These are most of the books I’ve read a lessons I’ve learned.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
To be or not to be intimidated
-Theory of relativity – weigh all facts in relative light and carefully define terms
-Theory of relevance – how relevant is it to your main objective
-Mortality Theory – aim high and move fast
-Ice Ball Theory – vain and nonsensical to take oneself too seriously
-Organic Chemistry Theory – don’t be intimidated by know it alls, what someone else knows is not relevant, relevant what you know and what you do
-Everyone wants your money – it’s just how
-Posture Theory – it’s not what you that counts but what your posture is when you say or do it
-Theory of Intimidation – the results one gets are inverse to the degree in which he is intimidated
-Bottom-line Theory- you are not clear until the check clears the bank
-Earth – to life…support, to explorer…a base, to the wise…an investment
-Makeable Deal Theory – focus on finding a dew makeable deals rather than clinging to hope a large number of unmakeable deals will somehow close
-With a written agreement, you have a prayer with a verbal agreement you have nothing but air
-Boy-Girl Theory – everyone wants what they can’t have
-Better Deal Theory – before / after an individual closes a deal it’s human nature to worry there is a better one
-Bluff Theory – the secret to bluffing is not to bluff
Millionaire Next Door
-Save
-Spend money after you have money
-Live below your means
-Spend Smart
-Teach children to be wealthy, don’t just give them money
-Don’t have to show how wealthy you are
-Budget and stick with it
-have everyone in the family stay on it
-Spend time learning about money and what to do with it
How to Stop Worrying and start living – Dale Carnegie
-If you can’t change it, don’t worry about it
-Live in the present – the past is gone and the future is made by today
-Prepare for the worst case and improve on that
-Worrying is bad for your health
-What is worrying me? What can I do? What am I going to do? When?
-Problem? Cause? Solutions? Best Solution
-If you’re busy you can’t worry
-”Life is too short to worry about little things”
-What are the chances?
-Think and act cheerful, you will feel cheerful
-Don’t waste time thinking about people you don’t like
-Count your blessings, not troubles
-Forget yourself by becoming interested in others
-Relax – take rests
-Have a clear desk, do things in order, make decisions asap, organize
The Difference Maker – John Maxwell
-Attitude colors every aspect of your life
-Sum of thoughts = attitude
-If you think you can do something, that confidence. If you can, that’s competence. Both are needed for success
-Who we are determines how we see others
-Each person we meet has the potential to teach us something
-90% of people who quit, they aren’t defeated
-If change doesn’t cost you anything, it isn’t real change
-Problems are wake up calls for creativity
-It’s not your fault for be down, but it is for not getting back up
-It isn’t failure if you do better next time
-It is easier to maintain the right attitude than to regain it
-Success each day should be judged but the seeds sown, not the harvest reaped
Think Like a Billionaire – Trump
-Hire professionals – a lot of times they can save you money and time
-Work hard
-Use your contacts for referrals
-Stay up on current events
-Get to business, don’t waste time beating around the bush
-Make investment, after investment
The City of Ember – Jeanne DuPrau
-Be curious
-Keep those closest to you informed
-You might be closer to opportunity that you think
-People are greedy and will pay the price
-Help others
The Richest Man in Babylon – George Clason
-Pay yourself at 1/10 of your earnings
-Hard work should be your best friend
-Pay your debts off with 2/10 of your earnings
-Invest the money you’ve saved
-Money can be your best worker
In the Way – Nick Hazlewood
-Don’t take yourself too seriously
-Enjoy what you do
-Stay Focused
-Mental is more important than psychical
-Interesting group of people
The Alchemist – Paulo Coecho
-There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve, a fear of failure
-It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting
-When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it
-The secret to happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon
-I see the world in terms of what I would like to see happen, not what actually does
-When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too
-When we love, we always strive to become better than we are
The Traveler’s Gift – Andy Andrews
-The buck stops here. I am responsible for my past and my future
-I will seek wisdom. I will be a servant to others
-I am a person of action. I seize this moment. I choose now.
-I have a decided heart. My destiny is assured.
-Today I will choose to be happy. I am in possession of a grateful spirit
-I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit. I will forgive myself
-I will persist without exception. I am a person of great faith
Leaving Home – Garrison Keillor
-Home is important
-Family Matters
The 101 most influential people who never lived
Seabiscuit – Laura Hillenbrand
-Live life to the fullest
-Look on the inside of people / ideas / animals – spirit counts for more than plain skill
-Never give up
Speak Softly, She can hear you – Pam Lewis
-The truth is always the best choice
-Everyone makes mistakes
-Hiding solves nothing
-Be open with those closest to you
-Don’t keep things bottled up
-To help you have to get there
Blink – Malcom Gladwell
-The brain does more than we know
-Your first reaction is usually right, even if we don’t know how / why
-We make thoughts / preconceived notions of people, places, idea, even if we don’t consciously do it.
