Rating: 
Summary: Swim with the Sharks or stay out of the water
Review: One of the top five business books I've ever read. Easy reading, but filled with some of the most practical common sense advice you will ever read, hear, or learn. I highly recommend it for anyone in business. This book is all about people skills, which probably influences success in the organization more than any single factor. My copy was a gift from Harvey Mackay and I treasure it dearly.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for all professions
Review: Regardless of your profession, you can learn from this "sales" book. The lessons in this book can teach you how to manage everything from your work to your relationships with direction and purpose. A must read.
Rating: 
Summary: *****
Review: Some good nuggets in here. But if he were a great businessman, he wouldn't have gone into a commodity business like envelopes. He himself says, "the margins are razor thin." And because it's such a commodity business, he needs to really overwhelm his customers, which includes his keeping extensive files on them, including information such as whether a customer is a member of alcoholics anonymous. A supplier keeping personal info about me like that in a file would make me want to cut him off as a supplier.
Rating:
Summary: *****
Review: Some good nuggets in here. But if he were a great businessman, he wouldn't have gone into a commodity business like envelopes. He himself says, "the margins are razor thin." And because it's such a commodity business, he needs to really overwhelm his customers, which includes his keeping extensive files on them, including information such as whether a customer is a member of alcoholics anonymous. A supplier keeping personal info about me like that in a file would make me want to cut him off as a supplier.
Rating:
Summary: Harvey's Take On Things
Review: Some worthy information about particular business issues are raised and noted, and for the most part this is an off-the-cuff soliloquy talk about how Harvey views business, and the world. There is nothing more amusing than some wealthy person in business who thinks they have the answers and the remedies for the rest of us. Written in the late 1980s, some of the attitudes presented towards hiring potential employees will become evident. All in all, this is an easy and quick-read. I read "Swim With The Sharks" front-to-back, however each chapter concerns a different topic, so one does not have to read this book straight through from page 1 to the end. One thing I found a bit quirky were the consistent references to allegedly "successful" collegiate and professional sports coaches. I don't feel it's an appropriate analogy to commonly equate coaches with the situations outside of the sports world. The sports culture is often not applicable to making a business deal, dealing with corporate culture, and/or avoiding mistakes with people socially. The sports in itself is a microcosm of society, but a separate world within its own. Time and time again I would chuckle to myself as I would read a quote made by Vince Lambardi, some NBA coach, or read a personal anecdote from the now disgraced coach Lou Holtz. Having to read Yogi Berra's lobotomy-like quotes and philosophy was quite dull, and not very informative. Some helpful and practical information is the "66 question customer profile," as well as the "12P Competitor profile." I liked his noting (book written 1988) of how people who usually don't have money go out and buy a brand new "prestigious" car that depreciates. Mackay also reminds us (or me atleast) of the importance of writing small yet important things down on paper and/or notepads. One of his tips on how to save time is to drive near the front of a grocery store you plan on shopping in. Then look for how many people are in line. If its too crowded don't go in. Thanks Harvey. You've changed my life with your insights. He also tried to break an attempt by his employees to form a union, which he lost. He openly stated how he conned very employee into thinking they were "special" and "important" with his one-to-one meetings with them. It didn't work. They didn't buy it. He does understand (see "Dig You Well Before Your Thirsty") the art of the schmooze in talking with celebrities such as O.J. and world figures such as Castro about things that they do, and interest them in their free time and NOT about what they do for work. All in all, useful things can be gleaned from "Swim With The Sharks," and it's a very quick read.
Rating:
Summary: Harvey's Take On Things
Review: Some worthy information about particular business issues are raised and noted, and for the most part this is an off-the-cuff soliloquy talk about how Harvey views business, and the world. There is nothing more amusing than some wealthy person in business who thinks they have the answers and the remedies for the rest of us. Written in the late 1980s, some of the attitudes presented towards hiring potential employees will become evident. All in all, this is an easy and quick-read. I read "Swim With The Sharks" front-to-back, however each chapter concerns a different topic, so one does not have to read this book straight through from page 1 to the end. One thing I found a bit quirky were the consistent references to allegedly "successful" collegiate and professional sports coaches. I don't feel it's an appropriate analogy to commonly equate coaches with the situations outside of the sports world. The sports culture is often not applicable to making a business deal, dealing with corporate culture, and/or avoiding mistakes with people socially. The sports in itself is a microcosm of society, but a separate world within its own. Time and time again I would chuckle to myself as I would read a quote made by Vince Lambardi, some NBA coach, or read a personal anecdote from the now disgraced coach Lou Holtz. Having to read Yogi Berra's lobotomy-like quotes and philosophy was quite dull, and not very informative. Some helpful and practical information is the "66 question customer profile," as well as the "12P Competitor profile." I liked his noting (book written 1988) of how people who usually don't have money go out and buy a brand new "prestigious" car that depreciates. Mackay also reminds us (or me atleast) of the importance of writing small yet important things down on paper and/or notepads. One of his tips on how to save time is to drive near the front of a grocery store you plan on shopping in. Then look for how many people are in line. If its too crowded don't go in. Thanks Harvey. You've changed my life with your insights. He also tried to break an attempt by his employees to form a union, which he lost. He openly stated how he conned very employee into thinking they were "special" and "important" with his one-to-one meetings with them. It didn't work. They didn't buy it. He does understand (see "Dig You Well Before Your Thirsty") the art of the schmooze in talking with celebrities such as O.J. and world figures such as Castro about things that they do, and interest them in their free time and NOT about what they do for work. All in all, useful things can be gleaned from "Swim With The Sharks," and it's a very quick read.
Rating:
Summary: Funny and Useful
Review: Starting from the assumption that these books cannot really change nobody's real life, I must say that this is a great book, simple and enjoyable, full of small but useful "tips and tricks".
Rating:
Summary: Unputdownable
Review: This book can be read in like 4 hours. I completely enjoyed it. The book is all about sane advice coming from somone who has seen a lot and observed things very carefully. A very well written book. Worth the time and money.
Rating:
Summary: Superb Advice for Small Business Owners
Review: This book has a permanent place in my library, and has held it for the past 10 years. These concise pieces of advice are pearls of wisdom. I refer back to the book whenever I am in a slump, and find something new. I have been recommending it in my seminars for the past 5 years, and every comment I have received has been great.
Rating:
Summary: A Book You'll Want in Your 'Frequently Referenced' Section
Review: This book is a must for any sales or business person's library. I found McCay's common sense and practical viewpoint very refreshing. I keep this book in my own library of books to refer to often or re-read periodically. When I read this book it really gave me the viewpoint of how to pursue any goal and make it a reality in the business world. McCay's story about buying 15,000 tickets to a Twins game really sets the pace and the lessons he describes throughout the book is what makes it a priceless text. This book is a must read.
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