Author: David S. Evans
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 9780262550581
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 388
Book Description
The definitive account of the trillion-dollar payment card industry. The payment card business has evolved from its inception in the 1950s as a way to handle payment for expense-account lunches (the Diners Club card) into today's complex, sprawling industry that drives trillions of dollars in transaction volume each year. Paying with Plastic is the definitive source on an industry that has revolutionized the way we borrow and spend. More than a history book, Paying with Plastic delivers an entertaining discussion of the impact of an industry that epitomizes the notion of two-sided markets: those in which two or more customer groups receive value only if all sides are actively engaged. New to this second edition, the two-sided market discussion provides useful insight into the implications of these market dynamics for cardholder rewards, merchant interchange fees, and card acceptance. The authors, both of whom have researched the industry for more than 25 years, also examine the implications of the recent antitrust cases on the industry as well as other business and technological changes—including the massive consolidation brought about by bank mergers, the rise of the debit card, and the emergence of e-commerce—that could alter the payment card industry dramatically in the years to come.
Paying with Plastic, second edition
Author: David S. Evans
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 9780262550581
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 388
Book Description
The definitive account of the trillion-dollar payment card industry. The payment card business has evolved from its inception in the 1950s as a way to handle payment for expense-account lunches (the Diners Club card) into today's complex, sprawling industry that drives trillions of dollars in transaction volume each year. Paying with Plastic is the definitive source on an industry that has revolutionized the way we borrow and spend. More than a history book, Paying with Plastic delivers an entertaining discussion of the impact of an industry that epitomizes the notion of two-sided markets: those in which two or more customer groups receive value only if all sides are actively engaged. New to this second edition, the two-sided market discussion provides useful insight into the implications of these market dynamics for cardholder rewards, merchant interchange fees, and card acceptance. The authors, both of whom have researched the industry for more than 25 years, also examine the implications of the recent antitrust cases on the industry as well as other business and technological changes—including the massive consolidation brought about by bank mergers, the rise of the debit card, and the emergence of e-commerce—that could alter the payment card industry dramatically in the years to come.
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 9780262550581
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 388
Book Description
The definitive account of the trillion-dollar payment card industry. The payment card business has evolved from its inception in the 1950s as a way to handle payment for expense-account lunches (the Diners Club card) into today's complex, sprawling industry that drives trillions of dollars in transaction volume each year. Paying with Plastic is the definitive source on an industry that has revolutionized the way we borrow and spend. More than a history book, Paying with Plastic delivers an entertaining discussion of the impact of an industry that epitomizes the notion of two-sided markets: those in which two or more customer groups receive value only if all sides are actively engaged. New to this second edition, the two-sided market discussion provides useful insight into the implications of these market dynamics for cardholder rewards, merchant interchange fees, and card acceptance. The authors, both of whom have researched the industry for more than 25 years, also examine the implications of the recent antitrust cases on the industry as well as other business and technological changes—including the massive consolidation brought about by bank mergers, the rise of the debit card, and the emergence of e-commerce—that could alter the payment card industry dramatically in the years to come.
Plastic Money
Author: Alya Guseva
Publisher: Stanford University Press
ISBN: 0804789592
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 341
Book Description
In the United States, we now take our ability to pay with plastic for granted. In other parts of the world, however, the establishment of a "credit-card economy" has not been easy. In countries without a history of economic stability, how can banks decide who should be given a credit card? How do markets convince people to use cards, make their transactions visible to authorities, assume the potential risk of fraud, and pay to use their own money? Why should merchants agree to pay extra if customers use cards instead of cash? In Plastic Money, Akos Rona-Tas and Alya Guseva tell the story of how banks overcame these and other quandaries as they constructed markets for credit cards in eight postcommunist countries. We know how markets work once they are built, but this book develops a unique framework for understanding how markets are engineered from the ground up—by selecting key players, ensuring cooperation, and providing conditions for the valuation of a product. Drawing on extensive interviews and fieldwork, the authors chronicle how banks overcame these hurdles and generated a desire for their new product in the midst of a transition from communism to capitalism.
