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TheManager’s Leadership Book Review

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Don’t Bring It to Work – Breaking the Family Patterns That Limit Success, by Sylvia Lafair, PhD

I absolutely love it when an expert in a non-business field brings their knowledge to the business world. Whether it’s a former all-star athlete turned successful businessman (ala Julius Erving), or a rehabbed musician turned stock trader (ala Guns N’ Roses’ bassist Duff McKagan), they almost always provide interesting and important perspectives on how we conduct business, and how we lead and manage others.

One of the biggest problems in business today is that we already have all of the answers and we feel don’t need any new blood changing the way we do things. I’ve always been fascinated by the closed minded who fail to embrace or even believe that someone from the outside – armed with a fresh perspective – can make a positive impact. The fact that so many continue believe this despite the myriad of examples of outsiders who successfully bring change is nothing short of astounding. Dr. Sylvia Lafair is one such example of an outsider successfully delivering change.

Lafair, a former family therapist who now serves as the president of Creative Energy Options, Inc., brought her expertise to the business world and with it a unique point of view about office politics, leadership and workplace roles and relationships. From working with dysfunctional families to years of providing leadership training and insights into workplace behavior and relationships for corporations like Microsoft, Dr. Lafair operated in the greatest leadership laboratory of all time: The real world. In the process, she also penned a great read that captures the very essence of what’s holding so many leaders back: Their reliance on destructive family patterns. Her book, Don’t Bring It to Work, shows us that our behavior cannot exist independently from our interpersonal relationships, despite the facade we think we portray.

Charity Isn’t All That Begins At Home

If you buy in to Lafair’s premise, then virtually everything that’s holding you back at work is closely related to the role(s) you play at home. Whether you are a persecutor or pleaser at work, chances are you play this role in your personal life, as well. In fact, according to Lafair, you are basically compelled to play the same role at work that you do at home – you are simply more comfortable this way – unless you can be made aware of your behavior, understand it and then transform yourself by taking appropriate actions. (By the way, if you don’t buy in to this premise, then you’re likely a rebel at both work and at home; which means, of course, that Lafair is still right.)


Certainly, it’s not that uncomplicated; and bravo to Lafair for not trying to insinuate that we simply live in these roles and those are our only issues. Equally important to the role you play are the roles of those around you. If you are not aware that you are a slave to your personal patterns, then you are likely to have conflict with those who do not fit into your “ideal.” As Dr. Lafair puts it: “When our colleagues and bosses don’t match our expectations, we realize this in a matter of seconds, and just like that, the seeds of conflict are sewn.”

Unlike the typical easy-read coping tomes such as The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and Who Moved My Cheese, this book requires real dedication from the reader. In other words, it is not for the casual passerby who just wants to polish this or that about their behavior at the office. Just like real change, this book requires work.

The Recommendation

There is no doubt that I recommend this book, I do. My dilemma is whether it is more leadership, self-help or team dynamics. The truth is that Don’t Bring It to Work can help your personal and professional development much in the same way as Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits does. Just as 7 Habits applies as much to your home life as it does to your work life, so does Don’t Bring It to Work. And, just as Covey’s work is as much about leadership as it is about personal improvement, so is Lafair’s.

The mix of real world examples with a sometimes textbook feel (likely from the massive amount of footnoting early on) is actually very well done. I especially applaud Lafair for her inclusion of a recap called “Takeaways” at the end of each chapter. Because the concepts are sometimes very deep and the material sometimes very new to the reader, having this brief recap at the end of the chapters is very helpful.

While many can benefit from this book, I especially recommend if for two specific people: First, for the young manager who is tiring of seeing his colleagues promoted at greater frequency; and second, for the self-actualized leader who cannot seem to find anything wrong with her style or approach, yet her team is still a mess.

(To order Don’t Bring It to Work, visit Amazon.com.)

Enough Standing on the Sidelines – The Kindle is Worth the Money

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Amazon's Kindle is Worth the MoneyThe Amazing(?) Amazon Kindle

This week Amazon lowered the price of their popular six-inch Kindle by $60. No fanfare, no major announcements and no (á-la-Steve-Jobs) laser shows. In fact, Jeff Bezos was nowhere to be seen, just a new lower price on the Amazon homepage.

The Kindle, for those of you who’ve been under a rock the last year, is a small, thin, electronic display that can hold over 1,500 books. Amazon, the undisputed king of booksellers (online or offline), designed and released this device in advance of deep-pocketed rivals (like Microsoft, Google and Apple) to hopefully create a market for e-readers that they could control.

