Book Description
Soon to be a major motion picture starring Will Smith, THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS is the inspiring, rags–to–riches story of the charismatic Chris Gardner –– a once homeless father who rasied and cared for his son on the mean streets of San Francisco and went on to become a crown prince of Wall Street
At the age of twenty, Milwaukee native Chris Gardner, just out of the Navy, arrived in San Francisco to pursue a promising career in medicine. Considered a prodigy in scientific research, he surprised everyone and himself by setting his sights on the competitive world of high finance. Yet no sooner had he landed an entry level position at a prestigious firm, Gardner found himself caught in a web of incredibly challenging circumstances that left him homeless with his toddler son. Instead of giving in to despair, the two spent almost a year moving from shelters, "HO–tels", and soup–lines, even sleeping in the public restroom of a subway station – ultimately making an astonishing transformation from the bathroom to the boardroom.
Part "Finding Fish," part "The Pact," THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS is a mythic, triumphant, and unstintingly honest memoir whose hero will appeal to every American.
Customer Reviews:
Meaningful Inspiration.......2007-09-11
Mr. Gardner's story is more than another story about having to pull oneself up by their own bootstraps, it is a mantra for Urban Americans who are dealing with cyclical social issues. Poor Education, Poverty and Single Parent household stories are no longer acceptable reasons for not achieving, unfortunately they are too common place. The Pursuit of Happyness is a great example of the saying "In order to be it, one must see it"!
Heartwarming.......2007-09-08
I've read one of the most touching and heartwarming book of one's life. It is a story that spreads open past hurts, the need for bottom-line respect that should come from the people who should give it (family) and speaks of success despite of...
The Pursuit of the Imagined.......2007-08-28
Chris Gardner says in the Acknowledgments, "Quincy Troupe [co-author] once paid me a backhand compliment by telling me that I was as crazy as his previous subject, Miles Davis. I'll definitely take that as a compliment!" Gardner's imaginings, that he could possibly become anything other than a replica of the hardworking poor men who enveloped his childhood, define him as crazy. His success is crazy. How he managed it defies sanity.
Gardner imagined a future bright enough to deflect the piercing influences of his childhood--violence, an alcoholic stepfather, a jailed mother, rape--and was able to grow up to be a man possessing little, if any, humility (refreshingly different than most memoirs). Good for him. That Gardner was once homeless and is now wealthy is interesting; that he had no reason to expect to succeed but succeeded anyway, is inspiring.
I should be so crazy.
Note: The movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" deals only with Gardner after he has lived in San Francisco for a while. My only complaint with the movie is its depiction of Gardner's wife. She is shown as an uneducated woman only capable of working in restaurants; she's actually quite educated, a dental school graduate who is waiting to sit for her dental boards. Tsk, tsk.
Engaging and Entertaining.......2007-08-23
I haven't seen the film, so I have nothing to compare it with. I found this book to be inspiring. It was a quick and easy read. It was entertaining and realistic. The language is colorful and his life is graphic. It's not a story for the faint of heart, but his experience is a wonderful read. Some of the other reviews have taken exception with the way he lives his life, but his account is genuine. His life is real in all its glory and its shortcomings. It's a wonderful read.
Satisfying story, though not much like the movie.......2007-08-15
Successful and wealthy businessman Chris Gardner truly knows what it means to achieve -- it was only through hard work and good luck that he managed to escape a lifetime of poverty and hopelessness.
As a child, Gardner grew up fatherless and poor, experiencing physical and emotional abuse at the hands of a stepfather who almost killed his mother on numerous occasions. Gardner and his sisters spent several years in foster care, and life was often bleak. But, thanks to the Navy, he was able to escape his inner-city existence and begin a promising medical career.
Just as things were beginning to look promising, a series of small misfortunes all piled up together, and Gardner -- along with his toddler son -- became homeless.
Despite the enormity of the task at hand, he managed to make the best of his circumstances, even with a large amount of humility and humor.
If you're like me, however, and decided to read the book after seeing the movie, you may be a bit startled. While the 2006 movie focuses mainly upon Gardner's homelessness and struggle within the world of stocks, that portion of his life -- however poignant and powerful -- is but a small section of the book.
