Book Description
Praise for SAFELY PROSPEROUS or REALLY RICH?
"Howard's brilliant concept that the roads to Prosperity and Riches are very different is very liberating. In most financial books, the author would never do what Howard has done-recount with unflinching honesty the big financial mistakes he and his subscribers have made over the years so readers can avoid the same stumbling blocks and pitfalls. Only a very secure man would have the guts to do that."
-Robert Allen
author of Multiple Streams of Income and Nothing Down
"Howard Ruff is back, offering a wealth of powerful new financial advice for America's middle class. In his new manual, Safely Prosperous or Really Rich?, he challenges you to choose between two roads. The older I get, the more I favor `Safely Prosperous,' but you make the call. I also love Howard's old-fashioned moral perspectives on money."
-Mark Skousen
editor of Forecasts and Strategies
"Safely Prosperous or Really Rich? is destined to be one of the most influential books of the early twenty-first century, just as his mega bestseller, How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years, changed millions of lives in the late `70s. Welcome back, Howard."
-John Mauldin
author of Bull's Eye Investing
Download Description
The two different paths to a "rich" life
According to author Howard Ruff, there are two distinctly different and very desirable financial Heavens and a distinct and different route to get to each one. The first destination is Safe Prosperity Heaven, and the second is Really Rich Heaven. Safely Prosperous or Really Rich? examines both of these strategies as well as the near-universal mistakes that people make with their money as they follow one of these paths. The first part of this book—The Safe, Riskless Road to Prosperity—is for readers who are content to live comfortably and then some, with no financial worries and a secure future, even after retirement. In the second part of the book—Real Secrets of the Really Rich—readers are introduced to the most important things rich people have always done (and continue to do) to get rich. This section teaches readers how to make the leap from the Safely Prosperous to the Really Rich. Ruff reveals that it’s not just how much money the rich have or how s mart they are, it’s their attitude toward risk and fear, their understanding of when to break the rules that Safe people follow, and their knowledge of a few simple capitalistic principles that allows them to accumulate and sustain their wealth. Safely Prosperous or Really Rich? is a unique book that allows readers to choose the path they feel more comfortable following, when making decisions about their money and their life.
Customer Reviews:
Taken at face value, it is a helpful book.......2005-12-19
I saw the negative comments about this book, but I would suggest getting a copy from your local library to see if you want this as a keeper first. I did, and will get this book when I can find it cheap, now having read it. It has some good 'old school' ideas we really need to keep in mind these days. Ruff is pretty honest and upfront about his failures. This alone is worth the read. It is NOT on the level with Sumney and Dawson's Weekend Millionaire Mindset or Bach's Automatic Millionaire, which are more hands on. Ruff's book is more of a tried and true look at success, and whether you are going to be better off being a stellar money manager, or if you are truly cut out to be (and will settle for nothing less than)entrepreneurialship. Each track has its pluses and minuses. A worthy read, though the advertisements in it prevent me from giving it 5 stars.
The Author is Double-Jointed.......2005-08-09
He has to be since he spends so much time patting himself on the back. This is a bad book, pure and simple. The author spends an inordinate amount of time talking about his history of losing money and making money. But the stories aren't in great detail and come off as braggadocio. In addition, his advice is minimal and simple. He goes through the time value of money and how yields on small amounts of money invested for many years will allow you to retire well off but doesn't really give creditable advice on retiring really rich, other than buying his newsletter.
I cannot emphasize enough how bad this book is. Only two other times have I not read a book I started in its entirety. Here's number three. I read the first half and scanned the last half. I assure there was no improvement. Take a pass on this turkey.
don't waste your money!!!.......2005-02-08
I'm less polite than the other reviewers. This is, pure and simple, an infomercial for his newletter, has little to no information, and you would violate sound use of your resources just buying it. Stay away!!!
Say, Amazon -- why can't we give, "STUNK ON ICE" ratings?
