Secrets for Success

This book could change your life

Wellcome Library, London, UK.
Reviewer: Frances Norton, Head of the Wellcome Library

There are lots of books with titles like this – but this one is a real gem.

The title is ambitious but this book that really does covers all the bases and takes the reader through a range of eminently sensible steps to moving forward and achieving success. It's accessible and readable to people in all sorts of organisations and cultural settings, is laid out to make browsing easy - and is great as a backdrop to a training programme in which its possible to work through the content in a step-wise, modular fashion.

Today’s Manager (Singapore)

Reviewer: Tan Chee Teik, Editor

The author remembers that his mentor was turned out of his family home by his stepmother when he was 14 and sent to work on a farm. He had been a victim of poliomyelitis as a child but by sheer courage, determination, and hard work, he saved enough to renew his studies. He eventually became the head of a faculty of a prestigious Australian university. The book looks at what motivates successful people. There are many guidelines in the book that could help the reader achieve their objectives in life.
Written in the same style of Moss’s other books, this book is a compilation of ideas on how to be successful in your work life. The book answers questions such as: What is your ambition? What are your priorities? Do you know how to advance your career? And how can I lead a successful team
While there are many direct quotations in the book, there are no attributions. This may bother readers who will only believe a quotation if the source is credible.
The bulleted hints scattered throughout the book help to summarise useful ideas. For example, there are 10 great ways to reduce your stress:
• Organise yourself and plan your work and leisure.
• Make decisions quickly and meet deadlines early.
• Delegate responsibilities to people you can trust.
• Take time out to get your work in perspective.
• Reward yourself when you have done a good job.
• Learn to relax and control your anger if things go wrong.
• Keep healthy with a balanced diet and sensible exercise.
• Set aside time each week for leisure and things you enjoy.
• Balance your lifestyle. Be moderate in all things.
• Be aware what your body in telling you. Seek help if necessary.
While the book is full of suggestions, certain portions could have more depth and anecdotes to enhance learning.

ClipBoard (N024 October 2007)
Speech New Zealand. A New Zealand Speech Board publication

What Motivates Successful People?
In this book “Secrets for Success” you will find many guidelines that could help you achieve your goals in life.
Geoffrey Moss began writing this book after emailing people he had been to university with and asked them… “What advice would you give a young ambitious person starting out in their career today?” Many of these people had distinguished national and international careers.
It includes such chapters as ‘Be a good communicator’, ‘Advance your career’, ‘Lead a successful team’, and many others.
It is written in a clear concise bullet point style, which makes it easy to browse over the main points and then read the extended text for more depth information on those areas that interest.

Clive Dalton, Technical Editor of www.lifestyleblock.co.nz 
clive@lifestyleblock.co.nz

The number of books on farm and business management published over the years would fill a silage pit – and that’s where most of them should stay. They are unreadable academic tomes not meant for folk with jobs to do.
What a relief to have a book written for busy folk who have to get out there and get things done such as farm and herd managers, head shepherds and contractors.
All of them should invest thirty dollars in this superb little book. It’s bullet point style, clear print size, and plenty of white space, makes it easy to quickly browse the key points, and then read the extended words on the ones you want more information on.
It’s an ideal book to leave in the lunch room for staff to browse – especially those who need a bit of reassurance or motivation in their job.
Over Geoff’s many years in the communication business around the world he has always asked successful managers what were their secrets of success. He has called their very interesting replies ‘recommendations from achievers‘ and are summarised at the end of each chapter. These are full of great wisdom – such as ‘become a doer and not a talker’. You could fill a hayshed with names of folk who need this advice.
The book is full of such good practical advice that Geoff Moss always specialised in in his background starting as a farm cadet and doing great service as a farm adviser. He then went on to lead the Information Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in the days when there was massive technical support for those on the land.
As today’s farms get larger, team management is now a top priority and Geoff’s chapter on this is a highlight. The other pearl is the chapter on running effective meetings. How many staff do you remember rushing off to the back of the farm for some emergency when they hear the word, like dogs hearing the word ‘vet’!
The book contains great advice on job satisfaction, getting your personal priorities right and looking after yourself to avoid stress.
It would pay employers to buy a copy of the book for themselves, and at this price they should buy one for every member of their staff to read before next lambing and calving. It would be a great catalyst for some useful motivational discussions on winter‘s wet days before spring and when new staff arrive.

