Cut to the Chase: and 99 Other Rules to Liberate Yourself and Gain Back the Gift of Time [Hardcover]

Stuart R. Levine (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 26, 2006

DECIDE WHAT NOT TO DO

# 46 TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO USE YOUR TIME

# 97 TAKE BACK THE WEEKEND


In Cut to the Chase, bestselling author Stuart R. Levine reveals 100 no-nonsense rules on how to be more effective at work and make the best use of your most precious resource: your time.

Just before CEO and consultant Stuart Levine appeared on the Today show to discuss his book The Six Fundamentals of Success, co-host Matt Lauer said to him, "You know what really drives me nuts? When people come into my office for a five-minute conversation and an hour later, they're still there! Why can't they cut to the chase?"

Lauer's question echoed the concerns Levine has heard from business people and top executives at every level: How can I get more done? How can I stay focused? How can I condense my workday so that I can become more successful and still spend more time with the people I love?

Levine's answer? By cutting to the chase. Successful individuals are the ones who make the best use of their time and energy. They approach each task with clarity, focus, and purpose. They prioritize. They don't allow others to waste their time. They understand the importance of refueling their batteries outside of work. In Cut to the Chase, Levine distills the expertise of hundreds of CEOs, leaders, and professionals into 100 concise, invaluable lessons about how to get to the point, stay on track, and be more successful in everything you do.

In an age where we spend more hours at work than ever before, Cut to the Chase is the indispensable guide for taking control over your time so that you can lead a happier, more balanced life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

While everyone's heard the phrase, author and former CEO Levine (The Six Fundamentals of Success) contends that few really understand the power of his title. In more than 99 short but simple rules, Levine helps readers "speed up," "be direct," "meet smarter," "move forward" and "cut back," among other imperatives. Practicing what he preaches, Levine makes his points with concise, direct advice and short chapters: Levine backs Rule 78, "Weed out your reading pile," with a primer on developing a "core reading list"; in Rule 37, "Tell them if the baby is ugly," he demonstrates why readers shouldn't put criticism on the back burner; and he allows Rule 58, "Recognize when it's all been said," to speak for itself. In other areas, Levine provides snappy ways to deal with toxic coworkers, find more balance in work and home and confront all the distractions and time wasters of daily life. Though much of Levine's advice amounts to good common sense ("Look at the big picture"), and some to cliché ("Trust your gut"), Levine's breezy, humorous take makes these reminders genuinely memorable.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Praise for Cut to the Chase

"Cut to the Chase will enable readers to get their priorities straight, and help them make better decisions."
Clark Winter, Chief Global Investment Strategist"
-Citigroup Global Wealth Management

“This great book shows you how to work hard and get more done, so you’ll have more time to spend on other things in your life, from family to friends to personal passions and outside interests.  A vital message for everyone today.”
—Helene Fortunoff, former President, Fortunoff Fine Jewelry

“These practical strategies provide a powerful roadmap for focused and effective communication.  It is a book that all of us should read at least once a year.”
-Jon R. Cohen, M.D. Chief Medical Officer, North Shore-LIJ Health System and Former candidate for Lieutenant Governor, New York State

“Invaluable leadership advice on how to become more effective and efficient!”
—Edward D. Miller, former President and CEO, AXA Financial, Inc.

“Clear, concise, with a crucial message for anyone looking to succeed in business.”
—Richard Silverman, Vice Chairman Wealth & Investment Management, Bank of America

“Cut to the Chase offers 100 very useful managerial ideas in compact, punchy form. It’s terrific!”
—Josh Weston, Honorary Chairman of the Board, Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

“If your goal is to be responsive to client needs, get desired results, and lead a more productive life, read this invaluable book.”
—Paul D. McKinnis, Senior Client Partner, Korn Ferry International


Acclaim for Stuart R. Levine's Wall Street Journal Bestseller The Six Fundamentals of Success

“Can help anyone (regardless of their personal goals) navigate a successful career.”
—USA Today

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Crown Business (December 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385516207
• ISBN-13: 978-0385516204
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #567,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very Lightweight Common-Sense Book(let), June 21, 2007

By 

Barry Jones "Sales and Marketing Professional" (Mundelein, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cut to the Chase: and 99 Other Rules to Liberate Yourself and Gain Back the Gift of Time (Hardcover)

If you're just starting out in the business world this is a good little book to keep around.

I've been in the business world since receiving my MBA in 1988. Time management is something I have a pretty good handle on but hadn't thought about for a couple of years. However, last week my brilliant consultant-wife dropped this book on my desk. She rolled her eyes which I interpreted as "you're on your own with this one". . I read it in 90 minutes and there is some good common-sense advice throughout the volume.

If you have a desperate need to make big strides in time management, then this book would have value to you. I personally found it somewhat "new yorkish". We're not quite so ruthless about people intruding on our schedules out here in Chicagoland. The main issue I have is that there is so little "meat". This is the type of stuff people might have written in the 70's (setting aside references to Blackberrys and email, of course).

My advice would be to keep looking for other books on time management/personal management. Amazon has them all.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you hang out with turkeys, you are not flying with eagles, December 27, 2006

By 

Global Biz "savvyexec" (Garden City, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cut to the Chase: and 99 Other Rules to Liberate Yourself and Gain Back the Gift of Time (Hardcover)

Levine's new book underscores the importance of mastering communications with busy, time-deprived top executives in the business world. Practical yet insightful rules like "Close the loop" and "Master the Graceful Exit" go a long way towards a highly successful career and this book should be a "required reading" for any new hires before working for your company.

His last book "Six Fundamentals of Success" was quite an excellent book but "Cut to the Chase" really is two cut above - this truly is a gift for the New Year for friends, associates and family!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book - practical is good, December 27, 2006

By 

CabLovr (Asheville, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cut to the Chase: and 99 Other Rules to Liberate Yourself and Gain Back the Gift of Time (Hardcover)

I love practical business books and this one rates right at the top among those I've read. I am not an academic and I do not have time to read a thousand pages in search of scenarios applicable to me --- I need practical advice that can be applied right away in everyday business and life situations. This one serves up the kind of advice and tips that everyone can put to use right away in daily life. The only regret I see is that someone didn't write this twenty years ago. BTW, my favorites are "I got it" and "you're killing me"; those along could save dozens if not hundreds of hours a year. I'm buying copies for a number of co-workers (so they'll get the message when I say "I got it". Highly recommended.