Books about Hardball from Amazon.com

Hardball, first published in 1988, is like a modern version of Machiavelli's The Prince, only much more richly illustrated, with anecdotes drawn from talk-show host Chris Matthews's stint as a congressional staffer (where he worked for, among others, renowned Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill). Discussing such basic principles as "It's not who you know; it's who you get to know" and "Don't get mad, don't get even--get ahead," Matthews not only dishes out choice Washington insider info, he has over the years inspired many readers to apply his principles for political success to their own professional lives. .
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In Hardball for Women, Pat Heim shows women how to break patterns of behavior that have put them at a disadvantage in the business world of men. Whether the arena is a law firm, a medical group, a corporation, or any other work environment, Hardball for Women decodes the male business culture and gives readers strategies on how to use its rules to get ahead—and stay ahead. Readers will learn to:

• Be assertive without being obnoxious
• Display confidence
• Engage in smart self-promotion
• Lead both men and women—and recognize the differences between them
• Use “power talk” language to your advantage
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Price: $3.97 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Classic Strategies for Unapologetic Winners

“It” is a strategy so powerful and an execution-driven mind-set so relentless that companies use it to gain more than just competitive advantage ¿ they achieve an industry dominance that is virtually unassailable and that competitors often try to explain away as unfair. In their “hardball manifesto,” authors George Stalk and Rob Lachenauer of the leading strategy consulting firm The Boston Consulting Group show how hardball competitors can build or maintain an enviable competitive edge by pursuing one or more of the classic “hardball strategies”: unleash massive and overwhelming force, exploit anomalies, devastate profit sanctuaries, raise competitors’ costs, and break compromises.

Based on twenty-five years of experience advising and observing a range of companies, the authors argue that hardball competitors can gain extreme competitive advantage ¿ neutralizing, marginalizing, or even destroying competitors ¿ without violating their contracts with customers or employees, and without breaking the rules. A clear-eyed paean to the timeless strategies that have driven the world’s winning companies, Hardball Strategy redefines and reinterprets the meaning of competition for a new generation of business players..
Price: $1.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Straightforward secrets and strategies for salespeople who want to join the
winning top 5 percent of the sales force
--Get your foot in the door
--Control the sale without manipulation
--Create a sense of urgency
--Let the buyer participate
--Learn the crucial subtleties of an aggressive approach
--Target the biggest sales
--Sell abroad
--And much more

For many companies, 20 percent of their sales force generates 80 percent of their sales volume. In this hands-on guide, Robert L. Shook, a master salesman, teaches the high-pressure strategies that mean the difference between a super seller and a salesperson. The methods spelled out in this book describe what it takes to be in the elite 5 percent.

In Hardball Selling, Shook inspires all salespeople to dare to be different and master hard selling without browbeating or offending customers. Shook spent 17 years in the trenches perfecting his successful strategies. Using the four basic principles of hardball selling, he guides you through all the steps, from getting past the "gatekeeper" to the single-minded tactics necessary to close a sale.

"Shook’s Hardball Selling is provocative and controversial--and filled with wonderful selling tips. I highly recommend it to every salesperson."--Martin D. Shafiroff, the world’s No. 1 stockbroker.
Price: $10.18 [Notify me when price goes down.]

The Hardball Times Baseball Annual 2008 is indispensable for serious baseball fans. It is the best place to innovative stats combined with accurate and piercing analysis. This comprehensive book covers the entire 2007 season from the first pitch to the last out, and it is also the first book of its kind to include a review of the postseason and World Series.

It also includes:

• Detailed reviews of how 2007 played out in each of baseball's six divisions
• Cutting-edge statistics such as Win Shares and Win Probability Added
• Comprehensive team stats and graphs
• Team-by-team individual hitting and fielding numbers
• Articles on Barry Bonds and the homerun milestone, racial integration in baseball, and an in-depth look at GM Dave Dombrowski of the 2006 AL Champion Detroit Tigers

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Price: $14.96 [Notify me when price goes down.]