Surely an Infomercial or Blatently Obvious - Don't Buy This.......2004-12-25
There are books out there which stimulate the mind or offer readers fresh ways of looking at the world and their money. This book does none of this. Please...run, don't walk...to another Amazon selection if you have any clue at all about organizing your finances. Ruff misuses financial dffinitions and glorifies the obvious. "The magic of compounding!" Wow... I'll bet you never heard that one before. He interchanges the terms "one year investment return" with "yield," which is a dangerous thing. Just because a mutual fund returned 22.7% in 2003 it does not mean that that return expectation is available today here ann now. Don't ask him to explain mean-reversion of returns, because that gets in the way of his weak quasi-thesis. Complete garbage.
I promise - if you had a chance to thumb through this book before buying it, you would never shell out a penny for it.
Feeling like an idiot for adding it to my cart...
The best way to keep up with things.......2004-12-25
This book is a marketing plan cleverly executed, and I fell into it, dear reader!
I first heard about it in John Mauldin's newsletter, and would not have purchased it if not for Mr Mauldin recommendation.
In hindsight, it looks to me like 'Howard Ruff' is a valuable brand (chronicles say this guy sold three million copies of the other book 'How to Prosper During the Coming Bad Years'), worth exploiting further. With this book I fear the brand has been a little bit overstretched.
Someone said that the strategies outlined in it are excellent... True, and here is why I give it a low rate: Beginners and experienced readers as well will find other, better, earlier books that tell the American tale on how to become safely prosperous o really rich (examples include: The Millionaire Next Door; Getting Rich in America and The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Rich). Then, if this book contains nothing new, what's its purpose? What's its value?
How's written this book? There are many repetitions; Ruff tells many times here and there the same stories (How he helped the crash of the Iron Curtain; why you have to have a six-month supply of food; how his newsletter, The Ruff Times, was the biggest, most influential newsletter in the known universe; and more...), which is annoying indeed, gentle reader!
Sometimes I wondered whether I bought a book or a catalogue disguised as a book.
There are several references to businesses owned by Mr Ruff himself or his relatives or his friends (sometimes he discloses he has a financial interest, sometimes he discloses he hasn't. Well, my wife is a lawyer, just in case you need one. I have no financial interest in her business.). The book keeps leading the reader to this or that product. Boy, this is 'cross-selling'! This is 'leverage'!
I recalled the tale of the fish: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. When I got the book I hoped I was going to learn something new on how to fish. And teachings are there, I'm not diminishing in any way the virtue of many suggestions (get out of debt, start saving...) written in this book. There's plenty of fish for sale in this book (this metaphor helps make my point, so let's not be too critical here); alas, not many new teachings.
Here's a quote from the book:
"Do not run out and execute the market recommendations in this book as soon as you read it. We have a very dynamic economy, and time can change things. Some recommendations may be good ideas for which the right time has come and gone or the propitious time has not yet arrived (...) The best way to keep up with things is to subscribe to 'The Ruff Times', which is written every three weeks, as I track all these recommendations very closely"
(You can sign up for one year for $139, or for two years for $230, if you ask)
If I have to subscribe to "The Ruff Times" to know what to buy and when to buy it in order to make money, what's the practical use of this book after all? What's its purpose? What's its value?
Book Description
The startling truth is that the average 25-year-old woman will earn half a million dollars less than her male counterpart over the course of her career. Under-earning is an insidious problem with psychological roots that run deep. Luckily, there's help. This book is a practical, step-by-step guide for under-earning women who are ready to turn their lives around. It demystifies the process of under-earning, explores its underlying psychological and emotional issues, and offers practical advice and strategies to help overcome it. Why Women Earn Less explains how you can be better paid for the work you do. It maps out, on a practical level, how to overcome the bad habits that contribute to earning less than you deserve. As you do so, you will find yourself not only benefiting from an improved bottom line, but also enjoying a renewed sense of optimism and personal satisfaction.
Customer Reviews:
AWESOME! A must have for any working woman!!.......2007-07-06
This book is wonderful and a must have for any woman that works outside of the home or runs her own business. Mikelann gives very thoughtful and insightful stories to help the reader understand the concepts. It is very easy to understand. This book makes you take a deep look at yourself and how you might be sabotaging your own earning power. I have used the book and already gotten a 10% higher salary with a new job offer.
