 4.20 Objections: The Ultimate Guide for Mastering The Art and Science of Getting Past No (Jeb Blount)
author: Jeb Blount
name: Scott
average rating: 4.20
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/28
date added: 2025/03/29
shelves:
review:
Good content on perhaps the most difficult part of sales. It emphasizes doing this on cold outreach calls--which is the author's speciality area--but it does touch on the other scenarios when objections come up.

It's not a script, it's more a mindset. He doesn't promise magic words that overcome all objections. He helps you become the kind of person who can respond well when this happens.
]]> The Outsiders 192566704 214 S.E. Hinton 014240733X Scott 5 4.22 1967 The Outsiders
author: S.E. Hinton
name: Scott
average rating: 4.22
book published: 1967
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/27
date added: 2025/03/29
shelves:
review:
My kids read this is school and recommended I read it, too. I can see why. The characters are nuances, surprising and so very real. The action is intense without being graphic or gory. And the resolution is both satisfying and complex. It felt like a real slice of life, not a manufactured story. And I can see why it's a good story for teenagers to discuss as they figure out who they are and how they fit in the world.
]]> <![CDATA[The Gorgon Incident and Other Stories: A Mage Errant Anthology]]> 202081126
In these twenty-four short stories set in the world of Mage Errant, John Bierce explores the murky depths of history, forgotten corners of Ithos and beyond, and the strangest reaches of magic itself.]]> 424 John Bierce Scott 3
The characters are a bit odd, the plot twists are really good but a few of the stories were way too technical (pages detailing the alchemy experiments).

Fun, but not amazing.]]> 4.47 The Gorgon Incident and Other Stories: A Mage Errant Anthology
author: John Bierce
name: Scott
average rating: 4.47
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/03/26
date added: 2025/03/27
shelves:
review:
If you don't read the Mage Errant series, you won't understand this book. It assumes you know the world and how the magic works. And then this book dives deep into stories mostly based on the combination of physical materials science and his magic system.

The characters are a bit odd, the plot twists are really good but a few of the stories were way too technical (pages detailing the alchemy experiments).

Fun, but not amazing.
]]> <![CDATA[The War of the Noobs (Noobtown, #8)]]> 220710986 623 Ryan Rimmel Scott 4
Keep in mind that this is first and foremost a comedy, from the characters to the plot points The final book had callbacks to some of the funniest parts ("puma check!") and added some new jokes. But it also had surprisingly emotional moments as it concluded.]]> 4.21 2024 The War of the Noobs (Noobtown, #8)
author: Ryan Rimmel
name: Scott
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/24
date added: 2025/03/25
shelves:
review:
This was a satisfying ending to the 8-book story arc (with a teaser for another adventure, of course).

Keep in mind that this is first and foremost a comedy, from the characters to the plot points The final book had callbacks to some of the funniest parts ("puma check!") and added some new jokes. But it also had surprisingly emotional moments as it concluded.
]]> <![CDATA[The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life]]> 212806718 A groundbreaking guide to rejecting the default path and designing your dream life—a life centered around The 5 Types of Wealth. Launch your journey to fulfillment with this transformative system from inspirational writer, speaker, and entrepreneur Sahil Bloom.

Harsh You’ve been lied to. Throughout your life, you’ve been slowly indoctrinated to believe that money is the only type of wealth. The Your wealthy life may involve money, but in the end, it will be defined by everything else.

In The 5 Types of Wealth, Sahil Bloom offers a transformative guide for redesigning your life around five types of wealth—Time Wealth, Social Wealth, Mental Wealth, Physical Wealth, and Financial Wealth—that will lead to a durable satisfaction and happiness you can build and maintain across the seasons of your life.

Whether you are a recent college graduate, mid-life warrior, or a retiree, this playbook will unlock new levels of freedom and fulfillment,

� Control over how you spend your time
•Depth of connection with those around you
•Clarity of purpose, presence, and decision making
•Improved health and vitality
•Simple pathways to financial independence

Bloom’s unique blend of storytelling, questions, and actionable insights enables readers to make immediate positive change and build the joyful, balanced lives they’d previously only dreamed of.]]> 400 Sahil Bloom 059372318X Scott 5 4.25 The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life
author: Sahil Bloom
name: Scott
average rating: 4.25
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/23
date added: 2025/03/24
shelves:
review:
This book is a very well written collection of the best wisdom on each of these zones of life. Most of it is not new to me (I read a lot in these topics) but it's so well stated--engaging without any fluff at all--that I'm adding it to my highly recommended book list.
]]> Defiant (Skyward, #4) 43606308 From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson comes the final book in an epic series about a girl who will travel beyond the stars to save the world she loves from destruction.

Spensa has made it out of the Nowhere, but what she saw in the space between the stars has changed her forever. She came face to face with the Delvers, and finally got answers to the questions she’s had about her own strange Cytonic gifts.

The Superiority didn’t stop in its fight for galactic dominance while she was gone, though. Spensa’s team, Skyward Flight, was able to hold Winzik off, and even collect allies to help with the cause, but it’s only a matter of time until humanity–and the rest of the galaxy–falls.

Defeating them will require all the knowledge Spensa gathered while in the Nowhere. But being Cytonic is more complicated than she ever could have imagined. Now, Spensa must ask herself: How far is she willing to go for victory, if it means losing herself–and her friends–in the process.

The final book in the Skyward series will free humanity, or see it fall forever.]]> 420 Brandon Sanderson 0593309715 Scott 5 4.28 2023 Defiant (Skyward, #4)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Scott
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/22
date added: 2025/03/23
shelves:
review:
Great ending to a great series. This was classic Sanderson--huge surprises, emotional character moments and a really satisfying end...that also sets up a whole new adventure. Highly recommend this series.
]]> <![CDATA[P3 Selling: The Essentials of B2B Sales Success]]> 60894906
P3 Selling is an easy-to-follow framework that explains what you need to do and why you need to do it to achieve consistent B2B sales success. Navigate today's complex B2B environment with confidence as you win more deals, receive more referrals, make more money, and advance your way up the corporate ladder.

Stop hoping for lucky breaks, and take control of your sales results. Develop a deep understanding of the three most critical predictors of B2B sales success—without the jargon and complexity of other sales training programs. Then, learn how to apply them through non-manipulative techniques that work, closing more deals without sacrificing your integrity.

With specific activities at the end of each chapter to help you tailor these strategies and techniques to your own unique situation, P3 Selling is the must-have resource you'll turn to again and again, helping you overcome every B2B sales challenge.]]> 166 Greg Nutter 1544529996 Scott 0 currently-reading 4.62 P3 Selling: The Essentials of B2B Sales Success
author: Greg Nutter
name: Scott
average rating: 4.62
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/22
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Perfect Close: The Secret To Closing Sales - The Best Selling Practices & Techniques For Closing The Deal]]> 32278339 Author James Muir shares unique insights on how ‘closing the sale� can be done with a natural, non-pushy sales strategy that breaks the stigma often associated with professional sales.

Everything has changed. The latest science shows that old, counter-productive closing tactics backfire and hold you back. In The Perfect Close you will learn a closing method that is nearly always successful (in the 95% range). It’s zero pressure and involves just two questions. It’s a clear & simple approach that is flexible enough to use on every kind of sale at every given stage. It can be learned in less than an hour and mastered in a day. It is especially helpful for new and inexperienced salespeople and professionals who dislike the “stigma� of selling or find the selling process awkward or uncomfortable.

In The Perfect The Secret to Closing Sales you will

A simple method to closing that is nearly always successful (95% range), is zero pressure & involves just two questions. How traditional closing techniques damage trust & what you can do remain on emotionally higher ground. How to close more sales in way that makes clients feel more educated, in control and see you as a facilitator & consultant. A proven and repeatable process for advancing sales that can be used in any kind of sale at any given stage. How to add continuous momentum & advance your sales in a way that results in more closed business & faster closed business. A natural way to close that doesn't require that you change your personality or become someone you're not. How to completely eliminate the stress & tension that some people feel when it comes to asking for commitments. How to add value on every sales encounter. Everything you need to know to advance every sale to closure The Perfect Close represents the best practice in closing sales today. Apply it yourself and discover how this simple technique along with being genuinely authentic creates the highest levels of success and happiness.

This is more than a just a book. It's a sales training course that outlines step-by-step what you need to do to advance your sales to closure.

If you are new to sales, make this the first book you read. It will teach you how to be effective immediately and will literally teach you the rest of the steps in your sales process.

If you are an experienced professional looking for ways to improve your performance, this book will help take your closing skills to a whole new level.

SPECIAL BONUSES!

With this book you will get access to a myriad of complimentary online resources The Perfect Close Reference Model, The Perfect Close Mind Map, Opportunity Research Forms, Encounter Planning Forms, Sample Meeting Agendas, The 21 Closing Secrets Reference Guide, Special Reports and more.

Print them out and use these resources to help you while selling or just to refresh what you've learned.]]> 247 James Muir Scott 5 Subtle Change with Big Impact

This is a simple idea but don’t underestimate it. The core idea can be stacked with a few other tools and it turns into a really useful tool for any sales situation. ]]> 4.29 The Perfect Close: The Secret To Closing Sales - The Best Selling Practices & Techniques For Closing The Deal
author: James Muir
name: Scott
average rating: 4.29
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/22
date added: 2025/03/22
shelves:
review:
Subtle Change with Big Impact

This is a simple idea but don’t underestimate it. The core idea can be stacked with a few other tools and it turns into a really useful tool for any sales situation.
]]> Evershore (Skyward, #2.3) 58465495
With the government of Detritus in disarray because of Superiority treachery, and with Spensa still away on her mission in the Nowhere, Jorgen must work together with the alien Alanik to pick up the pieces. They intercept a strange transmission from the planet Evershore and its Kitsen inhabitants, who say they have some of Jorgen’s people and want to return them—but can the Kitsen be trusted? And can Jorgen learn to master his increasingly erratic cytonic powers before they spiral out of control and destroy all hope of forming an alliance against the Superiority?]]> 234 Brandon Sanderson Scott 5 4.31 2021 Evershore (Skyward, #2.3)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Scott
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/19
date added: 2025/03/20
shelves:
review:
Strong ending to the trilogy of novellas. Great character development and really fun world expansion.
]]> ReDawn (Skyward, #2.2) 57903879
“Don’t trust their lies. Don’t trust their false peace.� That is the warning that Alanik of the planet ReDawn gave the human pilot Spensa after Alanik’s ship crash-landed on Detritus. While accepting an invitation to meet with her people’s enemy, the Galactic Superiority, Alanik heard Spensa’s cry for help across the vastness of space, and she used her cytonic powers to hyperjump her ship to the source of that cry. What she found there was a shock—a whole planet of free humans fighting against the Superiority. Were they the allies her people desperately needed?

When she recovered from her injuries and met the friendly humans Jorgen and FM of Skyward Flight, she found that her warning to Spensa had gone unheeded by the government of Detritus, and they were considering a peace overture from the Superiority. Now having returned to ReDawn, Alanik is dismayed to learn that her own people are falling into the exact same trap.

The faction in ReDawn’s government that wants to appease the Superiority has gained the upper hand. With Alanik’s mentor, Renakin captured, she has no one to turn to but Jorgen, FM, and their friend Rig. An ancient technology may have the power to save both of their planets from disaster, but can they discover its secrets before it’s too late?]]> 229 Brandon Sanderson 0593566629 Scott 4 4.12 2021 ReDawn (Skyward, #2.2)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Scott
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/18
date added: 2025/03/19
shelves:
review:
Fun continuation of the series. There were less epic changes during this until the very end--mostly character development and action. Solid middle book in a trilogy setting up the end.
]]> Sunreach (Skyward, #2.1) 57903876
When a planet-destroying Delver suddenly appears in the sky of Detritus and vanishes just as suddenly, FM knows that the last free human society got lucky. Her Skyward Flight companion, Spensa, figured out how to draw this Delver away, but it won’t be so easy next time.

The forces of the Galactic Superiority will be back—and if the Defiant Defense Force can’t figure out a way to escape the planet, humanity’s destruction is only a matter of time. Spensa’s mission to infiltrate the Superiority unveiled the secret to their hyperdrives—a cytonic slug species called the Taynix. Now FM’s flightleader, Jorgen, has found a large group of Taynix hiding in the caverns far below Detritus’s surface.

FM and Jorgen must work together with the engineer Rig to awaken the mysterious alien Alanik and unlock the powers of the Taynix, or humanity will be trapped. With Spensa’s friend Minister Cuna of the Superiority stranded at the outpost of Sunreach, they need to figure out how to rescue her—or the Superiority government will be in the sole clutches of those who want to wipe out Detritus once and for all.]]> 208 Brandon Sanderson 0593566610 Scott 5 4.11 2021 Sunreach (Skyward, #2.1)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Scott
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/17
date added: 2025/03/18
shelves:
review:
Fun adventure in this series. And I'd suggest that this is not tangential to the main story, but critical. Even though Sanderson wrote with a co-author, it feels exactly like the other books he wrote solo.
]]> <![CDATA[10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less]]> 63338662
Dan Sullivan, the world's leading coach for highly successful entrepreneurs, wants you to know that achieving 10X growth is exponentially easier than striving for 2X growth. Most find this idea confusing at first because simply imagining 10X growth causes them to think they need to do 10X more work to achieve it. However, being a 10X entrepreneur is nothing like what most people think.

