On Coaching, Getting Filthy Rich in Asia, and Negotiating

Books that changed my life

Hello all!

Here is your weekly dose of books that changed my life! Remember, you can access my notes from the books at the "My personal notes from the book" link.

1. Memoir
Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success

Summary
I made a ton of notes in this book. It seemed like every page had a lesson. Excellent insights for anyone who appreciates elite-level performance, human psychology, and the incredible satisfaction in bringing together a disparate group of individuals to achieve a common goal. While the content's focus is on basketball, you do not need to be a fan to appreciate its lessons. But if you followed the Bulls or Lakers in the '90s or '00s, you are in for a double dip treat!

• Principle: Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. (Buddha)

• Insight: What moves me is watching young men bond together and tap into the magic that arises when they focus–with their whole heart and soul–on something greater than themselves. Once you've experienced that, it's something you never forget.

• Quote: When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. -Rumi

• Poem: He drew the circle that shut me out-
  Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
  But love and I had the wit to win:
  We drew a circle that took him in! -Outwitted by Edwin Markham

• Story: Now this is the Law of the jungle-as old and true as the sky;
  And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break must die.
  As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the law runneth forward and back-
  For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.
  -Rudyard Kipling (The Second Jungle book)

Author: Phil Jackson
Themes: Memoir, Coaching, Human psychology, Leadership, Peak performance
My personal notes from the book
 

2. Fiction - Novel
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia

Summary
The first fiction book of 3-book Thursday. And boy is it a good one! You will not want to put it down. A rags to riches story wrapped in love. 

Author: Mohsin Hamid
Themes: Fiction, Rags to riches, Love
 

3. Negotiation
Getting More: How to Negotiate to Achieve Your Goals in the Real World

Summary
Teaching negotiation is difficult–and it is a skill that we all need. I've read many books about negotiating, but this is the first that focused on practical uses of negotiating in our day-to-day lives. One example...children! Read about negotiating techniques to get children to clean their rooms, reduce their screen time, and complete chores around the house. You'll also learn negotiating tactics for your job and other common transactions such as your gym membership. In fact, just last week I used a tactic from this book to get a payment refunded from the local batting cage. 

• Principle: Goals are the be all end all of negotiations, so make sure your goals are clearly defined because the negotiation is about getting what you want. Once you have identified your goals, it is important to keep asking, are my actions meeting my goals? 

• Insight: In a negotiation, questions are far more powerful than statements. A statement commits you to whatever you said, doesn't get you information, and it gives the other side something to throw things at. [instead of saying "clean your room" say "could you tell me why your room is not clean?". Questions also give the other side an opportunity to participate.

• Quote: Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right. -Henry Ford

Author: Stuart Diamond
Themes: Negotiation, Human psychology
My personal notes from the book
 

Thanks for reading! 

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Best,
Adam

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Previous 3-Book Thursdays
1/5/2023
12/29/2022
12/22/2022
12/15/2022

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