Introduction xvii
How to Use This Book xxi
1 The Soon-to-Be-Astonishing Executive 1
The Rapid Response Resume 1
The Forget·Me·Not Business Card Handout #1 6
The Forget·Me·Not Business Card Handout Bonus 11
2 The Astonishing Office 13
The Extra·Special Client Mind·Reading Rolodex 13
The Anytime Anywhere Legendary Book Baffler 18
The Instant Incompetency 1.0. Test 23
The Official Employee 1.0. Test 27
The Tough-As-Nails Exercise Initiator 28
The Do·lt·Yourself High·Tech Exec 32
The Anti-Stress Thread Plucker 36
The Astonish·Yourself perfect·Ten Paper Clip Paradox 37
The Forget·Me·Not Business Card Handout #2—Let's Have Lunch 43
3 The Astonishing Lunch 47
The Late-for·Lunch Miracle Maneuver 47
The Crispy Currency Ice Breaker 52
The Coddled Client Tabletop Fire Walk 56
The Client Confidence Sugar Shocker 60
The Instant Client Dependency Syndrome 64
The Forget·Me·Not Business Card Handout #3--End of Lunch Sales Solidifier 68
Bridge Burner #1- The Bad Lunch Power Gross-Out 72
4 The Astonishing Client’s Office 76
Make-the-Secretary-Think-You’re-Swell Quasi Legal Pad Prediction 76
The Hard-to-Ignore Off-the-Wall Office Entrance 80
The One-Too-Many-Interruptions Ravaged Office Revenge 85
The Buck Stops Here $100 Visualizer 89
The I-Forgot-to-Do-My-Homework Annual Report Cover-Up 95
The Burbling of a Pea 99
The Dance-for-Your-Dinner Long-Distance Name Dropper 101
Bridge Burner #2—Memory-O-Matic 105
5 The Astonishing Negotiator 107
The Good Faith Negotiation Neutralizer 107
The Forget-Me-Not Business Card Handout #4—
The Russian Roulette Salary Negotiator 110
The Astonishing Executive’s Official Portable Pocket Negotiator 113
Bridge Burner #3—The Ultra-Persuasive High-Pressure Heartbreaker 118
6 The Astonishing Trade Show and Hospitality Suite 122
The Flash-of-Interest Trade Show Stopper 122
The Unforgettable Soda-and-a-Smile Hospitality Suite Surprise 126
Bridge Burner #4—The Trade Show Traitor Lost-Wallet Ploy 130
7 The Astonishing Sales Meeting 132
The Wacky Want-Ad Business Projection 132
The Puncture-Proof Attention Getter 137
The Vastly Superior New Product Intro 140
The Hyper-Efficient Cost Cutter 146
The Undressed-for-Success Memorable Meeting Inducer 151
The Forget-Me-Not Business Card Handout #5—Breakout Group Boredom Buster 156
Bridge Burner #5—The Sound of No Hands Clapping Presentation Meditation 161
8 The Astonishing CEO in Training 163
Don’t-You-Just-Hate-When-That-Happens Pain Predicament 163
The Ten-Heads-Are-Better-Than-One CEO Tiebreaker 166
Bridge Burner #6—The Just-Sign-Here Instant Approval Kit 167
The Just-Sign-Here Disposable Calculator Kit 171
9 The Astonishing CEO 175
The Revenge of the Vacuum Cleaner Cards CEO Indulgence 175
10 The Complete Astonishing Executive 177
Moms-Come-and-Go-but-a-Rolex-Is-Forever Ingenious Acquisition Tactic 178
For More Information 182
Credits 183