Distributor: David Bateman Ltd www.bateman.co.nz
30 Tarndale Grove, Bush Road, Albany, PO Box 100-242, NSMC, Auckland 1330
Cengage Learning Asia; for the rest of the world, Amazon.com
(Publishers' details - NEW ZEALAND - SINGAPORE)
For further information on how to order this publication contact: moss@xtra.co.nz

Training Secrets

Helping Adults Learn

People & Performance (June–July edition)
– the magazine of the NZ Association of Training & Development.
Reviewer: Sandra Jones, PSIS Branch Trainer 

I am quite new to the area of adult education and I was very appreciative of a chance to read a book on the topic. Thanks Simon.  Also, I catch the train to and from work so I am always looking out for good books to read to fill in the travelling time.   Geoffrey’s book meets two of my most important requirements for train reading: 1. is small enough for me to easily carry on the train and 2. on a topic I am interested in.
I found the book easy to read, with practical advice.  It is an excellent guide and it covers all that you might need to consider when training, from the initial planning through to assessing returns on training.  I found the first chapter ‘helping adults learn’ useful in considering what might motivate an adult learner.   I especially enjoyed the chapter on improving your training.  I found the check list here a very useful tool and it has made me think of what I am doing and what I could do to improve the training sessions I run. 
The language Geoffrey uses is not technical or complicated as he writes in terms that I can easily understand and relate to.  He gives useful hints throughout the book, either as a one liner or as check lists summarising a particular chapter topic.
Geoffrey has had extensive experience in training overseas and I enjoyed reading of these experiences.  There are some lighter and not so light moments, but generally all very interesting and still quite relevant to some situations I have found myself in.
I would recommend this book to add to a training library as both a useful guide to the new trainer and as a refresher for an experienced trainer.
 

The National Business Review (May 5, 2006)
Dr J.S. Rowarth, Director, Office for Environmental Programs
University of Melbourne

Lifelong learning is a reality. People have taken to heart the message that if you aren’t learning, you are stagnating – and the workforce doesn’t tolerate those who stand still.
Likewise employers are investing in the training and development (T&D) of their staff.
Training Secrets: Helping adults learn is the latest aid on the topic by Geoffrey Moss, a prolific author (18 training, management and communication books in 66 editions with 28 publishers in 18 countries and 11 languages).
In Training Secrets Mr Moss has created another source of extremely useful information on helping adults to learn. He has identified 49 ways to train and explains them all clearly and concisely, with helpful hints and anecdotes, exercises and checklists.
Given that many people are, or will become, line managers, and therefore mentors, the book should not be reserved only for human resources staff; reading it will assist most people to improve the way in which they pass on information – which is part of being a good manager.
Any company not investing in its staff is on the road to losing its assets; any managers not developing skills will find themselves on the road to unemployment.

ClipBoard (No21 April 2006)
A New Zealand Speech Board publication

Geoffrey Moss is a masterly communicator. This is well demonstrated in Training Secrets, the latest in a long line of training books published by a prolific writer. Training Secrets, as with the previous books, is clearly referenced, enticing in layout, easy to access and full of useful procedures and tips.
While the title promises things mysterious, the content is down to earth and based on practical common sense. Examples and advice are drawn from Geoff Moss’s extensive and interesting training experiences. ‘War stories’ introduce each section and draw the reader into what to do and what not to do as a trainer. Reminders and tips focus on essentials and are easy to remember.
The six chapters deal with: Helping Adults Learn, Planning Training, Training Ways, Are You a Good trainer?, Returns on Training, and International training. The chapter on Training Ways sets out various ways people come together for training. So, if you are not sure of the difference between a conference, convention, seminar, forum, or programmed instruction; a skit, a role play or simulation, Training Secrets will sort you out and guide you how to use each of these and many more – 49 in all – training ways. Of special interest is his advice on working in the international market and dealing with different cultures.
There is something here for the experienced trainer and valuable ideas for all who train, tutor or teach adults.

MASSEY (Issue 20, April 2006) 
The magazine for alumni and friends of Massey University
Reviewer: Barbara Lambourn

“I’ve been a fan of Geoffrey Moss since I got hold of his Trainers Handbook in about 1990. Moss lives in Wellington and has been published in 16 countries and in nine languages.
This book follows his trusted format of presenting useful, practical information in a visual lively layout. A huge number of clever ideas, checklists, quotes and stories illustrate a very sensible and comprehensive approach to helping adults learn and practise new skills.
Says Moss, “There are many different ways to train, but always remember people learn best when they are enjoying training, learning helpful things, contributing with ideas and having fun.” Those of us who  have endured bad training will endorse that approach.
For people taking on training as a new role or wanting to freshen up tired skills, this will be an excellent resource. It has a 190 pages packed with information to save hours of time and make training rewarding for everyone.