Overall, this memoir is engaging and memorable, a true journey from rock bottom to success.
Book Description
Over 30,000 online investors daily flock to pristine.com, the top-rated Website run by day trading legends Oliver Velez and Greg Capra, for up-to-the-minute strategies and market commentaries. In Tools and Tactics for the Master Day Trader, Velez and Capra revisit and completely update over 100 of their daily commentaries from the past four years, with new material explaining what worked, what didn't, and why.
This no-nonsense, easy read, meant to be referenced by traders every trading day, covers everything from potent trading strategies to intuitive insights on psychology and discipline. Proving once again that the best teacher is experience, Tools and Tactics for the Master Day Trader will help any trader log on with the technical skills, market knowledge, and confidence they need to capture more winning trades, and reap new profits.
Customer Reviews:
THE best book on trading I have ever read........2007-09-09
I had to get this book after reading such a mix of reviews. I was really curious how it would turn out since reviewers were either raving about it or trashing it.
After reading the 1st half of this book I was shocked to say the least. The first half of this book is worth more than all of the books I have read on trading combined. If someone trashes this book then they are either very new to trading and don't understand the points being made in this book(which I can understand because you have to get some experience under your belt to really appreciate what is being said in this book) or they are looking for a quick strategy they can read in 5 minutes and start making money. For one thing, that's never going to happen anyway.
The trading strategies in this book are very basic, so for newbies that part of the book has some good info. I was hoping for a little more advanced analysis of trading techniques, but I really didn't need that anyway. The knowledge and wisdom in the first half of this book is going to take my trading to moon.
For the newbies who didn't like this book, get a couple years experience under your belts then go back to this book and re-read the 1st half. I guarantee you, you will want to come back here and write a positive review.
Interesting book with lack in details by very self-confident authors.......2007-06-09
When I started reading the book by Oliver Velez and Greg Capra: "Tools and Tactics for the Master Day Trader", I thought it was one of the better books on day trading. It starts out with the importance of discipline, and the lessons to be learnt from losses. It also outlines the concept that you don't buy from the market, but there is always another person on the other side of the trade that has exactly the opposite market expectation as you.
Then come four chapters with lists of rules: 7 deadly sins, 12 trading laws of success, 15 things every trader should know, and 10 lessons for the master trader. Altogether 44 rules, which don't seem to be in any systematic order. It looks like the authors were brainstorming to come up with as many rules as they could think of, and then divided them up among the four chapters. Some rules contradict one another, some important rules are next to irrelevant ones etc. Also the "Seed of Wisdom" does not help to sum up the rules because it often is not related to the part that it is supposed to summarize.
In Chapter 10 and 11 the authors talk about tools and start out by explaining things as basic as a candle stick or support and resistance. Then they dedicate two chapters to Order Systems and Level II data, and it takes until page 293 when they finally talk about trading techniques.
After having talked redundantly about general things for three quarters of the book, the authors give their ideas of entry, stop and exit techniques. What I missed most in this part is the lack of exact trading rules. Everything is expressed vaguely (e.g. p.219 "you can also opt to keep the break-even stop. This is a matter of choice." or p.322 "Sell at least half your stock if and when the stock breaks below the 5-minute low. ... These are just guidelines. We don't want to be stupid. ... Many traders will be best served selling the whole lot at this point."). This is exactly the vagueness you can't afford as a day trader. I was also disappointed that there was so little variety in the trade setups (just three entry techniques).
So my hope was high that in chapter 17 "How to put it all together" there would finally be concrete entry and exit descriptions. Instead, the authors just describe common chart formations like any other book on technical analysis (and do a worse job, too).
Throughout the book I noted an arrogant tone (p. 317: "Let's assume a master trader, let's call him Mr. Velez."). The authors speak about master traders, as if they were some kind of rock stars. No matter, how successful you are, if you quit being humble, the market can easily take everything away from you.
I am giving the book three stars because it does cover important topics for day traders like discipline, and learning from your mistakes. If you want to read a more effective book, however, I recommend the one by John F. Carter "Mastering the Trade".
