New Strategies for Financial Services Firms: The Life-Cycle-Solution Approach (Information Age Economy)

Book Description

The German financial services market is in deep crisis. Deregulation and the new means of communication have fostered competition and made the market a transparent level playing field. Moreover, customers increasingly demand individualized solutions to their financial problems. Many financial services providers reacted by merging to realize scale effects and adapted "me-too-strategies" that will not provide for a competitive advantage. In this book, the life-cycle-solution approach is presented. This anti-cyclical strategy puts the customer and his life-cycle in the center of interest, in order to service him according to his latent needs - wherever it is economically sound to do so. However, this book does not stop at the strategic level, but presents two concepts that help to better utilize customer relationships. Using IT as an enabler, the quality of financial advice can be improved and at the same time cost can be lowered due to streamlined consultation processes.

Amazon.com

Establishing a network consultancy frequently has more to do with happenstance than with any sort of coherent business plan. People typically develop competencies, do favors here and small jobs there, and then break with the day job when they realize that the independent work is a job unto itself. Knowing this, Matthew Strebe and his contributors on From Serf to Surfer have refrained from presenting any sort of recipe for success as a consultant. Instead, Strebe has mixed tales of his personal consulting career with universal truths about freelancing. The result is a fantastic book that is both entertaining and informative, and which belongs in the backpack of every technical consultant. From Serf to Surfer absolutely nails the proper mix of hard technicalities and soft business skills as they apply to freelance computer and network consultants.

The personal anecdotes are by far the best, since Strebe writes with a hilariously dry style, revealing the silliness that underlies every consultant's business worries. "A combination of sunlight and anxiety woke me up," Strebe writes in an account of a typical consulting day. But there's a lot more to this book than the author's excellent insights into life, taxes, and the customer's psyche. You'll find explicit advice on maximizing tax deductions on business vehicles (buy a dedicated business vehicle), keeping your cool in the face of idiotic clients ("call your mom and resolve all your outstanding childhood issues"), and getting set up with the equipment you'll need (there's a list, complete with makes and models). Read this one, particularly if you're already a successful consultant and think you know it all. --David Wall

Topics covered: Freelance consultancy in the computer networks field. In addition to loads of hilarious and salient stories from the primary author's career, this book contains a great deal of information on such business technicalities as project management, marketing, contract negotiation, client relations, accounting, taxes, and so on. The tax and legal stuff is U.S.-focused, but consultants everywhere will appreciate what Strebe has to say.

Book Description

You're experienced, you're skilled, you're certified -- and you're stuck flying a desk and babysitting servers for a company that doesn't understand your value. Why not break out of the 9-to-5 grind and become a network consultant, leveraging your skills and knowledge to let yourself work less and make more money? This book shows you how to transition from working in a traditional, regular-paycheck world to running your own business; how to put together business plans that make sense; how to build an image and market yourself; how to set pricing and write contracts; how to get clients--and how to keep them. Includes coverage of the legal issues you need to understand. Get ready to walk out on your boss!

Customer Reviews:

Practical details.......2007-08-19

Matthew Strebe is a professional consultant so he knows what he's talking about. Book is full of practical, detailed advice about running your own business. He tells you about taxes, incorporation, deductions,etc. Also a very good section on marketing. He tells you about his experiences with mailers, ads, etc.

Smart. To the point.

Money well spent.

I actually used it.......2003-02-20

I was heading out on my own in 2001 and my younger brother (also a network engineer) had a copy of this book and gave it to me. He's a fan of Strebe's writing style from other books, and although the unfortunate cover art almost turned him (and I until he explained) away, he bought it.

The book is really pretty useful. For retainers, I use a version of his retainer agreement. However, there are some things that my experience has found are different than his experience.