-If there is a choice you are doing that change it so you are only judging on what matters
-Alway treat people the same
-Try to create a structure for spontaneity – train before, act during
Never Surrender – Michael Dodds
-Do what you think is right and support it as much as possible
-Things work out in the end – be open so a war doesn’t have to bring things out
-Don’t know what you want until it’s gone
-Help those who help you (ask)
-Teamwork and leadership are important and hard to accomplish (stand-by what you believe)
-Your best partners may be unforeseen (be open)
Love and Blood – Jamie Tecker
-Be friendly
-Money drive everything, even soccer
-Everyone is different, be open, make new friends
-Even a game taken too seriously can be made unfun
The Pursuit of Happyness – Chris Gardner
-Dreams do come true
-Work hard – be the best
-Learn from life
-Always be grateful for what you have
-Don’t cheat, be honest
-Help may come from strange places, don’t turn it down, be open
-Be an individual
-Help those who help you (always remember who cared along your journey to success)
-Things happen for a reason
-Take advantage of your opportunities
-Use what you have to the fullest
Nudge – Richard Thaler and Cassi Sunsteind
-Little things can greatly change outcomes – order, display, size, shape, etc
-Something you can help people by giving them a nudge they don’t know about
-You can help people, help themselves by using nudges
Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
-Growing up and things that happen then can greatly affect the rest the of our lives
-Don’t get rid of people who would do anything for you, but always try to return the favor
-Stay in contact with your real friends
-Always fight back even if everything gets taken away
-Sometimes the little things in life make all the difference
A Deadly Indifference – Marshall Jevens
-People will do what is best for them
-Sometimes people have other motives than what it seems
-People try to optimize their performance and act as efficiently as they know how
-If people don’t get the best value, why?
Against Depression – Peter Kramer
-Depression is a state of mind that some good but mostly bad has come out of
-At some points it was fashionable to be depressed
-There are true changes in the brain for depressed people that can / do affect the whole body
-You can be happy
How soccer explains the World – Franklin Foer
-Soccer is a world sport that can show a lot about a culture and how it fits in with the rest of world, economically and socially
The Red Car – Don Stanford
-Money shouldn’t stop you from making dreams happen
-People often times surprise you
-Tell people what you want and it has a much better chance of happening
-Work hard to get what you want
Umbrella Mike – Brock Yates
-Some people go to extremes to get what they want
Retire Young, Retire Rich – Robert Kiyosaki
-Leverage money, time, people and anything else you can
-Get the right mental attitude and then leverage that as well
Real Estate Riches – Dolf de Roos
-100 – 10 – 3 – 1 rule
-Golden Rules
-Make your money when you buy
-Always buy from a motivated seller
-Fall in love with the deal, not the property
-Never be the first to name a figure – that person always loses
-Be counter cyclical (go against grain)
-Always try to buy with zero or little down
-Seldom Sell
-The deal of a decade comes along about once a week
The ABC’s of Property Management – Ken McElroy
-Review companies and if you want to manage it yourself
-Look for employees, systems, and structures
-Understand what goes into managing before you do it
The ABCS’s of Real Estate Investing – Ken McElroy
-Due Diligence – take your time
My Mercedes is not for Sale – Jeroen Van Bergeijk
-Sometime you should decide to go for something and go
-Surround yourself with good people
-Once you get to your destination, things aren’t always what you thought they would be
-People usually keep their best interests first
-Trust is very important and can get you in trouble (the poorer / more corrupt, the less you can trust)
The Drunkard’s Walk – Leonard Mlodinow
– Most things in life happen out of a chance/probability
-Patterns often appear but don’t actually exist
-Many things we think are random aren’t (it’s math and probabilities)
– Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don’t, A lot has to do with how prepared you are
Nickel & Dimed – Barbara Ehrenrich
-It is VERY difficult to make it in America if you don’t have a good job
-Many people work VERY hard and can’t make enough money because they don’t get paid enough
-Hard work helps, but sometimes that is not enough
-Some costs can do in a family (medical)
-How can people have basic needs met and still have a life that can be enjoyed?
Lawyers are Liars – Mark Kohler
-No silver bullet, plan
-Think about asset protection, cost, and upkeep when creating a plan
-Get help with creating the plan and ask lots of questions
-Get ALL partnerships in writing and written well by the proper lawyers > plan an end
-Use multiple barriers [to do?]
-Structure your businesses the way that works best for you (asset protection, taxes, admin cost)
Your Money Counts – Howard Dayton
-Avoid debt
-Seek counsel
-Absolute honesty
-Generous giving
-Hard work
-Save investing
-Train children
-Spend wisely
-Treat other people’s money like you would your own
Freakonomics – Steve Levitt and Stephen Dybuen
-Nothing is like it appears
-Look below the surface or further back for answers
-Many times there is an incentive to cheat or not give it your all (how does it benefit me as a person?)
