Category: Self Improvement

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BR 114: 9 Things Successful People Do Differently by Heidi Grant Halvorson

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Comments: This is an HBR article expanded into a book. A very short, breezy read.

Top 3 learnings:

1. There are 2 kinds of optimism – unrealistic and realistic.

Realistic optimists have a belief that good things will happen but caveat it with the understanding that hard work would need to go in, and that bumps along the way are inevitable.

2. There are 2 ways of interpreting the world i.e. entity theory and incremental theory.

This is essentially the “fixed” and “fluid” mentality concept. Entity theorists believe that intelligence and ability are constant while incremental theorists believe that everything is malleable.

The easy test is what you do when things go wrong. Entity theorists respond with “maybe I’m not any good at this” while incremental theorists focus on improving their preparation, their strategy etc.

3. There are 2 types of goals – “be good” goals and “get better” goals “Be good” goals are those that focus on showcasing excellence. If it is achieved, that’s great. But if not, they kill our confidence.

Get better goals are those that focus on constant improvement and that allow us to fail.

Conclusion: Be a realistic optimist, an entity theorist and set “get better” goals. :-)

2. BUY it! · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Leadership · Marketing · Novel Concepts and Interesting Research · Self Improvement

BR 110: Start with Why by Simon Sinek

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Comments: It hammers home a simple idea and really demonstrates the power of a (simple) framework in making ideas stick. Only downside is that it can occasionally be repetitive – but, maybe, that is the point. :)

Top 3 learnings:

1. Start with Why

2. Start with Why. Then move to the ‘how’ and the ‘what’.

3. Start with Why. Always explain your purpose.

I have been working on implementing this in everything I do. It hasn’t become habitual yet but I’m hoping it will become soon. A simple, really powerful idea.

There are lots of other little lessons from the book that I could list in the top 3 learnings but I fear diluting what I really took away from the book.

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BR 109: Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin

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Comments: A compelling book built off the research of Anders Ericsson.

Top 3 Learnings: There were many many learnings I took away from the book. Here are the top 3 that come to mind –

1. Deliberate practice is everything. EVERYTHING. Deliberate practice is what differentiates the average from the greats. It’s not just about 10,000 hours. It’s 10,000 hours of deliberate practice that makes the difference.

2. Over time, deliberate practice changes the constitution of our brains. When we look at top performers and say they are ‘different’, we are actually spot on. They are different because their practice has developed that particular part of their brains. So, in short, we are probably born with similar capabilities but the hours we spent developing our craft/ability is what separates us in the long run.

3. It’s all cumulative. Ability accumulates over time. And, there’s no such thing as talent.

4. So how does a kid become a genius? The typical genius starts very early and is egged on by her parents (not pushed, but egged). As she grows up, she develops the necessary intrinsic motivation that comes from experiencing success. That’s generally the beginning of something very special..

Great book. Must read. Go get it. You won’t regret it.

3. SHELF it · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Psychology · Self Improvement

BR 99: Awaken the Giant Within by Anthony Robbins

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Comments: Short book. A few interesting insights.. the rest tended to be close to the typical ‘self improvement’ talk that tends to drive many people crazy..

Top 3 Learnings:

1. Everything we do in life is influenced by the pain pleasure principle. We either do things to avoid pain or to derive pleasure.

2. Mental conditioning is incredibly powerful. When legendary basketball player Larry Bird had to shoot for a commercial that involved him missing a basket, he  had to shoot 9 times to make sure he missed. The moment he had a ball in his hand, his conditioning took over!

3. We react more to loss than to gain.

3. SHELF it · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Novel Concepts and Interesting Research · Psychology · Self Improvement

BR 98: The Law of the Garbage Truck by David J Pollay

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Comments: One of those simple concept books that gave me a lovely light hearted framework to look at situations. Enjoyed it.

Top 3 Learnings:

1. There are a lot of people out there who walk around with pent up emotions, frustrations, anger i.e. garbage. As this garbage piles up, they are constantly looking for an excuse to dump on other people. Don’t take it personally. Wish them well and move on.

