Book Review - Managing Startups:Best Blog Posts - MUST MUST MUST Read!

As a Vine reviewer, and having reviewed over 1,000 products on Amazon, there are very few books that will get the mythical sixth star. This is one of those. This book, an anthology of blog posts expertly collected by editor Tom Eisenmann, takes the reader through the best of the best in product development, marketing, hiring, firing, strategy, financing and pretty much every other element facing the start up manager or CEO today. That, in and of itself, is pretty impressive. However, the book is extremely useful for those of us who are well beyond the start up phase. In many cases, we lose our roots, and this book reminds us where we started.

As the executive tasked with running a 100 person tech firm in Seattle, I don't think about our company as a start up. And that's a mistake. I read this book, all 440 pages of it, cover to cover in less than a day. I couldn't put it down. I am a 20 year veteran of financial technology and consulting businesses, and was learning something new on every page. Something to apply TOMORROW when I get to the office. It touched the entrepreneur soul that 100 employees and institutional investors tend to suppress.

If you are a budding entrepreneur, this book is a must have. If you are in the PE or VC world, it is a must read. Heck, if you are a manager at nearly any level in nearly any organization, this is a must read. It will bring some of the best ideas to bear in a very readable format. The price point new is perfect - don't wait for the used copy. Get it NOW. Read it NOW.

Book Review - Praise of Folly by Erasmus - Sarcasm, Wit & Wisdom

Erasmus was unapologetically the "Andy Rooney" of the 16th Century. Willing to take on the establishment of his day - whether it be Princes or Popes, "Praise of Folly" brings the extremes of the late Renaissance to light. Focusing on the extremes of the cloistered religious and the theologians, Erasmus also explores the reaches of drunkenness, licentiousness, sexuality, youth and education. The introduction and extensive footnotes will open up many vistas that would otherwise be somewhat opaque due to the 500 year gap between Erasmus and the modern reader.

A book that, while not an easy read, will be a refreshing one.

Book Review - Designing B2B Brands - Much More Relevant Than Expected

4 out of 5 stars

When I received the book and picked it up, I immediately thought I got a coffee table book on Deloitte. Fortunately, while the book is very Deloitte focused, there are many exceptional lessons to be learned here. The book uses Deloitte as the framework by which the authors explore a complete branding program, including promotion, design, product, presentation, social media, office design and feel, as well as employee education and many other elements. The book is extraordinarily comprehensive in the breadth of coverage. The only significant downside is that, in addition to being all about Deloitte's brand management, Deloitte is a professional services firm. While the principles will also be applicable to a hard goods B2B brand, the emphasis in many areas may be very different.

If you would like a good overview of a very comprehensive brand design program, and best practices on how it was designed, managed, and ensure that you cover all the bases, the book will be a surprisingly good resource. The pervasive use of Deloitte as the brand in the book is both limiting and enlightening, and if you understand the principles and look at Deloitte as a "case study" example, this may prove to be a solid tool.

Book Review - A Swiss Family Robinson - A 200 Year Old Must Read Classic

4 out of 5 stars

Swiss Family "Robinson" was written nearly 200 years ago to by Johann Wyss to integrate moral and religious lessons with some introduction to flora and fauna, and leveraging Defoe's "Robinson Caruso" written several years before. Yes, the book is very fanciful, and could never have happened given the mix of flora, fauna and geography. Yes, the language is somewhat dated. And the book is in the public domain, so there are many translations and various endings (Wyss died before finishing the book). Each of those things will make the publisher and the experience a little different book to book. However, the book itself is a classic that deserves the read, and is entertaining both in terms of story and insight into European and global sensibilities of 200 years ago.

Book Review - Beyond Office Politics - Useful Insights

4 out of 5 stars

This relatively quick read by Linda Sommer will provide the reader with some insights that are generally not taught in business schools - and need to be. Looking at the personality type of your counter parties and your competitors, Sommer contends that the key to success is to understand what makes them tick and approach the relationship in such a way as to create a win-win interaction - in her words "coopetition". This seems pretty logical, yet many of us suffer from this very shortcoming. Framing up personality types in terms of needs for power, affiliation and achievement, Sommer provides techniques for both identification and interaction with each dominant type - including a website to help classify your own dominant traits.

