The Map Magazine

The Power of 2: Win Big with People in Your Work and in Life by Anthony C. Scire

Here is another in a growing number of “mini-books,” 170 pages in this case, which seem to be taking over book store shelves from coast to coast. What’s interesting about this trend lies in the fact that some of the shorter books pack more power in the way of useful information than many of the 500-page monsters we so often see. This is obviously the case in Anthony C. Scire’s The Power of 2.

The subject matter of this particular book falls into another category for me. The content revolves around networking and human relationships which is critical in assisting anyone in their effort to excel in all areas of work and life. Therefore, wouldn’t it make sense to expose our younger generations to such valuable resources at a very early age? I’d like to see the concepts in this book shared with students as young as middle-school age. I’m certain it would impact their high school, college and early work life in a very positive way. Networking is one of the many areas we share with our audiences ranging in ages from 12 to 25, and this book, written in the tradition of Dale Carnegie’s classic, How to Win Friends and Influence People, cuts to the core of what it takes to win BIG with people. It is an easy-to-read, powerful approach to starting and building relationships and solving people problems.

Don’t misunderstand me. This is far from a children’s book. I’m simply convinced it contains a very important message for all ages. I’ve worked with a large number of front-line employees, middle-managers, CEOs, and board members who would benefit greatly from the proven methods and skills shared within these pages. The Golden Rule of networking is simply this: All things being equal, people will do business with and refer business to those people they know, like, and trust. That’s it. That’s what it’s all about and Anthony C. Scire presents timeless principles for building productive, enduring relationshipskey ingredients to success and happiness. Tony shares pertinent anecdotes and penetrating insights from his wealth of experiences. He teaches you how to meet more people, build finer relationships, and better nurture the ones you already have. The Power of 2 gives you the edge in getting results by sharing these wonderful gifts:

• How to create verbal magic and become a people magnet.
• The secrets of expanding your sphere of influence by using The Power of 2 business card technique.
• How to build the sincere, long-lasting, loyal, productive friendships of peak performers.
• How to turn more contacts into contracts.
• Creative approaches to overcoming the relationships challenges of communicating electronically.
• How to create an automatic can-do spirit to eliminate procrastination and stagnation.
• The Ten Commandments of High-Touch Relationship Building.
• How to receive gratitude in the form of referrals, new business, and greater cooperation.

Don’t expect a theory book or a “quick fix.” You won’t find it here. This is a philosophy which will transform every area of your work and life. You’ll learn why it’s essential to care about others and build relationships. It’s the best way to make a difference, reach worthwhile dreams and goals, and have truly rich life experiences. The Power of 2 is a thoroughly practical and even inspired resource especially suited to the paradoxically globalized yet socially isolated world of today. This one belongs on your bookshelf.

More than 100 business book reviews written by Harry K. Jones are available at http://www.AchieveMax.com/books/.

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Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax^®, Inc., a firm specializing in custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has made presentations ranging from leadership to employee retention and time management to stress management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. He can be reached at 800-886-2MAX or by visiting http://www.AchieveMax.com.

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He Said, She Said
Ken Klarfeld & Jasmyn Klarfeld
iUniverse (2005)
Reviewed by Beverly Pechin for Reader Views (3/06)

This is not another “How to Raise Your Kids” Instruction Book, written by those who have no children but all the knowledge of raising them because they read about it in some text book. I tire easily of those with degrees in child rearing who have never experienced the actual thing first hand, so my expectations when first looking at this type of book weren’t that high. I figured ” Great, another know it all doctor who is going to tell you how to raise your kids”; instead I began reading a true parent’s ordeal with raising a daughter who began her life well-adjusted and nearly ‘perfect’ only to find nothing but a troubled life ahead.

The book is written in two perspectives, the father’s and then the daughter’s. Each chapter deals with a new step in the daughter’s life as she grows but from the very beginning you see how quickly the adult’s version of what happened differs from the child’s. It gives you a whole new insight to what it’s like growing up in a broken/mixed family. In what seems to be today’s ” norm” of divorce and step-parents. While everything seemed perfect from the parent’s stand-point, the child tells her views on how she felt during these times. She shows aspects of how everyday life isn’t so every day when you’re a child. What I loved most was, this young lady was not a troubled child. She was every parent’s dream in the beginning. She excelled in her studies, had good solid friendships and was raised in a loving atmosphere. Somehow, she still took a wrong turn and the insight this book provides helps you see where those turns were. It’s like child-rearing 101, but with hindsight. From a parent’s perspective, it’s what we all wish we had known before hand.

