Customer Reviews

Balls!: 6 Rules for Winning Today's Business Game

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this book because, evidently, a lot of people who bought Keith Ferrazzi's book (about forging powerful connections with influetntial people -- see my review) bought this one as well. I approached it, then, as an exposition about the kind of personal courage it takes to shine in what can be intimidating situations. However, this was not the case. Alas, BALLS! is an acronym -- B is for Brave, A is for Authentic, L is for Loud, L is for Loveable, S is for Spunky, ! is for Go (I say ! is for "huh?!!!!")

Alexi Venneri does come off as having boundless enthusiasm and if I were ever into team sports, I would be glad if she were head cheerleader for my team. But, that is really the substance of the book. These are not so much "Rules for Winning" as they are favorite cheers.

I did get a kick out of learning about her boss in the "B" section of the book. He is a worthy entrepreneurial role model. The rest of the "case studies" are from other people in her employer's company or their client-companies. The stories are spun or cherry-picked to fit the acronym. It's a little like the tail is wagging the dog. Research was not conducted to find out what works in today's business games. For that matter, what these games are was never defined, let alone rules identfied. Instead, it's more like a 2005, white-collar version of Studs Terkel stories fitting into BALLS categories. And I'm not enticed to try any of them. For example, I would never hire actors to picket a competitor's conference (I gasped when I read this one.)

In the final analysis, I.C.B.I.S.T.R.A.B.W.A.A.F.A.T. (I can't believe I spent time reading a book with an acronym for a title).

Full of real world examples of how anyone with a little innovation, creativity and guts can not only succeed, but also really win in today's business world. It's not enough to play by the rules anymore, you have to think outside the box and not be afraid to take chances. Inspirational and motivating, this book is an easy read and the Snag the Ideas feature is invaluable to any businessperson looking to get ahead quickly.

Very motivating and inspirational. This is a must read for anyone that wants to succed in the game of Life.

As an Independent Consultant, I can really appreciate the advice and insight this book offers. In particular, I found Alexi's business strategies to be both innovative and relevant. Balls! is full of good ideas and interesting stories about real people solving business problems creatively. A great read!

I read at least one business oriented book a month and I have to say that BALLS is one of the most relevant books I have read to date. Besides being interesting and fun to read, there are real lessons for people pushing business objectives in both large and small organizations. This book sparks creative thinking and should help those who read it drive their businesses forward.

BALLS! is useful, smart and inspiring -- without being preachy or aggressive. It's got good advice for business owners or anyone trying to start his or her own business. Venneri's stories are funny and serious at the same time -- a good trick for a business book. She keeps the focus on real-life business situations, which makes the book practical and relevant. Five stars for "6 Rules!"

This is a good book. I'm a business writer who covers the brewing industry, so I particularly enjoyed the story about Jim Koch and The Boston Beer Company. Cheers to Alexi for creating a very readable business book!
Gregg Glaser

I love case studies, so I was predisposed to like this, but I loved the blend of practical information and case studies. Its the kind of read that is quick, but sticks with you. I thought that it pulled together the concept of CRM for sales and account management in a way that was very helpful.

Excellent read! I read this book in one sitting and walked away with many relevant ideas for how to improve my business productivity. Great ideas, great insight.

Alexi's book addresses crucial issues facing new companies in competitive markets: How do you establish your brand quickly without burning through your cash to buy a lot of potentially useless advertising? How do you motivate employees and make them feel loved without taking the edge off their competitive spirit? How do you inspire your sales force today without sacrificing company profits tomorrow? Some of these questions are truly painful, but Alexi handles them with wit and humor. This is a nice book, by an executive who genuinely cares about the future and respects the past.