Don't Feed The Vultures provides insight into the world of professional money management. The book strives to define the difference between the high risk complex strategies pursued by the big money institutional investors and what investments are appropriate for individual investors who have made some money and would like to make it work for them. It details the important things an investor really needs to know, and it gives examples of how to construct a low cost, diversified portfolio. It also illustrates how managed accounts with fees based on a percentage of assets are a license to steal.

Personal investing is not as difficult as the financial services marketers try to make it sound. The advent of no-load index mutual funds and the newer exchange traded funds provide the diversification an investor needs, and they traditionally generate better returns than actively managed accounts. Best of all, the inherent low expenses allow the investor to keep the money earned by his portfolio rather than turning it over as fees to an investment advisor.

Many people don't want to deal with the stress of investing their own money, and are more than happy to pay an advisor for the service of doing it for them. There are certainly quite a few professionals that do a good job of providing investment advice and managing portfolios. But nearly all of them charge way too much to do it. Don't Feed The Vultures simplifies the financial marketplace into terms the individual investor can understand, and offers suggestions on how to participate in the long term growth of the equity markets without giving up a significant portion of your portfolio's gains to an investment advisor.

This is an engaging book filled with tips that will help you succeed as an independent consultant. If you want to use your skills, know-how, and expertise to free yourself from an employer's control, this book shows you exactly how to do it, and make good money doing it. If you offer, or can offer, a service of any kind to anyone for a fee, Independent Consulting will show you how to make a good living from it.

The book covers all the important aspects of independent consulting. In addition to pointing our areas of independent consulting that you can enter, Independent Consulting shows you how to:

• market your consulting services
• promote and advertise your business
• build up an active client base
• prepare an effective marketing plan
• price (charge for) your services
• write effective proposals
• write meaningful reports
• manage your consulting business
• plan and control consulting assignments
• deal with contracts

Powerful Professionals is written for professionals, human resources professionals - all professionals whose expert services are used by clients or organizations but who do not have direct control. A 'how-to' book full of checklists, assessments, models, examples, worksheets, etc., it is specifically tailored to assist professionals establish more leveraged and influential roles.

Powerful Professionals contains field-tested skills based on over 900 workshops worldwide in English, French, German and Spanish with over 10,000 professionals. The authors know of what they speak. They have experience working with professionals in hundreds of organizations worldwide. They have amassed a database of over 50,000 client feedback surveys on what is valued by the users of professional services - the largest survey database of its kind in the world on what clients/customers view as high performance.

Professional experts are well trained in their technological fields, but generally often woefully untrained and unskilled in delivery of that expertise. This book does not teach technical skills, rather it presents the skills that transcend any brand of expertise - processes for successful delivery of professional expertise. Organizations need these skills to succeed. Professionals need these skills to enhance their own work satisfaction. The skills and models of Powerful Professionals will ensure that professionals get their expertise used and valued by organizations and clients alike.

About the Book

Business Diagnostics has been written to overcome a significant challenge facing today's business owners, specifically the time constraints in acquiring business management skills.

Business owners have limited time or inclination to attend extended business school courses. Likewise, accessing topical information on enhancing corporate performance (magazines or web sites) can be sporadic and time consuming.

The authors have designed Business Diagnostics to address these concerns by developing a valuable reference book that can be easily read over a weekend or a few weekday evenings.

Business Diagnostics will provide practical assistance to the following target audiences:

• The existing business owner or manager who has growth opportunities and needs to 'size up' existing and potential operations.

• The individual planning to buy or invest in another business. That process requires the completion of 'diagnostic checks' to ensure that the targeted entity has the required degree of corporate health.

• The individual who wishes to set up a new, yet to be proven business venture and requires guidelines to assess the likelihood of success and the steps necessary to attract financing or equity.

A new or existing technology company owner who needs to assess the relative merits of attracting outside equity capital or raising additional debt in order to expand product lines and/or markets.

Visit the BUSINESS DIAGNOSTICS home page at www.ceobusinessdiagnostics.com /p>

About the Author

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Richard Mimick is President and CEO of Professional Practice Management Services Limited, a management consulting and executive development firm based in Victoria. B.C.

Rich holds a CPA (USA) designation and commenced his consulting career with Andersen Consulting.

His academic appointments include Chair and Professor at the world ranked Ivey Business School, Director of Royal Roads University Business Programs, and Director of University of Continuing Studies Business Programs.