The Imperial Cruise – June Bradley
-You are who people “think” you are
-You can create an imagination [image?] and control it
-Check with others and think about the future when making decisions
-Be open with people
-Procedures are in place for a vision
Attitude 101 – John Maxwell
-I can – I will – Expect the best – I know – I will make it this time – Positive – I am confident – I do believe -All things are possible
-Attitude is really about how a person is that overflows into how he acts
-Your attitude and potential go hand in hand
-Attitude determines approach to lite [right?] relationships with people, success vs failure, the outcome more than anything else, problems to blessings, positive perspective
-People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care
-Formed by environment, word expression, acceptance/how I feel, self image, growth opportunities, peers, appearance, job/family status
-Manage: evaluate current – faith – write a statement of purpose (desire each day, specific, verbalize, desire change, 1 day at a time, change thoughts, develop good habits (list bud, why/where cause, we place positive, take action, rewind), choice/adversity/fail forward (reject rejection, failure temperature, isolated incident), be realistic, focus on strength, vary approaches, bounce back
-Value people, praise effort, reward performance,
-Success is knowing your purpose in life, growing to reach maximum potential and sowing seeds that benefit others > 1 goal, improve continually, forget the past, focus on the future
-Higher leadership = more sacrifices
Switch – Chip Heath and Dan Heath
-Direct Riders find bright spots, script critical moves, point to destination
-Motivate Elephant > find feeling, shrink change, grow people
-Shape path > weak environment, build habit, rally the herd
Me talk Pretty one day – David Sedaris
-Anyone can be a success
Road to Optimism – Mitchell Perry (Cassett)
-Use inclusion language > how are you? Good – What is there not what isn’t
-Take responsibility of own life > you can feel it talk – assist to control
-Triangle graphic: think – talk – feel
The Power of Positive Thinking – Norman Vincent Peale
-Believe in yourself
-Prayer power
-Expect the best and get it
-Don’t worry/have faith
-Care about others
-Peaceful mind generate power
-Stop fuming and fretting
-Don’t believe in defeat
-Relax
-Have faith
Millionaire by 30 – Douglas Andrew – missedfortune.com
-Have the right mind set
-Young dangers: 1) Wanting everything now 2) Not saving 10-30% 3) Not good debt 4) Not understanding taxes 5) Assume 401k/IRA are good 6) deferred ≠ saved 7) Government/employer to retire 8) Buy/sell at wrong times 9) Viewing the world as scarce 10) Focusing on money vs family
– What are 3 financial barriers? Greatest abilities
– 3 opportunities to create money with abilities
– 3 places to visit/enjoy
– 3 ways to give back
– Real estate and equity equals real wealth
– Accumulate money in universal life insurance
– Focus on core, then experiences, contributions, and finances
– Opportunities: 1) Time 2) Flexible 3) Multiple income streams 4) World’s problems have solutions 5) Add value to the world 6) Own a home
Mega Trends 2010 – Patricia Abudene
-Trends: spirituality – conscious capitalism – lead from middle – value-driven consumer – conscious solutions – investment responsibility
– socialinvest.org – wainwrightbank.com – brideswayfund.com – calvert.com – domini.com – winslowgreen.com – trilliuminvest.com – greenmoneyjournal.com – business-ethics.com – sustainablebusiness.com
– You can make a difference
Franchise Times Parts 1 and 2 – Julie Bennett
- Everything is franchised
- Be open minded when spending
- Call company, ask lots of questions – don’t let them pressure you – do LOTS of due diligence
- Have a franchise attorney review everything that you sign
- Decide what type of business – what do you like/want?
- Resources: franchise.org – franchisee.org – qqfd.org – ass.??
- Research: franchiseregistry.com – smithtravelresearch.com – frandata.com – franchisehelp.com – franchisetimes.com – getfranchisefinance.com
The Snowball – Alice Shroeder
- Work hard
- Be passionate
- Find what works and build out of it, keep growing
- Give back
- Make close friends and keep them
- Don’t lose your way and remember how you got there
- Go after what you want – you just may get it
- Don’t be afraid to do something (security is not always best)
- People are VERY important in business
Never Eat Alone – Keith Ferrazzi
– What do you want? Motivations (money, love, change the world)
– Praise people (everyone is significant and recognized)
– Care about health/wealth/children
– Arbitrage connections (switch board)
– Dinners > mix, get anchor tenet – 1) create a theme 2) stay out of kitchen 3) relax 4) atmosphere 5) not formal 6) couples apart
– Be interesting > content (have a unique point of view)
– Connect the dots > content inventory – 1) analyze trends on edge 2) ask stupid questions 3) know yourself/talents 4) always learn 5) stay healthy 6) expose yourself to unusual experiences 7) don’t get discouraged 8) know new tech 9) develop a niche 10) follow the money
– Build your brand > have personal brand message, package brand – 3 [Soudurr? Product?] (know media, work angles, think small, make reporter happy, nastier sound bite, don’t be annoying – it’s all on record – trumpet message – drop names – market marketing no limit
– Write stuff, get close to power
– Build organization
– Remain modest – listen
– Find a mentor/mentor repent?
– No balance, all one
– Love, reciprocity, knowledge
– Help people, that’s what it comes down to
Outliers – Malcolm Gladwell
– Success is not based just on individual but situations ground them (including culture, family, history, people)
The Purpose-Driven Life – Rick Warren
- Live for others
- You are here for a reason (what are your strengths/weaknesses/what can you do for others?)
- You will be tested > have faith
- Share your life with others
- Do what is right/don’t be tempted
- Have a community around you – You can’t do everything by yourself
The Buddha and His Technique – Benchulz and Kohn
- You will be born again in this life and the next
- Be concerned with others and nothing [reaching?]
- Focus on the new
- Meditate alone and with others > don’t ry to control it, let it flow
(come back, no new)
- There are many [vummes?] and practices (find what works for you)
The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World – Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler
– I/us/them > discuss feeling/thoughts – be aware of others – look at all people as people (humans are everyone)
– Violence stems from beliefs/prejudices – look at fears from a larger perspective, what they are/what can you do about them
– Happiness > hope/optimism/resilience > all needed – empathy (compassion is most important)
– Make others happy and it helps you to be happy
Car Guys vs Bean Counters – Bob Lutz
- KISS
- Remember what you are in – business to do
- Culture runs a company (simple focus)
- Many [fatyues] can add up to failure and sometimes it can’t be avoided (it [can] be a good thing
- Avoid pointless [hysteria?] [criteria?] over-complication
Everything I know about Marketing I Learned from Google – Adam Goldman
- Tap wisdom of crowds – KISS
- Mind set matters
- Be where your endurance is
- Don’t interrupt
- Act like content
- Test everything
- Track everything
- Let data decide
- Brands can be answers
- Your unique selling proposition is critical
- Your competition is broader than you think
- You can learn a lot from a query
- Sex sells
- Altruism sells
- Show off your assets
- The more shelf space the better
- Make your company a great story
- Don’t rely on search engine – marketing alone
- Future [proding?]