LDI Training
Singapore

"This book is easy to read and full of useful information.
At the beginning of each chapter there is a story. This is creative and will arouse curiosity. Every trainer should read this book when preparing for a training session. Both experienced and new trainers will find it useful to pick up creative ideas quickly. Some training techniques could be expanded for new trainers."

Distributor: David Bateman Ltd www.bateman.co.nz
30 Tarndale Grove, Bush Road, Albany, PO Box 100-242, NSMC, Auckland 1330
Cengage Learning Asia; for the rest of the world, Amazon.com
(Publishers' details - NEW ZEALAND - SINGAPORE)
For further information on how to order this publication contact: moss@xtra.co.nz

Persuasive Ways

‘Tricks of the trade’ to get your ideas across.

ClipBoard, April 2005
A publication of Speech New Zealand (NZ Speech Board) – The examining body for speech and drama teachers

Persuasive Ways is the latest in a series of highly recommended books on communication from the renowned Geoffrey Moss. He draws on many years of experience lecturing, speaking and giving workshops at universities, and conferences throughout Asia and the Pacific. He has worked in training and communication planning with the United Nations and is a Fellow of Speech New Zealand.
This book is crammed full of persuasive information and techniques for a wide range of situations. Browsing through the book I found myself drawn in to the easy layout and immediately wanting to find opportunities to use the information.
Persuasive Ways will support your teaching of SNZ syllabuses: information is easy to find and useful techniques are given to use in preparing presentations, researching the audience, deciding on the purpose of your talk, visual aids, anecdotes and storytelling within presentations.
There are succinct strategies on meeting procedures, preparing motions and dealing with hecklers and interjections.
Radio and television interviews and teleconferencing also come within Geoffrey Moss’s compass, as do listening and questioning skills. Wider skills of writing to be read and persuasive displays along with a range of special presentation ideas give this book an additional broad appeal.
At $30 this is an extremely valuable resource for a speech teacher’s library. Persuasive Ways is available from all good bookshops.
 

The National Business Review

“Persuasive Ways follows the successful formula of his previous book, Revitalise Your Business. The chapters are divided into sections with clear instructions and examples to illustrate each main point. Handy hints and major points to remember are highlighted.”
“For beginners, and those who want to do the job more effectively, this is an easy to read manual. It is also a much better title to have on one’s desk than Communication for Dummies.”
“His books follow his own instructions – they are clear, direct and well illustrated (with examples, anecdotes for human interest and, where appropriate, cartoons).”
“The book, which was launched by the chief ombudsman, John Belgrave, is excellent value and I keep it on my desk for easy reference.”

Massey – The magazine for alumni and friends of Massey University
Reviewed by Malcolm Wood

In 184 pages Geoffrey Moss has set out to cover a great deal of ground. Whether you are setting out to deliver a presentation, write a report, set up a display, handle an interview or hold a meeting -- to mention just a few of the topics covered -- you may well find Persuasive Ways helpful. Will it be all you need to know? Probably not. To cover all of these topics in depth would require not a single book but a bookshelf's worth, and I'd recommend you assemble a reading list if you are at all serious about learning the craft of writing, say, or making the best use of the Web (something hardly touched on ) or e-mail. Nonetheless, Moss's combination of succinct common-sense advice and the extensive use of check lists  should keep you from most of the most embarrassing of gaffes -- those ones you remember for ever after -- or glaring of omissions.
Moss ought to know what he is writing about. The director of Moss Associates, he has been training managers for over a decade and he estimates over 2,300 people have attended his workshops. Moss is both a Massey alumnus and is a former staff member.)

Cengage Learning Asia; for the rest of the world, Amazon.com
(Publishers' details - NEW ZEALAND - SINGAPORE)
For further information on how to order this publication contact: moss@xtra.co.nz

Revitalise Your Business

Today’s Manager (Singapore)

“Geoffrey Moss believes that the new leader-manager should be a facilitator, co-ordinator, communicator and mentor who gets things done through good leadership, motivation and coaching. The clear and concise writing ensures the message behind every topic in each chapter leaves little room for doubt.”
“Revitalise Your Business is a reference primer for effectively meeting many of the challenges facing leader-managers today.”

New Zealand Investment Journal

“What makes one business do better than another? Strong, visionary leadership is one answer and an important factor for success. Revitalise Your Business will help you if you are looking for practical ways to become a better leader and manager and enhance your knowledge of ways to improve your business.”
“This book could revitalise your management style as well as revitalise your business.”

