7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Azriela winner, July 26, 2002
This review is from: Starting from No: Ten Strategies to Overcome Your Fear of Rejection and Succeed in Business (Paperback)
There is much I like about Azriela Jaffe's writing, but what I admire most is her up-front honesty. She uses examples from her own life & from her family to 'tell it like it is'.
There's no writing as though she's a guru on high dispensing wisdom that's nothing more than theory.
When you read anything from Azriela, be it her books, web site, or newsletters, you get a very clear picture of the woman behind the words.
"Starting from 'No'" is a workbook filled with self-tests, charts, checklists, worksheets, quizzes, tips, & strategies. Everything is backed-up with examples, stories, and real life experiences. The suggestions for working though problems are down-to-earth and do-able. No 'pie in the sky' for Azriela.
And the examples come from small business people, sales people, home-business owners, writers, consultants, coaches, and more. These are real people, like you & me, who have come up against the same fears, problems, & rejections & lived to tell about it.
Chapters cover:
=> fear of rejection & why rejection is just the word we use for fears of all kinds -- failure, success, humiliation, approval (or lack thereof), and more
=> how to make yourself rejection proof. What concrete things can you do to overcome the fear that cripples you?
=> what are your limits? Can you stretch them? Are you taking on more than you can handle & setting yourself up for failure?
=> the power of your mind. The only thing you have to fear is fear itself -- now who said that!?
=> resiliency & flexibility -- do you know when to hold fast & when to give in? Do you see yourself as a victim? Do you see negative situations as everyday occurrences, use them, & move on?
=> maintaining detachment -- take a step back & assess situations.
=> asking for referrals, building rapport, keeping yourself motivated, & knowing when to take a break.
=> staying in the game -- do you know the difference between temporary setbacks & when to throw in the towel?
Shall I go on with more examples? Nah. Just know there's much more.
I found so much useful information in this book. One section that caught my attention while thumbing through the book is what Azriela calls "The Jaffe 3-5 Rule".
Many of us were taught the '3-Foot Rule'. It means that anyone within 3 feet of you is a possible prospect.
Talk about pressure! I never could figure out how to bring up products while standing in line at the post office.
Azriela rejects this notion, too. Her '3-5 Foot Rule' has no pressure attached & reads like this:
"To prosper in your business, focus your efforts on no more than three to five major target markets, using no more than three to five primary marketing tools, and making the most of your three to five greatest business skills. Be sure you spend your time in three to five major business responsibilities, and if possible delegate the rest." (p. 144)
You're not left in the dust after this statement. Azriela walks you through a step-by-step way to implement the idea so it'll work in your specific business & situation.
Then she shows you how to draw up a chart so you can see what needs to be done & then prioritize your tasks.
I'm not categorizing this book. It's not self-help, though it has those aspects. It's not strictly a management book, either.
Let's call it a success book. It will prepare you for the pitfalls of running your business, show you how to avoid them, and, if you do get caught, how to get out of them.
I highly recommend this book. You won't be disappointed...
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