10X is not the outcome; it's a counterintuitive process you can apply every time you want exponential growth in your life and business. To make 10X possible, you must focus on expanding what Dan defines as your four most important freedoms—time, money, relationship, and purpose. As your time becomes 10X more valuable, you increasingly multiply the money you earn both in terms of amount and profitable satisfaction. As money becomes a tool you can increasingly access with greater ease, you will engage with a growing number of other freedom-motivated individuals. As both your professional and personal life fills up with 10X more unique and collaborative relationships, you will realize that your most powerful purposes in all areas become 10X more lasting and positive for everyone involved. You will be impressed by what your life has become, and the meaning and impact you're having.

10X is fundamentally about quality vs quantity, and the quality of your freedoms determines the results you achieve.]]> 288 Dan Sullivan 1401969968 Scott 4 4.21 10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less
author: Dan Sullivan
name: Scott
average rating: 4.21
book published:
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Developing the Leaders Around You: How to Help Others Reach Their Full Potential]]> 601073 It’s not enough for a leader to have vision, energy, drive, and conviction. If you want to see your dream come to fruition, you must learn how to develop the leaders around you.

Why do some people achieve great personal success, yet never succeed in building a business or making an impact in their organization? Leadership expert and bestselling author John C. Maxwell knows the answer. The greatest leadership principle he’s learned is that those closest to the leader will determine the success level of that leader.

Maxwell examines the differences between leadership styles, outlines principles for inspiring, motivating, and influencing others. These principles can be used in any organization to foster integrity and self discipline and bring a positive change.

InDeveloping the Leaders Around You, you’ll learn how to be effective in the highest calling of leadership by understanding the five characteristics that set "leader managers" apart from "run-of-the-mill managers":


Vision
Value
Influence
Motivation
Confidence
Whether you’re the leader of a non-profit organization, small business, or Fortune 500 company,Developing the Leaders Around Youcan help you to take others to the limits of their potential and your organization to a whole new level.]]> 224 John C. Maxwell 0785281118 Scott 3 4.22 Developing the Leaders Around You: How to Help Others Reach Their Full Potential
author: John C. Maxwell
name: Scott
average rating: 4.22
book published:
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy]]> 998 CAN YOU SPOT THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR?

Who are the rich in this country?

What do they do?

Where do they shop?

What do they drive?

How do they invest?

Where did their ancestors come from?

How did they get rich?

Can I ever become one of them?

Get the answers in The Millionaire Next Door, the never-before-told story about wealth in America. You'll be surprised at what you find out....

]]> 258 Thomas J. Stanley 0671015206 Scott 5 4.05 1995 The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy
author: Thomas J. Stanley
name: Scott
average rating: 4.05
book published: 1995
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts]]> 23878688 Over 20 million copies sold!

A perennial New York Times bestseller for over a decade!

Falling in love is easy. Staying in love—that’s the challenge. How can you keep your relationship fresh and growing amid the demands, conflicts, and just plain boredom of everyday life?

In the #1 New York Times international bestseller The 5 Love Languages®, you’ll discover the secret that has transformed millions of relationships worldwide. Whether your relationship is flourishing or failing, Dr. Gary Chapman’s proven approach to showing and receiving love will help you experience deeper and richer levels of intimacy with your partner—starting today.

The 5 Love Languages® is as practical as it is insightful. Updated to reflect the complexities of relationships today, this new edition reveals intrinsic truths and applies relevant, actionable wisdom in ways that work.

Includes the Love Language assessment so you can discover your love language and that of your loved one.]]> 232 Gary Chapman 0802492401 Scott 5 4.32 1990 The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts
author: Gary Chapman
name: Scott
average rating: 4.32
book published: 1990
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:

]]> Cytonic (Skyward, #3) 57571215
Now, the Superiority—the governing galactic alliance bent on dominating all human life—has started a galaxy-wide war. And Spensa has seen the weapons they plan to use to end it: the Delvers. Ancient, mysterious alien forces that can wipe out entire planetary systems in an instant. Spensa knows that no matter how many pilots the DDF has, there is no defeating this predator.

Except that Spensa is Cytonic. She faced down a Delver and saw something eerily familiar about it. And maybe, if she’s able to figure out what she is, she could be more than just another pilot in this unfolding war. She could save the galaxy.

The only way she can discover what she really is, though, is to leave behind all she knows and enter the Nowhere. A place from which few ever return.

To have courage means facing fear. And this mission is terrifying.]]> 415 Brandon Sanderson 0399555854 Scott 5 4.03 2021 Cytonic (Skyward, #3)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Scott
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/16
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:
Super cool twist on the story with some massive revelations in this story. Can't wait for the series finale!
]]> Starsight (Skyward, #2) 43936287 From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Reckoners series, Words of Radiance, the Mistborn trilogy, and the Stormlight Archive comes the second book in an epic series about a girl with a secret in a dangerous world at war for humanity's future.

All her life, Spensa has dreamed of becoming a pilot. Of proving she's a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned about her father were crushing. The rumors of his cowardice are true--he deserted his flight during battle against the Krell. Worse, though, he turned against his team and attacked them.

Spensa is sure there's more to the story. And she's sure that whatever happened to her father in his starship could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars--and it was terrifying. Everything Spensa has been taught about her world is a lie.

But Spensa also discovered a few other things about herself--and she'll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to.]]> 461 Brandon Sanderson 0399555838 Scott 5 4.48 2019 Starsight (Skyward, #2)
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Scott
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/15
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:
The story moved faster than I expected (in a good way) and the ending was bigger than I saw coming. I really am enjoying this series!
]]> <![CDATA[The Last Echo of the Lord of Bells (Mage Errant #7)]]> 138352330
Airborne mage armies traverse enemy territory in utter secrecy. Vast city-liches conspire to influence events from afar, while city-states and archmages unleash strange new magics in a rapidly accelerating magical arms race. Nations and great powers that have remained quiescent for years have begun reaching out into the growing power vacuum. Magical superweapons and giant monsters are wielded by every side in an deadly tangle of alliances and factions, as each squabbling force spirals in towards their inevitable final conflict. At the center of that spiral lays the capital of the Havath Dominion, where a vengeful madman has proclaimed the precise date and time he will destroy the city.

The Last Echo will ring, and in its wake looms the threat of the Tongue Eater. Hugh and his friends are the only ones who can stop the ancient weapon, but the web of lies they've woven is fraying rapidly, and even their own allies have begun to question their mission. Monsters and archmages capable of leveling cities would stop at nothing to claim the Tongue Eater, leaving Hugh and the others with no one to trust.

And if they fail to stop the Tongue Eater, it could mean madness and death for the entire continent.]]> 750 John Bierce Scott 5 4.50 2023 The Last Echo of the Lord of Bells (Mage Errant #7)
author: John Bierce
name: Scott
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/12
date added: 2025/03/17
shelves:
review:
Solid ending to the series. Every character got a conclusion to their arc--even the side characters. It made for a very long final battle, but it was well done. And the ending itself was satisfying.
]]> <![CDATA[Tongue Eater (Mage Errant, #6)]]> 60872852
The traitors who brought the powerful sphinx down have fled with plagues and other magical weapons stolen from Skyhold's Vault, intending to use them against the Havath Dominion, no matter the cost to the rest of the Ithonian continent. Havath teeters on the edge of collapse after their failed invasion of Skyhold, and the nations and monsters of Ithos circle like vultures. The Dominion has no interest in going down without a fight, however, and there are few depths they're unwilling to sink to for survival.

Kanderon's surviving allies are working desperately to stop both the traitors and the Dominion, but the situation is worse than they know. The traitors didn't steal plagues at all. They stole the Tongue Eater, a weapon capable of devouring entire languages, and unless they're stopped, it threatens the fate of the entire continent. Hugh Stormward and his friends are the only ones who know the truth, and there's no one they can trust with the knowledge. Even with the fate of the continent on his shoulders, however, Hugh doesn't care about any of that.

He's convinced that Kanderon is still alive, even if no one else believes him, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to help her.

(Includes the bonus novella Gram of Clan Castis.)]]> 631 John Bierce Scott 5 4.34 2022 Tongue Eater (Mage Errant, #6)
author: John Bierce
name: Scott
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/10
date added: 2025/03/13
shelves:
review:
Big changes in the penultimate book in the series. Loved the ending, looking forward to the big finish.
]]> <![CDATA[The Siege of Skyhold (Mage Errant, #5)]]> 57289544
Humiliated in the ruins of Imperial Ithos, the Exile Splinter stolen from their grasp by the ancient sphinx Kanderon Crux, Havath's Duarchs have assembled an army that dwarfs the entire population of Skyhold. Led by their Great Powers, monsters and mages individually capable of leveling a city, they pose a threat that even Kanderon, one of the mightiest of Great Powers, and her equally monstrous allies might be unable to stop.

As the Havathi forces push closer and closer to Skyhold, Hugh and his friends train relentlessly, hoping to make a difference in the oncoming siege. While they venture into dangerous realms of untested experimental magic, though, they're already caught up in currents far beyond their control.

Once you're a pawn in the games of the Great Powers, there's no escape.]]> 449 John Bierce Scott 5 4.36 2021 The Siege of Skyhold (Mage Errant, #5)
author: John Bierce
name: Scott
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2021
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/06
date added: 2025/03/08
shelves:
review:
The series really went to another level in this book. Great pacing, both epic action and endearing moments with the characters and an explosive ending.
]]> <![CDATA[The Lost City of Ithos (Mage Errant, #4)]]> 54913644
Hugh and his friends find themselves dragged along on the search, where they'll face enemy warlocks, sea monsters, liches, unnatural storms, and even a man-eating tiger. There's something they're not being told about the lost city, however.

Something that has even Kanderon and the other great powers terrified.]]> 443 John Bierce Scott 5 4.35 2020 The Lost City of Ithos (Mage Errant, #4)
author: John Bierce
name: Scott
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/03
date added: 2025/03/04
shelves:
review:
Best story in the series so far. The characters and the world are all maturing.
]]> <![CDATA[A Traitor in Skyhold (Mage Errant, #3)]]> 49234048
Oh, and the fact that Hugh and company have been dragged into trying to catch a traitor on the Skyhold Council doesn't make life any easier. Nor does it help that the traitor is working with the demon Bakori, who lurks in the depths of the labyrinth below Skyhold, waiting for his chance at revenge.]]> 362 John Bierce Scott 5 4.18 2019 A Traitor in Skyhold (Mage Errant, #3)
author: John Bierce
name: Scott
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/01
date added: 2025/03/02
shelves:
review:
Very clever story with marvelous characters added and a grand plot behind the adventures revealed. This series has matured into a great story.
]]> <![CDATA[Jewel of the Endless Erg (Mage Errant, #2)]]> 43890637
Of course, given Hugh's luck, their summer is going to be anything but quiet. They're about to be plunged into a morass of pirates, monsters, warring cults, flesh-tearing sandstorms, and a conspiracy against Indris Stormbreaker, the dragon queen of Theras Tel herself.

At least Hugh's going to get plenty of fresh air and sunshine.]]> 278 John Bierce Scott 4 4.19 2019 Jewel of the Endless Erg (Mage Errant, #2)
author: John Bierce
name: Scott
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/27
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves:
review:
Love seeing the larger world--very cool adventure for the kids.
]]> <![CDATA[Contention: A Litrpg Apocalypse (Welcome to the Multiverse Book 5)]]> 217168494
Of course is one system wasn't bad enough, Earth has been declared a contested world and now it isn't just the Earth competing any longer but at least two systems trying to gain control of the Earth.
]]> 716 Sean Oswald Scott 3
They were so perfect that it was boring to read. No problems were big enough that I was worried until the grand finale--and then a few pages later it was perfect again.

I think I'm done with this series. ]]> 4.61 Contention: A Litrpg Apocalypse (Welcome to the Multiverse Book 5)
author: Sean Oswald
name: Scott
average rating: 4.61
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/27
date added: 2025/02/28
shelves:
review:
The world expanded and the powers increased in this book, which I usually enjoy--but the characters got simpler and less believable. They never made any mistakes. They almost never had any doubts, even. And though they're late teens and early 20's, they confidently dove into international politics and city design with perfect wisdom that none of the adults could keep up with.

They were so perfect that it was boring to read. No problems were big enough that I was worried until the grand finale--and then a few pages later it was perfect again.

I think I'm done with this series.
]]> <![CDATA[Into the Labyrinth (Mage Errant, #1)]]> 42267952
When a very unusual mage does choose him as apprentice, however, his life starts to take a sharp turn for the better. Now all he has to worry about is the final test for the first years - being sent into the terrifying labyrinth below Skyhold.]]> 216 John Bierce Scott 4
I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes. ]]> 4.18 2018 Into the Labyrinth (Mage Errant, #1)
author: John Bierce
name: Scott
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/26
date added: 2025/02/27
shelves:
review:
Strong start to a series. It began with a classic set up, poor, country boy in a magic school being picked on by the rich kids. But it got more and more creative, with a unique magic system, creative and interesting characters and a plot twist I didn't see coming, but made total sense once it was revealed.