2. ‘Wish them well’ is very important. That means we make sure we don’t take it in. If we take it in, we process it. And garbage is not worth processing.

3. We are all guilty of dumping/venting from time to time. We just have to make sure we let the other person know that that’s what we’re doing!

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BR 88: Instant Genius: Etiquette by Letitia Baldridge

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Comments: This book might have been rated higher had I read this before starting work (of any sort). Over time, at work, you tend to learn the basics of etiquette (or at least think you do).

A good collection, nevertheless. And worth the 1 hour listen.

Top 3 Learnings:

1. Always introduce the younger/lower in hierarchy person to the older/younger in hierarchy person. I’ve reversed the order many a time.

2. When you drop a napkin in a very formal dinner, let it stay down. Request for another.

3. Understand which spoons and forks are used for which serving. If unsure, look around.. (covertly of course).

These may seem ‘minor’ but they are WELL worth learning to avoid any kind of embarrassment during an occasion of importance!

1. Read ASAP! · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Novel Concepts and Interesting Research · Psychology · Self Improvement

BR 87: Change Your Questions Change Your Life by Marilee Adams

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Comments: 1 week after buying this book, I gifted 7 copies to friends and family and 2 others bought copies thanks to me raving about it.

The best thing about this book is it’s simplicity and the fact that the book’s learnings can be synthesized into 1 key concept – The Choice Map – THAT is genius!

Top 3 Learnings:

1. We are the questions we ask ourselves. And it is only by changing our questions can we change anything.

2. Questions drive results.

3. At every moment, we have a choice between being a ‘learner’ or being a ‘judger’. A learner asks questions like ‘what can I do to improve the situation? What can I learn from this?’ while a judger asks questions like ‘Why are things so bad? Why am I so bad?’ leading us down a negative path.

The single most powerful idea for me from the book is that every time we feel negative (i.e. low energy, upset, angry, jealous etc etc), it is likely because we are asking ourselves ‘judger’ questions. (See The Choice Map) And the moment we catch ourselves feeling negative, we have the power to switch, ask ourselves learner questions and get positive!

Very powerful stuff.

1. Read ASAP! · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Business · Management · Novel Concepts and Interesting Research · Self Improvement

BR 85: First, Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman

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Comments: Thorough and well researched piece of work. This books beautifully synthesizes 25 years of research into what it takes to be a ‘Great Manager’ and puts it in front of our eyes.

Top 3 Learnings:

1. The Greatest managers focus squarely on strengths

2. We gravely misunderstand the importance of ‘talent’. Conventional management tells us anything is possible and that if we set our mind to it, we can do whatever we want. Great managers understand that an attribute such as ‘calm under pressure’ is a talent and no amount of training can help hone it in people who don’t have that talent.

This ties right back to the 1st point. The simple idea is that we all have our own specific sweet spots – we need to find them and hone them!

3. Great managers build very close personal relationships with their top performers. How else can you get under their skin and push them? :)

And one last learning (this was a great book!), do check out the 12 questions.

2. BUY it! · Bio/Autobiographies · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Self Improvement · Skills

BR 83: Surely You’re Joking Mr Feynman by Richard P Feynman

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Comments: Richard Feynman narrates the story of his very interesting life. This is an exceptionally smart, extremely curious scientist who, aside from being a Nobel Prize winning Physicist, is also a part time drummer, painter and the like.I think there are a few nice things to learn from this book – especially Feynman’s strait jacketed approach to everything in life and his knack of figuring out a way to have fun.

A fun read.

Add on Mar 16, 2016: Years after reading this book, I’ve come to appreciate it more over time. What has stuck with me is Feynman’s learning focused approach to life. He was a master at picking up skills thanks to his openness and childlike curiosity. That idea is one that has stayed with me.

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BR 82: Success Principles by Jack Canfield

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Comments: Very nice book for the wealth of stories. Lots of cliches but nice all the same. I don’t really remember many of the principles but as is the characteristic of a good book, there were many anecdotes that flowed nicely. I am realizing more and more that while many of these books are good on stories, they don’t do well in linking the ‘overall thread’ or message. And that’s exactly what was missing in this book.