Success. The best of Napoleon Hill, Patricia G Horan

Published by Vermillion

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Updated guide from the master

Napoleon Hill was the granddaddy of the personal success movement. An international best-selling author, his books have never been out of print and many, if not most, of today’s personal development gurus owe their incomes to his ideas.

Patricia Horan has combined several of Napoleon’s winning formulae to produce seventeen ‘key laws of success’. Oh well, it makes a change from the more usual seven laws/habits/strategies of this and that.

There is nothing new in this book, but the old ideas are somewhat refreshed by the attentions of a 21st century eye. A useful addition for a collector of such ‘wisdom’ and a very good introduction for someone new to the field, it contains such hardy perennials as
• The Master Mind – group effort outpulls solo slogging
• Having a goal – if you don’t know where you are going …
• Imagination – the starting point for everything
• Overdelivering – surprise and delight your customers
• Learning from your mistakes – failure is the best teacher
• And a lot more.

I must say I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I think it makes a worthy companion to the Master’s ‘Think and Grow Rich’.

How Full is your Bucket? Tom Rath & Donald O Clifton PhD

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

Published by Gallup Press


Positive reinforcement for a better life

Although this book is over four years old, I’ve only just come across it. And it is such an important work I simply had to publicise it.

This book shows just how the briefest of interactions can affect your work, relationships, health and even how long you will live.

Basing their arguments on solid research and using real-life examples, the authors set out to show how negativity can actually kill and how positive interaction can benefit everyone.

They use the metaphor of a bucket and ‘dipper’ (in the UK, read ‘ladle’) where everyone has an invisible bucket that others can fill by ladling in positivity – or empty by ladling out (being negative). We, of course, do the same to other people.

In a business context, filling someone’s bucket equates to recognising them for their achievements, their efforts or sometimes just for being around. The research has shown that those who receive regular recognition or praise demonstrate increased productivity, score higher with customers, stay with the firm longer – and more.

When it comes to personal relationships, focusing on the positive perhaps unsurprisingly leads to better relationships and, in the case of children, better school records. I said ‘unsurprisingly’ because you no doubt were thinking I was stating the obvious. Yet, sadly, the research shows we all tend to focus on negatives!

There is much more that is worthwhile in this book – including the ‘Five Strategies for Increasing Positive Emotions’ and even templates for your own ‘bucket-filling’ notes.

This is a truly life-enhancing book and I urge you to buy it, read it and put its ideas into practice.

The Science of Getting Rich, Wallace D Wattles

Buy it now for $1!

Long before Rhonda Byrne (The Secret) was even a twinkle in anyone's eye, Wallace Wattles (you couldn't make up a name like that, could you?) was busy scribbling away at what would become his most popular work.

Born in Illinois shortly before the outbreak of the American Civil War, Wattles lived much of his life in poverty, yet mysteriously he died a wealthy man. He attributed his riches to his discovery of the principles outlined in this book.

So is this simply another self-delusional piece of new age fluff aimed at the lazy and the greedy? Maybe not! Certainly, when you boil down Wattles' recipe it seems to be simple enough; decide exactly what you want, keep it in the forefront of your mind at all times, believe you will achieve it. Plus one other vital ingredient - do something about it! The twist from Wattles is that he claims his methods guarantee success, and he himself is the proof.

Published a year before his death in 1911, Wattles' book long predates other self-help gurus such as Napoleon Hill, W Clement Stone, Norman Vincent Peale and, of course, Rhonda Byrne.

The outstanding merit of Wattles' work is its brevity. He says much that the other say (have copied from him?) but has his own endearing style.

Worth a look - even if only from curiosity to see what an original has to say.

re-think, Nigel May Barlow

Published by Capstone

Buy it now from Blackwell Books


Thinking as unusual

The author notes inside the back cover of this book describe Nigel May Barlow as a rethinker and agent provocateur. This latest book will certainly provoke thought.

From early on in the book, where he encourages taking the viewpoint of an enthusiast to mid-way where he advocate’s a bat’s eye view, he sells his ‘rethink’ philosophy in a way that compels one to at least consider the possibilities. On a personal level, I found the concepts of ‘your life as a fairy tale’ and the ‘before and after story’ particularly relevant.

Underlying the practical ideas of the book are Nigel’s philosophical meanderings. He covers quantum physics and string theory alongside fairy tales and intuition, remaining strangely rational throughout. And, as a long time exponent of transcendental meditation, he devotes a whole chapter to encouraging the reader to take it up. But don’t let this put you off!

Don’t let anyone give you this book as a present; invest £12.99 yourself so you have at least a little at stake to encourage you to pay attention to Mr Barlow’s ideas rather than simply approaching it as an entertaining read (which it also is!)

Hostage at the Table, George Kohlrieser

Jossey-Bass - £18.99

Buy it now from Blackwell Books

The psychology of conflict

George Kohlrieser in a professor of leadership, a psychologist and a hostage negotiator (and occasional hostage). He uses his experiences to show how we should manage conflict at work and in everyday living.

Hostage at the Table is not solely about being held hostage by others – we can create our own hostage situation by the way we think. Conversely, we can also use the way we think to avoid being a hostage for others. Mr Kohlreiser has some very insightful ideas about how to lead, controlling our emotions and dealing with self-imposed limits. He also has many fascinating stories to tell about hostage situations and the mindset that allows one to deal with them.

My one reservation about this book comes down to the old saying, ‘If your only tool is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail.’ I sometimes felt the author might be stretching the hostage analogy a little too far. That said, his approach to the conflicts in the book is always interesting and convincing, his arguments compelling.

Consider also that hostage negotiators have an astonishing 90+% success rate. What George does for us is to relate his skills in this area to business. Read this book – it could be life changing; it will be unforgettable.