Publisher: Stanford University Press
ISBN: 0804789592
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 341
Book Description
In the United States, we now take our ability to pay with plastic for granted. In other parts of the world, however, the establishment of a "credit-card economy" has not been easy. In countries without a history of economic stability, how can banks decide who should be given a credit card? How do markets convince people to use cards, make their transactions visible to authorities, assume the potential risk of fraud, and pay to use their own money? Why should merchants agree to pay extra if customers use cards instead of cash? In Plastic Money, Akos Rona-Tas and Alya Guseva tell the story of how banks overcame these and other quandaries as they constructed markets for credit cards in eight postcommunist countries. We know how markets work once they are built, but this book develops a unique framework for understanding how markets are engineered from the ground up—by selecting key players, ensuring cooperation, and providing conditions for the valuation of a product. Drawing on extensive interviews and fieldwork, the authors chronicle how banks overcame these hurdles and generated a desire for their new product in the midst of a transition from communism to capitalism.
Paying with Plastic, second edition
Author: David S. Evans
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 026255058X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 385
Book Description
The definitive account of the trillion-dollar payment card industry. The payment card business has evolved from its inception in the 1950s as a way to handle payment for expense-account lunches (the Diners Club card) into today's complex, sprawling industry that drives trillions of dollars in transaction volume each year. Paying with Plastic is the definitive source on an industry that has revolutionized the way we borrow and spend. More than a history book, Paying with Plastic delivers an entertaining discussion of the impact of an industry that epitomizes the notion of two-sided markets: those in which two or more customer groups receive value only if all sides are actively engaged. New to this second edition, the two-sided market discussion provides useful insight into the implications of these market dynamics for cardholder rewards, merchant interchange fees, and card acceptance. The authors, both of whom have researched the industry for more than 25 years, also examine the implications of the recent antitrust cases on the industry as well as other business and technological changes—including the massive consolidation brought about by bank mergers, the rise of the debit card, and the emergence of e-commerce—that could alter the payment card industry dramatically in the years to come.
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 026255058X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 385
Book Description
The definitive account of the trillion-dollar payment card industry. The payment card business has evolved from its inception in the 1950s as a way to handle payment for expense-account lunches (the Diners Club card) into today's complex, sprawling industry that drives trillions of dollars in transaction volume each year. Paying with Plastic is the definitive source on an industry that has revolutionized the way we borrow and spend. More than a history book, Paying with Plastic delivers an entertaining discussion of the impact of an industry that epitomizes the notion of two-sided markets: those in which two or more customer groups receive value only if all sides are actively engaged. New to this second edition, the two-sided market discussion provides useful insight into the implications of these market dynamics for cardholder rewards, merchant interchange fees, and card acceptance. The authors, both of whom have researched the industry for more than 25 years, also examine the implications of the recent antitrust cases on the industry as well as other business and technological changes—including the massive consolidation brought about by bank mergers, the rise of the debit card, and the emergence of e-commerce—that could alter the payment card industry dramatically in the years to come.
