Winning Nice: How to Succeed in Business and Life Without Waging War

By Matt Dieter and Dawna Stone

Throughout this book, Dawna shows that being nice doesn't mean being weak or unable to get results. Using real-life anecdotes and actionable tips from her personal experiences, Dawna presents 10 steps that build the reader's interpersonal skills.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1599956888
• ISBN13: 9781599956886
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Center Street
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Nice is a Winner

If you're looking for a behind-the-scenes tell-all about Dawna Stone's experience on Martha Stewart's "Apprentice," you're going to disappointed. And that's a good thing, too, since Stone opts instead to offer some timeless advice about how to manage people and succeed in business without being the type of ruthless, win-at-all-costs person that's right out of reality TV central casting. Stone is at her best when she's talking about the challenges of her start-up magazine, the four-year-old Her Sports + Fitness, and I would have liked to have read more about that unlikely success story. She relies perhaps a little too much from familiar quotes and anecdotes from the likes of Ken Blanchard, Jim Collins, etc., and that's a shame since clearly she has plenty of her own material. It's tough at times to keep track of all of the many jobs she's had in less than two decades. Clearly this is an author who is always on the move up. Perhaps her next book will have more first-person material --and we triathletes wouldn't mind a little more insight into how Stone, an Ironman finisher, has used the sport to fuel her business success. Still, whether you're someone out of college trying to navigate the corporate world, a thirtysomething getting your first taste of management, or a first-time entrepreneur ready to take the plunge, you'll find this book invaluable.

Worker's Bible

Easily one of the best books on the market as far as applicable tips. People looking to be classier, kinder, more successful, more impressive at work should pick this book up and read it. The stories she tells and the tips she gives are easy applied to real-life scenarios. As a college professor, I was impressed and believe this book can lend a hand in finding success in one's career and one's personal life. Unlike this book, so many other business & motivational books are full of fluff or obvious tips. This book had tips I had never even thought of - and some of these little ideas she shares could probably make the difference between a mediocre working experience and an incredible working experience. I'm glad I picked it up and feel like I now have a new set of tools to bring to work. I also found her stories about believing in yourself to be quite inspiring -- I never knew some of these people had such rough starts before finding success. Anyways, love this book.

Winning Nice is a winner!

Great book! I just finished reading this uplifting, easy-to-read manual of doing it right. I often found myself saying "yeah! That's a great idea. Why didn't I think of that?" and "I can do that!" Dawna and Matt offer practical advice and practices that we can all implement immediately. I am an elementary school teacher and found the advice to be applicable both with my students and dealing with peers and supervisors. I have left a copy in our faculty room and encouraged others to read it. I may even try some of the suggestions on my husband ---but don't tell him!

A book by an authority

Winning Nice is a story about how we do well by doing "good" as the saying goes, but more importantly, the message is that we do well by doing well by others. That's a powerful message by someone I suspect lives this principle every day. I have been waiting for this book for a long time, since I first met the author, Dawna Stone. Ours was a routine business meeting, but there was something remarkable about this young lady, something that gave me pause and made her memorable: it was her genuine quality. In her book Dawna notes how important it is to look the other person in the eye and listen, really listen. These are not idle notes on the page because that's precisely how I remember Dawna, as a listener. Her book is a page-turner; and by that I mean reading it feels like having a warm conversation with a friend. The "tips" come fluidly in Winning Nice, but I suspect they are an expression of how Dawna Stone lives her life - as someone who looks you in the eye, talks straight - and above all listens. I say this as a tribute to Dawna and as a strong recommendation for her book: every page matches what I remember about the person across the table! Those who pick up this book and read it will truly gain, because it's written by an authority.

Great Book, Helpful and Uplifting

I picked up this book after reading that the author was also the founder of my favorite magazine, Her Sports & Fitness. I loved the book because it encourages people to be themselves at work. I found it really uplifting, especially because it's evident from the stories in the book that it is possible to win by being "nice." The book is great for people at any point in their career it seems. My favorite thing about it is that it allows you to think about the big picture. I have definitely found that when I'm nice to people I feel so much happier, but it can be so hard to keep that in mind when work is hectic or people aren't cooperating. This book is loaded with reminders on how to be the person I want to be, and I've already started implementing it into my everyday. I think it's great, and I highly recommend it. I am going to keep it around and refer to the tips in this book.