Never Wrestle with a PIG

The business books at the library and book stores fill many shelves. Some authors tend to run a little long at the keyboard. There is one voice that stands out from the crowd, Mark McCormack.

Mark McCormack is the founder of the International Management Group (IMG) and was the guy who became Arnold Palmer's agent in 1959. At the time, although enormously successful and popular, Palmer had only one endorsement deal - with Heinz for $500 a year (and as much ketchup as he wanted).

Mark and Arnie's simple handshake agreement changed the world of sports forever. Stick with me, this is NOT about sports.

It wasn't long before McCormack had signed two other rising stars Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. McCormack didn't limit himself to golf. In 1968, he signed his first tennis player, Australia's Rod Laver as well as representing athletes from football, rugby, cricket, motor racing and a host of other sports.

McCormack's company, International Management Group or IMG, became the biggest name in corporate sport and moved beyond sports, managing former Presidents and Prime Ministers, Pope John Paul II and even represented the Nobel Peace Prize.

There is more to the sports business than knowing how to swing a golf club or how tight to string a tennis racket. Mark McCormack began sharing his common sense approach to business in 1984, when he wrote "What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School" a book that spent twenty-one weeks at the top of the New York Times bestseller list.

He followed it with "What They STILL Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School" and recorded both of them on audio cassette.

These are not sports books but essential, down to earth, common sense, get-a-grip business advice books. Reading them is great, but listening to them on audio cassette, read by Mark himself is an even bigger treat. McCormack is one of the most plain-speaking and credible business teachers we have, and he comes across especially well in this relaxed studio recording.

Though Mark's principles are powerful, he's a humble teacher for someone at his level. His delivery is so understated you will discover the value of his ideas naturally rather than having to work around an overzealous sales pitch. Listening to Mark's unassuming voice, with no airs, is like having an understanding business partner in the seat next to you as you drive down the road.

Mark died in May of 2003 but his words and ideas will help generations to come. You can find his stuff in almost any library and many libraries have the audio books, too. A quick look at Half.com will find most of his audios in like new condition for a fraction of the cost.

Many times you will be given a choice of Mark's audio books, abridged or unabridged. For years I didn't much care one way or another until I listened to Stephen King on CD telling me why I should only choose unabridged. Sure it takes longer, but you get the drift of the author's thoughts entirely, not just some of them chosen by an unseen editor. Chose unabridged and go the extra mile is possible.

Here is a partial list of audio books and CD's by Mark McCormack that I highly recommend

What They Don't Tech You at the Harvard Business School

What They STILL Don't Tech You at the Harvard Business School

On Selling
On Communicating
On Managing
On Getting Organized
On Negotiating

The 110% Solution

The Terrible Truth About Lawyers: How Lawyers Really Work and How to Deal With Them Successfully

Hit the Ground Running: The Insider's Guide to Executive Travel

Staying Street Smart in the Internet Age

Never Wrestle with a Pig: And Ninety Other Ideas to Build Your Business

For more BIG ideas on business get my article "Voice Mail Can Be Your Buddy" Send a blank eMail to the MailTo:VoiceMail@BigIdeasGroup.com

If you take my advice and listen to Mark McCormack for the first time, I would like to hear your opinion and reaction. MailTo:Mike@BIGIdeasGroup.com

©2005 BIG Mike McDaniel All Rights Reserved Mike@BIGIdeasGroup.com BIG Mike is a Professional Speaker and Small Business Consultant with over 30 years experience, http://BIGIdeasGroup.com

Subscribe to "BIG Mike's BIG Ideas" Newsletter MailTo:subscribe-956603364@ezinedirector.net

---

Hidden Consultants Within Your Organization

You've all heard the old joke about a consultant being... Read More

6 Ways to Keep Things Simple

Six Ways to Keep Things Simple We can have greater... Read More

14 Ways to De-Stress Employee Vacations

Employees truly deserve paid vacations. Theystruggle through stressful jobs most... Read More

Top Ten Tips About People Management

To get the best results you have to be very... Read More

How To Use Outsourcing To Beat Your Competition

Outsourcing is when you hire outside professionals or services to... Read More

Assertiveness Helps Accomplish Everything

When trying to get something accomplished, assertive behavior is the... Read More

Relationship Building - 5 Tips and 5 Questions

And is isn't hard - it's more about focusing on... Read More

How To Jump Start Your Profits and Keep Your Profits Rolling

There are so many ways to jump start your prifits... Read More

Take Control of Your Paper in 3 Easy Steps

Do you have piles of paper on your desk. Many... Read More

Recruitment - Do You Know What Youre Looking For?

The time will come when you'll need to interview someone... Read More

Mantra for Managers

What do organizations look for in a prospective employee with... Read More

6 Shared Factors of Successful Executives

These factors where determined by interviews with and books from... Read More

Stop Waste, Fraud and Abuse

Each year, businesses write-off six percent of revenue to waste,... Read More

ISO 9001 2000, Getting Started on The Route To Registration

ISO 9001 2000, Getting startedBefore starting the ISO 9001 2000... Read More

Success: A Wholistic Perspective

The world has always been mixed with the... Read More

Don?t Forget Where You Came from - Why the Past is Important in Implementing Business Change

Much of the literature and advice on implementing business change... Read More

Tales From the Corporate Frontlines:The Importance of a Competitive Wage and Benefit Package

This article relates to the Compensation and Benefits competency, commonly... Read More

Why Half of All Mergers Fail After the Honeymoon Ends

Marriages and corporate mergers in America have at least one... Read More

Magnificent Meetings - 5 Tips for Success

Your impact at meetings will determine in a big way... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management ? Competition versus Collaboration

There is much confusion as to whether competition or collaboration... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management ? Personality Testing

Whilst tests measuring the creative or innovative personality exist, there... Read More

Creative Writing - business principles produce more quality work, faster

Maximization methodologies have long been used in business to produce... Read More

Turbo Charge Your Career With The Most Powerful Leadership Tool Of All: The Leadership Talk Part 3

To develop and deliver a great Leadership Talk, you must... Read More

The How-Tos of Firing Incompetent Employees

CATEGORIES OF OFFENSES: Most organizations have two categories of offenses... Read More

5 Interviewing Mistakes That Can Lead To Hiring The Wrong Person

Mistake #1: Going with the flowInexperienced interviewers sometimes fall into... Read More

A Winning Way to Handle New Ideas

Janet DiClaudio, who was charge of medical records at two... Read More

6 Steps to Effective Communication

Effective leaders are known for being excellent communicators. Here's what... Read More

Instantly Uncover Your Corporate Culture

Best Definition of "Corporate Culture"If you ask 10 people to... Read More

Are You A B.O.S.S. -- Boisterous, Omnipotent, Self Indulgent, Sociopath

Boisterous, Omnipotent, Self- indulgent Sociopath. Avoid the B.O.S.S. syndrome with... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management: The Value Of Due Diligence

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Knowledge Management - Creating a Sustainable Yellow Pages System

How can I "know who knows" None of us can... Read More

Multiple Channels, Multiple Times

I've just been reading about the frustrations of a Human... Read More

Project Management - Its Just A Button

I once worked with a developer who showed up at... Read More