Plastic-Free
Author: Beth Terry
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1634500350
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 668
Book Description
“Guides readers toward the road less consumptive, offering practical advice and moral support while making a convincing case that individual actions . . . do matter.” —Elizabeth Royte, author, Garbage Land and Bottlemania Like many people, Beth Terry didn’t think an individual could have much impact on the environment. But while laid up after surgery, she read an article about the staggering amount of plastic polluting the oceans, and decided then and there to kick her plastic habit. In Plastic-Free, she shows you how you can too, providing personal anecdotes, stats about the environmental and health problems related to plastic, and individual solutions and tips on how to limit your plastic footprint. Presenting both beginner and advanced steps, Terry includes handy checklists and tables for easy reference, ways to get involved in larger community actions, and profiles of individuals—Plastic-Free Heroes—who have gone beyond personal solutions to create change on a larger scale. Fully updated for the paperback edition, Plastic-Free also includes sections on letting go of eco-guilt, strategies for coping with overwhelming problems, and ways to relate to other people who aren’t as far along on the plastic-free path. Both a practical guide and the story of a personal journey from helplessness to empowerment, Plastic-Free is a must-read for those concerned about the ongoing health and happiness of themselves, their children, and the planet.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1634500350
Category : House & Home
Languages : en
Pages : 668
Book Description
“Guides readers toward the road less consumptive, offering practical advice and moral support while making a convincing case that individual actions . . . do matter.” —Elizabeth Royte, author, Garbage Land and Bottlemania Like many people, Beth Terry didn’t think an individual could have much impact on the environment. But while laid up after surgery, she read an article about the staggering amount of plastic polluting the oceans, and decided then and there to kick her plastic habit. In Plastic-Free, she shows you how you can too, providing personal anecdotes, stats about the environmental and health problems related to plastic, and individual solutions and tips on how to limit your plastic footprint. Presenting both beginner and advanced steps, Terry includes handy checklists and tables for easy reference, ways to get involved in larger community actions, and profiles of individuals—Plastic-Free Heroes—who have gone beyond personal solutions to create change on a larger scale. Fully updated for the paperback edition, Plastic-Free also includes sections on letting go of eco-guilt, strategies for coping with overwhelming problems, and ways to relate to other people who aren’t as far along on the plastic-free path. Both a practical guide and the story of a personal journey from helplessness to empowerment, Plastic-Free is a must-read for those concerned about the ongoing health and happiness of themselves, their children, and the planet.
Moving Money
Author: Robert E. Litan
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0815703783
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 158
Book Description
Once we paid for things with bills, coins, or checks. Today we pay with zeroes and ones—digital entries on credit and debit cards, or electronic messages sent over the Internet. In Moving Money, distinguished analysts explore this trend, its development and likely future, and the ramifications of this transformation. This is a book about money as a medium of exchange—in the past, in the present, but particularly in the future. What forms has money taken over the years? Moreover, how have those means of payment changed in recent years, and how will they develop in the future? And what (if anything) should policymakers do to facilitate those changes, or at least allow them to develop and mature? Brookings economists Robert E. Litan and Martin Neil Baily and a distinguished group of experts dissect these issues and peer into the future of consumer payments. The landscape of the consumer payments industry will be shaped at least in part by public policies. Historically, governments have had monopolies on the manufacture of money. Any form of payment clearly requires trust on the part of both the seller and the buyer, and the government must establish and enforce laws to secure this relationship. More controversial is the issue of whether, and to what extent, government is also needed to protect the market in private sector payments systems. Why do these issues matter? The payments industry is a large and important sector of developed economies. In the United States, private-sector payments providers generate approximately $280 billion a year in revenue, while the government invests substantial resources into making money (minting coins and printing bills) or moving it (via checks and various electronic transfers). And the way we pay for things influences our purchases—what we spend money on, how much we spend, and where we spend it. Thus the future of consumer payments is intertwined with the health of national economies. Contri
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 0815703783
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 158
Book Description
Once we paid for things with bills, coins, or checks. Today we pay with zeroes and ones—digital entries on credit and debit cards, or electronic messages sent over the Internet. In Moving Money, distinguished analysts explore this trend, its development and likely future, and the ramifications of this transformation. This is a book about money as a medium of exchange—in the past, in the present, but particularly in the future. What forms has money taken over the years? Moreover, how have those means of payment changed in recent years, and how will they develop in the future? And what (if anything) should policymakers do to facilitate those changes, or at least allow them to develop and mature? Brookings economists Robert E. Litan and Martin Neil Baily and a distinguished group of experts dissect these issues and peer into the future of consumer payments. The landscape of the consumer payments industry will be shaped at least in part by public policies. Historically, governments have had monopolies on the manufacture of money. Any form of payment clearly requires trust on the part of both the seller and the buyer, and the government must establish and enforce laws to secure this relationship. More controversial is the issue of whether, and to what extent, government is also needed to protect the market in private sector payments systems. Why do these issues matter? The payments industry is a large and important sector of developed economies. In the United States, private-sector payments providers generate approximately $280 billion a year in revenue, while the government invests substantial resources into making money (minting coins and printing bills) or moving it (via checks and various electronic transfers). And the way we pay for things influences our purchases—what we spend money on, how much we spend, and where we spend it. Thus the future of consumer payments is intertwined with the health of national economies. Contri
Can I Recycle This?
