IN THIS ISSUE:
A Little Summer
Reading
One of the toughest things I have to do
as an executive mentor is to convince my clients--most of
whom are tough-as-nails, driven workaholics--that they're
more effective when they routinely take some time off. Recharging
your batteries isn't optional for growth; it's mandatory.
The good news is, the power of escape
is at our fingertips. All you have to do is get in your
car, fight off the beach traffic, jockey for the last parking
spot, and find a quiet reading place.
Or, just close the office door for 30
minutes every day, and savor some classics. When the going
gets tough, the tough get reading. With tongue only slightly
in cheek, I'd like to recommend some personal favorites,
slotted into "traditional categories." Remember:
The point is to enjoy. This isn't homework. Laugh a little.
Tis the season for light clothing, light food, and light
reading.
Fiction & Poetry
Birth of the Chaordic Age, Dee Hock (1999, Berrett-Koehler)
The Founder of VISA International explains the magical birth
of VISA’s creation, revealing how chaos and order merged
to allow competing banks to peacefully create a $1.25 trillion
organization for a time (who can forget the 1998 Department
of Justice antitrust lawsuit against VISA and Mastercard?).
Hock has a magical way of discussing the impact the “monkey
mind” (aka “inner voice” or “doubting
Thomas”) on the success of new projects.
Click
to order
Price: $19.57
You Save: $8.38 (30%)
Non-Fiction
The Princessa: Machiavelli for Women, Harriet Rubin (1999,
Dell)
Rubin offers practical examples of how women, ranging from
George Eliot to Golda Meir, have gained power using ease
and grace. She outlines a critical distinction between winning
the battle versus “besting” your enemy, and demonstrates
how a battle strategy defeated Hilary Clinton’s efforts
to launch her Health Care Initiative (her own husband’s
team was sent in to work against her!). Who needs fiction
when you can learn age-old lessons from real-life political
drama?
Click
to order
Price: $8.76
You Save: $2.19 (20%)
Mystery
Cyber Rules, Thomas Siebel, et. al. (2000, Doubleday)
Want to learn how to write a company brochure disguised
as a hardcover visionary book? Add this flavor of the month
from days gone by to your paperweight list! In this high-tech
“whodunit,” protagonist Siebel carefully orchestrates
twists, turns, and surprises that finally culminate in the
revelation of The Secret Of Success. (If you hate spoilers,
skip ahead to the next book.) The real twist in the plot
appears when Siebel asks a Board member – Charles Schwab
– to write the Foreword. Later, the big secret comes
out: "Put the Customer First." While the real
mystery might be how it took civilization 2,000 years to
figure this out, Cyber Rules remains a relatively good read.
Auctioned copies start at $.09, so hurry and order your
copy today.
Click
to order (this is officially out of print, so try to
pick up a used copy!)
Science Fiction
The Road Ahead, Bill Gates (1995, Penguin)
Wherein Mr. Gates describes his future dream home: “A
house that tracks its occupants in order to meet their particular
needs and combines two traditions: Unobtrusive service,
and that an object we carry entitles us to be treated in
a certain way.” (Does this mean I can program the bulletin
board to refuse to give my husband the Mercedes keys when
he's just going to the grocery store? Sign me up!) The title
appears to have been a mix-up; I am convinced that it really
meant to say, George Orwell goes to Redmond. Still an amusing
read after all these years.
Click
to order
Price: $11.17
You Save: $4.78 (30%)
Children's Books
The One Minute Millionaire, Mark Victor Hansen and Robert
G. Allen. (2002, Harmony)
Here’s a novel idea for an industry that once prided
itself in get rich quick schemes, high margin products and
services: What if you gave away a percentage of your profits
each year to mentor young people, or to support worthwhile
non-profit endeavors? The storybook layout of this book
keeps things entertaining and light, yet the messages are
compelling. If you want to create new prosperity possibilities
for yourself and your family, read on--especially the story
about Millionaire Michelle.
Click to order
Price: $13.97
You Save: $5.98 (30%)
What Should I Do With My Life? Po Bronson (2002, Random
House)
Two years have passed since we saw early signs of the dot-com
collapse's impact on millions of careers. This turn of events
inspired Bronson to listen to the life stories of more than
900 people who have challenged their own career choices.
"What makes this a children's book," you ask?
Many of Bronson's subjects dug deep into their childhood
to remind themselves of what fuels and inspires them. Isn't
that what summer is all about?
Click
to order
Price: $17.47
You Save: $7.48 (30%)
Buy a Little, Care
A Lot
Now for the more serious side of our ezine. For those of
you summer readers with heart, we're including our Amazon
affiliate link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home/nirellcom-20.
A percentage of all purchases you make using this link goes
to the Tariq Khamisa Foundation (www.tkf.org). Your order
helps the Foundation eradicate violence among our most precious
summer treasures-our children. Thank you for your support.
Free Events
"Business At the Next Level"
Internet Radio Show
August 7, 5-6 pm PT, 8-9 pm ET:
We'll
be interviewing John Whitmore, former LeMans European
race champion and co-founder of Inner Game LTD. The third
edition of his best selling book, "Coaching for Performance,"
just hit the bookstores. Hear how IBM, Coca-Cola, and
Ford Motor Company are using this revised communications
toolkit to improve their bottom line.
September 18, 2003, 5-6 PM PT, 8-9
pm ET
"Nirell & Associates Client Profile"
We'll introduce our "mystery executive guest"
to the listening audience. They'll describe how mentoring
services have affected their growth strategy, revenue
goals, and team alignment.
To listen to these shows go to www.wsradio.com/businesslevel
and click on Listen Live. To call in your questions to
the live show, call ( 888) 327-0061.
--Lisa Nirell
http://www.energizegrowth.com/