Steal These Ideas – Steve Cone
- 3 Marketing ingredients: visually exciting – creates news – compelling call to action
- Brand power is about creating a strong visual connection
- Don’t listen to art directors > easy to read, etc.
- Emulate “People” mag – pics of real people – pics with captions – write concisely – leave plenty of white space
- Personality – 3 pokes person, etc
- There are few customers who really matter
- Most important customer lesson – renew the way acquired
- Creat marketers are great speakers
- Customer loyalty has perceived value that exceeds [lost?]
- Reasons to advertise – motivate stuff – remove existing – customer why – generate leads – recruit people – get noticed by [proxy?] – build bound
Super Freakonomics – Levitt and Dubner
- Find out all the facts
- Don’t take things on surface value
- Look and think deeper
- Look for patterns
- Solutions to big problems can be small and simple
- Look at past data as wells
Quiet – Susan Cain
- Society focused, built, based on Extroverts
- Be yourself
- Introverts have/will contribute lots
- Introverts who think differently
- Focus on your natural skills
- Allow alone thinking, then group discussion
Prayers for the Assassin – Robert Ferrigno
- The country can change gently
- Be prepared/be aware
- Power isn’t everything > simple pleasures make a big difference
Road Less Traveled – Scott Peck
- Life is a lot of work
- Learn/grow from pain/suffering
- Pain is part of life and living
- Don’t be lazy
- Love vs work – “love” isn’t
- Don’t rely on others for happiness
- Face tears
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius – Dave Eggers
- Write down your glory, people may love
- Do what you think you should
Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill
- Have a dream, a desire
- Have faith, visualize/believe it
- Change your subconscious mind
- Gain the knowledge/skills needed
- Work hard
- Organize a plan
- Do it Now – be persistent
- Gather others with you
- Overcome fears
- Let the mind do its thing
What the Dog Saw – Malcolm Gladwell
- Very interesting
- Keep them simple
- Research/learn about topics
- Things don’t always work how/why we think
Unconscious Branding – Douglas Van Praal
- Interrupt pattern
- Create comfort
- Lend the imagination
- Shift the feeling
- Get [past?] the critical mind
- Change associations
- Take action
- Think people and behaviors
- Great book
Drive – Dancal Pink
- Sticks and carrots used to be good motivation but no more
- To motivate science we need
- Autonomy > direct own lives
- Mastery > urge to get better at something that matters
- Purpose > doing something for a service greater than ourselves
- Douglas McGregor – Peter Druchev – Jim Lelling – Lali Ressle and Jody Thompson – Gary Hamil
- Oblique – Chirps and twister questions to get unstuck – [enoshopco.us]
Cobra in the Barn – Tom Cotter
- You just take care of an old car
- Cars are found by relationships – let people know what you like/want you may just get it
- After you find the car you may have to wait a REALLY long time before they sell it to you
Mindset – Carol Dweck
- Growth vs Fixed – What are opportunities for learning and growth to try? For myself? For people around me? – When, where, and how will I embark on my plan? When, where, and how will I act on my plan? – What do i have to do to maintain and continue to grow?
- Embrace challenges
- Persist in the face of obstacles
- See effort as path to mastery
- Learn from criticism
- Find lessons and inspiration in success of others
- Praise for effort/method not end result (try, fail, learn)
- Soon ideas [inbark?]
Learned Optimism – Martin Seligman
- Challenge thoughts
- Adversity – event
- Belief – thought
- Consequences – how do you feel
- Disputation or destruction > distance, enhance? Alternatives? Implications? Usefulness?
- Energization/entrance
- Don’t only worry about self > community important – donate time and money
- Negative is important to help see all possibilities – you decide
On the Edge – Richard Hammond
- Support of a lot of people helps a lot in recoveries
- Work hard, have passion, enjoy what you do and things will work out
- Let your mind wander and dream
- It’s ok to have fund and act like a kid
- The brain takes time to heal and change
The E-Myth Enterprise – Mikhael Gerber.com
- Businesses exist only [because?] people want them to
- Skills – concentration, discrimination, choose to order, order to right, action – Through innovation, communication
- Preferences – visual, emotional, functional, financial
- Design – color, form, scale, order, detail, connected to
- Emotional – people need order, feel heard, connected to something bigger, purpose, moral weight, personally important, people love them
- What is the best biz to do? What would they like us to do?
- Be obsessed to create something perfect
- Be a business with a concise
The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
- Adventure isn’t a bad thing
- Friends are important
- Sometime dumb luck earns you respect
- Respect is very important in any venture
- Have faith before the journey
- Try something new
- Take a leap of faith and try to enjoy any bad times > The good will outweigh the bad
The Dip – Seth Godin
- The best does a lot beter than everyone else
- Quit things that you won’t be the best at – the sooner the better you are
- Focus on what you can be the best in
- Once you are in the right area make sure you can get through the dip and it will be time/money/effort and the bigger/harder the drip the better you will be when you get through it
- If it’s worth doing there’s a dip
- Don’t be mediocre > be the best
- Before quitting > Am I panicking? Who am I trying to influence? What sort of measurable progress am I making?
