Explains how companies must pinpoint business strategies to a few critically important choices, identifying common blunders while outlining simple exercises and questions that can guide day-to-day and long-term decisions.

Why should I do business with you… and not your competitor? Whether you are a retailer, manufacturer, distributor, or service provider – if you cannot answer this question, you are surely losing customers, clients and market share. This eye-opening book reveals how identifying your competitive advantages and trumpeting them to the marketplace is the most surefire way to close deals, retain clients, and stay miles ahead of the competition. The five fatal flaws of most companies: ? They don’t have a competitive advantage but think they do ? They have a competitive advantage but don’t know what it is—so they lower prices instead ? They know what their competitive advantage is but neglect to tell clients about it ? They mistake “strengths” for competitive advantages ? They don’t concentrate on competitive advantages when making strategic and operational decisions The good news is that you can overcome these costly mistakes – by identifying your competitive advantages and creating new ones. Consultant, public speaker, and competitive advantage expert Jaynie Smith will show you how scores of small and large companies substantially increased their sales by focusing on their competitive advantages. When advising a CEO frustrated by his salespeople’s inability to close deals, Smith discovered that his company stayed on schedule 95 percent of the time – an achievement no one else in his industry could claim. By touting this and other competitive advantages to customers, closing rates increased by 30 percent—and so did company revenues. Jack Welch has said, “If you don’t have a competitive advantage, don’t compete.” This straight-to-the-point book is filled with insightful stories and specific steps on how to pinpoint your competitive advantages, develop new ones, and get the message out about them. “The biggest marketing flaw in most companies is their failure to fully reap the benefits of their competitive advantages. Either they think they have a competitive advantage but don’t. Or they have one and don’t realize it. Or they know they have a strong competitive advantage but fail to promote it adequately to their customers and prospects. “In my research with middle-market companies, I found only two CEOs out of 1,000 who could clearly name their companies’ competitive advantages. The other 99.8 percent could offer only vague, imprecise generalities. These same CEOs often rely on outside consultants to guide strategic-planning sessions. Yet, in my experience, very few consultants – even seasoned ones – give competitive advantage evaluation more than a superficial glance…. “Ignoring your competitive advantages can be an expensive and even fatal mistake. Because no matter the size of your company or the kind of business you are in, your competitive advantages should be the foundation of all your strategic and operational decisions. They’re the reasons customers choose to buy from you instead of the other guy.” – From Creating Competitive Advantage

In this pathbreaking book, Michael E. Porter unravels the rules that govern competition and turns them into powerful analytical tools to help management interpret market signals and forecast the direction of industry development.

Resource for companies to improve strategic planning and ensure they are implementing effective corporate strategy. bull; Presents a comprehensive range of methods to analyse the tools that analyse business, competitive data, and market information. bull; Consistent approach and detailed instructions allow for readers to implement strategy quickly and effectively. bull; Management consultants and strategy departments can use this book to make a case for the most effective method to apply to any problem.

“A straightforward and utterly engaging one-stop guide to growing older.” - Kirkus Reviews. Aging in our society is like stepping into an alternate universe. It looks the same, but it’s really not! Unexpected dangers that could ruin the rest of your life: * Medical professionals who think a three-question test is sufficient to label you mentally impaired * A broken guardianship program where a used-car dealer is made a judge — and he can declare you incompetent without even seeing you. * Medical research that has willfully ignored seniors — risking your health and even your life. Get the dirty little secrets — and how to protect yourself! — from a society that mostly prefers to warehouse and then forget its seniors. Then this “delightfully optimistic book” will open a world of great choices for you: * Retire — or don’t * Get credit (and respect!) for your life experiences * Get all the love, sex, and fun(!) you want * Learn how to live the way YOU want — whether others approve or not. “Should be the guide of choice for one’s older years, whether the reader is in their 50s, 60s, or beyond.” —Midwest Book Review Note for non-USA readers: The legal content and the educational opportunity content in this book is specific to the U.S., and thus not of much value to non-U.S. readers.

In today's fast-paced era of information technology, communicating effectively has become an indispensable skill sought after by organizations worldwide. Professionals who possess excellent communication skills are well-equipped to navigate the challenges of the modern professional world, where diverse paths like writing, speaking, reading, and listening converge. This all-encompassing, student-friendly textbook delves into the crucial aspects of technical communication, tailored specifically for students of science and engineering. Divided into two parts, this book provides a complete understanding of the essential skills required to thrive in the realm of technical communication. Part A of the text through in-depth exploration introduces students to the intricacies of drafting business documents, the significance of effective teamwork, and offers remedies to communication breakdown. Furthermore, a dedicated chapter on Advertising sheds light on the art of persuasive communication. Part B focuses on the collective and individual requirements of group communication. With a practical approach, it explores the intricacies of delivering impactful presentations, decoding non-verbal cues, mastering the art of speeches, excelling in interviews, and honing negotiation skills. These skills are essential for young professionals aiming to thrive in new challenges and excel in their careers. This captivating text, now in its Second Edition, features a brand new chapter, Technology in Communication. The chapter highlights the revolutionary role of technology in disseminating fast and efficient information through online platforms. In addition, it also forewarns the disadvantages of technology in communication. Overall, the content emphasizes the transformative role of technology in communication and the need for responsible and mindful usage to maximize its benefits. Primarily intended as a text for undergraduate students of engineering and science, this compact book is also of immense value to the students of business management. In addition, the text would be a handy reference for practicing professionals who wish to hone their communication skills for achieving better results and should prove extremely useful for those involved in everyday communication. TARGET AUDIENCE • B. Tech • MBA • PDGM/­BBA