Every customer-oriented business has its own Gladys—someone who demands more than most companies are able or willing to give, one who pushes front-line service representatives’ buttons, one who requires a higher degree of skill to manage. One who—let’s just say it—can be difficult. Yet how is it that some businesses prove able not only to satisfy their “Gladys”, but turn her into one of their most loyal, utterly pleased customers? Filled with inspiring real-life case studies, Who’s Your Gladys? reveals how large and small companies from a variety of industries avoid creating difficult customers in the first place. Readers will discover how they can: • Create a culture that values compassionate connection with their customers • Use creative problem solving and emotional management skills to turn challenging situations into opportunities to strengthen relationships • Form strong bonds by paying close attention to people’s needs • Customize service to different market segments • Cement unbreakable customer relationships with absolutely anyone.

Every customer oriented business has its own Gladys; someone who demands more than most companies are able or willing to give, one who pushes front line service representatives' buttons, one who requires a higher degree of skill to manage. One who let's just say it can be difficult. Yet how is it that some businesses prove able not only to satisfy their 'Gladys', but turn her into one of their most loyal, utterly pleased customers? Filled with inspiring real-life case studies, "Who's Your Gladys?" reveals how large and small companies from a variety of industries avoid creating difficult customers in the first place. EDITORIAL REVIEWS: From Publishers Weekly:"When times are tough, argue entrepreneur Suttle and manager Vest, it's the companies with exceptional customer service that survive. The eponymous Gladys represents the company's hypothetical most challenging client-the one who requires a high level of skill to manage. Using the stories of 10 diverse companies-the Canfield Training Group (of Chicken Soup for the Soul fame), Singapore Airlines, a polyethylene piping product supplier, a spa, an eyeglass distributor and a medical center among them-the authors show companies how to win over Gladys, develop strong client relationships and deliver the superior service that will help them through an economic crisis. It's the substantive, down-to-earth advice that sets this book apart from its competitors, as well as the helpful chapter-end sections, which contain practical points and thought-provoking questions and answers. The whole is an extremely well-organized and easy to use guide illuminated by the authors' obvious passion for customer service. "It's the substantive, down-to-earth advice that sets this book apart from its competitors, as well as the helpful chapter-end sections, which contain practical points and thought-provoking questions and answers. The whole is an extremely well-organized and easy to use guide illuminated by the authors' obvious passion for customer service." --Publishers Weekly From Corp! Magazine, Detroit, MI:"This is a fast-paced and readable book on customer relationship building. The authors are effective communicators on the subject, and the real-life stories make for a solid book on the topic." --Corp! Magazine From Accounting Today:"[Who's Your Gladys?] offers plenty of useful advice on turning the people who pay your bills into your biggest fans." --Accounting Today Selected by Customer Service Newsletter as one of the best customer service books of 2009: "Who's Your Gladys? offers not only a detailed look at how customer service works at several successful companies, it provides a convenient blueprint for how to examine and benchmark your own customer service operations."

Who on the planet doesn't know that Elvis Presley gave electrifying performances and enthralled millions? Who doesn't know that he was the King of Rock 'n' Roll? But who knows that the King himself lived in the thrall of one dominant person? This was Gladys Smith Presley, his protective, indulgent, beloved mother. Elvis and Gladys, one of the best researched and most acclaimed books on Elvis's early life, reconstructs the extraordinary role Gladys played in her son's formative years. Uncovering facts not seen by other biographers, Elvis and Gladys reconstructs for the first time the history of the mother and son's devoted relationship and reveals new information about Elvis—his Cherokee ancestry, his boyhood obsession with comic books, and his early compulsion to rescue his family from poverty. Coming to life in the compelling narrative is the poignant story of a unique boy and the maternal tie that bound him. It is at once an intimate psychological portrait of a tragic relationship and a mesmerizing tale of the early years of an international idol. “For once, a legend is presented to us by the mind and heart of a literate, careful biographer who cares,” wrote Liz Smith in the New York Daily News when Elvis and Gladys was originally published in 1985. This is the book, Smith says, “for any Elvis lover who wants to know more about what made Presley the man he was and the mama's boy he became.” The Boston Globe called this thoughtful, informative biography of one of popular music's most enduring stars “nothing less than the best Elvis book yet.”

With a deluge of electronic conveniences and cable channels well into the hundreds, it's no wonder that many people aren't sitting down with a good old-fashioned book more often. Motivational speaker and lifelong reader Pat Williams is changing all of that, in this energetic book, Read for Your Life. With anecdotes and interviews from some of today's greatest icons in business, sports and academia, including Phoenix Suns' star Steve Nash (voted NBA's Most Valuable Player in 2005-06), Yankees' star Alex Rodriguez, Grant Hill of the Orlando Magic and former New York City mayor Rudy Guiliani, Read for Your Life will help readers discover how reading can enhance their personal and professional thinking. Read for Your Life features 11 ways to transform one's life through books. - Publisher.

A modern classic with over 250,000 copies sold, Honey for a Child's Heart is a compelling, essential guide for parents who want to find the best books for their children ages 0–12. A good book is a gateway into a wider world of wonder, beauty, delight, and adventure. But children don't stumble onto the best books by themselves. They need a parent's help. Author Gladys Hunt discusses everything from how to choose good books for your children to encouraging them to be avid readers. Completely revised and updated to keep pace with the ever-changing world of children's literature, this fourth edition of Honey for a Child's Heart reflects Hunt's broad tastes in books. Rooted in experience, her suggestions will enrich the cultural and spiritual life of your home. She shows you how to: Understand the importance of being a read-aloud family, enjoying books together by reading aloud Give your children a large view of the world, of truth, and of goodness Encourage each child's imagination and good use of language Find the best books for your children Illustrated with drawings from dozens of children's favorites, Honey for a Child's Heart includes book lists geared to your child's age and filled with nearly 1,000 long-time favorites, classics, and wonderful new books that will enrich your child's life. Thousands of parents have used it to furnish their children's inner spirit with the wonder and delight of good reading.

A solitary woman. A foreign country. An unknown language. An impossible dream? No! With no mission board to support or guide her, and less than ten dollars in her pocket, Gladys Aylward left her home in England to answer God's call to take the message of the gospel to China. With the Sino-Japanese War waging around her, she struggled to bring the basics of life and the fullness of God to orphaned children. Time after time, God triumphed over impossible situations, and drew people to Himself. In Gladys Aylward: My Missionary Life in China, Gladys tells her story—a remarkable tale of one woman's determination to serve God at any cost. A true story of a determined missionary, Gladys Aylward: My Missionary Life in China will challenge you to bold and expectant faith.