Seeds of Wisdom!.......2007-05-18
Tools and Tactics for the Master DayTrader: Battle-Tested Techniques for Day, Swing, and Position Traders.
Velez and Capra give me the impression they have traded before and are not just book writer's. You can learn a few pointer's from this book whether you are a rookie or have been trading a while. It covers Candlesticks,Moving Averages, Fibs, Volume and drawing a few trendlines on the charts intraday and daily charts.
It does not go into some of the mathematical stock indicators that some trader's think it might be the "Holy Grail". Sorry, there is no Holy Grail in the stock market you better look elsewhere like yourself. The only "Holy Grail" you will ever find trading stocks is yourself there is no quick fixes to learn to trade stocks it all takes lots of time and practice.
Its to look and observe what a chart's footprints tell you with some seeds of wisdom.
I see so many negative reviews here about this books. I am starting to wonder whether those reader's have ever traded stocks.
I have traded full-time for years and I can tell you they must be all novice trader's hoping that a book might have all the answer's for them and their future. It would help them if they read this book a few times until it sinks in their minds.
Nothing new.......2007-04-18
nothing new, nothing exciting. Everything can be found in books that are half the price. Save your money.
FIVE STARS!!!.......2007-02-27
I would definitely give this book five stars. I really learned alot from it. If you gave it a bad review you either need to go back and read the book again or just skimmed through the book.
and to the person who sid that he "Heard" that they don't actually trade they are wrong and I thought everyone knew not always to believe what they hear. But hey, some people just believe things more easily than others.
and you can't even RATE this book one star because YOU HAVEN'T ACTUALLY READ IT!!!
You skimmed through the book and rate it one star??? WOW. that's all I have to say: wow. I'm not even going to say anything else. and people don't listen to all of those bad revievs out there. It really was a great book and is worth the money. (and so is his newer book)
and to the person who said: "This book TOTALLY rocked. I read it alot because it was so awesome"
YOU TOTTALY ROCK TOO! LOL!
Book Description
Use a 5-Step Process to Transform Your Business--and Your Life! If you've ever yearned for a business that would energize rather than drain you, if you've ever known and admired someone who made financial services look easy and fun, then you're ready to learn a new way to market. A way that doesn't require so much of your time and energy. A way that requires less effort. Effort-Less Marketing is based on author Steve Moeller's extensive research and refinement of the best strategies to build a financial advisory practice, as well as key marketing principles that work just as well for financial advisors as they do for such customer-savvy giants as Saturn and Nike. You'll toss aside conventional, exhausting sales techniques for a newer, easier way. With these 5 steps, you'll take the guesswork out of reaching the wealthiest and most enjoyable clients, make referral-gathering a no-brainer, and completely revitalize your business.
Customer Reviews:
best book I have read in a long while.......2007-07-18
As a Financial Advisor who has been in the business 5 years, this book has to be one of the best books on building your business I have ever read. It has new and innovative ideas. This book has a least one idea for everyone, I don't care how long you have been in the business.
Outstanding Marketing Strategy Roadmap!.......2007-03-08
After six years in the investment advisory business with a major firm, I became so frustrated with trying to implement the outdated marketing practices that the major firms still promote, I actually left the business and moved into private banking. My absence was three years. Recently, however, I have re-joined the business and co-incidentally found Steve's excellent book at the same time.
What Steve outlines in the first few chapters of this book are so true. The industry is still plugging things like mail drops and cold calling as a way to build a new business. We all know that today's sophisticated client has no interest in these types of tactics. As I launch my new business, I am using Steve's book as the definitive roadmap to help me grow my business over time. This book provides the much needed and missing training on marketing that advisors dearly need. In this day and age, with managed assets programs etc., managing the money is the easy part. Effective business development strategies are what set the successful apart from the unsuccessful. And this book is the definitive guide. I can't wait for Steve's next book. He is truly plugged in to what matters. He'll be my sole business coach going forward. Thank You Steve.
