I really enjoyed this book. It does jump over some critical information, such as how to generate the content for your thought leadership - but I was aI really enjoyed this book. It does jump over some critical information, such as how to generate the content for your thought leadership - but I was able to fill this in with a free PDF from their site.
It's interesting that you can download the book for free as a PDF from their website, which is what I'm doing for their other books....more
When a CEO gives you a book, you read it! I interviewed Rhoda Olsen, CEO of Great Clips, for my blog (post coming out next month). As we discussed booWhen a CEO gives you a book, you read it! I interviewed Rhoda Olsen, CEO of Great Clips, for my blog (post coming out next month). As we discussed books she reached into her bookshelf and gave me this one, and I'm glad she did.
This book, by two Harvard business profs, lays out the secrets to a good service strategy. One of them particularly resonated with me - to be good at something, you have to decide what to be bad at. If you're going to offer great service you either need to charge more, or sacrifice something else to pay for it. Commerce Bank was one example - great service paid for by offering the worst rates in the industry.
If you're running a service, I highly recommend this book....more
This book came highly recommended from multiple people as a way to improve your creativity. It's a fine book in that it walks through an approach to dThis book came highly recommended from multiple people as a way to improve your creativity. It's a fine book in that it walks through an approach to deliberately think differently about your ideas. And it probably works. But I'm having a hard time applying it in a corporate setting....more
I have read a ton of books on giving great presentations, but this is easily the best. Duarte doesn't focus on slide design (that's apparently in slidI have read a ton of books on giving great presentations, but this is easily the best. Duarte doesn't focus on slide design (that's apparently in slide:ology, my next book), but does walk through the design of an effective presentation, using real-world examples that show her principles in action. ...more
This book is a perfect summer read. It's light but interesting. A grad student decides to make a toaster from scratch - almost literally! He mines theThis book is a perfect summer read. It's light but interesting. A grad student decides to make a toaster from scratch - almost literally! He mines the copper for the wires, and creates the plastic. It's a great review of how we have progressed, to the point where none of us can make something so basic that is in each of our kitchens....more
I really thought I would like this book. It is a series of short stories that were published elsewhere. The first story is terrific - I loved it!
The I really thought I would like this book. It is a series of short stories that were published elsewhere. The first story is terrific - I loved it!
The introduction warned me that the second story had language that was "less approachable." More like incomprehensible! A really hard read. But I kept through it because the third was supposed to be better. But while the language was better, the story-telling wasn't. Finally, I made it to the shorter stories at the end, and the surprise ending totally destroyed the character developed in the first story.
I read about Lehrer's latest book at Brain Pickings (a great weekly e-newsletter), then saw this in the clearance rack at Barnes & Noble. The best $5 I read about Lehrer's latest book at Brain Pickings (a great weekly e-newsletter), then saw this in the clearance rack at Barnes & Noble. The best $5 I ever spent ona book! Lehrer walks through how emotions are an indispensable part of our decision-making, and should be incorporated. He usesthescience of the brain to discuss how the pre-frontal cortex is best used when there are a handful of criteria (4 or less), but goes overwhelmed when there are too many criteria, and how emotional decision-making is very effective - but ONLY once the brain is well-informed. Great research and terrific writing!...more
This was a hard book to review. On the one hand, the author is clearly a hedonist, and somebody I don't think I would enjoy spending time with. I prefThis was a hard book to review. On the one hand, the author is clearly a hedonist, and somebody I don't think I would enjoy spending time with. I prefer people who actually feel responsibility to their company and who want to make a difference in the world - not somebody who wants to do the bare minimum required so that he can rush off to an international destination.
Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh. But he certainly does not advocate going above and beyond for the job, and there's no way he does any volunteering! Throw in his deliberate "information diet" - don't go out of your way to learn about anything not absolutely required - and I don't see inviting him over for a beer.
Nonetheless, even a hedonist has things to teach, and there are quite a few in here. In particular, he discusses multiple ways to be more efficient in your work. Many of these are not new, but they are combined into an easy-to-use format, and serves as a great reminder. I've started using some of these, and have seen great improvements. For example, I no longer start the way with my email. Get some productive work done first, then think about that monster. Delegate decisions you do not need to make.
So, if you are looking for a book to help you be more productive, by all means read it. But don't use it for life lessons. Or, if you do, don't invite me over for a beer!...more
I really enjoyed reading about The Ownership Quotient. Leading businesses have realized the limitations of satisfaction. Measuring satisfaction does nI really enjoyed reading about The Ownership Quotient. Leading businesses have realized the limitations of satisfaction. Measuring satisfaction does not link to improved business results except at the very low end. The question is: what do we replace it with?
The leading candidate is the Net Promoter Score, which has created great buzz. Other contenders include Emotional Engagement, and Ownership. All do better than satisfaction - which is best depends significantly on your business, and what you are trying to address.
Moving beyond the measurement, though, this book does an excellent job of outlining the steps necessary to increase your customers' and employees' sense of ownership in your business. Utilizing case studies from Harrah's, Apple, Rackspace and others, a philosophy of ownership is outlined that can definitely drive improved business outcomes.
Heskett and company do a great job of showing the limitations of Net Promoter's one question, capturing the essential emotional nature of ownership. True leaders understand that peak performance requires capturing the hearts of your customers and employees, and this book showcases many best-in-class examples. I particularly like the ING Direct example of how they specifically "fire" customers who do not fit their ideal mode - one of the hardest (yet most impactful) efforts a business can undertake in order to focus on the most engaged and profitable customers.
