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It's Called Work for a Reason!: Your Success Is Your Own Damn Fault [Hardcover]

Larry Winget (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With a writing style best described as full-throttle rant, the host of the A&E reality show Big Spender reveals the naked truth about careers, the employer/employee relationship, management skills, productivity and pay. Declaring at the outset that "there will be parts of this book you won't like," while daring readers to continue, Winget (Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life) sets a high threshold for delivering a likable, useful book that will educate and promote behavioral changes. Yet he delivers. His brutal frankness about what's wrong with how businesses—big and small—operate offers a refreshing contrast to other career counseling and management books—even the gray area of ethics is delivered in black and white. In a section titled "What Happened to You?" he reminds readers of what it means to accept a job: "No work—no pay. No work—no job." Companies, as he repeatedly stresses, exist to make a profit, not to make their employees happy or feel fulfilled. Winget's advice is solid: delivering results is the most fulfilling career move one can make. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Larry Winget simultaneously takes on everyone from smart-ass employees and motivational speakers to bad service, bad salespeople and bad bosses. It's not a fair fight. Winget has an unfair advantage - he tells the truth and doesn't give a damn if you like it or not. But like it or hate it, Larry will challenge you to be as amazing as you know you are. -- Joe Calloway, author of Work Like You're Showing Off!

Thin skinned? No sense of humor? Don't read this book! I warned you. On the other hand, if you want to read a book that cuts through the normal fluff and challenges you personally, then pay attention: Larry Winget will irritate you to be a better employee and a better person. -- Mark Sanborn, CSP, CPAE President , Sanborn & Associates, Inc., author of The Fred Factor
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Gotham; 1 edition (December 28, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1592402267
  • ISBN-13: 978-1592402267
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #215,996 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
    #70 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Industrial Psychology

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More About the Author

Larry Winget
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

It's Called Work for a Reason!: Your Success Is Your Own Damn Fault
73% buy the item featured on this page:
It's Called Work for a Reason!: Your Success Is Your Own Damn Fault by Larry Winget Hardcover 4.5 out of 5 stars (79)
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The Idiot Factor: The 10 Ways We Sabotage Our Life, Money, and Business by Larry Winget Paperback 4.4 out of 5 stars (53)
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Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life by Larry Winget Paperback 4.1 out of 5 stars (108)
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Customer Reviews

79 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (79 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars If you can't handle the truth, don't bother buying it., January 17, 2007
This review is from: It's Called Work for a Reason!: Your Success Is Your Own Damn Fault (Hardcover)
I debated for a long time whether to give this book 2 stars or 5. Normally, it wouldn't be an issue -- I mean, you either like a book or you don't. The problem with this book was that I loved certain parts of it, and other parts I questioned. However, in the end I decided to give it 5 stars for one simple reason.... the author tells the truth, and sometimes the truth isn't what you want to hear.

To be fair, in the very beginning the author will tell you that you will like certain parts of this book and hate other parts. But believe me when I tell you this -- the parts you like, you will love with a passion. Honestly, I have never read a business book as good as this one. It was an impulse buy at the airport while waiting for a flight and believe me, it was the best buy I ever made.

The author does a terrific job of basically telling it like it is -- work is WORK. It is not play time, it is not social hour and it is not time for doing your personal errands. He points out why our workplaces are overloaded with people who do nothing but pull the entire performance of the company down. People who should be fired, but management doesn't have the guts to do it. He also does a 180 and goes on to say that there are also companies out there who treat their employees like they are nothing -- that they think low pay and dissrespect is a wonderful way to keep those employees in their chairs and thankful to have a job.

That's part of the love/hate relationship with this book. He examines both sides of the business coin. Both the employee and the company. And when he does it he doesn't hold back any punches!

One part I particularly enjoyed was his whole take on this "team" nonsense. I'm sure you've read plenty of books about the precious team and how we all must "get along" and "work together". Well he flat out says that teamwork doesn't do anything but let the slackers hide amongst the group while bringing down productivity. Individuals wants recognition when they do something -- and a true superstar does not want to share that with anyone. They did it, they deserve the credit, not the other bunch of people who did nothing but call useless meetings to discuss the same items over and over again.

The same goes with another example he gives of superstars. Who cares if they come in at 9AM and leave at 10AM? If they are doing 4x the work of everyone else then they have EARNED it! As an employer learn that superstars work by their own rules and tell the complainers who have a problem with it that when they start doing 4x the work of everyone else then they can talk -- but until then sit down, shut up and get to WORK!
If you are an employee... READ THIS BOOK!