Amazon took a giant leap of faith and created a product that could destroy their original business model. A risky move, but one that was as necessary for Amazon as it was for Polariod. (Polariod, of course, failed to recognize the move to digital photography and ended up declaring bankruptcy.) Amazon’s bold leadership is strong enough to recognize that either they can destroy their business model, or they can allow a competitor to do it. Bravo Amazon – we only wish more businesses were willing to be so bold. (Did someone just say “General Motors?”)

The Kindle is the Kleenex of e-Readers

Much as Apple’s iPod has become the standard for all portable music players, Amazon is pinning its hopes on the Kindle to one day be the electronic reader of choice. Clearly, Amazon’s price drop to the psychologically appealing $299 level was a move to further popularize the Kindle before rivals have a chance to become established.


Amazon’s latest version of the Kindle is both an amazing home run and an unexciting walk – all at the same time. The Kindle 2, as it’s also called, has an advanced display that truly reads like real paper. Even in bright sunlight, the Kindle acts more like paper than a computer screen; delivering clear text and distinguishably crisp images. A true home run that comes in sixteen shades of grey.

It’s a Great Reader, but Where Are the Books?

If you’re a voracious reader like TheManager you have two needs when it comes to your books: variety and speed of delivery. A faster delivery time is the primary reason I made the switch from traditional paper to an electronic device. Using the wireless connection on the Kindle, I can download books in less than a minute. That is, when the book is available for the Kindle.

Amazon claims over 300,000 titles are obtainable for Kindle owners, but that’s out of the millions of paper books you can buy on Amazon today. An unexciting walk, if you ask me. (Not a stumble, mind you, but Amazon had almost two years to Kindle-ize every book ever published. If Amazon’s rivals have an opening, it’s to have more titles more quickly available for their e-readers.)

Rest assured that the most popular books are Kindle-ready; including every one of the TheManager’s Top Ten Leadership Books of All Time. And, Amazon seems to make daily announcements to add whole categories of books to its device.

The Kindle Family

Amazon launched the original Kindle in November 2007 with a $399 price tag. The relatively minor issues with this device (i.e., battery life, storage and visibility in direct sunlight) were solved back in February when Amazon introduced the Kindle 2 at $359 (now $299).

If you want the very best money can buy, and you’re willing to part with $489, you can get your hands on the 9.7-inch Kindle DX. This monster works just as sound as the three hundred dollar 6-inch model, though with a much bigger reading area. It totally feels more like you’re reading an actual magazine or newspaper – plus, the DX comes with a rotating screen and holds 2,000 more books than its smaller cousin.

While books and periodicals for either device are generally cheaper than buying the paper copies, they’re still not what you might call “cheap.” Clearly, there is room to deliver some periodicals (and maybe even books) as ad-supported content. There are some reports that Amazon is exploring ways to make the DX feel even more like reading a magazine by including advertisements on its pages. Of course, there are numerous critics of an ad-supported Kindle; though if it means consumers can receive periodicals at a reduced cost, it seems worth it to us.

The Bottom Line on the Kindle

We’ve recommended a large number of books, rolling briefcases and even an online chat program to our readers: We are now proud to add the Kindle to our small list of products that we stand behind.

So, should you buy a Kindle?

If you like to read and hate to wait for even the two-day express shipping, I recommend buying a Kindle. If you like to read, but hate searching for books on your shelves, get the Kindle. If you like to read, and don’t like to carry books, magazines and newspaper around (especially on an airplane), buy the Kindle. If you want to read newspapers from all over the world, but not on your computer screen, buy the Kindle.

And, if you can afford the extra two hundred bucks, I recommend you step up to the DX – ultimately, you’ll be glad you did.

If you’re a casual reader who cracks just a couple books a month, you may want to wait for an ad-supported version of this or some other e-reader. The good news is that Amazon has set the bar so high that the next generation of e-readers may be worth waiting for…

The Tazie Effect – Turning Life’s Defining Moments Into Personal and Professional Greatness

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TheManager’s Leadership Book Review

In what may become a regular feature of AskTheManager.com, we tackle the sometimes thankless task of reviewing the work of a published author. While you could argue that we’ve provided book reviews in the past with our Ten Best Leadership Books or our Ten Best Decision Making Books lists, this time it’s different… this time it’s about a single book: whether we love it or hate it, you’ll know where we stand.