I'm looking forward to seeing where this series goes.
]]> The Orchid Thief 228345 The Orchid Thief is Susan Orlean’s tale of an amazing obsession. Determined to clone an endangered flower—the rare ghost orchid Polyrrhiza lindenii�a deeply eccentric and oddly attractive man named John Laroche leads Orlean on an unforgettable tour of America’s strange flower-selling subculture, through Florida’s swamps and beyond, along with the Seminoles who help him and the forces of justice who fight him. In the end, Orlean—and the reader—will have more respect for underdog determination and a powerful new definition of passion.

In this new edition, coming fifteen years after its initial publication and twenty years after she first met the “orchid thief,� Orlean revisits this unforgettable world, and the route by which it was brought to the screen in the film Adaptation, in a new retrospective essay.]]> 300 Susan Orlean 044900371X Scott 3
Important Note: I grew up right where this story happens and the world she sees as so unpleasant was my delightful childhood. So the juxtaposition of my sunlight memories with her cynical swamp is a big part of the disconnect for me.]]> 3.66 1998 The Orchid Thief
author: Susan Orlean
name: Scott
average rating: 3.66
book published: 1998
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/25
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves:
review:
The writing was masterful, but I just couldn't get past the sour loneliness of the author. She complained about everything and everyone. She did it with vivid and poetic language, but it drained the joy out of the story for me.

Important Note: I grew up right where this story happens and the world she sees as so unpleasant was my delightful childhood. So the juxtaposition of my sunlight memories with her cynical swamp is a big part of the disconnect for me.
]]> <![CDATA[Glimmer: How Design Can Transform Your Life, and Maybe Even the World]]> 6402546 352 Warren Berger 1594202338 Scott 5
I have read other books that went deeper into the specifics on how to do each part of the process, so this isn't the first book I'd choose as a tactical manual on how to do it. But it's a great way to introduce yourself to a process (and a way of living) that produces breakthrough insights every single time.]]> 4.13 2009 Glimmer: How Design Can Transform Your Life, and Maybe Even the World
author: Warren Berger
name: Scott
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2010/05/08
date added: 2025/02/24
shelves:
review:
This book was the first book I read on design thinking and it opened my eyes to a whole new world. To say that it impacted me would be an understatement. I ended up changing my role to do that kind of work full-time inside the company I was working for, then leaving that company to build my current company around it.

I have read other books that went deeper into the specifics on how to do each part of the process, so this isn't the first book I'd choose as a tactical manual on how to do it. But it's a great way to introduce yourself to a process (and a way of living) that produces breakthrough insights every single time.
]]> <![CDATA[Tower of the Noobs (Noobtown, #7)]]> 64662070 576 Ryan Rimmel Scott 4 4.39 Tower of the Noobs (Noobtown, #7)
author: Ryan Rimmel
name: Scott
average rating: 4.39
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/22
date added: 2025/02/23
shelves:
review:
This installment has big revelations and an epic finish, setting us up for the last book in the 2nd arc of this series. I'm looking forward to the next book.
]]> <![CDATA[Building Successful Partner Channels: Channel Development & Management in the Software Industry. (International Business Development in the Software Industry)]]> 25257278
"Predictable growth and market leadership through independent channel partners are on every software industry CEO and sales executives' mind. However, it is rarely achieved. With “Building Successful Partner Channels� Hans Peter Bech provides a great tactical approach toward reaching this goal."Torulf Nilsson, Product Executive, Visma Retail, Oslo, Norway

"Hans Peter Bech has been at the forefront developing indirect channels in the software industry for more than three decades and his track record is impressive. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone searching for the route to global market leadership in the software industry." - Yusuf Soner, School of Management at the Sabanci University, Turkey

"Building Successful Partner Channels provides a powerful, practical approach to building a strong network of independent channel partners, so as to optimize sales and marketing activities. The book helps senior sales and marketing executives understand how to work in concert to achieve global market leadership through the indirect-channel approach." Toke Kruse, Founder and CEO at Billy, San Francisco, USA

--ooOoo

“Building Successful Partner Channels� is a book laying out the roadmap for achieving global market leadership through independent channel partners in the software industry.

The book applies the business model and business model environment frameworks developed by Alexander Osterwalder and Yves Pigneur and concludes that taking the indirect route to market adds an additional layer of complexity to our business model as we leave the control of finding, winning, making, keeping and growing happy customers to third parties.

The book explains that the direct and the indirect go-to-market approach are not options we can choose freely between, independent of the nature of our business model and business model environments and it discusses when the indirect go-to-market approach is applicable and advantageous and when it is not. The book concludes that taking the indirect route to market requires that the channel is an integrated element of our product offering and value proposition.

The indirect route to global market leadership requires developing and maintaining a channel partner program and the book lists all the elements of this program including the critical channel partner P&L model. The book concludes that our partner program will change substantially as we move from early stage channel building to the mature mode where most of our revenue comes from existing channel partners.

The book describes the process for channel partner recruitment, and concludes that the initial process is very similar to the process of hiring top performing sales people. However, where we pay staff to perform their duties from the day they join, channels partners will have to make substantial investments before they reap the benefits of the cooperation. Channel partner recruitment is therefore initially a long process requiring substantial investments.

The dynamics of channel partner recruitment changes as we move from the early mode channel development stage to the mature stage and the book recommends that we should recruit as many channel partners as we possibly can. We then let them demonstrate where they belong in the channel pyramid classifying channel partners and the book discusses how we should manage each group.]]> 224 Hans Peter Bech Scott 3
However, the parts I did read were basic enough that I'm not willing to re-read the book in another format to get those charts. And many of the charts he said he just took from other books (which I've read).

It was a decent overview of what channel partner sales is, but very little tactical insight in how to do any of the elements well. He spent as much time defending why he thinks OEM isn't channel partner sales as he did explaining how to do it well. ]]> 4.02 2015 Building Successful Partner Channels: Channel Development & Management in the Software Industry. (International Business Development in the Software Industry)
author: Hans Peter Bech
name: Scott
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/22
date added: 2025/02/23
shelves:
review:
WARNING: I read the audiobook version and that was a mistake. There were so many times that the narrator said the next point was explained by chart 4.2 (or something) then didn't explain what was in the chart at all. He said, "See the accompanying PDF." But there was no PDF and I couldn't find one online. So big chunks of the book were just skipped.

However, the parts I did read were basic enough that I'm not willing to re-read the book in another format to get those charts. And many of the charts he said he just took from other books (which I've read).

It was a decent overview of what channel partner sales is, but very little tactical insight in how to do any of the elements well. He spent as much time defending why he thinks OEM isn't channel partner sales as he did explaining how to do it well.
]]> Nautical Noobs (Noobtown, #6) 59779293
All these questions may or may not be answered in the sixth book of the bestselling Noobtown LitRPG series.

They will.]]> 593 Ryan Rimmel Scott 4 4.47 2021 Nautical Noobs (Noobtown, #6)
author: Ryan Rimmel
name: Scott
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/20
date added: 2025/02/21
shelves:
review:
Creative continuation of the series. I like how the world (and characters) got a lot bigger in this one.
]]> Noob Game Plus (Noobtown, #5) 57182628 455 Ryan Rimmel Scott 4 4.49 2021 Noob Game Plus (Noobtown, #5)
author: Ryan Rimmel
name: Scott
average rating: 4.49
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/18
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves:
review:
Fun expansion of the world and the story. The jokes continued and the ending was clever.
]]> <![CDATA[Dungeons and Noobs (Noobtown, #4)]]> 54773418 334 Ryan Rimmel Scott 4
I'm actually really impressed (can't say more without spoilers) and now I'm really interested to see where he goes with the series.

(And it was still very much a comedy story.)]]> 4.37 2020 Dungeons and Noobs (Noobtown, #4)
author: Ryan Rimmel
name: Scott
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/17
date added: 2025/02/18
shelves:
review:
I thought this book would be just another progression in a long series, but the plot got serious and MAJOR surprises happened.

I'm actually really impressed (can't say more without spoilers) and now I'm really interested to see where he goes with the series.

(And it was still very much a comedy story.)
]]> <![CDATA[Castle of the Noobs (Noobtown, #3)]]> 51267959 560 Ryan Rimmel Scott 4 4.36 2020 Castle of the Noobs (Noobtown, #3)
author: Ryan Rimmel
name: Scott
average rating: 4.36
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/16
date added: 2025/02/18
shelves:
review:
Fun continuation of the story. This is definitely a comedy. There are moments when stuff happens that it's really plot driven at all just for the humor of the situation, from slapstick violence to sarcastic double meanings. But by the end of the book the plot had some real progress and I'm looking forward to the next one.
]]> <![CDATA[Village of Noobtown (Noobtown, #2)]]> 51073403
After finding a long-abandoned starter village, Jim has begun the process of rebuilding his town. Unfortunately, for our favorite adventurer, the threats he now faces are far more complicated than mere monsters. The poor Noob has to deal with angry townsfolk, trade negotiations, and a talking badger.

With goblins and bandits also sniffing around, will Noobtown, I mean Windfall, survive?]]> 553 Ryan Rimmel Scott 4 4.29 2019 Village of Noobtown (Noobtown, #2)
author: Ryan Rimmel
name: Scott
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/13
date added: 2025/02/17
shelves:
review:
The first book of this story had some of the standard set up and this book was the test--could the author get original and engaging. The answer is a big yes. It especially got really funny as well as creative with the plot. I love the new characters that were added and I'm intrigued by the overarching plot.
]]> <![CDATA[The Mayor of Noobtown (Noobtown, #1)]]> 44420185
After dying and being reborn into a world that's built like a video game, Jim has found himself stuck in a very old world style new player zone for low level adventurers. Unfortunately, the zone fell out of use centuries ago, and no one told the monsters they were supposed to take it easy on the Noobs. Even worse, the only new player around is Jim.

Jim has been given an opportunity, and he'll do his best to take advantage of it.

]]> 291 Ryan Rimmel Scott 4 4.11 2019 The Mayor of Noobtown (Noobtown, #1)
author: Ryan Rimmel
name: Scott
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2019
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/11
date added: 2025/02/12
shelves:
review:
Fun story with some of the standard intro elements for this genre. I like the new twists this author added and I’m looking forward to seeing where the series goes.
]]> <![CDATA[Making Channel Sales Work: Ten Tools to Create a World-Class Third-Party Selling Program]]> 40798462
Create a World-Class ¬Third-Party Selling Program!
Channel sales is selling that takes place by means of any third party. Sales completed through value-added resellers, partners, systems integrators, independent representatives or agents, licensed distributors, and franchisees are all examples of channel sales. Many companies operate under a channel-sales model without ever having heard of the term!

Regardless of what it’s called, this model presents both special challenges and special opportunities. Whether you are an early-stage venture or a small vendor of products, intellectual property, or services looking to build your footprint quickly and reliably; whether you already have a channel process in place and you want to improve or revitalise it,or you are aiming to create your ¬ first channel program from scratch; whether you are working with a group of independent agents or you are looking to build a franchise operation from the ground up—this book has been written with you in mind.]]> 216 David Davies 0692112006 Scott 4
It’s not particularly engaging, with a style that’s dry (few stories and no metaphors). But the info was useful. ]]> 3.90 Making Channel Sales Work: Ten Tools to Create a World-Class Third-Party Selling Program
author: David Davies
name: Scott
average rating: 3.90
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/10
date added: 2025/02/12
shelves:
review:
This is a good overview of how to prospect for and measure the success of a channel partner. Some of it is regular sales but there are some nuances specific to partnerships.

It’s not particularly engaging, with a style that’s dry (few stories and no metaphors). But the info was useful.
]]> <![CDATA[The Sundering Blade: A Thousand Li World Novel]]> 181670201
For once, Elder Cheng finds that his skill with the sword might be the least of his gifts. A Thousand the Sundering Blade is a world of A Thousand Li novel, featuring a much younger Master Cheng before he meets Wu Ying. A xianxia fantasy novel, The Sundering Blade is a standalone prequel to the bestselling A Thousand Li series and features high flying martial arts, tense battle scenes and contemplations of the Dao and karma alike.]]> 179 Tao Wong 1778551238 Scott 4 4.12 The Sundering Blade: A Thousand Li World Novel
author: Tao Wong
name: Scott
average rating: 4.12
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/09
date added: 2025/02/10
shelves:
review:
Not only did this reveal some great backstory for some of the main characters of the Ten Thousand Li series, but there was a legitimately clever plot and some beautiful moments. He packed a lot into this novella.
]]> <![CDATA[Clifftop Crisis and Transformation (A Thousand Li #0.5)]]> 58659315 A martial artist falls from a cliff to his death. A rival stands, triumphant above.

The beginning of an all too familiar story. Yet, in the time of recuperation and return, time passes and sometimes, the transformation that occurs is not the one you expect.