Author: Jennie Romer
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0143135678
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 274
Book Description
“If you’ve ever been perplexed by the byzantine rules of recycling, you’re not alone…you’ll want to read Can I Recycle This?... An extensive look at what you can and cannot chuck into your blue bin.” —The Washington Post The first illustrated guidebook that answers the age-old question: Can I Recycle This? Since the dawn of the recycling system, men and women the world over have stood by their bins, holding an everyday object, wondering, "can I recycle this?" This simple question reaches into our concern for the environment, the care we take to keep our homes and our communities clean, and how we interact with our local government. Recycling rules seem to differ in every municipality, with exceptions and caveats at every turn, leaving the average American scratching her head at the simple act of throwing something away. Taking readers on a quick but informative tour of how recycling actually works (setting aside the propaganda we were all taught as kids), Can I Recycle This gives straightforward answers to whether dozens of common household objects can or cannot be recycled, as well as the information you need to make that decision for anything else you encounter. Jennie Romer has been working for years to help cities and states across America better deal with the waste we produce, helping draft meaningful legislation to help communities better process their waste and produce less of it in the first place. She has distilled her years of experience into this non-judgmental, easy-to-use guide that will change the way you think about what you throw away and how you do it.
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0143135678
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 274
Book Description
“If you’ve ever been perplexed by the byzantine rules of recycling, you’re not alone…you’ll want to read Can I Recycle This?... An extensive look at what you can and cannot chuck into your blue bin.” —The Washington Post The first illustrated guidebook that answers the age-old question: Can I Recycle This? Since the dawn of the recycling system, men and women the world over have stood by their bins, holding an everyday object, wondering, "can I recycle this?" This simple question reaches into our concern for the environment, the care we take to keep our homes and our communities clean, and how we interact with our local government. Recycling rules seem to differ in every municipality, with exceptions and caveats at every turn, leaving the average American scratching her head at the simple act of throwing something away. Taking readers on a quick but informative tour of how recycling actually works (setting aside the propaganda we were all taught as kids), Can I Recycle This gives straightforward answers to whether dozens of common household objects can or cannot be recycled, as well as the information you need to make that decision for anything else you encounter. Jennie Romer has been working for years to help cities and states across America better deal with the waste we produce, helping draft meaningful legislation to help communities better process their waste and produce less of it in the first place. She has distilled her years of experience into this non-judgmental, easy-to-use guide that will change the way you think about what you throw away and how you do it.
QuickBooks 2017 For Dummies
Author: Stephen L. Nelson
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119281466
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 408
Book Description
The perennial bestseller—updated for the latest release of QuickBooks If you're like most people involved with a small business, accounting isn't necessarily your strong suit, and certainly isn't the reason you got involved with your venture. Luckily, this bestselling guide shows you just how easy it is to use QuickBooks to keep your ducks in a row—so you can spend less time worrying about finances and more time concentrating on other aspects of your growing business. With easy-to-follow guidance and plain-English explanations that cut through confusing financial jargon, QuickBooks 2017 For Dummies assumes no prior knowledge of the software and gets you started at the very beginning. In no time, you'll discover how to install the software and configure QuickBooks for your business needs, set up payroll reminders, download bank and credit card transactions, pay bills online, keep track of your checkbook and credit cards, and so much more. Organize all of your business finances in one place Create invoices and credit memos, record sales receipts, and pay the bills Track inventory, calculate job costs, and monitor your business reports Make tax time easier Written by a CPA who knows QuickBooks and understands your unique business needs, this is your go-to guide for getting past the paperwork and putting the program to work for you.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119281466
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 408
Book Description
The perennial bestseller—updated for the latest release of QuickBooks If you're like most people involved with a small business, accounting isn't necessarily your strong suit, and certainly isn't the reason you got involved with your venture. Luckily, this bestselling guide shows you just how easy it is to use QuickBooks to keep your ducks in a row—so you can spend less time worrying about finances and more time concentrating on other aspects of your growing business. With easy-to-follow guidance and plain-English explanations that cut through confusing financial jargon, QuickBooks 2017 For Dummies assumes no prior knowledge of the software and gets you started at the very beginning. In no time, you'll discover how to install the software and configure QuickBooks for your business needs, set up payroll reminders, download bank and credit card transactions, pay bills online, keep track of your checkbook and credit cards, and so much more. Organize all of your business finances in one place Create invoices and credit memos, record sales receipts, and pay the bills Track inventory, calculate job costs, and monitor your business reports Make tax time easier Written by a CPA who knows QuickBooks and understands your unique business needs, this is your go-to guide for getting past the paperwork and putting the program to work for you.
