Tweet

Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got

Written by: Andy Marken

Article Overview: Book Review

Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got

Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got – By Jay Abraham -- Truman Talley Books, St. Martin’s Press, NY – February 2000, 362 pages

Reviewed by – G.A. “Andy” Marken, president, Marken Communications Inc, andy@markencom.com

We’ve never been much of a fan of “get rich quick” books having determined that the only person who gets rich from such books is the author. Fortunately this isn’t a get rich quick book but instead what seems to be an abridged self-help book for managers.

Mr. Abraham doesn’t make the task easy though because his examples and recommendations make the reader spend considerable time in reading and interpreting each chapter. Maybe this was his goal but the style also makes “Getting Everything” an easy book to put down.

Not to take away from Mr. Abraham’s messages but we’ve found Harvey Mackay’s books – “Swim With the Sharks,” “Pushing the Envelope,” Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty,” and “Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt” -- deliver similar messages in a far less exhausting and entertaining fashion.

We aren’t saying that many of the concepts and recommendations Mr. Abraham makes in the book are not valuable to companies and individuals. To the contrary, the methods he recommends and the mind-set he tries to help readers achieve are excellent.

However, his rapid fire presentation of promises and sure-fire winning ways make us feel like we’re listening to a telephone solicitor or boiler room brokerage salesperson.

Mr. Abraham is undoubtedly superb in 1-1, small group or seminar situations. But the Gattling gun barrage of ideas, approaches and recommendations on how to improve yourself and your situation doesn’t come across well on the written page. While he is undoubtedly fervent in his beliefs, statements such as “…I guarantee that when you apply them with diligence and persistence you will enjoy success beyond anything you can imagine” tend to weaken his credibility with the reader.

As you read “Getting Everything” you quickly come to believe that here is a person who deeply believes in and enjoys what he is doing. He writes with the fervence of a Southern Baptist minister who honestly believes he can help any man or woman achieve his or her maximum. All he wants people to do is focus on getting down to basics and understand not only themselves but also the people they interact and work with.

People like myself who simply pass by the get rich quick-and-easy at the book store, we advise you to ignore the book’s subtitle “21 ways you can out-think, out-perform and out-earn the competition.” Granted there a lot of good techniques and strategies that companies and individuals can use to gain a competitive edge. But there are a number of very excellent underlying messages that are even more valuable. Mr. Abraham wraps a very strong dose of advice and counsel on how people can become more satisfied with themselves in a blanket of moneymaking guidance.

While Mr. Abraham promotes the book as 21 ways to improve your business, he hits you with shovels full of thoughts and ideas that you can apply without a huge financial investment. Public relations professionals can reshape many of the recommendations to help them become more successful in the field. In addition, it will help them become more effective management counselors by looking at clients’ businesses and situations in refreshing new ways.
.
Our recommendation is to pick up Mr. Abraham’s book for the selfish money-making ideas but read it with the understanding that you’ll come away with a better idea of what’s important…to you.

Related Articles
  New Years Resolution for 2009: Start Earning Money at Home
  Work at Home Mom - The Secret to Success
  Five Quick Steps to Overcome Your Fear and Begin to Achieve Business Success

Article Tags:



Related Forum Posts


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

LISTENING SKILLS IN COACHING

E Mail Marketing Campaigns

What should your free giveaway be?

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.