On Getting Smarter, Tougher, and Going from Good to Great
Books that changed my life
Hello all!
Here is your weekly dose of books that changed my life.
1. Productivity
Smarter, Faster, Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity
Summary
This is one of the best books I’ve read about productivity. But note that the traditional understanding of productivity, getting more done in less time, is not the central message of this book. It’s more comprehensive and expounds on motivation, team building, focus, goal setting, managing others, decision making, innovation, and absorbing data.
Insight: People are more motivated to complete difficult tasks when those chores are presented as decisions rather than commands.
Principle: Compliments should be unexpected - don’t reward for doing what is easy for you. An athlete shouldn’t be complimented on a good run. Only the small person gets congratulated for running fast. Only the shy person gets recognized for stepping into a leadership role. We praise people for doing things that are hard. That is how they learn to believe they can do them.
Goal setting framework:
What is your stretch goal? (To run a marathon)
What is specific subgoal? (Run 7 miles without stopping)
How will you measure success? (Twice around the park, no walking)
Is this achievable? (Yes, if I run 3 times per week)
Is this realistic? (Yes, if I wake up early on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays)
What is your timeline? (Run 3 miles this week, 4 miles next week, 5 miles…)
Author: Charles Duhigg
Themes: Productivity, Work hygiene, Goal setting, Human psychology
My personal notes from the book
2. Memoir
Tough: My Journey to True Power
Summary
Terry Crews is incredibly dynamic. From NFL player, to actor, to author. I first learned about Terry from an interview on the Tim Ferriss podcast. It was outstanding. Crews was vulnerable, honest, and touched on issues men rarely talk about.
Insight: The purpose of being tough is not to attack, but to protect. The purpose of being strong is not to dominate, but to support. The purpose of having power is not to rule, but to serve. What I've learned is that to be a true man is to be the ultimate servant. With any talent or advantage that life has give you, whether by birth or by circumstance, your duty is to use that advantage in the service of others.
Insight: Learning to live without shame gave me genuine empathy for the first time. I look at every person in the world, and I understand that we've all got issues and we're all in the process of becoming. If someone hasn't vanquished their demons, or doesn't know how to vanquish their demons, or isn't even aware that they have demons to vanquish - I get it, because I lived that way for the first forty-two years of my life, and I've been unlearning it every day for the last ten.
Quote: You are not the voice in your head. You are the person who hears it. -Terry Crews
Author: Terry Crews
Themes: Memoir, Personal development
My personal notes from the book
3. Entrepreneurship
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Other Don’t
Summary
This is a classic and should be on the reading list of anyone who wants to start a business or grow a business.
Principle: When you combine a culture of discipline with an ethic of entrepreneurship, you get the magical alchemy of great performance.
Insight: Mediocrity results first and foremost from management failure
Stockdale Paradox: You must maintain unwavering faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties, and at the same time have the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality.
Quote: You can accomplish anything in life, provided that you do not mind who gets the credit. -Harry Truman
How do you create a climate where the truth is heard:
Lead with questions, not answers
Engage in dialogue and debate, not coercion
Conduct autopsies without blame
Build red flag mechanisms
Author: Jim Collins
Themes: Entrepreneurship, Growing and running a business, Management, Culture
My personal notes from the book
That’s a wrap. Thanks for reading!
Please continue to share with me the books that changed your life!
Best,
Adam
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All Three Book Thursday Personal Notes