March 14, 2010
Books, Strategy
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Linchpin, Seth Godin
I was horrified when I read that Seth Godin had written a book about becoming indispensable! Why?
Well, every new job I’ve started I find someone who has made themselves ‘indespensible u’,sually by coding themselves into every system there is; email gets sent to them, only they know the logon, there is no documentation (I hate it too, but none!). They have become such an integral part of the system that nothing can happen without them, everything fails if they don’t logon one morning! I, on the other hand have been trying to make myself dispensable, trying to code myself out of a job, make each system so good I’m not needed*. So to write a book extolling the virtues of becoming indispensable shocked me, especially from Seth Godin! I was so infuriated I went out and bought it, I had to find out why.
How wrong was I!
This book explains why we don’t need those people any more (I’ll call them Lynchpins – because they kill the projects they work on) he refers to them as ‘factory workers’, once you figure out the system (map) anyone can do that job it’s monkeys pressing buttons, and why by coding myself out of a job, by making the systems as good as we possibly can I’m making myself indispensable! As when any other projects come up, it’s me they want to do it, I learn more, I have a more interesting job and everyone gains.
I would say that not all the concepts in the book are new (and he doesn’t claim that they are), I can relate some of these back to Enterprise Tuesday sessions, Predictably Irrational et al and Paul Arden’s books (especially Whatever you think think the opposite). But the way he has assembled these threads, and many others, into a manifesto of how we need to work is amazing. It is an inspiring book, that I nearly put down because I felt by reading it I may actually be procrastinating from what I could be doing! It’s not often that I find business books to be as engrossing as a thriller but I just had to keep reading this.
Putting his words into practice may not be easy for some (me included) but realising that in some cases it’s just the ‘Lizard brain’ trying to keep everything steady, and realising how much better you can make life for yourself and your work colleagues, I think it’s well worth putting the effort in.
*okay so writing a system that will run itself is possibly a bit far fetched but one that doesn’t require constant and unnecessary attention, and one where the attention it does require can be done by anyone.
February 17, 2010
Books
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Shadow Project Scott Mariani
A great thriller, featuring ex-special forces protecting a multi-billionaire businessman, with lots of intrigue and twists including the usual kidnaps, fights, ambushes as well as some re-discovered WWII Nazi special projects.
It was exciting and kept me gripped and wanting to find out more. In places it felt a bit simplistic and thin but there was enough intrigue to keep me going, entertaining none the less and, certainly worth a read if you like conspiracy thrillers.
February 7, 2010
Books
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Eight Lives Down Major Chris Hunter
This is an astounding first hand account of Major Hunters time as a Bomb Disposal Technician. The title refers to the fact the EOD technicians are nicked named Felix (the cat with nine lives) and the book is a trip with the Author learning where the first eight have gone.
He doesn’t hold back and the book is a fast paced, emotional and exilerating to read. Most of the book is based around his work in Iraq with stories of bomb makers out to get him, ambushes and the affect of such a high stress, dangerous and addictive job had on him and his family. Whilst reading I felt that there could be more to come as there were allusions to other postings and happenings, with enough detail to get the message across, intrigue you but not make you feel like you were missing out.
February 4, 2010
Books
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The Naked Trader: How Anyone Can Make Money Trading Shares (2nd edition) Robbie Burns
I decided I wanted to know more about the stock market, with, perhaps one day, making a few trades myself… A friend recommended this book to me (and lent me a copy) and I’m so glad he did.
Robbie explains how it all works and why everything I thought would be a great ideas isn’t! I still don’t feel like I understand how it all works but at least I know I don’t know, and I think some of that knowledge will only come from trying. I have however learnt enough that I could start trading today if I wanted to and I am hoping to start paper trading and doing the research work and watching that he recommends.
It’s a light hearted and easy to read book, it explains what he’s done and why, but it’s a my way is the only way get rich quick. he explains he’s made losses shows you where and why, and that it’s a long term game.
If you’re interested in knowing more about trading, whether you want to do any or not, or if you are going to do some and haven’t done any prep yet, this is the one for you!
February 1, 2010
Books
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Portrait and Candid Photography: Photo Workshop Erin Manning
Disappointing from the start. If you have never used an SLR before and have no idea that photography is about lighting (photos – light graph – draw/write) then this could be the book for you, it’s very repetitive and basic.
Chapters 5-9 finally talk about taking pictures of people but again more repetition of the basics, and the instructions to go practice. Most of it again is about how to take a picture with occasional comments like: build rapport with your subjects… hmm cheers for that insight.
The redeeming feature for me was the fact I have one of the same lenses, so it was nice to see that if I get it right I can take pictures like those (although I’d like to know ho she managed to take a picture at f2.8 on a lens which goes down to f4… or perhaps the captions are wrong).
So overall, if you are new to photography then this may be interesting, if you’re not then you’ll feel patronised and disappointed.