Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Phaidon Press (2003), Edition: 1st, 128 pages
Description
"It's Not How Good You Are... is a concise guide to making the most of yourself -- a pocket 'bible' for the talented and timid to make the unthinkable thinkable and the impossible possible. After decades at the top of one of the world's most competitive industries, Paul Arden offers insights into such diverse subjects as the value of being fired and why it's often better to be wrong than to be right. He gives original and logical answers to everyday questions. Much of it appears obvious when you read it, but aren't all questions easy when you know the answers? Whether you are a school-leaver, self-employed or a managing director, this book is invaluable for everyone who aspires to succeed. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Steve55
This is a little book, you can read it in an hour and maybe I should describe it as a cheeky little book. In the inside front cover it sets out to compare itself to Sun Tzu’s Art of War and Machiavellis The Prince as a metaphore for business. In my view it is not worthy of the comparison.
But I
So it’s a small book, easily read and cheeky. What else. Well it’s cheap (£4-95 in the UK) and does have one or two useful ideas. Often the lasting effect of a visit to a conference may be one or two new ideas, so at the price it’s a bargain. The book contains lessons, or thoughts from the experience of a marketing man. The final few pages began to feel specific to this target audience, but for the most part the thoughts are widely applicable. It’s nicely produced and has plenty of pictures again projecting the message ‘be what you want to become’.
As an example of what you’ll read, I liked the thoughts about right being wrong being right. In a changing world if you think you know the right answer, then it’s highly likely to be wrong as the world will have changed since it was right. By the same token being wrong opens up the opportunity of trying new things and maybe becoming right.
It won’t make a dent in your wallet or diary and perhaps contains nothing profound, but it illustrates how a simple message can be communicated in a straightforward and concise manner with style so that how you say reinforces what you say.
But I
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still like the book because with the book the writer is living the key message of the book. To be big, good, great, you have to think yourself big, good, great, and that’s what the book does. It proudly claims to be ‘The world’s best-selling book by Paul Arden. For all I know this might be because it’s the only book by Paul Arden. But that doesn’t matter, it isn’t being deceitful, it’s the very point of the book. It presents itself as a best seller as part of becoming a best seller. I bought the book at the airport en route to a conference and I suspect that this bold claim tipped the balance in favour of selecting the book over others, so it works. So it’s a small book, easily read and cheeky. What else. Well it’s cheap (£4-95 in the UK) and does have one or two useful ideas. Often the lasting effect of a visit to a conference may be one or two new ideas, so at the price it’s a bargain. The book contains lessons, or thoughts from the experience of a marketing man. The final few pages began to feel specific to this target audience, but for the most part the thoughts are widely applicable. It’s nicely produced and has plenty of pictures again projecting the message ‘be what you want to become’.
As an example of what you’ll read, I liked the thoughts about right being wrong being right. In a changing world if you think you know the right answer, then it’s highly likely to be wrong as the world will have changed since it was right. By the same token being wrong opens up the opportunity of trying new things and maybe becoming right.
It won’t make a dent in your wallet or diary and perhaps contains nothing profound, but it illustrates how a simple message can be communicated in a straightforward and concise manner with style so that how you say reinforces what you say.
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LibraryThing member Smiler69
This is supposed to be a book for everyone, regardless of profession or background, but there’s a big focus on advertising and how to surpass demands in that field. I suppose if you’re just starting out on the job market, there’s plenty of good advice. Paul Arden is considered to be an
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advertising guru, so if you’re thinking of working in that field, you should make that little book your bible. Arden compares it to no less than Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether the comparison is justified or not, but will say that having worked in that field for many years, I know from experience that advertisers are prone to exaggerating... just a tad. Show Less
LibraryThing member yadt
I really liked these points:
1) Seek out criticism by asking what is wrong and how can it be better? This is a paradigm shift for me since I usually seek out positive feedback and it can be hard for me to handle unwanted criticism, but now I like to ask for negative feedback in the hope that I can
2) Share your ideas openly, do not hoard them. This is another paradigm shift for me since I thought maybe we should keep our great ideas quiet or someone else might steal them, however, now I understand that it is a good practice to openly share ideas since the author mentions that ideas are available to everyone we just need to tap into them and when we do, share them openly.
1) Seek out criticism by asking what is wrong and how can it be better? This is a paradigm shift for me since I usually seek out positive feedback and it can be hard for me to handle unwanted criticism, but now I like to ask for negative feedback in the hope that I can
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improve in the future!2) Share your ideas openly, do not hoard them. This is another paradigm shift for me since I thought maybe we should keep our great ideas quiet or someone else might steal them, however, now I understand that it is a good practice to openly share ideas since the author mentions that ideas are available to everyone we just need to tap into them and when we do, share them openly.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2003
Physical description
128 p.; 7 inches
ISBN
0714843377 / 9780714843377