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The Dealmaker's Ten Commandments: Ten Essential Tools for Business Forged in the Trenches of Hollywood
The Dealmaker's Ten Commandments provides a practical, no-nonsense methodology for negotiating deals, managing your time and handling crisis, all at the highest level.
Authored by one of the entertainment industry's most beloved success stories, prominent transactional attorney and former child actor Jeff B. Cohen created The Dealmaker's Ten Commandments to overcome resistance and achieve his goals without losing his soul along the way.
Although developed in Hollywood, the real world tactics, strategies, and guiding principles are vital for any business environment.
Authored by one of the entertainment industry's most beloved success stories, prominent transactional attorney and former child actor Jeff B. Cohen created The Dealmaker's Ten Commandments to overcome resistance and achieve his goals without losing his soul along the way.
Although developed in Hollywood, the real world tactics, strategies, and guiding principles are vital for any business environment.
- GenresBusiness
Audio CD
First published May 7, 2015
12 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
Jeff B. Cohen
2 books7 followersOne of the entertainment industry’s most beloved success stories, Jeff B. Cohen, Esq. is a prominent transactional attorney and former child actor, best known for playing the role of 'Chunk' in the Richard Donner/Steven Spielberg film The Goonies.
A co-founder of Beverly Hills based Cohen Gardner LLP, he has been named by Variety to its Dealmakers Impact List and profiled by The Hollywood Reporter, The ABA Journal, Chambers Associate, Law Crossing and others.
A distinguished lecturer and active writer, he has authored numerous articles discussing business, technology and entertainment matters for CNBC, The Huffington Post, Backstage, Lawyerist and others. He is proud to serve on corporate boards in both the non-profit and for-profit arenas.
A co-founder of Beverly Hills based Cohen Gardner LLP, he has been named by Variety to its Dealmakers Impact List and profiled by The Hollywood Reporter, The ABA Journal, Chambers Associate, Law Crossing and others.
A distinguished lecturer and active writer, he has authored numerous articles discussing business, technology and entertainment matters for CNBC, The Huffington Post, Backstage, Lawyerist and others. He is proud to serve on corporate boards in both the non-profit and for-profit arenas.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 9, 2015
Jeff B Cohen is honest and 'to the point' throughout his book. He explains how he failed as a actor and became a successful entertainment lawyer. Jeff then explains how to be successful in the boardroom. His tips work for any type of business or deal making (not just lawyers). This book is packed full of great tips for any entrepreneur or business owner.
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September 19, 2019I read this for an entertainment law class.
The chapter headings felt like they were just there for the shock factor. He used TONS of famous quotes out of context in a way that hurt my English Major soul. My favorite chapters were the last three, which really just felt like fillers to make it an even 10. The subject matter is not to my personal taste, but I think it does give an interesting and realistic (if somewhat dressed up) view of dealmaking in the entertainment industry.
The chapter headings felt like they were just there for the shock factor. He used TONS of famous quotes out of context in a way that hurt my English Major soul. My favorite chapters were the last three, which really just felt like fillers to make it an even 10. The subject matter is not to my personal taste, but I think it does give an interesting and realistic (if somewhat dressed up) view of dealmaking in the entertainment industry.
October 31, 2018
I liked his guidance, the book helped me understand strategies for making deals.
June 22, 2015
Well, this was a surprisingly great read. I'll be honest and say that I only even agreed to read and review this book because I was curious what Chunk was up to these days. Turns out, he's doing pretty well for himself.
The book is short at just over 100 pages, but it is packed with good advice. Cohen is insightful, smart, straightforward, genuinely humble, and surprisingly funny. There is no doubt that Cohen is focused and determined to be the best at what he does, but he also doesn't take himself too seriously. Despite the fact that he gives, what many would consider to be, rather harsh advice, he still comes across as pretty darn likable, in my opinion.
The book is divided into, you guessed it, ten sections. Here is a brief overview of each one:
1) Fear is more powerful than love. It's also more reliable.
2) Power, not reason, decides how outcomes are defined, judged, and rationalized.
3) People are motivated by their own (perceived) best interests.
4) Things are exactly as they seem. Don't delude yourself. Don't make excuses.
5) Choose the right battle with a worthy opponent.
6) Make a deal: offer, counter, and close. Don't add steps; don't skip steps.
7) Have a system for handling your phone calls, emails, meetings, etc. Spend the most time on things that most benefit you.
8) Don't panic or make excuses when you screw up. Fix the problem now, analyze later.
9) Know your role--who you are and who you aren't. Also, get paid!
10) Try not to become a monster. Even if you get down and dirty on a daily basis, balance it out with good things in your life.
Though I began reading this book out of curiosity more than anything, I ended up really enjoying it. I connected with Cohen's writing style and outlook on life pretty much immediately. I think there is something just inherently admirable and engaging about a person who has been through hard times and risen above. At any rate, this was a great book. I even made my lawyer husband read it. Best of luck to you, Jeff!
