May 23rd, 2009
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you – Chip and Dan Heath for your wonderful book, Made to Stick. I wish I had read it when it first came out, but having read the Heath brother’s columns in my favorite magazine, Fast Company, I thought I knew their message. I was wrong. This is the perfect book for anything trying to figure out why certain ideas stick and others don’t and perfect for me trying to figure out my next writing project, marketing and how to make and impact despite all the “noise” and competition out there.
There is no one out there that can’t learn from this excellent description of why ideas stick. Start with simplicity. Surprise with the unexpected. Be down to earth and concrete. Make sure you are credible. Pull on the heart strings of emotion. Tell good stories. Yes, yes – easy to say, harder to do, but Chip and Dan give many good examples and certainly helped me to help myself refine my message. I have always believed in simplicity, but tend to have too many messages. I know the importance of emotions in learning and influencing but aren’t facts more important? Maybe not. I admire people who tell a good story, maybe I can too.
I can highly recommend Made to Stick for anybody in the business of influencing other people – and aren’t we all?
May 23rd, 2009
The title of this book and the sub-title, “How street-smart entrepreneurs learn to handle whatever comes up” got the better of my curiosity. Norm Brodsky (with Bo Burlingham) book has very little to do with “knack” and street-smart. It is about the serious work behind the scenes of running a small business.
We’d like to think that (well, I’d like to think) that the power of a great idea is enough to grow a business. No way. Brodsky gives the entrepreneur a real punch in the stomach. Get your figures straight. Know the difference between gross and net profit. The book totally freaked me out about how little I know the secret behind the numbers of my own business – and I’ve been running my business for thirty years. “I know nothing” is more than a comic phrase. It is a tragic-comic fact. Luckily I have survived and done all right. Imagine, however, if I had 10% of Norm’s business knowledge. I feel like going to business school. At least I feel bawled out by the teacher.
May 23rd, 2009
Charles Murray is co-author of the very controversial book The Bell Curve. He is described as a “professional contrarian”. Murray analyzes statistics and comes up with some very uncomfortable conclusions – things we don’t want to hear. His work was instrumental in reforming the American welfare system because he could point out what works – and what doesn’t.
Now Murray takes on our preconceptions of the educational systems and bluntly points out that school reform without “family” reform is basically useless. There is so much data out there pointing to the fact that most children are caught in there own level of intelligence. We should make decisions more on this fact. For example, less young adults should attend college and more get vocational training. We need to do a better job of training the elite – a very controversial point of view. But certainly the lowering of standards in our educational systems is not helping very many people – or the nation.
If you are ready to open your mind to another way of thinking about education, then welcome to a book that will spin your head around. Murray’s contribution to the debate is crucial.
May 23rd, 2009
I like to read a lot of self-help literature. I’ve read a great amount and the message is basically the same in each case: take responsibility for your own future. I found Debbie Ford’s book, The Right Questions to be refreshing, despite the message being the same. Ford has written several best selling books in the field and is a renowned workshop leader and coach trainer.
Essentially Ford says that we need to continually ask ourselves questions as we make life choices. For example, Will this choice propel me toward and inspiring future or will it keep me stuck in the past? Will this choice bring me long term fulfillment or will it bring me short term gratification? Am I standing in my power or am I trying to please another?
She is asking us to ask ourselves ten most vital questions that definitely can help keep us on the right path.
She helped me with one biggie… shall I give power to agents and publishers or should I take the power and publish myself, something easier and easier for each day. The frustration of looking for someone to help me is know over. I will do it myself. Sure it’s hard, but it is just as frustrating to give my power to some unknown forces I cannot really trust. Maybe I will not make the New York Times best selling list, but then what are the chances of that anyway. There are other ways to make a difference.
The basic idea of the book the question of moving forward or not. Will this choice help me move forward in my life? If, yes, then go ahead. Go ahead and read this book.
April 26th, 2009
In this Action Guide, we will explore your own highly personal goals, passions, hopes and dreams. We will uncover your strengths, talents, values and ideas. We will highlight your contributions at work, home and in your community. We will also explore cooperation in your teams and knowledge about your customers and clients. We will ask you to share stories of what works and what does not work for you and the
citizens of your community.
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