Rating: 
Summary: Packed With Knowledge!
Review: and examples about the skills necessary to realize their ambitions in various business cultures. Author David F. D'Alessandro is a marketing guru, and a skilled phrase maker and spin doctor. To his own surprise, he was offered a chair at the management table where the bottom line decisions get made on his way to becoming CEO of John Hancock Financial Services. In the framework of rules for personal branding and in the interest helping you play office politics successfully, D'Alessandro spins dozens of yarns that bring context and reality to a subject that is often speculated about by authors who have never really achieved the success their books describe. His advice is ruthlessly honest, pointed, witty, precise and ripe with polished anecdotes. For this reason we recommend this book to business persons anywhere on the corporate ladder who suspect their battle plan may be ready for a few new moves.
Rating: 
Summary: Too general - nothing special
Review: and examples about the skills necessary to realize their ambitions in various business cultures. Author David F. D?Alessandro is a marketing guru, and a skilled phrase maker and spin doctor. To his own surprise, he was offered a chair at the management table where the bottom line decisions get made on his way to becoming CEO of John Hancock Financial Services. In the framework of rules for personal branding and in the interest helping you play office politics successfully, D?Alessandro spins dozens of yarns that bring context and reality to a subject that is often speculated about by authors who have never really achieved the success their books describe. His advice is ruthlessly honest, pointed, witty, precise and ripe with polished anecdotes. For this reason we recommend this book to business persons anywhere on the corporate ladder who suspect their battle plan may be ready for a few new moves.
Rating: 
Summary: A must-read for driven individuals new to the workplace
Review: D'Alessandro is a fantastic guide for everyone navigating their way through the complicated business world. Perhaps his rules are somewhat obvious; but nevertheless, important ones from which anyone (young and old) can learn. I found D'Alessandro's stories humorous and thought-provoking, and finished the book feeling energized about my future in business.
Rating:
Summary: Packed with Knowledge!
Review: Every business person needs a cranky mentor who speaks from vast experience and offers lessons and examples about the skills necessary to realize their ambitions in various business cultures. Author David F. D'Alessandro is a marketing guru, and a skilled phrase maker and spin doctor. To his own surprise, he was offered a chair at the management table where the bottom line decisions get made on his way to becoming CEO of John Hancock Financial Services. In the framework of rules for personal branding and in the interest helping you play office politics successfully, D'Alessandro spins dozens of yarns that bring context and reality to a subject that is often speculated about by authors who have never really achieved the success their books describe. His advice is ruthlessly honest, pointed, witty, precise and ripe with polished anecdotes. For this reason We recommend this book to business persons anywhere on the corporate ladder who suspect their battle plan may be ready for a few new moves.
Rating:
Summary: Strong career advice with a taste of agenda
Review: I agree with others here that the author provided great advice on how to advance a career in a competitive environment. At times I felt I was reading a Madison Avenue or Wall Street version of "The Prince". He was adamant about not tolerating anyone who you feel is trying to sabotage your career, as he demonstrated in the case where his boss accused him of something personal about his family (which he didn't explain or elaborate on). He terminated the relationship, and refused to even accept an apology. I liked the fact that he recommends taking risks, especially in mid-career when many may begin to stall, but are hesistant to make a bold move because of responsibilites such as a family or a mortgage. I did not like the political agenda revealed by the author. In chapter 9 he lambasts Republican Senator Trent Lott for "blaming a vast, unnamed conspiracy" and holds him up as an example of how blaming your enemies for your faults can lead to your downfall. I was surprised that he didn't mention Senator Hillary Clinton with her more famous claim of a "vast right-wing conspiracy". He also criticizes President George W. Bush for feeling that as chief executive he should not have to explain himself to subordinates and practically excuses President Clinton's notorious Lewinsky scandal as the residual result of Gary Hart's misstep with Donna Rice during the 1988 Presidential Campaign. I was not surprised by this because he mentioned more than once that he was a member of the Michael Dukakis for President campaign staff. A good read for someone beginning a career in a large organization or for a person facing a career transition.
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing new-save $15, and take it out of the library
Review: I am an executive coach specializing in career management. This is the best book I have seen about the informal rules of organizational advancement since Games Mother Never Taught You: Corporate Gamesmanship for Women was published in 1978 (which by the way is still available). It should be required reading for every newly minted MBA, for every business consultant, and everyone else who wants a meaningful leadership career in an organization.
Rating:
Summary: Career Warfare Made Easy...or, at least, clearer
Review: I guess I came across mention of this title in an issue of Fast Company, but I can't be sure. It seems like something they would feature in the magazine, though.
I wasn't that interested in this book initially, but it quickly grew on me. D'Alessandro (in partnership with Michele Owens) speaks from with an assured voice and what is, obviously, real-world experience. Even more, the book is filled with clear and illustrative examples of what can go wrong, and right, as you build your career.
I am happy to see a CEO focus on something of use to everyone instead of the usual accounts of how they crushed the competition and turned themselves and their shareholders into ultra-millionaires. Everyone works. Everyone has a boss and nearly everyone can benefit from this book.