The Tazie Effect, by Heather Whittaker

The first thing you realize when you are about to crack open The Tazie Effect is its incredible lack of girth. Just 66 pages separate the beginning of the first chapter and the end of the last – and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Too often leadership books are written for the glorification of the writer, not the education of the reader. The Tazie Effect focuses concisely on nine specific areas where leaders can develop their craft. More pages would be unnecessary.

Written with the belief that we can learn much about leadership from a six-pound blind dog who is called, among other things, Tazie Roo, The Tazie Effect attempts to weave solid leadership advice with examples about how this pooch lives her life. This, unfortunately, is where the book barks up the wrong tree. (Fortunately, this is the only place where it falters.) The connections between this little dog and the leadership advice doled out by Ms. Whittaker are tenuous at best. At worst, those who don’t love dogs the way the author does might be turned off by the amount of attention paid to and credit given this pup. In some ways it’s like the tail wagging the dog.




Stop Dogging this Book!

Okay, now let me throw the author a bone… Once I got past the precious Tazie Roo’s inability to teach me real leadership skills and simply read the material provided, I was impressed. Ms. Whittaker is clearly a gifted leader and a gifted writer, and her book deserves the attention it will surely receive.

Whittaker weaves in real world (human) leadership examples very well and provides lessons that any leader – young or old – can easily understand and incorporate into their work lives. Her words are well chosen and the advice she provides is solid. The Tazie Effect is void of unnecessary magic bullets, tips or tricks, and instead focuses on long term, life changing principles in the simplest form.

While The Tazie Effect is not the next One Minute Manager, I can see the value organizations will likely place on this book as a housebreaking tool for new managers and as a reinforcement of the skill sets of their senior leaders. (You can’t, obviously, teach an old dog new tricks.) It also seems likely that progressive companies could build their leadership development programs around its concepts, using the book as a cornerstone of their efforts.

The Recommendation

If you are a canine-loving leader who can’t resist speaking baby talk every time you come face-to-face with a four-legged friend, then this book is definitely for you. If you’re like most managers in the American workplace, and you’re more concerned about what happens to you than to some little dog, then this book is… still for you.

Let’s face it, with so much psychobabble BS passing itself off as leadership development; it’s nice to find a quick, effective read that meets the needs of its intended audience – even if they’re not all dog lovers. With that, I can confidently and doggedly recommend this book to anyone looking to improve their leadership skills.

(To order The Tazie Effect, visit Amazon.com.)

Bad Holiday Gifts – The Worst Gifts We Ever Received From Vendors

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Vendors Give The Darnedest Things…

 

Loyal reader Tye Mills sent us a question in response to our Leader’s Gift-Giving Guide article.

 

What are the top 10 wacky gifts you have received from vendors? – Tye Mills

 

Great question, Tye…

 

Hmm, let’s see, the unfortunate result of most truly wacky or bad gifts from vendors is that they are somewhat forgetful. A poll of the AskTheManager editors at first drew blank stares – no one could recall a wacky gift. When we expanded the request to overall bad gifts (no just wacky ones) from vendors, they still seemed a bit perplexed.


 

We all remember the great, thoughtful gifts. The wine we love, the golf balls or putter we cherished, or the thoughtful basket of our favorites. And while we really couldn’t think of ten wacky vendor gifts, we did come up with a list of ten bad ones we received over the years… in no particular order:

 