This is the best!!!!.......2006-12-21
I have only been using the process for a couple of weeks, but the results are incredible. I have come to realize that most advisors including myself are left brained, we're great at explaining products and talking the market lingo. But in reality we are scaring our prospects and clients. Steve's book gets you to think right brained, that is what will conect you to your clients and prospects forever.
I took a client to NY yesterday to meet a hedge fund manager, on the train ride home instead of raving about my view of the manager I used Steve's interview process. I thought I had all of the clients money, but at the end of the interview the client suggested he move another $2mm in assets to me. And above that the client indicated he would never be able to leave me as his advisor. I then suggested that since he had such a great confidence in me we should bring my offering to his friends, family and business contacts. He thought that was great and we are setting up our first meeting with an attorney with more than a $10mm net worth.
I had already finished preparing my 2007 goals. I'm going to go back and adjust my net new assets up by another $20mm and production by $150m. After 21 years in the business I thought I had seen it all, but now I'm more excited than at any other point in my career.
Steve, thanks you.
George
Steve Moeller has opened a window for me........2006-12-15
I have been in this business going on ten years now and have realized a good deal of success. Twice during this time, I had partnered with men who came through the traditional wire house ranks and followed the long standing rules of engagement for our industry.
I recently made the decision to leave my partnership and forge out on my own. I remember telling my wife that I just felt that something significant was lacking in this conventional approach and I wanted a change. So I brought this challenge to my good friend and mentor, who in turn, introduced me to Steve Moeller. Following a short conversation, I ordered this book and spent the next several days pouring through it.
I was truly astonished by what I was reading. It not only confirmed all of my concerns and frustrations with this business, but also clearly and effectively outlined the strategies and tools that I needed to build the financial advisory business of my dreams.
I know this may sound a bit extreme, but without a doubt there are only a few people in my life who have had a bigger impact on my happiness and success.
Informative, Motivational, and Practical.......2006-12-14
A nice surprise about Steve Moeller's book was that the title is entirely accurate; the plethora of information and strategy in this guide is so great that if you follow the instructions and advice he offers, marketing really does become effortless.
Certainly, if you're considering this book you're likely a professional in the investments industry who's read more than a few books on this topic. I'm also no stranger to books in this arena but Moeller's clearly stood out simply based on the amount of detail contained herein. For example, other books will expound upon the importance of referrals and their necessity for a successful practice. You knew that. I knew that. Steve Moeller knows that. "Effortless Marketing" differs in that it's a step-by-step, ready-to-implement-now guide that tells you how to GET referrals (among many other things). And for those who think they already know how to go about getting referrals (as I did), I was surprised to find the book offered completely new strategies for obtaining these valuable contacts... and even referral sources whom I never thought would work on top of that. It's wonderfully insightful and informative, even for the FA who's a know-it-all.
Referrals are just one area the book covers of course. In fact, it's just 1 "step" out of 20 but you can glean what an impact it made. Perhaps the best thing about Moeller's book is that it forces you to get your marketing strategy in order -- not merely your materials, but rather the entire package. It makes you consider whom pitching to would be most beneficial (and profitable) to, while enabling you to position yourself to do this with a high success rate. He makes you examine yourself and pratice, consider your weaknesses, and then advises how to turn them around and make them strengths.
After reading this, you'll find it is not merely a good advice guide, nor even a single-time "must read." I found the information, strategy, and tips to be too numerous and valuable for that. Rather, it's something that, after the initial reading and implementing, should be referenced regularly and attentively if you're to be obtain the best use from it.
Book Description
Broad, helpful guidance and information for controlling costs for foodservice managers and students
In order for foodservice managers to control costs effectively, they must have a confident command of accounting, marketing, and legal issues, as well as food and beverage sanitation, production, and service methods. This fully updated Third Edition of Food and Beverage Cost Control provides students and managers with the wide-ranging knowledge and specific solutions they need to keep costs low and margins high.