Ken was a divorced father of two young children. He was in a relationship with a woman who was a drug abuser and for obvious reasons decided to remove himself and his children from the situation. He knew from the beginning that the relationship wasn’t good anyways, they fought constantly and he was never really happy but, like so many, thought kids would help solve the problem. Instead, the obvious happened and Ken found himself a single dad raising a son and a daughter.

Ken quickly found another love and remarried fairly soon after the divorce. His kids were still young, often a time when many single parents think it’s best to begin a blended family because “the kids are young and it’s just like a new family anyways”. What we find by reading this book is that this is often not the case. Jasmyn, his oldest daughter, often expresses how hard it was for her as the child to belong to 2 mothers. She also expresses that she often felt like she was not her step-mother’s but she was her father’s, often creating turmoil within herself with these thoughts. Whether her parent’s felt this way or not was of no bearing, what mattered is how her own mind adjusted to living in what we today call a “mixed family”. It wasn’t obvious until somewhat later, after her baby years that this mindset took place and the problems began.

The book follows the life of a young girl who never seems to find happiness and parents (step-parents) who can’t seem to do enough to “help” but perhaps help too much. Again, the hindsight is that they should have allowed her to make choices, come to them for help before they simply bailed her out. Loosing life’s lessons, this young seemingly perfect girl made all the wrong turns and became every parent’s nightmare. The book shows each turning point and stage of Jasmyn’s life and how both she and her father viewed it; often two completely different outtakes. We watch her twist and turn, taking wrong road after wrong road and as parent’s look and say ” well, I probably would have done the same thing” and THAT is where the purpose of the book comes in.

To sum it up, the book is a true account of a young girl growing up with wrong decisions. Growing up in what we would consider a perfect, loving family but we find what seems good on the outside, isn’t always good inside. We get to look back on this family’s life and have hindsight to raising a young, troubled teen. We get to see that even the most perfect of children can make the wrong choices and we, as parents, can sometimes help in making those choices even when we don’t know it. It’s a book of truth and honesty without the fear of looking bad. Most amazingly it is a way for both parents and teens to see a true view of growing up and learn from the mistakes of someone else.

I think the authors accomplished what they meant to do, give us an understanding of child rearing from a realistic perspective and their ability to admit their own mistakes helps us to see ours before they occur. I would recommend it to anyone even thinking of having children, not to scare them away from this glorious decision but to give them a head start of child rearing with hindsight before they even begin. Teens could benefit from this book simply because they would not only relate to the girls feelings during these times but can see what her decisions did to her life. It’s a wonderful life’s lesson, summed up in a couple hundred pages; something most of us wish we could do ahead of time and now we finally have the chance to learn from it in another perspective.

Beverly Pechin is a reviewer for Reader Views
http://www.readerviews.com

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Interview with Robert Read
Author of “Risk Hotline for Real Estate”

Reader Views is please to have with us today Robert Read, author of “Risk Hotline for Real Estate.” Welcome to Reader View, Robert.

Irene: What inspired you to write “Risk Hotline for Real Estate?”

Robert: For years I’ve witnessed the myriad problems brokers (agents) run into through carelessness or negligence. Whenever a broker has let some issue get out of hand, it isn’t long before he has quite an audience of his peers listening to his tale of woe. His peers whisper, “There but for the grace of God, go I.”

Their clients aren’t often so lucky…they have to live with problems created by agent error. Since these same problems seemingly occur over and over, I felt with my journalism background I could make a difference by putting many of those stories into readable form as a digest for other agents and the public to learn from.

Irene: Why do you believe agents make errors?

Robert: Agents err primarily through carelessness. We all mean to do well, but sometimes we let other phases of our lives interfere with our professional responsibilities. For example, we neglect to make or follow up on an appointment, we forget to write in a contingency in a sale agreement, or we write into a listing agreement that a home has central air when it does not. We must continually focus on what we are doing then double check to ensure we did it correctly. Have a peer review your work; better yet, your manager is required to review all offers and listings…go through the document with him or her and cover every item carefully. Once you get into the habit of doing that, you will make fewer errors.

