Never Confuse a Memo with Reality: And Other Business Lessons Too Simple Not to Know

by Richard A. Moran

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0887306691
• ISBN13: 9780887306693
• Release Date: November 1993
• Publisher: HarperBusiness
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 4.5"

Customer Reviews

A profound little book

Because of its size and layout, this looks like a novelty item---a "101 Uses for A Dead Cat" type of book---but it is a profound distillation of wisdom culled from experience in the business world. It is indeed a good gift for graduates, but since they have little or no work experience they won't get a lot of the aphorisms. As one reviewer noted, the longer you live, the more sense these pithy sayings are likely to make.Practical, real-world advice contained in the book includes: - Never take a newspaper to the bathroom - Never tell a colleague he looks tired - When you're waiting for someone in a reception area, stand up rather than sitting - Keep track of how you spend your time; someone is bound to ask to you account for it. - Never in your life utter the phrase, "It's not my job."Sometimes it's difficult to explain why these statements are true, but if you've been around for awhile you know that they are. Buy several copies of the book, one for yourself and a couple as gifts. At $8.00 a pop, it's cheap wisdom you can apply every day of your working life.

A profound little book

Because of its size and layout, this looks like a novelty item---a "101 Uses for A Dead Cat" type of book---but it is a profound distillation of wisdom culled from experience in the business world. It is indeed a good gift for graduates, but since they have little or no work experience they won't get a lot of the aphorisms. As one reviewer noted, the longer you live, the more sense these pithy sayings are likely to make.Practical, real-world advice contained in the book includes: - Never take a newspaper to the bathroom - Never tell a colleague he looks tired - When you're waiting for someone in a reception area, stand up rather than sitting - Keep track of how you spend your time; someone is bound to ask you to account for it. - Never in your life utter the phrase, "It's not my job."Sometimes it's difficult to explain why these statements are true, but if you've been around for awhile you know that they are. Buy several copies of the book, one for yourself and a couple as gifts. ... [I]t's cheap wisdom you can apply every day of your working life.

Effective Job Socialization Advice

People have intelligences that can be measured in many different ways, including those used for school work, artistry, communications, and social skills. A lot of very bright people in academic and technical subjects are very weak on the social skills side. This book is a great resource for anyone who wants to improve in this area of social skills. Moran says that he came up with these aphorisms to capture simple organizational truths that everyone should know and some do not. I counted 361 of them. Some of the better ones that struck me include urging fewer policies and procedures; career planning being an oxymoron because most opportunities are unexpected; not using technical language too much in conversation; testing your understanding of an assignment by asking why it is to be done before starting; admitting that you don't know when you don't know; always bringing a potential solution with every problem you take to your boss; and that being in the right place at the right time is more often the result of preparation than of accidents. If you want to know the ropes, are new to the work place, are unsure what to do with your colleagues, or know someone who fits this description, this is the best simple book for you.

Keep it handy!

There are several books that remind you in telegraph-form of everyday business truths. I read Moran's book a few years ago and still remember and live by many of his maxims. I seem to have lost the book, so I am re-ordering it to keep it by my desk, quote it and even take it to meetings.

Business 101 But Easy to Read

This book should be required reading for every college graduate because the author tells the truth about what's important. Like, "It's not the size of your office, it's the size of your paycheck." It can prevent you from making mistakes, like "Never sit down in the lobby while waiting for a client" How does he know this stuff?