She also embraces the concept that all business is really at its core about people, and success in business boils down to success with our interpersonal relationships. The book provides an easy to read and relatively useful paradigm for understanding and managing those relationships - and while not breakthrough in content, is extremely useful.

Audio Book Review - The 8th Habit - From Effectiveness to Greatness - Find Your Voice

4 out of 5 stars

Covey's 8th Habit - Finding Your Voice and making others more successful, is a variation on the theme of "Sharpening the Saw" that most of us were introduced to in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Where the 7 Habits tend to be very much about improving the self, the 8th Habit moves beyond that paradigm to actively working to improve others. The ability to tap into and harness the full potential of "knowledge workers" and the intellectual horsepower of organizations and people are keys to excellence and moving beyond mere effectiveness. Covey is a master speaker, and his combination of stories, examples, anecdotes, philosophy and straightforward delivery are hard to beat. While I wouldn't view the 8th Habit as revolutionary, it is an important principle for any manager or leader to understand and espouse.

Audio Book Review - Transformation: The Next Step To The No Limit Person - Great Program

5 out of 5 stars

Wayne Dyer is, first and foremost, a very inspiring speaker. I have never read a book of his, but thoroughly enjoy his audio programs, and this one is no exception. The key to Dyer's approach is to "believe" what can happen and then you will see it, rather than seeing is believing. The power of intention, vibration and thought are fundamental to his approach, and a positive and vivid visualization of what the outcome desired needs to be is foundational. The program, which is several hours in length, takes the listener through both theory and implementation of techniques that will change negative attitudes into positive ones. While some will view the approach as much New Age mumbo jumbo, the principles are solid and the audio inspirational.

Audio Book Review - Leadership 101 - Solid Advice

4 out of 5 stars

This is a review of the audiobook. The 2 CD set is a relatively easy and interesting listen, with solid principles and anecdotes that bring leadership to light and life. The author, a long serving pastor, brings both a humanity and a social perspective to bear that is sometimes absent in those books written by or recorded by the typical Fortune 500 executive. His focus on the principles of influence, integrity, attitude, vision, problem solving and discipline transcend corporate leadership to leadership generally. While general and "feel good" in approach, the audiobook contains some actionable elements, and at the price point is tough to beat.

Is Happiness Truly Attainable?

I had a great conversation with a friend of mine this week.  The future, the present, and our station in life continued to be a theme as we worked through to solve all the world’s problems (in our minds, anyway).  The discussion continued to come back  to a philosophy of being satisfied and being fully “present” versus being overly focused on a past or future situation.  I was reminded of this quote that bears pondering this weekend:

If you would attain to what you are not yet, you must always be displeased by what you are.  For where you are pleased with yourself there you have remained.  Keep adding, keep walking, keep advancing.  ~Saint Augustine

Progress always comes from displeasure and dissatisfaction.  Conversely, happiness seems to emanate from satisfaction and acceptance.  Progress and happiness, then, on the surface, can never seem to coexist for long.  One must give way to the other.  Unless, perhaps, we can be happy in the PROCESS of progress, and dissatisfaction in the PRODUCT.  Perhaps, only then, can we improve, move forward, achieve our results and still be happy?  

Something to think about.  And even disagree with!

Book Review- Predictably Irrational - Interesting Insights into Behavioral Economics

Dan Ariely takes the reader through a web of action and irrational reaction in this well written and easy to read work on why we behave irrationally in many of our actions. He explores such topics as:

* The value of free choice and volunteerism
* Procrastination
* Overvaluing our possessions
* Expectations effects
* Psychology of price
* Honesty in the workplace

In all cases, Ariely is able to point out circumstances where irrational behavior is not only observed, but can be expected across a wide range of the (admittedly US centric) population. The fascinating components of the studies provide us with insights into our own psychology and behavior. Perhaps, even more importantly, it provides the reader with some semblance of understanding into the behavior of others as well as being able to modify their own behaviors and be aware of these largely self-defeating behaviors.

The book is well read and researched, and anything that is readable and lifts the veil a bit on human behavior is worth reading. This book fits that bill.

Book Review - Three Steps Forward Two Steps Back - Solid Advice in the Face of Adversity

4 out of 5 stars.

This isn't a "Let go and let God" book. Not in the least. Swindoll takes us through twelve chapters showing that temptation is real, adversity is real, all of us struggle with it, and it is how we respond that will allow us to hold our head high. Using the power of scripture to provide lessons and strength in times of adversity, it is more how you carry on and how you keep moving forward than self-flagellation, sin, pity and despair.

As one of the other reviewers noted, the book really is well summarized in 8 areas:

1. The best way to overcome misunderstanding is to turn the person over to the Lord.
2. Rely on God's strength instead of your own in times of stress.
3. God's goal for us is to glorify Him through our lives.
4. God specializes in making the seemingly impossible possible.
5. Principles of temptation and methods to overcome temptation.
6. The 5 types of mistakes we make and why mistakes in and of themselves are not necessarily sinful.
7. The importance of waiting on God.
8. God is able to handle our inabilities for His glory - including patience, anger and the like.

Our lives are a task, not a vacation. Swindoll will bring home good solid Christian teachings to believers and non-believers of every denomination.

Book Review - Influence - The Power of Persuasion - Plumb the Recesses of Your Instincts

5 out of 5 stars

Influence - The Psychology of Persuasion is a powerful book with a powerful message. We are "hard wired" to respond in certain ways to certain stimuli. This is no shock to anyone reading this review. The shock comes from how we respond to those stimuli, that they are used routinely by salespeople and marketers to persuade us to behave in ways we wouldn't otherwise behave, and to make "stupid" decisions that are against our self-interest.

Because of the volume of natural stimuli and our need to be able to make decisions quickly and in a risk averse way, we are naturally hard wired, just like turkeys and dogs, to behave in certain ways when confronted with those situations.

We naturally tend to reciprocate behaviors with others, and cannot easily take a gift without reciprocating in return. Once we make a commitment, we tend to need our behaviors to remain consistent to it, whether it makes sense even in light of new information or not. We use social queues and a need to blend in and be accepted to drive decisions. We want to like and be liked, and will behave more agreeably towards those who are most like us, or who act the most like us. We respect authority, and will tend to both admire authority as well as occasionally reject it. Finally, the concept of scarcity plays a role in that we will tend to want what we cannot have, and will tend to but what will no longer be available for fear that the future will not hole the opportunity.

By understanding these influences, we are able to then be aware of them when they are being applied to us,and also have them in our tool chest when we are managing or marketing. A profound, frightening and enlightening read.

Book Review - Qabalistic Concepts by William Gray - A Good Introduction to Western Esoteric Qabalah

5 out of 5 stars

William Gray provides one of the best introductions to "practical" Qabalah in the Western Esoteric Tradition in this book. Covering nearly 400 pages, with diagrams, practical and theoretical advice, Gray will expose you to the foundations of the Western Esoteric Qabalah.

For those not familiar with these concepts, the Western Esoteric Qabalah is a method of providing a divine worldview, and doing so in such a way that meditation, ritual and searching are key components to the discipline. Exploring Hermetic, Orphic and Mystic paths to "understanding" the role of divinity in the world, Gray's book will provide a great deal of insight into this well established methodology of spiritual exploration.

He also is careful to note the allegorical elements of the work, and cautions the reader many times to not take certain elements of the work too literally, and that in many cases the mental state is far more important than the ritual or the "right" answer.

Each chapter ends with about 10 questions for the reader to review and answer for themselves. This question format allows the reader to synthesize the information in a way that brings forth the key chapter elements in a learning and mentoring style. All in all, if this is your cup of tea, pour yourself a cup of Gray.

Book Review - Drive - Critical Insight Into What Motivates Us...

5 out of 5 stars


The psychology of motivation is still an understudied and often misunderstood area of business. Many reviews of this book note that the information is not well annotated, that the writer presents the material in a biased manner to prove his point, and that there is a good amount of fluff in the information presented. To the last two points, I would agree - but that does not detract from the book or the easy flowing nature of the read. To the comments that the book is poorly researched or lacks supporting annotation, there are 8 pages of footnotes in microscopic type, and a whole section in the "toolkit" where 15 books are explicitly added to the reader's reading list, and another 10-15 are noted elsewhere in the book. You may not agree with the message, but Daniel Pink is not the only messenger.

