Work-life balance in a new world of work

If you would ask me, Busy or Impact covers more than the topic: work-life balance. Life balance would be a better description. With clear examples the writer shows you different insights of common daily events. By asking you the right questions, he makes you think about certain things happening in your own life. This can be confronting, which I really liked about this book. The writer isn’t afraid to shock and motivate you. Do not come up with excuses and change what you don’t like, that’s the spirit of this book. A big topic in Busy or Impact is that a lot of your current circumstances are a result of your own choices in the past. One can influence more than one thinks. If you don’t like certain current circumstances, do something about it and set your own future. You can start for example, by thinking about – and approaching- things differently.
By only thinking that you can actually change undesirable situations, the first step is taken.

Of course the book covers the topic work-life balance and provides useful tips to improve this balance in your life. But, there is more; I enjoyed the ‘not work related’ insights too.

I really liked this book! It is not scientifically written, but it does give you scientific insights. The writer uses humor and concrete modern examples to make things clear. If you are searching for the right balance in your own life or you are not happy at work, or you just would like to read a nice management book, I really recommend reading this book. Start to challenge your undiserable paradigm’s today and replace them by desirable ones. Busy or Impact will be your pleasant guide.

Teaser Page 1/2:

World of plenty

In a world of plenty your ability to make choices has become increasingly important. When formerly you had one CD, you played it every day and you knew the lyrics by heart. Now your Ipod has 80 Gb and you listen to a random play list, which you probably enjoy less than that one CD. Technological achievements have made virtually anything possible. A fast growing number of people can choose to work anytime between 00.00 and 24.00, any day of the week and from any location. Work has come into private life-about which we sometimes complain- as personal life has come into private life-about which employers sometimes complain. On average, several studies show, we seem to spend 2 hours on personal stuff during ‘working hours’. In 2010 most people still said Facebook was for personal relationships and LinkedIn was work related and so they tried to separate their contacts accordingly. Two years later boundaries have faded because friends wanted to link on professional networks and business relations wanted to link on Facebook. Most people stopped trying to separate the two. The clear line between work and personal that was drawn at the beginning of the industrial  Revolution has vanished. The structure that working people were used to and did not have to think about, is history for a lot of us. You now have to create your own personal structure that fits you and the ones close to you and that you can change whenever your situation changes. Things are not written in stone anymore. With that work-life balance has become an issue. Because of your addictions (work and the internet ares so easy accessible) and your lack of self-confidence (“what if I miss out on important info from work or if I don’t answer my boss this very evening?”) we have created problems that we did not have before and for we need new solutions. Recognise the feeling? Just working harder will not do the trick; when you think you are on top, something happens that makes you feel you are behind again. You feel, and in fact you are, very busy and at the same time you have the feeling that your impact actually decreases.

Are you curious about what changes this book may cause in your life?

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How Great leaders inspire Everyone to take action

Did you ever wonder why your company has the right to exist? Why you do what you do? This book is intended for entrepreneurs and business people who are responsible for the policy of their company. Start With Why is a very practical guide which explains why some companies became and some didn’t become successful.

The explanation can be found at the root/base of a company. Many companies make the same mistake. They emphasize what they do, which features their products or services have et cetera. A reader or listener will quickly lose interest in this. The broadcasted message will not last long in the minds of possible customers. Much more marketing impact it will have when you first make clear “WHY” you make what you make or “WHY” you offer what you offer. When that’s clear one can always mention all the features their products or services have. It’s actually a very simple marketing trick. You just re-arrange your message and it immediately becomes a very different message.

Start with Why also explains clearly what successful organizations require. They need a leader who breathes the “WHY” message. In addition, many other people in the same company work out the “HOW” of this “WHY” message. This is usually not the work of the leader. Steve Jobs at Apple was a good example of a “WHY” leader.

Start With Why is written in a very clearly way and is fun to read. The only downside of the book I think is that I sometimes felt that it could have been written a little shorter. It tends occasionally to too much repetition.

This has not withheld me from regarding this book as a real Business Must Read. It made me think about my own company. What is actually my “WHY”.

What can I improve in my message to the world. It’s always good to put your current operations to the “WHY” test. I will certainly continue doing that now that I have read this book.

Teaser Page 167/168

There is a simple test you can apply to find out exactly “WHAT” and “HOW” is right for you. It is a simple metaphor called the Celery test. Imagine you go to a dinner party and somebody comes up to you and says, “You know what you need in your organization? M&M’s. If you are not using M&M’s in your business, you are leaving money on the table.”