This is a 4,500 word short story set in the A Thousand Li universe featuring as yet to be seen characters in the universe. Does not need to be read to follow the main series.]]> 23 Tao Wong 1989994598 Scott 4 3.67 2021 Clifftop Crisis and Transformation (A Thousand Li #0.5)
author: Tao Wong
name: Scott
average rating: 3.67
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/09
date added: 2025/02/10
shelves:
review:
Beautiful short story. Can't say exactly why without spoilers, just that I loved the growth in the characters.
]]> <![CDATA[The Path of Ascension 8 (The Path of Ascension #8)]]> 217204062 Days and Tiers pass as Matt Liz and Aster leave Minkalla.

But no matter how much they just want to relax and recover they have the ever present time-crunch of the path of ascension nipping at their heels.

To compound issues, they are about to reach Tier 15. That means Aster needs to leave for the Bond Academy for at least 10 years.

Can they get far enough ahead of the curve to manage, or will this roadblock cause the trio to stumble?

Don't miss Book 8 of this action-packed fantasy adventure that blends everything you love about LitRPG with Xianxia.

About the This is a mix between LitRPG and Xianxia. It's like a car that looks like a LitRPG with dungeons and skills, but the interior and engine are all Xianxia. It features a magic system and progression system that are logically and internally consistent, as well as realistic fight scenes and a rational MC.]]> 801 C. Mantis Scott 4
It was a good experience and fun to read, but I'm looking forward to the story taking the lead again.]]> 4.53 2025 The Path of Ascension 8 (The Path of Ascension #8)
author: C. Mantis
name: Scott
average rating: 4.53
book published: 2025
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/09
date added: 2025/02/10
shelves:
review:
This is a fun interlude, with lots of personal progress and character growth, but not much of the epic plot that drives this story. For example, the two main characters finally get married (and it's over the top and really fun). They take on official roles that help them, get the bonding school sequence finished, etc. And at the end of the book, the grand plot goes to the next level, setting up a return to the battles.

It was a good experience and fun to read, but I'm looking forward to the story taking the lead again.
]]> <![CDATA[Threshold: Stories from Cradle]]> 221722124
Lindon’s journey may have ended, but there are still more tales to tell.

The stories in this collection will show you the world after Cradle, those left behind, and even some legends from long ago. If you’ve read the main series but you still want more, these are for you.

Witness the first Uncrowned King tournament. Visit the Monarchs and their voyages in the lands beyond. Get to know the Abidan in their homes, and meet the people of new worlds as they cross paths with familiar faces.

And, of course, check in on some old friends.

See them once again…across the Threshold.]]> 340 Will Wight Scott 5
It was so much fun to see the old gang in action again. And there was even an overarching theme and maybe even a tease for a larger plot? But that might be my hope talking there. :)

If you liked Cradle, this is a must read. (If you haven't read that series yet, do that first.)]]> 4.52 2025 Threshold: Stories from Cradle
author: Will Wight
name: Scott
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2025
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/05
date added: 2025/02/07
shelves:
review:
This is a series of short stories and novellas with the characters from the Cradle series.

It was so much fun to see the old gang in action again. And there was even an overarching theme and maybe even a tease for a larger plot? But that might be my hope talking there. :)

If you liked Cradle, this is a must read. (If you haven't read that series yet, do that first.)
]]> <![CDATA[Coaching Salespeople into Sales Champions: A Tactical Playbook for Managers and Executives]]> 2350572 352 Keith Rosen 0470142510 Scott 4
I didn't learn a lot personally, but that's because I am a master level certified coach twice over (2 separate programs). I've even written my own coach training program. So, I'm not the target audience here.

But there were some good pieces of advice in it, including things like:

Actually, listen, don't just wait for your you turn.

Don't assume: Do you assume that everyone wants to follow up at the same frequency, like a week? Do you assume that they aren't interested because they haven't got back to you? Do you assume that when they ask for materials that what they want is really materials? Do you know why they said no?

Don't settle for the obvious, surface answer. Find out what they really want.]]> 3.90 2008 Coaching Salespeople into Sales Champions: A Tactical Playbook for Managers and Executives
author: Keith Rosen
name: Scott
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/03
date added: 2025/02/07
shelves:
review:
This isn't really a book on sales--it's a book on coaching that just uses sales as the examples. There are very few specific skills for selling well or managing salespeople. But there are a lot of specifics on what makes for a good coaching session.

I didn't learn a lot personally, but that's because I am a master level certified coach twice over (2 separate programs). I've even written my own coach training program. So, I'm not the target audience here.

But there were some good pieces of advice in it, including things like:

Actually, listen, don't just wait for your you turn.

Don't assume: Do you assume that everyone wants to follow up at the same frequency, like a week? Do you assume that they aren't interested because they haven't got back to you? Do you assume that when they ask for materials that what they want is really materials? Do you know why they said no?

Don't settle for the obvious, surface answer. Find out what they really want.
]]> The Sword of Kaigen 41886271 A son struggling to grasp his violent future,
A father blind to the danger that threatens them all.

When the winds of war reach their peninsula, will the Matsuda family have the strength to defend their empire? Or will they tear each other apart before the true enemies even reach their shores?

High on a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire live the most powerful warriors in the world, superhumans capable of raising the sea and wielding blades of ice. For hundreds of years, the fighters of the Kusanagi Peninsula have held the Empire’s enemies at bay, earning their frozen spit of land the name ‘The Sword of Kaigen.�

Born into Kusanagi’s legendary Matsuda family, fourteen-year-old Mamoru has always known his purpose: to master his family’s fighting techniques and defend his homeland. But when an outsider arrives and pulls back the curtain on Kaigen’s alleged age of peace, Mamoru realizes that he might not have much time to become the fighter he was bred to be. Worse, the empire he was bred to defend may stand on a foundation of lies.

Misaki told herself that she left the passions of her youth behind when she married into the Matsuda house. Determined to be a good housewife and mother, she hid away her sword, along with everything from her days as a fighter in a faraway country. But with her growing son asking questions about the outside world, the threat of an impending invasion looming across the sea, and her frigid husband grating on her nerves, Misaki finds the fighter in her clawing its way back to the surface.]]> 651 M.L. Wang Scott 0 to-read 4.46 2019 The Sword of Kaigen
author: M.L. Wang
name: Scott
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2019
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Hell Difficulty Tutorial: Book One (Hell Difficulty Tutorial, #1)]]> 205056794 Where others see doom, he sees opportunity. Hell Difficulty? More like a chance to thrive.

Nathaniel's bus ride was supposed to be just another boring commute. Wrong. Now, he, 23 fellow passengers, and a corgi named Biscuit, are stuck in a "Hell Difficulty" Tutorial, battling monsters and leveling up to survive.

Easy difficulty, anyone can handle. Normal difficulty, you've got to put up a fight to get by. Hard difficulty is where only the tough ones last. And Hell? That's where you have to be a bit out of your mind!

With his terrifying talent for mana manipulation, Nathaniel decides to invest every stat point into mana. Attribute imbalance be damned. It will either kill him before the monsters and his enemies can, or turn him into one of the most powerful beings within the system.

Never underestimate the guy who has so much Mana it should kill him...

Follow Nathaniel's crazy journey as he takes on nightmarish foes and teams up with a far-from-normal group of bus passengers in this action-packed LitRPG Adventure. He must outsmart the odds, survive, and emerge stronger than anyone else!

With more than 10 million views as a web serial, this definitive version is perfect for fans of The Primal Hunter, Defiance of the Fall, and Generic System. ]]> 618 Cerim Scott 0 to-read 4.21 2024 Hell Difficulty Tutorial: Book One (Hell Difficulty Tutorial, #1)
author: Cerim
name: Scott
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes, #1)]]> 61242426
The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success � not to mention the fact that no one has the faintest idea what coffee actually is.

If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won't be able to go it alone.

But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.]]> 296 Travis Baldree Scott 0 to-read 4.05 2022 Legends & Lattes (Legends & Lattes, #1)
author: Travis Baldree
name: Scott
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)]]> 6148028 Sparks are igniting.
Flames are spreading.
And the Capitol wants revenge.

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol—a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest that she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before . . . and surprising readers at every turn.]]> 391 Suzanne Collins 0439023491 Scott 5 4.34 2009 Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)
author: Suzanne Collins
name: Scott
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Eldest (The Inheritance Cycle, #2)]]> 45978
Darkness falls…despair abounds…evil reigns�

Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. Soon he is on the journey of a lifetime, his eyes open to awe-inspring new places and people, his days filled with fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and nothing is what it seems. Before long, Eragon doesn't know whom he can trust.

Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle–one that might put Eragon in even graver danger.

Will the king's dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life. . . .]]> 704 Christopher Paolini 0375840400 Scott 4 4.04 2005 Eldest (The Inheritance Cycle, #2)
author: Christopher Paolini
name: Scott
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves:
review:

]]> The Lord of the Rings 33 One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In ancient times the Rings of Power were crafted by the Elven-smiths, and Sauron, the Dark Lord, forged the One Ring, filling it with his own power so that he could rule all others. But the One Ring was taken from him, and though he sought it throughout Middle-earth, it remained lost to him. After many ages it fell by chance into the hands of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins.

From Sauron's fastness in the Dark Tower of Mordor, his power spread far and wide. Sauron gathered all the Great Rings to him, but always he searched for the One Ring that would complete his dominion.

When Bilbo reached his eleventy-first birthday he disappeared, bequeathing to his young cousin Frodo the Ruling Ring and a perilous quest: to journey across Middle-earth, deep into the shadow of the Dark Lord, and destroy the Ring by casting it into the Cracks of Doom.

The Lord of the Rings tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider.]]> 1216 J.R.R. Tolkien 0618640150 Scott 4 4.52 1955 The Lord of the Rings
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Scott
average rating: 4.52
book published: 1955
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)]]> 61215384
The inspiration for the upcoming original series on Prime Video, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

The Return of the King is the third part of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic adventure The Lord of the Rings.

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

The Dark Lord has risen, and as he unleashes hordes of Orcs to conquer all Middle-earth, Frodo and Sam struggle deep into his realm in Mordor.

To defeat Sauron, the One Ring must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom. But the way is impossibly hard, and Frodo is weakening. The Ring corrupts all who bear it and Frodo’s time is running out.

Will Sam and Frodo succeed, or will the Dark Lord rule Middle-earth once more?]]> 432 J.R.R. Tolkien Scott 4 4.67 1955 The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings, #3)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Scott
average rating: 4.67
book published: 1955
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)]]> 61215372
The inspiration for the upcoming original series on Prime Video, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

The Two Towers is the second part of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic adventure The Lord of the Rings.

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

Frodo and his Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in a battle in the Mines of Moria. And Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape, the rest of the company was attacked by Orcs. Now they continue the journey alone down the great River Anduin—alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.]]> 448 J.R.R. Tolkien Scott 4 4.60 1954 The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2)
author: J.R.R. Tolkien
name: Scott
average rating: 4.60
book published: 1954
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6)]]> 58613345
As in all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate, and lose a few eyebrows in the process. The Weasley twins expand their business. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Classes are never straightforward, though Harry receives some extraordinary help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince.

So it's the home front that takes center stage in the multilayered sixth installment of the story of Harry Potter. Harry struggles to uncover the identity of the Half-Blood Prince, the past owner of a potions textbook he now possesses that is filled with ingenious, potentially deadly, spells. But Harry's life is suddenly changed forever when someone close to him is heinously murdered right before his eyes.

With Dumbledore's guidance, he seeks out the full, complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort, and thereby attempts to find what may be his only vulnerability.]]> 672 J.K. Rowling Scott 5 4.58 2005 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter, #6)
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Scott
average rating: 4.58
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)]]> 58613424 752 J.K. Rowling Scott 5 4.56 2000 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter, #4)
author: J.K. Rowling
name: Scott
average rating: 4.56
book published: 2000
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2025/02/04
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Sales Development Playbook: Build Repeatable Pipeline and Accelerate Growth with Inside Sales]]> 28598342 264 Trish Bertuzzi Scott 3 4.19 The Sales Development Playbook: Build Repeatable Pipeline and Accelerate Growth with Inside Sales
author: Trish Bertuzzi
name: Scott
average rating: 4.19
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/02
date added: 2025/02/03
shelves:
review:
This was mostly just him summarizing what other people wrote in their books, literally referencing other people every chapter. And he didn't say it as well as they did. So, it wasn't wrong or bad--but I'd recommend reading the original versions first.
]]> <![CDATA[Sales Growth: Five Proven Strategies from the World's Sales Leaders]]> 13612701
Broken down into five overarching strategies, this book focuses on the valuable lessons that power growth, including how to get ahead of the competition by taking advantage of trends and turning complex analysis into simple guidelines that sales reps on your front line need to sell better. Page by page, you'll learn how successful sales executives find untapped pockets of growth, act like locals to make the most of emerging markets opportunities, and power growth through digital sales. You'll also discover what it takes to find big growth in big data, develop the right "sales DNA" in your organization, and improve channel performance.Based on interviews of more than 120 of today's most successful global sales leaders, from a wide array of B2C and B2B organizationsOffers real-life examples of how successful sales leaders overcame the challenges encountered in the quest for growthContains insights on finding growth before your competitors, optimizing sales operations and technology, developing sales talent and capabilities, and much more

Created "by" sales executives "for" sales executives, this book will provide you with the practical guidelines and useful insights to drive sales growth today and in the future.]]> 256 Thomas Baumgartner 1118343514 Scott 3
However, while there were some good insights in this book (see below), I took two stars away for two big issues.

First, big chunks of the book were outdated. For example, a recurring theme was that digital marketing was something we should take seriously, maybe even checking out the idea of social media marketing. And they talk often about a specific software or metric tool, all of which are no longer best in class (some of which aren't even available anymore).

Second, the writing is so very formal and dry. I almost quit reading this twice, just because it was such a slog to get through. But then I'd get another good insight and decide to keep going just a little longer. I did finish it and I'm glad I did. Some of my clients are multi-national brands and some of these insights are useful for me. But it's really not good writing.

In case you are a global sales leader, here are some of my notes:

Pay attention to micro trends as well. For example, the entire industry might be on a decline, but there might be pockets in that industry that are growing quickly. And you might have some customer relationships like that as well.

You can create micro territories and micro strategies to address the micro trends that make up the macro industry. There's a lot of power in doing this and a lot of danger in selling to the average.

One of the biggest drivers of customer buying behavior is the actual sales experience. When surveyed, people will say that it's not important, but when you look at their behavior and what it correlates to it turns out that it's three times more important than they say it is in actually driving buying behavior

The sales experience is really the customer experience.

A best salesforce will dedicate 2/3 of its time to the pre-sales qualification. This includes technical sales often called solutions managers.

Marketing and sales have to collaborate and be aligned. Marketing should not just one-way communicate to sales. Sales should communicate back to marketing.

Marketing and sales leaders should have rotational experiences where they walk a day in the shoes of the other department.

Both marketing and sales should be talking directly to customers. That should not be reserved for one of the groups only.

Outsourcing your entire sales and marketing department is happening more and more, and often getting really good results.]]> 3.68 2012 Sales Growth: Five Proven Strategies from the World's Sales Leaders
author: Thomas Baumgartner
name: Scott
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/01
date added: 2025/02/02
shelves:
review:
This books is for multi-product, multi-channel, multi-national sales companies. If you're not a complex, global sales leader, the much of this book isn't for you. That's not good or bad--just know the focus before you read it.

However, while there were some good insights in this book (see below), I took two stars away for two big issues.

First, big chunks of the book were outdated. For example, a recurring theme was that digital marketing was something we should take seriously, maybe even checking out the idea of social media marketing. And they talk often about a specific software or metric tool, all of which are no longer best in class (some of which aren't even available anymore).

Second, the writing is so very formal and dry. I almost quit reading this twice, just because it was such a slog to get through. But then I'd get another good insight and decide to keep going just a little longer. I did finish it and I'm glad I did. Some of my clients are multi-national brands and some of these insights are useful for me. But it's really not good writing.

In case you are a global sales leader, here are some of my notes:

Pay attention to micro trends as well. For example, the entire industry might be on a decline, but there might be pockets in that industry that are growing quickly. And you might have some customer relationships like that as well.

You can create micro territories and micro strategies to address the micro trends that make up the macro industry. There's a lot of power in doing this and a lot of danger in selling to the average.

One of the biggest drivers of customer buying behavior is the actual sales experience. When surveyed, people will say that it's not important, but when you look at their behavior and what it correlates to it turns out that it's three times more important than they say it is in actually driving buying behavior

The sales experience is really the customer experience.

A best salesforce will dedicate 2/3 of its time to the pre-sales qualification. This includes technical sales often called solutions managers.

Marketing and sales have to collaborate and be aligned. Marketing should not just one-way communicate to sales. Sales should communicate back to marketing.

Marketing and sales leaders should have rotational experiences where they walk a day in the shoes of the other department.

Both marketing and sales should be talking directly to customers. That should not be reserved for one of the groups only.

Outsourcing your entire sales and marketing department is happening more and more, and often getting really good results.
]]> <![CDATA[Virtual Selling: How to Build Relationships, Differentiate, and Win Sales Remotely]]> 53440500 From bestselling author of Rainmaking Conversations and Insight Selling.

Do you want to connect with buyers and win more sales in the new world of virtual selling?

Do you want to learn how to develop strong relationships with buyers virtually, lead masterful virtual sales conversations, and become a top performing seller in this new environment?

Recent world events have flipped sales on its head and driven unprecedented levels of virtual interaction. As a result, sellers are faced with more challenges than ever before.

You can’t sell the same way you did pre-2020. If you do, you won’t achieve the same results. You need to adapt. Pivot. And change almost everything you did previously. If you want to thrive in sales today, it will require that you transition to the new world of selling remotely…take the “new norm� by storm.

Change isn’t easy.

Whether you’ve been in sales for years or you’re just starting out, learning how to sell virtually can feel intimidating.

From the best-selling authors of Rainmaking Conversations and Insight Selling, this book helps sellers to navigate these uncharted waters.

With practical advice, virtual selling techniques you can apply immediately, and the latest groundbreaking research, Virtual Selling: How to Build Relationships, Differentiate, and Win Sales Remotely will take you step-by-step through everything you need to do from mastering the medium to sharpening your virtual selling skills. You will discover how to overcome virtual selling challenges and reach your sales goals without face-to-face meetings.

You will learn:

� The #1 thing virtual sellers needs to focus on to achieve higher win rates
� 4 key areas of virtual selling that, when mastered, will differentiate you from the competition
� How consultative selling has changed and how sellers must adapt
� 4 principles of rapport and 20 questions for building rapport online
� How to run the most effective virtual sales meetings
� Virtual selling best practices for mastering the medium, including meeting mechanics, setup, and technology
� How to uncover aspirations and afflictions and lead a virtual needs discovery
� 17 common business factors affecting financial impact and how to build a strong ROI case
� 5 keys to delivering a powerful convincing story online
� How to collaborate with buyers online and virtual meeting tools you can leverage
� Keys to growing existing accounts with virtual value labs
� 9 Habits of Extreme Productivity to overcome distractions and boost your sales productivity
� How to deliver powerful virtual sales presentations
� Surprising research on what factors most influence buyers� decisions and how virtual sellers stack up
� How to capture buyer attention and maintain high levels of engagement throughout virtual sales meetings

Plus, gain access to exclusive guides, checklists, templates, and more to help you succeed in today’s new sales environment.]]> 266 Mike Schultz 173488391X Scott 3
Some of the stuff is good--but not unique. Just standard sales advice (and said better elsewhere).

But I did get some nuggets, including...

Find a way to quantify your benefit - put it in numbers.

Tell a before and after story. This is the most powerful way to demonstrate the ROI of working with you.

To get maximum buy in, collaboratively build for them, their unique ROI situation, using their numbers. Then they really own that this is true.

Collaborating with buyers is a huge boost to your selling success. Use virtual whiteboards to collaborate in real time. Leave it up even after you're done as it sparks more thought and they often say they should share this with someone else.

Surveys are underutilized collaboration tool.]]> 3.88 2020 Virtual Selling: How to Build Relationships, Differentiate, and Win Sales Remotely
author: Mike Schultz
name: Scott
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2020
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/30
date added: 2025/01/31
shelves:
review:
Some of this book is really dated. For example, it came out early in the pandemic and talks about that a lot. And the technical advice isn't applicable anymore.

Some of the stuff is good--but not unique. Just standard sales advice (and said better elsewhere).

But I did get some nuggets, including...

Find a way to quantify your benefit - put it in numbers.

Tell a before and after story. This is the most powerful way to demonstrate the ROI of working with you.

To get maximum buy in, collaboratively build for them, their unique ROI situation, using their numbers. Then they really own that this is true.

Collaborating with buyers is a huge boost to your selling success. Use virtual whiteboards to collaborate in real time. Leave it up even after you're done as it sparks more thought and they often say they should share this with someone else.

Surveys are underutilized collaboration tool.
]]> <![CDATA[The Sales Acceleration Formula: Using Data, Technology, and Inbound Selling to go from $0 to $100 Million]]> 24953002 Use data, technology, and inbound selling to build a remarkable team and accelerate sales The Sales Acceleration Formula provides a scalable, predictable approach to growing revenue and building a winning sales team. Everyone wants to build the next $100 million business and author Mark Roberge has actually done it using a unique methodology that he shares with his readers. As an MIT alum with an engineering background, Roberge challenged the conventional methods of scaling sales utilizing the metrics-driven, process-oriented lens through which he was trained to see the world. In this book, he reveals his formulas for success. Readers will learn how to apply data, technology, and inbound selling to every aspect of accelerating sales, including hiring, training, managing, and generating demand.

As SVP of Worldwide Sales and Services for software company HubSpot, Mark led hundreds of his employees to the acquisition and retention of the company's first 10,000 customers across more than 60 countries. This book outlines his approach and provides an action plan for others to replicate his success, including the following key

Hire the same successful salesperson every time � The Sales Hiring Formula Train every salesperson in the same manner � The Sales Training Formula Hold salespeople accountable to the same sales process � The Sales Management Formula Provide salespeople with the same quality and quantity of leads every month � The Demand Generation Formula Leverage technology to enable better buying for customers and faster selling for salespeople Business owners, sales executives, and investors are all looking to turn their brilliant ideas into the next $100 million revenue business. Often, the biggest challenge they face is the task of scaling sales. They crave a blueprint for success, but fail to find it because sales has traditionally been referred to as an art form, rather than a science. You can't major in sales in college. Many people question whether sales can even be taught. Executives and entrepreneurs are often left feeling helpless and hopeless.

The Sales Acceleration Formula completely alters this paradigm. In today's digital world, in which every action is logged and masses of data sit at our fingertips, building a sales team no longer needs to be an art form. There is a process. Sales can be predictable.

A formula does exist.]]> 217 Mark Roberge Scott 4
Here are some of the notes I took from this book:

Nothing else is more important than doing excellent hiring. If you master everything else, but not this, you will never get great results.

But each company has its own unique formula for who makes a great sales person.

Being aggressive and closing skills were at the bottom of great b2b sales skills. In fact they were negatively correlated. Intelligent and helpful were the highest correlation with success.

Most crucial traits were:
1. Coachability
2. Curiosity
3. Prior success
4. Intelligence
5. Work ethic

One way to check the work ethic of a candidate is to see how quickly they move through the interview process. Are they pushing you to get to completion or are you pushing them?

Great sales people are not looking for a job. They always have somebody trying to pitch a job or keep them in their current job. So you have to come up with a passive strategy.

Many people think the that the first sales hire should be the SVP of sales from a leading company in your industry. Or the top salesperson from that leading company. But neither are ideal. One hasn't sold in a while and is used to slow paced work. The other is lacking leadership experience.

A good first hire is a sales manager. They recently sold and have the management ability to help you build a team. But the best first hire is a recent entrepreneur with sales experience. They have the right mindset, and they're willing to figure things out as they go. You can teach them the industry technical stuff later if needed.

How many times do you call before it's not worth the effort? For small businesses it's five calls. For mid market it's eight. For large enterprise it's 12.

Do you want your marketing team to send in leads in an even, consistent manner. If they flood the sales team with a ton of leads, then they have a hard time taking care of everyone appropriately. Smooth flow is better than lumpy.

So measure in short, frequent intervals to make sure that you don't have big spikes up or down. It doesn't matter if they hit their goal by the end of the month if they did it all in one week it was still bad.

Your sales technologies should reduce the number of steps required for your sales people to do their job. It doesn't matter how fancy it is, if it adds work for them to do, it's keeping them from doing the actual sales.]]> 4.27 2015 The Sales Acceleration Formula: Using Data, Technology, and Inbound Selling to go from $0 to $100 Million
author: Mark Roberge
name: Scott
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/28
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves:
review:
Lots of good principles here, from a leader who helped to create the new world of content marketing and inbound selling. Some of the specifics are outdated already (the tech moves so fast!) but the fundamentals are still strong.

Here are some of the notes I took from this book:

Nothing else is more important than doing excellent hiring. If you master everything else, but not this, you will never get great results.

But each company has its own unique formula for who makes a great sales person.

Being aggressive and closing skills were at the bottom of great b2b sales skills. In fact they were negatively correlated. Intelligent and helpful were the highest correlation with success.

Most crucial traits were:
1. Coachability
2. Curiosity
3. Prior success
4. Intelligence
5. Work ethic

One way to check the work ethic of a candidate is to see how quickly they move through the interview process. Are they pushing you to get to completion or are you pushing them?

Great sales people are not looking for a job. They always have somebody trying to pitch a job or keep them in their current job. So you have to come up with a passive strategy.

Many people think the that the first sales hire should be the SVP of sales from a leading company in your industry. Or the top salesperson from that leading company. But neither are ideal. One hasn't sold in a while and is used to slow paced work. The other is lacking leadership experience.

A good first hire is a sales manager. They recently sold and have the management ability to help you build a team. But the best first hire is a recent entrepreneur with sales experience. They have the right mindset, and they're willing to figure things out as they go. You can teach them the industry technical stuff later if needed.

How many times do you call before it's not worth the effort? For small businesses it's five calls. For mid market it's eight. For large enterprise it's 12.