Throughout the text, this updated edition integrates the latest material on new technologies that impact cost control in the foodservice industry and the business world. Complete with an accompanying Student Workbook that helps readers earn a certificate from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, highlights of this Third Edition include:
- Apply What You Have Learned feature focusing on practical, real-world applications of topics and concepts
- Expanded coverage of legal issues that may affect a manager's decisions
- Revised material offering a better understanding of the connection between all parts of the ordering process
- An increased number of Test Your Skills questions that give readers more chances to practice what they have learned
- A bonus disk packed with exercises that utilize manager-developed Microsoft® Excel spreadsheets
Students in foodservice management courses will find Food and Beverage Cost Control, Third Edition a modern and focused treatment of this vital subject. Working managers will appreciate this useful reference as a source of ready-to-use forms and formulas that can be easily applied to their operations.
Customer Reviews:
Easy to understand.......2006-02-25
This text book is very self-explanatory. Makes learning the information easy and helpful. All books should be written like this one.
Food & Beverage Cost Control.......2002-06-12
As a culinary educator, I find this book both informative and user-friendly. The Excel spreadsheets and "Fun on the Web" exercises add interesting and useful technological components. The text gets to the point on all issues without belaboring the theoretical aspects of food and beverage cost controls. The book covers junior and senior level concepts in a readable format suitable for freshmen and sophomores. It is a book for all levels with real life examples. I would recommend it to anyone, be it from education or industry.
An excellent edition!.......2001-06-19
This book is a must-read for any foodservice manager who is interested in an accurate, to the point, and technologically advanced review of food and beverage cost control methods. Controlling labor and food costs have never been more important than in today's environment. Those managers who master control procedures will succeed, and this book helps them to do just that.
The author's use of Excel spreadsheets really helps learning, as does the large number of realistic industry examples. Even the Internet plays a part in the book's usefulness when the authors refer readers to applicable web sites. Best of all, the concepts (especially those related to labor control) that are presented are useful to the managers I work with regardless of their culture or even the continent in which they work.
I recommend the book to all hospitality managers, and I would recommend it to any serious student of hospitality.
Book Description
For event planners, there's no such thing as a dress rehearsal!
Any event you plan and stage is a reflection of your company's image — from the initial invitation to onsite operations. Whether you're planning a product launch, conference, sales meeting, an incentive event, or a gala fund-raiser, remember that the magic of a truly memorable event is in the details, but so is the devil. Special events are fraught with thousands of details, and have to come off without a hitch. Whether your event is for 50 or 2,000 people, whether it has a budget of a few thousand dollars, or hundreds of thousands, planning and executing the project is like a high-wire act without the safety nets. Event Planning gives you a blueprint for planning and executing special events with flair and without any unexpected surprises and expenses. This unique book is loaded with practical advice on every aspect of organizing and managing special events:
- Choosing the best venue
- Preparing and managing the budget
- Scheduling and staffing
- Coordinating food and beverage, décor, entertainment, and themes
- Working with professionals, such as public relations firms and creative directors.
What you don't know or know to ask can have a major effect on the success of your event and on your budget. Event Planning takes you through every aspect of organizing and executing a successful event: the planning stages, timing and logistics, budget preparation, operations, and on-site management. Event Planning:
- Includes sample costing forms to help you generate a detailed project plan and budget.
- Explains what you need to ask before you contract with suppliers.
- Is loaded with practical tips and examples that will help you avoid expensive mistakes.
- Features a companion website with forms from the book, additional forms, author Q&A, and more.
Event Planning takes you behind the scenes, and provides practical tools for anyone who has to plan and execute a truly special event:
- Corporate in-house event planners
- Public relations and communications companies, and their clients
- Marketing and corporate communications professionals
- Fundraisers and not-for-profit organizations
- Professionals in the hospitality and entertainment industries
Customer Reviews:
Not for beginners and not for professionals.......2007-05-03
It is hard to tell who this book is geared towards. A novice should not take on any event that is as over their head; as most of the event situations that are listed in the book are. A professional would know from experience the answers to most of the questions or they would have the common sense to take care of any odd situation that arose. The book may be helpful to assistant managers or banquet captains, but most houses have their own way of doing things. Interesting read and a good refresher, buy used.
Very useful Hand Book.......2007-03-10
It was very useful to me as I used it to brak into the wedding/event business. It presents a very corporate approach, yet it seems to uncover all kinds of secrets of the event world that are hidden to the public eye.
