What Got You Here Won't Get You There

 
Marshall Goldsmith is known for helping successful people become even more successful, and this book provides an overview of his method.The thesis of the book is that for successful people, social flaws which create problems for colleagues are the limiting factor of success. The book draws on his decades  feedback reports  his tool of choice on his clients. From these feedback reports, Goldsmith and his client identify one characteristic to fix, recognizing that an improvement there will positively affect other areas as well. They further enlist those colleagues in an improvement process that can take 12 to 18 months. The analysis leads to the identification of one of the twenty character traits Goldsmith has identified as something he can help with. The process begins with an apology acknowledging the problem and the hope of cooperation from the person apologized to. From there, the stage for self improvement is set.
The best thing about this book is practical advice given on how to become a better listener by challenging the reader to observe his or her own communication style for patterns, such as often saying "yes, but" when being offered solicited suggestions or advice by others. 

Made to stick

This is a great book to read for a teacher journalist, politician or just someone trying to get your idea across . The book shows how stories are better than lists of facts and statistics and shows how structuring your message around concrete examples that are directly relevant to the needs of your audience is going to make your audience much more interested in what you have to say.The clever thing they do in the book is to use lots of stories from not-for-profit organisations that are seeking to get their message across  stories not just about people making money and how these organisations have been ‘creative’ in attracting the attention of their potential audience. The point that is made over and again is that it really has nothing to do with being creative, it is about knowing what the rules are that make a good story a story that is directed at illuminating your key message.
The  SUCCES case : 
• Simple — find the core of any idea 
• Unexpected — grab people's attention by surprising them 
• Concrete — make sure an idea can be grasped and remembered later 
• Credibility — give an idea believability 
• Emotion — help people see the importance of an idea 
• Stories — empower people to use an idea through narrative 
A thing that I learned in this book is that there should be one message, not three, that if you have three main messages no one will remember any of your ‘messages’. 

"The Dragonfly Effect"

Many books teach the mechanics of using Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to compete in business. But no book addresses how to harness the incredible power of social media to make a difference. "The Dragonfly Effect" shows you how to tap social media and consumer psychological insights to achieve a single, concrete goal. Named for the only insect that is able to move in any direction when its four wings are working in concert, this book
Reveals the four "wings" of the Dragonfly Effect-and how they work together to produce colossal results Features original case studies of global organizations like the Gap, Starbucks, Kiva, Nike, eBay, Facebook; and start-ups like Groupon and COOKPAD, showing how they achieve social good and customer loyalty Leverage the power of design thinking and psychological research with practical strategies Reveals how everyday people achieve unprecedented results-whether finding an almost impossible bone marrow match for a friend, raising millions for cancer research.

“Billions of Entrepreneurs,How China and India are reshaping their futures and yours”

“Billions of Entrepreneurs,How China and India are reshaping their futures and yours”  compares the economic growth of China and India. While most of the India story like Infosys and ICICI bank  is familiar to a person staying in India, it notes how the importance given to technical excellence in China has resulted in the development of the infrastructure of the country. It provides insights on the banking system in China, state control / holding patterns in companies and corruption levels. It  shows how China has increased its influence in South East Asia, and India especially Burma (Myanmar) while many of the Indian origin people in that country have left.The book helps us understand the growth of each country how entrepreneurs have raised,shows the political,social changes and the similarities between the countries.
It is a fascinating book which helps us understand not just the economic growth  but even the culture and the way they see the world.

Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions

       This book explains:

• How do we think about money? 
• What caused bankers to lose sight of the economy? 
• What caused individuals to take on mortgages that were not within their means?
• What irrational forces guided our decisions?
• And how can we recover from an economic crisis?

All classic economic theories are based on the assumption that consumers behave rationally, despite a considerable body of evidence to the contrary.It is only in the last 25 years that economists have begun to investigate the irrational side of consumer behavior.

Dan Ariely's book, "Predictably Irrational", offers a clear and comprehensive overview of this fascinating subject. If you are the kind of person (like me) who can't imagine using the words 'fascinating' and 'economics' in the same sentence, don't worry, the primary focus of the book is human behavior and its peculiarities, rather than economic theory.

