Pushing the Envelope All the Way to the Top (Paperback)

~ Harvey MacKay (Author) "I get all my best lines from the movies, which is where I learned to quote Michael Corleone, supposedly quoting Machiavelli, saying "Hold your friends..." (more)
Key Phrases: envelope business, good salespeople, Mackay Envelope Corporation, Bill Gates, Traveling Man (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Inspirational business speaker, popular newspaper columnist, and bestselling author Harvey Mackay has been "moonlighting" for 40 years as president of Mackay Envelope Corporation, an $85 million company that produces more than 17 million envelopes a day. With the help of imagery derived from this industry, he's now dispensing a new batch of lessons on life and business in Pushing the Envelope: All the Way to the Top. Its five sections--cleverly titled "How to Be A #10," "Licking the Competition," "How I Pushed the Envelope," "The Flap on Management," and "Going First Class"--offer practical advice on such topics as hiring, motivating, training, producing, and negotiating. Each short and highly focused chapter deals with one specific idea and concludes with a pithy aphorism dubbed Mackay's Moral, such as "There's much more to winning than finishing first" and "In negotiations, as in poker, a superior hand can be beaten by superior knowledge of your opponents." Interweaving experiences from a diverse lot including Sylvester Stallone, Ulysses S. Grant, Will Rogers, and Star Wars' Yoda with anecdotes drawn from his own career, Mackay presents a litany of solid suggestions that will prove as useful as they are fun to read. --Howard Rothman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Mackay (Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive) is back, and his motivational material will be familiar and comforting to his fans. Mackay has never claimed to be an intellectual. Using the same approach he has in the past, the author, who is chairman and chief executive of a $75-million envelope company when he's not on the lecture circuit, tells true short stories (usually in approximately four pages with big type and margins), each of which makes a point about the business of life and is capped with a lesson dubbed "Mackay's Moral" ("Be like a postage stamp. Stick to it, until you get there"; "Even the Lone Ranger didn't go it alone"). To his credit, Mackay admits when he is revisiting familiar territory or expanding tales he has told before. This time, he concentrates more heavily on stories intended to inspire?there are countless vignettes of people who worked hard to overcome long odds?and provides more of his thoughts on what it takes to be a leader. As always, his homilies are entertaining, even if they rarely provide any groundbreaking bits of wisdom. Author tour.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1st edition (May 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0449006697
• ISBN-13: 978-0449006696
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #317,381 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mackay's best book yet, January 20, 2000

By	Peter Hupalo (MN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Pushing the Envelope: All the Way to the Top (Hardcover)

"Pushing The Envelope" is probably Harvey Mackay's best book since he wrote "Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive." And, maybe "Pushing The Envelope" is better. Mackay shares his wisdom about how to build a business from the standpoint of a professional envelope maker, one of the world's best salesmen, and probably the leading business self-help writer.

Mackay knows his envelopes and much else. He talks about setting resolutions, but realizes most people never keep them. He points out that to succeed you must work hard and stick to your goals until you reach them, like an postage stamp sticks to an envelope. "Initiative is important. Finishative is vital," Mackay writes.

Mackay tells you not to take yourself too seriously, and that it is probably good to let the other fellow think he is smarter than you. But "Pushing The Envelope" is far more than a collection of positive thinking aphorisms (yes, there are a lot of those also). Mackay discusses his views about managing people and selling, both of which are crucial to most company's success. And, both areas where Harvey Mackay is a world class expert.

Mackay teaches you how to cultivate your sales force. He gives insight on making intelligent hires, and points out that recognizing talent is the most valuable talent of an entrepreneur. Mackay shares his views on getting rid of employees and points out that it is the people who you should fire, but who you don't, that cause you problems. Not that Harvey fires many people himself. Many of his happy envelope makers have worked for him for several decades or longer.

And, as Mackay points out, making envelopes isn't a business you would consider naturally fun or sexy. And, some of Mackay's people who left to work for the competition were rehired when they learned that the generous offers made to them by Harvey's competitors were deceptions. More money, better tasting glue on the flaps, and who knows whatever else was offered.

Harvey understands the importance of forgiveness and helping other people reach their personal and life goals. Without an aphorism, Harvey cares about people and about his employees. He understands the importance of people. And, that computers can't replace them.

This is not to say that old Harvey is as flat as one of his envelopes due to being walked over by chums. As Mackay says, "every dog can get in one bite." After that and I'd bet the pouch is in trouble.

"Pushing The Envelope" also briefly discusses why people pay more for some products. Value-added. He really shows you how to successfully charge more for your product by focusing on service. Mackay says this is what smaller companies who can't swing lower per unit costs can offer.

"Pushing The Envelope All The Way To The Top" should be read by all business people, even those who cringe at the thought of reading one more Harvey Mackay aphorism! By Chapter 82 (yes, Chapter 82, he writes bite-sized chapters) Harvey runs out of business wisdom and goes off on a tangent telling you about how to properly tip waiters and waitresses and the tennis pro at your vacation resort. Ah, Thanks, Harvey.

Just when you are questioning if the book will end without a bang, Mackay falls back to his natural ability in closing a deal to write a chapter about how we all appreciate a good and true compliment. But, I'll save the ending for your own reading. I'll leave you with my favorite Mackay aphorism, "While on the ladder of success, don't step back to admire your work." Peter Hupalo, author of "Thinking Like An Entrepreneur"

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mackays best book to date, September 6, 2002

By A Customer

I have been a fan of Harvey Mackay since reading Swim with the Sharks. Pushing the Envelope is even better.If you are in business or want to be, read this book and learn from a master..

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating, insightful, and clever, May 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Pushing the Envelope: All the Way to the Top (Hardcover)

Pushing the Enveople: All the Way to the Top by Harvey McKay was captivating, insightful and clever.

Inspiring, well spoken, easy to follow and entertaining is the most adequate way to describe Harvey McKay's newest book: Pushing the Envelope: All the Way to the Top. Written not only for the business minded, but appealing to just about anyone who happens to come upon it. Sound practical points and advice, Harvey states it simply through a series of humorous and witty analogies throughout the book.

Harvey Mackay is a Minneapolis businessman who successfully built a $75 million dollar company over the past 40 years-Mackay Envelope Corporation. He is also the author of four bestsellers: Swim with the Sharks without Being Eaten Alive; Beware of the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt; Sharkproof; and Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty. Well read, Harvey's work can also be seen in the local newspaper with his own column.

Clever, intelligent, and motivating, Harvey sets the reader at ease instantly during the first chapter. This is done with stories from his own experiences that he shares throughout the book. He leaves you with an understanding of his vision, his character, and his captivating charm.

Quoting movies is where Harvey claims to get the best of his one liners, such as "Hold your friends close and your enemies closer" using the theory that you need to know your customers, but even more so, you need to know your competition. Throughout the book, Harvey sums up the chapter using what he refers to as Mackay's Moral. Amusing synopsis of the point of the story, for example- Mackay's Moral: The reason you always dance with the one who brought you, is `cause when the party's over, you may need a ride home. Another example- Mackay's Moral: Start your New Year today. Remember that anyone can make a resolution. Very few people can keep one.

I actually didn't read this book, I listened to it on audio...over and over and over again-3 times to be exact. It was entertaining, and difficult to put down...or should I say, "turn off".