Rich has designed, developed and delivered consulting engagements and executive programs for Canadian, American, European and Asian clients. His areas of expertise are strategic management, finance and marketing strategy.

He has received international recognition for his outstanding teaching abilities and is known for his exceptional ability to turn complex topics into understandable practical learning.

Rich also provides consulting assistance to technology companies in raising financing and is a former director of VIATeC, the Vancouver Island Advanced Technology Centre.

Michael Thompson has over 20 years commercial banking experience gained in the U.K, Ontario and British Columbia, Canada.

He is presently Associate Vice President, Business Development and Associate Professor at Royal Roads University in Victoria, B.C,

His academic credentials include an Honors degree in Economics from the University of Manchester and a Diploma in Land Economics from the University of British Columbia.

Professional certifications include Fellow of Institute of Canadian Bankers (FICB) and Certified Management Consultant (CMC).

Mike has taught Business Strategy courses and seminars at the University of Victoria, Royal Roads University and various C.A Provincial Institutes. He has also developed a number of successful business planning and risk assessment seminars for many business and professional associations.

He is actively involved in the Victoria technology community and is a former Director of the Vancouver Island Advanced Technology Centre (VIATeC) and the Innovation and Development Corporation at the University of Victoria.

Excerpts

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Reviews

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'Business Diagnostics' is a unique and highly valuable resource for technology companies. It is most readable in it's style and covers the critical aspects of successfully leading, managing and growing a dynamic firm. Mimick and Thompson's perspective has answered a challenge by providing a 'required reading' for all technology firms, in fact, for all companies. Exceptionally well done.

Doug Taylor, CEO
   Vancouver Island Advanced Technology
   VIATeC

 

A thorough but readable checklist approach to assessing (and managing) issues and opportunities that may impact your small business. Especially helpful in providing insights with respect to financing strategies from a commercial banker's perspective.

Donna Bridgeman
   Vice President
   Growthworks Capital
   Working Opportunity Fund, Vancouver B.C

 

'Business Diagnostics' is an innovative approach to one-stop business evaluation, development and growth. It is a welcome addition and should be included in any entrepreneurs' tool kit. The technology assessment chapter, in particular, is succinct and highly relevant to technology-based companies.

Tim Walzak, President and CEO
   Innovation and Development Corporation, University of Victoria, B.C

 

A major challenge to most business managers, especially those operating in the fast-paced world of high technology, is to find the time to learn good management practices while on the job; most people simply do not have the luxury of taking time off for formal training. Business Diagnostics addresses this critical need by packaging the essentials into a manageable text.

Denzil Doyle
   Chairman, Capital Alliance Ventures Inc, Ottawa
   Author - 'Making Technology Happen'

 

If you are the CEO of a small to medium-sized company and want a pragmatic framework for sizing-up the health of your business, then I suggest you look at Rich and Mike's gem of a book, "Business Diagnostics". Track with the case study, use their novel size-up grids and you will have the pulse on your corporate health and a sound framework for revitalizing your business.

T. John Drew
   Chair, TEC (The Executive Committee), Victoria, B.C
   President, Pacific Design Academy

FORMAT: Softcover

OUR PRICE:

$70.00

Independent Consulting

By Elijah James

This timely book is a 'must have' for anyone who is in the consulting business, or who is contemplating becoming an independent consultant. You may have specialized training in some field. You may have developed valuable skills over the years. This invaluable book shows you how you can use your acquired skills profitably as an independent consultant.

This is an engaging book filled with tips that will help you succeed as an independent consultant. If you want to use your skills, know-how, and expertise to free yourself from an employer's control, this book shows you exactly how to do it, and make good money doing it. If you offer, or can offer, a service of any kind to anyone for a fee, Independent Consulting will show you how to make a good living from it.

The book covers all the important aspects of independent consulting. In addition to pointing our areas of independent consulting that you can enter, Independent Consulting shows you how to:

• market your consulting services
• promote and advertise your business
• build up an active client base
• prepare an effective marketing plan
• price (charge for) your services
• write effective proposals
• write meaningful reports
• manage your consulting business
• plan and control consulting assignments
• deal with contracts

You get all the above and more from Independent Consulting. It is truly the definitive guide.

FORMAT: Softcover

OUR PRICE:

$27.50