Ariely explores why we stick with decisions once they are made. Reading his case studies allows us to reflect on our own habits and understanding their results. Irrational behaviors are neither random or senseless, they are systematic and predictable. We often make the same mistakes over and over again.Two sections that spoke to me were the explorations of predictably irrational as an explanation of our consumer and workplace habits.

As we spend our money, most transactions have a downside, but when something is free we forget the downside. Free gives us an emotional charge that causes us to perceive that the free item is more valuable than it really is. Ariely says this is because humans are  afraid of loss. From a consumer perspective, one association I have with “free” is with Amazon shipping which causes us to fall into the trap of buying something we don’t need but emotionally think we want. As consumers , I feel manipulative strategies of the  marketing will become less influential in the future. Marketing “Free” and “Sale” should digress as consumers become more aware of these deceptive tendencies. To buy in excess just because something is free or on sale is another predictably irrational behavior.

Really, anyone with even a bit of curiosity about how the human mind works or fails to work within the context of every day life  finds a lot of fascinating material in this book

Predictable irrational: The hidden forces that shape our decisions

It’s a helpful guide to our irrationality and how to overcome it in marketplace and everyplace. Reading this book we understand how systematically we do certain mistakes , how we repeat them again and again and of course we learn how to avoid some of them .

Ariely has discovered during years of researching behavioral economics that people tend to behave irrationally in a predictable fashion .

In order to avoid irrational behavior he suggested the cure “break the cycle of relativity”. By doing this people can control what goes around them. The focus on smaller "circles" can boost relative happiness and also change the focus of how to see things.

The author claims that the relationship between supply and demand are based on memory rather than on preferences and this determinant of market prices can be easily manipulated. We generally do purchase using the concept of anchor price.

When something is given for free, we can’t leave it go even when it’s not worth for the money and time spent. This readiness for a free concept must be use to drive business and social policy.

But not receiving for free but also doing something as a "favor" produce better results than when it’s paid. That’s why social norms are making their way into the market norms. Money is the most expensive way to motivate people. Social norms are cheaper and often more effective.

Time after time we make decisions under high – emotion situation.The ideas to improve our decision making abilities in emotion-provoking situation such as On Star system is very interesting.

In our cool state we make long term decisions whereas in hot state we put off goals for immediate gratification .If we have consequences we are more likely to meet goals, appointment, deadlines etc.

Often we overvalue what we have and we make irrational decisions about ownership. To avoid the endowment effect Ariely suggested to create a barrier between ourselves and the material things.

The last suggestion is for the effect of expectations. They can nearly influence every aspect in our lives by override our sense, partially blinding us from the truth.

In Pursuit of Elegance

In Pursuit of Elegance is an interesting book that changed my idea of elegance and also the way of thinking about the world around.

We are used to label fashion and people as elegant. Mat shows through examples that this rare and elevated term can be found in a wide universe of fields and we all we must do is to make it useful .

Elegance is so important in a world where not doing can be more powerful than doing, where pressing challenges are in urgent need of sustainable solutions.

It is important because of our nature that tend to add when we should subtract, because we need some way to replace value- destroying complexity with value- creating simplicity.

The author defines elegance as the elusive combination of profound simplicity and surprising impact.

He organized elegance around four simple principles:

Symmetry: simple rules create effective order

Seduction: limiting information creates intrigue

Subtraction: restraint and removal can increase impact and value

Sustainability: limited resources spark creativity and innovation

The authors shows to us that if we start to look for things to take out, things to stop doing we will be more happier and live in a better world.

We have to put in practice ‘The less is more” mindset.