Do you want your marketing team to send in leads in an even, consistent manner. If they flood the sales team with a ton of leads, then they have a hard time taking care of everyone appropriately. Smooth flow is better than lumpy.

So measure in short, frequent intervals to make sure that you don't have big spikes up or down. It doesn't matter if they hit their goal by the end of the month if they did it all in one week it was still bad.

Your sales technologies should reduce the number of steps required for your sales people to do their job. It doesn't matter how fancy it is, if it adds work for them to do, it's keeping them from doing the actual sales.
]]> <![CDATA[Cracking the Sales Management Code: The Secrets to Measuring and Managing Sales Performance]]> 13385269
Neil Rackham (bestselling author of SPIN Selling ) states in his foreword, "There's an acute shortage of good books on the specifics of sales management. Cracking the Sales Management Code is about the practical specifics of sales management in the new era, and it fills a void."

This book is effectively an operating manual for the sales force. It identifies the 5 fundamental sales processes that can be managed to create desired business outcomes, and it helps readers choose which of the processes are needed to achieve their own strategic objectives. It also provides examples of actual tools and frameworks for sales managers to use, and it gives straight-forward advice on how to change sales force behaviors while avoiding common pitfalls. This book will further help sales forces maximize the usefulness of CRM by defining 3 distinct levels of sales metrics - those you can directly manage, those you can influence, and those that you can only hope to change.

Cracking the Sales Management Code is written in an engaging and narrative way that brings to life the extensive research and practical insights contained within its pages. It is a must-read for anyone in sales management or sales operations who wants to clarify the task of sales management and put in place the strategies, processes, tools, and metrics to proactively manage sales performance.]]> 272 Jason Jordan 0071765735 Scott 4
I got lots of notes from this book, but they took a long time to make each point, walking through every step in their thinking process, and the style was formal business writing, which made it dry (and it was already a book about metrics).

But the value of the conclusions was worth the slog. Here are some of the big ideas from it:

It used to be that the key to success was selection, strategy, and skills. But in the New World, the key to success is management (especially front line management), metrics and methodology.

If you don't first turn around the manager, it doesn't matter if you try to turn around the teams performance.

When managing through metrics, don't confuse visibility with control. Just because you can see what is going on doesn't mean you are actually tracking or engaging in ways that make things better. It's like watching a child on the edge of the stairs about the fall, you might be able to fully see the whole experience, but you need to get in position to actually prevent bad things.

A good sign that you have visibility but not control is if your answer to solving the problems is just to do more.

The sales manager is the key leverage point, it's even more important to train sales managers than it is to train sales people.

Activities can be managed, outcomes cannot. Have your sales managers focus on upstream activities.
Overall strategy: First, make sure you have enough selling effort to consistently cover your target markets. Second, develop a salesforce capable of effectively selling your products/services. Third, focus them on the right types of customers. Fourth, provide them on guidance on what types of products to sell.

If you just tell your sales team to increase sales, you will likely create chaos as each sales manager (or salesperson) makes up their own strategy on how to get there. Work harder? Sell the higher margin product more than than one? Target different companies? You have to give them direction and metrics on where to focus if you want an aligned effort.

There are five measures to track if your managers are actually improving the sales process.
1. Call management - activities to improve what happens on the sales call (the right conversation)
2. Opportunity management - activities to make sure reps are thoughtfully pursuing individual deals (the right products)
3. Account management (if you do multiple deals with each customer) - measure number of touches and percentage of account plans completed
4. Territory management- total activity in the territory by type and company
5. Sales force enablement - percentage of time coaching reps, training investment per FTE

When you set your strategy, you create a set of metrics for them. But it's really important that you let go of the old set of metrics that went with the old strategy. We've seen too many companies who haven't ever accumulating list of metrics that they track for their sales teams. Stick with what's most important.]]> 4.03 2011 Cracking the Sales Management Code: The Secrets to Measuring and Managing Sales Performance
author: Jason Jordan
name: Scott
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/26
date added: 2025/01/27
shelves:
review:
The content of this book was great--specific and insightful, even important for the sale manager role. It was all about metrics. Yeah, not the most exciting, but this is where the actual work of management often takes place.

I got lots of notes from this book, but they took a long time to make each point, walking through every step in their thinking process, and the style was formal business writing, which made it dry (and it was already a book about metrics).

But the value of the conclusions was worth the slog. Here are some of the big ideas from it:

It used to be that the key to success was selection, strategy, and skills. But in the New World, the key to success is management (especially front line management), metrics and methodology.

If you don't first turn around the manager, it doesn't matter if you try to turn around the teams performance.

When managing through metrics, don't confuse visibility with control. Just because you can see what is going on doesn't mean you are actually tracking or engaging in ways that make things better. It's like watching a child on the edge of the stairs about the fall, you might be able to fully see the whole experience, but you need to get in position to actually prevent bad things.

A good sign that you have visibility but not control is if your answer to solving the problems is just to do more.

The sales manager is the key leverage point, it's even more important to train sales managers than it is to train sales people.

Activities can be managed, outcomes cannot. Have your sales managers focus on upstream activities.
Overall strategy: First, make sure you have enough selling effort to consistently cover your target markets. Second, develop a salesforce capable of effectively selling your products/services. Third, focus them on the right types of customers. Fourth, provide them on guidance on what types of products to sell.

If you just tell your sales team to increase sales, you will likely create chaos as each sales manager (or salesperson) makes up their own strategy on how to get there. Work harder? Sell the higher margin product more than than one? Target different companies? You have to give them direction and metrics on where to focus if you want an aligned effort.

There are five measures to track if your managers are actually improving the sales process.
1. Call management - activities to improve what happens on the sales call (the right conversation)
2. Opportunity management - activities to make sure reps are thoughtfully pursuing individual deals (the right products)
3. Account management (if you do multiple deals with each customer) - measure number of touches and percentage of account plans completed
4. Territory management- total activity in the territory by type and company
5. Sales force enablement - percentage of time coaching reps, training investment per FTE

When you set your strategy, you create a set of metrics for them. But it's really important that you let go of the old set of metrics that went with the old strategy. We've seen too many companies who haven't ever accumulating list of metrics that they track for their sales teams. Stick with what's most important.
]]> <![CDATA[Reset: How to Change What's Not Working]]> 214151475 From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Made to Stick, Switch, and The Power of Moments comes a revolutionary guide to fixing what’s not working—in systems and processes, organizations and companies, and even in our daily lives—by identifying leverage points and concentrating resources to achieve our goals.

Changing how we work can feel overwhelming. Like trying to budge an enormous boulder. We’re stifled by the gravity of the way we’ve always done things. And we spend so much time fighting fires—and fighting colleagues—that we lack the energy to shift direction.

But with the right strategy, we can move the boulder. In Reset, Heath explores a framework for getting unstuck and making the changes that matter. The secret is to find “leverage points�: places where a little bit of effort can yield a disproportionate return. Then, we can thoughtfully rearrange our resources to push on those points.

Heath weaves together fascinating examples, ranging from a freakishly effective fast-food drive-thru to a simple trick from couples therapy to an inspirational campaign that saved a million cats.

In Reset, you’ll
-Why the feeling of progress can be your secret weapon in accelerating change
-How leaders can uncover and stop wasteful activities
-Why your team’s motivation is often squandered—and how to avoid that mistake
-How you can jumpstart your change efforts by beginning with a “burst�

The book investigates Why the middle is the roughest part of a change effort. Why inefficiency can sometimes accelerate progress. Why getting “buy-in� is the wrong way to think about change.

What if we could unlock forward movement—achieving progress on what matters most—without the need for more resources? The same people, the same assets…but dramatically better results. Yesterday, we were stuck. Today, we reset.]]> 288 Dan Heath 1668062097 Scott 5
It's not about personal change (that's covered in in previous book, Switch). This time he's talking about organizational change. And organizational change is what I do for a living. (Everyone hires me for the cool customer experience ideas, but the actual value comes when we help them implement the change in their company.)

So I was curious to see his approach. Bottom line: I totally endorse this and even got a few nuggets out of it. His tactics are strong.

And best of all, he's a master storyteller (micro-moments in the book) and world class writer (macro-flow of the book). It was a joy to read.

So, if you are a leader--or want to be--then read this book. (And if you like it, check out his other books, too.)]]> 4.17 Reset: How to Change What's Not Working
author: Dan Heath
name: Scott
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/25
date added: 2025/01/26
shelves:
review:
Another brilliant book from Dan Heath.

It's not about personal change (that's covered in in previous book, Switch). This time he's talking about organizational change. And organizational change is what I do for a living. (Everyone hires me for the cool customer experience ideas, but the actual value comes when we help them implement the change in their company.)

So I was curious to see his approach. Bottom line: I totally endorse this and even got a few nuggets out of it. His tactics are strong.

And best of all, he's a master storyteller (micro-moments in the book) and world class writer (macro-flow of the book). It was a joy to read.

So, if you are a leader--or want to be--then read this book. (And if you like it, check out his other books, too.)
]]> <![CDATA[The Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation]]> 11910902 What's the secret to sales success? If you're like most business leaders, you'd say it's fundamentally about relationships-and you'd be wrong. The best salespeople don't just build relationships with customers. They challenge them.

The need to understand what top-performing reps are doing that their average performing colleagues are not drove Matthew Dixon, Brent Adamson, and their colleagues at Corporate Executive Board to investigate the skills, behaviors, knowledge, and attitudes that matter most for high performance. And what they discovered may be the biggest shock to conventional sales wisdom in decades.

Based on an exhaustive study of thousands of sales reps across multiple industries and geographies, The Challenger Sale argues that classic relationship building is a losing approach, especially when it comes to selling complex, large-scale business-to-business solutions. The authors' study found that every sales rep in the world falls into one of five distinct profiles, and while all of these types of reps can deliver average sales performance, only one-the Challenger- delivers consistently high performance.

Instead of bludgeoning customers with endless facts and features about their company and products, Challengers approach customers with unique insights about how they can save or make money. They tailor their sales message to the customer's specific needs and objectives. Rather than acquiescing to the customer's every demand or objection, they are assertive, pushing back when necessary and taking control of the sale.

The things that make Challengers unique are replicable and teachable to the average sales rep. Once you understand how to identify the Challengers in your organization, you can model their approach and embed it throughout your sales force. The authors explain how almost any average-performing rep, once equipped with the right tools, can successfully reframe customers' expectations and deliver a distinctive purchase experience that drives higher levels of customer loyalty and, ultimately, greater growth.]]> 221 Matthew Dixon 1591844355 Scott 5
The three practices of these exceptional performers are: teach, tailor and take control. All three are necessary, anyone by itself is not going to work and or going to cause problems. We have to teach, while we tailor, in a way that takes control of the process.

The sales approach that performed the worst is what they called the relationship builder. Yes, relationships matter for the sales process, but this person is focused on being accepted and liked. They are more concerned with customer convenience, while the challenger is more concerned with customer value.

The Challenger creates tension while the relationship person diffuse his tension.

The organizations job is to give them the tools and tactics to help them do all three of these things well.]]> 3.88 2011 The Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation
author: Matthew Dixon
name: Scott
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/24
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves:
review:
This book challenges the standard approach of B2B sales that is all about asking your customers questions to learn what they want then delivering that to them. Based on a large research project, this book says that the highest performing salespeople don't accommodate their customers, they challenge them with new insights and lead them to adopt a new practice (that they sell).

The three practices of these exceptional performers are: teach, tailor and take control. All three are necessary, anyone by itself is not going to work and or going to cause problems. We have to teach, while we tailor, in a way that takes control of the process.

The sales approach that performed the worst is what they called the relationship builder. Yes, relationships matter for the sales process, but this person is focused on being accepted and liked. They are more concerned with customer convenience, while the challenger is more concerned with customer value.

The Challenger creates tension while the relationship person diffuse his tension.

The organizations job is to give them the tools and tactics to help them do all three of these things well.
]]> <![CDATA[The Accidental Sales Manager: How to Take Control and Lead Your Sales Team to Record Profits]]> 10099326 256 Chris Lytle 0470941642 Scott 5
Some of the highlights from the book:

Put an expiration date all your contracts and take it seriously not just internally but also communication. Respect the expiration date.

You don't manage the sales. You manage sales people.

Before you set new goals, find out what is actually happening

Look at your top, performing salespeople, have the rest of your team act like them

Many sales people reduce the price before even talking to the customer. Get good at defending high prices.

One way to do that is to respond to their price concerns with, "I understand." Then explain why you have scarcity

The higher their commission percent, the less they feel like they work for you. They feel like they work for themselves. This means they are less likely to respond to company policies and request.

B players accommodate all the requests of their customers. A players convinced their customers why the ideal process is best for them.

If you plan to pay them a lot of money, make them prove to you that they have earned at least 80% of that money in a previous sales role]]> 3.93 2011 The Accidental Sales Manager: How to Take Control and Lead Your Sales Team to Record Profits
author: Chris Lytle
name: Scott
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/24
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves:
review:
This is a great overview of the sales manager role, covering everything from tactical sales skills to general management practices. I recommend it for all sales managers, not just the accidental ones.

Some of the highlights from the book:

Put an expiration date all your contracts and take it seriously not just internally but also communication. Respect the expiration date.

