First Friday Book Synopsis

APRIL 6, 2013

'When I teach speech, and presentation skills, I focus very strongly on this point: we need to master the use of parallel structure, with repetition, repetition, repetition… Since people’s minds drift as they listen to a speech/presentation, we have to learn the power of repetition. If we say something enough times, it might be heard, [.].

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Tips Blog Skills Power 159

First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 14, 2013

'Anastasia Lankford has worked with us at the First Friday Book Synopsis for quite a few years. She put this on her Facebook page, and passed it along. Apparently it originated on the Hobbes End Publishing Facebook page. It is worth a careful look. Notice especially the finding about “an hour a day leads to […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 23, 2013

'“What you pay attention to expands.” Michelle Kinder, Executive Director, Salesmanship Club Youth and Family Centers ——————– Here’s the thing. You can’t pay attention to two things at once. And, you can’t have two conversations at once. Not really. And, what you pay attention to is a very close relative to what you converse about. […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

JANUARY 15, 2013

Isn’t this interesting? I have now read about Elisha Otis and his elevator demonstration in two different books in the last few months. The most recent (and very thorough) account is in Daniel Pink’s new book To Sell is Human. Mr. Pink tells about the day in 1853 when Elisha Otis, who had successfully invented/designed/built [.].

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Books Succession Blog 153

First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 10, 2013

{On April 5, 2013, we will celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the First Friday Book Synopsis, and begin our 16th year. During March, I will post a blog post per day remembering key insights from some of the books I have presented over the 15 years of the First Friday Book Synopsis. We have met [.].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

NOVEMBER 2, 2013

'Malcolm Gladwell is the master story-teller of our era. But his stories always have a useful, challenging life lesson. In David and Goliath, through an array of stories, he writes that great strength and success can come from turning disadvantages into advantages. After all, what other choice do we have? That is my “one paragraph […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 31, 2013

'In one of my speaking engagements this week, my host pointed me to a participant, and told me that over the last year this man had lost 250 pounds. 250 pounds! He described the difference this had made. More energy. Happier. It was almost like a rebirth; certainly a new beginning. There is a simple […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 1, 2013

'In my introductory post, 12 Vital Signs of Organizational Health, I listed the 12 signs. Now I have completed blog posts on each of the twelve. (The last was posted yesterday). Here is the list again, this time with links to the blog posts, for quick reference. #1 — A healthy organization is constantly adapting and […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 27, 2013

'There are many pieces to this puzzle. We have too much information to sift through. There are too many people to see, so many meetings to attend, too many e-mails to answer. We are too busy being busy. So, the need to focus on one thing is a major, big-time need, and yet is so […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

NOVEMBER 5, 2013

'“Listening is something I’ve been doing essentially all my life. I learned to do it because that was the only way I could learn. I remember what people say. I remember words they use…” So he would sit in class at law school… focusing on what was said and committing what he heard to memory. […].

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Skills Class Development Blog 141

First Friday Book Synopsis

NOVEMBER 20, 2013

'Recently, I posted this: You Need a Year’s End/Year’s Beginning Leadership Planning Retreat – Here’s What to Do at Your Retreat. That post took me back to the excellent guidebook for any business leader, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits by Verne Harnish. So, I keep thinking about organizational structure, and the things to do for any and […].

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Planning Leadership Blog Team 141

First Friday Book Synopsis

APRIL 13, 2013

'Call this a “basics” blog post. So, a short while back, I posted about the “costs” of paying for good customer service: Maybe “Business Sense” does not always equal “Human Decency Sense.” Underlying the post was this premise, this concern, which one of our readers caught… If a company is losing money, it really can’t pay [.].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

APRIL 1, 2013

Over the last 30 days, I have written a blog post every day on significant books that I have presented over the first 15 years of the First Friday Book Synopsis. We meet every month, so that means I did not write about 10 books from each year. My selections include my choices for two [.].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

FEBRUARY 23, 2013

Every business wants employees who have world-class skills, who are well trained and eager to learn more. Trouble is, obedience, diligence, and competence are becoming global commodities. You can buy these human capabilities just about anywhere in the world, and in places like India and China, they can be bought for next to nothing… If [.].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

AUGUST 5, 2013

'Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. Thomas Jefferson Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character. Albert Einstein Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. Winston Churchill ——————– (This was prompted by a […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 25, 2013

'Oneness is not something you can turn on with a switch. Phil Jackson, Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success ——————– In my introductory post, 12 Vital signs of Organizational Health, I listed the 12 signs. Here is sign #6: A healthy organization is good at “alignment” — its people are on the same page, with genuine […].

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Organization Blog Succession 136

First Friday Book Synopsis

FEBRUARY 12, 2013

How do you innovate? First, try to get in trouble. I mean serious, but not terminal, trouble. “When life gives you a lemon …” It is a well-known trick that if you need something urgently done, give the task to the busiest (or second busiest) person in the office. Most humans manage to squander their [.].

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Innovation Management Blog 136

First Friday Book Synopsis

DECEMBER 9, 2013

'We are beginning to see lists of the best books, and separate lists for the best business books, of 2013. Let me enter this discussion. My list is short. I am including, at the end of this post, the complete list of business books I selected this year for my synopses at the First Friday […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 18, 2013

Mark Goulston, M.D., is a prominent psychiatrist, business advisor, and executive coach. He is co-founder of Heartfelt Leadership whose mission is: “Daring to Care.” He is the author of the bestselling Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone (AMACOM, 2009) and subject of the PBS special “Just Listen with Dr. Goulston.” [.].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

NOVEMBER 9, 2013

'Constrain: to limit or restrict (something or someone) Inhibited unable to act in a relaxed and natural way because of self-consciousness or mental restraint ——————— Though there are circumstances when a speaker needs to use very few gestures (imagine a spokesperson after a tragedy), in most instances, gestures greatly enhance a speaker’s effectiveness.