  • Mouse Pad & Pens – 8-10 years ago it seemed every vendor sent you a mouse pad emblazoned with their logo, but I actually received one as a Holiday gift (with three cheap pens) just two years ago. Two problems with this gift: First, doesn’t everyone who needs one already have a mouse pad? Second, I have exclusively used a laptop (sans mouse) for the past five years – I have no use for a mouse pad (and neither does Goodwill).
  • Bottle of Liquor – He can’t remember the brand, but one of our editors once received a very nice bottle of expensive liquor from a vendor. The problem with this gift? This editor was once a raging alcoholic. The worst thing about this was that it was well-known in the industry that he was now a recovering alcoholic and always seemed ready to fall off the wagon. Not very thoughtful.
  • iPod Shuffle – I know this will sound jaded, but last year a vendor sent me an iPod Shuffle as a holiday gift and now it ends up on this list. My problem with this particular gift was that I already carried a Video iPod, as did everyone in my immediate family, and that the vendor didn’t include a note of any kind – just the iPod. I would have been happier receiving a nice handwritten note wishing me holiday cheer and a $50 donation in my company’s name to a charity. I ended giving the iPod Shuffle to my administrative assistant in one of the most shameless acts of re-gifting known to man… She was thrilled.
  • Tie Clasp – About three years ago a vendor who had been trying to do business with my company for some time sent me a logoed tie clasp as a holiday gift. No big deal… if I was 70 years old and actually wore a tie clasp! Not to mention I had no intention of doing business with them, and didn’t need to see their logo every time I looked down at my tie.
  • Paper Weights – Over the years we’ve received dozens of these and only one – a golf-ball-snow-globe-game with a tee in the middle – ever saw the top of my desk.
  • Other Desktop Do-Dads – Not sure what to call this category, but some vendors who over-think the whole holiday gift-giving thing will send those crappy executive desktop gifts you can buy in the men’s department of most large stores. A few years ago I received a miniature dartboard that provided advice based on where the dart landed. “Go Home,” “Go Fishing,” “Play Hooky,” and “Sleep Under Your Desk” were just a few of the inspirations provided – not a good thing to have on your desk if you want to convince your boss that you’re dedicated to your job.
  • Successories – While these gifts are, on the surface, very thoughtful, one of our editors once received an unframed Successories wall poster entitled “Change.” The issue was that he was with a very successful company who had gone through a painful, major change in the past few years, and who had a very, very bright future ahead. He really didn’t want to display a “Change” message in his office at this time, and he certainly didn’t want to pay to have it framed. (Besides, who is this vendor to say he needed to change?)
  • Mixed Nuts – When I was on the vendor side, one of my salesmen once sent a client, who happen to have a severe peanut allergy, a tin of mixed nuts. From what we hear, the ride to the emergency room was not pretty. He survived, though we never got another dollar of his business.
  • Live Plants – One of the editors once received an expensive fern for her office from a vendor who felt this particular leader needed to “green up” her surroundings. The fern lived for five weeks, laid dead in her office another ten and was unceremoniously dumped before Memorial Day. There was a reason she didn’t have any live plants in her office.
  • Chia Pet – Ch, Ch, Cha Chia… The undisputed king of wacky, bad gifts; the dreaded Chia Pet has appeared as a vendor gift for one of our editors in back-to-back holiday seasons. The first year, the sender sincerely believed that he would enjoy such an exotic and fun gift. The next year, a vendor who was also a close friend, sent him the same Tasmanian Devil model Chia Pet he had received a year earlier – this time as a well-received joke.

 

It was a great exercise for the editors to try and remember the worst of the worst. As leaders, more often than not, we find we can learn great things from bad examples. If we learned nothing else from these ten bad/wacky gifts, let’s all at least agree that you should know your customer before sending anything.

 

Of course, this doesn’t just apply during the Holidays.  

The Leader’s Gift-Giving Guide – Holiday Gifts Everyone Can Use

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Holiday Gifts for the Office Crowd

‘tis the season to think about all the people who helped you get where you are today. Whether you are a senior leader or an up-and-coming manager, it’s important for you to thank those who make an impact in your work life. And by “thank,” I mean give them something of value.

It’s amazing what the phrases “thank you” and “I appreciate what you do” can mean to your administrative assistant throughout the average workday. Over the years, the AskTheManager editors have come to realize that our fathers’ were right: you can attract more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. And by “sugar,” they meant something of value.

Interestingly, I personally cringe when I receive a gift from anyone at work. I’m not sure why, but I just don’t like getting “boss” gifts from subordinates or anything from a peer. Of course, I am always very, very outwardly appreciative. Additionally, most gifts I’ve ever received from my supervisors were just pure crap (save for the travel alarm my boss gave me last year; I’ve used it at least twice a week since then). 

While I do enjoy the occasional gift from vendors and suppliers, I mostly receive thoughtless baskets of fruit and snacks that I put in the break room for the huddled masses to enjoy. This seems to kill two birds with one stone: as I can both receive and give with the same gift. (Careful, I’m not talking about re-gifting.)

What to get that Special Administrative Assistant?

The best gift a leader can give their admin is the daily affirmation that they really and truly “rock.” Telling them that they are “awesome,” that you “appreciate their commitment,” and that “you could not function without them” are the keys to keeping most assistants happy and healthy. If you do this daily, you are truly an enlightened leader and ahead of nearly all others.

Of course, come this time of year, your hyper-performing admin is expecting something really great. Disappoint them and you could be forced to live with a passive-aggressive psychopath for the next 365 days.