- Decide before you start when will you quit?
Stumbling on Happiness – Dan Gilbert
- Who we are shapes what we see, remember, and think
- What we think and remember isn’t necessarily true
- Our views are all subjective
- How we act/think doesn’t make us happy all the time
- We can rationalize everything to make us happy
- You shape how the world is to you
Organize Your Mind – Organize Your Life – Paul Hammpunese
- Tame the frenzy > verbalize and organize emotions
- Sustain attention > shut up > work up
- Apply the brakes > Stop and think is this important or not?
- Mold information > organize working memory
- Shift sets > if it’s important move on
- Connect the dots – start small, focus on small changes and build on them
Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl
- Create a work or do a deed
- Experience something or encounter someone – find meaning in work or love
- Turn personal tragedy into triumph
- It is up to you to find the meaning/purpose of your life – What will you contribute?
Whole New Mind – Daniel Dime
- People need to design, story, symphony, empathy, play and meaning – Everything else can be outsourced and will be with time
- Lots of good resources/suggestions
- Be multi-dimensional
The Camel Club – David Balducci
- Be yourself
- Do your best and [takes?] all you can do
- Find people who you like to spend time with
James May’s Magnificent Machines
- Just tinker and you may discover something, even if you do, you may not get credit
- Do what interests you
- Things take time to create
The Element – Kor Robinson
- Everyone has a different element and it is up to you to find it
- When do you feel in the core, focused, there is nothing else that matters?
- Who do you enjoy being around? Find your tribe
- Don’t let others’ opinions and ideas sway you from what you know you want to do and are good at
- Just because you have tried something, doesn’t mean it wasn’t your element – It may have just been the wrong people, timing, or situation
- You have to try things and do things to find your element
- You can have several elements
- Some people make money doing things but their element is different, however without their element they wouldn’t be good at their job/making money
- Keep Looking
Drink Play fuck – Andrew Gottlieb
- Sometimes you need a break to reassess your situation
- Connections and random people you meet are very helpful
- Get out and have some adventures
- If you aren’t happy change it
- Take some calculated risks, then relax and enjoy the process
On the Road – Richard Hammond
- Journeys and trips shape who we are
- Work hard and enjoy the time when you aren’t
- Go after what you’re interested in and do what you enjoy
- Don’t take yourself seriously
- We always grow and develop so enjoy the moment and don’t worry about it. You can laugh at yourself later.
Leaving Home – Garrison Keillor
- Simple is OK
- Don’t be afraid to leave and make your own way
- In small towns everyone knows about you
- Be friendly, know people, and be yourself
- Don’t show off or worry about what others think
Redirect – Timothy Wilson
- Pennebaker Waiting, step back and ask why – Best possible self – maintain sense of purpose – do good – be good
- Be skeptical of advice, seek science, does it work?
- Edit your story or narrative a little and it can make a big difference
- They’re about how you are shaping other people’s narratives
- Interact with people you don’t normally
- Department of Education > what works clearinghouse – drugs/violence/[vet also]
- It takes work and not just hope to get what you want
His Excellency – Joseph Ellis
- Very motivated, very driven
- Took time to be able to conceal anger and to [appear, open?] so under control
- Got lucky in a lot of situations but worked very hard
- Focused on what future generations would think of him
- There are a lot of misconceptions about him and his life
- Finance for winning war and men giving up power to grow the nation
Wonder Boys – Michael Chubon
- You might want a second part of you destroying your life so you can write interesting stories
- Things tend to work out
- Big changes can be good – be open-minded
The Miracle of Castel de Sangro – Joe McGinniss
- Not all things are as they seem
- There aren’t always happy endings
- People will try to protect you from [beds] sides – maybe you should let them
- Humor goes further than anger
- Bite your tongue or have courage to stand up for what you believe
- Follow your passion
- People and community make up success more than the individual
- Even soccer is driven mostly by money
Coyote Blue – Chris Moore
- You can’t run away
- Your skills are always useful
The Control of Nature – John McPhee
- Water is very powerful
- Nature is slow but will win
- Don’t forget what nature has done in the past, it will happen again
- Sometimes the [vigles] are worth it
- When you control a resource, you can’t make everyone happy
Habit, The Power of – Charles Duhigg
- Cue-7 routine > reward
- With cravings we anticipate the reward
- You can’t get rid of a bad habit, you can only change it
- Focus on some keystone habits that affect several things
- Understand all steps and design will power habits to overcome
- As a leader focus on crisis and accidents to create new habits
- Identify the routine > experiment with rewards > isolate the Cue-7 > have a plan
To Be Alone: The Essential Writing of John Muir
- Books can become your friends
- Nature is awesome
Cats Cradle – Kurt Vonnegut
- Good light read
- Choices
- People can make bad [choices?]/ selfish
Walden – Henry David Thoreau
- You can live simply and sometimes it is much easier
- Enjoy the little things
- Make do with what you have
INJJ’s web book
- They are an interesting bunch and you fit in
- It’s OK to be yourself even if you don’t fit in
- Many accomplish a lot and you can too
English Passengers – Matthew Kneale
- Interesting, fun read
- Sometimes things work out better than you thought they would or did
- Just keep moving and trying
- Take the time to do things correctly – it’ll keep you out of trouble
- Understand culture [creativity?] and you won’t need a lot of things
Ark Baby – Liz Sensen
- Strange read – strange things happen
- Have faith
- The past and present can meet and have an effect on each other
Why We Work – Barry Schwartz
- People work to the systems we create for them
- People want mastery, control, freedom
- Ideas and creation are important
Modern Romance – Aziz Ausari
- Modern dating is more difficult but you’re more likely to find someone you’re excited about
- Treat people like people, not bubbles on text
- Online dating is just a way to meet, not date
- Don’t explore too many options, more dates, get to know people
- Treat people with respect and fairly – have fun!