The material resonates with this reader - a chief executive with more than 20 years of management experience. People are beyond base plus bonus. The need to have purpose in life and work seems to be a more compelling driver than ever before. Pink notes that the three elements that appear to motivate people to achieve are:

*Autonomy
*Mastery
*Purpose

If the work environment can provide a maximum opportunity for all three elements, there's a fighting chance that the employee will be successful, motivated, happy, productive and the clients will be well-served. His focus on the Results Only Work Environment (ROWE) mirrors the direction that leading edge companies - especially technology companies - have been taking for years. The innate psychology resonates with this reader for himself as well. It isn't all about the money, but it is all about the achievement or mastery of a craft in which money is a measurement of mastery but not proof of it.

Any manager, teacher or parent should pick this book up and read the profound wisdom contained in its pages. How to think about tasks, work, the structure or organizations and management are all in there, and they are all useful in the development of your own managerial tool box.

Book Review - The Spirituality of the Christian East - A Critical Resource to Orthodox Theology

5 out of 5 stars

This book, comprising nearly 400 pages of well annotated, footnoted and referenced theology is a great introduction to Eastern Orthodox theology. The book covers theology based on:

* A Life In God
* The New Life
* Christian Anthropology
* Spiritual Cosmology
* Spiritual Sociology
* Negative Praxis
* Flight From The World and Renunciation of the Flesh
* Spiritual Warfare
* Purification of the Passions
* Positive Praxis
* Prayer
* Contemplation

The book does a great job of comparing and contrasting the differences between Eastern and Western Christianity, as well as explores the Greek and Coptic foundations of Eastern Christian thinking. Comparing the theology to teachings of Socrates, the Stoics and others, the reader is able to get a good handle on the basics of Eastern Christianity through both comparison and lecture.

The book itself is partly a systematic theology text, so it isn't "easy reading", but it is GOOD reading. Worth picking up if you have interest in the subject.
 

Book Review - Tom Peters Essentials - Leadership. A MUST Read.

5 out of 5 stars.

Leadership is what makes the world go around - and Peters gets it right in this short but profound business book. Only about 150 pages, and filled with typical Peters prose and formatting, the book will certainly get you thinking and acting.  Each of the major sections on leadership qualities, approach, women (!), and talent are well written - if a bit funky in delivery and formatting - and have a great "Top 10" synopsis at the end of each.

Peters is a proponent of enlightened and empowered employees and "servant" type leadership.  Not "suffering servant", but leadership in the grand style of ensuring that you have the best people doing the things they are best at in their best way.  He is the anti-establishment guru, and will challenge any assumption where there's a fixed methodology, plan or hierarchy.  The book has several great interviews, quotes and stories to support the thesis that leaders must "inspire, liberate and achieve."

There are a lot of leadership books out there.  Many will be far duller, far more conventional, and far more academic than this one.  None will be more right.  This is coming from a former Army officer with over 20 years in senior business leadership roles.  Peters is right, Peters works, Peters is a must read.

The Wisdom of the Yak

In Tibet, there is a saying,

"When seen from afar, yaks look healthy and handsome; close up, they look like sickly sheep; but under their fleece, they are infested with lice and scabies."

In other words, when we look at other from afar they may appear to have happiness, prestige, friends and wealth. But when we get closer, we see that they are not happy and their situation is not ideal.

There is always something to complain about, and when we get very close and examine their inner feelings, each person has his/hers own set of worries and carries his/her own burden around with him/her. No on is in perfect happiness.

That is why the Buddha called samsara an ocean of suffering, not an ocean of bliss.

I am a sad and miserable yak...

A Leader's Top 10 To Do's -- Courtesy of Tom Peters

Every once in awhile, I come across something in a book that just bears quoting. Tom Peters is one of my favorite authors, and I am rereading his material as we begin the strategic planning process at G2.  I came across this list in his book Tom Peters Essentials-Leadership that I wanted to share:

1.  Say...Make "I don't know" a central strategic part of your leadership lexicon.  Uncertainty is here to stay.  Acknowledging it is a Show of Strength.