Here are our suggestions for great gifts for your administrative assistant:

  • Gift Cards – you can never, ever go wrong with the right gift card. If your admin is living at or below the poverty line, however, be careful to avoid the completely unusable $25 Morton’s Steakhouse gift card. Instead, opt for something in the $200 range from Target or Amazon.com.
  • Wine or Liquor – if you’re certain they can appreciate great wine or liquor, then you’re probably okay going in this direction. If not, avoid buying the 2002 Opus One for someone who enjoys Riunite on Ice (that’s nice). If you know they love wine, but they may not be a true connoisseur, perhaps you want to give them the best wine opener ever invented. In this case, WaffleMouse.com has some great reviews. To see these, follow this link.




  • Gag gifts – What are you, thirteen? The last thing your hardworking admin wants or needs is some piece of crap gag gift. They won’t “get it,” okay? Even if they do, they won’t appreciate receiving some bobbing head ostrich-thingy that appears to go on forever. Avoid, at all costs, any urge to go for the exotic or gag gift for your direct reports.
  • Crystal Vase – Household accessories, especially a crystal vase or similar display piece could be something your admin will not only treasure, but also remember – provided you give some measure of thought to the gift. For a quick view of more than 5,000 administrative assistant-appropriate vases you can buy from the comfort of your executive chair, check out the selection on Amazon.com.
  • Over the Top – Amazingly we are willing to spend thousands on a single business trip that yields nothing and just $50 a year on the person who may mean the most to our success, our administrative assistant. Why not go crazy in 2008 and drop $1,000 on a big screen HDTV or Movado Watch.

What Should You Get Your Boss?

In short, nothing. While it’s true that the right gift could earn you brownie points, the wrong gift can indelibly brand you as a sycophant. If you’re sure your boss loves “something,” then it might make sense to find the right gift. Here are some suggestions:

  • Is Your Boss a Wine Lover? – If so, a case of 2004 Silver Oak is the bomb. Don’t have $900 to drop on the guy? The Vertical Rabbit corkscrew from Metrokane might be just as well-received (and it will last longer).
  • Sports Fan? – If your boss follows a specific sports team or grew up watching a specific player, the right collectible could put you in their thoughts on a daily basis. An autographed card, ball or other memento – especially if it doesn’t appear contrived – might be just the ticket. To see a few cost-effective choices from Amazon.com, follow this link.
  • Not Sure? – You can never go wrong with a personalized holiday card to your superiors, especially if you have children. I’ve always included my bosses on my Christmas card mailing list. My holiday cards prominently feature my three (hungry-looking) children on the front. I’m careful not to put my ugly mug on the card, or to have too many amenities in the background for fear my boss might realize I’m overpaid.

What about the Office Gift Exchange?

The dreaded office gift exchange – why couldn’t I be sick that day?

There is almost nothing as painful as trying to look happy when you peel back the wrapping of an office party exchange gift only to reveal stinky potpourri or a book claiming to detail the “Best Bathroom Trivia” of all time. (I’m really okay never knowing that WD-40 stands for “water displacement, 40th attempt.”)

There are only two answers for the question “what is the proper gift to get someone for the office gift exchange:” Liquor or Gift Card.

  • Liquor – Company policy permitting, a bottle of Single Malt or Bombay Safire is the perfect gift for anyone on this list. Besides, if they hate it, they can always trade with the guy who got some crappy lavender potpourri.
  • Gift Card – Everyone, and I mean everyone, likes getting a gift card from a store or restaurant they’re likely to patronize. Not sure? Get them an Amazon.com gift card by following this link.

Customer Gifts Must Rock…

I’ve been on both the giving and receiving end of customer gifts, and I can tell you that (when the gifts are right) it’s much better to receive than to give.

However, before you send a thing to any of your customers, make sure you know a little something about them. For example, I only golf when forced by business circumstances, though I invariably receive at least three dozen monogrammed golf balls every holiday season. By mid-January I won’t be able to recall who sent balls and who sent nothing. Clearly, those who sent nothing are ahead of those who sent golf balls.

If you don’t know what makes your customer tick, you’re better off keeping any gifts you might send for yourself.