Irene: As a agent with 28 years of experience, why do you feel this is an important book to make available to other agents and consumers?

Robert: No one, I mean no one, has ever written a book which collates thousands of events which have negatively impacted the lives and careers of agents as well as their clients. It is a ready resource which brokers and consumers alike can refer to on matters from how to handle home inspections issues to asking the right questions to knowing what language to put into a sale agreement. (On the lighter side, there are some very funny incidents also…in fact an entire chapter is devoted to humorous anecdotes.)

Irene: Every state has its own rules and regulations governing real estate sales. How does this book cover these aspects?

Robert: In situations involving agency, most states abide by NAR rules; in all others, I advise the agents to query their own local and state officials for rules and regulations governing their state.

Irene: Do you believe “Risk Hotline for Real Estate” would be of any benefit to a seller or buyer? If so, why?

Robert: As I alluded to above, the clients, our buyers and sellers, must take a highly proactive role in the transaction. It is they who will be left to deal with any negative issues resulting from a bad transaction…usually by suing someone. Few of us would prefer expensive and protracted court action to simply settling an issue quickly over the dinner table. Learning how to deal with these issues before closing the sale creates an environment conducive to negotiation and an amicable settlement…before the papers are signed.

Irene: On occasion a seller is not happy with the agent. What would you say is the most common reason and why?

Robert: The lion’s share of the time poor communication is the problem. An agent either ignores a problem or is unaware of it - because she or he has not been in close communication with her or his clients sufficiently to create a climate conducive to easy communication of problems. The broker may not call his clients regularly or worse yet, does not return their calls promptly. Clients are very nervous during the home sale or purchase. They want and expect quick and professional handling of issues. When they don’t get it, sometimes the sale falls apart, or once completed, attorneys enter the picture. A good agent will sit down with his or her clients at first meeting to discuss how things are done, how they can keep good open communication, and how to deal with problems which invariably come up.

Irene: What do you believe is the best way to resolve issues that occur between the agent and the seller?

Robert: I talk to my clients almost daily. I ask them if everything is going well for them or if there is something I need to attend to. Sometimes it isn’t enough to ask “How are things on your end?” or “Are you satisfied with how things are going?” Occasionally a follow-up question is needed…such as “I’ve noticed you’re a little silent lately. Please tell me if something is troubling you. I’m sure we can deal with it quickly if you just trust me to handle it for you.”

Irene: You encourage agents to have a mentor. Why is that?

Robert: I encourage new agents to have a mentor. It is impossible to enter a world in which transactions involving hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars are at stake and know all the answers as a new agent. When a new agent tries to “wing it” and does not ask questions of his or her manager or peers, he or she is asking for problems. Why? Because every transaction has problems. Even experienced agents deal with problems on virtually every sale. They either know from experience one of two solutions: How to handle it themselves, or how to handle it by asking their manager.

Irene: How would an inexperienced agent go about finding a mentor? What should he or she be looking for in a mentor?

Robert: The office manager nearly always knows the experienced brokers who are willing and able to mentor a new licensee. The new agent should seek someone they feel comfortable with and someone they feel will be willing and able to spend the time with them necessary to teach them. That is where the manager will be most valuable…knowing which experienced to team them with. Some offices do not offer this service, especially the “100%” offices (offices in which the agent pays an annual desk fee in lieu of a percentage commission split on sales). New agents should ask a manager when interviewing if that office has mentors available.

Irene: Tell us about “gentleman’s agreements” and the dangers of them.

Robert: “Gentleman’s Agreements” are largely a thing of the past. This is an event in which the parties involved do not put a request in writing in the sale agreement, such as “Seller to include kitchen refrigerator - Kenmore, Serial No. 356427″. Instead, they agree to this verbally. When the buyer moves in, they discover the old beater from the garage is now in the kitchen and the seller is long gone!

Irene: What are some of the most common hair raising mistakes that agents make?

Robert: Just a few examples are:

(1) A sale falls apart and the seller demands the earnest money deposit (normally thousands of dollars). The agent checks his or her file and discovers he or she forgot to have the buyer redeem the note when required.

(2) A buyer purchases a condominium or town home in which there is a special assessment for a new roof due in three months. No mention was made of it by the seller and the buyer’s agent did not request in writing a copy of the homeowners association minutes for the past two years, or ask if there were any special assessments due.

