3. SHELF it · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Sales

BR 18: Advanced Selling Strategies – Brian Tracy

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Category: 3 – SHELF it (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)

Comments: Brian Tracy’s books promise you a clear narrative, lots of tips and tricks and clear structure and clarity. This book rates very high on the impact front with very clear tips that I still use today. For example – he gives a very simple tip when making a cold call – ‘Start by asking for a minute of the other person’s time’.  Other small tips such as starting the day by reading 30 mins a day have all made a difference.

What to expect: A full on sales book whose impact is best felt if it is ‘studied’ rather than read. If you have never read a sales book, it could possibly be a tad boring as the book is full of step by step processes from the beginning to the end of the sale with a focus on personal development at certain points.

Add on Mar 16, 2016: Sales was part of the job at the start-up I worked for during my undergrad years. As a result, you see many a sales book making an appearance. :)

4. SOMEDAY it · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Self Improvement

BR 17: Simplify your life – Elaine St James

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Category: 4 – SOMEDAY it (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)

Comments: The issues I had with the book –

1) The narrator sounded very ‘low’ and monotonous
2) I had read this one after reading ‘How to stop clutter from stealing your life’ which was simply fantastic! (review coming soon..)
3) This was more applicable to folks who had been leading more ‘complicated’ lives thanks to big houses, too much ‘stuff’ etc..

3. SHELF it · Bio/Autobiographies · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Management

BR 16: Iacocca – An autobiography by Lee Iacocca

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Category: 3 – SHELF it (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)

Comments: Nice book without being great. Iacocca tells us his life story and keeps us engaged.

What to expect: Iacocca did very well at Ford, rising up the ranks till he had an ego battle with the owner Henry Ford II and that obviously ended only 1 way. Iacocca then joined Chrysler and CEO and turned the company around in remarkable circumstances. Story of a very popular Italian American CEO.

2. BUY it! · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Leadership · Management

BR 14: How to become a Great Boss

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Category: 3 – SHELF it (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)

Comments: Good book.

What to expect: All of Jeffrey J Fox’s books have many simple ideas in one or two page chapters. A lot of them are tit-bits that are worth remembering. Lots of simple tit-bits worth remembering.

Add on Mar 16, 2016: This was one of JJF’s better books. “Hire slowly, fire fast” is an idea that has stuck from this book. Very much a cliched “how to” book though. :)

2. BUY it! · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Psychology · Relationships · Self Improvement

BR 13: Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone

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Category: 2 – BUY it! (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)

Comments: It’s  funny I rate this so high because I recall this book having a rather boring narrator. That definitely says a LOT about it’s impact! In simple words, the book does 2 things – emphasize the importance of having those ‘difficult conversations’ and avoid sweeping things under the target in all relationships that matter to us hoping that things will turn out okay. Secondly, it talks about the importance of differentiating between facts and feelings when presenting issues.

What to expect: Lots of example incidents that provide for great learning. And lots of ideas on how to approach ‘that‘ difficult conversation.

Add on Mar 16 2016: I don’t remember much from the book except that it reinforced the importance of having difficult conversations. It is an idea I’ve tried to stay true to.

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

BR 12: Goals by Brian Tracy

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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.

3. SHELF it · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Fiction

BR 11: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

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Category: 3 – SHELF it (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)

Comments: Edit on Mar 16, 2016 – A book I thought was incredibly cool when I was young. I think it must be a teenager thing – the philosophy is all about “objectivism” – about a misunderstood genius who is a bit of an asshole. Not sure if I’d like it as much today.

What to expect: A story of an architect by name Howard Roark . This is a book that is recommended by Deans of Civil Engineering schools because it takes the perception of science of architecture to a whole new level. In very simple words, it is the story of a man with extreme self confidence,  stubborn adherence to his principles, who sees no other option but to stick with his beliefs and ideas.. and the story of the clash of his ideals against the world’s. Great men are first ridiculed, etc.

3. SHELF it · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Business · Leadership · Management

BR 10: The Book of Leadership Wisdom

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Category: 3 – SHELF it (All Categories are 1 – Read ASAP!, 2 – BUY it!, 3 – SHELF it, 4 – SOMEDAY it)

Comments: I liked this book. It was full of stories about leaders from HP, Ben & Jerry’s, Microsoft, GE etc. – Bill Gates, Jack Welch and co. sharing stories and learnings from their times as leaders.

What to expect: Just life stories – for those interested in exploring topics of management and leadership, this is the kind of book that makes for very nice reading. Very low on theory and facts and high on experiences.

3. SHELF it · Book Review Actions · Book Reviews · Business · Psychology · Skills

BR 9: Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher, William Ury and Bruce Patton

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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.