The Hindu Business Line : You can make a living by being yourself

WHO you are is different from what you do, and if you feel stressed because of that, "you are not alone," Neil Crofts would say in Authentic, published by Capstone (www.wileyeurope.com). "Thinking about getting up and telling the world what you stand for is daunting enough; actually doing it is terrifying," are lines that hit like dynamite from the back-cover. But don't run for cover, because "the rewards are incredible".

This is "a life-style book", that is also "about doing business with a profound positive purpose". In the preface, Neil declares there is no normal. "Our careers and lives are so often blighted by our efforts to be what we THINK someone else wants us to be that we lose all confidence in our own judgment and instinct." Prescription is simple: Give yourself the space and time to listen to what you are feeling; and when you're ready, set your thinking free in the world by telling as many people as you can.

"Don't imagine that no one else cares," assures the author. "People have varying priorities. If you tell enough people you will find others who share yours." You may have to edit your address book, to take conscious control of your friendships, rather than being driven by habit or "out of a need to be liked that stems from lack of self-confidence", in which case "friendships can become limiting and hold us back." A book you can give yourself.

Math for sluggish minds

MARTIN Gardner ran his `Mathematical Games' column in the Scientific American for 25 years, gaining a following "among puzzlers, magicians, and mathematicians." Now, to stir up our "all-too-sluggish minds with an athletic workout", comes A Gardner's Workout, from Universities Press, a book dedicated "to all the underpaid teachers of mathematics, everywhere, who love their subject and are able to communicate that love to their students."

Chapter 1 begins with an `unsolved problem' — "What is the minimal area of surfaces inside a transparent cube that will render it opaque?" Further on, the author would ask: "Can you outwit a mindless automaton?" Disappointingly, the answer is `no' because most people "fall into a predictable psychological pattern". Chapter 39 is about `The Number Devil' — a math book written by a non-mathematician for young children and which became a best seller in Germany. There are about 40 puzzles, including `the propositional calculus with directed graphs, Steiner trees on a checkerboard, Toroidal currency, lucky numbers and 2187, serial isogons of 90 degrees' and so on, for you to test your skills and fire up the neurons up there.

Insurance salesman at the door

ON HOW to become "a super successful insurance salesman, and start winning today", there can be no better source than the former LIC chairman G. N. Bajpai's book Marketing Insurance, published by Global Business Press (www.atfullcircle.com). No easy task to sell insurance because it is intangible, but "the good news in this business is that the compensation you receive as an insurance agent is whatever you want to earn, depending on how hard you are prepared to work for it."

Bajpai devotes separate chapters to marketing strategies, communication, compensation packages, sales presentation and so on. There are also `7 steps to success', which include emphasis on continuous learning. Chapter 13 lists the don'ts in selling: Don't put yourself down, don't be guided by your competitors' pessimism, don't lecture while making a sales pitch, don't linger on after closing a sale, and so forth. One more don't: Don't miss this if you're into insurance selling.

Company audit checklist

V. S. VADIVEL'S Handbook on How to Conduct Audit under Companies Act, 1956? published by Book Corporation (bookcorp@onlysmart.com) brings in one place CARO, provisions of company law relevant to auditors, compliance requirements while auditing, tips on presentation of accounts, special audit, enquiry, and a list of AS, SAPs and Guidance Notes, all in about 300 pages.

The author observes in his preface that `the lengthiest legislation' containing 650-plus sections reposes confidence in CAs. He adopts a checklist presentation showing `clear action points'. Check it out.

Sum greater than the parts

THERE are seven habits of highly effective people, you know already. Now come The Portable 7 Habits series from Stephen R. Covey, published by Magna Publishing Co Ltd (www.magnamags.com). These are `easy to comprehend guides' and here is habit six: `Synergy', connecting to the power of cooperation. "There are no roadmaps to follow. No instructions. No how-tos. And no formulas for success," assures the intro. "Instead you'll find a collection of contemporary quotes, thought-provoking questions, provocative messages, and practical wisdom in an easy-to-read format."

A few snatches: "I once complained to my father that I didn't seem to be able to do things the same way other people did. Dad's advice? `Margo, Don't be a sheep. People hate sheep. They eat sheep.'" (Margo Kaufman) Share the similarities; celebrate the differences. (M. Scott Peck)

There is the turtle test from Phillip C. McGraw to check if when confronted with an opportunity to learn info that challenges what you think you know, you choose to pull back into your self-satisfied shell. Don't forget: "When you blame others you give up a perfect opportunity to change." How about pooling some money to get the book?

Tailpiece

"I always get my books bound."

"Means, you really care for them!"

"No, that helps when playing book-cricket."

ReadingRoom@TheHindu.co.in

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Dollars in demand for different purposes

Can I ask for a zero TDS Form-16?

Bollywood bet to get big business out of the woods

The best quality inspector is your conscience

You can make a living by being yourself

Sticklish Issues

Cartoon