Posted on Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Episode #081: Smartcuts with Shane Snow [Podcast]

How Hackers, Innovators and Icons Accelerate Success

by Jeff Brown

The new book from today’s guest is one of my favorite to come along in a while. I honestly had no idea I would enjoy it as much as I did.

It wasn’t until after I’d read Smartcuts: How Hackers, Innovators and Icons Accelerate Success, the first but most certainly not the last book from Shane Snow, that I realized I was far from alone. Bestselling author Adam Grant calls it, “One of the most entertaining and thought-provoking books of the year.”

David Carr of the New York Times calls Shane, “A clear, beautiful writer who does not succumb to aphorism and business gobbledygook.”

In short, this is a narrative adventure that bucks common sense about success. Like computer hackers, a handful of innovators in every era use lateral thinking to find better routes to stunning accomplishments. Shane tells the stories of innovators who dared to work differently and lays out practical takeaways for the rest of us.

If you’re ready to “make a dent in the universe” and buck the norms doing it, this is your book.

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Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Episode #080: Time Management Magic with Lee Cockerell

by Jeff Brown

For about as long as I can remember, I’ve been an early adopter.

Remember those things called PDAs? No, not that kind of PDA. Personal Digital Assistants. I was one of the first people I knew who had one. I got the strangest looks when I came into meetings tapping away on my new toy with that stylus thingy. But boy did I love it. Now, in a world of smartphones and apps, the PDA seems quite quaint.

It seems nearly everyone, myself included, wen all digital long ago. In fact, not since the year 2000 have I used an analogue system to keep track of appointments and to-dos. But, I must admit, not since the year 2000 have I felt truly organized. Mind you I’ve experimented with just about every productivity app there is. I’ve even tried to adopt iPad apps that mimic the appearance and feel of a traditional day planner. No matter what I’ve tried, I’ve eventually stopped using it. Every. Single. Time.

So, after finishing Time Management Magic: How to Get More Done Every Day and Move from Surviving to Thriving, the new book from today’s guest Lee Cockerell, I’ve decided to go back to using a traditional day planner for my day-to-day schedule, to-do list, notes, and more. I’m not foregoing digital systems entirely. My online calendars will continue to be central to my system. However, for me, and maybe for you, there’s just something about writing things down that makes a huge difference.

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Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Episode #079: The Best Career Book Ever Written? Seth Godin Says YES!

by Jeff Brown

Is it true? Could Do Over, Jon Acuff’s new book, indeed be the best book ever written on the topic of careers? Popular author and blogger Seth Godin says it is.

Seth goes on to say, “I’m not even sure what book comes in second. This is practical, human, touching, urgent, vulnerable, universal, actionable truth, all in a well-written, handy package. Go!”

To say that Jon Acuff pee’d a little when he received word Seth would be blurbing his latest book would be a colossal understatement. There were parties, dancing, drinking and, okay, so I don’t know all that happened when Jon got the news, but we can assume it was celebratory.

In Do Over, Jon says when you leverage what he calls your Career Savings Account – which is a combination of Relationships + Skills + Character x Hustle – you’ll be perfectly positioned to respond to any one of the four major career transitions that come your way: Career Ceiling, Career Bump, Career Jump or Career Opportunity.

So, is this the best career book ever written? Who am I to argue with Seth Godin?

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Posted on Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Increase Your Likelihood of Success by Understanding These 3 Truths

by Jeff Brown

Whether you’re in the beginning phase of your next big idea, well past your launch, or somewhere in-between, I believe you’ll find this post encouraging, if not helpful.

Internalize these truths, and I believe you’ll increase the likelihood that your next or current project will be a success.

Image Courtesy Oscar Rethwill at Flickr Creative Commons

1. There Are No Shortcuts

Recently, I was chatting with a fellow podcaster who was lamenting the fact that their podcast hadn’t taken off they way they’d expected. They had taken a number of well-thought out and intentional actions toward getting their show noticed, but had reached a plateau that seemed insurmountable.

Posted on Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Episode #078: How to Book Yourself Solid with Michael Port

by Jeff Brown

Ever since I launched the Read to Lead Podcast, I’ve wanted to have Michael Port on the show to talk about his latest book.

The original version of Book Yourself Solid was first released in 2006. Then, in 2010, it was updated with additional content. However, it was the illustrated version – released in 2013 – that convinced me to buy it.

Supposedly, 84% of us prefer to learn visually. I can certainly say I’m in that camp. Along with books like Dan Roam’s Back of the Napkin (and subsequent Show and Tell), and Sunni Brown’s The Doodle Revolution, I found Book Yourself Solid Illustrated an easily digestible read. And, it’s not only be packed with amazing insights and strategies, but it’s just downright fun to read.

What’s more, it’s essentially an entire service business coaching program wrapped up in a single book. A very cool, and hip book.

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