(3) A buyer purchases a home with a well. It is soon discovered that the well is actually owned by a neighbor and there is no well sharing agreement. (This is in my book).

(4) There are dozens more in my book.

Irene: As always, errors such as these are spread around by word-of-mouth. Besides, not making the errors in the first place, how do you suggest agents “fix” the rumors.

Robert: A broker has a fiduciary responsibility to his or her clients. Once a problem is discovered, the best remedy is to address it quickly and professionally. The first step is to consult your manager. Managers are there to serve the brokers especially at times like this. Perhaps the manager will want to consult the company attorney before responding to ensure the client’s interests are protected and dealt with correctly the first time.

If the agent tries to “handle it” him or herself without consulting their manager, they might exacerbate the problem at a time when a very professional response is needed most. (Of course, the “rumor” originates only in office gossip…when you are on the receiving end, it is fact.)

Irene: You suggest that consumers read “Risk Hotline for Real Estate” before they buy or sell a home. What would be the most important aspect of the book that is detailed for the consumer?

Robert: It is without question that consumers take responsibility for protecting their interests. When a consumer expects the agent to do all the due diligence (such as inquiring about zoning, boundaries, whether a lot can be subdivided, or hiring a repairman) , it is too easy for the agent to overlook a critical issue or not give it the importance that a client might desire. The agent can direct the client to the best resource, or even accompany the client, but the client must be directly involved

Irene: As a consumer, I assume I need to trust the agent. By reading your book I may find out some actions that the agent is doing that I’m not happy with. How do you suggest I handle the situation?

Robert: The consumer should immediately address the issue with the agent. If the agent stalls or refuses to correct a problem, then the consumer should contact the agent’s manager. The manager will get most problems corrected 90% of the time. If the consumer still desires further action, she or he can contact the local Realtor® association and/or the state real estate agency.

Irene: Robert, it is pretty clear to me that your book “Risk Hotline for Real Estate” is a must for both the consumer and the agent. Is there anything else that you would like your reading audience to know about your or your book?

Robert: My overriding focus in writing Risk Hotline was to enable us as Realtors® to provide better service to our clients. My stories provide both licensees and consumers a huge resource of potential issues and problems that can and do occur daily. Agents and consumers are affected equally; both have an inherent interest in opening communication and eliminating problems.

My book is the only current resource available which provides a compendium of problems plus ways to resolve them before they affect you directly.

Open communication breeds trust. By illustrating ways agents and consumers can open communication and resolve issues amicably, “Risk Hotline” will strengthen the quality of the process and ensure a lasting client relationship.

Irene Watson is Managing Editor of Reader Views, a book review service based in Austin, Texas http://www.readerviews.com

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20 Questions To Ask Before Creating An e-Book by: William R.
Nabaza of http://www.Nabaza.com

1. What will be the title of your e-book and will it have a
subtitle?

2. Will you be the only author or will there be other co-authors?

3. Will you publish a print version of your e-book?

4. How many pages will your e-book be?

5. Will your e-book contain graphics, pictures or charts?

6. Will your e-book include an appendix and index?

7. Will your ask other authors to contribute related articles to
your e- book?

8. What file formats will your e-book be available in; text,
pdf, exe, html, etc.?

9. Will your e-book be sold as a product or will your e-book be
used as a promotional tool?

10. Who will be your e-book’s target audience?

11. What major benefit does your e-book give your target
audience?

12. Will you offer your prospects a guarantee and testimonials
to read?

13. Will you include a bibliography about yourself in the e-book?

14. What personal information will you include about yourself in
the e- book?

15. What colors and graphic(s) will be included on the e-book
cover?

16. Will you let your prospects read free sample chapters or
excerpts to entice them?

17. Will you turn the e-book into other information products
like videos, audio books, teleclass, etc?

18. What type of payments will you accept for the e-book?

19. Will you allow others to give away your free promotional
e-book?

20. Will you be selling the reprint rights to your e-book?

—-

William Nabaza of http://www.Nabaza.com specializes in domains,
webhosting, webmaster’s tools, netpreneur’s articles and
resources. Stands out as a freebie provider, business
opportunity provider and the like. Visit his site at
http://www.nabaza.com or contact him directly at
william@nabaza.com

more free articles here: http://www.nabaza.com/resources.htm

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