So true. It’s funny how that works.
Only Work If Somebody Makes You Do It
Category Archives: Good Reads
The Flinch by Julien Smith
I just finished reading The Flinch by Julien Smith and it’s a great read. Short and to the point, The Flinch is focused around the idea of facing your fears or those things that make us FLINCH. Here’s a quick synopsis of the book:
“Your flinch mechanism can save your life. It shortcircuits the conscious mind and allows you to pull back and avoid danger faster than you can even imagine it’s there. But what if danger is exactly what you need? What if facing the flinch is the one best way to get what you want? Here’s a chance to read the book everyone will be talking about, before they do. What are you afraid of?”
The book is about 50 pages if I had to guess, so not too long, but it’ll at the very least get you thinking about your life and how you’re living it. At least it did for me. And the best part is that you can get this Kindle book for FREE, so get it today and stop flinching.
Book Review: The Element
I recently finished The Element by Sir Ken Robinson and moved onto A Whole New Mind by Dan Pink, which has been fantastic so far. But first things first, The Element was a great book that really gets you to reflect on the path you’ve taken in life so far and how to change it. Essentially the Element is where your passion meets your talent, meaning its something you not only love to do, but you’re also good at – the ultimate goal is to find this in your life.
After defining the term, the book focuses on why many of us have not found our Element yet, which includes the education system, lack of external support, and self belief.
The major aspects of the book focus on getting in the right mindset to acknowledge that you have that certain something in which you can excel and being open to finding it. There are a number of tools that can help you along this journey, such as finding your tribe or community that shares your interests, engaging a mentor that can help guide you to where you want to go, and unlocking your imagination and creativity to help in the self exploration.
Sir Ken Robinson also includes a few disclaimers on your path to finding your Element, one being that your Element does not have to be your career, it can be a balance between your career and your passion,. The primary reasoning behind this is often monetary, especially when you have a family to support. Furthermore, he also warns you that you will always encounter those that will be naysayers, those that are negative and unsupportive, which can be hurtful, but it is important to overcome such people. Finally, he makes it quite clear that its never too late to start looking for your Element, so there’s not point in not starting.
Through a number of inspiring stories and great examples, Sir Ken Robinson emphasizes the value of your Element and how we can go about reaching it. Definitely a book worth picking up, especially if you find yourself dissatisfied with your education, career, or prospects. Rating 9/10.
Poke The Box Now
Just a quick follow-up about Poke the Box, the new book from Seth Godin. As mentioned before, it is part of his new initiative, The Domino Project, whose underlying goal is to really challenge the conventional publishing industry. Following with this theme, he just announced that he’s selling the e-book version of his next book at the ridiculously low price of just $1 (pre-order). So if you’ve never read his stuff before, are a huge fan, or somewhere in between, I’d suggest checking this one out, it’s quite a bargain. Place your pre-orders here.
Note: the special price is only applicable for pre-order of the e-book until March 1st, so don’t miss out!
Also, if you’re looking for other books to read, check out my post on 3 New Books I’m Going To Buy.
3 New Books I’m Going To Buy
I love to read and there are 3 new books that I’m waiting to get my hands on.
1. Poke the Box by Seth Godin
Seth Godin has written a ridiculous amount of best sellers so far, and I expect this to join the club. Poke the Box is about that little push or “poke” if you will, that we all need at times to get started on something. The unique thing about this book is that its part of his new publishing venture The Domino Project, where he’s changing the rules in the publishing game. Pre-order your copy of Poke the Box.
2. Evil Plans by Hugh MacLeod
This book talks about how to have fun on your way to world domination. Sounds interesting doesn’t it? From the author Hugh MacLeod, writer of the book Ignore Everybody, we get insight into how to balance our life around work and love, and how doing so can unfortunately result in hate from others. Order Evil Plans today.
3. Enchantment by Guy Kawasaki
Another offering from Guy Kawasaki, this time sharing his knowledge on the “Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions.” It’s not about manipulating people, but taking the traditional thoughts of persuasion and influence to another level. I’ve noticed a trend recently, emphasizing the value of this skillset and who better to explore it with then Guy Kawasaki in Enchantment.
Seth Godin’s Free E-Book
Towards the end of 2009, Seth Godin released a free E-book entitled “What Matters Now.” I’ve been reading it and must say it’s a good, easy read and its FREE, so why not check it out.
Essentially its a book of some of the premiere thinkers in the world today, all sharing a singular idea with you to think about going into 2010. Download it here.
And let’s all give a big thanks to Seth Godin for this wonderful gift going into the new year!
Accountability
Dilbert
The ludicrous dynamics of the work place… never fails to entertain.
Losing Ourselves in Technology
Oh the perils of modern day technology. Every day that passes, we’re getting more and more attached to our technology and access, while losing on our ability to socially interact. It’s a dangerous game.