For example, mailing DOES work. I bet he sent a letter. You don't send just a letter. You send a letter and YOUR BUSINESS CARD. Because out of 1000 businesses, almost nobody might need you right now, but if your card ends up in 20 rolodexes or 50 rolodexes from that mailing, over the course of a year you might get ten calls from that mailing. Calls are worth the $37.00, if that's the formula. Trust me. .... I don't do it every month or even every other month but it does work, and him dismissing it out of hand because he tried it once and didn't get any calls is a little irresponsible.

Another thing is, this book is I'm sure quite true for Matthew Strebe's experience, but if you're doing this in the post-Tech-bubble world, you're going to have to expect that it's going to be harder to find the relationships and big jobs than it was during the years Strebe was gaining his experience as an independent. I'm doing okay, my business is growing SLOWLY but steadily (which is what every entrepeneur I've met and talked to since I started doing this has told me is completely normal) and if you have solid skills like Strebe and I do, you'll prevail eventually and it is worth it.

One other thing I disagreed with is that while it is true you don't want to be buddy-buddy with your customers too much, to the point that you get exploited, the reality is that non-tech type people are a lot more touchy-feely and relationship-oriented and they need to like and trust you because you are carrying the keys to their kingdom and they know it. People can say anything they want about the sales process but the reality is I walk out of a business with a deal or a relationship 100% of the time if I connected as a person with the customer, so they saw me as someone who had the experience and character to be mucking around in their stuff, and about 0% if I didn't. You can't get that by putting up a 100% wall between yourself and your customers. Getting by in this business is less about making "big scores" and more about having successful, long-term relationships where they call you and don't resent your fee because they know you're the best they're going to find. In the 90's it was about "big scores." Not any more, and remember that when you're reading this book. I wouldn't be surprised if Strebe has changed his focus a bit since then, too.

....

An Absolute Work of Art!.......2002-06-30

Wow! I wish I would have had this book 4 years ago. A must read for anyone thinking about taking on side-jobs or going out on their own. Not only is this book packed with invaluable information but Matt's sense of humor made reading this book an absolute pleasure. Two big thumbs up from this reader! :)

Thorough, easy reading, enjoyable, INFORMATIVE.......2002-01-28

Book covers the business, legal, technical ends of consulting. I feel greatly enlightened after reading it. It was recommended on the Cisco Newsgroup, and I thank the person that told us about it. After reading it, the book will now stand as a reference for me, especially the fine examples of contracts included. A real book written by a real professional, and not stuffy like technical books from experienced people can be. I have nothing bad to say about the book, but everything good. If you have any inkling to become a consultant, or need to know more to help you make the decision, read and absorb this informative how-to manual. It accomplishes what it is supposed to in a somewhat enjoyable/light touch manner, and there isn't any more to say!

I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK !!.......2001-01-31

Overall this book was excellent. The only side of it that I didn't like is that a lot of the TAX/BUSINESS STARTUP information was directed to people living in the US (I figuered that before I purchased it anyhow). The book gets into detail and gives you some confidence in going in alone on this type of business. It's a good idea to read this book before you read others regarding this issue. The other books are 3 times the size and would probably turn the reader off before you get to the next chapter. I really enjoyed reading the book but I decided to start this business more on a part time level rather than quitting my job and going fulltime.

Customer Reviews:

This Book's a Lifesaver!.......2000-02-08

Anyone who's struggling to take a new business to the next level will greatly benefit from reading THE INNER GAME OF ENTREPRENEURING. Ron Guzik talks to you in a friendly, commonsensical tone, as someone who has "been there" in developing a business. This book will steer you through your own psychological barriers, and help you bring them down so you can really communicate. This will mean more sales, better relations with your vendors and employees, and also more clarity in what you are aiming for. In other words, a much-needed handbook for entrepreneurs, no matter what the size of their dreams.

