Big Bucks!

In Raving Fans, Blanchard (The One Minute Manager, etc.) and Bowles, a consultant, concentrated on the importance of delighting customers. In Gung Ho!, they focused on how companies could become ""the employer of choice"" and attract the best employees. Here they complete their trilogy with a look at how businesses--and employees--can make more money by properly focusing their time and energy. As in the authors' previous titles, the points are presented through a parable. In this case, a man struggling to make ends meet goes on a journey to discover the secret to becoming rich and meets three wise (and successful) people who present simple truths: among them, you can't make money unless you are having fun; instead of trying to cut costs, companies should devote themselves to increasing sales; and those who want to make a lot of money need to make sure the firm they work for believes in paying employees a lot. The authors clearly prefer to provide inspiration rather than a road map. But, to their credit, the key messages are presented effectively. Fans of the series and this approach will be satisfied, while those looking for something more substantial will no doubt forge on. (May)