Customer Reviews

Big Bucks!

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Daily (or so it seems to me) there are 10-15 new books published which offer to help their readers get RICH (quickly or eventually) during these "turbulent times" of "unprecedented opportunities." Because of his well-deserved prominence, whenever Ken Blanchard publishes a new book, it receives special attention. He knows this. I suspect, therefore, that he feels special pressure to provide in each new book solid content which is carefully organized and well-written, content which has real value.

He and co-author Sheldon Bowles succeed brilliantly in the third "leg" of their trilogy in which they describe "the three key factors that determine the long-term success of an organization: as a provider of choice (Raving Fans), as an employer of choice (Gung Ho!), and [now] as an investment of choice (Big Bucks)."

The "story" they tell is of a fellow named Len whose quest is to learn the secrets to moneymaking. Like Bunyan's Pilgrim, Len encounters many adventures during his quest, accompanied by the reader. We are introduced to Rabbi Silver, Father Murphy, Pastor Edwards, and moneymakers from their respective congregations. At first, this seemed odd to me. What are Blanchard and Bowles up to? Why include clergy? What is the connection to accumulating "Big Bucks?" Yes, yes, of course. Regardless of their denomination, all congregations heavily depend upon financial support to sustain their good work. But isn't this book supposed to provide "guidelines to becoming a multimillionaire?" What about making "serious money" for both me and my company?

It would be a great disservice both to the authors and to the book's readers were I to reveal the aforementioned "three key factors" or to explain the relevance of the clergy and several of their congregants to the reader's own "quest" to learn the secrets of moneymaking. Read the book. Then re-read it. Judge for yourself.

Recall my previous reference to the daily appearance of books about wealth creation. I rate Big Bucks so highly on its own merits but also admire it for another reason which the authors may not have had in mind when they wrote this book: This would make an excellent gift for recent graduates of schools, colleges, and universities. Why? Because, as they embark on their own journey in search of economic health (if not wealth), this little book will help anchor them in some profoundly important values: commitment, intensity, purpose, and even fun.

One final Point: Big Bucks also provides a conceptual frame-of-reference within which to evaluate other books on wealth accumulation. For that reason alone, it is a "must read."

I'm already a millionaire several times over. My staff gave me Big Bucks! They thought it a "funny gift" for the company Christmas party. It was. Everyone laughed when I unwrapped it. I tossed it in my brief case and that evening began to look it over, then fasinated by what I saw, I began to read.

I've come to Amazon, my favorite book store, to write this review, as having read Big Bucks! I now feel an obligation to tell everyone this book will tell you in a clearer, simpler and easier to follow fashion than I ever could, how I made my money. As I read I had an eerie feeling Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles were telling my story. That somehow they had got inside my head and discovered my best money making secrets. But they aren't secrets. If you make ten million that doesn't stop me from making another ten. Actually, when the economy is booming it's easier for everyone to make money. So buy this book now and pay attention.

Big Bucks! is not a "bet the farm, get rich quick or die broke trying" book. As it says on the cover, Big Bucks! tells you how to get the energy you need, and then how and where to focus that energy. It will teach you about leverage, which means turning one dollar into a thousand. You will learn the importance of having an equity position. The lessons on how to make big bucks in the job you have now are alone worth many times what you'll pay for the book. That's my advice, and I ask only one thing. After you've read it come back here and post a review for others.

I have read dozens of personal growth books and they all purport to have the answer...27 keys to success, 15 strategies for happiness, 40 things you can do to get better. By now I probably have 1000 things I need to focus on, it's rediculous.

This book has only a few key points, but they are the most direct, to the point, and fundamental points in making huge money. This book isn't the end all, but it is absolutely essential.

I guess the reason I'm so excited about this book is it had the one key that I had been missing all these years. So many books I've read talk about discipline, delayed gratification, and million different ways to try to motivate yourself. What this book taught me, was that the very foundation of all success is doing what you love.

It sounds simple. Most people hear that and they respond "Of course." but few people really take it to heart. Everything gets really easy when you are doing what you love. Motivation is a snap. Discipline is a snap. You follow everything through because you are having so much fun.

That of course is just the foundation, the beginning. But what a beginning! Buy this book right now, it could change your life.

Big Bucks! is the third in the series that started with Raving Fans and proceeded on to Gung Ho. Although you can certainly read Big Bucks! as a standalone, I recommend that you read the other two fine books first.

The subject is pretty simple: How to earn, keep, and enjoy substantial wealth. That description will probably sound like any of several hundred thousand self-help books written in recent years. In true Ken Blanchard style, Big Bucks! manages a refreshing new take on an old subject.

Len, our future multimillionaire, meets three spiritual leaders in a card game, who introduce him to three role models who teach him the three initial, and four eventual, rules of of getting, keeping and enjoying his Big Bucks!

Simple messages are powerful, because we can remember them. I subscribe to the themes in this book, and enjoyed reading how they were articulated.

Big Bucks! makes the pursuit of wealth seem downright spiritual, which of course it can be. In practice, the book is at its best in encouraging you to eventually have your own business. The perspective is certainly more that of an owner/manager than an employee. But the latter is addressed.

Those who do not like The One Minute Manager format will really hate this book, because it takes that format even further into simple stories and humor than usual. As such, the format is almost a satire on itself.

