May 16, 2013

Ctrl Alt Delete, by Mitch Joel

ctrlaltdelReboot your business. Reboot Your life. Your future depends on it.

So argues Mitch Joel in his new book, Ctrl Alt Delete, a follow up to his earlier work on the world of new media, Six Pixels of Separation. Where Six Pixels of Separation showed you the new world order emerging, Ctrl Alt Delete is a wakeup call to help you recognize that it has arrived. Joel says we’re in a sort of business purgatory now, so it’s crucial that you do the things that will get you to the promised land.

And that doesn’t mean tacking on some social media bells and whistles here and there. It means embracing new strategies for success. Your business must establish a direct relationship with its customers. Your digital products aren’t to be cute shiny objects, but must offer real utility. You must understand the difference between passive and active media, and know how to leverage each. You must recognize the wealth of data you now have access to and learn how to analyze customer behavior more fully. Finally, Joel argues that it’s a one screen world going forward – the only screen that matters is the one your customer is looking at right now.

In a conversational tone, Joel walks you through this new world as he sees it and provides specific guidance on how you should move forward. The advice is summarized as lessons at the end of each chapter.

Lessons for you

Once he’s done talking business, Joel spends the second half of the book speaking to you more directly. How should you personally navigate this new environment?

Joel explains how to become a digital native, how to view your career path differently, and how to embrace the new work environment. He goes on to talk about marketing yourself, embracing a start-up mode attitude, and other ideas for personal success going forward.

A lot

There’s a lot packed into this book. It’s really like sitting down and having a conversation with Joel, one where he attempts to tell you everything he knows about what’s happening right now in the world of marketing and business and gives you his best advice for how to be successful. That can make the work a bit overwhelming at times, but the book is structured well and ideas can easily be referenced later on, along with the specific advice that’s called out at the end of each chapter.

I enjoyed the book, and I very much enjoy Mitch’s weekly podcast. If you’d like to learn more about how a really smart and successful guy sees the business and marketing world right now, pick up a copy of the book. It might just be the wakeup call you need.

 

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January 7, 2013

The Icarus Deception, by Seth Godin

the icarus deceptionThe key to doing your best work is to move beyond your comfort zone, argues Seth Godin in his new book The Icarus Deception. Referencing the ancient myth of Icarus to frame the presentation of his ideas, Godin argues that we’ve been conditioned not to fly too high (Icarus had wings attached by wax and was warned never to fly too close to the sun). Indeed, keeping a low profile and working diligently to execute assigned work have been important to success for a long time – pretty much since the inception of the industrial revolution. But, Godin argues, this approach is in conflict with the newly emerging connection economy where creativity and innovation bring more value than compliance. In fact, he encourages readers to make a ruckus in order to stand out above the fray. Those are the ones who will be most successful.

Godin explains that brining our best work forward, no matter what your field, is like producing art. And art demands creativity, innovative thinking, and digging deep to bring out our best. Much of the book focuses on this idea and how to navigate the very personal journey of making that transition. The goal is to do work that’s worth doing, and the method is to think (and act) like an artist. It’ll take grit. You’ll need to embrace vulnerability. You’ll need to go outside of your comfort zone. And your efforts will be rewarded by the newly emerging connection economy where trust, permission, remarkability, and leadership are heavily valued and connections are based on core attributes of humanity.

It’s a complex set of ideas, well presented but needing some time to digest and ponder. The book is 240 pages long and pretty densely packed with ideas and stories written in the classic bloggy writing style that Seth is known for (he has a wildly popular daily blog). I highly recommend this book, which builds upon his early work in this space, particularly his books Linchpin and Poke The Box. The ideas from those works, and his daily blog, are more developed and refined here.

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December 27, 2012

To Sell Is Human, by Daniel Pink

tosellishuman“We’re all in sales now.” You’ve probably heard that before. It’s a sentiment that recognizes that we all need to be able to push our ideas, insights, and concerns forward. No matter your role, we all need to be influential to be effective.

In his latest book, To Sell Is Human, Dan Pink has articulated the case very clearly, both in a big picture economic sense, and in a day to day practical sense. Pink explains that most of us spend a lot of time in a “non-sales selling” role. Not pushing product in the traditional sense, but trying to cajole someone to part with something valuable (time, attention, support) in order to further our interests.

In the book, he’s provided some necessary guidance on how we need to operate and what we need to do to be good salespeople. After making a case to setup the concept, the book is broken into two parts. Part 1 covers “How to Be” and is broken out into chapters on “Attunement,” “Bouyancy,” and “Clarity.” These focus on ideas like perspective-taking, resiliency, and communication. Part 2 – “What to Do” - covers “Pitch,” “Improvise,” and “Serve.” These provide tips on how to pitch an idea, co-create solutions, and servant leadership, all compelling ways to move someone to yes.

Pink uses scientific research to support his ideas and insights, and also provides a series of small exercises after each chapter that you can do to immediately put the ideas into action.

