How to Books Ltd.

This book contains 3 parts. Part One — the buying process — emphasizes the verification of the materials used in the property under consideration. For example, if a property is advertised as 'genuine 18th century' you can make sure that this is the case. Part Two — the 'bricks and mortar' part of the book — is designed to provide you with sufficient knowledge of French building methods and materials for you to understand estimates and evaluate what work should be done, and by whom. Part Three is designed to cut your costs wherever possible. It advises on which seals of quality to look for on materials you buy, how to get a loan to finance the work, and what factors to consider when choosing your builder.

The book sets out to be your own, pocket, marketing consultant — without the expense. Not only does it offer some great ideas but it explains how each idea will benefit your business, what you need to do to make it work, and how you can apply it to your own business immediately. Through a series of special response questions, it cleverly gets across marketing ideas in combination with the vital thinking behind their application. Furthermore, it does so in a way that transfers 'ownership' of these strategies to you the business manager so that you feel thoroughly motivated and inspired to act. Whether you run a product or service-led business, it will help you to: understand your market place, your competition and your customer; create solid, reasoned foundations for your business; develop your marketing message on credible foundations; decide on the most effective marketing methods for your business; attract new customers, and boost business with existing customers; build your business profile so that it's always working for you; get the right pricing in place; and, complete your marketing plan and create a successful marketing system. The ideas are presented separately in bite-sized chunks so that you can devote just a little thinking and reflection time to each one before — most importantly — making it all happen.

Managing is a perilous business: how to 'let go' yet stay in touch, how to balance short-term tactics with longer-term strategy, how to motivate people to do more with less, how to 'walk the talk' when you don't feel like it, how simultaneously to be an inspirational leader and an effective manager — the dilemmas are endless. Peter Honey has spent more than 35 years advising managers, from a wide cross-section of functions and organisations, and draws on his experiences in this entertaining, insightful book. The whole of management life is revealed in 50 short stories, some sad, some funny — all based on real managers and real events. You'll find control-freaks, autocrats, egotists, bullies, perfectionists, ditherers and eccentrics as well as a few managers simply striving to do their best in difficult circumstances. Peter Honey bravely offers each flawed manager practical advice in a bid to improve their performance and make life more tolerable for their colleagues. The result is a realistic, engaging and ultimately effective book from which any manager, at whatever level, can learn a great deal.