D'Alessandro speaks about the need to "analyze" your boss into one of the 7 archetypes he has developed from his experiences. Are they a "Little League Parent" or a "Mentor"? A "Wastrel"? A "Pariah"? How can you identify the and how do you develop your career with, or in spite, of them. While you certainly want to judge people solely on the management skills, understanding the basic types can help to make you life easier.
The author's experiences and insights dovetail nicely with my own career experiences. I have seen almost all of the boss varieties he describes, both bad and good. It is always a reassuring to hear that you aren't the only person to have struggled with career issues.
Career Warfare is one of those books that should be given to every college student sometime around their junior year. I know I certainly would have been spared a lot of "hard knocks" learning had this book been available back in the early 80's. Reading this book could prepare new careerists for the realities that will face and give them a "leg up" into the working world.
Current managers can also benefit, as well. The book is an excellent way to do a "gut check" and see if you are really the manager you want to be. Idealistically, I would also recommend this book even the most experienced managers so they might recognize any bad habits they might have adopted over the years and seek to correct them, even at this late date.
D'Alessandro gives some excellent advice for "getting along" in troublesome work environments, but shares my assessment that there are times when you should never compromise your ethics. It is always better to find a new job than find yourself under investigation. Being out of work damages your personal brand much less than becoming a convicted felon. Ask Martha Stewart.
Overall, this book was an easy and engaging read. One that reinforced my own experience and beliefs, yet also elicited new thoughts and concepts on what it means to have a career.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Management Advice
Review: I have over 100 books sitting around I've bought in the last few years. Only a few seem to be really great books. This book is up there, depending on your career goals. I would say this is a must for anybody working in a large organization or corporate atmosphere. D'Alessandro provides a lot of foresight into things you might not recognize at the time they are taking place, because he's been there already. If you don't like this book and you're not already an executive, then it's probably because this book doesn't apply to your career. If you don't deal with corporate politics, then this doesn't apply to your career "as much" either. Now, if you want to understand why you might have a file cabinet of good feedback and accomplishments but keep getting passed up for promotions by people with little or no feedback then read this book. Your career is more than how good you do, it's more than making your team or group look good too. Your career improvements come down to snap decisions and judgements in places you may never expect, and this book does a great job of explaining that. Now, what I don't like is the political under tones of the book. I think those should have been left out. There are some obvious personal undertones in the book that I didn't like. I liked the book when it talked about career, but I could do without David's personal democratic agenda. One thing really sticks out with me; In one area of the book he witnessed an elderly lady asking somebody else if they thought she could afford some shoes for her Grandaughter. Instead of feeling compasionate, he says it made him realize that he's used to being around people with an IQ over 140. Give me a break. Although he is a CEO of John Hancock, some of his insecurities are very evident in this writing. Kudos to his career accomplishments, but even a CEO isn't perfect and it shows. Overall, I give this book 4 stars based on the material relating to a career. I would give it 1 more star if this book was worth reading over and over again and was lacking the personal agenda evident toward the end of the book when David puts more emphasis on talking about himself rather than staying on topic.
Rating:
Summary: A must read
Review: I have over 100 books sitting around I've bought in the last few years. Only a few seem to be really great books. This book is up there, depending on your career goals. I would say this is a must for anybody working in a large organization or corporate atmosphere. D'Alessandro provides a lot of foresight into things you might not recognize at the time they are taking place, because he's been there already. If you don't like this book and you're not already an executive, then it's probably because this book doesn't apply to your career. If you don't deal with corporate politics, then this doesn't apply to your career "as much" either. Now, if you want to understand why you might have a file cabinet of good feedback and accomplishments but keep getting passed up for promotions by people with little or no feedback then read this book. Your career is more than how good you do, it's more than making your team or group look good too. Your career improvements come down to snap decisions and judgements in places you may never expect, and this book does a great job of explaining that. Now, what I don't like is the political under tones of the book. I think those should have been left out. There are some obvious personal undertones in the book that I didn't like. I liked the book when it talked about career, but I could do without David's personal democratic agenda. One thing really sticks out with me; In one area of the book he witnessed an elderly lady asking somebody else if they thought she could afford some shoes for her Grandaughter. Instead of feeling compasionate, he says it made him realize that he's used to being around people with an IQ over 140. Give me a break. Although he is a CEO of John Hancock, some of his insecurities are very evident in this writing. Kudos to his career accomplishments, but even a CEO isn't perfect and it shows. Overall, I give this book 4 stars based on the material relating to a career. I would give it 1 more star if this book was worth reading over and over again and was lacking the personal agenda evident toward the end of the book when David puts more emphasis on talking about himself rather than staying on topic.
Rating:
Summary: great read
Review: In this book, we meet the job candidate who washed her face with a
pancake, the account executive who sang opera for a president and
countless characters who are the masters of their own fate in the workplace.
The book is sprinkled with anecdotes and experiences amassed over a
30-year career by John Hancock's CEO David D'Alessandro. This book is
bursting with real-world examples of how to - and how not to - move up the
corporate ladder. I share D'Alessandro's view that every moment is
important as you build your own personal brand of success.
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