On the other hand, I greatly appreciate authors who can boil down important information into the gist of what needs to be done. Having considered those I know who have lived the Big Bucks! ideal, it is clear that they followed these principles unconsciously, if not consciously. I think Blanchard and Bowles have really put their finger on the pulse of the positive pursuit of wealth.

This book would be a wonderful gift for a young person starting on a career, an older person thinking about starting a business, or anyone who seems serious about acquiring wealth.

Even if you are not interested in having Big Bucks! for yourself, I think you will enjoy reading the book. And you never know. You just may decide that you are interested in Big Bucks! after all.

...it was worth the money if only for the first lesson which sems like common sense, but I've seen so many people go wrong - the lesson is this: You have to love what you do, and do what you love. Do not take a job just because it pays well; if you hate it, not only will you be miserable, but you probably won't succeed. Likewise, if you get a job that you like, even if you don't get paid a whole lot right away, your drive will lead you to bigger and better things.

In RAVING FANS, authors Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Knowles
concentrated on the importance of delighting customers . . . in GUNG
HO!, they focused on how companies could become the "employer of
choice" and attract the best employees . . . I liked both those
books and thus looked forward to listening to the taped version of
BIG BUCKS! . . . this third book promised me in its subtitle "How
to Make Serious Money for Both You and Your Company," something
that could be done by focussing my time and energy.

Like other works by Blanchard and Knowles, the points are
presented in a parable . . . here, we're introduced to a man struggling
to make ends meet . . . he goes on a journey to discover the secret
to becoming rich and meets three wise (and successful) people
who present simple truths that can be applied to virtually any
situation.

I liked the above fact; i.e., that when listening, I found myself
thinking that this stuff makes sense--and I should and could

apply it to my situation . . . there's nothing overly earth-shattering,
yet I should add that it got me thinking . . . and it made sense.

Also making sense was the conclusion, in which the authors
reviewed the simple tests that should have been learned from
either reading or listening:

The test of joy . . . you can't make money unless you're having fun.

The test of purpose . . .you can't make money unless making money
is more important than having fun.

The test of creativity . . . incomes, less expenses = profit.

And, lastly, there's perpetual prosperity . . . which comes to those
who help others.

Back in January a reviewer of Big Bucks! convinced me I wasn't going to get on Do You Want To Be A Millionaire with Regis so I decided to follow his advice and read Big Bucks! Having read it I was convinced the authors, who apparently did their research over a number of years with The Young President's Organization which seems to be a club for millionaires, knew their stuff.

The first and most important lesson they say is that you can't make big money unless you're having fun. It's the old do what you love advice, but for the first time I now understand what this means. And I know why it works: If you enjoy your work you have the energy needed to be a huge success. Rather than working hard the authors say money makers enjoy their work so much that they're playing hard. I always thought I was in a dead end job. Now I understand the job wasn't dead end. I was! I didn't like it much and I didn't have the energy. I love cars though, so I took a chance and quit for an automotive related job. And at less money. But within three months I'd got two raises and I'm already making more than I was. All because I'm giving the job 12 hours of effort every eight hour shift, rather than the two I gave the other job. Best of all the eight hours passes like two and it used to seem like 12. I'm not a millionaire yet, but if this keeps up who knows I may make it. Even if I don't I'm a way happier than I was, so whoever the millionaire is who wrote the January third review, thanks. Thanks a million I guess.

It took me years to make it to "big bucks." Then I read this book, which offers to help others do the same. I wish this had been around so I could have read it earlier and saved lots of years! But now it's out and this message needs to go out to those who are teachable on this subject. The authors boil down a lot of data and research into a few non-negotiables. This will disappoint the unenlightened but challenge the righteous to take the path to prosperity.

I received this book along with three others for free upon joining a real estate investors group. Thus, I was not expecting too much from the volume. I also was blissfully ignorant of the authors and their prior successful works, and have not read the other two volumes in this motivational trilogy.

As such, I was pleasantly surprised by the narrative and novel style. The use of the protagonist "Len" is quite refreshing and works extremely well. His visits to the "three Wise Men/Woman" are amusing. The three lessons learned are absolute truths in the working world and totally reinforced my personal belief that having fun while making money is essential. If you love what you do you will be great at it.

I highly recommend this book to everyone with a open mind. It is a quick read (about a weekend ought to do it) and if read and followed, is sure to enrich your life both spiritually and financially.

About my only criticism is that it is somewhat derivative of other motivational types such as Lou Tice (reticular activating systems); Ivan Meisner (givers gain);and the grandaddy of them all: Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich).

This is a good book at one third its cost. It would make a good pamphlet but for nearly $20 (counting shipping costs) it's little bang for too much bucks. The writing style is simplistic and predictable. Nearly every page presents two inches of blank white space and the font is oversized as if an attempt by the publisher to hide the shortness of the manuscript. The content is useful though nothing new is presented. I wanted to read the book because I am a fan of Ken Blanchard. He has a knack of popularizing good sense principles so that they are useful in practice. Unfortunately, I think this latest effort is more a whimper than a winner. If the readers of this review insist on buying this book, perhaps, the lesson they will learn is that people (like me) will buy anything if it comes from someone with a strong reputation. I hope Mr. Blanchard and Mr. Bowles develop more content if they collaborate again. They have much to offer, but this book isn't it...