Be My Enemy – Christopher Brookmyre
- In real emergencies leaders show themselves
- Communication and knowing what others know can be very helpful
- Think through all aspects of a plan
- Your past is never fully gone
- People can change
Down the Rabbit Hole – JD Robb, *Mary Blayney, Elaine Fox, Mary Kay McCombs, RC Ryan
- Sometimes people get caught up in their own schemes
- A change of perspective is sometimes all you need
- Don’t let technology take over, notice people
- A daydream can lead to real clarity
- Sometimes things just happen how they should
A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson
- We are here for a very short time
- Humans haven’t been here for long, earth is much older
- Everyone and everything’s existence will pass and probably not make that big of a difference
- Enjoy your thing and things/people around because they won’d last
- The world is an amazing place and there are tons of small and big things that make it work
- Make the most of your time
Radical Acceptance – Tara Brach
- There is nothing wrong with you
- Pause and see what is happening (feeling, etc) right now
- Be friendly and kind to self and others
- Focus on breathing and right now
- Everything will pass, except the feelings
- It’s all OK > accept, don’t fight or try to change
- Meditations and lots to think about in it
The Salesman – Joseph O’Conner
- Once you get to know someone and their story, you treat them differently
- Sales skills can be used for many things
- Life doesn’t always work out so find small pleasures
- Keep going when things are bad, destruction is good
- Forgiveness is important
The One Thing – Gary Keller
- Focus on being productive
- Build habits, one at a time
- Time block, will power or is limited
- Think big, failure is OK
- What’s the one thing I can do that, by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?* (finances, jobs, relationships, personal, health, etc)
- Answer it, then make habits to help
- Purpose > priority > productivity > profit
- Same day > 5 year > 1 year > weekly > daily > now
- Be accountable – what’s the best way to do it?
- Start diagram of 5 boxes, side by side, each one getting larger
The Martian – Andy Weir
- Stay positive – joke
- Look at your situation and improve 1 step at a time – don’t get overwhelmed
- People like to help others
- Take your time to think through the problem so it’s right but don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t – learn and move on
Outlander – Diana Cabaldon
- There are a lot of creature comforts that didn’t exist even a few hundred or a hundred years ago, like plumbing
- You can find love in certain places and sometimes it’s better to go with the new vs old
- Strange things happen and can’t be explained, maybe the most of it
The Devil in the White City – Eric Carson
- A lot of people very committed to something can make something truly amazing
- There will always be people who don’t agree or will make it bad
- Effort can lead to a last legacy, for just one amazing thing (Ferris wheel)
- Trust your gut, if someone seems strange
- Great historical stories require a lot of research and assumptions
A Walk in the Woods – Bill Bryson
- When you ask for people to join you, it may surprise you who does
- Explore, walk, adventure
- There are always dangers and down sides, that make the story good
- Be a smart outdoor person – Think – Be safe
The Keeper – Tim Howard
- Take advantage of breaks and mentors with hard work
- Challenges and personal issues/weakness may make you great and special in another area > keep moving until you find it
- Give back, try hard
- With greatness comes great sacrifices
- Being a great parent may be the most important thing
All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr
- Not all [try?] to read books have great lessons
- Take pride in what you do and people will notice
- Do for others
- Don’t be afraid
- Use caution in making serious choices
- Follow your interests
- Don’t let anything stop you
Life of Pi – Yann Martel
- You can look at life and what happens to you in different ways (sad/good, magical/[sense?]
- Have hope and faith things will work out
A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
- You don’t know what is going through people’s heads
- You can’t tell it if people are telling the truth
- Sometimes you have to step up and try things
- People may not be joking
- Just because they sound smart doesn’t mean they are
A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman
- Actions speak louder than words
- If you want something, work hard to get it
- Don’t judge a book by its cover
- Take care of things and people you care about
- Make the most of life
- Take pride in what you do
- It’s good to do for others – don’t be selfish
- Talk to the people you trust
Dead Wake – Erik Larson
- History isn’t always remembered correctly
- Be friendly with people
- Try to take matters into your own hands, don’t rely on others
- Stay calm and things may just work out
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – JK Rowling
- Love can get you through a lot
- Misunderstandings can really hurt people, communicate as well as possible
Sensual Home – Ilse Crawford
- Third of country with all senses
- Plan simple, interesting spaces
HP Sorcerer’s Stone
- You can only get power when you won’t use it for bad
- Don’t waste your time dreaming, go act
HP Chamber of Secrets
- Loyalty can help you
- Don’t be a fraud
- Choices you make determine your future
HP Goblet of Fire
- Sometimes you get thrown into things
- Be nice to people first and they’ll be nice back
- Don’t talk much to people you don’t know
- Be careful who you trust, people can lie
- Invest in things you believe in
HP Order of the Phoenix
- Don’t always trust your thoughts
- Make a good team and trust them
- Be kind to all [ventures]/people
- What others seek doesn’t always matter if you are involved, you may learn it by other means
- Don’t hide things – be open
- Accept where you are and what you have to do
HP Half-Blood Prince
- Be careful listening to what you read
- You may not understand why things happen but there may be a bigger plan
- History adds context to the present/future
- The right thing can be painful but may be worth it
- You may not know people’s true self/intentions
HP Deathly Hollow
- Seek love not power/control
- Be humble if you do succeed
- Trust your friends/the process
- You may not understand others’ sacrifices for you
- Things don’t make you – you make things
- Let others shine and accept your role/consequences
The Golden Compass
- Kids are special
- You don’t know your fate – trust it’ll work
Thunderstruck – Erik Larson
- Choose mates wisely
- Don’t make it to the last resort
- Work hard and believe in your idea but try not to give up everything for it
- Things connect and change all the time – now isn’t special
Replay – Ken Brimwood
- The excitement in life isn’t knowing how it wins – it’s finding out what happens
Everybody Lies – Seth Stephens
- People are simpler and ask the internet about private things
- Big data allows you to learn a lot and zoom in in smaller areas to learn more
- Don’t measure everything and rely on data for everything – it’s not perfect
- Companies/government can use it but not always for good and it can lead to bad outcomes
Traffic – Tom Vanderbilt
- Cars hide people from others so you can’t communicate
- Speed and distractions are the biggest issues
- There are a lot of things to process in a car
A Land Remembered – Patrick Smith
- Work hard and you or future generations may get lucky
- Getting money may not lead to a happy life
- Changing the land may have consequences we don’t understand
- Control the land – control the future
- Good relationships and taking care of others helps [lead to] happiness
Shaataram – Gregory David Roberts
- Notice details
- Trust your gut
- Take notes
- It’s hard to know why people do things – sometimes they don’t know
- Work hard – enjoy people
- Money doesn’t make you happy – community does
The Lost City of the Monkey God – Douglas Preston
- There are still mysteries in the world
- Disease is a real killer
- Life and society don’t last
- Nature takes back what belongs to it – we are just always fighting it
The Worst Hard Time – Timothy Egan
- There are always harder times
- It’s OK to give up on a bad thing
- Your life is really great – remember those people
The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window – Jonas Jonasson
- Don’t take yourself too seriously
- Tell good stories
- Stick to the things you enjoy
- Tell the truth
- Don’t complain
- Be helpful
- Share your thoughts/opinion
- It’ll all work out
- Be yourself
The Fountain Head – Ayn Rand
- To be the best be selfish not a second harder – only do things for you and to be the greatest – Don’t do things for others or to help others – True greatness comes from being selfish, strong, hard, and not willing to accept the pain others put you through
The Girls of Murder City – Douglas Perry
- Be pretty – helps you get away with a lot
- The 70s was a crazy time, especially in Chicago
- Having a good personality and playing to the [/vess] helps
- Writing with wit and our own personality is important to write a great play
Isaac’s Storm – Erik Larson
- Don’t claim you understand nature
- Be cautious with nature
- Be the best at what you do – take it personally
- Don’t underestimate nature
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – Hunter S Thompson
- They did a lot of drugs
- Drugs are bad
- Drugs make you think and see strange things
The Tender Bar – J R Moeninger
- Sometimes strength comes from leaving or lying to protect others
- People find role models where they can
- [Prinzing] doesn’t solve issues – [adiou] does
- Things can be held together very loosely
- Disillusionment is a great danger but can be very freeing
- There are very smart people in the world – some people don’t apply it
- Try – put it out there and try
The Boys in the Boat – Daniel James Brown
- Do your best for the team, not yourself
- Hard work because worth it when you let go of yourself and focus on the whole
- Some accomplishments can last a lifetime or more
- Lots of pieces need to come together for greatness
- Your past can be overcome
The Beautiful Cigar Girl – Daniel Statshower
- Drinking and bad relationships can ruin a career
- You can be famous by just being yourself and in public
- You never know what will be a hit so be creative
- Some things you’ll never figure out
Ready Player One – Ernest Cline
- Being obsessed and super knowledgeable can pay off
- Relationships and real connections are important
- Keep people around and on top when following passions
- People will escape bad realities if they can
- The real world is very important – don’t let it fall apart
Climb to Conquer – Peter Shelton
- Follow your passions, even in war
- Because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s wrong
- Trials make you stronger for when you need it
- 10th Mountain did amazing things for skiing
Deal of a Lifetime – Fredrik Backman
- People matter – things don’t
- Lives are more important than business deals
- Life is the greatest asset
Men Without Women – Aryki Murakawi
- Relationships are hard, weird and hard to understand
- People will go to extremes
- Heartbreak does strange things to people
- No one is as strong as they appear
Us Against You – Fredrik Backman
- Tragedy can unite people
- We are all just people and everyone has someone who cares
- Keep going and trying – don’t give up – work hard
- Care about people and focus on what you’re good at
- Life can be unfair but it works out if you keep trying
- Forgive and move on – don’t hold on to negativity
- Hate isn’t worth it but pride is important
My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry – Fredrik Backman
- Everyone makes choices that won’t make everyone else happy
- Hard times and life in general can become fun with stories and fantasy or imagination
- It’s always good to say you’re sorry
- Sometimes not sharing the full truth is important
The Invention of Wings – Sue Monk Kidd
- Follow your heart and passion, not society – that’s how to make a difference
- Stick to your word and do what you know is right
- The world may work out and help you along the way
- You will make choices and sacrifices along the way
Triggers – Marshall Goldsmith
- Environment shapes a lot of behaviors
- Triggers, direct or indirect, internal or external, conscious or unconscious, productive or not, encouraging or discouraging
- Good planners, bad doers
- Anticipate the environment – avoid or adjust
- Did I do my best to ____________?
- Planner > coach > doer
- AIWAIT > Am I willing, at this time, to make the investment required, to make a positive difference, on this topic?
- Structure – hourly questions
- Cross graph: top “encourage*” – right Productive – left Not productive – Bottom “Discourage”
- Another star graph with points: Create – Change (add or eliminate or delay) – Accept – Preserve – Keep pace – Improve – preserve
Deep Survival – Laurence Gonzales
- Rules: Perceive, believe, then act > Avoid impulsive behavior, don’t hurry > Know your stuff > Get the info > Commune with the dead > Be humble > When in doubt bail out
- If: perceive, believe (look, see, believe) – Stay (use humor, use fear to focus) – Think/analyze/plan (get organized – set up small, manageable tasks) – Celebrate successess (take joy in completing tasks) – Count your blessings (be grateful you’re alive) – Play (sing, word games, poetry, count, math) – See beauty (remember: it’s a vision quest) – Believe that you will succeed (develop a deep conviction that you’ll live) – Surrender (let go of the fear of dying – “put away pain”) – Do whatever is necessary (be determined, have the will and skill)
- Never give up (let nothing break your spirit)
- Shit happens, so plan as well as you can, then all this [arrow up]
Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer – Frederik Backman
- Getting old is hard
- The way the brain works is interesting
- Home can be simple and just a level of security
Status Anxiety – Alain de Bolton
- Causes: Lovelessness, expectations, meritocracy, snobbery, dependence
- Solutions: Philosophy, art, politics, religion, Bohemian
- There are many ways to see success and what you focus on
- Choose the audience you understand and respect
- There are many ways to live a successful life
The Road – Cormac McCarthy
- We live in good times
- Appreciate everything, including grass, water, food
Bad Ass Librarians – Joshua Hummer
- Not having to worry about war is incredible
- Fight for what you think is important
- We aren’t doing new things – people have been around a long time
Team of Rivals – Doris Kearns Goodwin
- Be humble and pick the best people for the job even if they aren’t friendly
- Think ahead on choices – don’t rush things
- Listen to people before sharing your idea/thought/choice
- Don’t hold grudges > be a human first and recognize others
- Past defeats may lead to future victories
- Have some good stories and use them to be understood
- Be friendly and welcoming to everyone
- Practice first and often
- Stay curious – learn things and take advantage of what you have
- Stay under the radar – don’t make stands – move when needed
Britt Marie Was Here – Frederik Backman
- Be yourself, open and honest
- Be open to new ideas and experiences
- Help and care the way you know how – people notice
An Economist Walks into a Brothel – Alison Schruger
- Risk can be assessed, bought and sold
- Goal? Can you get there with little/no risk (possible?) – if not how much risk do you need to take to get it?
- How much do you need and how much do you want?
- 2 types of risk: idiosyncratic and systematic
- Know your irrational and make rules to correct it
- Probabilities are hard to understand [Sat] how they are presented and reported
- Diversity, hedge, insurance/options
- Uncertainty happens (learn, communicate, flexible)
Last Lecture – Randy Pausch
- Enjoy yourself before it goes away
- Be proud of yourself and authentic
- No one understands life
- Lots of random good life advice
Magic of Tidying Up – Marie Kondo
- Keep what brings you joy – surround yourself with it
- Don’t keep for hope of future or holding on to past
- Things have energy and [humus?] [humor?]
- By category > Clothes, books, papers, misc., mementos
Hyperbole and a Half – Allie Brosh
- Most things in life can be stories and funny
- Random pictures work even if the art isn’t good
- Make light of hard parts in life
The Way of the Superior Mom – David Deids
- Masculine and feminine energies and everyone has both
- Live on your edge
- Drive is purpose/accomplish something – this comes first
- Accept criticism and welcome it from friends
- Do things for love and purpose
- Don’t get lost in day to day
The Empire of Sizz – Gary Krist
- Cities and groups of people change but you can’t really ever control them
- People like vice, even if it’s illegal
- Adapting to the masses can help if your job is illegal now – Don’t get too stuck in your ways
- Be willing to move or change it – the location – can’t let you succeed
- You never learned what people will do or the length they’ll go
The Year of Magical Thinking – Joan Didion
- Good, long term relationships are out there
- Grief will make the brain do crazy things
- No matter what happens, if you’re alive you can get through it
Life After Life – Kate Atchinson
- Old souls may have been around for a long time
- Trust your gut/instinct – it could save your life
- Little life choices – can greatly impact what happens
- You won’t know about your choices until it’s over
- Don’t let life wear you down – there may be another road
When a Crocodile Eats the Sun – Peter Goodwin
- Be glad we have a stable government
- Corruption and power can ruin great places
- The economy is less stable than it seems – look deeper
- People do extreme things in extreme times
- Learn about people’s stories and past
Titan – Ron Chernow
- Work hard and keep track of all your money
- Push boundaries and make systems that work
- Let people you hire do their best work but keep an eye on them so you don’t get slammed to their bad deeds
- Giving a lot of money can be harder than making money
- Defend yourself and befriend the press before things get out of hand
- It’s OK to be friendly and colorful – uptight is bad for health but good for making money
- Always move forward – don’t dwell on the past
Under the Banner of Heaven – Jon Krakauer