This Book is Alright.......2006-08-09
Being an avid reader of Event Planning literature, I must say that this book is alright.
Packed with Knowledge!.......2005-10-14
Details, details, details. That's really what successful event planning is all about, and that's the key to this very successful event-planning manual. Author Judy Allen notes, lists, copes with and gives an example of virtually every detail in planning anything from a sedate corporate event in a major city to a huge celebration on a remote island. She provides examples galore plus tips, questions and answers, sample cost sheets and schedules. How much floor space does a person need to be comfortable in a tent? Answer: 20 square feet. How many bathrooms should be available for a party? Answer: One per 75 guests. And don't forget to ask about the stemware, adequate parking and even the photographer's back-up camera battery. This author seems to have thought every contingency, as the book's ambitious title promises. Her one glaring omission is that she does not include the party planner's fee - our guess is that she'd be worth it. We highly recommend this well-organized, very practical book to all event planners. Don't send out press releases for your party without consulting Judy Allen.
Great book.......2005-10-01
This is a great book for anyone interested in working in the event planning field.
Book Description
Principles of Auditing remains the #1 Principles of Auditing text using the balance sheet approach. Whittington/Pany presents concepts clearly and proactively monitors changes in auditing, making the relationship between accounting and auditing truly understandable. The 13th edition maintains the organization and balance sheet orientation, while adding and enhancing the timely topics of Attestation, Assurance Services, Fraud, Electronic Commerce, and the latest auditing standards to meet the needs of the current marketplace.
Book Description
This text gives students a unique understanding of the dynamic and evolving nature of the financial system and how it is related to the aggregate economy. It emphasizes the effects of structural change, globalization, financial innovation, and technology on the financial environment. Its highly applied, roots-in-reality approach incorporates numerous real-world applications and Internet features to demonstrate the relevance of topics. The text is written in an informal, conversational style, avoiding complex models and high-level math, making it perfect for the typical business major who may or may not have a strong economics background.
Book Description
How any business leader can create an atmosphere of competitiveness for exceptional growth
When Ray Davis took over the local 40-person South Umpqua Bank in 1994, many people in the industry poked fun at his insistence that employees answer the phone with a cheery "World's Greatest Bank." Eleven years, $7 billion in assets, and 128 branches (or " bank stores" in Umpqua lingo) later, the moniker seems quite apt. Other banks scratched their heads when Davis sent his tellers to Ritz-Carlton to learn customer service and were intrigued when he hired a cutting-edge design firm to completely re-think retail layout. Now, with a top design award under their belt, a name change (there never was a North Umpqua bank), and a completely new definition of the banking business, Umpqua has become the darling of the entrepreneurial press and a growth powerhouse. The New York Times calls Umpqua "
Starbucks with tellers."
Ray Davis (Portland, OR), named by U.S. Banker as one of the 25 most influential people in the financial industry in 2005, is President and CEO of Umpqua Holdings Corporation. Alan Shrader (Moraga, CA) is an experienced writer and editor of business books.
Customer Reviews:
It's all about the Experience.......2007-09-16
Leading for Growth offers a tremendous insite into paying attention to the detials of the associates, the customers and the investors. A wonderful guide to taking the "ordinary" and turning into the extra-ordinary. Step by step instructions on how to be different and staying focused on creating an experience for the customers.
Great Motivation.......2007-07-23
An outstanding, upbeat read! It was full of ideas for keeping things fresh, stimulating and customer focused emphasizing a teamwork environment but with individual employee responsibility and accountability. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Anyone would benefit from this read.......2007-05-24
From the front lines to the corner office of virtually any kind of business, this practical and engaging read has something to offer!
It is written in an engaging style that pulls the reader through very quickly. The insight is unique and practical -- the bank's success speaks volumes for this "unreasonable" approach to managing and maintaining a thriving business.
A useful take on leadership.......2007-05-02
Leading for Growth is a quick read that reveals the leadership strategies that Ray Davis used to drive relentless growth at his company. Davis shows why many companies stagnate because they fail to realize what business they are really in! He details specific strategies all companies can use to create a thriving culture of growth in their organizations. And he offers leaders everywhere sage advice on building winning teams, leading change, and other critical requirements for growth. I found it very interesting and motivational. It shows that there are simple strategies every leader can use to propel growth. As Davis says, building a company "ain't rocket science."