A trip.......2007-01-12
First heard this talked about on the radio. I only caught the last few minutes-- but had to call the radio station to find out it's name. This is a book every woman should read. It will give you the shaking that your mother should have. I bought a copy for my daughter and another for my neice. It is one of those books that you read-- then put down, and recover for a while-- then read some more. I will make sure every woman I know hears about it then reads it!
Noble Poverty... me?.......2004-06-25
I must admit when I came to the chapter about Noble Poverty I thought... "Well that's soooo not me! I don't see money in a negative way. As a matter of fact, I like it quite a lot." But then Mikelann went through the different types of Noble Poverty and I started to register how I emotionally relate to my personal worth in financial terms. Such as over extending my volunteer projects, under bidding projects, or even giving away free service to be seen as "nice." How I would accept the "thank you" over a competitive rate. **Note, thank you should be said but not in place of paying your bills.**
Mikelann gives a clear, balanced, and usable plan to rethink and retool your financial wellbeing. I highly recommend this book for those looking for emotional connection or need a usable workbook (yes it's a workbook too!) to take full control of their worth.
An Action Guide to Stop Underearning.......2004-05-27
I inadvertently came across Mikelann's site while surfing the internet. She used a term "underearning" which I had never seen before. When I read the description, I thought she had a pipeline into my life, and wanted to break the cycle I was in.
When I heard that she was publishing this book, I couldn't wait to read it. In each chapter, she dispels the myths, pulls you out of "The Money Fog" and gives action steps to break the insidiousness of underearning.
I refer to her book every day. It is an absolute good fit whether you decide to use the steps in the book, go on to professional consultation (financial as well as psychological - and she gives helpful hints to work with those professionals) or with groups such as Debtors Anonymous.
If you want to turn your relationship with money around, this is the book to get!!!
Waking up Sleeping Beauty!.......2004-04-17
I don't want to deal with finances. Even though I'm not happy with my paycheck, I'd rather sigh on my way to the bank, then take action. How did this happen -- I had a different plan for myself. Why do I let it go on?
The description above is me, and why I got intrigued when my girlfriend told me about this book. WOW -- what a mind opener -- between 'Waiting for Prince Charming' and 'Giving Myself, My Talents, and My Earnings Away" (two psychological traps Ms. Valterra writes about), I have been asleep when it comes to my money situation. This book has served as a great wake-up call and my attitude has already shifted.
Part two of the book gets very practical, and helped me know what to do next -- I hated budgets, but 'spending plan' put a different emphasis on managing money, so I'm trying it out.
Because of this book -- simply written, easy to read, and "real", I am awake and ready to take control. Thanks Ms. Valterra, you've done me a huge favor...(and thanks Lisa, for giving me the nudge to buy it.)
Book Description
settle for less.
Nicole Williams, the author of Wildly Sophisticated, knows that the real key to success isn't saving more money... it's making more money. Earn What You're Worth shows working women how to up their earning power--by using their unique skills and abilities to build a rewarding, lucrative career.
Readers will learn to:
- Learn the difference between going into debt--and investing in their career
- Sell themselves at work--without selling their soul
- Discover their individual gifts and talents--and use them to get a raise
- Value what's most important to them--and dump bad financial habits
- Decide what they really want out of their career--and get it
Once women get over their fears of dealing with cold, hard cash, they'll have the confidence to ask for--and get--what they deserve. Crammed with useful information, uncommon advice, inspiring stories, and insider secrets to success, Earn What You're Worth will motivate women to invest in the most important stock of all...themselves.
Customer Reviews:
For any woman with a job........2007-06-20
This book has very practical advice on how to improve your chance of sucess in the business world, and how to become more financially successful.
There is no content on investing or particulars of fiancnes, rather the author approaches the idea of investing in yourself as the msot important way to improve your success, in all aspects of your life.
A specific example is "the latte factor." She writes taht she isn't ehre to tell anyone they need to stop drinking alt tes. Instead, she urges each of us to deicde why we are having our lattes, is it beacuse everyone else is getting one? Or do we get out of bed inteh mroing only because of the latte we know awaits us? If it's the latter, then by all means make that investmetn in yourself. If its the former, perhops yo ucan cut that latte out of your habit and have room in your budget for something more important.
