Franco Arda's Blog

[image error]The best wars are never fought. Preventing conflict is the mark of a mater general, at least according to general and philosopher Sun Tzu. Although there are many techniques you can use to win a battle, the truly talented individual will never have to even raise a hand to his opponent. 

But how does this strategy apply to daily life? Answer: you should enter every conversation, every argument, and every competition with the intent to win.

SmarterComics is please to present the 3rd edition of Sun Tzu's powerful observations in an updated formart perfect for the 21st century (it's now extended and in full-color). From the machinations of a down and dirty senate race to the dimly lit parior of a gangstar kingpin, Sun Tzu's insights have as much resonance now as they did 2,500 years ago. 

[image error]The new ART OF WAR from SmarterComics is YOUR GUIDE TO WINNING IN LIFE! If you enjoy winning, learning from the undisputed master is the fastest route to success. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of your opponent along with your own skills will enable you to seize desirbable opportunities and avoid pitfalls. Winning isn't just a strategy; It's a mindset and a lifelong discpipline. Start winning today.

Available on :

Amazon or Barnes & Noble 

[image error]Whenever I speak to customers or journalists, I’m told that everyone’s greatest desire is to become financially successful. Financial success isn’t necessarily about being filthy rich (although most people wouldn't mind). People are pragmatic: In an ideal world, they’d like to have the freedom to do and not do whatever they like, and feel free from daily financial pressure.

Here’s a mindblower. In 1937, Napoleon Hill wrote a "blueprint" to becoming rich based on the strategies, practices and habits of the richest people in the world. It's called THINK & GROW RICH, and over 70 million copies sold have been sold since its publication.

An amazingly high number of successful people accredit their wealth to the ideas contained in the book. I speak to a lot of people and almost everybody says that they read the original book but felt it was fairly complicated.

Luckily, the secret is out. After 15 months of hard work, we're thrilled to present you with a comic book version of the original bestseller that presents all the concepts of the book in illustrated form. With THINK & GROW RICH from SmarterComics ($19.90) you'll get:

- 60 fully illustrated pages (PDF)
- MP3 Audiobook: A Fast-Paced, Focused 45 minutes
- A World of Innovation: Wallpaper for your Computer
- 10 Question Quiz so you can master your skills!

As far as I know, nobody has ever offered such an innovative way of easily learning the secret to making big bucks. This groundbreaking format is one of the reasons that Entrepreneur Magazine chose SmarterComics as one of the 100 Most Innovative Companies (June 2012).

Try out a sample chapter for free! Get on the path to riches by downloading the chapter on "How to Think Money" today.

http://thinkandgrowrichillustrated.com/

To your SUCCE$$,

Franco Arda, Founder

[image error]I studied business and the most horrible topic was accounting. The courses were simply too abstract and boring. What a waste! Unfortunately, unless you’re an astronaut, you need to understand the basics of accounting to function in the real world. Accounting helps us understand how companies work, whether you’re employed at a Fortune 500 company, a law firm, a fast food joint or even as a gardener.

We decided that learning accounting doesn’t have to be a chore. We worked with two of the world’s biggest experts (Karen Berman and Joe Knight) on accounting to bring you “Financial Intelligence from SmarterComics.” Based on the bestselling Harvard Business Review Press book, these beautiful 80 pages in full color show you the concept of assets, liabilities, profits, loss and so on. NO BORING ABSTRACT LECTURES OR READING! Promised. As a bonus, you get the audiobook as an MP3 download for free. It's not a boring 10 hour audiobook ... but 28 minutes focused on the main points.

Now available in paperback, Kindle format and at Barnes & Noble. Check out the sample pages on Amazon.com. Big concepts are illustrated, making them easy to understand.

I promise you will start adding it all up in minutes!

To your success!

Franco Arda, Founder

[image error]In Entrepreneur's annual look of 2012 at the brightest ideas, the hottest industries and the most insightful innovators, SmarterComics was one of the 100 selected companies to be chosen from.

We're honored.

Thank you to our customers, agents, artists, authors, publicist, sales, domestic retailers, partners in Asia/Europe/South America... and of course, Entrepeneur.com

Link to Entrepreneur's 100 of 2012:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/100brilliantcompanies

Link to the article about SmarterComics:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/223612

 
[image error] 1. What are my highest value activities?
2. What can I and only I do that will make a real difference?
3.What is the most valuable use of my time?

This isn’t a quiz…this is a test. If you can answer the above three questions with accuracy and speed, you will be a success in both life and business. If, on the other hand, you don’t know the answers, you need to spend some time re-evaluating your life.

The key to success is not only knowing the answers to these questions, but taking action on them. Learning how to schedule your time is a big part of it, too. By saying “no” to anything that is not a high-value use of your time and your life, you clear out a lot of distractions, hassles, and other useless time-wasters. You can start focusing on doing those activities which result in either more money, happiness, or personal success. Understanding what your strengths are and how to apply those strengths in the most efficient manner possible will put you ahead of everyone else. Once you start reaping the rewards of your work, you’ll discover that you have more energy than ever to keep yourself motivated.