You don't manage the sales. You manage sales people.

Before you set new goals, find out what is actually happening

Look at your top, performing salespeople, have the rest of your team act like them

Many sales people reduce the price before even talking to the customer. Get good at defending high prices.

One way to do that is to respond to their price concerns with, "I understand." Then explain why you have scarcity

The higher their commission percent, the less they feel like they work for you. They feel like they work for themselves. This means they are less likely to respond to company policies and request.

B players accommodate all the requests of their customers. A players convinced their customers why the ideal process is best for them.

If you plan to pay them a lot of money, make them prove to you that they have earned at least 80% of that money in a previous sales role
]]> <![CDATA[Inbound Selling: How to Change the Way You Sell to Match How People Buy]]> 36703044 288 Brian Signorelli 1119473446 Scott 5 There is a "new" way of selling for a "new" situation. Instead of the old way of selling driven by cold calls/cold emails, you generate interest through content creation, events, etc.--then your customers reach out to you and your sales process starts. That's why it's called inbound selling.

So this book walks through the specific tactics and tools that he used to build the Hubspot inbound sales team.

(Note: it was new-ish when the book first came out. It's more common now.)

How am I smarter, better, or wiser because of it?
I got a lot of tactical stuff from this book. He was clear and detailed on how to do it, which is just what I was looking for.

Here are some of the notes I took:

The first rule of inbound selling is you do not talk about your company until you absolutely have to
You must provide value before you ask for anything

How do you know if you're ready to reach out to a customer who is expressed interest? Do you know exactly what you would want to say if you have to leave a voicemail? Do you have all your templates loaded and ready to go? Do you have your notes about them as a customer, including information about their company and their industry trends?

Don't give up after the first try in fact, the data shows that it takes 5 to 6 reach out to make a real conversation happen

Create a rating system and rate the quality of the leads

When you get them on the phone aim to spend 10 to 20 minutes. Even if they're asking a lot and having great conversation, try not to spend more than 20 minutes. Your job is to qualify this lead, necessarily do it all right there. (I'm not sure if the applies to, at least given our current structure.)

What to ask about in this call Colon what change are they trying to make in their organization, how urgent is that change, the role the person plays in making this change, is the company in an active buying process right now or not

Used positioning statements to create conversation and alignment, such as we usually find companies in your situation are dealing with this problem. Is this one true for you?

As you get the critical information, confirmed, schedule the next call. Don't hang up until it's actually on the calendar.

Don't stay too tightly to a script. Don't fall into the trap of believing or taking seriously all of the surface facts they give you. Ask why. Be curious. Act more like an executive coach than someone who checked the box and is moving onto the next topic.

Look to figure out their goals, plans, timelines, challenges, consequences, implications

After each of these calls, write a recap letter. This has a general framework, but it cannot be a cut and paste. It has to actually be personalized and have real insights for them. Scott Wozniak addition: add a real teaching insight to this letter.

The template for the recap letter is the same as your agenda for the call. Organized by goals, plans, timelines, challenges, consequences, and implications.

Was I entertained/did it keep my attention?
Very much, but that's because I am using the same sales strategy (create lots of content, speak at events, then manage the inbound requests) so it fit my team perfectly.

Would I recommend it to others?
If you run this kind of sales play, then I highly recommend it. ]]> 3.56 Inbound Selling: How to Change the Way You Sell to Match How People Buy
author: Brian Signorelli
name: Scott
average rating: 3.56
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/22
date added: 2025/01/24
shelves:
review:
What's the big idea and/or unique approach of this book?
There is a "new" way of selling for a "new" situation. Instead of the old way of selling driven by cold calls/cold emails, you generate interest through content creation, events, etc.--then your customers reach out to you and your sales process starts. That's why it's called inbound selling.

So this book walks through the specific tactics and tools that he used to build the Hubspot inbound sales team.

(Note: it was new-ish when the book first came out. It's more common now.)

How am I smarter, better, or wiser because of it?
I got a lot of tactical stuff from this book. He was clear and detailed on how to do it, which is just what I was looking for.

Here are some of the notes I took:

The first rule of inbound selling is you do not talk about your company until you absolutely have to
You must provide value before you ask for anything

How do you know if you're ready to reach out to a customer who is expressed interest? Do you know exactly what you would want to say if you have to leave a voicemail? Do you have all your templates loaded and ready to go? Do you have your notes about them as a customer, including information about their company and their industry trends?

Don't give up after the first try in fact, the data shows that it takes 5 to 6 reach out to make a real conversation happen

Create a rating system and rate the quality of the leads

When you get them on the phone aim to spend 10 to 20 minutes. Even if they're asking a lot and having great conversation, try not to spend more than 20 minutes. Your job is to qualify this lead, necessarily do it all right there. (I'm not sure if the applies to, at least given our current structure.)

What to ask about in this call Colon what change are they trying to make in their organization, how urgent is that change, the role the person plays in making this change, is the company in an active buying process right now or not

Used positioning statements to create conversation and alignment, such as we usually find companies in your situation are dealing with this problem. Is this one true for you?

As you get the critical information, confirmed, schedule the next call. Don't hang up until it's actually on the calendar.

Don't stay too tightly to a script. Don't fall into the trap of believing or taking seriously all of the surface facts they give you. Ask why. Be curious. Act more like an executive coach than someone who checked the box and is moving onto the next topic.

Look to figure out their goals, plans, timelines, challenges, consequences, implications

After each of these calls, write a recap letter. This has a general framework, but it cannot be a cut and paste. It has to actually be personalized and have real insights for them. Scott Wozniak addition: add a real teaching insight to this letter.

The template for the recap letter is the same as your agenda for the call. Organized by goals, plans, timelines, challenges, consequences, and implications.

Was I entertained/did it keep my attention?
Very much, but that's because I am using the same sales strategy (create lots of content, speak at events, then manage the inbound requests) so it fit my team perfectly.

Would I recommend it to others?
If you run this kind of sales play, then I highly recommend it.
]]> Predictable Revenue 12688360
"Alexander Graham Bell discovered the telephone, Thomas Edison discovered electricity and Aaron Ross discovered the Enterprise Market for Salesforce.com."
SHELLY DAVENPORT - VP Worldwide Sales at Replicon & ex-VP Corporate Sales at Salesforce.com

Discover the outbound sales process that, in just a few years, helped add $100 million in recurring revenue to Salesforce.com, almost doubling their enterprise growth... with zero cold calls.

This is NOT another book about how to cold call or close deals. This is an entirely new kind of sales bible for CEOs, entrepreneurs and sales VPs to help you build a sales machine. What does it take for your sales team to generate as many highly-qualified new leads as you want, create predictable revenue, and meet your financial goals without your constant focus and attention?
LEARN INSIDE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT PREDICTABLE REVENUE
"I couldn't put it down. It's saved me so much time, and now revenue is ramping up. After reading the book, we closed major deals immediately with the strategies." KURT DARADICS CEO, Freedom Speaks / CitySourced.com
"Reading Predictable Revenue is like having a delicious conversation with a sales guru who generously shares his sales process, results and lessons learned. I'm so impressed, energized and refreshed to hear such relevance mixed with humor and unabashed logic. This book is honest, relevant and logical and it's rated A++ because it's guaranteed to make you think and convinces you to change things up....fast. Now, please excuse me as I'm running out to a funeral for my phone. After reading my favorite chapter on RIP Cold Calling there's no doubt its dead and gone and Aaron tells us why." JOSIANE FEIGON, CEO of TeleSmart and author of Smart Selling on the Phone and Online
"I just finished reading your book. Unbelievable! I now know what's wrong with our sales process..." PAT SHAH, CEO, SurchSquad
"I have read Predictable Revenue and it's Entrepreneurial Crack!" DAMIEN STEVENS, CEO, Servosity
"Working with Aaron Ross has been nothing short of amazing! His methods applied to our sales organization helped us produce a profitable and scalable new stream of predictable revenue. We saw at least 40+% new business growth. The best part is, we had a blast while doing it!" MICHAEL STONE, VP Sales and Strategy, WPromote (#1 ranked Search Marketing Firm on the Inc. 500)
For A Summary... google "Why Salespeople Shouldn't Prospect"]]> 213 Aaron Ross 0984380213 Scott 4
If you're in that category, this would be a helpful resource. For better and for worse, though, that's all this book is about. So if you're not doing cold outreach to business leaders, then probably not worth your time.

Here are some of the notes I took:

Send short Sweet email asking for the right person

Do research calls, not sales calls

Dedicate people to be outbound, prospecting, don't have your account executives or inside sales people do it

Be sure to ask about the internal decision-making process

Create a simple and easy trial option for them make it easy for them to start to get a taste

If you call, use the question, "Did I catch you at a bad time?" If they say yes, set a specific time to call them back

1. spend 15 minutes to find out if this is a waste of time, 2. spend one hour to see if this is a good fit, 3. spend two hours with the decision makers to map out a custom plan

Create lots of little, easy steps for them to take. Don't ask for one big step.

Have a shared spreadsheet with everybody's numbers, it inspires them and holds them accountable.]]> 3.91 2011 Predictable Revenue
author: Aaron Ross
name: Scott
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/21
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves:
review:
This is a solid overview of how to do prospecting (cold outreach) for business-to-business sales. It has specific recommendations on when to do it, what to say, what not to say, how to track it, etc.

If you're in that category, this would be a helpful resource. For better and for worse, though, that's all this book is about. So if you're not doing cold outreach to business leaders, then probably not worth your time.

Here are some of the notes I took:

Send short Sweet email asking for the right person

Do research calls, not sales calls

Dedicate people to be outbound, prospecting, don't have your account executives or inside sales people do it

Be sure to ask about the internal decision-making process

Create a simple and easy trial option for them make it easy for them to start to get a taste

If you call, use the question, "Did I catch you at a bad time?" If they say yes, set a specific time to call them back

1. spend 15 minutes to find out if this is a waste of time, 2. spend one hour to see if this is a good fit, 3. spend two hours with the decision makers to map out a custom plan

Create lots of little, easy steps for them to take. Don't ask for one big step.

Have a shared spreadsheet with everybody's numbers, it inspires them and holds them accountable.
]]> <![CDATA[Nuts and Bolts of Sales Management: How to Build a High-Velocity Sales Organization]]> 19419126
Sometimes managing a sales team feels like trying to manage chaos, and in a way it is—there are so many unpredictable influences at work in sales. In Nuts and Bolts of Sales Management, John Treace, mining decades of executive sales experience gained from successful business turnarounds, provides managers with proven strategies to build a high-performing sales team that will consistently produce desired results.

The tools and tactics included in Nuts and Bolts of Sales Management help sales managers identify and solve the problems that cause companies to stumble and fail. Leaders will learn how they can take their sales force to the next level by developing effective sales processes and by promoting high morale and team work. This book will provide a deeper understanding and practical answers for the problems all sales managers and officers face each day. Here is a sample of

- How to ensure predictable sales performance
- Effective forecasting & managing the quarter
- What to do when sales plans are missed
- How to design highly effective meetings and award programs
- Making effective presentations to management
- Minimize the need for hiring and firing
- How to balance morale, execution & teamwork
- How to develop a powerful sales culture
- Developing effective metrics
- How to Leveraging expenses while managing the budget
- Effective use of consultants
- How to sleep well at night nearing the end of any sales quarter

This practical handbook was written for current sales VPs or managers, salespeople who desire to move into management, and CEOs, COOs, CFOs and others wishing to have a better understanding of the principles and systems that drive high-velocity sales organizations.]]> 205 John R. Treace 1937110206 Scott 2 3.58 2011 Nuts and Bolts of Sales Management: How to Build a High-Velocity Sales Organization
author: John R. Treace
name: Scott
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2011
rating: 2
read at: 2025/01/20
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves:
review:
This book had only the most basic of information and was written in a tentative and simplistic style. I didn't get a single helpful idea from this book. Reading random blog posts would have been a better use of time. :(
]]> <![CDATA[Sales Management. Simplified.: The Straight Truth About Getting Exceptional Results from Your Sales Team]]> 25650387 Why do sales organizations fall short? Every day, expert consultants like Mike Weinberg are called on by companies large and small to find the answer—and it’s one that may surprise you. Typically, the issue lies not with the sales team—but with how it is being led. Through their attitude and actions, senior executives and sales managers unknowingly undermine performance.

In Sales Management. Simplified. Weinberg tells it straight, calling out the problems plaguing sales forces and the costly mistakes made by even the best-intentioned sales managers. The good news: with the right guidance, results can be transformed. Blending blunt, practical advice with funny stories from the field, this book helps you:

� Implement a simple framework for sales leadership
� Foster a healthy, high-performance sales culture
� Conduct productive meetings
� Create a killer compensation plan
� Put the right people in the right roles
� Coach for success
� Retain top producers and remediate underperformers
� Point salespeople at the proper targets
� Sharpen your sales story
� Regain control of your calendar
� And more

Long on solutions and short on platitudes, Sales Management. Simplified. delivers the tools you need to succeed.

]]> 224 Mike Weinberg 0814436439 Scott 5
Here are some of the notes I took from this book:

Remove non-sales work from the sales team - they need maximum focus and flexibility to sell well and respond to prospects. Especially don't put operational leaders over the sales team (they'll pull them onto other projects).

