The Audacity To Win

 Three books so far this year.  Here's my book report video style.

I always appreciate your comments!  Please keep them coming.

Accidental Billionaires

We've (the boys) have all done something to impress the ladies.  Let's see: I've gotten a tattoo, grew my hair long and also had it shaved, wore black rock concert t-shirts to mosque (church), and one night I even told every girl in a nightclub that I loved her.  Yes, I've done some stupid things in my life.  Who hasn't?

I have yet to create an online social network.  That's what The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal is all about. 



Authour Ben Mezrich tells the true tale of how 2 best friends from Harvard created Facebook.  The story is told in a very fast moving pace.


Lessons.

There were a number of lessons I learned from this book.  The first was work.  Work hard. Work so hard that the work that you do becomes all consuming because it's what drives you.


Loyalty.  There is something to be said about being loyal to your friends and the people who care about you.


Keep your (mine) eyes open.  And I don't mean literally.  To read about how numerous people, at the same time, were pursuing something new, innovative, cool and potentially popular was not only inspiring.  It was motivational.  It showed me that there are opportunities anywhere and everywhere. As long as we are keeping our eyes and minds open, opportunities will come.


Is this book worth reading.  Sure it is.  I'll tell you what:  If you're on Facebook and use it, you should read this book.  Find out how it was created.  Learn about the people who created it.  Read about how one of the most popular brands and largest companies in the world was birthed.




NOTE:

Keep your eyes on this blog and on my twitter feed.  I will be giving away a couple of copies of a very popular current business book.  Once I hit 1000 followers on Twitter I will write a post here.  In order to win you must participate.  And I promise you the prize is well worth it.  Okay.  That's all for today.  As you were.

 

Superfreakonomics - The journey continues

After leaving university I made a vow never to read books again.  Well, Robert Ludlum screwed it up for me with his amazing thrillers and sense of humour.  I have also been on a sort of personal journey of self-improvement so titles like Master Key to Riches and How to win Friends and Influence People also find a place on my bookshelf.

Then a year ago I spied a book on my sister's bookshelf: Freakonomics.  I thought that if my sister, a non-intellectual yet a very passionate person has this on her bookshelf, then I must take a look at it.  (Mind you I loved economics in school but didn't have the mathematical chops to finish studying it in school.  And the cover looked cool!)  Now it's on my bookshelf along with the follow-up: Superfreakonomics.

I follow and read up on the Freakonomics blog, so I am now used to the whimsical and humourous takes they have on life and the many decisions people make on everything from what cities people live in and why people cheat.  Therefore, I was prepared to read up on their explanations on topics such as the historical analysis on why women become prostitutes.

It would be unfair of me to pretend to do a proper report on the book.  It will be both too short and not scholastic enough.  So I won't even try.

However, I was really impressed with the thought and effort they put into discussing two specific topics:  How to easily, and in an affordable manner, curb the ravage effects of hurricanes and how to simply slow down and reverse global warming.

So, who should read this book?  Everyone.  Why?  Because it answers the basic question that we all scratch our heads over - Why do people do what they do?

If you've read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts?  What book are you reading right now?

Twitterville.

Twitterville.

It's a place. And a book.

Shel Israel has written the answer to when your friends ask you: What the heck is Twitter?

Twitterville is a great synopsis of what Twitter was, is, has been, could be.

Shel gives a plethora of examples of individuals, companies, charities and other organizations who use Twitter to further their cause.

Early on he gives an example of an American who used Twitter to get freed from prison.  He also describes how hospitals and other medical institutions use Twitter to engage with the public.  From small companies fighting large corporations to established brands using Twitter as a PR tool, Shel gives a thorough analysis of this simple tool with a limit of 140 characters.

If you're a student, you can use Twitter to crowdsource information and gather research.  If you're a professional you may use Twitter to market your product or as a customer service tool.  If you're a business owner, being on Twitter may allow you to keep up with market demands.

In the end, Twitter may also save the world. Curious? Read the book.  It's a wonder what we may accomplish in just 140 characters.

Tell me about the book you have just read.

Made to Stick

If you're like me, even a little bit, you've wondered why certain ideas or images have stuck in your mind for many years. One of the things that has stuck with me is the old McDonald's jingle about the Big Mac. I don't remember the last time I saw or heard this commercial, but it sticks with me to this day.

