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

---

What To Do When Your IT Project Is Late, Over Budget, and Looks Like It?s Never Going To Work

Here's a scary statistic. According to four prominent research firms,... Read More

Travel the World - for Free!

I have been very fortunate to travel to several countries... Read More

Create Your Methodology Based on a Standard Framework - Part One

OK. So you have decided that your organization has to... Read More

Empowering Others - Giving Them Some Control

It's been a pretty good weekend around the place -... Read More

Give Yourself a Boss Day Gift, Part 2: Are You the Position or the Person?

Are you the position or the person?Bosses can lose their... Read More

Its All About The Customers, Baby

If you want to ensure a steady stream of customers... Read More

Recruitment - Pick People Who Think

Old style management doesn't encourage personal mind control, employees aren't... Read More

The Power of ?Ask?

For Call Center managers, it is not a pipe dream... 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

How to Prepare for Your Companys Financial Future

Sooner or later, most business owners need to look for... Read More

Diversity in the Workplace

As you look around your office, is everyone just like... Read More

Improving Patient Sensitivity in Doctors and Hospital Staff

COMPANY/ORGANIZATIONA South Florida hospital. The CEO of the hospital saw... Read More

Its Not Always What You Say

A major source of communication breakdowns is incongruence between the... Read More

Innovation Management ? how does the user benefit?

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

Communicating with Offsite Workers

How do you, or would you, communicate with employees who... Read More

Its a Training Issue!

There's a common phrase used by Organizational Development and Human... Read More

Performance Expectations - 5 Tips and 5 Questions

People want to understand their role - they want to... Read More

Knowledge Management - Lessons Learned and How To Identify Them

Many organisations use the term "lessons learned" to describe the... Read More

The New Economy

This technological revolution has organization, efficiency and productivity requirements well... Read More

Smart Staffing Practices: Don?t Confuse Activity with Results

Does your hiring process consist of proven practices or just... Read More

How To Decrease Profits Without Really Trying

Hurting your sales efforts can be accomplished easily with the... Read More

The Business Shaman: Exploring the Mystery of Success!

Note: This article was written for a internet business site.... Read More

An Honest Look at Your Business

There is a difference between being comfortable and being in... Read More

Communicating with Case Studies

A few weeks ago, a couple of colleagues and I... Read More

The Compliance Officers Killer Application

It used to be that only the largest multi-nationals needed... Read More

The Fairness of Office Politics... Integrity and Political Motivation!

I hear many complaints daily about the "unfairness" of politics... Read More

I Said Pareto Chart? Not Potato Chart!

Does this sound familiar? You were hired for the new... Read More

Is Your Company in Need of Family Therapy?

How Companies Are Like FamiliesLike a family, a company is... Read More

The DNA of Motivation

It really is about motivation. After all, what impels someone... Read More

Innovation Management ? Rigorous data analysis

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

What is Six Sigma?

Six Sigma is a highly disciplined process focused on satisfying... Read More

Conquering the Number One Problem in Business--Poor Communication

The Number One problem in business is poor communication: between... Read More

Project Management - The Traveling Product Manager

Various studies ? and common sense ? indicate that involving... Read More