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Tips Blog 134

First Friday Book Synopsis

FEBRUARY 16, 2013

Here is an excerpt from an article written by John Kotter for Harvard Business Review and the HBR Blog Network. To read the complete article, check out the wealth of free resources, and sign up for a subscription to HBR email alerts, please click here. * * * A few weeks ago, the BBC asked [.].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 18, 2013

{On April 5, 2013, we will celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the First Friday Book Synopsis, and begin our 16th year. During March, I will post a blog post per day remembering key insights from some of the books I have presented over the 15 years of the First Friday Book Synopsis. We have met [.].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 4, 2013

'I presented my synopsis of Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work by Chip Heath and Dan Heath at the May 3, 2013 First Friday Book Synopsis. Another good book by the Heath brothers! (In earlier First Friday book Synopsis sessions, I presented their first two books, Made to Stick and Switch). [.].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 13, 2013

'The Referral Engine: Teaching Your Business to Market Itself John Jantsch Portfolio/Penguin Group (2012) First, you must be (or become) worthy of the referrals you seek. Whatever their source of power (e.g. wind, water, coal, nuclear fission), the most effective engines throughout human history share common attributes: they are well-designed and conscientiously maintained.

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First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 15, 2013

'Last Friday, I presented my synopsis of Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success by Phil Jackson. I really liked this book. It was a fun read – “extra” fun for anyone who follows sports. But, it is also a leadership journal. Though the book is quite narrative, principles and practices and challenges and difficulties of […].

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Sports Blog Books Succession 132

First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 22, 2013

Poverty is all around us. And, sadly, the numbers struggling with poverty are growing. In spite of “paying attention,” and planning, and successful programs, we have taken a step “back” in seeking to alleviate poverty and its consequences. It will require an “all hands on deck” approach, one that we may not have the political [.].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

MAY 9, 2013

'The reports keep coming in. There are a lot of mediocre to bad speakers out there. And every poor presentation adds to the frustration – the sense that “this is a waste of time.” There really are some simple fixes. If each speaker would simply remember, and follow, some simple rules, the audience would be […].

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Audience Blog Report 132

First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 19, 2013

'There’s something about fundamentals that basketball players love. (Tex Winter — Phil Jackson’s assistant coach, credited with refining the Triangle Offense originated by Coach Sam Berry): Tex was a master at this. He had developed a whole series of drills to teach players how to execute fundamentals. As far as Tex was concerned, the genius […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

SEPTEMBER 22, 2013

'Long ago, Thomas Edison observed, “Vision without execution is hallucination.” In a recent blog post, Josh Linker shares his own thoughts about how to increase personal growth and professional development. To check out the wealth of resources at his website, please click here. * * * Most people who are struggling and want to improve […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

MARCH 27, 2013

{On April 5, 2013, we will celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the First Friday Book Synopsis, and begin our 16th year. During March, I will post a blog post per day remembering key insights from some of the books I have presented over the 15 years of the First Friday Book Synopsis. We have met [.].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

SEPTEMBER 14, 2013

'When you get up to speak, you have just a few seconds to “hook,” your audience. And, then, assuming you have them “hooked,” you have to “keep them on the line,” and then “reel them in.” There are two clear parts to this process. Part 1 (Aristotle called this “Invention”) – have something valuable to […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

OCTOBER 17, 2013

'We have a mechanism in the brain which will close down empathy so you can think clearly. Daniel Goleman, from his interview on the Diane Rehm Show ——————– A few days ago, Diane Rehm interviewed Daniel Goleman, prompted by the release of his new book, Focus: The Hidden Driver Of Excellence. (Listen, and read the […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

APRIL 7, 2013

'com·mu·ni·cate 1. Share or exchange information, news, or ideas. 2. Impart of pass on (information, news, ideas): ”he communicated his findings to the inspector.” ——————– A while back I wrote a blog post on How to Market Yourself. It included these thoughts: It almost doesn’t matter. Seriously – it almost doesn’t matter.

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First Friday Book Synopsis

NOVEMBER 30, 2013

'Well, this too is murder — on a mass scale. Only on Wall Street, they call it “maximizing share-holder value” and they call it “legal.” And they substitute dollar bills where a conscience should be. Dammit! A business is worth more than the price of its stock. It’s the place where we earn our living, […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

NOVEMBER 2, 2013

'The New York Times has made some changes to its monthly Business Books Best Sellers List. Before, they provided two lists: Hardcover, and Paperback. Now, it is simply one list. Thus, I assume (though, I could be wrong) that this list now includes best sellers from both Paperback and Hard Cover sales. In addition, I […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 18, 2013

'“I want to get out of the business of trying to save failing students before their lives are destroyed,” Canada said. “I’ve been in that business, and it’s a tough business and a good business, and I’m glad some people are in it—but I really think it’s the wrong place to focus.” Paul Tough: – […].

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First Friday Book Synopsis

JULY 9, 2013

'Our knowledge has “cursed” us. And it becomes difficult for us to share our knowledge with others, because we can’t readily re-create our listeners’ state of mind. Chip Heath and Dan Heath, Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die ——————– I assume that I understand what you have told me. That may be […].

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