Month: December 2011

Book Review: Mindfire, Big Ideas for Curious Minds

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I was drawn to this book after reading Scott Berkun’s terrific book titled Confessions of a Public Speaker (See Post: Glossophobia Self-Help #1).  This may be the best book that I have read on public speaking…so, Scott had set a high bar for me with this new book.

The book title (Mindfire) was inspired by the writings of Emerson who “often referred to the creative mind as a fire and wrote about ways to ignite the mind.”  Berkun indicated that Emerson’s Essay ‘Self-Reliance‘ was a profound influence.”

First Wow: Scott has written over 1,500 essays and articles over a 10 year period (wow) and had handpicked 30 for this collection.  (See full list of topics below)

Second Wow: While he used O’Reilly Media to publish his earlier books, he published this book himself.  He explained that he “wanted to publish books in the future that no publisher in its right mind would release. Therefore, I must learn to do it myself.”  For his first attempt at self-publishing, this is remarkable work. Continue reading “Book Review: Mindfire, Big Ideas for Curious Minds” →

Chop Back The Jungle Each Day…

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I’ve been an avid follower of Michael Wade and his blog Execpundit.com (Leadership, Ethics, Management, and Life).  Here’s his post this morning:

Personal Chores

Study yourself. It will be a life-long course. Don’t let admirable long-term plans keep your focus so heavily on the horizon so that you trip over the immediate. Always know how much time you have. Count on a project taking at least three times longer than you originally planned. Don’t be too quick to forgive yourself but be able to do so. Avoid haters. Try to have a good laugh at least once a day. Never quell on bad experiences. Move on from them. Become a gourmet of life’s beauty. Don’t rush; speed is often over-rated. Learn something unusual once a month. Look for the story behind the story. Recognize that “No” often has an expiration date. If something is too easy, there is a reason and it’s usually not good news. Elude the cheap fashions of our times. Search for great people who are not celebrities and never confuse greatness with celebrity. Craft a philosophy. Don’t assume that societal progress is ordained. Chop back the jungle every day. Know the symptoms of inertia. Watch out for once-impressive programs that have become skeletons in new suits. Never take your future for granted. Relax as seriously as you work. Cultivate courage and kindness. Be noble.

Book Review: Perseverance. 9 Questions From Me To Me.

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1) What drew me to this book?
I came across an article this month where Meg Wheatley was interviewed and she referenced the book.  The interview inspired me to write my posted titled: Sit down and be quiet. You are drunk, and this is the edge of the roof.  Secondly, I equate the relationship of self-help books to me as a magnet to steel.  The force cannot be resisted.

2) Magnet to steel?  Why?
I’m like the golfer looking for a new driver or pitching wedge.  Trying to find a cheaper, easier path to a better game.

3) Are you playing a better game because of it?
For me, it’s like dieting.  I make progress for some time and then revert back to the mean.  I do find, however, that morsels do stick and I am better because of it.

Continue reading “Book Review: Perseverance. 9 Questions From Me To Me.” →

“OH WOW. OH WOW. OH WOW.”

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“OH WOW. OH WOW. OH WOW.”

– Last words spoken by Steve Jobs as reported by his sister, Mona Simpson

What an incredible story – and what timing – a few days before Christmas. Peggy Noonan describes these words as “the best thing said in 2011.” Here’s the story:

Continue reading ““OH WOW. OH WOW. OH WOW.”” →

I’m still learning. The day I stop reading, the day I stop learning – that’s the day I stop leading & likely the day I stop breathing.

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Mike Myatt is Managing Director and Chief Strategy Officer at N2growth – a firm which offers CEO coaching, leadership development and other related consulting activities.  Mike is recognized as one of the world’s top 25 leadership experts.  He has held numerous C-suite positions prior to becoming an advisor, speaker and author of Leadership Matters.  Mike is a syndicated columnist and contributing editor on topics of leadership and innovation for publications including Forbes, Psychology Today, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, Chicago Sun Times, Success, Washington Times and the Chief Executive Magazine.  Mike contributed 2 articles in the past week for Forbes – both are exceptional and highly recommended:

1) Forbes: This One Leadership Quality Will Make or Break You (12/19/11)

2) Forbes: 5 Leadership Tips for 2012 (12/22/11)

I’ve included a good number of the important excerpts below from the 2 articles for my future reference. However, I encourage you to read the articles in their entirety so as not to lose Mike’s message and context. Continue reading “I’m still learning. The day I stop reading, the day I stop learning – that’s the day I stop leading & likely the day I stop breathing.” →