Rain: What a Paperboy Learned About Business - Rilegato

Fox, Jeffrey J.

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0470408537 ISBN 13: 9780470408537

Casa editrice: Jossey-Bass Inc Pub, 2009

Riassunto

RAIN is the first business parable written by bestselling business book author Jeffrey J. Fox. The parable follows a young New England paperboy, named Rain, as he learns the business of being in business and quickly becomes the best paperboy in town.

Through a series of humorous poignant vignettes, Jeff illustrates forty "rainmaker" business lessons that can be applied to not only paperboys, but anyone in business and sales. Rain's time as a paperboy proves to be just as valuable as getting an MBA.

As with Jossey-Bass' popular Lencioni business fables, the format for Rain includes an actionable business model at the end of the book with instant takeaways and practical advice.

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Informazioni sull?autore

THE AUTHOR

JEFFREY J. FOX is the founder and president of Fox & Company, Inc., a marketing consulting firm that specializes in marketing strategy development, innovation, enhancement, and selling skills training. In addition, Fox is a popular speaker and the acclaimed author of a series of hard-hitting international business best-sellers, How to Become CEO, How to Become a Rainmaker, and Secrets of Great Rainmakers among others.

Dalla quarta di copertina

What do Alexander Hamilton,Walt Disney, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Sam Walton, Willy Mays, and Jerry Seinfeld have in common?

They all started out as paperboys.

Paperboys and girls symbolize our country's relentless, indefatigable entrepreneurial spirit. They bought, sold, and delivered papers. And they did it alone, often in the dark and cold&;and they were kids!

In this witty and wise story, bestselling business author Jeffrey J. Fox reveals why the lessons paperboys learn so often establish them on the early road to success. The story follows a young New England paperboy named Rain, as he navigates the business of being in business and quickly becomes the best paperboy in town.

Through a series of humorous and often poignant vignettes, Fox illustrates "rainmaker" business lessons that can be applied not only to paperboys, but to anyone in business and sales facing obstacles and challenges. While working his paper route, Rain gradually discovers the value of planning for an interview, the ten customer commandments, his ability to negotiate, why it's necessary to innovate, how to create an exit strategy, and much more. Ultimately, Rain's time as a paperboy proves to be a valuable foundation for business success.

Rain includes "The Rain Reader," a series of actionable business takeaways and practical advice to make anyone a rainmaker.

Estratto. © Ristampato con autorizzazione. Tutti i diritti riservati.

Rain

What a Paperboy Learned About BusinessBy Jeffrey J. Fox

John Wiley & Sons

Copyright © 2009 Jeffrey J. Fox
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-470-40853-7

Chapter One

Opportunity

It was Saturday morning, and Mom was making breakfast. Dad was reading the Town News section of The Gazette. Rain was reading the sports pages.

"Have you noticed," Dad asked, looking up from the paper at Rain, "that for the past few days, the paper is finally being delivered when it's supposed to be? In the morning?"

No one said anything.

"Would anyone like to know why the paper is getting here on time, after weeks of late or no paper?" Dad asked.

No one answered.

"Am I talking to myself?" Dad asked.

"Apparently," Mom said.

"Rain?" Dad said.

"What?" Rain asked, trying to read the baseball standings and look at his father at the same time.

"If you're interested and if you move fast, you might be able to get a job as a paperboy," Dad said.

Dad now had Rain's full interest. And Mom's.

"The reason the paper is being delivered on time is because a guy who works for the paper is delivering it. That kid, D.J. or P.J. or whatever his name was, who was supposed to be our paperboy, quit last week."

"Don't tell me you learned all that reading the paper," Mom said.

"No. The driver told me. He said P.J. was totally unreliable and they were probably gonna have to fire him. But he called in and quit. No notice."

"So are they looking for a new kid?" Rain asked.

"They'd probably take an adult, but, yeah, they are looking for a new kid. Here's their ad in the paper." Dad handed the paper to Rain.

Rain read the ad. Mom read the ad over Rain's shoulder.

"Well you are certainly trustworthy and reliable," Mom said.

"Do paperboys make a lot of money?" Rain asked.

"Relatively speaking, yes," Dad replied. "For a kid your age, making twenty-five bucks a week or more is pretty good."

"Twenty-five bucks a week?" Rain repeated.

"Maybe more, maybe less. It depends on the route, how much you get per paper, and other things. But I think someone could make a lot more."

"Do you think I could get the job?" Rain asked.

"Well, first you have to want the job. Delivering papers is a tough job, and delivering the morning paper is a bear."

"How hard can it be?" Rain asked.

"Really hard," Dad said. "You've got to get up early. Fold papers. In this neighborhood, you will have to use your bike. Papers are heavy. Bad weather. But a million kids do it, and the money is good."

"I want the job," Rain said.

"Let's talk for a second. I don't want you to rush into this. You just turned thirteen, and you weigh, what, 115 pounds?" Dad asked.

And all steel, Rain boasted to himself. But he said nothing.

"A paperboy has to work seven days a week. The U.S. Post Office is the best delivery organization in the world. They deliver millions of envelopes and packages a day, but they work six days. You'll be on for seven. No break. And you'll have to spend some afternoon time to collect money from your customers."

"You won't have to spend a lot of time collecting from this customer," Mom smiled.

Dad also smiled. "I mentioned collecting because you have baseball practice and two or so Babe Ruth games a week. That might conflict."

"I can do it," Rain said.

"So you still want the job?"

"I want the job."

"You're sure?" Dad asked.

"I'm sure."

"Okay. You have to call that number and get an interview. My guess is that after that D.J. kid, they are going to be careful about whom they hire."

"What exactly is an interview?" Rain asked.

"The guy from the paper will ask you some questions. He wants to know if you will do a good job. So he'll ask you questions to see if you are dependable, good in school. Your job during the interview is to convince the guy that you are the best kid for the job. You will have to impress-what's the guy's name? Mr. D'Michaels. You will have to sell him on you."

"Just smile," Mom encouraged, "and you will get the job."

"Just smile?" Rain asked.

"Lots of great salespeople have great smiles has been my observation," Mom said with certainty.

"Okay, this is one ball I intend to knock out of the park," Rain declared.

And I'm going to do a lot more than smile, he thought.

OPPORTUNITY

Immediate opening for an ambitious person to deliver The Gazette in the Moravia Woods, Wellington Heights, and Lawrence Avenue neighborhoods.

Applicants must be reliable and trustworthy. For an interview call Mr. D'Michaels. 1-800-Gazette

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Rainby Jeffrey J. Fox Copyright © 2009 by Jeffrey J. Fox. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Dettagli dell?edizione

• Editore: Jossey-Bass Inc Pub
• Data di pubblicazione: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0470408537
• ISBN 13: 9780470408537
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Lingua: Inglese
• Numero di pagine: 176
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile