Sunday, 09 December 2007
Brief review of various popular business books recently released.
Super crunchers
A book about how every aspect of our lives are determined by statistics, introducing us to examples in commerce, law, public policies, etc. Examples in commerce include Google Ads, Farecast, Amazon related items, eHarmony, eLoan, etc. Good for a brief survey of how data driven machine learning can relplace much of current everyday human decisions. Perhaps this points out more about how much our everyday activities are brain-dead mundane decisions, and that people should get out of these roles and pursue more artistics endeavors as machines replace their role. Now, Discover your Strength An intro to StrengthsFinder system, which considers 34 personality themes, developed by Gallop surveys. Pointing out the two well-known notions, (as from the book "One Thing that Matters"), that - we should focus on strength, rather than the correction of weakness,
- our DNA and synaptic connection are responsible for our unique strengths (talents), making each person special and different
this book distinguishes natural talents from skills that can be learned and acquired, then goes on to help people identify their dominant strengths using the standard indicator of where your yearnings, passions, and delights lie. Detail depiction of the 34 themes, and how to manage each type of person. This book is good as an intro level survey. For me, it was sufficient to glance and note the 34 themes in mind. The Age of Speed
As we become more affluent, rise in real standard of living, we have more purchasing power, to get and enjoy more, do more, and have more options in our decision. Hence we speed up all our activities in order to get the most from what life offers.
We shed the old beliefs that speed = irresponsibility, or that delayed gratification is noble. (Why wait when there is no longer the necessity?)
Fast, good, cheap: pick any two. Now, speed no longer costs more, but expected.
We blur the boundaries of work, family and leisure, doing work as a state of mind (even at home), and leisure while at work.
4 profiles of resisting vs accepting speed, and the resulting success vs failure. These are: Zepplin, Balloon (niche), Bottle rockets (uncontrolled), and Jets.
To succeed:
- see opportunities
- adapt and change
- flexible
Mobius strip: 2 sides of the same thing: we increase in speed, but then others expect and demand higher speed from us.
Speed Traps: Multi-tasking and allow interruptions. We drown in trivia and excess. Need filtering.
Authentic purpose: we need to evaluate our vision and sharpen our focus, especially in an age of speed and abundance. This leads to aligned organization and individuals.
The key to speed is simplicity.
Harness speed: Netflix, Aikido. Speed in the internet age is now a commodity.
Some book
Pyramid vs Desires (audio book)
7 subconscious desires
belong
respected
liked
safe
succeed
romance
inspired
16 fundamental desires
1. power to influence
2. self indep
3. curiosity for knowledge
4. acceptance, belong
5. order, organization
6. saving, colllect
7. honor, loyal to heritage
8. idealism, sociial justice
9. social contact, companionship
10. family, raise chldren
11. status, social recognition
12. vengence, get even
13. romance, beauty
14. eating, food
15. physical activity, exercise
16. tranquility, emotional calm
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