What's On My Reading List; Measure What Matters.

Variety improves the things that we do too often, but it rules the things that we don't do often enough. -Daniel Gilbert

My reading list is much like my running play list.  I like to mix it up.  A little American history,  running stories, motivation,business, self help, and some good science fiction.  As the quote above indicates, by reading a variety it improves the experience by keeping it fresh.

Here's a review on a more recent read.


Measure What Matters: OKRs: The Simple Idea that Drives 10x Growth by John Doerr
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The case studies in this book are a fun read, especially in the audio book version which has each person related to the specific case study read their portion. The variety in voices kept the book entertaining.

Where the book lacked

A Year of Total Fulfillment

Ever crush a goal and have a strange sense of emptiness?  Make 2018 a year of total fulfillment.

Are you joining millions who are going to the gym this week? Here's a plan to kick off your next several trips to the gym. Focus on lifting weights with one arm. Each time for the next bunch of visits keep working that same arm. Curls, flies, lift, press, repeat . . . work it! 

We all want a toned arm. Actually, none of us want just one toned arm. We would look ridiculous. No one is setting a fitness goal for 2018 to look weird, but many are setting goals in just one or two areas putting themselves at risk of feeling very unfulfilled even though they've achieved their goals. When working on your personal plan for 2018 take a look at more than just your job or your financial status or your relationships. Take time to reflect on and plan for your whole self. Gift yourself a year of total fulfillment in 2018 by thinking through and planning in the following 8 areas

What's On My Reading List: Leadership and the One Minute Manager

Leadership and the One Minute Manager: Increasing Effectiveness Through Situational Leadership by Kenneth H. Blanchard
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The principle of changing your leadership style to match the needs of your employees is very good; however, the writing style of this book is very distracting to the lessons the book offers. Referring to the main character as the One Minute Manager rather than giving them a name is also very annoying. I would not recommend adding this to your reading list.

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What's on My Reading List: Multipliers

Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter by Liz Wiseman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading the difference between Multipliers and Diminishers. I think we have all worked for both and we all can be both. What a great leadership question to reflect on: am I being a Multiplier or a Diminisher right now?

Here is one of my favorite quotes:
“It isn’t how much you know that matters. What matters is how much access you have to what other people know. It isn’t just how intelligent your team members are; it is how much of that intelligence you can draw out and put to use.”

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What's on My Reading List; Grit: Passion, Perseverance, and the Science of Success

Grit: Passion, Perseverance, and the Science of Success by Angela Duckworth
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book started out great. Her explanation of grit and the examples provided were very interesting. I feel that people will be encouraged to read that perseverance can win over talent or skill. Perseverance puts the ball in my court instead of in my heredity or environment. How badly do I want to be great? How hard am I willing to work for it? Imagine if everyone could get that and get the voice in their head lined up with that thought. Wow!

The book then turned very ordinary and repetitive and even sounded

Give Yourself an 'A'

When you wake up each morning, I want you to give yourself an 'A'.  This is a lesson I learned from Ben Zander, conductor and educator.  Tell yourself, "today, I get an 'A'" and then think about all of the reasons you gave yourself the highest mark.  What did you do?  What did you say?  Who did you help?  What did you do that brought you joy?

It's amazing that just this little act of seeing yourself in this light will transform your day.  You are enough.  You do get an 'A'.  You deserve it!

What's On My Reading List: Mindset

Most people never run far enough on the first wind to find out they’ve got a second. Give your dreams all you’ve got, and you’ll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you. William James

I really tried to like this book because of the recommendation it received.  I asked myself over and over, is it just that I get it and don't need to be sold on the concept that is bothering me?  No, it is just a poorly written book.  The author overplays her theory in every sports or business success or failure in the history of the world.

I give it 1 star and 5 Zzzzzzzz's

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

What's On My Reading List; Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn

I have always been a John Maxwell fan and have read and reread many of his books. As a leader and lifelong learner, I always find great applicable lessons from his books.  One of my favorites is a very short read, Make Today Count.

I am frequently asked for recommendation and often reply "anything from John Maxwell or Patrick Lencioni".  On the flip side, I am offered so many title selections that my: "to read" list stretches from Detroit to Kalamazoo (inside joke with my daughter).

Oh, whatever shall I read next?  Books leap to the top of my "to read" list when

What's on My Reading List; Executive Presence

The concept of "executive presence" is a fantastic one. When providing feedback to others the term can be used as a reference to remove any personal context and ease the conversation.  Leaders can work towards creating a vision of executive presence for their organization to provide guidance for those growing within the organization.

This book provided many examples of do's and don'ts and I will use the term to coach employees who are missing the mark and holding themselves back; however I cannot recommend reading it.

Executive Presence: What Nobody Ever Tells You about Getting Ahead by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Perhaps this would make a good article, but it is very drawn out and boring as a book.

There isn't new information here - look your best, be your best, and speak your best.

This book agitated me for these 4 reasons:
1) Using Angelina Jolie as a positive example for anything
2) Endorsing plastic surgery
3) Recommending heavy make-up
4) Overuse of the word gravitas and the phrase "show your teeth"

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Everybody Wants to be Somebody

This post is for everyone out there who sends communications to people . . .Everybody wants to be somebody. 