Do not be deceived by this title.......1999-09-24

Contrary to appearances, this book has nothing to do with any of Tim Gallwey's Inner Game books including The Inner Game of Tennis, The Inner Game of Golf, The Inner Game of Music or the upcoming The Inner Game of Work. The authors' use of this title is perhaps intentionally designed to decieve readers, and suggests an interesting if not questionable definition of the word 'entrepreneuring'.

Book Description

Communication 2000 2E: Communicating with Customers, Learner Guide/CD Study Guide Package (Communication 2000)

Average customer rating:

Communication 2000 2E: Communicating with Customers, Learner Guide/CD Study Guide Package (Communication 2000)
Agency for Instructional Technology
Manufacturer: South-Western Educational Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Communications | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Guides | Job Hunting & Careers | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Communication | Words & Language | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Business & Investing | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Reference | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0538433345

Book Description

This book/CD package emphasizes the communication skills necessary for providing excellent customer service. Communicating effectively to exceed customers' expectations is critical to the success and to the reputation of companies and their employees. The workshops provided lend instruction on how to understand the importance of customer service, identify customer needs, communicate effectively with customers in person, over the phone and/or via e-mail, and professionally handle customer complaints. The CD-ROM enhances the impact of the workshops as users complete a variety of exercises on the computer and use the Internet for further research.

Communication 2000: Communicating With Customers

Average customer rating:

Communication 2000: Communicating With Customers
Agency for Instructional Technology
Manufacturer: South-Western Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Communications | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Running Meetings & Presentations | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 053843340X

Communication 2000 : Module 9: Communicating with Customers

Average customer rating:

Communication 2000 : Module 9: Communicating with Customers
Agency for Instructional Technology
Manufacturer: International Thomson Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

General | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
ASIN: 0538636068

Customer Reviews:

The Need for Humor in Academia.......2007-10-18

I first read this book long before finishing my PhD. I loved it for the humor and thought--academia-eeeeewwwww--I never want to work in such a petty field. Well, as life would have it, I reached a place professionally where an visiting academic job was my next, best step and I took it. The boss was a tenured jerk, the faculty were miserable, and due to budget cuts I am blessedly free 15 months later. Along the way, I hunted down my copy of Ms. Mentor and found it frightfully on target, clarifying, and practical. So I bought copies for the rest of the faculty and they loved it. Perhaps those who dislike this book have just not faced life in the $#%$@ lane.

Fully Peccable Advice.......2007-05-06

This book is chock-full of appallingly retrograde, offensive, gutless, and bizarre admonishments. Apparently, women in academia should avoid manicures, lest they be deemed frivolous. And we must all dress in tweed, twinsets, and pearls--unless we're "ethnic," in which case we can go for a more "Earth Mother" look. If we're being sexually harassed, we should deal with it by writing fake stalker letters to our harasssers. If we're disabled, we should make jokes about our sitaution to help everyone else feel more comfortable. If we're married or have children, we should hide it from interviewers. If we're gay, we should whatever we can to downplay or defang our sexuality for straight people. If we're unattractive, we should do something about it. If we're "too" attractive, we should do what we can to conceal it. If more senior women offer us advice, we must be whimperingly grateful for their patronage, no matter how unsolicited, unwelcome, or wrongheaded their advice might be.

Whaaa?

The gist of this book, frankly, is "don't deviate from the cardboard-cutout version of an academic, and if you must, realize that having done so is a moral offense for which you must to constant obeisance to the Powers That Be." Look, folks, I don't doubt that doing a lot of this stuff would probably make you popular and make your life easier in a culture as conservative and heirarchical as academia's, but working this hard to avoid offending anyone--no matter how vicious or unreasonable the prejudice you bump up against--makes not only for gutless wonderdom and a chronic case of personal inauthenticity, but also for Lowest Common Denominator scholarship. If that's the price of admission to The Academy, I say "no thanks."

In short: Blech.