This book is valuable for anyone who needs to influence others – and that’s everyone. And if you get it now (before December 31, 2012) by pre-ordering it, you will get some additional goodies for free.

[Disclosure: I got an advance copy and the pre-order goodies for free. But I only review and post about books (or other products) that I think my readers will enjoy and find valuable.]

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December 3, 2012

11 Rules for Creating Value in the Social Era, by Nilofer Merchant

Spend three dollars and a few hours with Nilofer Merchant’s 11 Rules for Creating Value in the Social Era and you’ll gain new insight into the emerging social era of business. New fangled phenomenons such as social media and Enterprise 2.0 are merely symptoms of the larger changes afoot, argues Merchant. What we are really witnessing is the transition from the Industrial Era to the Social Era. And in this new world, the old rules don’t apply.

Indeed, the first chapter of the book is the obituary for the traditional strategy model that has dominated for the last forty years. Though it served us well in earlier times, it’s no longer appropriate to have strategy developed on high and handed down to the masses for execution (an approach that often results in an “air sandwich” – a void between strategy and execution – rather than real results). Replacing traditional strategy is one that is co-created using feedback loops from within the organization and beyond.

To support this, organizational structures themselves must fundamentally change. New ways of creating and delivering value must be understood and adapted to. Relationships with workers, customers, and communities must be reconsidered. Social purpose will be an important force aligning interests in this dynamic and more complex set of relationships.

This is big picture stuff. Profound ideas to consider. Fortunately, Merchant provides many good examples and explains her points very well, without being wordy. It’s a concise tome that will get you thinking more broadly and more strategically about the changes that are emerging in today’s business landscape. And I think you’d be well-served to drop back from the shiny objects of the social media, high tech gadgetry hype and buzz to consider the bigger picture she paints.

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November 11, 2012

Little Bets, by Peter Sims

Linear thinking is not the path to creative and innovative solutions. Try as we might to anticipate, articulate, and structure a path to the future, the world is a messy place. Planning and preparation are necessary, for sure. But a structured and rigid approach — though perfectly intuitive and natural to many of us — just won’t work the way you think it will.

Better to adopt a flexible, open-minded approach from the outset, argues Peter Sims in his book Little Bets: How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge From Small Discoveries. And he makes a compelling case.

Sims takes us through stories of a variety of innovators, as varied as comedian Chris Rock, the Pixar movie studio, and  fighting units of the Iraq War to illustrate his point. Breaking down the “illusion of rationality” these leaders develop ideas, approaches, and innovations through a series of small trials. Recognizing that the path to success will reveal itself only in response to action, they plunge forward. The approach is decidedly nonlinear, but it’s not careless or unmanaged. Systematic experimentation and analysis help chart a course through uncertainty.

Key to this, argues Sims, is having a growth mindset — stepping into uncertainty with an attitude of “what can I learn from this?” This experimental attitude is further supported by a willingness to experience “affordable losses.” Failure is key to success. Iterating and improving, continually reframing situations, and constantly learning are crucial.

Easily one of the best business books I’ve read in a while, Little Bets is a compelling read. Sims sets the stage well, supports his argument thoroughly, and brings home the point concisely. At 125 pages, this is the length business books should be. We don’t need fluff, we need well-formed ideas presented well. And that’s what you get in this book. A nice touch at the end is a long list of resources for further reading along with the author’s comments on each – this should be another standard in business books.

I recommend this book highly. Make a little bet on it – you won’t be sorry.

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August 30, 2012

Wired for Story, by Lisa Cron

The power of story is immutable. It’s what makes us tick as humans. We respond to stories viscerally, instinctively, and emotionally – to good stories, at least.

So, what makes a story good? It’s easy to tell from a reader’s perspective, but it can be elusive from the writer’s perspective. Yet putting together a good story is often the best way to get your point across.

In Wired for Story, Lisa Cron ties brain science to writing in order to help us better understand the craft and how to master it. And though the book is focused on writing fiction, the lessons are far more broadly applicable.

How to hook the reader, how to zero in on your point, and resonating with the reader’s emotions are good examples of lessons that can be broadly applied. Each chapter focuses on such a lesson, explaining one “cognitive secret” and how that translates into a “story secret” when properly applied.

The book is written in an engaging and entertaining style and reads at a quick pace. It’s well-structured to flow smoothly on the first read through and for easy reference in the future. Read it. Enjoy it. Tell better stories.

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April 30, 2012

The Start-Up of You, by Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha

The way we manage our careers now is very different than in the recent past. It takes different skills to stand out in an organization and a very different approach to be successful in a career that will span work at a variety of organizations.

Reid Hoffman, cofounder of the popular business and career oriented social network LinkedIn, and his coauthor Ben Casnocha, make the case that the best approach to managing your career these days is to approach it as an entrepreneur would successfully manage a start-up company.