Start today to discover what makes them tick, what they love, and why they do what they do. Chances are you’ll find out that they really appreciate their kids, as I do, and that tickets to The Nutcracker for their family will go ten times further than a $500 bottle of wine. Here are a few tips:

  • Egomaniacs love anything that makes them feel important, so something expensive or something with their name on it works here.
  • Gift baskets might be okay for someone who isn’t yet a customer. If you’re trying to get your name in front of someone cheaply, a $75 gift basket should do the trick.
  • Liquor or wine – If you go this route, make sure you spend the cash. There is nothing worse than a bad bottle of wine (except, maybe, for bad shrimp). Instead of selecting the decent $20 Coppola for ten of your customers, get your best customer an Opus One and send the others a nice card.
  • Gift Card – what, are you crazy? This is tantamount to bribery. Avoid cash and cash equivalents when you consider gifts to customers.

When it comes to holiday gift giving, your mom was right: it’s the thought that counts. When you look at your list this year, be sure to put the proper thought to each gift and remember that most humans will reward those who most appreciate them. Happy Holidays.

The Best Rolling Briefcases Money Can Buy – Laptop Cases for the New Millenium

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The Rolling Briefcase – A Leader’s Most Important Tool?

Not since Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) and his coworkers marveled at the color, font and texture of one another’s business cards in 2000’s American Psycho has a business tool garnered as much admiration and created as much jealousy as the rolling briefcases being dragged through America today.

Whether tooling through the airport or navigating their office hallways with their pull-behind laptop luggage, American business leaders have begun to make both coworkers and strangers take notice.

While there are still those who choose to lug a laptop case by the straps, the editors of AskTheManager.com are convinced these bag-draggers and over-the-shoulder-computer-holders secretly suffer from briefcase envy when they spy us with our new Victorinox, Kensington or Wenger.

As with any fad or fashion, the market has become littered with both good and bad rolling briefcases. We did our homework, checked out the bags available at the mall luggage stores and office supply outlets, and we’ve decided that pound-for-pound and dollar-for-dollar, these are the 5 Best Rolling Briefcases money can buy:

  1. Victorinox Werks Traveler 2.0 Expandable Wheeled Computer Briefcase   
    The King of Rolling Briefcases, show up to work with this Victorinox and you’d have Patrick Bateman plotting your death. This one stores up to a 15″ laptop, and comes with two mesh pockets for storing computer peripherals along with lots of other cool and useful pockets and compartments. While the front compartment expands 2.5″, the rear compartment features a file divider which unzips to lie flat when not in use. Comes with a nifty zip-away water bottle pocket. Fully expanded, this great case is monster of storage at 16.5″ x 15.5″ x 11.5″. Retails for around $290.




  2. SwissGear by Wenger Black Rolling Briefcase
    This great SwissGear by Wenger lists for over $270, but generally can be had for under $100. We found this one on Amazon for $85 with free shipping. Wenger makes a very durable bag; in fact one of our editors has pulled his through airports for more than three years and over 300 flights – and it still works and looks great. Wenger, for those of you who don’t know, is considered the “Genuine” provider of Swiss Army Knives and Victorinox is considered the “Original” provider of these. Long story short, both are great brands and both have been around for more than 110 years. In fact, Victorinox purchased Wenger in 2005, but decided to keep and market both brands. You cannot go wrong with either, though Victorinox is a bit more durable and certainly more respected in the water cooler discussions.
  3. Kensington 62348 Contour Roller Carrying Case
    Kensington is one of the original providers of protective laptop cases and unlike the other top maker (Targus), they’ve done a terrific job of taking what they learned with the old sling-style cases and converted them into great rolling briefcases. This case is huge (19” x 17” x 9.5”) and is great for the road warrior who takes most of their office with them when they travel. As for bags with list prices under $100, this one is the best. We found it on Amazon for $65 with free shipping. 
  4. Samsonite Business One Mobile Office   
    Not many wheeled laptop bags can handle a 17” laptop, but this great Samsonite can do this and still provide plenty of room for virtually everything else you need for the short or long trip. A durable bag from a great maker of durable luggage – it won’t turn heads like a Victorinox, but it’s well worth the money. We found it on Amazon with free shipping for under $120 ($200 list).
  5. Patriot from SwissGear by Wenger
    A very deep and rugged rolling briefcase, the Patriot is probably the most common of the great bags that you’ll see in airports today. Because of its depth (11”) and the removable laptop tote (included at no charge) this is the most versatile bag available. You’ll never have to pack a second bag for that overnight trip, since you can fit a change of clothes and your toiletries in the rear compartment. A great buy at its $129 list price; though you can find it for under $90 (like we did at Amazon).