Little Red Book of Sales Answers

by Jeffrey Gitomer
subtitle: 99.5 Real World Answers that make sense, make sales, and make money

INTRODUCTION AND ACQUISITION: end of summer 2007, realizing my fledgling business is going to expire if I don't bite the unpleasant bullet and start reading up on marketing and sales skills; borrowed from the Queens Library, Forest Hills branch

**Gonna do something a tad differently. Going to start adding my bits of thought as I'm reading this book. Maybe I'll only do it with this book, maybe I'll do it with others. We'll see....

8/24/07, up to page 87 of 202, so about half way done.... for the newbie like me who has never harbored any desire to become a sales person, let alone a better one, this book is quite interesting. It helps having an actual business to apply this advice to, at least in my imagination thus far. I see that I have been looking at sales/marketing all in the wrong way. I feared becoming a pest, as I see so many sales people are, rather than seeing that when I'm being the buyer/consumer, I go for products whose sale pitch does not annoy me, so much so that I do not realize the sale pitch exists. I just think it's a good buy or adds value to my life. It's interesting to try to see it as a helpful approach, rather than a money making scheme (hello PT Barnum).

The Good so far: The book is hardcovered but light, small enough to carry around. The pages are rather readable, very colorful and lots of spaces between the blurbs. Almost like a grown up picture book (actually it does have pictures in it). User friendly is a good description. There are many ideas (99.5 to be exact) and each idea is clearly broken down, each a small complete thought spread out over no more than three pages, averaging about two. I was please to see that a good bit of good writing can carry you along way, or, meaning it is a skill which if used properly can really get you recognized. It's the idea of getting yourself out there. Okay, so I've heard the ideas of writing articles before, but this one really hits it on the head why the article writing matters.

He encourages reading and analysis and hard work (yeay) and strongly discourages wasteful things like television watching (which he then contradicts himself later by suggestions a television show or two).

The Bad so far: well, it is about sales, after all. And some of the more "ballsy" suggestions he makes are nothing short of hokey. But that is what balls, or, er, courage is about, doing things at the risk of embarrassment for a greater cause. Luckily there are not too many ballsy bits of advice, at least so far.

Just discovered that Mr. Gitomer has authored quite a few books on sales, and this is merely a sequel to the initial Sales red book. Oh. Well, whatever. I was limited to the library's selection, and really had no problem getting any book that discussed sales.

8/29/07, book is now finished. My review is not much different now that my reading of the book is done. I really liked the advice, and have started to see how my inaccurate approach to "prospects" (prospective clients) has hurt me. I shall like to re-read this book before it's due back to the library, and look forward to seeing it add that "value" to my business. I have not yet followed Gitomer's prompting to hop onto his website to view the amazing and tantalizing tips in store for me, and maybe I will, maybe I won't. This book has helped me recognize the areas I am weak in and how to resolve them, helped me understand the awkwardness felt when my "sales pitch" talked all about what I can do for them, without really getting them to tell me what they want or need or "value."

I have read some of the criticisms of this book, but since they criticisms focus on its regurgitation of past sales bible-like publications of which I have no knowledge, I cannot comment. If you're new to business and sales and find it necessary to dive in, this seems like a good book to begin with.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

by Ann Brashares

Introduction and Acquisition: Heard of the book in passing, then saw the movie a couple of years ago. cute, harmless. the book was hefted on me by a friend who was cleaning out her bookshelf.


What's cool: A good story of friendship, interesting take on the rites of passage for young women going from high school innocence. I do like the way she told four stories and four situations, rather than trying to cram all the dramatic twists on one person. From an adult point of view, it was interesting the implications of bipolar disorder suggested in Bee's character. The author leaves us with impressions, no needing explicit details of the characters' backgrounds. It was well kept in the present while explaining some of the past.


What sucks: While it's hard to call these catagorizations "criticisms", it must be recognized that this is a book that's firmly at home in the bounds of Young Adult section. The glossed over absent sex scene leaves it too old for younger kids, and that very same scene makes it too whitewashed for anyone older. And why are the two "beautiful" girls described in detail - olive skin, long glossy blonde hair - but the other two, well we know what they wear. And Carmen has a big butt.


Recommend?
Definite Young Adult book.