Suggest Your Favorite Book!!

mcmillian-1 · 08-16-2009, 01:20 AM

Hi All,

Today I thought of some posts that I think we would all get some really good info from and one that I love is books , I would like to list books that have help me in my business. I hope to keep this one going and get a lot of suggestions I love to read. One thing that I will tell you from being in the business as long as I have you have to train your mind to understand that you are in business and you can no longer afford to think like and employee. So with that being said I would like to suggest some books for you.
1. Cold Call Selling By Paul S. Goldner
(I don’t care what anyone says a lot of great tips here)

2. The E Myth By. Michael E. Gerber

3.Coach By Art Williams Founder of AL William

I have read a lot of books and I will suggest some others but this will give you a great start.

CHUMPS FROM OXFORD · 08-16-2009, 01:43 AM

"Ball Four"

Because it takes my mind off the business.

emptyeternity · 08-16-2009, 08:03 AM

Book yourself solid
Stillness Speaks
Question based selling

al3 · 08-16-2009, 10:47 AM

In no particular order, these books have helped me attain success and "life-balance" in sales over the past thirty-two years that I've been self-employed:

Go fro No!

Selling for Dummies

The Prince

Death of A Salesman (the play)

Bhagavad-gita

See You At The Top

arnguy · 08-16-2009, 03:08 PM

The telephone book!

souldeux · 08-16-2009, 05:20 PM

I personally like The Magic of Thinking Big, even if it is a little repetitive.

I've also got a copy of How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling sitting here on my desk that I haven't started yet, but that I've heard great things about.

GreenSky · 08-16-2009, 07:41 PM

I received a copy of "How to Avoid Procrastination" about 6 months ago. Looking forward to reading it.

Rick

xrac · 08-16-2009, 08:47 PM

Hot Prospects by Bill Good.

Dave020 · 08-16-2009, 09:10 PM

Originally Posted by souldeux

I personally like The Magic of Thinking Big, even if it is a little repetitive.

I've also got a copy of How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling sitting here on my desk that I haven't started yet, but that I've heard great things about.

Anyone selling life insurance should have that Frank Bettger book as a desk reference. It was written ages ago but still holds true to this day.

medicarebenefitsdirect · 08-16-2009, 09:16 PM

Think and Grow Rich

bunkerjunker · 08-16-2009, 09:36 PM

-The Millionaire Next Door
-The Feldman Method
-As a Man Thinketh
-

deg929 · 08-17-2009, 01:17 AM

1. The Bible

2. Intentional Integrity

3. Making a Living While Making a Difference

Three of my favorite......in that order.

GonnaFlyNow · 08-17-2009, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by al3

In no particular order, these books have helped me attain success and "life-balance" in sales over the past thirty-two years that I've been self-employed:

Go fro No!

Selling for Dummies

The Prince

Death of A Salesman (the play)

Bhagavad-gita

See You At The Top

Al, i can't belive you'd read zig zig. how can you stand reading anything by a right-wing christian wacko? if u r going to be consistent and intellectually honest, you need to throw that one in the trash.

al3 · 08-17-2009, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by GonnaFlyNow

Al, i can't belive you'd read zig zig. how can you stand reading anything by a right-wing christian wacko? if u r going to be consistent and intellectually honest, you need to throw that one in the trash.

I read, watch, and listen to EVERYTHING.... because I'm an educated, eclectic, and intellectually curious man.

I read the WSJ and NYT each evening. I listen to Rush once or twice a week. I watch David Brooks on PBS on Friday evenings. I see some of the Fox talking heads daily (they are always on the TV in the locker room at my tennis/fitness club when I'm there around 5 PM most days.)

Why should I care what religion Zig is?

Although I've been vilified in this venue as eating Christian babies for breakfast, I happen to like what I call "true" Christians... those who live their faith without the zeal to force me to also adopt it. I have a lot of religious-publisher clients since I also own a small (mostly dormant now) book publishing company... which I made a lot of money in back in the early 90s before the internet "killed" non-fiction publishing. (Contact Tsaba House in Reedly, CA and ask Pam who wrote their health care. I have nothing to hide.)

I also have a lot of small Christian publishing houses who use our JAYA123 software service.

My views on religious extremism are well-known by all in the small publishing industry from my Saturday Rant column that I've written on and off for the past fifteen years.

I've never claimed political or "intellectual" consistency. I supported AuH20 in '64, Nixon in '68, and voted for Regan in 84, Dole in '96, and Bush in '00 and '04. I supported Dems the other times. I'm a hybrid between Jewish, Christian, and Hindu belief structures. Neither ideological nor intellectual "purity" has been of interest to me. To paraphrase Miss Jean, "Those who like that sort of thing, that's the sort of thing they like."

My mind is open to change. I'm the prototype of the "independent" voter that both the far right and far left does not "talk" to nor seek out.

You can debate it if you want. I won't. This is a nice, simple, enjoyable thread. Let's not turn it into a political battle... just this once.

I hope I successfully addressed whatever issues you might have with me reading and listing Zig's book.

Al
InsuranceSolutions123 Agency

jrunyan · 08-17-2009, 02:58 PM

Agree with your suggestion of:

The E Myth By. Michael E. Gerber

Provides good insight on how to system-ize your business, and move from working in your business to working on your business.

Other relevant works might be:

The Trusted Advisor by David Maister
- probably simplistic and obvious, but quite directly applicable to the insurance agency market

ProActive Sales Management by William Miller
- could be a useful reference if you are building a sales team and looking for pointers and best practices

seanfitz · 08-20-2009, 12:36 PM

I am reading The Answer by John Assaraf & Murray Smith again. It's inspiring and can get you excited about doing business if you find yourself in a slump!
Fitz

VaDwayne · 08-21-2009, 12:16 AM

I just ordered COLD CALLING FOR COWARDS - JERRY HOCUTT just a few days ago. It should be here any day.

mcmillian-1 · 08-21-2009, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by VaDwayne

I just ordered COLD CALLING FOR COWARDS - JERRY HOCUTT just a few days ago. It should be here any day.

This should be a great book....for cowards..huh..lol most people hate to do it...I love it.

VaDwayne · 08-22-2009, 12:33 AM

Originally Posted by mcmillian-1

This should be a great book....for cowards..huh..lol most people hate to do it...I love it.

I like it too. I thought I would hate it but most times it's entertaining

arnguy · 08-22-2009, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by GreenSky

I received a copy of "How to Avoid Procrastination" about 6 months ago. Looking forward to reading it.

Rick

Rick, I purchased that book about 18 months ago. I am hoping to get a chance to read it before the end of this year. BTW I am getting to celebrate New Years Day tomorrow----just a slight delay.