You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself (Warner Business) Paperback – October 27, 2011

You, Inc. is really a great book. There is both good news and bad news about the book. It is extremely easy to read. You simply fly through the book. Which is good and bad. The lessons are so short and there are so many of them, it makes it difficult to absorb and remember all the great information.But it is a book that you can pick up anytime and start reading anywhere in the book and find something valuable. All the lessons stand on their own. Harry presents over 150 ideas and lessons about how to make your business and/or yourself better.If you are familiar with his other best selling works, "Selling the Invisible" and "What Client's Love", you will feel very comfortable with this book. (If you have not read these two book, I highly recommend them.)As you read the book, you will find yourself saying, "I know that." But as Harry instructs there is a huge difference between knowing and doing. And all too often, we think because we know, we do. As Beckwith points out, that is simply not the case.Christine Beckwith, Harry's wife, contributes to the book. Her writing is a lot more personal and touching.Harry gives a lot of insight into why we do the things we do. The book is filled with very valuable information and should be read ever so often as a refresher or reminder to do the things we know.Well worth reading ... two or three times per year.

A fast-paced, quick hitting collection of tidbits that can spur some great change. Most of the book contains some good tips for being a better you and with its pace, the book can be read quickly. This will give you time to make things actionable. I really liked the chapters about being grateful and vulnerable to the sales process. In short, this is a book that is a very good pick-me-up for leaders and salespeople.

If after reading a book you can walk away with just one view point or idea that inspires or enlightens, the book has succeeded. The Beckwiths do this time and again, delivering smart lessons in easily digestable sound bites. In this book, they shine a light on their own wisdom which has informed their own style. First, they aptly point out that everyone has to master the job of selling. Whenever you have to get the attention of someone, get them to understand and then get them to respond, you are selling. Sometimes you want to do that proactively and sometimes you have to do that just to be who you are, or as they say, "Some people will undervalue you. Make a plan to set them right."When selling, you are not competing against others necessarily, but against distraction and stereotyping among other influences. Given that, the Beckwiths' very own style -- presenting captivating stories which consider by-necessity short attention spans -- demonstrates how to communicate in a way which sticks. Some of the other lessons on dressing and communicating are pretty fundamental. But all the other lessons stitched together create a message with heart: "if you are selling yourself, you are selling your spirit."

Absolutely loved 'You, Inc.'! The book is a treasure trove of captivating stories that not only entertain but also drive home powerful lessons. The practical advice on personal branding and self-promotion is a game-changer. A must-read for anyone looking to enhance their skills in selling themselves effectively. Five stars without a doubt!

The author has a lot of advice and many many small stories. But the book lacks structure and sometimes is contradictory. For instance you are advised to be special ie not a "stereotype" and in other sections to live up to a perceived stereotype to sell more! And the book like many American books is too long and this gets repetitive and boring as you all know. Cut 150 pages and give it more structure then it is a decent book.

The title was a bit of a turn off, but I liked Selling the Invisible and gave this a shot. Its a solid reminder of attributes that successful people have. Much of the advice is on the habits and activities that help you connect with others. They are substantive enough and presented in Beckwith's breezy but memorable writing style so that most anyone in business will benefit from reading this. There are a few points that seem shallow, but Beckwith addresses them candidly, and tries to provide advice based on integrity, not shallow manipulation. And let's face it, impressions sometimes are made in 30 seconds or less. So if some of what is here doesn't go as deep as we would like, we may have only ourselves to blame.

There is so much common sense wisdom here, so much debunking of conventional wisdom in selling that you must read it in small doses not to lose the grand effect. This book explains the pragmatism in living the golden rule and being true to yourself-it helps you succeed in sales. Many many insights and especially good for someone just starting out in sales. It helps one think rationally in getting ahead in his/her career. Up there with the best-and I'm a super strict critic.

A great book! Direct to the point, clear writing, relevant ideas and concepts and quite interesting stories to illustrate the topics. A must-read work!