Somewhere in here is a book that could change your life…
Category: 3 – SHELF it (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)
Comments: Very good book if you are interested in being/are a consultant. This is an ex-Mckinsey consultant taking you through her approach to structuring thinking and writing. It is universal, easy to apply and definitely helps putting frames around all sorts of content and problems.
Category: 3 – SHELF it (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)
Comments: Stever Robbins’ team sent the book over via mail to Singapore so I could review it. For a small time blogger like me, it is massive inspiration. And after I finished the book, I found it to be on that fine line between ‘Shelf’ and ‘Buy’ as it does have a very wholesome collection of productivity hacks. In fact, to many a reader, it could be a ‘Read ASAP’ as well! It’s just that I’ve spent a good part of my past 3 years integrating these hacks into my life that most of them were not new to me. Good book all in all, though!
What to expect: 9 steps increase your productivity and each step typically contains a bunch of easy-to-execute hacks that are certain to improve your productivity if implemented.
Category: 3 – SHELF it (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)
Comments: Fantastic book for anyone who is just about to enter into his/her first real job. It is a collection of rules that are fundamental to the working world but may not be all that obvious when you start out. It was written in the 1950s but is probably as relevant today as it was then.
Add on Mar 16, 2016: I don’t remember much but do remember finding it useful as a student. Then again, I don’t know if I’d change my recommendations having spent a few years working.
Category: 2- BUY It! (All Categories are 1) Read ASAP! 2) BUY it! 3) SHELF it 4) SOMEDAY it)
Comments: Very very very good book. It clarifies that networking is really caring more than a next person, and that it can go a long way in taking you far in life!
What to expect: The story of a person who made it big thanks (in big part) to fantastic networking ability honed with time. It was an eye opener for me as it clarified what networking really is – making an effort to reach out, connect and care. And most importantly, it made me realize that keeping in touch is, and requires, hard work!!
Do I recommend this book?: Very good book. Almost a great one – not so much on the story line but very high on learnings and impact! :)
Add on Mar 16, 2016: This was one of the first business books I read. Definitely impacted me very positively!
Category: 3 – SHELF it (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)
Comments: One of those acclaimed management books that gives you a different perspective and shows you what can be done with a different approach. However, I found it idealistic and while easy to implement, not compelling.
What to expect: This is a story about a young man trying to learn management and his tryst with a manager who shows him the light..
Category: 2 – BUY it! (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)
Comments: A shortened version of his excellent book – “Influence.” This is only available as an audio or video. Unfortunately, there is no paperback version of this gem of a 1 hour lecture.
What to expect: 7 action steps for you to apply into your day to day life to improve your persuasion skills.
Category: 3 – SHELF it (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)
Comments: Good book on impact! Tracy spells out many simple and oft-heard of ways to make sure we integrate goal setting into our lives. After years, we tend to remember very little from books we read but that’s where this book scores even if the content may seem cliche. I found it scoring well on the impact it’s had on my way of thought..
What to expect: Tracy’s your quintessential sales guru who likes spelling out things to make them simple and easy to follow. So, while a lot of the book may seem simple and elementary, it is not reading it that matters, like any other self-help group, it’s the execution on it that makes a difference!
ADD on Mar 16 2016: I don’t think I agree with the thesis of this book now. I’ve come to learn that we ought to focus on systems vs. goals.
Category: 3 – SHELF it (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)
Comments: A negotiations classic. My rating is biased because I didn’t find the audio book great as the reader was rather monotonous. I think the paperback would definitely have more impact.
What to expect: A technical look into the conversion of the ‘art’ of negotiation into a science. It introduces the reader to very basic negotiation primers and I remember the book reinforcing many simple concepts like BATNA, looking for a creative win-win solution etc.
Category: 2 – BUY it! (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)
Comments: The big issue I faced here was that the audio book was narrated by David Allen himself and it just turns out that he’s a narrator who put me to sleep about 3 times. Having said that, the ideas in the book are very powerful and I’m sure reading the paper back would mean a whole different set of learning.
Top Lessons: 3 powerful concepts have stuck:
i) Maintain a bin: A bin is a place where you shelve ALL ideas/thoughts that require action. This makes sure you are always focused on the currrent job. So, whenever there is a new smart idea, it is filed away and reviewed again when it’s time to prioritize
ii) Inbox 0: The highest source of stress is an inbox with many emails. Make sure the number of emails is always 0! ‘Impossible!’ – you may cry. What about emails that need follow up/whose action is not in your control?
iii) Make a WIP folder: WIP is my own term for ‘Work in Progress’. You know what it’s for of course.. the aim is to keep the inbox to 0 emails.
Add on Mar 16, 2016: A full 8 years later, these 3 lessons are still critical in how I approach getting things done.
Marler's Observatory 