Pick this one up.......2007-05-01
This is a highly recommended read to anyone who is the leader of an organization (not just bankers). Ray's positive enthusiasm really shines through and helps open the reader's eyes to new, innovative ways of growing a business.
Book Description
For busy fundraisers, writing letters of appeal can be confusing and laborious. Now, a guide from the nation's premier letter-writing tutor--direct mail expert Mal Warwick--shows fundraisers what makes the best letters work. Whether its general advice about the most effective mail strategies, or specific advice for those interested in the details of a direct mail campaign, Warwick keeps fundraisers on track when he reminds: "You're writing for results--not a Pulitzer Prize."
In How to Write Successful Fundraising Letters, Warwick's step-by-step model for writing a successful appeal walks you through the critical stages; his topics range from laying the groundwork for a prosperous campaign all the way through to the importance of thanking donors. Supported by an extensive collection of model letters, Warwick's no-nonsense, jargon-free work has helped thousands of fundraisers achieve results.
Read a review written by Charity Channel Founder/CEO Stephen C. Nill:
http://charitychannel.com/publish/templates/?a=471&z=25
Customer Reviews:
You must buy this book.......2007-05-10
If you ever think you will have to write a fundraising letter, you NEED this book. Too many people think it is just like writing any other kind of letter but it isn't. There is a rhyme and, more importantly, a reason to it. Don't write a fundraising letter without reading this book first.
How To Write a Successful Fund Raising Letter.......2007-05-07
Excellent for a review of those with experience and super for those new at the experience. We have used it for both occasions
Disappointed.......2007-01-17
I am not an expert in writing fundraising letters. So, when I found a book with a title "How to write successful Fundraising Letters" it was as if I had won the lottery. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it because I was on a dealine to write a fundraising letter for a non-profit organization for which I had volunteered. I ordered the book, and paid just as much to have it deleivered the next day (local bookstores do not carry it). I found the book to be a tutorial and not something I could quickly benefit from. It is written to teach how to properly write and follow-up a fundraising campaign letter. The samples provided were very specific to 3-4 scenarios and did not offer much context. I guess I was looking for a book with hundreds of samples so that I could pick and choose phrases, paragraphs, etc.
Success at Last.......2007-01-11
I have toyed around with various funderaising letters over the years, reinventing the wheel each time. This book is a tremendous guideline for writing great fundraising letters and has many great examples.
I was able to raise over $100,000.00 in a recent campaign and for the first time I have had a number of people comment on how well the letter appealed to them, and how well it was written. I keep this book close at hand.
Development officer.......2006-11-06
have read part of it not all---so far it is good and helpful
Book Description
"This book is highly recommended for development professionals, as well as board members and administrators who believe that a few million can easily be raised by development personnel in their spare time."--National Society of Fund Raising Executives Journal on the 1st edition
Conducting a Successful Capital Campaign has been the definitive resource on capital campaigns for a decade. Now, in the long-awaited second edition of the best-selling guide, Kent Dove offers an updated and expanded blueprint for planning and managing a successful capital campaign. He not only gives authoritative guidance to every aspect of a capital campaign but also provides new discussions on such important topics as linking strategic planning to fundraising, conducting external market surveys, defining leadership roles, establishing a campaign and solicitation process, and more. Other enhancements include:
- A dramatically expanded resource section that includes samples of a strategic plan, market surveys, case statements, financial reports, pledge forms, newsletters, program brochures, a complete volunteer kit, and a post-campaign evaluation
- New chapters on technology in fundraising, leadership gifts, and developing lasting relationships with donors
- Updated examples and real-world lessons from diverse organizations that have conducted their own capital campaigns
- The Dove Preparedness Index (DPI), a unique measurement tool that helps organizations simply and accurately assess their readiness to embark on a capital campaign
- The new Continuous Lifetime Giving Program Model, including an analytical and segmented marketing approach to its implementation
- A modernized version of the 80/20 rule, addressing the size and number of gifts that are needed to conduct a successful capital campaign
Packed with checklists, formulas, and tables, Conducting a Successful Capital Campaign is sure to make difference in your capital campaign.