Christchurch City Libraries, CONNECT
Issue No 135, Kate Ogden, Business Centre

Geoffrey Moss once worked as a manager. This experience translated into a series of lectures at the University of the South Pacific which in turn lead to the publication Survival skills for new managers. The success of this book spawned a series of workshops for managers throughout Asia. Moss describes this new work as "a summary of some of the lessons learned during these workshops."
Revitalise your business is an intensely practical book. Moss has deliberately stepped back from management theories and fads emerging from Europe and the Americas. His aim is to encourage managers to draw on their own experience, on their understanding of their own cultures to solve problems and to develop relevant solutions. Moss looks at controlling costs, improving performance, getting things done, communicating ideas and reducing stress among many other subjects. Each chapter is full of questions, driving the reader to assess their current practice in the light of possible best practice. The list of points to consider is seemingly endless and the stream of advice from the author insists on a realistic outlook by the reader.
The book does not demand change; indeed Moss spends some time encouraging the manager not to re-organise a business just for the sake of it. Any manager who has struggled to apply management theories and exciting new ideas to their workplace will find this book valuable. It addresses the problems that every manager faces and assists the reader in finding answers that might help in the real world.

Professor J.S.Rowarth, AgScience

“In all the books I have read, this is the most direct and easy to use.”
“Geoffrey Moss has written a comprehensive guide for new managers. It is particularly attractive for the investigatively-inclined as it contains clear instructions. This is in marked contrast to most self-help books which bury facts within the description of ‘what happened to somebody else’ or what someone does in these circumstances.”
“The format is extremely easy to follow, and the layout enhances clarity.”
“If you are a new manager-leader, the answer to “What’s in it for you?” is “Lots”. The information is not new, but it is collected in ‘one handy package’. Furthermore, one feels that all the information is grounded in practical experiences. So it should be. After all, Geoffrey’s experience over many years helping people to improve their management and leadership is the foundation for this rock-solid book.”
“My plan is to have it in my office at work for those desperate moments when I forget what to do.”
“The book also helps with planning your future. Towards that future, one simple tip is to join professional societies and network with people in similar jobs.”

Ag Science Book Review 0307

I'm addicted to these books. They come under the category of 'Self Help' and, as a baby-boomer, I believe that success is under my control. I also believe that I can succeed better if I research the information and try harder. This book provides many helpful tips for working efficiently in the right direction - and success will follow. In all the books on this subject I have read, this is the most direct and easy to use.
Geoff Moss, Jubilee member of NZIAS, has written a comprehensive guide for new managers. It is particularly attractive for the investigatively-inclined (the latest career-speak for the character type embracing agricultural science and university lecturers), as it contains clear instructions. This is in marked contrast to most self-help books which bury facts within the description of 'what happened to somebody else' or 'what somebody did in these circumstances'.
The typical approach is all very well for the experienced person, but those who are new may not be able to see the wood for the trees - enter Geoff's book. It is practical, straight to the point, and also contains human interest. Although it is without philosophical or psychological underpinning, these can easily be found in other books on the self-help shelf, and can be read when more of the basics are understood.
Topics covered in the 12 chapters include restructuring, 'growing the business', controlling costs, improving staff performance, recruiting, building teams, getting things done, being a better manager, crisis management, communicating, reducing stress (the curse of our time), and revitalising yourself. Within the major headings there are many other topics, all of which are clearly identified.
Each chapter starts with an anecdote or two, attracting interest without overdoing the description. Straight advice tips follow, and hints from successful managers are included towards the end after the instructions and suggestions.
The format is extremely easy to follow, and the layout enhances clarity. The use of shading and shapes for different aspects has been cleverly done as, although the pages seem busy at first glance, first glance also lets the reader know whether they are looking at a quotation, hints, or anecdotes.
Reflect, Review and Do sections throughout the book suggest time to think and plan. They follow the overall concept of the book: "I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand"Direct questions are asked in these sections to prompt the reader to provide personally-based answers. And there is space to write notes as reminders for the future.
The HELPDEX on both covers is an innovative and useful feature. I particularly like the entry SELF IMPROVEMENT 294, and comment that that is far too restrictive - it applies to the whole book. Turning to page 294, however, one finds self-improvement recommendations, enabling preparation for career advancement. It might have been more attractive for the generation X people (classified as WIIFM = what's in it for me?) if this chapter was at the beginning. Working backwards to why they needed to know about agendas/crises/restructuring might have been more attractive. However, as there is no 'story-line' as such, reading in any order is possible.
If you are a new manager-leader, the answer to "What's in it for you?" is "Lots". The information is not new, but it is collected in 'one handy package'. Furthermore, one feels that all the information is grounded in practical experience. So it should be. After all, Geoff's experience over many years helping people to improve in their management and leadership is the foundation for this rock-solid book.
Each item of interest can be remembered and then followed up in more detail elsewhere if required. This makes it an excellent easy 'reminder book' for those who are 'not-so-new manager-leaders', and this is one of the ways suggested to use it. My plan is to have it in my office at work for those desperate moments when I forget what to do.
The chapter on crisis management doesn't actually contain the instruction to read the book, but it does have good points on negotiation and, particularly important in the current environment, guidelines for dealing with media speculation. Perhaps the most important instruction within those guidelines is 'don't speculate yourself'.
That instruction is echoed in the chapter on career advancement - be an achiever, not a talker. This is in marked contrast to most "business speak" which includes comments such as "talk it till you walk it'' and "fake it till you make it", anathema to those used to dealing with facts.
The way to achieve is to know your facts by putting in the groundwork and acting appropriately, with enthusiasm and energy; by setting high standards and asking the hard question; by finding a mentor to assist your development. This book helps with all these things (except naming a mentor).
The book also helps with planning your future. Towards that future, one simple tip is to join professional societies and network with people in similar jobs. The Council of your professional society endorses this statement and looks forward to receiving the membership applications from new leader-managers that you, as a more experienced person, will be mentoring.
So Geoff's book has helped in that respect, too.