Seems fictional.......2006-05-26

Most experiences described in this book seem to be fictional or exaggerated although the subject needs to be discussed. It is true that there are less women professors in science (for example at MIT) and they are prejudiced from time to time (remember the infamous speech of the Harvard president L.H. Summers). But why should I hide that my husband also needs a job? Or that I need time for my child? Why should I be careful about some older colleague who wants a relationship with a younger scientist instead of telling him more openly that I am not interested. The experiences may be fictional but most advices were also not that valuable either. I was expecting to read how to fight instead of how to avoid. Don't waste your time with this book, if you do, don't expect to learn much.

Full of bad advice.......2006-04-14

Not only was this book offensive (see earlier reviews) but it is full of bad advice. For example, it actually tells women to never bring their kids to word!

Wise, warm and witty.......2005-11-28

In tone and content, Ms.Mentor is a "Miss Manners" of academia. However the topics she boldly tackles cover a much wider swath of territory than workplace protocol (appropriate dress for a female conference speaker, interviewee or instructor, participating in departmental social events). She bravely tackles the convoluted machinations of grants, tenure and sundry promotions (or lack thereof) as well as the tricky personal issues regarding, for example, families, physical disabilities and ill-health.

Whatever the topic, she delivers her sage advice with droll wit and a decidedly feminist point of view. I only wish that her advice was more detailed and specific. I would have liked to see more examples of dealing with various gradations of sexual harrassment, for instance. This is a prevalent little secret among women in academia and often too incendiary an issue to bring up in conversation with colleagues. I'm sure that the author with her clever command of the language could come up with specific retorts that clearly indicate to the harrasser that his behavior is unwelcome while bearing in mind that he could retaliate in a potentially harmful way. It would make for a lengthier tome, but given her intended readership, this would not be seen as burdensome.

Book Description

The first and only book to blow the whistle on wasted contributions, Don't Just Give It Away shows readers how to tune out fundraising hype and make their donations to charity really count.

Customer Reviews:

A Must Read For Humanitarians.......2006-09-02

After reading this book, I now understand why those with deep pockets, like Paul Newman and Doris Buffett, turn to Rafferty for guidance in setting up a not-for-profit organization. In this book she not only provides excellent guidelines as how to set up and run a philantrophic organization, she explains how to systematically analize one from top-to-bottom (Chapter 8 "Due Diligence"). Rafferty teaches the reader how to define ones on goals so as to maximize the "return on investment" in philantrophic giving (Appendix 1). Both board member and donor alike will benefit from this book! (I own this book)

CEOs and Board Members, This Book is For YOU!.......2002-03-17

CEOs and Board members, don't be fooled. This book is NOT just for donors - it's for YOU!

Here's the way I figure it: If a book advises donors on what to look for when "investing" in a NonProfit, doesn't it make sense that NonProfits use that same book to help make their organization worth investing in?

NonProfit leaders should think of this book as one of those magazine cover stories that says "What Men Should Look for in a Woman" (or vice versa!). As a woman, I'd sure want to know what men are being advised to look for! And as NonProfits seeking donors, we should all want to know what those donors are being advised to look for in a worthy NonProfit. That's why this book is such a valuable tool.

In my NonProfit consulting work, I've used the fundraising and marketing insights from Ms. Rafferty's chapters on donor motivation when creating marketing plans, because it forces a NonProfit to think like a donor. And the chapters on performing due diligence ("Ten Warning Signs: Where to Look for the Bodies") are a GREAT checklist for ensuring your organization's ducks are in a row.

Being a NonProfit author myself, my favorite compliment is when a reader says their copy of the book is all marked up - that the pages are dog-eared and the spine cracked from use. Well, my copy of Ms. Rafferty's book is not only yellow from highlighting, but the book automatically opens to the sections I love.

So do your NonProfit a favor - don't be fooled into thinking this book is only for donors. Buy it, incorporate its messages into your marketing and fund development efforts, and watch your organization flourish.

