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 0 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
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
©2007 BIG Mike McDaniel is the Small Business Advertising Expert. Get BIG Mike's Free Newsletter BIG Ideas for Small Business. Find hundreds advertising articles at Small Business Advertising Articles