If you are an employer... READ THIS BOOK!

If you are a CEO... READ THIS BOOK!

Read it, undertand what he is saying and then ACT! For the sake of the employees left who still are trying to be productive and get things done... ACT!
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Excellent For Some; Not Very Good For Others, November 11, 2008
This review is from: It's Called Work for a Reason!: Your Success Is Your Own Damn Fault (Paperback)
I also couldn't decide for a long-time whether a 5 star or 2 star rating was appropriate. Larry's blunt drill instructor caustic style really could be very USEFUL for those who've either forgotten, deliberately ignore or never learned the obvious truths Larry delivers. It would be too easy - although largely true - to say that Larry repeats himself, rarely uses one sentence when three will do, contradicts himself and frankly is a shameless self-promoter.

BUT if you're tired, depressed, discontented at work, his "snap out of it" truisms could get you moving positively: either doing your job better, enjoying it more or finding a better place of employment. And frankly, there are more than a few people out there who've never incorporated Larry's simple truths.

However, if you're relatively well-content in your job, doing it well, but looking for some solid non-intuitive tips to getting ahead, then this isn't your book. You'll see behind the "stop whining" bluster that other reviewers have already pointed out.

Larry's the king of the obvious, prince of the basics; but sometimes the basics are needed. If Larry had written a dating handbook, he'd tell you to shower more, wear clean clothes, stand up straight, etc. and talk to the girl. If he'd written a personal finance book, he'd tell you to spend less than you earn and have savings. If Larry were coaching baseball, he'd explain the rules and tell you to keep you eye on the ball.

Well, ok, Larry, but some of us need more help when stepping up to bat. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy or benefit from Wingate's opinions - it's far better to have tough love than to keep complaining alone or with others - but there's a lot more in earth and heaven than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
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21 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars lacking substance, June 18, 2007
This review is from: It's Called Work for a Reason!: Your Success Is Your Own Damn Fault (Hardcover)
Pretty much common sense basic material. It is the 5 minute speech given by your father on your first day of college or the basketball coach before the big game. Sadly the content could fit in a well written 3 page magazine article, it definately does not need to be a book. I thought "Stop Whining" was interesting, but Winget's latest book is just a rehash and a needlessly winded one at that.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Called Work For A Reason Your Success Is Your Own Damn Fault!
Most common sense approach to business I have ever read...but then again "common" sense is no longer "common"...it's UNcommon! Read more
Published 1 day ago by fastmike

2.0 out of 5 stars Elevation of the banal
Larry Winget has a pretty good thing going. He makes a lot of money traveling the country and yelling at large groups of strangers to live their lives by what most of us would... Read more
Published 17 days ago by J. P Snedeker

5.0 out of 5 stars A Nice Swift Kick in the A$$
Something everyone needs from time to time, including myself.

Thanks Larry!
Published 4 months ago by Ayla87

4.0 out of 5 stars Simple old -fashion advice
Larry once again comes through with simple, straight forward advice. Do your job that is what they pay you for. Read more
Published 5 months ago by M. Melvin

2.0 out of 5 stars Advice Aimed at the Lowest Common Denominator
Larry Winget provides a no-nonsense approach to success in business and in the workforce. His overview of productive principles includes at look a commonly accepted concepts that... Read more
Published 5 months ago by TW

5.0 out of 5 stars No padding, no team-building exercises, thank you!
A book to read through, re-read, and then read again but this time really listen. A complete re-thinking of what it means to work, whether you are the employer, employee or... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Kimberly Benjamin

5.0 out of 5 stars Sometimes the Truth hurts - Take control of your life
This is a great book for anyone who wants to become better at whatever they do. In it, Larry teaches simple lessons that almost anyone can apply to themselves and their lives. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Victor Hugo

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Read for Anyone Who Works for a Company or Owns One
I have read a lot of self-help books and most of them are nothing like this book.. it was very refreshing to get a difference perspective of the author writing to the reader like... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Rachelle

5.0 out of 5 stars Larry tells it "like it is"!
any leader, manager or worker in BUSINESS should listen to Larry at least once, and this book is great.
Published 9 months ago by Craig Girolami

5.0 out of 5 stars It is the reality of work life in a few pages.
I never liked motivational speakers and/or their writings. I had to read this book since my boss made me to. I hated the idea until I read the first page of the book. Read more
Published 10 months ago by S. F. Predescu

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