It s a shame I've been sitting on this book for about two years now. A friend of mine gave me Never Eat Alone , by Keith Ferrazzi a couple years ago (thanks Rey), and it s been on my bookcase ever since. It was resting there not because I didn't want to read it, but because I already had so many others in the pipeline. I finally got around to reading it last month and I definitely recommend it. In very simple terms, Ferrazzi explains why networking is important and how to do it. From how to make call lists to planning dinners to personal branding to goal setting, it s all here. He also maintains a valuable blog .
Inevitably there will be times when you have setbacks or things don t go your way. Maybe you didn't get a job you thought you were sure to get. Maybe you lost a job unexpectedly, didn't win a contract, or lost a major client. Your car always seems to break down right after you've had some other unexpected expense. These kinds of situations immediately place us in crisis. They don t feel good, but sometimes they re what we need in order to grow. The beautiful thing about crises is that they force us to take a step back and reevaluate what s going on in our lives and rediscover what we truly want and need. When we get over that initial shock and feeling of disappointment, we might realize that maybe that job wasn't really the best for us anyway. Maybe, just maybe, that wasn't what you really wanted to spend your life doing. Maybe that friend was holding you back instead of pushing you forward. The way I deal with crises of these sorts is simple: If something doesn't go my way professionally, I try to create a situation that would be more rewarding than the situation originally planned. A while ago, I was offered a job that looked very promising. After I accepted the offer, they pushed the start date back three times, later informing me (via e-mail) that they wanted to bring me on in the near future but I should feel free to explore other options. I was extremely disappointed. I felt disrespected and angry, but decided to make the best of the situation and follow my dream of working internationally. I then flew to Santiago, Chile and had great professional and personal experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise. Later, reflecting back on the original opportunity, I realized that working for a company that avoids a start date three times and then can t pick up the phone to explain the situation is probably not where I need to spend my time. Use setbacks as an opportunity to put your goals in order and act on them. In the moment, it s difficult to look at a setback as temporary, but they are. They happen to everybody. It s how you respond to them that will determine how they affect you.
Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is simply amazing. Elizabeth Yates writes a captivating story based on a true character that teaches great lessons on how to reach your full potential and cultivate yourself and those around you. She does a great job of portraying accurate history while preserving the dignity of both whites and blacks in subject matter that normally portrays both as savages.
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I have read many books lately. Many of which focus on leadership, marketing, sociology, communications, and organization theory. In other words, non-fiction. What I’ve found is that, while valuable in their own merits, they often lack literary value. Their styles, dictions, and compositions align more with the needs of those who need to consume information quickly rather than those who like to push the boundaries of literary art. I’m a firm believer that learning about subject matter in isolation is no way to truly grow holistically. Recently I read The Magician’s Nephew, part of The Chronicles of Narnia series (I never read this as a child).Not only is it one of the most entertaining and thought-provoking pieces I’ve read in some time, but it rekindled my interest in literary classics and other works that not only break up the business writing I’ve been reading, but are important because they challenge the way we think.
While looking for more things to read, I came across this list. Many of the books in this list I’ve read, but some I haven’t. In any case, it’s definitely something worth checking out. I hope you enjoy.
http://listverse.com/2007/08/13/top-15-banned-literary-classics/