Customer Reviews:
Solid Basics, a must for any Board.......2007-08-09
This book provides the fundamental outline to a successful Capital Campaign. It is not a how-to and will clearly state that a seasoned professional consultant should still be considered a vital part of any effort. But, short of that, any Board of Directors should have this book as a guide to understanding the depth of their own responsibilities, how to manage a consultant, the seriousness of the effort and planning ongoing giving programs. I did not give it a 5 only because it does not spell out oversite structures for committees. William
A must have resource for a Capital Campaign.......2007-03-21
I had a copy of the first edition of this excellent book but when I enbarked on a new Capital Campaign I bought the new edition. It is a book which anyone - experience and otherwise - must have if you have to venture into capital campaigning.
Even if you been there and done that, it is excellent as a check to see if you're on track.
The updated version has looked at Capital Campaigns in the light of the changing world of philanthrophy.
In Australia, our Capital Camapigns may not be as large as some in USA but never the less are run in just the same way.
A must have reference and the best one out there as far as I'm concerned.
Capital Campaign bible..........2006-09-21
Kent Dove's book is the bible for how to do capital fund raising. I have been asked as a development officer and consultant to do it other ways, and his is the ONLY way that works. I'm buying the updated book with joy that it has been published.
The Best Guide for Plannind Major Gift Campaigns.......2005-07-21
In the short time I've had this book, I've used it extensivly to plan a forthcoming $25 million campaign in a college within a university. After 15 years of experience in major gift fund raising, I've finally found the book that includes ALMOST everything we need to launch a very successful effort. I deeply appreciate Mr. Dove's efforts to update his work and provide this useful guide.
Useful but disappointing.......2002-11-30
Although there is useful information in this book, I found it disappointing compared with the recommendations that I read.
Part 1, which is about 200 pages, is the text of the book and covers planning and implementing your campaign. Part 2 which is about 300 pages is a collection of about 35 sample documents.
I found the text, which included chapters by other authors, rambling and verbose, giving lists of functions and lists of alternatives without reaching conclusions. I skimmed this part and found little worth reading carefully. (In contrast, I just read Tony Poderis concise and excellent "Its A Great Day to Fundraise" from cover to cover.) The author attempts an academic approach, with unhelpful citations. Examples of somewhat useful items were an outline of a case statement and examples of gift charts.
Particularly weak was a chapter entitled "Technology in Fundraising" which claimed that it was about the single most important support factor in fundraising. We learn that we need a broad team to select this technology; that we need to attend user groups of the system we are considering; that we need to meet current users; that we need to test the system at our site; that the system should be easy to support; that to install the system we need leadership, time, funding, involvement, communication, expertise, testing, training, defined reports, standards, process, etc.; and on and on and on with more generalities. We are NOT told what it is reasonable to expect such a system to do, what features have proved useful, or any other specific information that someone who had actually used such a system might provided.
The sample documents, which were largely from an Indiana University campaign, struck me as examples that I would not want to follow, although I found some useful items.
Books:
- The Quiet Revolution in Email Marketing
- Towards a New Architecture
- Understanding Interest Rate Swaps
- What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful
- Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life
- Windows on the World Economy with Economic Applications
- 10 X 10 _ 2
- A History of Interior Design
- A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing, Ninth Edition
- A Random Walk Down Wall Street: The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing, Ninth Edition
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War
- Heaven
- Coumarins: Biology, Applications, and Mode of Action
- Flow Cytometry, Part A, Volume 41, Second Edition
- Growing Gourmet and Medicinal Mushrooms
- Job Analysis: Methods, Research, and Applications for Human Resource Management in the New Millenniu
- I'd Kill For That
- The Autobiography of an Idea
- Dreams Through the Glass: Windows from Bergdorf Goodman
- Hair Of The Dog
African-American & Black
| Ethnic & National
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)
A Hand to Guide Me
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream
A Piece of Cake: A Memoir
