Book Review: People Tools for Business by Alan C. Fox
Disclaimer: I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway on the premise that I would review it. My copy is an uncorrected galley, and there may be changes in the final product.
Alan C. Fox is a successful real estate manager and entrepreneur (and poetry magazine publisher) and previously wrote a book titled People Tools. That book was a success, so he has written this sequel that focuses on business-related strategies. It’s divided into fifty short chapters, each with an story or two illustrating the point.
Like many self-help books, some of the advice is obvious, or at least should be, like “show up on time”and “keep a sense of humor.” Others are a bit more complex, such as the “glass staircase” to overcome the “glass ceiling.” A few of the chapter titles are directly taken from the author’s personal experience; see if you can guess what situation “Order a Pineapple Fluff” is useful in.
Most of the stories draw from the author’s personal experience, but “Don’t Run Out of Cash” may be more viable for people whose fathers can loan them $6000 to start a business (more in today’s money) than those who have to contemplate selling blood to eat today. Yes, Mr. Fox did have to let go of some of his three private jets during the last recession, but it’s not quite the same.
That caveat in place, most of the advice in this book is solid, and the short, entertaining chapters make this an excellent book for busy folks such as executives and entrepreneurs. Consider it as a gift for the business-oriented person in your life. It goes on sale 9/30/14 as a trade paperback, no word on an audio edition, but I think it would work well that way as well.
Really enjoyed your review and your comments about Mr Fox having to let go of his private jets made me laugh, Not so sure I;d enjoy the actual book quite as much 😉
He does admit mistakes, one of which was indulging himself in three private jets in the first place. He was smarter about the then-coming recession than some folks, but not as smart as he liked to think he was.