2. See...Keep your inner eye on the Great Possibilities that lie beyond - nay:within-the uncertainty all around you.  Be (per Napoleon) a "dealer in hope."

3.  Do...Become an Action Figure.  Life is too short -- business life is too chaotic -- to "get it right" first.  When in doubt (especially when in doubt!)...DO SOMETHING!

4.  Fail...Accept mistakes as the price of Greatness.  Post a sign in your office that says "REWARD EXCELLENT FAILURES.  PUNISH MEDIOCRE SUCCESSES"  -- and keep it always in view.

5.  Weave...Remember that bringing people together -- not ordering them about -- is Job One for all leaders in our Disruptive Age.

6.  Plan...Tend to your Legacy by making specific arrangements for people to succeed you.  Mantra: Mentor, mentor, mentor!

7.  Act... Cultivate the Art of Leadership--in particular, the Art of Performance.  Leading well is a Confidence Game of the Highest Sort.  So...Act the Part.

8.  Prune...Clear away the mass of clutter that undermines your Sense of Focus.  Create a To-Don't list, add stuff to it regularly, and "follow" it religiously.

9.  Chill...Know when to take a break.  When colleagues ever-so-carefully warn you against burnout, listen to them.  Schedule regular vacations (long ones--not a three-day weekend here or there), and keep to that schedule.

10.  Love... Laugh, smile, and (in every way possible) express your Passion for What You Do.

I know I personally need to work on these "Top 10s."  It's a continuous struggle to get better.  But leadership is a passion, as I feel it should be for any "manager."

Fewer

Focused

Faster
 
    

Book Review - The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ - SHOCKER - Suspend Your Disbelief...It's Actually Worth Reading

4 out of 5 Stars

While the orthodox crowd will pillory this review as that of a heretic, and the New Agers will be irritated by the dismissal of the "truth" of the gospel in the book, there is actually a common ground which makes the book worth a read.

The author, say what you will, does a very credible job providing a reasonably unified synthesis of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, legends, apocrypha and theosophical thought into an easy to read and though provoking text. I found it interesting to see how he synthesized John and the synoptics, and further how he synthesized Matthew and Luke into a comprehensible and credible sounding account of what would have been presented in the 4 Gospels could they actually be made to agree (for those of you unfamiliar, they DO NOT agree on many points, including timelines, quotes and locations).

Adding in narratives that reflect legends of the "lost years" of Jesus, and placing him with the Egyptians, Tibetans, Indians, Persians and Greeks was done with a reasonable flow, and addressing and integrating long known apocryphal literature available to the author in the late 1800's (such as various infancy narratives, the writings of Ireanaeus, etc) as well as pointing out commonalities between the religions of India and the Eastern Mediterranean is well done.

Before you take this as "gospel" literally, however, regardless of the claims of the author to have received it through the "Akashic Records", please take a deep breath.

Modern Biblical scholarship, the discoveries of lost manuscripts in Nag Hammadi, Egypt and the Dead Sea Scrolls, along with just plain common sense should lead the reader to view the book as allegory and literature, rather that a literal "gospel".

There is much to be learned here, much to ponder, much to take in, and much to appreciate. The message rings true, even if allegory isn't literally "true". The skill by which the 4 Gospels are assimilated alone makes it an interesting read for the orthodox Christian, and woe be to ANY reader of scripture or philosophy, especially the New Ager, who cannot appreciate the power and usefulness of allegory in a message, or who immediately takes these writings to be a literal retelling.

Book Review - The Project 50 - Life as a Project is Great Insight But the Book Lacked WOW!

4 out of 5 stars

This is not one of Peters' best books. In fact, I struggled with a four versus three star assessment. I succumbed to four, largely because the content is useful and needs to be absorbed. Unlike many of Peters other books, however, this one left me relatively flat during the read and at the end.