Brothers, Dan and Chip Heath's 2007 book, Made To Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and others Die seeks to explain this phenomenon. Most interesting, they outline the steps necessary to make ideas or stories or even marketing strategies successful:

1. Simple
2. Unexpected
3. Concrete
4. Credibility
5. Emotion
6. Stories

This book is filled with stories, anecdotes and simple explanations on how we all can (either professionally or personally) ensure that our ideas remain in our audience's mind years later.




I highly recommend this book. If you're a coach leading a team, this book will help you understand what will make your players remember what they should be focusing on. If you're a parent trying to understand how to make your kid complete her homework , you will find invaluable tips. If you're a marketing professional, this book will ensure that your strategy becomes successful. No matter the profession, this is a book that will help you deal with the people around.

Try it you'll like it!


Do you have a favourite book? Have you read Made to Stick? Thoughts and comments are welcomed. Especially on the original post.

What goes up

...must come down.

Unless you're Roger "Rocket" Clemens.

Probably one of baseball's greatest pitchers, Rocket, has pursued the title of ' best ever" for as long as he has known the game.

In The Rocket That Fell To Earth: Roger Clemens and the Rage for Baseball Immortality, Jeff Pearlman introduces us to Rocket and many of the characters that surrounded him during his playing days in Major League Baseball.

I've never really been a fan of Rocket. Even when he played for my Toronto Blue Jays. I was always indifferent to him. However, after reading this fascinating tale about why Rocket did what he did (from visiting kids in the hospital, to taking steroids and everything else in between) I have a new found respect for him.

Why, you may ask. Because of his drive and intensity to succeed. Because of his respect for his elder brother and mother. Because of his compassion towards children. He won't ever be my favourite player but this book did give me a different persective.

There is alot in this book. Jeff is not hell-bent on destroying the image of Rocket. Neither is he a Rocket apologist. Yes, you'll read about his affairs and his use of PEDs. However, if you're looking for a story of substance and not just tabloid fodder, this is the book.

I hope you enjoy.




Have you ever read a book which changed your perspective on someone? Tell me about it. Your comments are always welcome.

(image courtesy of www.hipolitodesigns.com)

8

He did get 8. Gold medals. In Beijing.

Yes. This is about Micheal Phelps. Well, not him but his most recent book, No Limits: The Will To Succeed.

It's an interesting and entertaining read with alot of anecdotes focusing on 8 success principles (following the 8 Gold medal swims.).

There are alot of lessons that I gathered from this book. Most importantly, for me, was his determination and focus on preparing to win. Not just swim -but WIN. Reading about his training regimen and his lifestyle leading up to the past two Olympics made me think about my life and my pursuits.

Am I doing everything it takes to succeed? If I want to succeed to the levels I feel I deserve, am I willing to do "whatever it takes?"

Despite his recent extra-curricular activities I highly recommend this book for any young athlete or young entrepreneur.

2nd of 3 books.

I'm almost done my third book so let me tell you about the second.

The Janitor. Written by Todd Hopkins & Ray Hilbert, The Janitor is not your typical parable-style story. Or maybe it is. Here's how I would describe it before I confuse myself...

The Janitor is a modern day parable outlining the simple steps necessary to both succeed and balance our family life and career. There you have it. In the style of Og Mandino, The Janitor introduces the reader to 6 simple steps that are taught by a janitor to the CEO of the company he cleans at.

If you want a great, simple read with lessons I recommend this book.

Have you ever read a short simple book? Did you enjoy it?

Reading.

Happy New Year!

So, have you made your resolutions? Promises? Objectives?

Call it what you may but we obviously want to improve or continue along our merry way this year. Outside of losing weight, making more money and getting more sleep, what do you want to achieve or do?

Here's something to chew on (sorry dieters!). Read. And I'm not suggesting blogs, newspapers or magazines. Books. The good old fashioned book.

Why?

Two main reasons. Entertainment and personal growth. Reading is actually fun when done outside of work or school - trust me! And the knowledge we can get while doing so can help us tackle new problems or even see things in a new light. Studies have even shown that "bibliotherapy" actually works.

We can read at any time in any place! At night in bed, on the "royal throne", on the TTC, at dinner time, during lunch, and even at your workplace.

No matter what you want to achieve this year let's do a little bit more reading.

Need help figuring out what to read? Check this list out for those business minded or this list of most recommended books.

Happy reading!

(Picture courtesy of www.esischool.com)