Book 3 The spirit Level

A very very good statistically build book. The book shows how the governments care for their people. As I read in the web, it is defined as:
“A crucial contribution to the ideological argument ...it provides a vital part of the intellectual manifesto on which the battle for a better society can be fought”

Flo

Book 2 In pursuit of the elegance

The four manners to pursuit elegance

Symmetry: which is the idea that simple rules create effective order
Seduction: which is the idea that limiting information creates intrigue
Subtraction: which is the idea that restraint and removal can increase impact and value
Sustainability: which is the idea that limited resources spark creativity and innovation

Can anybody rank them? (regarding their elegance relation factor)

Flo

Book 1 Changing Mind

This book explains how theories have changed our thinking about intelligence, learning, and creativity, by the process of mind change for the first time.
This book argues that far from being a random and mysterious process that results in a sudden “thunderbolt” shift in perspective—mind change actually occurs slowly, in identifiable ways that can be actively and powerfully influenced.
Flo

Book 8: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

It really sound like a threat ..........

The four sections of the book provide a very god guidance to directors and CEO and makes them understand that a very important part of the success is human behavior and the improvement of such skills.

“The twenty habits that hold you back from the top” section can be implemented in everyday life also and should be considered always because it is not true that people do some mistakes only once they tend to repeat them as it is part of their character. Learning to recognize them helps us in not making them again and by this succeed in what we are trying to do.

I believe that the book is like all commercial management books but with a better name.

Best Regards

What got you here wont get you there

Personally,This issue can be called "overcompetition"which is a results of people's selfishness.These days everyone thinks about their economical benefits adn not about what surrounds them not the consequences of their actions.people believe that money is above everything else,but I think that you may be richest person walking by deserving respect,the approval and the love of the people who surround you.Money is just an object.People shouldnt put a price tag on everything.


The values that we mention in our course are the most effectful tools not only for bussiness life but also for our social life.

Book 7: Made to Stick

Original name I believe. I personally like the games with words and double meanings its clever.

My favorite part is : The Curse of Knowledge

In order to get SUCCESS everyone has to get the important parts of the acronym:

1-Simplicity ( its classy and clever)

2- Credibility ( trust for others in you )

3- Stories ( everyone needs to start listening to happenings as it is a lot to learn in them)

Of course these are my favorite ones but I would also like to mention an old saying that also helps and it is the old school way: Repetition ( Repetition is the father of boring but the mother of Knowledges)

Of course there is the modern way of impressing but it requires a lot of energy and the thing that I personally like in it is that trying to impress requires new ways which brings the development of ideas and technologies.

So to conclude my opinion I have to say that the best way would be the mixing of the modern with the old way, who knows something new and impresive may come out.

Regards Rezart

Billions enterpreneurs

Chine and india are two large countries,which are located in eastern Asia.They both have a rich cultural ,political and economical history.In the past they have been the most powerful and interesting civilizations that the world has ever seen.Their culture ,their devotions ,their religions or traditions attracted people from all over the world.But,then USA was born.


Firstly,in 1492 Cristopher Columbus saw this land,thinking that he was in india.That is why we know nowadays some American indians.As we see the destiny of these countries brought them together.Maybe because they are near to each other,but no one can see this.Maybe india and China are growing so fast and we cant see this great movement.Maybe in social world ,india and china so small and Usa has a big image be dangerous for our worl.

People could be afraided by small,little detail not by big ones.Invisible countries made us fall with a sudden suprise.When big change came we couldnt blame the nature as population and the superiority of their culture.They used their potential not in economic life but also social life .And big change or the big bang appeared.

Book 6: The Dragonfly Effect, by Andy Smith and Jennifer Aaker

The Dragonfly effect book provides a very good path for success:

• Focus Your Goal: Identify a single, concrete, measurable goal that is actionable. A series of tactical, personally meaningful, micro-goals will lead to achieving your long-term macro-goals and engaging your audience.
• Grab Attention: Catch your audience’s eye effectively by using personal “hooks” and designing a campaign that is “visceral and visual.”
• Engage: Create a personal connection to the higher emotions of your audience, compassion, empathy, and happiness. As the authors write: “It’s about empowering the audience to care enough to want to do something themselves…and actually do it.”
• Take Action: By providing your point of view and your personal story, inspire others to take action by following the fun, easy and unique example you have given.