Looking at all work as a project, and an opportunity to make a difference and infuse WOW! into the product or process is the basic foundation of the book. Approaching your life, career, work and any assignment as a project in which WOW! can be delivered will separate you from the lemmings in the crowd, will help you and your organization compete, and will lead to success. Unfortunately, the elements of the book that I would look to for inspiration or even perspiration resulted in a little irritation or constipation. Focus was on time management, list making, idea tracking, meeting management, team composition and creativity. In all, very solid advice, but the approach Peters used left me asking where the "WOW!" was in the writing - especially since I absolutely swear by his other works and find him to be one of my favorite authors and speakers.

If you are a fan of Peters, you may find this book a bit of a letdown relative to others. The contents are good, the material and presentation solid - but not WOW!

Book Review - His Name Is Jesus - If Only It Were Readable or Credible

I consider myself to be quite open minded, and certainly more than a bit intellectually and spiritually curious. It was with that intent that I picked up a copy of this book. Between long studied traditions of gematria in Hebrew writings to recent hypotheses on "Bible Codes" of various types, I figured that a used, cheap quick read of this book might provide something to chew on.

Instead, I was greeted with assertions that and statistical probabilities and archeological "discoveries" that support the code that the author purports to have found, without the aid of computers, in the study of various areas of scripture in the Masoretic Hebrew text of the Bible. Given that Masoretic Hebrew is only about 1200 years old really began to cast some serious doubt as to the veracity of the findings - especially the computer validated statistics which "proved" the non random nature of the occurrences as noted by the author. Additionally, I am no Hebrew scholar, but I have enough exposure to know that absent vowels and with significant interpretive license on the part of the translator, the "codes" can say different messages altogether. Though the root words may be the same, the meanings may be very different.

The writing itself is a torrent of Hebrew and English "every fifth letter tarting with the second letter after the third word reads XXXXXXX wich is assumed to mean YYYYYYY and proves ZZZZZZZ" for nearly 250 pages is tough. The only reason this book even got two stars was that some of the insights - not about the code, but in the translation of the Hebrew and basic theology - were mildly interesting.

End of the day, the book is quite fantastic, in the "fantasy" fantastic way. I can't get behind the pseudoscience, and there just isn't enough here to overcome the obvious bias of the author toward messianic Christianity.

Book Review - The Brand You 50 - What Is YOUR Brand Image??

4 out of 5 stars

Tom Peters brings a focus on YOU in this provocative book on "self-branding". Really a manifesto in continuous self-improvement, standing out in a crowd and creating personal "WOW!", Peters will cause the reader to self-examine their career, their interpersonal relationships, time management and reputation in this quick reading 200 page book. As noted by several of the other reviews, Peters makes use of multiple colors, fonts, unconventional styles and formats to get his point across. It truly is Peters walking his own walk. If you don't like it, at least appreciate the purpose. Conversely, adopting Peters suggestions will also make you more a "love her or hate her" personality than a milquetoastian sheep in the working herd. Peters suggestions are rational, actionable, and while audacious, not difficult to start implementing today.

The bottom line is this - think of yourself as a "brand". What makes a brand stand out? Be admired? Trust? Differentiation? Positioning? Service? Emulate the world's best brands in your own life, and you will find yourself well above the pack.

Book Review - The Portable Jack London - Quintessential American Literature

5 out of 5 stars

Growing up, "Call of the Wild" was required reading. Few children of my generation got through high school without exposure to Buck, the Northlands and the classic Jack London tale of deliverance and the law of fang and club. However, I never had the occasion to read London's short stories. This Viking book contains the entirety of "Call of the Wild", as any Jack London anthology must. However, it also contains over 100 London letters, articles and short stories that brought the author to life, and more importantly, brought the world to life, in ways that my prior exposure to London never did.

Whether writing about boxing, Hawaii, the Solomon Islands or the American West, London brings a natural element to the writing that allows the reader to connect at a primal level to the characters and the plot or news line. His non-fiction writing, especially on boxing, reminded this reviewer of Red Grange. His fiction - based in his own experience - is concise, page turning, emotionally charged and almost universally brings forth the primal power and the terror of nature. His letters and political writings reflect a deep, flexible and impassioned man striving to understand and improve the world around him.

The editing is superb, and the selections in the anthology are varied, interesting, and well chosen. Any lover of great literature would do well to move beyond "Call of the Wild" into London's broader works. They will be greatly rewarded, and this anthology is a great vehicle for that journey.