Showing posts with label S. Show all posts
Showing posts with label S. Show all posts

12/08/2009

Review of Crab: Buying, Cooking, Cracking (Hardcover)

I've made both the Garlic-Roasted Dungeness "Killer" Crab and Crab and Fuji Apple Salad and they both have become favorites. While it is difficult to get live crab where I live, I substituted with large freshwater prawns in the Killer Crab recipe. The garlicky, peppery sauce that clings to the seafood is to-die for and incredibly addictive. Our friends devoured the plate in minutes - and we even used bread to mop up the sauce leftover on the plate. Next time, I'm going to double the sauce/spices just so we can dip!

Overall, it's a cute little book with great recipes - makes me homesick for San Francisco - with recipes like Foggy Wharf Salad and Fisherman's Wharf Crab Cakes.

Product Description
There's something about crab that makes any dish decadent--whether in a rustic, weeknight pasta or atop a cocktail party hors d'oeuvre. And no matter the species, those sweet hunks of crabmeat always taste like pure indulgence. Along the Pacific, Dungeness crab is most popular, and with crab season extending from November in San Francisco through early fall in Alaska, locals and tourists alike can be found at crab feasts and festivals nearly year-round. Packed with ideas for enjoying this most succulent crustacean, CRAB offers new inspiration for making the ultimate crab cakes, crab chowder, crab Louis, and more.

From the Publisher
* A complete guide to buying, cleaning, preparing, and eat-ing crab, featuring 35 recipes and a primer on crab culture and lore.* Includes 30 location and styled food photos.* Versatile recipes provide crab weight and volume measures, so that any type of crabmeat--whether it's from a Dungeness, blue, Alaska snow, or other native crab--can be substituted.

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11/12/2009

Review of Human Resources: Stories (Tin House New Voice) (Paperback)

I'm not your typical short story fan, but got a tip from a friend that one of these "Nautical Intervention", had been optioned for a movie by someone she knew so I took a read. I couldn't believe this was a first book. The stories and the construction pulled me in and I read every story and each was more delicious than the last. No formulaic first time writer stuff here. Each stands alone and left me with the satisfied feeling that I usually don't get from short stories, which is why I usually avoid them. Hate that contrived "left hanging" feeling.

Can't wait to see what else this young writer has to offer.



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Review of Managing for Sales Results: A Fast-Action Guide for Finding, Coaching, and Leading Salespeople (Hardcover)

I read Managing For Sales Results when it first came out and was floored by how simple Ron Marks has made a topic that brings pain to many, and utter anguish to yet others.

I only wish he would have written it 25 years ago when I got my first taste of leading a sales team.

As Marks says, managing sales people is like trying to provide adult day care -- easily the hardest job in management...hands down.

I immediately understoodthe things I was doing that were undermining my chances of success; how to change both my own behavior as well as that of those who work with me; and it has given me a solid base for talent management and acquisition.

If you're a sales person and want to learn how great sales managers should operate, this is a valuable read. If I were going back into the field full time, I'd love to think it would be for someone who manages the Ron Marks way. And if you ever want to break into management, then this is a must read.

This book can be devoured in one cross-country flight, or a week's worth of lunches. You're THAT CLOSE to a sales management breakthrough.

Read the book, then hope Marks comes to your city for live workshops. I attended two of his courses and reading the book ahead of time made all the difference in the world.

His teaching style, in person, is just like the book...easy to get into and pick up the information. I've attended other workshops and seminars where the ego of the instructor was such a barrier to learning, and I wound up glad for it to end. Not so with this guy. He's a world class teaching talent.

So, if you're perusing Amazon because sales management hasn't turned out to be the walk in the park it once was made out to be, grab this book and implement just one of Ron Marks' strategies. I believe that you'll quickly be back for the rest.

Product Description
This book looks at various methods for recruiting salespeople, from the traditional to the radical, and shows you how to make the smartest, most profitable hiring decisions for your team. It argues that sales managers should put more emphases on coaching and recruiting, making it a priority for your sales organization. With the right recruiting and training strategies, you can find a constant stream of qualified candidates and beat your competitors to the best sales prospects.

From the Inside Flap

Some say that managing salespeople is like commanding a ship. As captain, you hold the responsibility of guiding your crew and keeping the ship afloat. Unfortunately, sales managers almost never receive proper training, and without the proper skills, they end up crashing their company on the rocks.

But now, sales managers can turn to Managing for Sales Results for the answers they've been looking for. It assists you in improving your leadership and communication skills and provides valuable information on how to handle every type of salesperson. Packed with step-by-step guidance, this practical sales guide will help you lead your staff to greater profit.

This comprehensive guide explores the unique behavioral styles of salespeople and shows you how to work with their diverse personalities. You'll soon be able to forge a loyal, dedicated, and effective sales team and master the critical core competencies that sales managers need to succeed in today's sales world.

From interviewing candidates to training new hires to managing established sales pros, Managing for Sales Results covers every aspect of quality team-building and sales management. Plus, you'll learn how to design and implement team sales strategies that lead to lasting success.

Step by step, Managing for Sales Results will help you build an effective, devoted team and lead them to consistent, superior results. Based on his long experience as a top-performing salesperson, Ron Marks gives you the proven and practical guidance needed to motivate individuals and teams, counsel salespeople for improved sales results, and maintain consistent and positive morale.

This expert, comprehensive guide is the only resource today's sales manager needs to improve sales performance and ensure lasting competitive advantage.

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