Cengage Learning Asia; for the rest of the world, Amazon.com
(Publishers' details - NEW ZEALAND - SINGAPORE)
For further information on how to order this publication contact: moss@xtra.co.nz

Persuasive Ways

‘Tricks of the trade’ to get your ideas across.

ClipBoard, April 2005
A publication of Speech New Zealand (NZ Speech Board) – The examining body for speech and drama teachers

Persuasive Ways is the latest in a series of highly recommended books on communication from the renowned Geoffrey Moss. He draws on many years of experience lecturing, speaking and giving workshops at universities, and conferences throughout Asia and the Pacific. He has worked in training and communication planning with the United Nations and is a Fellow of Speech New Zealand.
This book is crammed full of persuasive information and techniques for a wide range of situations. Browsing through the book I found myself drawn in to the easy layout and immediately wanting to find opportunities to use the information.
Persuasive Ways will support your teaching of SNZ syllabuses: information is easy to find and useful techniques are given to use in preparing presentations, researching the audience, deciding on the purpose of your talk, visual aids, anecdotes and storytelling within presentations.
There are succinct strategies on meeting procedures, preparing motions and dealing with hecklers and interjections.
Radio and television interviews and teleconferencing also come within Geoffrey Moss’s compass, as do listening and questioning skills. Wider skills of writing to be read and persuasive displays along with a range of special presentation ideas give this book an additional broad appeal.
At $30 this is an extremely valuable resource for a speech teacher’s library. Persuasive Ways is available from all good bookshops.
 

The National Business Review

“Persuasive Ways follows the successful formula of his previous book, Revitalise Your Business. The chapters are divided into sections with clear instructions and examples to illustrate each main point. Handy hints and major points to remember are highlighted.”
“For beginners, and those who want to do the job more effectively, this is an easy to read manual. It is also a much better title to have on one’s desk than Communication for Dummies.”
“His books follow his own instructions – they are clear, direct and well illustrated (with examples, anecdotes for human interest and, where appropriate, cartoons).”
“The book, which was launched by the chief ombudsman, John Belgrave, is excellent value and I keep it on my desk for easy reference.”

Massey – The magazine for alumni and friends of Massey University
Reviewed by Malcolm Wood

In 184 pages Geoffrey Moss has set out to cover a great deal of ground. Whether you are setting out to deliver a presentation, write a report, set up a display, handle an interview or hold a meeting -- to mention just a few of the topics covered -- you may well find Persuasive Ways helpful. Will it be all you need to know? Probably not. To cover all of these topics in depth would require not a single book but a bookshelf's worth, and I'd recommend you assemble a reading list if you are at all serious about learning the craft of writing, say, or making the best use of the Web (something hardly touched on ) or e-mail. Nonetheless, Moss's combination of succinct common-sense advice and the extensive use of check lists  should keep you from most of the most embarrassing of gaffes -- those ones you remember for ever after -- or glaring of omissions.
Moss ought to know what he is writing about. The director of Moss Associates, he has been training managers for over a decade and he estimates over 2,300 people have attended his workshops. Moss is both a Massey alumnus and is a former staff member.)