"Jim Dale has written down what it takes most of us years to learn... the hard way."

--SCOTT FERBER
founder, Advertising.com/div AOL

"A great compilation of behavior and business insights that are too often forgotten or overlooked."

--GORDON GRAND III
managing director/global practice
leader, Russell Reynolds Associates, Inc.

"With all of the secrets-of-business books out there, it turns out the secrets are obvious."

--RAYMOND A. "CHIP" MASON
chairman & CEO, Legg Mason

"The Obvious™ proves that common sense, particularly in business, is very uncommon... and very effective."

--PETER J. COHEN
president, Sylvan Learning, and Educate, Inc.

The Advertising Show

"Some of the best ways to be an effective manager are the simplest.  One of those is being honest in virtually all situations, says James Dale, author of The Obvious:  All You Need to Know in Business. Period.   That trait is becoming quite rare, he says. "  

--Investor's Business Daily and Yahoo! News

"His advice is not only fun, but meaty--he gets right to the heart of why his strategies are effective, and how best to use them.  Deep, ethical and commonsensical advice--words that have been proven and polished by time. " 

--Kirkus Reviews

"James Dale reveals his simple secrets on how to succeed in business in his new book, The Obvious:  All You Need to Know in Business. Period. Whether you're a CEO or sales rep, his insights and fundemental ideas yeild effective results. " 

--GO magazine (AirTran Airways)

"All the business advice you've ever heard wrapped in one easy-to-read package.  With chapter titles like 'Listen more than you talk' and 'Every job is sales,' the lessons that you've always known but have forgotten along the way are suddenly...obvious.  Except it's different because The Obvious™ is not dense or preachy.  It reads more like an over-lunch conversation.  Sprinkle its business anecdotes at your next board meeting. "  

--Spirit magazine (Southwest Airlines)

"In each chapter of his new book, author James Dale provides brief admonitions and examples of appropriate behavior in business. ...he wisely keeps his chapters short , getting to each point fairly quickly. "  

--Miami Herald

"[The] book has shor, readable chapters that present advice in an honest, yet funny way.  Even the chapter headers offer hints of Dale's wisdom. "  

--Baltimore Business Journal

"...simple, proven ways to achieve success in buiness. "  

--Orlando Business Journal

"InThe Obvious™ , Dale shares the simple ways any businessperson can put these "ah-ha" lessons into practice and achieve success.  Regardless of the job...these insights and princples yeild the consistent, effective results."  

--The Downtown Business News

"...many of the bedrock rules for success are so obvious they are overlooked.  Those rules became the bedrock of the recently released The Obvious:  All You Need to Know in Business. Period."  

--Towson Times and The Jeffersonian

"He [James Dale] peppers The Obvious™ with lofty or in-plain-sight section titles- Listen More Than You Talk, Simple is Better Than Complicated- and salts the book with anecdotes about management styles." 

--Style Magazine

"Mr. Dale's approach is aphoristic and demyologizing.  His suggestions are the sort that, as they register with the reader, lead him to strike his forehead with the palm of his hand and say, of course. " 

--Martha's Vineyard Times

"Former CEO James Dale has written The Obvious:  All You Need to Know in Business. Period. In it he lays out the basics of business success, and we wish we could write an employee handbook as simple as this..." 

--American Society of Employers

"Dale explains how any businessperson- from sales rep to CEO- can carry out these [obvious] lessons and achieve success." 

--E-TrueBlue Newsletter, The University of Michigan Alumni Association

"Excellent read. " 

--The Hindu

"I'm in the process of starting my own business, and to tell you the truth, I really don't know where to start.  All I have is a really good idea.  The Obvious™  has taught me things that would have not have crossed my mind. " 

--Leo Velez, Miami Beach, FL

Miami Herald  reader

"James Dale is the Mary Higgins Clark of the business book world.  He writes short, interesting chapters, loaded with valuable information needed to solve the mystery of how to succeed in business. " 

--Jeannett Slesnick, Coral Gables, FL

Miami Herald reader

"In business, as in life, the road to prosperity is just that - a road, and we must go the whole length.  Dale's concise guide is a valuable tool in helping us do just that." 

--Tim Olsen, Cranford, NJ

Miami Herald reader

"A treasure for the library. " 

--Lino Suarez, Jr., Coral Gables, FL

Miami Herald reader

"I will recommend [this book] to several people who have forgotten that it's the simple things that make you a successful business person!!! " 

--Yolanda Perez, Miami, FL

Miami Herald reader

"This is a book for everyone.  It's pitched as a business book because its author is an executive.  However, if you're a teacher, parent, student, or even a truck driver, you have much to relearn from this little wonder. " 

-AudioFile

"Is it human nature to embrace simple solutions to complex problems and situations?  This book, written by a former advertising-company CEO, outlines basic principles that ensure success.  These obvious suggestions include show up; don't be a jerk; be truthful; trust someone other than yourself; and start over tomorrow, but in a different way. " 

--BOOKLIST