The Plastic Effect
Author: Polly A. Bauer
Publisher: Coconut Avenue, Inc.
ISBN: 0983749922
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 248
Book Description
WINNER 2013 ~ INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER LIVING NOW BOOK AWARD ~ GOLD MEDAL for best book in Finance/Budgeting. "The Living Now Book Awards celebrate the innovation and creativity of newly published books that enhance the quality of our lives and publicize the importance of these books to readers ." Do you have a credit card? Roughly 70% of adults in the U.S. do. In fact, Americans average 3.5 credit cards per person – that‛s a lot of plastic! Even with all that buying power in their wallets, most consumers have no idea the ways that they use (or misuse) their credit cards can affect their health, their relationships, and their credit scores. Many factors go into mounting credit card debt: impulse shopping, health emergencies, the loss of a job, marriage, divorce, a death in the family. With this debt comes stress, arguments, loss of sleep, inability to pay other bills, worry, health problems, crumbling relationships. Does any of this sound familiar? Increasing credit card debt and a lack of knowledge about how credit cards really work have created a new social phenomenon called The Plastic Effect. And if you have a credit card, The Plastic Effect can affect YOU. In this new book, internationally recognized credit card expert, Polly A. Bauer, CPCS and attorney Stephen Lesavich, PhD, JD, have selected 25 of the most common urban legends influencing the use and misuse of credit cards. The authors, as business leaders and credit card experts, walk you through these urban legends about how credit cards are used and misused, explaining what is true and what is likely to cause you trouble. You will get access to resources and additional information about each myth, tips from industry experts, and guidance that will help you use your credit cards more intelligently and effectively. You‛ll also learn how to understand your credit reports, improve your credit score and manage your debt in a way that puts the power back in YOUR hands. In short, this book will help you break free of The Plastic Effect."
Publisher: Coconut Avenue, Inc.
ISBN: 0983749922
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 248
Book Description
WINNER 2013 ~ INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER LIVING NOW BOOK AWARD ~ GOLD MEDAL for best book in Finance/Budgeting. "The Living Now Book Awards celebrate the innovation and creativity of newly published books that enhance the quality of our lives and publicize the importance of these books to readers ." Do you have a credit card? Roughly 70% of adults in the U.S. do. In fact, Americans average 3.5 credit cards per person – that‛s a lot of plastic! Even with all that buying power in their wallets, most consumers have no idea the ways that they use (or misuse) their credit cards can affect their health, their relationships, and their credit scores. Many factors go into mounting credit card debt: impulse shopping, health emergencies, the loss of a job, marriage, divorce, a death in the family. With this debt comes stress, arguments, loss of sleep, inability to pay other bills, worry, health problems, crumbling relationships. Does any of this sound familiar? Increasing credit card debt and a lack of knowledge about how credit cards really work have created a new social phenomenon called The Plastic Effect. And if you have a credit card, The Plastic Effect can affect YOU. In this new book, internationally recognized credit card expert, Polly A. Bauer, CPCS and attorney Stephen Lesavich, PhD, JD, have selected 25 of the most common urban legends influencing the use and misuse of credit cards. The authors, as business leaders and credit card experts, walk you through these urban legends about how credit cards are used and misused, explaining what is true and what is likely to cause you trouble. You will get access to resources and additional information about each myth, tips from industry experts, and guidance that will help you use your credit cards more intelligently and effectively. You‛ll also learn how to understand your credit reports, improve your credit score and manage your debt in a way that puts the power back in YOUR hands. In short, this book will help you break free of The Plastic Effect."
