No B.S. Ruthless Management of People and Profits: No Holds Barred, Kick Butt, Take-No-Prisoners Guide to Really Getting Rich [With CD]

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has staff in their business. I used to think that I managed my staff pretty well, but after reading this book and applying the techniques I've learnt that I was really letting myself and my staff down by not getting the best out of them. I'd say most people reading will notice a 40% increase in productivity if they apply just some of the tips in here. One of my tips for implementing what is taught is to use clockingit software, which is free on the web. I also recommend that online entrepreneurs check out traffic travis and affilorama. I've read many other Dan Kennedy books, and the best one is right here: No B.S. Ruthless Management of People and Profits: The Ultimate, No Holds Barred, Kick Butt, Take No Prisoners Guide to Really Getting Rich (No B.S.) It's very relevant to all business owners (not just online ones, but especially online ones). Anyway, I hope you all find my review useful.

Required reading for anyone who owns or is starting a business. When you fill out the forms to get a tax ID number, they should have one question on the form. "Did you read this book?" If No, you don't get a tax ID number. It's that important. IMHO, no one gives advice that can not only change a business but change a life better than Dan Kennedy. [email protected]

This is a wonderful book that will challenge many of the things you do in your business. If you follow Dan's advice, you will radically alter your approach to business. You could not hire a consultant to teach this for under a few thousand dollars. Yet you get one of the best teaching very valuable concepts for under $15. If you are familiar with Dan Kennedy's work, this is very typical. If you are not a Dan Kennedy fan, this is a great book for getting acquainted with "planet Dan." Typical Dan means that he does not hold anything back. His writing is biting, often humorous and to the point. He takes a very direct approach, nothing sugar coated. He relates the story he learned from Earl Nightingale - if you have no role model, look at what everyone else is doing and do the opposite, because the majority is always wrong. Dan teaches you to go against popular wisdom and custom. Most people do not get rich. If you truly are interested in making a profit - and according to Dan that is the best reason for being in business - then you must go against conventional wisdom. Most of the information covered in this book is the fundamental teachings of Dan Kennedy. If you are a student of his work then you have probably heard or read most of this information before. However I would still highly recommend this book. First, I think we all need to be reminded of these business truths. I think we have all learned a lot of bad habits or ways of thinking which we need to correct. It never hurts to be reminded of these concepts. One of the most important concepts of the book is "good enough is good enough". "Aspiring to unmitigated excellence is a lovely theory. But the reality is that all the most successful companies find the good enough spot." As a business we need to understand what the customer/clients really wants, expects and is willing to pay for. Striving to deliver a product or service beyond what the customer/clients wants, expects and is willing to pay for is a costly exercise. "People who are good at making excuses are never very good at making money. Excuses and profits are incompatible." "Motivation without measurement is meaningless." Everything that is important in your business must be measured. Bonuses which are not tied to performance are a waste of money and create many potential problems. Dan spends a lot of time discussing employees. His first stance is resist them at all cost. But if you must have them, then treat them as a rental asset. Make sure you are making a profit from the employee. They cost much more than most people acknowledge. Being a "good boss" generally means being well liked. Dan's definition of a good boss is an effective boss. The book discusses in great detail the difference between activity and accomplishment. Accomplishment is the only thing that counts. Make sure you are focused on and measuring accomplishment. A few chapters are written by guest authors. And there is an audi

I've been reading Dan Kennedy's stuff and attending his seminars for years but I have to say I was shocked at how blunt this book is. Kennedy won't make any friends among employees (and vendors) who don't understand that they are zebras (you'll have to read the book to see what that means) and that the sole reason that the person running the show (biz owner) has a business in the first place is to make a profit. Kennedy has little time for whiners who complain that the minimum wage isn't high enough or that employers should learn how to "handle" persnickety employees so that the employee "feels good." Rather, Dan's blunt point is that business owners take too much crap from employees and their crying and as a result, are being robbed blind by most of them. When you start to read this book you'll probably say "well, this doesn't happen in my business" but as you go through the book, detailed example by detailed example, I can guarantee that you (biz owner) will see yourself and one or more of your employees/vendors somewhere. The book is not all negative. In fact its filled with great ideas to get maximum productivity out of those who you choose to allow to work with you. It all starts, though, with remembering that the only reason that you should be running a business is to make a profit for yourself. Start there--otherwise go get a job and work for someone else. With that as the premise, why in the world would you let your employees steal anything from you. He's not just talking about a case of Coke out of the bag room, or something obvious as money out of the drawer (though he does have examples in the book of that) but stealing your money by being unproductive (or worse--like actually trying to bury your business. I recommend this book 100% for all business owners, but especially those small business owners. It comes with a CD which is a very good interview that Lee Milteer did of Dan Kennedy about Ruthless Management of People and Profits. I do think that some folks will be fired after the boss reads this one.. but Dan has recommendations for them, too. Like: get more education,hang out with winners; understand that while there is no place like the United States for opportunity, the world owes you NOTHING.

If you are a fan of Kennedy's straight talk and no-bull business advice, look no further. Unlike a few of Kennedy's books which have more advertising than info, this book is chock full of his signature style and advice. I am just beginning to manage others and so am finding his advice spot-on. He looks at the motives that people have for doing a good job and your motives for hiring people to do a good job, and with clear eyes assesses what we as employers need to do in order to make working with employees profitable. After all, that is why we are doing this, right? He does have a few guest writers doing chapters, but the chapters are so full of good advice and interesting takes on things that I am enjoying the other voices very much. I don't agree with everything he has to say, but - give me time - he's been managing employees a lot longer than I have. However you feel about him and his controversial style, there is no doubt that he gives us a lot of ideas to think on and solid advice for how to view the relationship. If you are a fan of Dan's, go ahead and pick up this latest - you won't be disappointed. If you are new to his writing, try No BS Sales Success or No BS Time Management. My copies of both have so many bookmarks in them that they are puffed out.