Rafferty puts us firmly in control when making donations........1999-05-31

Most of us in this audience have spent years (and some, decades) on the inside of one nonprofit organization or another, wondering, "How can our organization attract more (or even more) charitable donations?"

We've established annual fund drives, grant-seeking programs, fielded special events, and maybe even launched planned giving programs. Some of us are in one stage or other of a capital campaign on the way toward meeting our six-, seven-, eight-, or even nine-figure goals.

Collectively, we've done a fantastic job. In 1997 alone, Americans gave us $143 billion, most of that in the form of direct gifts or bequests. We expend nearly $500 billion per year, control more than $800 billion in assets, employ nearly 11 percent of the American workforce, represent nearly eight percent of the American gross domestic product, and constitute 20 percent of the American service economy.

The money flows. Donors more or less leave us alone to spend it as we see fit and as long as we don't break some law or line our own pockets, things hum along nicely. As those of us who have been on the inside know, there is typically little or no investigation by most donors prior to the gift, much less once the gift has been made.

From our vantage point - on the inside looking out - all is well with the world. Few donors would think to ask hard questions before making a donation, much less to follow up on a donation to see that we've been wise stewards of it. That is why Renata J. Rafferty's new book, Don't Just Give It Away, How to Make the Most of Your Charitable Giving, is so startling. Written not by an outsider with an axe to grind, but by one of us, Rafferty turns things on their head by asking the public, "does it seem that $143 billion of 'social progress' was achieved through the activities of the charitable sector? How much of that $143 billion did you and your family contribute, and do you believe it was used as wisely as it could have been?"

Rafferty contends that while, in her more than 20 years in the charitable arena, she has "witnessed the integrity and industry of the men and women . . . who commit their lives - professionally and or as volunteers - to make this world a better place for all of us," she has also seen "waste and poor financial management that substantially eroded the value" of contributions. . . ."

"Like a leaking faucet that accumulates in wasted gallons," writes Rafferty, "minor misuses of each of our charitable investments add up. In fact, they amount to huge amounts of donated money annually that could have - and should have - been applied to programs and services for the community . . . but weren't. And that's why we don't see $143 billion worth of progress from our contributions."

Notice the shift by Rafferty from the industry insiders' perspective to that of the donors'? This is an insider breaking ranks, throwing open the door to the closet, and shining a bright light on, well, if not "skeletons," the family's closely-guarded secrets.

Every once in a while a book comes along which, though written with down-to-earth clarity and simplicity, carries within its covers a clarion call to reverse the flow of power and unsettle the status quo in an entire facet of society. This is that book.

Don't Just Give It Away teaches donors to conduct their giving "as thoughtfully and insightfully - and personally - as (they) approach . . . financial investing." She walks the reader through the process of defining philanthropic goals, finding a charity that fits those goals, performing due diligence on that charity, and tracking what the charity does with the gift after it's been given.

My favorite chapter - and one that poorly-run nonprofit organizations would do well to keep out of the hands of donors - is Chapter 9's "Ten Warning Signs: Where to Look for 'The Bodies.'" A sampling:

--You are discouraged or barred from a site visit or board meeting;

--Financial records are unavailable, unintelligible, or generally in disarray;

--There is no written strategic or business plan for the organization;

--Fewer than 70% of the board members have made a financial contribution to the organization within the last twelve months;

--And more.

It's occurred to me that one sign of a healthy organization is its enthusiasm in providing Rafferty's book to prospective and existing donors. An organization that is well managed and healthy will have nothing to fear, and perhaps much to gain, in educating its donors about such things. Indeed, arming donors with this kind of information - as simple as providing them a copy of this book - is one way to strengthen our nonprofit sector.

One thing the book is not is a "technique" book. Rafferty makes it clear she is not instructing donors on "how" to structure a gift - that's what attorneys and other advisors are for, she says - but on how to ensure that giving is done with maximum impact. I can imagine one pitfall is locating advisors who will understand, and add value to, the process described by Rafferty. The book is concise enough, though, that a donor might wish to provide a copy to any advisor assisting in the gift-making process.

