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

My 68 Day Challenge: The Whole30 Day 10

Days 10 and 11 are the biggest quit days for people on the Whole30.  We are on day 10 and are feeling too good to consider quitting.

My husband had a business introduction meeting this week.  I thought for sure he would cheat.  No way was he going to be introduced to new business contacts at a restaurant and tell them about the plan.  He surprised me.  He had no problem telling them about the plan, in fact, it was a great icebreaker.  Ordering compliant from the Italian restaurant they were at was no problem too.  The server was more than ready to help.  Awesome!

It's funny, but not surprising, that our keys to success with this plan are pretty much keys to success for anything:

1. Open communication - tell people your needs and vision and they will help get you there.
2. Look for ways to make it work - sure you can find a million reasons why you can't, but focus on why you can.
3. 80% planning 20% execution - don't get caught unprepared.  Plan!
4. Try new things - if you keep doing what you've always done you will get what you've always got

We are doing the Whole30 as part of the 68 Day Challenge.  Join thousands of people looking to make 2016 their best year yet 68 Day Challenge.

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; 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"

View all my reviews

What's On My Reading List

Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds by Carmine Gallo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

I loved listening to this book on audible.  What I enjoyed most was being exposed to many great TED talks that I haven't seen yet.  I can't wait to carve out a viewing session to check them all out.  Who has the popcorn?

The best advice in the book?  Favor pictures over text, secret number 9, is my pick.  So many times I have been overwhelmed by the amount of text on a PowerPoint presentation.  You totally tune out the presenter to try and feverishly read all of the text before they flip to the next slide.  Jeffrey Gitomer said it best at a seminar I attended of his; "SLIDES ARE FREE" use as many as you like.

Tell Yourself Positive Stories to Stay Positive

“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”   
~    Mahatma Gandhi
The above quote has been stated and restated and rephrased by many different people over time.  If you Google the first line over 38,000,000 results appear. I must have heard it, read it, watched it on a YouTube video hundreds of times in my life, but today as I listened to an audio program I finally understand how it works.

Your beliefs become your thoughts. 

I always mistook that your beliefs meant your values, but notice how values come later in the phrase. 

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?

6 Pounds of Chicago

My problem, when it comes to diet and exercise, isn't knowing what is right and wrong and isn't even the lack of having a good plan.  It's that I posses no discipline. Zip, zero, zilch.  Berta, the 300 pound Italian girl inside me, Berta, always wins out when there are tasty treats about.

I headed out for two weeks of business travel.  I packed up apples, halos, and granola bars.  I cut up celery sticks, cucumbers, and carrots.  My iPod was loaded with awesome workout tunes and I packed up an extra bag just for sneakers, sports bras, and running gear.

The plan: eat well, exercise daily, and use these two weeks of business travel to amp up physically.

The reality: 

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

Clear Communication?

Parents, leaders, spouses, friends, coworkers; any relationship is made stronger or weaker by how clearly we communicate.  Our word choice, tone, punctuation, and even the timing of our message can affect how it is perceived.

We all know that there are words that we just simply shouldn't use.  Their meaning is just, well, mean.  "Don't call your sister stupid". "Don't say I hate you".  Suck.  This sucks, that sucks, you suck.  I was just at a classroom Christmas party and suck seems to be the current 4th grade favorite for boys and girls.

Then, there's the way we say things.  Tone, inflection, and body language all express

Don't Hate Me Because I am Type A

"Hey Type A girl, it's just the driveway.  You don't need to get all of the snow off." 

What?  But, I am shoveling the driveway and my work is a reflection of me and did you see the neighbors driveway?  How about wanting to set a good example for our son who is making money shoveling snow?  Do we want to set the bar so low that we can't look our neighbors in the eye this spring because our son saw mommy do a crappy job on the driveway and he felt that was how it should look when he was out working for real money?  Hey, he owes us a ton of dough for hacking our xbox live account and buying all of those games.  He needs to be the best snow shoveler in town or

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?

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.

Tricks to Help You Stick to It

  How are you doing on your New Year's resolution?  I don't mean planning on next year's already.  How are you doing with this year's?  Yes, I know. I am the only one still talking about it in May. How unfashionable!

It's not hopeless. You can get back on track with your fitness and nutrition goals with a little help, and a few tricks. Here are some tactics to keep you on track when that devil on your shoulder is trying to tempt you.

How Well do You Know Your Calorie Intake?

Creating a tax on sugary drinks in an effort to fight obesity received mixed views, but ultimately didn't pass in New York this week. 

Those for the tax were supporting a healthier America.  No matter what you think of the tax you cannot fault wanting to fight obesity and disease. 

Those who opposed the tax said that you cannot pin down calorie intake to beverages.  That is tough to argue as well.

How well do you know your nutrition facts?  Take this quick and fun quiz to find out.

How Well Do You Know Your Calorie Intake? » Quizzes

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

‎101 Three-Word Success Tips

A colleague of mine recently posted this in a New Year / New You accountability group on Facebook and I found it so simple and at the same time so powerful that I wanted to pay it forward.
 

‎101 Three-Word Success Tips 

1.Drink more water.
2.Watch less TV.
3.Action makes traction.

4.Try new things.
5.Hang in there.
6.Get better daily.
7.Begin with enthusiasm.
8.Finish with flair.
9.Celebrate small wins.
10.Eliminate wasted steps.
11.Aim higher sooner.
12.Never stop learning.