Subscriber Craig Advice of The Hartford suggested a recommended reading list for Camp Connelly. That’s a great idea. Here are two books I thoroughly enjoyed. I urge you to use the forum to let us know what books you feel we would enjoy reading.

Peter Navarro’s The Coming China Wars even has its own website. I found this critical message chilling to say the least. I strongly recommend the book. To quote the website, this is the only book to preview all of the coming China wars — economic, political, military, environmental, external and internal — and the potentially catastrophic impact they’ll have on the entire world. Now fully updated with crucial new information, Navarro covers in detail everything from China’s poisonous products to the accelerating growth of its military.

I also loved Steven Pinker’s The Stuff of Thought. The book basically is a book about human nature and the way we think and communicate with others. As he explains, a seemingly innocent thing like a simple metaphor can start wars, impeach a president or win an election. If you love language the way I do, you will love this book.

What’s your favorite book?  Post it here in the new member forum.

As I mentioned in the letter that just went out to subscribers, I am embarrassed that I have not paid attention to this blog. It’s a wonderful way to communicate and I let myself fall out of the habit of writing every day. That will no longer be the case. Barring the unforeseen, I want to make this blog a vital part of Camp Connelly.

Just this week, I was on the receiving end of one of the biggest selling blunders imaginable. I have never owned a boat, but I have entertained that notion for years. As you can imagine, the boat market has been hit terribly hard in this economy. High gasoline prices, economic hardship in general and a devastated real estate market have combined to drive Florida boat prices down to almost sadly low levels. While talking with the general manager of a well known dealership in Sarasota, I mentioned that I was considering a boat that his dealership carries as well as a boat his dealership does not carry. The words were barely out of my mouth when he said, and I quote this general manager and son of the owner, “That’s a stupid boat.”

Obviously that makes me stupid by default. I saw red but kept my mouth shut. Not only did he not realize what a jerk he was, he tried to go on and on about exactly why considering the other boat was a stupid thing to do. Now I was supposed to listen to someone who just told me I was stupid tell me everything he knows about boats. He was still talking as I hit the door. To have that person mingling with the public is an egregious error, son of the owner or not. I will never do business with that dealership.

Don’t knock the competition. It’s terribly insulting to someone who is contemplating doing business with that other party. And don’t feel compelled to tell someone everything you know about your subject matter. It’s showing off.

Get a mentor, or be a mentor. When I started out in this business 40 years ago, I was successful for one reason. I had good mentors. Like everyone else, I was trained on products, but then I was thrown into the deep end of the pool and told to go out and get clients. That part, the selling and marketing, you had to figure out on your own. But you don’t have to go it alone. There are plenty of successful advisors out there who know how to gather assets. Go find a million dollar producer and ask him or her how they did it. And if you are a million dollar producer, by all means mentor someone coming up in the business. It will keep you sharp and be a constant reminder to stick to the basics.