Don't slow down to lighten up on operations if they get overloaded- that's an operational problem and you don't solve it with changes in the sales system.

There are a wide variety of nuanced and very different sales roles. Someone who is successful in one setting won't be successful in another. Don't fall into the one-size-fits-all trap. Don't be tempted by a star performer from another company because what they did to Win there may not be what they need to do in your company. Therefore defined that role very specifically to your context and only hire people who match what you actually need.

Sales people need individual coaching - it's the foundation of sales excellence. Schedule one to one meetings with all sales people that include results, pipeline, then activity
Sales team meeting agenda: Personal updates, celebrating wins, brainstorming, how to solve a particular situation, have individual share about things. They're very good at, role-play.

"We are going to start winning our very first team meeting."

Create a list of target customers, and pursue them creatively and persistently. Don't just hit a broad list with a one and done, spray and Hope approach.

Equip your team with a Sharp, different differentiating sales story.]]> 4.29 2015 Sales Management. Simplified.: The Straight Truth About Getting Exceptional Results from Your Sales Team
author: Mike Weinberg
name: Scott
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/20
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves:
review:
This is a brilliant book, with real insight (not just overview info), practical recommendations and written with an engaging style.

Here are some of the notes I took from this book:

Remove non-sales work from the sales team - they need maximum focus and flexibility to sell well and respond to prospects. Especially don't put operational leaders over the sales team (they'll pull them onto other projects).

Don't slow down to lighten up on operations if they get overloaded- that's an operational problem and you don't solve it with changes in the sales system.

There are a wide variety of nuanced and very different sales roles. Someone who is successful in one setting won't be successful in another. Don't fall into the one-size-fits-all trap. Don't be tempted by a star performer from another company because what they did to Win there may not be what they need to do in your company. Therefore defined that role very specifically to your context and only hire people who match what you actually need.

Sales people need individual coaching - it's the foundation of sales excellence. Schedule one to one meetings with all sales people that include results, pipeline, then activity
Sales team meeting agenda: Personal updates, celebrating wins, brainstorming, how to solve a particular situation, have individual share about things. They're very good at, role-play.

"We are going to start winning our very first team meeting."

Create a list of target customers, and pursue them creatively and persistently. Don't just hit a broad list with a one and done, spray and Hope approach.

Equip your team with a Sharp, different differentiating sales story.
]]> <![CDATA[The Experience Mindset: Changing the Way You Think About Growth]]> 62313341
From the bestselling author of Growth IQ comes a guide to enhancing customer and employee experience simultaneously for unprecedented revenue growth

In the war for customer acquisition, businesses invest millions of dollars to improve customer experience. They deliver packages faster, churn out new products, and endlessly revamp their UI, often putting greater strain on employees for diminishing returns. According to Tiffani Bova, this siloed focus on customer experience � without considering the impact on your staff � actually hinders growth in the long run. The most successful companies adopt an Experience Mindset that strengthens both employee experience (EX) and customer experience (CX) at the same time.

Based on exclusive research from two Salesforce-sponsored studies of thousands of employees and c-suite executives, The Experience Mindset details exactly how your company can adopt an Experience Mindset, at scale. It’s not enough to know that happy employees equals happy customers. You must have an intentional, balanced approach to company strategy that involves all stakeholders � IT, Marketing, Sales, Operations, and HR � with KPIs and ownership over outcomes. In this ground-breaking book, filled with case studies of leading companies and never-before-seen research, you’ll


Employees are the heart of your business. If you want to remain competitive in today’s marketplace, investing in people is no longer a nice-to-have, but rather a must have.]]> 288 Tiffani Bova 059354269X Scott 3 3.87 The Experience Mindset: Changing the Way You Think About Growth
author: Tiffani Bova
name: Scott
average rating: 3.87
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/19
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves:
review:
This is a book full of studies and stats to say one thing: your employee experience impacts your customer experience. It's very formal and academic in language and takes way too long to make each point, but it's an important point. Also, very little of the book is on how to actually create a good employee experience. So, I'd read the executive summary of this one or just skip it.
]]> <![CDATA[Six-Minute X-Ray: Rapid Behavior Profiling]]> 55933656
In Six Minute X-Ray�, you’ll learn the most powerful people-reading system in the world. Chase exposes and unpacks simple techniques that come together to allow you tosee beyond the mask that anyone is wearing.

In less than six minutes, you’ll know more about the hidden side of the person you’re speaking to than their own friends and family - no joke.

◆How to see behind the masks people wear

◆Identify anyone's hidden fears and insecurities in less than 5 minutes

� Quickly and easily get an 80% read of a person before you meet

� Enable people to become the most vulnerable, open, confident, and best version of themselves during the first six minutes of meeting them

� Discover hidden secrets about a person in six minutes that gives you access to their most hidden beliefs and values

� Use this information to create undivided attention and cooperation

� Exactly how to tune in and adapt your language to the internal language of anyone you speak to

� Detect deception the moment it occurs, and know exactly how to deal with it

� Professionally qualify or disqualify the person or team you’re meeting within your first meeting

� Get past the social and corporate mask of the person you’re meeting with � see them as they are

� Determine the truth behind the desires, fears, and motivations of your counterpart � EVEN WHEN THEY DON’T TELL YOU

� Read a room of people like a Special Agent � guaranteed

◆Recognize dominance, fears, and needs before you speak with the person or group you choose

� Become aware of your own social needs and weaknesses and prevent yourself from being misled or manipulated

� Instantly identify the physical position to take when speaking with your person of interest

� Create rapport with the person instead of the mask they’re wearing

� Identify the subtle signs of an individual's positive and negative body language and emotional affect � utilize this to your advantage

� Identify and bring out deep concerns and doubts in a way that brings you closer to the person/ team you’re dealing with

� Among other small details, learn how small finger movements will always tell you if the person is becoming more open to your ideas

And so much more�

★★★★★]> 270 Chase Hughes Scott 5
Not only was he insightful, he was specific and practical, including calling out when it's not a reliable signal. For example, crossing your arms in front of you is not a sign of closing yourself off in many situations. Don't pay attention to that one.

Instead, he says to give the most weight to the involuntary and automatic reactions, like pupil dilation and blinking.

If you're interested in reading people, this book is highly recommended.]]> 4.29 Six-Minute X-Ray: Rapid Behavior Profiling
author: Chase Hughes
name: Scott
average rating: 4.29
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/18
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves:
review:
This is the best resource on reading people that I've found--and I've actually done a lot in this space. Not only have a read many books on this topic, I am a child actor with a degree in musical theater performance--so I've been trained extensively on how to portray complex emotions (which makes it easier to read them in others).

Not only was he insightful, he was specific and practical, including calling out when it's not a reliable signal. For example, crossing your arms in front of you is not a sign of closing yourself off in many situations. Don't pay attention to that one.

Instead, he says to give the most weight to the involuntary and automatic reactions, like pupil dilation and blinking.

If you're interested in reading people, this book is highly recommended.
]]> <![CDATA[The Warrior Poet Way: A Guide to Living Free and Dying Well]]> 70916744 An instant Wall Street Journal Bestseller!

From the founder of the Warrior Poet Society, a daring manual on how to become a dangerous—and good—man

There is a war on masculinity, and everywhere we look—on every front we hold sacred—we can see the painful reminders of this collapsing order. The chaos and crisis we are experiencing today should be a signal for men everywhere to rise up; to fight to preserve our way of life by once again walking the ancient paths. But this isn’t a journey that need be taken alone.

In The Warrior Poet Way, public speaker, former Army Ranger, and all-around patriot John Lovell offers a needed antidote to the lack of strong men in our modern world. This is a call to all men to be what they truly are. Both dangerous and good. Lovers and fighters. Lions and lambs.

Both philosophical and practical, this guide dispenses essential advice on how to be a whole man, from tyranny-proofing your home to wooing the right woman. Through anecdotes of his time in the military, interviews with other men, and practicums at the end of each chapter, Lovell teaches the virtue of balance—navigating the tension between violent warrior and romantic poet—and guides men through each mental and physical change they must make to embody the ancient spirit of a real man.

This is a manual for every man to use in the fight of their life—and what it takes to win. No good thing comes easy, and the life you want is just on the other end of what you don’t want to do. This is the Warrior Poet Way. Are you ready to walk it?]]> 287 John Lovell 0593541847 Scott 4 4.38 The Warrior Poet Way: A Guide to Living Free and Dying Well
author: John Lovell
name: Scott
average rating: 4.38
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/17
date added: 2025/01/18
shelves:
review:
This is a motivational challenge to me to step up, both as a fierce warrior and as a gentle poet. He tells a lot of his story throughout the book, including from his time in special forces. And he gives practical ways to take your life and heart to the next level.
]]> <![CDATA[Talking to GOATs: The Moments You Remember and the Stories You Never Heard]]> 52940539
Jim Gray looks back at his four decades of sports reporting from the unparalleled perspective of one of the world’s most respected and skilled interviewers. A journalist who many iconic athletes have trusted to tell their stories (of both triumph and disgrace), Jim has had unprecedented access to the people, places and extraordinary events in the world of sports. Asking fair but tough questions, he has broken numerous stories, and landed squarely in the middle of others, from the Ben Johnson and Barry Bonds steroid scandals, to Michael Jordan’s surprise retirement, to the off-the-court Kobe/Shaq feud which led to their on-the-court break up, to being part of the live broadcast for twenty-two Super Bowls. He’s climbed into the ring to interview Mike Tyson after he bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear, and stood next to Ron Artest when the “Malice at the Palace� melee erupted, and was on site at the bombing of the Atlanta Olympics.

Anyone who has watched Jim effortlessly engage his subjects at the precise moment of triumph or tragedy has little idea what it takes to secure the interview, or what actually happens when the camera cuts away. These are real, mesmerizing, and previously untold stories.The book features numerous world-class athletes, including Muhammed Ali, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Floyd Mayweather, Michael Phelps, Mike Tyson and Tiger Woods, and world leaders George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Mikhail Gorbachev, and many more. On each page, Jim gives the reader a coveted all-access pass as he reviews the best interviews, the best athletes, and the best games in modern sports history. It’s like a personal introduction to the characters and careers of these heroes and villains we’ve known since childhood. He examines how money, celebrity, the media, and power interact, and how sports, more than any other institution, has led to momentous transformations in American society.]]> 336 Jim Gray 0062992066 Scott 4 3.81 2020 Talking to GOATs: The Moments You Remember and the Stories You Never Heard
author: Jim Gray
name: Scott
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/16
date added: 2025/01/18
shelves:
review:
This was a fun book, with famous stories and never before told stories from a guy who was inside the ring when it happened. If you're a sports fan, you'll enjoy this book a lot. And if you're trying to become the GOAT in some area of your life, there are even some insights you can glean about how to do it well (e.g. stories on Tom Brady) and how not to do it (e.g. stories on Mike Tyson).
]]> Games People Play 49176 We think we’re relating to other people–but actually we’re all playing games.

Forty years ago, Games People Play revolutionized our understanding of what really goes on during our most basic social interactions. More than five million copies later, Dr. Eric Berne’s classic is as astonishing–and revealing–as it was on the day it was first published. This anniversary edition features a new introduction by Dr. James R. Allen, president of the International Transactional Analysis Association, and Kurt Vonnegut’s brilliant Life magazine review from 1965.
We play games all the time–sexual games, marital games, power games with our bosses, and competitive games with our friends. Detailing status contests like “Martini� (I know a better way), to lethal couples combat like “If It Weren’t For You� and “Uproar,� to flirtation favorites like “The Stocking Game� and “Let’s You and Him Fight,� Dr. Berne exposes the secret ploys and unconscious maneuvers that rule our intimate lives.
Explosive when it first appeared, Games People Play is now widely recognized as the most original and influential popular psychology book of our time. It’s as powerful and eye-opening as ever.]]> 192 Eric Berne 0345032799 Scott 4
It's not a popular science book with personal stories and motivational ending. It's more of a manual for professional psychiatrists, with tables of information and lists of behaviors. But it is very cleverly written, with catchy titles for the games and smooth writing.

It helped me get a deeper understanding of how people cope with the world. (I don't think I'm playing any of these games, but that's often harder to see for yourself.) Since my job includes coaching leaders I expect it to help me see more clearly as I help clients manage future conflicts. ]]> 3.77 1964 Games People Play
author: Eric Berne
name: Scott
average rating: 3.77
book published: 1964
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/15
date added: 2025/01/17
shelves:
review:
Interesting discussion of the various "games" that people play in their relationships. It could be as simple as complaining about how your partner holds you back while secretly being relieved about it and as complex as seducing someone in order to cry rape.

It's not a popular science book with personal stories and motivational ending. It's more of a manual for professional psychiatrists, with tables of information and lists of behaviors. But it is very cleverly written, with catchy titles for the games and smooth writing.

It helped me get a deeper understanding of how people cope with the world. (I don't think I'm playing any of these games, but that's often harder to see for yourself.) Since my job includes coaching leaders I expect it to help me see more clearly as I help clients manage future conflicts.
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