[image error] Let Brian Tracy help you getting MORE DONE IN LESS TIME. Start TODAY! Available as paperback on Amazon.com

[image error]According to master samurai Miyamoto Musashi, there are four ways in which you can make your way through life: either as a gentleman warrior, a farmer, an artisan, or a merchant. A farmer tills the soil seasonally to produce crops. He is never able to build on his previous achievements, because they are ephemeral. A merchant makes his living by profiting off others. A gentleman warrior carries his own weapons and lives in his own particular style, but he must have an appreciation for strategy if he is to be successful.

Similarly, the artisan masters a particular craft or skill not only by becoming proficient in the details, but by being able to conceptualize of a much larger strategy. Whether you are attempting to build a house or lead an army to victory, the underlying principles of strategy, meticulousness, and practice must be studied and carried out.

There is no “one size fits all” approach to a truly meaningful life. Even a prefabricated house must first be planned out, engineered, disassembled and then reassembled. Becoming an artisan allows you to understand how all the components of your life can be manipulated to produce different results, leading to success and prosperity.

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Miyamoto Musahi's masterpice "The Book of Five Rings from SmarterComics" is now available on Amazon (paperback and Kindle Edition).

Click here to get more info!

[image error]People are rarely what they seem. Unfortunately, people often attempt to disguise their true motivations in order to be able to manipulate the situation to their advantage. However, there's no reason that you should fall for this trap. All you have to do is train yourself to see past the manipulation and BS. Once you've converted to a realistic view, nobody will ever be able to fool you again.

Luckily, learning to see a person's true nature doesn't require a 4-year degree from an Ivy League university. Instead, it requires that you learn to face down the harsh circumstances of life without flinching. Ask yourself: What does a person have to gain from a particular scenario? What do you offer them, if anything? Once you understand what's really going on, make a commitment to upholding a realistic vision.

It may be difficult sometimes to admit that people's motivations are darker and more complex than we would like them to be, but it's much better to see the truth than be stabbed in the back by an artfully constructed lie. As 50 Cent says, you can convert to a realistic view at any time. All it takes is courage.

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From the upcoming book by rapper 50 Cent and Robert Greene (author of The 48 Laws of Power) "The 50th Law from SmarterComics".

Now avaialable for pre-orders on Amazon!

 

 

[image error]We often hear that "cash is king," and in the business world, there is nothing more important than understanding that cash is the king of all operations.  Although companies shut down for a wide variety of reasons, the most universal reason is, quite simply, they ran out of cash.

In the SmarterComics adaptation of Financial Intelligence, Karen Berman, PhD. and Joe Knight use a comic book format to illustrate some important about accounting. The first, and most important lesson that they offer is that although accounting and finance are as much art as they are science, this is not the case with cash, which is the least affected by the "art of finance."

They utilize illustrations of a juggling to provide insight into the juggling act that a company does as they wait for customers to pay their bills while the company's come due.  They also assert that it is important to remember that it is possible to have cash without profit; although the company could be taking in a lot of cash through sales, its bills might not be due until later, leading into an easy path of spending money that doesn't exist.

Berman and Knight leave their readers with the empowering message that their actions directly affect cash flow and that they can have a positive impact by asking themselves a few key questions: In accounts receivable, are customers paying their bills on time?  Are they satisfied with their products?  In inventory, are you stocking more than you expect to sell?  Are expenses being kept in-check?

Financial Intelligence offers this and other important lessons about finances in a format that is approachable and understandable.  For anyone who has ever been eluded by finance, SmarterComics provides them with an invaluable tool.

"Financial Intelligence from SmarerComics" will be pulished on June 4, 2012. The book is already available for pre-order on Amazon (click here for more details).

 

 

[image error]Sun Tzu says that once you know who you are, you become invincible. Oddly enough, self-knowledge can be exceedingly difficult to acquire. Rarely do we know ourselves by introspection; it is only through action that we learn who we truly are.

Although few of us initially enjoy competition, it is nearly impossible to avoid, especially in an age of global interconnectivity. In order to thrive, we must learn from each confrontation. The more we understand our own limits and the limits of our opponents, the better prepared we are for each challenge. Self-knowledge helps us approach each scenario with a clearer notion of our likely success. By understanding our strengths and weaknesses, we can prepare for each competition in a manner that allows us to win.

This mastery of the self as a way to prosper in a competitive environment forms one of the basic tenets of Sun Tzu's "The Art of War from SmarterComics". Learning about yourself — and understanding how best to apply that knowledge to life, school, and work — is the key to success.

To read more of Sun Tzu's incredible insights, click on The Art of War from SmarterComics.

[image error]"The Art of War from SmarterComics" is a step-by-step guide to becoming powerful, influential, and masterful in every area of your life.

As a wise man once noted, life isn't easy. But that's because no one ever taught you how to get ahead. Once you learn how to conquer life's challenges, you become unstoppable.

Master general Sun Tzu cracked the code for winning any competition over 2,000 years ago. His insights have been updated for the 21st century into a fully illustrated masterpiece that will have you blazing past obstacles into your kick-ass new future.

Forget slogging through dense text. Whip through these gorgeous illustrated panels so you can start using Sun Tzu's wisdom in your own life.

Click here to get access to the free eBook (online).