January 31, 2008 9:00

TGIT: Reader book review of You, Inc.

This from WiP reader Anne Witkavich (check out her blog here):

You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself
By Harry Beckwith and Christine Clifford Beckwith

Review by Anne Witkavitch

Walk into any bookstore or surf online and there is an overabundance of self-help and motivational books promising something new, something different for the reader—that one nugget of information that is sure to
forever change their lives, make him or her more successful, surge their egos so they can go out and conquer the world.

You, Inc.—written by the husband and wife team of Harry Beckwith and Christine Clifford Beckwith, parents of six—is one of those books, but then again (thankfully) it's not. Instead of promising something new and different, the authors compile personal and professional advice into one resource, organize it into easy-to-read, bite-size chunks, and throw in anecdotal stories to illustrate the points. The result is 300-plus pages of practical advice about what to do, how to act, and what makes good sense in today's professional environment. You'll want to keep this guide within easy reach on the desk,
the credenza, or next to the bed.

You can read You, Inc. from front to back if you're in need of a complete personal and professional overhaul, or to start your new career on the right foot. Or you can randomly flip through the chapters, read sections randomly, and earmark pages for when you need those gentle reminders, self-motivating questions, or positive reflections to stay on track and advance your career.

For example, what is the real role of goal setting? To reach goals set or to learn during the process? What's the best way to make people believe you are an expert? What are the perils of Powerpoint in making your messages clear?

The power of You, Inc. is in its simplicity, logic, and the practical advice it offers. The book provides clarity about selling yourself in a fast-changing world where the rules of engagement have become at times a bit unclear. For people like me, who warm up to a good self-help book now and then, You, Inc. offers a lot of good advice packed into one easy-to-read resource. The authors sum it up best: "Read this book, then act differently. Don't seek reassurance. Seek change."

That is a page worth earmarking.