There's a Customer Born Every Minute: P.T. Barnum's Secrets to Business Success (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Phineas T. Barnum had a real knack for grasping exactly what the public wanted, giving it to them, and making a fortune in the process. But author and marketer Joe Vitale says the renowned showman actually flourished because he "respected people and gave them more than their money's worth." In the entertaining and informative There's a Customer Born Every Minute: P.T. Barnum's Secrets to Business Success, Vitale identifies 10 key business practices that were developed during Barnum's noteworthy lifetime of commercial triumph, and he suggests ways they might be adapted for effective use today. --Howard Rothman

Review

Though he's been almost universally credited with having said, "There's a sucker born every minute," it is one of the many revelations in There's a Customer Born Every Minute: P.T. Barnum's Secrets to Business Success that Barnum, in fact, never wrote or spoke the line. Barnum (1810-1891), the infamous showman who in his day became extraordinarily rich and powerful by introducing some of the first superstars to the world, actually built his empire by believing there was a customer born every minute. That philosophy was one of his 10 "rings of power"-tenets he had for creating a business empire, and ones which author Joe Vitale believes are still some of the most ground breaking and time-tested concepts for marketing and sales. Vitale should know. He is an independent marketing specialist, the author of seven books on business success, and travels the world, giving talks on Project Phineas, the world's first sales and marketing training based on P.T. Barnum's business secrets. He's an unabashed admirer of Barnum, which makes his enthusiasm for his subject rather contagious, and has done exhaustive research on Barnum's life and business techniques. The result is a combination of an entertaining biography and a pragmatic approach to entrepreneurism. Vitale's analysis of Barnum's business, say, makes the quantum leap to the current day, such as equating Barnum's love of technology with tips for effective use of e-mail in one's business. If such a jump might seem far-reaching at first, Vitale confidently strides through with the reader, and by doing so, illustrates one of Barnum's tenets: helping other people get results. Barnum, Vitale shares, loved "skyrockets," giving people more than their money's worth, and the power of the written word. It seems quite clear that he'd have been proud of Vitale's treatment of him and his visionary marketing ideas. -- From Independent Publisher

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM (January 30, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814479537
• ISBN-13: 978-0814479537
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,149,346 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This way to the Egress...., December 3, 2007

By	Nathan B. Johnson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"There's a customer born every minute" is a fascinating look into the life and business practices of Americas Greatest Showman, P.T. Barnum. The creativity he showed is a recipe for success and happiness every person should strive to attain. Some ideas he had were going bigger than anyone else, creating a buzz, and utilizing the media for publicity. I learned many intrersting things through Mr. Vitales research into this fascinating man. This book was put together nicely, easy to follow, and packed with great information on some many aspects of life and business through the eyes of Barnum. Well Done!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every marketer should read, August 20, 2001

By	Robert DeRobertis "RobDeRob" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought copies of this book for myself and my entire business team.

Hey Joe, print some more I have more customers for you!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Only Marketing and Promotion Guide You'll Ever Need!, August 24, 1998

By	[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

A Message to All Serious Promoters:

Joe not only will teach you P.T. Barnum's business tactics. He gives you a ten-step formula based on those tactics that you can use to promote any business.

I'm using these skills to promote several different business ventures as well as promoting for Nightingale-Conant Corporation. This 10-step process works!

This book is must reading for anybody who is seriously trying to promote any business.

Spend the 15 bucks and get this book as soon as possible!!!!!!

Peter Wink - Marketing Manager - Nightingale-Conant Corporation