The Rule Breaker's Book of Business: Win at work by doing things differently

by Roger Mavity

In The Rule Breaker's Book of Business , Roger Mavity provides clear advice and guidance for anybody ambitious about work, yet uncertain of their route to success. The book is devoted to the simple - yet vital - idea that success at work is much more likely to be achieved if we are happy and confident in what we do. But it also believes that fun, and success, at work don't come from slavishly following the rules. On the contrary, it's only by ignoring the conventional wisdom, by breaking a few rules, by daring to use different means, that we have a chance of achieving something remarkable. The short and refreshingly simple chapters are divided into three dealing with money, dealing with the people around you and dealing with yourself. Each chapter identifies a common problem at work and resolves each problem in a clear and approachable way. Chapters
- Cash is King (and Ace, Queen and Jack)
- How to a write a business plan, and a strategy, and is there a difference?
- Is there life beyond email?
- The art of delegation To find out more, visit www.rogermavity.com.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2013

Reviews

[Muath Aziz · Rating 4 out of 5]

"But if you have more people than you need, you are spending too much to get the job done, which means your price to the customer won't be competitive. Which means that in the long run you are putting everyone's job at risk. Cutting the staff back to the number you really need is horrible for those that go, but it protects the jobs of those that stay." In the introduction, the author's friend compared him to Machiavelli and you can see why.

I like Machiavelli, and the author of this book. Things can be harsh, but at least they make us avoid even harsher things. This requires brevity and maturity, many men are too soft for it.

"When Socrates spoke, they said, 'How well he spoke' but when Demosthenes spoke, they said, 'Let us march.'" This speaks for the book itself, the author likes to make things practical, making things more "marchable".

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"There are three big skills you need to deal with those above you, and those below you. They are: clarity of objective, clarity of communication, and straight dealing."

[Shahzil Minallah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is for brave people who want to think outside the box and challenge the status quo. Excellent book for anyone who works in an organisation.

[Yates Buckley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprise from a business book, there are suggestions here that one should keep top of mind.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

This positive book is aimed (unashamedly) at people working in commercial businesses, and more specifically at those who dream of starting their own business (or at least being the boss of one).

I don't work in a commercial environment, and I have no grand plan to start my own business (although I'd be very happy to run one); I'm a fundraiser. So, you might imagine that there wouldn't be that much for me in this book. But that's where you'd be wrong. It was an interesting read (and perfect for the train journey from London home to Scotland) and I feel there was lots there for me in my working environment.

The author focuses on three areas: managing money; managing others and managing yourself. Within each area he shows you some simple ways of succeeding.

At the end of the book you'll wish that you could spend some time with Roger Mavity, that you could learn directly from the Master. For most of us that will never be an option. But buying his book is. If you want to learn new ways of approaching your work you'll be glad you did.

[Adrian Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terse, concise, and engaging. Great handbook that manages to avoid the trap of dishing out time-worn management tropes with the air of a bored pedant on an hourly wage. The author's ability to distil complicated issues into insightful rules-of-thumb can only be borne from a lifetime of productive exasperation. Feel his pain.

[Chris Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was great, I loved it. Lots of against the conventional wisdom sorta stuff. If you're a brave business person, or worker, this is a good book for you. 'Win at work by doing things differently' is exactly what it is!