Driving your employees and customers' sense of ownership is critical, and this book makes a compelling case, including many great examples used by companies today....more
I really enjoyed this book. At first I thought it was a bit too touchy-feely for me, but I grew to like it the more I read.
The core to this book is a I really enjoyed this book. At first I thought it was a bit too touchy-feely for me, but I grew to like it the more I read.
The core to this book is a 100 Jobs exercise. He lists 100 jobs, and you select the ones that most excite you, regardless of pay, skills, etc. This then connects to themes around what you want in a job.
My top themes were the Boss and the Persuader. He accurately called out that I like to think that what I say is what we should do - which tends to cause problems when you are on the lower rungs in a larger organization! I also enjoy persuading individuals and groups, be it through sales, marketing or (especially!) presentations.
Next, you identify your top motivations between power, people, and achievements. Going in I thought people would be my top, but as I read and considered his POV, I realized that this is actually my lowest - which is important for my current job search.
This was a very handy book as I decide what I want to do when I grow up!...more
NPS - opinions vary as to whether it's the "best" way of measuring your customer engagement. The problem is that the industry is looking for a measureNPS - opinions vary as to whether it's the "best" way of measuring your customer engagement. The problem is that the industry is looking for a measurement that works for any industry or company. And such a tool does not exist.
Nevertheless, NPS is a good measurement, and Reichheld lays out how to be successful with the program.
The important thing that the author notes is that NPS does not stand for Net Promoter Score, but Net Promoter System. And it's this System that is critical. In fact, if you replaced the measurement with Satisfaction, Engagement, Ownership, or your favorite home-brewed system, your business will still see significant growth if you apply the disciplines he outlines in his book.
A good book to get you started with NPS or any system. Highly recommended....more
LOVED this book on how Oakland used a scientific approach to win more games than anybody but the Yankees - and with 25% of the salary. This is an outsLOVED this book on how Oakland used a scientific approach to win more games than anybody but the Yankees - and with 25% of the salary. This is an outstanding book for both sports fans and those who prefer a behavioral scientific approach to life (i.e., Gallup fans), by showing how Oakland went to the data to find what really mattered for baseball players, and use this to recruit in an inefficient market....more
I love this book - so much that I joined Gallup, inspired by the learnings included. Gallup uses a research-based approach to employee engagement thatI love this book - so much that I joined Gallup, inspired by the learnings included. Gallup uses a research-based approach to employee engagement that is counter-intuitive - but certainly works!
Gallup uses 12 questions to understand employee engagement, then shows how the world's best managers do not follow your typical approach, such as working on weaknesses. Instead, they bring out the best of people, using the philosophy of "Don't try to add to what wasn't put in. Instead, focus on pulling out what was put into the person. That is hard enough."
If you want to be a great manager, read this book!...more
I really enjoyed this book. It was a really easy read - whereas I normally spend months to read a book, this only took a few weeks.
I really enjoyed rI really enjoyed this book. It was a really easy read - whereas I normally spend months to read a book, this only took a few weeks.
I really enjoyed reading about Steve Martin's early days, and how he forced himself to develop his skills out on the road. It's truly inspiring to me when people are willing to go outside of their comfort zone, living in terrible conditions, all to improve their craft. Mind you, I'm not willing to do this - but I appreciate those who do!...more
This is a really good 100 page book. Unfortunately, it's 400 pages long!
Taleb has some very good points. While his main point is that you cannot prediThis is a really good 100 page book. Unfortunately, it's 400 pages long!
Taleb has some very good points. While his main point is that you cannot predict the uncertainties in life, he has some terrific sub-points, as well. For example, we all tend to mis-estimate the odds of "Black Swans" - his phrase for wildly outside-of-the-norm events. We all worry about terrorists, but the odds of being affected by a terrorist attack are miniscule. But we continue with behaviors that have a far higher risk to actually cause our death.
His particular expertise is the stock market, and he uses that as an example of how we tend to think in terms of the bell curve, but the bell curve does not actually apply to most of life. If it did, then stock market crashes would occur so rarely as to be almost mythical - instead, there have been several in my life.
The point I really appreciate is the danger of learning from history. When history is written, it's written after the fact - and the results seem pre-destined. Of course we beat Hitler. Of course the Soviet Union failed. But at the time, none of this was clear - and they could have turned out very differently. Instead, you need to learn by going forward. Have a deliberate point of view as to where history is going, then reguarly check your assumptions, and build it that way. So few of us do this - but that's the best way to learn.
Unfortunately, he spends quite a bit of time meandering to get there. So, the reading is hard - but the result is really good....more
Good potential, great passion - middling execution.
I sometimes read Scott Tipton's Comics 101, and it's an excellent blog. But this book really isn't Good potential, great passion - middling execution.
I sometimes read Scott Tipton's Comics 101, and it's an excellent blog. But this book really isn't targeted well. Is it for comics fans? Then why does it include such basic info? Is it for newcomers? Then why do they have sections where they ask people "what's your favorite series of comics," and then, when the person gives 5 issues and says "I love how superhero x goes through hell then back again," why don't they explain what happened for those of us who don't know what happened in "SuperXMan issues 173-182?"
Even worse, they ask people what their favorite cover is - then don't include a shot of that cover! What were they thinking?
A good summertime read - but it could have been less frustrating!...more
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