Paying with Plastic, second edition
Author: David S. Evans
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262250527
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 329
Book Description
The definitive account of the trillion-dollar payment card industry. The payment card business has evolved from its inception in the 1950s as a way to handle payment for expense-account lunches (the Diners Club card) into today's complex, sprawling industry that drives trillions of dollars in transaction volume each year. Paying with Plastic is the definitive source on an industry that has revolutionized the way we borrow and spend. More than a history book, Paying with Plastic delivers an entertaining discussion of the impact of an industry that epitomizes the notion of two-sided markets: those in which two or more customer groups receive value only if all sides are actively engaged. New to this second edition, the two-sided market discussion provides useful insight into the implications of these market dynamics for cardholder rewards, merchant interchange fees, and card acceptance. The authors, both of whom have researched the industry for more than 25 years, also examine the implications of the recent antitrust cases on the industry as well as other business and technological changes—including the massive consolidation brought about by bank mergers, the rise of the debit card, and the emergence of e-commerce—that could alter the payment card industry dramatically in the years to come.
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262250527
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 329
Book Description
The definitive account of the trillion-dollar payment card industry. The payment card business has evolved from its inception in the 1950s as a way to handle payment for expense-account lunches (the Diners Club card) into today's complex, sprawling industry that drives trillions of dollars in transaction volume each year. Paying with Plastic is the definitive source on an industry that has revolutionized the way we borrow and spend. More than a history book, Paying with Plastic delivers an entertaining discussion of the impact of an industry that epitomizes the notion of two-sided markets: those in which two or more customer groups receive value only if all sides are actively engaged. New to this second edition, the two-sided market discussion provides useful insight into the implications of these market dynamics for cardholder rewards, merchant interchange fees, and card acceptance. The authors, both of whom have researched the industry for more than 25 years, also examine the implications of the recent antitrust cases on the industry as well as other business and technological changes—including the massive consolidation brought about by bank mergers, the rise of the debit card, and the emergence of e-commerce—that could alter the payment card industry dramatically in the years to come.
Stay Ahead of the Game
Author: Arlindo Fernandes
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1475990014
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 206
Book Description
Build power, take control of your life, and spring ahead by making a critical decision to stay ahead of the game. In this volumepart one of a three-part seriesauthor Arlindo Fernandes presents the first step on a road that can help you reach your maximum potential. He shares ways for you to develop the confidence to pursue your goals; prepare for challenges large and small; make necessary sacrifices to achieve success; and keep your life under control all the way to the end. To accomplish these steps, its important to understand who you are and divide your life into two sections. The first section consists of learning about ancestors and figuring out where youve been instead of where youre going. Only then will you have the knowledge to focus on the second section: determining what you need to do to get where you want to be. By learning about the smooth and rough roads traveled by others, youll be equipped to avoid pitfalls and capitalize on opportunities. Use your wisdom and achieve more than you ever thought possible by staying ahead of the game.
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1475990014
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 206
Book Description
Build power, take control of your life, and spring ahead by making a critical decision to stay ahead of the game. In this volumepart one of a three-part seriesauthor Arlindo Fernandes presents the first step on a road that can help you reach your maximum potential. He shares ways for you to develop the confidence to pursue your goals; prepare for challenges large and small; make necessary sacrifices to achieve success; and keep your life under control all the way to the end. To accomplish these steps, its important to understand who you are and divide your life into two sections. The first section consists of learning about ancestors and figuring out where youve been instead of where youre going. Only then will you have the knowledge to focus on the second section: determining what you need to do to get where you want to be. By learning about the smooth and rough roads traveled by others, youll be equipped to avoid pitfalls and capitalize on opportunities. Use your wisdom and achieve more than you ever thought possible by staying ahead of the game.