After convincingly establishing why you should think of your career as a start-up, the authors spend the bulk of the book explaining key strategies for success in start-ups and in your career. Focusing on your core competencies with gusto is crucial, but so is having contingency plans. And not only having them, but actively working them even has you pursue your current path. You may need or want to pivot to another plan at some point. They suggest really only three plans – your current “Plan A,” a solid “Plan B,” and a last-resort “Plan Z” just in case things go wrong with both Plan A & B.

The book makes a strong case (not surprisingly) for constantly building and leveraging your professional network. There are great tips on the main areas that require focus and attention here, with many specific examples.

Risk taking is the third big focus area of the book. The authors provide good advice for assessing risk and how to take smart risks in your career. The advice here provides a good strategic framework for thinking through the many choices you’ll need to make over the course of your career, such as when you to pivot from a Plan A to a Plan B.

The book is well-written and easy to read. The tone is positive and encouraging, with lots of great tips scattered throughout the content. Each chapter is punctuated with a list of ways to “invest in yourself” that includes things you should do immediately, in the next week, and in the next month, making it easy to translate the lessons of the book into concrete actions. The book concludes with a nice summary and great suggestions for further reading.

I think this book is spot on in its assessment of today’s world of work and what individuals should be thinking and doing in order to succeed. I highly recommend this book.

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February 21, 2012

Give Your Speech, Change The World by Nick Morgan

In Give Your Speech, Change The World: How to move your audience to action, Nick Morgan gives a comprehensive account of what it takes to master the art of public speaking. The point of any talk, he asserts, is to change the world – to move others to act in the way you’re trying to persuade them.

To do this, you must first be heard. And that means capturing and keeping an audience’s attention. That’s not an easy task. Morgan puts this into perspective with a brief history of the craft of public speaking. He points out the tried and true elements that have been effective since the ancient Greeks used them. The challenges in the modern world are different, of course, and Morgan explains how to adjust your technique.

A good portion of the book is spent on content, the essence of any talk. Structuring it properly is critical. Incorporating the power of story and engaging the audience are essential to what Morgan calls an audience-centered presentation.

A whole section of the book is dedicated to rehearsing, and another to delivery. Once you’ve got the content nailed down, you need to be able to present it well – and to interact with the audience strategically in order to get your message across most effectively.

Each chapter is well-written and carries the weight of an experienced presenter and coach. Written in a conversational style, certain points are emphasized within each topic. Conveniently, each chapter ends with a short bullet point list of its essential elements, making it easy to go back and use the book as a reference.

I’d recommend this book for anyone who speaks publicly, for any size audience. You’ll no doubt uncover tips you can use immediately.

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January 9, 2012

Anything You Want by Derek Sivers

Startup stories and lessons are always fascinating. They’re even better when relayed by a great story teller. In Anything You Want, 40 Lessons For A New Kind of Entrepreneur, Derek Sivers does not dissapoint.

Though the book is short (it can be read in an hour), it’s packed with compelling anecdotes and lessons from an accidental startup guy who stumbled into business, grew it big, and sold it for $22 million within 10 years. These are not your typical startup stories, though, because Derek is unique. And that’s the essence of the book: if you start a business, it — and your role in it — can be anything you want.

The point of the whole thing is to be happy, so put yourself in a position where you’re happy. You’ll get a lot of flack from many people, so you’ll need to ignore a lot of advice and be prepared to stand your ground. Derek’s story is one of individualism, but also of making the customer the central focus of the business. That drove many of his decisions throughout the book.

All in all this is a quick, fun book to read. It’s full of ideas that are based on experience. Ideas you can take to your role and your project, even if you’re not an entrepreneur.

Some of the stories have been made into short animated videos. You can find them at Derek’s website here: http://sivers.org/a (scroll down).

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January 5, 2012

The Upside of Irrationality by Dan Ariely

In The Upside of Irrationality, Dan Ariely provides tons of anecdotes from his own life experiences and details of many experiments that he’s conducted. Each experiment is designed to determine some truths about human behavior, which is complex and in many ways irrational. Clearly we are not the pure logical machines who seek to work strictly in our own economic best interest. Rather we are emotional and seemingly erratic at times. But we knew that already.

What’s great about the book is that it explores and attempts to explain this behavior. At the same time, the author admits that even as we gain a better understanding of human behavior in general, and even as we learn about the biases and influences of our own personal behavior, it’s hard (if not impossible) to change it.

The ideas and experiments are similar to what you might find in similar works. I have not read Dan’s other book, Predictably Irrational, so I don’t know how it compares to that or if this work attempts to build or expand upon that. (If you’ve read that one, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.)

In The Upside of Irrationality, Dan is attempting to shine a light on and celebrate our irrational ways. And though he succeeds to a certain extent, I did not find a compelling thread through the work. It read more a like a series of interesting if somewhat disjointed stories. And some contained lots of extra details about how a particular experiment came to be designed and operated that, while interesting, maybe should have been left out.

All in all, if you like to delve into the world of scientific research around human behavior, this is worth a read. If you’re new to the topic, there are more compelling choices.

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