 

In today’s environment of mass media marketing it’s nice when someone actually knows us. 

 

My husband’s name is Chris. 

It is not Christopher

or Christian,

just Chris. 

 

It is a family joke when a phone or mail
solicitation is addressed to Christopher.  The biggest laugh we had over this was when a women’s clothier he purchased gifts from added him to their mailing list as Christina.  Really?

The Difference Between Won't and Can't; Raising Kids Today

“The scholars who research happiness suggest that more money stops making people happier at a family income of around seventy-five thousand dollars a year. After that, what economists call “diminishing marginal returns” sets in. If your family makes seventy-five thousand and your neighbor makes a hundred thousand, that extra twenty-five thousand a year means that your neighbor can drive a nicer car and go out to eat slightly more often. But it doesn’t make your neighbor happier than you, or better equipped to do the thousands of small and large things that make for being a good parent.”  ~    Malcolm Gladwell, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

 

 

I find that as a leader I am more often wanting growth and development for people more than they want it themself. 

Raving Fans for Freeeeeee

"Raving fans are created by companies whose service far exceeds that of the competition and even exceeds customer expectations," describes Ken Blanchard in his book Raving Fans. The best raving fan experiences are executed so casually that they seem to be directed subconsciously.  They are just so natural.  I have an amazing "raving fan" story to share with you about the service I received this week while traveling for business.

A coworker and I were asked to travel and it just so happened to be the week of the "snowstorm of the century".  We waited out through the worst of it then made our break when we had word that most major roads were cleared (funny what was called "clear"). Taking separate vehicles we convoyed through snow, slush, and ice to our destination.  I was in the lead car and she followed carefully, both of us with a deliberate eye on the road and iron grip on the wheel.  Stopping for anything was not a consideration as the off ramps looked more like ski hills.

I can't imagine what we looked like when we collapsed on the

To Do or Not To Do That is the Question

How is it that some people get so much farther ahead than others?  Some executives complete endless projects while some make projects endless. Some moms and dads get breakfast made, kids clothed, school bags packed, 2 loads of laundry done, kitchen cleaned up, grocery shopping complete and all of the errands run, all before 1:00 when others are just getting started at 1:00.

It would be easy to say, they have more help, they have better genes, magic worker fairies secretly appear
and get stuff done for them.  Here's their real secret.  Are you ready?  They make To-Do lists.  Successful people set goals and put them in writing and the majority of them make daily To-Do lists.

Why create daily To-Do lists?

Do Not Brand Me

successful
trustworthy
well dressed
reputable
expert
having integrity
funny
reliable
smart
relatable
....and many more

Look the Part

A couple of months ago I had car trouble and was choosing between the expensive repair costs and replacing the vehicle.  I drive a tremendous number of miles each day and reliability is extremely important to me.  Talking through my options with a coworker, he recommended a salesperson who he and another colleague highly endorsed.  Since the salesman worked at the dealership that I wanted to make my purchase from anyway it was a no brainer. This dealership has a cafe.  It has a shopping boutique with clothing, jewelry and baubles.  And, get this, it has a full service spa.  Heck, yeah!  That's where I want to shop for a car.

3 Little Words

3 little words can be such a difference maker. . .

PREPARATION PREPARATION PREPARATION

 

Schedules, lists, planning, calendars; these are not about being Type A (although those who don't do them find amusement through that accusation).  They are about reducing stress and being happier.  Really, schedules make you happier?  Lists reduce stress?  Yes,  absolutely!!!

 

Here's the morning self talk without planning

It's Not THE Economy Its YOUR Economy

If I were to ask 10 people if they wanted to make more money chances are pretty stacked in my favor that I would get 10 out of 10 that respond with a "yes". If I were to ask on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being minimum wage and 10 being the highest where would you want your earnings to come in. Again, I am certain that I will get a "Level 10" response.

For professionals, their level of income is predetermined by many factors. Experience, education, past earnings, and skill along with the value of the particular position to the organization are a few keys that determine how their income level is set.

Overcoming Excuses: I'm Too Tired To...

Thursday night I was driving home from work (with a live (?) hamster lost somewhere in my car - ah! parenthood) making up every excuse why I wouldn't get in my Insanity workout.  It's dark.  I'm tired.  I hear the second phase of Insanity is really really hard.  I'll do a double tomorrow. (yeah right)

I looked at the clock in my car and BAM! I had a total paradigm shift. 

Five For Success

One of my favorite business and personal development authors is John Maxwell.  In his most recent book he put together what he calls a compilation of his life's work, The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth.  The CEO of my company is rather obsessed with names and numbers and numbers and names.  The title of this book is right in his wheelhouse.  15, that is specific and measurable.  Invaluable, now that is very descriptive.

Invaluable; having great value that is impossible to calculate. 

Just by definition who wouldn't want 15 principles of such great value that it is impossible to calculate?

Overcoming Excuses: I Don't Have Time To ...

This is what I hear all of the time "How do you do it?  I just don't have the time to workout like you do."  Like I do? Time?  Are you kidding me?

I wish I had a magic wand that would allow me to create an extra hour or two whenever I need them.   I need an extra hour to workout - wave my magic wand - ta da.  I need an extra hour to read a personal development book