Customer Reviews

No B.S. Ruthless Management of People and Profits: The Ultimate, No Holds Barred, Kick Butt, Take No Prisoners Guide to Really Getting Rich

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

This guy makes a lot of sense on one level - when you are running a small to medium business and have to watch every dime. I would like to think there are better ways to encourage work than monitoring PC use and putting cameras all over the place. We all know some people abuse or waste their time - so give them more to do and if they can do it - great. It means it was your fault that they didn't have enough work. Then you don't have to spy on your own people.

Also - these issues of waste exist at larger companies. Problem in big companies is that HR has taken over and seem to enforce the rules of PC - which often lead to talk about working but no working. After all - they are there to protect the company and think of reasons of why you are not paid what your're worth. My advice - don't use the suggestions in this book at a big company unless you are sure of it. It might lead to results that are not to your favor.

This book confirms what I've thought for years and has allowed me to give myself permission to act on some of the things discussed in the book. I've owned my business for 15 years and wish I had read this book 15 years ago!! I highly recommend it, best $10 I've ever spent.

Excellent content. Honest, straight to the gut, easy to understand, and RELEVANT!
Anyone who reads this will find an idea that will help them improve their team or himself.
Something you should read a couple of times with a pen and highlighter. Then read again anytime you realize management problems are creeping into your business...(even if you are the only employee)

This is the first Dan Kennedy book that I have read and appreciated his straight-forward advice. I am just about done reading it and have already decided which book in the series I will read next.

This book is a great tool for business owners on how-to manage their businesses profitably. It gives you step by step simple solutions on situation most business owners facing every day. The author talks about real life situations without exaggeration or sugar-coating and provides hands on solutions and resources to manage them.

For me in particular, this book also helped to understand the REAL dynamic and "relationship" between employee and employer, which along restored my confidence and sanity and empowered for taking APPROPRIATE actions. I wish, I'd read it 10 years ago, it would save me so much unneeded stress!

P.S. Employees and/or hired managers could be very offended by the ruthless TRUTH of their real agendas revealed in this book (sorry).

People management is far and away the hardest part of business. Sometimes, in our efforts to be good and generous employers, we make well intentioned but dumb mistakes. Dan Kennedy takes on issues, such as bonus programs, head on. For example, he says giving a regular bonus can become an expectation that over time no longer motivates employees. Our business is living proof of that. Just having a new perspective on that one issue makes this book worth its weight. There are many more.

This is a book that is fun to just flip through. Dan puts little messages in boxes throughout. I would highly recommend it to small business owners and managers with people dilemmas.

Further, because I like this one so much, I bought it for our managers. I would comment to be cautious when ordering. His No BS covers are all so similar, I bought the wrong one in error. I now own all of them with the intention to see if any others will benefit our managers. His writing style is engaging and will be a good addition to your business library.

What Dan tells you is how it really is - there truly are no wishy washy messages here. I have personally recommended his books to dozens of people. If you enjoy Dan's no holds barred style then I can also recommend Swimming with Piranha Makes You Hungry by Colin TurnerSwimming with Piranha Makes You Hungry

Finally, someone must be said that and Kennedy did it. It's the best book on management ever written, and this is probably one of the most harsh books of Professor of Harsh Reality written so far. Prepare for An Inconvenient Truth of Management.
Prepare to understand, that you own a zoo of zebras (you need to read a book to know what it means, and it's just mandatory).
To city freely a Kennedy:

When the cow stops give a milk, what do you do with a cow if you are farmer? Then this cow has another name - a burger.

It's a harsh and really ruthless book about management, but a best till now written on subject, and a zebras example it's CLASSIC - after reading this you will always think in zebras terms in mind.

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 audio CD included with the book. The CD is an interview with Dan conducted by Lee Milteer and discussed the concepts of the book. The CD alone is worth the price of the book.

There are numerous references for additional sources of information/help. These generally point to some additional product or service available from Dan Kennedy or one of his affiliates. If you need/want additional help, these can prove to be very valuable. If you have trouble with this sort of promotion, just ignore them. Do not let the fact that he offers additional resources get in your way of reading and learning from this book. The book is well worth reading. If you understand and implement just one idea from this book, it will dramatically change your business.