Who is Roger Masterson?
He is a serial entrepreneur and has set up many successful companies. He is best know as ‘the castle man’, through a unique company called Celtic Castles, which is an award winning online castle-booking company, based in the heart of Yorkshire. The company specialises in the provision of overnight castle accommodation, private functions and parties, family gatherings, weddings and corporate events, with the common theme of a fantastic castle experience.
Roger reads at least 2 business books per month and, with his wealth of hands on knowledge, he is able to offer a platform and share this learning. This is a free service, so tell others!
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Ogilvy on Advertising, David Ogilvy
(Guest Reviewer: Carl Hopkins) -
Power vs.Force, David R. Hawkins
(Guest Reviewer: Deirdre Bounds) -
Ask And You Will Succeed, Kenneth D Foster
(Guest Reviewer: John Hotowka)
Title: How to be a Complete and Utter Failure in Life, Work and Everything: 44 1/2 Steps to Lasting Underachievement
Author: by Steve McDermott
Roger's Review:
I first met Steve in 1996, after attending one of his courses on a barge in Leeds. It was just after our introductions that the event had paid for itself and it was to project me on a new direction, so to say I am a fan of Steve’s is an understatement. I have read all 3 versions of this book and have enjoyed reading them each time, so it was nice to get a copy of his additional steps.
Put simply, this book offers an energetic way to look at techniques for being more successful both at work and home, and in life in general. It is fantastic if you need some direction, motivation and inspiration. The real life stories and anecdotes are really funny, making this a very readable book. Once you've started reading it you won’t want to put it down, even for the third time!
Interesting thought that Steve picks up on – P50, rather than invent the wheel, successful people model success. Find any successful person and ask them. ‘Do you have a library?’ They almost always say ‘yes’, when asked what is in their library, they usually tell you biographies and autobiographies. If someone lives in a big house with a library – ask them which came first? They usually tell you it was reading the books that enabled them to afford the library.
Steve is very much into constant feedback, both up and down, and he questions the need for the dreaded annual appraisal as we know it. He talks a lot about failure and how we view this, the first four minutes and how enthusiasm can be the key to success. Steve is remarkable at painting pictures and connecting with his audience. If you get a chance to meet Steve or go on one of his courses, do so as this will be money well spent, and it may even have an impact on our life as it did mine.
Inspirational! Absolutely brilliant! Buy it. Read it. Enjoy it.
Quote:
"I love this book – by saying the exact opposite of what you should do – it really hones in on the messages – and breaks the bad habits.
Sahar Hashemi, Co-Founder of Coffee Republic
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
"
Amazon Description:
How to be a Complete and Utter Failure turns the concept of self-improvement on its head. It brings together 44 and a half leading ideas in personal and business development, and offers a total antedote to the motivational, gung-ho, over-enthused tone of all the usual self-improvement guides.
Delivered in fast, easily digestible chunks, in a style that makes you laugh while you learn, this book offers tongue-in-cheek advice about what not to do to ensure certain failure in every aspect of your life. From not having any goals, to not getting advice from people you've never met or who are dead, to not taking personal responsibility for your life and results, every idea, strategy, suggestion and story is guaranteed to propel you into the slow lane of total inadequacy and has been tested with thousands of real people.
How to be a Complete and Utter Failure comes with a warning - that you don't think about taking the direct opposite steps to those outlined in the guide, as this could seriously damage your chances of becoming a failure. Behind the humour, though, is good advice and a serious message. And whether you choose to heed the warning or not, it's an extremely entertaining read.
From the Back Cover
Do you want to fail in everything you do and waste all your potential?
Life is about being negative, right? It’s about not taking opportunities, never changing and, most importantly, feeling unhappy and unfulfilled.
How to Be a Complete and Utter Failure is your ultimate ANTI life coach. From not having any goals, to not taking personal responsibility for your life, every idea, strategy, suggestion and story in here is guaranteed to propel you into the slow lane of total inadequacy.
Be warned: whatever you do, don’t do the opposite of what you learn here or else you’re in serious danger of making some positive changes and leading a more successful life.
Amazon Review:
This book doesn't do what it says on the tin. Quite the opposite. I t is written with commendable charm and clarity, laden with chuckles and insights in equal measure. You will laugh and you will think – often at the same time.
Neil Mullarkey, Founder-Member of the Comedy Store Players