I read this book twice, and the first time all of her career advice I applied to my relationship (it was all I could focus on at the time). But later, when I re-read it, I applied thea dvice to my career and job hunt and personal finance, and feel that I am actively working towards my goals. It helped me see and create the big picture so I can then work towards acheiving teh various aspects of my life goals.
Great Advice for Career Women!.......2007-06-06
I recently followed a friend's advice and purchased Nicole William's book Earn What You're Worth: A Wildly Sophisticated Approach to Investing In Your Career-and Yourself. Upon reading the first chapter, I knew I had made the right decision. The book is full of valuable knowledge and career advice that I will definitely never forget. Her sections about discovering how you are unique and identifying what you value really stuck out in my mind. The book made me aware of several essential elements of career success and I have learned to focus on what I really want and proactively ask for what I'm worth. Two thumbs up!
Highly Motivating and Entertaining.......2007-03-30
With her breezy, girlfriend-next-door tone, Nicole Williams, author of "Wildly Sophisticated," takes readers on a journey of financial self exploration. With anecdotes from female entrepreneurs like herself, she encourages women to both explore and challenge their preconceived about success and money - particularly those which come from childhood. Williams also discusses our various "money relationships," from bankers and accountants to employers and even friends and family, as well as how we should approach them all.
Unlike other authors who challenge readers to save more and spend less, Williams encourages her audience to actually earn more. She does this by focusing on the concept of self worth (both tangible and intangible), our true values, and how that all translates into business success - or lack thereof. Highly motivating and entertaining.
Densely Packed with Career Wisdom.......2006-07-23
Put down the highligher. Every page in this book is packed with amazing words that promise to jump start you into a bigger salary and a true sense of self-worth. This book is not just for young career-minded women. It truly is for anyone wanting more for themselves. It reads effortlessly and has a genuine tone. Who ever thought a book of this genre could be a page turner? Incredible wisdom...makes me think Ms. Williams is in her 90s not her 30s. :)
Investing in Myself.......2005-01-14
I love the idea of investing in yourself, even if it means going into debt for a little bit - I'm a commodity worth investing in and this book has given me the courage to see that. A completely different way of looking at career success and money.
Book Description
An insider's guide to help readers negotiate raises and higher salaries
How to Earn What You're Worth takes the stress and uncertainty out of the compensation negotiation process. Sunny Bates works from the premise that everyone has a negotiating style that's best suited to his or her personality.
She helps readers assess their individual styles and offers pointers on how to build on that as a position of strength.
With the help of real-life anecdotes, she coaches readers in all the key technical aspects of negotiations, from researching current salary ranges and determining what your skills are worth to a company, to developing a pre-negotiation game plan and knowing exactly what to look for in an offer letter.
She also tells readers how to successfully negotiate:
- Vacation time, family time, and personal leave
- Working conditions
- Telecommuting
- Employment contracts
- Stock options and signing bonuses
- Terms of departure, before the job begins
Customer Reviews:
The long road and the book that took me ALL THE WAY.......2004-04-20
This book gets back to the basics that we forget along the way and inspired me to re-evaluate MY worth. Page by page I found myself saying "I know that, I knew that" and then saying "well, why the heck haven't I used these skills?!". Not to mention that the book made me take a long, hard look into the person I am, what I had brought to my organization, what I needed to be happy, and the steps that I had to take if I was going to earn MY WORTH....
6 Months later, withstanding internal executive and managerial changes, I was negotiating directly with the CEO of my company. I demonstrated my VALUE and came out of the negotiation earning what I am WORTH...a promotion and 35% increase in salary!
Sunny, THANK YOU for writing this book and sharing your knowledge. I am most appreciative for the help along the way!