The book is short at just over 100 pages, but it is packed with good advice. Cohen is insightful, smart, straightforward, genuinely humble, and surprisingly funny. There is no doubt that Cohen is focused and determined to be the best at what he does, but he also doesn't take himself too seriously. Despite the fact that he gives, what many would consider to be, rather harsh advice, he still comes across as pretty darn likable, in my opinion.
The book is divided into, you guessed it, ten sections. Here is a brief overview of each one:
1) Fear is more powerful than love. It's also more reliable.
2) Power, not reason, decides how outcomes are defined, judged, and rationalized.
3) People are motivated by their own (perceived) best interests.
4) Things are exactly as they seem. Don't delude yourself. Don't make excuses.
5) Choose the right battle with a worthy opponent.
6) Make a deal: offer, counter, and close. Don't add steps; don't skip steps.
7) Have a system for handling your phone calls, emails, meetings, etc. Spend the most time on things that most benefit you.
8) Don't panic or make excuses when you screw up. Fix the problem now, analyze later.
9) Know your role--who you are and who you aren't. Also, get paid!
10) Try not to become a monster. Even if you get down and dirty on a daily basis, balance it out with good things in your life.
Though I began reading this book out of curiosity more than anything, I ended up really enjoying it. I connected with Cohen's writing style and outlook on life pretty much immediately. I think there is something just inherently admirable and engaging about a person who has been through hard times and risen above. At any rate, this was a great book. I even made my lawyer husband read it. Best of luck to you, Jeff!
July 15, 2015
Jeff Cohen is a former Hollywood child star (best known as Chunk from "The Goonies") who became a lawyer and now has his own firm in Beverly Hills where he represents high-level talent. Jeff's book frames the fundamental principles of deal-making as "ten commandments" to follow - basically, to embrace the reality of the situation, not the situation as you wish it would be, to remain calm and collected, and to use all of the leverage you have to achieve your desired result. The utility of the book isn't to learn Brand New Information, but to collect all of these principles in an easily digestible format.
Jeff's writing style is very informal and sometimes melodramatic (he constantly uses a battle metaphor for deal-making), and the book is littered with quotes from all sorts of personalities, both historical and fictional. If you are looking for elegant prose, there are probably other books to read with the same type of information, but if you want a brief, crunchy read on the topic, this isn't a bad way to go.
P.S. If you are looking for lots of juicy anecdotes from Jeff's time as a child star, you won't find them in this book. Although Jeff does discuss his background to give context to his point of view, this isn't a partial memoir.
Jeff's writing style is very informal and sometimes melodramatic (he constantly uses a battle metaphor for deal-making), and the book is littered with quotes from all sorts of personalities, both historical and fictional. If you are looking for elegant prose, there are probably other books to read with the same type of information, but if you want a brief, crunchy read on the topic, this isn't a bad way to go.
P.S. If you are looking for lots of juicy anecdotes from Jeff's time as a child star, you won't find them in this book. Although Jeff does discuss his background to give context to his point of view, this isn't a partial memoir.
June 12, 2015
A refreshingly dark read from a master negotiator... who also happens to have been "Chunk" from The Goonies. What's not to like?
I've read an unhealthy number of business titles over the years, and way too many of them end up giving you a positive feeling about whatever business practice the book is about but ultimately don't deliver any concrete, applicable information. Dealmaker's is the polar opposite of this. It's written in a conversational style, but it get's dark and really specific! I particularly liked Jeff's advice that you should "Take Yes for Yes and No for Maybe.", and the "No Pig Wrestling" chapter was entertaining, but also highly applicable for crisis management and operating in our new ultra-connected world.
A quick, but very solid read.
I've read an unhealthy number of business titles over the years, and way too many of them end up giving you a positive feeling about whatever business practice the book is about but ultimately don't deliver any concrete, applicable information. Dealmaker's is the polar opposite of this. It's written in a conversational style, but it get's dark and really specific! I particularly liked Jeff's advice that you should "Take Yes for Yes and No for Maybe.", and the "No Pig Wrestling" chapter was entertaining, but also highly applicable for crisis management and operating in our new ultra-connected world.
A quick, but very solid read.
July 25, 2015
The Dealmaker's Ten Commandments is told with a sincere honesty that allows the reader to really learn helpful business tools for success. This book is meat from beginning to end, no useless fluff, but Jeff's witty and fun personality shines through allowing those of us with a light heart to absorb cold hard business techniques easily. I would recommend this book to anyone who feels the pressures of business, whether he is entry level or high executive. This book is all about improving one's business approach and perspective, and it is very helpful.
June 22, 2015
The title says it all. How to be the type of person that people, clients, etc. turn to to get what they want and by so doing, you can get what you want. My favorite of the 10 Commandments? #4: Things are as they seem. Deal in reality, not what is hoped for. Now yourself and those you are dealing with and by so doing, you won't get caught up in wanta's but in what can transpire.
June 8, 2015
Primarily a set of deal-making methods/principles, relying on power, timing, fear, etc., but which acknowledges the best and worst of the various parties. A quick read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews