Books

Are you in the business of selling an idea or product? If you are, the ability to influence and persuade others is one of the most valuable skills you can have. Unfortunately in this age of digital communication, our powers of persuasion are often compromised by our unwillingness to step out from behind our computer screens and engage if face-to-face communication – where our best chance of influencing a decision maker still lies.In The Ultimate Book of Influence, Australian author Chris Helder addresses one of the most pressing issues facing business today – which he calls the ‘E-Wall’ and ‘E-Pong’. Clients hide behind a virtual electronic wall (E-Wall) he says, which creates the game of E-Pong – bouncing emails backwards

What an inspiring read! Heart to Start is a superbly written autobiography by Kiwi Derek Handley that describes how he became an entrepreneur at a very young age, as well as the ventures, risks, challenges, wins and losses he’s been through over the years. It’s an amusing and endearing look into the mind of someone who began trading as a teenager and who’s lost hundreds of thousands of dollars by the time he was 22.The book also outlines Derek’s recent involvement in The B Team – a global leadership group led by Sir Richard Branson that is focused on new business models for a sustainable and prosperous 21st century.If you’re looking to gain traction in your own venture, this book

Gallagher is one of New Zealand’s most famous companies and export brands. It turns 75 this year, and Paul Goldsmith’s book Legend marks this special milestone. This is the inspirational story of Sir William (Bill) Gallagher, a Kiwi business hero – a dedicated, energetic and innovative philanthropist with a vision of growth for his company and a desire to dominate international markets. The book reveals Sir William’s strategies for management, leadership, export growth and R&D investment. It details how his Kiwi can-do attitude transformed Gallagher into a global success. Not just a business story, Legend also covers Sir William’s adventures, with stories of his first wife’s kidnapping, his own stabbing, and tales of diving for sunken treasure with the late

Best-selling author, academic and entrepreneurship specialist, Dr Ian Hunter, has produced an inspirational and practical guide for people looking to start their own businesses.Fully endorsed by the Young Enterprise Trust, The Young New Zealander’s Guide to Entrepreneurship is filled with great advice from winning teams, business mentors, and hot tips from some of this country’s leading business people, including Sir Peter Leitch, Sir Stephen Tindall and Anne Norman.“We wanted to create a guide that is user-friendly, inspiring and with plenty of real-world examples,” says Dr Hunter. “The book teaches readers how to come up with new ideas, manage projects, run a team and be more alert to the commercial reality of their business decisions.Available exclusively at Whitcoulls.  ISBN: 978-19271-81119

Are you afraid to stand up to people? Lack the courage to change your career or end a bad relationship perhaps? Or maybe you want to transform your life, but fear is holding you back? Fear is a trait everyone possesses – but, as life coach Margie Warrell points out in Find Your Courage – so is courage. Published in 2012 this step-by-step guide gives you the tools to find courage and put it to work in your professional and personal life – or as the cover states: ‘the 12 acts for becoming fearless’. Identify those courage blockers that are holding you back. Learn how to be a leader and teach people how to treat you. Above all – achieve

So you thought Facebook, YouTube and Twitter were huge? It seems newcomer Pinterest is outpacing them all – and as a marketer, you can’t afford to ignore this amazing new platform. Pinterest Power shows you how to market your business, sell your product and build your brand on what authors Jason Miles and Karen Lacey describe as ‘the world’s hottest social network’. You might wonder how you’ll ever find time for yet another social media platform – but after reading this book you should realise that you’ll actually save time by tapping into the phenomenon of ‘repinning’. See examples of successful Pinterest users who’re seeing thousands more visitors to their websites as a result of a careful, market-oriented pinning strategy.