THIS BOOKED HELD MY HAND THRU NEGOTIATIONS.......2004-02-25
I always had a total fear of negotiating, asking questions, asking for more. I didn't really use the beginning of this book because I felt that I am just going to be me in an interview, and if someone does not like me, then, I wouldn't want to work there anyway. But after receiving 2 offers from 2 different companies, I did read the last two chapters of this book, which talks about how to decide if you want to accept the offer and how to negotiate for more. THESE TWO CHAPTERS WERE AMAZING. I literally read these chapters over and over, highlighting and making notes. I would read a section again for motivation right before picking up the phone to negotiate. The important thing is that, I had a FEAR of negotiating, of being direct, saying I have problems with this or that, asking for more, etc. And by reading this book, not only did i get over my fear, not only did I continuously make these types of phone calls and have these types of conversations, but I actually negotiated for a better salary! And, I actually had another company really respecting my negotiating savvy which is why they pursued me for days, even after I had already said that I was declining their offer.
Another important thing I should note, is I am NOT some senior executive. I am literally 2 months out of college and I did not major in business either! People were amazed that I was even negotiating at all and seemed to know so much about the whole offer/negotiation process, being that I think people in my situation and my age, do not normally even attempt to negotiate for these right out of college positions.
Not only did this book get me more money, get me the confidence boost of having two companies pursue me, but more importantly it got me over my fear of doing this kind of thing.
And now I'm a negotiating machine! An extra $200/month increase in my rent? $3 for this sack of oranges? $400 for this leather jacket? I don't think so...
Great Advice for Anyone...........2004-01-22
I am buying this book for everyone...whether or not they like their job. It is full of practical and easy to impliment advice for people in all lines of work.
Sound Advice.......2004-01-12
Bates' book gives sound advice in an easy to read style. It speaks clearly to today's job seeker. Her broad experience supports her recommendations and provides wonderful anecdotes. I found the resume writing information exceptional. This will be a classic career guidance resource for years to come.
self-help of the best kind.......2004-01-09
As a psychotherapist in Boston, I see lots of people come in for counseling who'd be better served by talking to a job coach. Workplace issues are, not surprisingly these days, all too common. And all too often, the problem comes down to an inability on the part of the patient to recognize -- and expect compensation for -- their contribution in the office. Bates's book tackles this problem head-on, and offers some of the best advice I've seen for making sure you get an honest day's pay for an honest day's work. At the risk of scaring patients away, I'd say read this book before you call me.
Average customer rating:
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Earn what you're worth: 4 steps to a higher salary and a hap
Kate Luderman
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Motivation & Self-Improvement
| Business Life
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Job Hunting & Careers
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0425151018 |
Book Description
* Of interest to analysts dealing in international socially responsible funds
Customer Reviews:
Highly Recommended!.......2005-05-13
This book describes in great detail how major British corporations have become more socially responsible. Editor John Hancock includes in-depth chapters from various British experts and executives on key topics related to social responsibility, including investing, the environment, corporate governance and improving the quality of life. The contributors describe how the corporate social responsibility (CSR) movement is changing the way many U.K. companies conduct their day-to-day operations. U.S. corporate managers who are contending with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance may feel somewhat challenged as they read about how their U.K. counterparts now feel obligated to conduct business in a way that meets CSR standards. In fact, many U.S. business leaders may feel that the CSR push smacks of unprecedented outside interference in company goals. Since this movement is likely to strengthen, we believe this book is essential for British executives, of great interest to their U.S. peers and important to all corporate strategists and leaders. Never mind that the text is dry, and the various authors' subjects sometimes overlap. Senior executives who even skim it will get a pretty clear idea of capitalism's next phase - and many may not like what they learn.
Books:
- Selected Topics in Bond Portfolio Management (Frank J. Fabozzi Series)
- Smart Tax Tips: Winning Strategies to Reduce Your 2003 Taxes
- Social Responsibility in the Global Market: Fair Trade of Cultural Products
- SPSS 7.5 for Windows Student Version, 3.5 Disks
- Statistics and Data Analysis: From Elementary to Intermediate
- Statistics of Income, Corporation Income Tax Returns 1994 (Serial)
- Stats: Modeling the World (2nd Edition) (DeVeaux/Velleman/Bock)
- Strategic Alliances in Eastern and Central Europe (International Business and Management)
- Strategies for Profiting on Every Trade: Simple Lessons for Mastering the Market
- Successful Marketing and Distribution in China: Sector by Sector Case Analysis
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