I tried for two days and found something like 10 other possible items to add to the above described list but at the end when I put them together in a piece of paper and tried to see the connection of the above listed items it came out to be the same points but provided in different words.

My opinion on the matter is that theoretically no one requires more than the above items to start having success. I know that many of you would say that the Item I want to add is part of the four but it is my personal believe that this point is so important that it counts to be mentioned:

• Discipline: in order to have success someone should be able to handle the discipline of achieving and handling the success.

Rezart out

Book 5: Billions of Entrepreneurs: How China and India Are Reshaping Their Futures and Yours

Hello everybody

The world has always been moving and nothing is eternal , the history has seen empires grow and shine and then vanish from the face of the earth and it is exactly what is happening right now. We have the great luck of living in a time of great change first the fall of Communism and now the reshaping of the world leadership. In an article I read :

http://rt.com/usa/news/imf-china-surpass-usa-five-years/

China to surpass US economy in 5 years

This is shocking for everyone as the economical balance of the world itself is changing and it is always followed by turbulences. India also is part of this economical miracle as it can provide what China is lacking the brain (software).

However it is another point of view to consider in my opinion and this is the great opportunity point of view. The world was stuck in one line of development for the last decades and it was like a race towards the same goal into the same direction which always misses diversity but with the developements of these two new giants things will change forever.

Time will show

Regards Rezart

“MADE TO STICK” WHY SOME IDEAS SURVIVE AND OTHER DIE

While reading this book about the ideas an ancient proverb about teachers crossed my mind: A bad teacher speaks, a good teacher explains and an excellent teacher inspires. Well, I think this is similar to the explanation given by the authors of this book. Certainly people that transmit their ideas to the crowds could be considered as teachers, may be teachers of mankind. They have taught their followers and have inspired them with their ideas which have survived, some of them for centuries and decades.

What makes an idea stick? The authors have described various categories of ideas which are good, bad, emotional, storytelling etc. In my opinion an idea’s survival depends on two main factors; the person throwing it, what he/she represents for the others and how this idea can influence people’s mind. Of course by this I mean great ideas or let’s define it as ideas which have influenced and changed the wheel of world’s history thrown and implemented by great people. Those ideas are difficult to categorize, merely they are all sticky.

One the other hand, you find a lot of day to day ideas which are sticky but not permanently. One example could be fashion or a new model of dressing. A new model of a dress could be very successful or sticky for as long as it will find followers and likability among people. But these swings a lot because of its nature while the permanent sticky idea the way of dressing such as: simple, extravagant, nicely or arrogantly, remain. What seems to be the basic glue for an idea is how much it influences people’s mind and the way of life up to the point that they will consider it as their own idea.

WHAT GOT YOU HERE WON’T GET YOU THERE

The book is divided in four sections and gives excellent advices on how the managers or people who conduct a business, or let’s say simply deal with the people’s management, are successful by improving their behavioral skills.

The section “The twenty habits that hold you back from the top” is very useful not only for the CEO-s or managers but for everyone who does not necessarily holds a position like that. All advices are very useful and necessary to be applied even in family life and merely saying those are characteristics of a real leader.

The book is attractive while reading it but when you take the first glance it seems that you have read 100 books like that. This feeling gives the book an air of commercialism and as a matter of fact there are lots of books like that which give clear cut advices on the rules of behavior with the dependents or colleagues. I would like to mention here the books of Dale Carnegie or Harry Box which are famous about their advices in business or daily life.

Once again I would like to state that those advices must be taken seriously but in my opinion what influences more the success of your relation with your team of colleagues is to try to understand their inner world and define the model on how they want to see you behave with each one of them. What I don’t like about the book is the generalization of criteria in treating people. It all depends on the character and the temper of people you are working with.

If you are a CEO for example and you have 20 dependants, probably with 5 of them you may behave according to the advices of the book while with the rest, you may need to show a bit of authority, tough person, sometimes rude and get out of the frame of the advices given strictly by the books. At the end, if you study the life of successful world leaders you may find lots of moments when they have acted in disrespect of the advices taught by the nowadays books.