Not surprisingly, Don't Just Give It Away has already attracted quite a few fans, including Paul Newman who, in the book's Foreword, writes: "I wish Don't Just Give It Away had been written years earlier - I could have used it. I'm delighted that it's here now and that I can share this book with friends, family, and colleagues who are searching for their own ways - more personal ways - to make this world a better place through wiser charitable giving." Newman should know. To date, his company, Newman's Own, has contributed over $100 million to charities worldwide from after-tax profits.

Product Description

A fascinating and informative look at the history of the Chevrolet as told through General Motors archive photos. The book was written and compiled by John D. Robertson, retired product expert from the GM archives. Book #2 is part of a four book set that covers the years 1940-54

Customer Reviews:

I'm a Ford guy and I'm telling you, buy this book........2006-05-18

I'm not much of a Chevy guy, but I am a freak for books with factory photos of concepts and actual production models.

The author of this book annoyed me with his barfingly partisan Chevrolet leanings, and I found his fawning over Studebakers to be a bit odd given it is a book about Generic Motor's biggest seller. His name is John Robertson and he was lucky enough to be supported in his family (principally by his father) in his interest in cars. He started off right, his first car was a Model A he bought for $20, but he bought a '37 Chev and went downhill from there. He worked as a clay modeler at Chrysler and eventually worked for Jam Handy, a company that made films and slides for Chevrolet showcasing their products.

Since John worked for Jam Handy, he had the GM photo archives at his fingertips essentially, and he put it to good use. There are pictures in here that got me really jazzed about the book. I really liked the format, big pictures without the usual lame magazine superlatives that you see today. Hell, you could reuse the same article from out of today's car magazines and just switch the picures and car specs. But I digress, it is an easy read, clearly of the coffee table variety, simple nosegay, but worth it. Written descriptions are concise, but a bit too partisan when pictures of Fords are shown and wonky with Studes. Clearly his personal preferences are annoyingly close to the surface in this book, but I am willing to overlook that because of the treasure trove of pictures and information.

Again, I love concept photos, and I'm not talking about the wild ones from the late '50s, but of what might have been, subtle changes that would have either been dogs or monster hits, we will never know because history did not play out that way. I'd use them for customizing ideas if I had a Chevy of the era covered in this book. Another neat feature of this book is the addition of some pictures of obscure options that would be swap meet gold today. I'll name two that really sent me; a vacuum powered bumper jack that looks like a Rube Goldberg invention, and the "spinner" steering wheel. The spinner was a conventional wheel that had a ring on the left inside spoke of a three spoke wheel. Inside this ring was a bar that would surely have had to have roller bearings on each end inside a track, if you will, inside the ring. That would allow the driver to turn the wheel without ever taking his hand off the wheel as if he had a necker's knob on there. Imagine a compass with it's needle spinning and you will see what I mean.

This book does an excellent job of explaining the nuances that make each year unique on these Chevies, a must have for restorer's, the one's who just want to know, and the anal retentive-date stamp checking purists. Hot rodders will not see any speed parts or read any glory stories about stovebolts, although, there are some cool pics of the early Corvette Blue Flame inlines. Another thing I liked were the pictures of displays, dealerships, and new model shows - back in the day you would got to the Waldorf-Astoria to see what Detroit was putting out that year.

Yes, this is the consummate car lover's book, lots of pictures and cool trivia that will stump the power parking, lawn chair, gold chainers. They won't believe half of what you could tell them about their recent purchase.

So, inspite of my being annoyed by his anti-Ford bigotry, I heartily endorse this book for what it is: a book you won't be able to put down until you have read it from cover to cover. I have read it at least five times in two weeks.

Chevy Book.......2000-04-04

Another great book loaded with great photos. This book is also a great source of history for Chevy lovers.

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