Somebody else comes up to you and says, “You know what you need? Rice milk. The data shows that all people are buying Rice milk these days. You should be selling Rice Milk in this economy.” While you are standing over the punch bowl, yet another person offers some sage advice. “Oreo cookies,” he says. “We made millions from implenting Oreo cookies in our organization. You have got to do it” Still somebody else comes up and says, “Celery. You have got to get into celery.”

You get all this great advice from all these highly accomplished people. Some of them are more succesful than you. Some of them have offered similar advice to others with great succes. Now, what do you do?

You go to the supermarket and you buy celery, rice milk, Oreos and M&M’s. You spend a lot of time at the supermarket walking the aisles. You spend a lot of money because you buy everything. But you may or may not get any value from some or all of these products; there are no guarantees. Worse, if you are budget-constrained, you had to whittle down your choices again. And then which do you choose?

But one thing’s for sure: when you are standing in the line at the supermarket with all of these items in your arms, your celery, rice milk, Oreos and M&M’s, nobody can see what you believe. What you do is supposed serve as the tangible proof of what you believe, and you bought everything.

But if you knew your “WHY” before you went to the supermarket? What if your “WHY” is to do only things that are healthy? To always do the things that are good for your body? You will get all the same good advice from all the same people, the only difference is, the next time you go to the supermarket, you will buy rice milk and cellery. Those are the only products that make sense. It is not that the other advice is not good advice, it’s just not good for you. The advice doesn’t fit.

Filtering your decisions through your “WHY” , you spend less time at the supermarket and you spend less money, so there is an efficiency advantage also. You are guarenteed to get value out of all the products you bought. And, most importantly, when you are standing in the line with your products in your arms, everybody can see what you believe. With only celery and rice milk it’s obvious to people walking by what you believe. “I can see that you believe in looking after your health,” they may say to you. “I feel the same way. I have a question for you.” Congratulations. You just attracted a customer, an employee, a partner or a referral simply by making the right decisions. Simply ensuring that “WHAT” you do proves what you believe makes it easy for those who believe what you believe to find you. You have succesfully communicated your “WHY” based on “WHAT” you do.

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Shall we, or shall we not? Screw It, Let’s Do It!

Everyone loves Richard Branson. One of the most inspirational business men of the moment. This man ignores all rules and regulations established by others and goes his own way entirely. This way of doing business brought him great success. It all started in the music industry. Virgin became a recognized player in the music market. When Richard Branson announced that he was planning starting up his own airline, Virgin board members began to sweat. Everyone recommended him off, the risk is too high. Luckily, he put it through because he certainly is opinionated. The book: Screw It, let’s Do It! depicts the life of Richard Branson. How he took certain decisions, why he did take them and why taking risks is a part of life too. Screw It, Let’s Do It! is not only about business. Family matters for this entrepreneur, so you can perfectly use this book to improve your personal life too.

Do it the Branson way, is really a concept in business. It means that you never, NEVER come up with half work. You have to amaze people. With what you do, you should be rising above everyone, or you should not do it. Richard Branson likes rising above everyone. I think that’s the reason he started up his own airline and even now his own spaceship airline. His way of thinking is: you start a new airline? Make sure the people get overwhelmed by service. I can confirm this because Virgin Airlines surprised me too for their provided service.

Screw it let’s Do It! does have similarities with the book Purple Cow by Seth Godin. Although this book is more descriptive. Only downside of the book I think is that it sometimes feels a little like: ‘Look how brilliant I have done this’. You can then again set this in perspective because who would not be proud of himself if you have survived a balloon chrash or set up that many successful companies. Do not expect concrete business theories in this book. Read it as a novel and distill the things that are important to you.

Richard Branson’s way of thinking, his actions and his courage described in this book did inspire me in any case. Sometimes. I think in certain situations. What would Richard Branson do? This makes sure that I sometimes made unpredictable decisions which lead to funny outcomes. I find this book an absolute must read.

Teaser Page 15, Free translation

Believe that it is possible
Set goals
Get the most out of life
Never give up
Prepare yourself well
Set confidence in yourself
Keep trying
Help each other

When I discovered that my nickname for some ‘Virgin employees’ is Dr. Yes, I thought this was really funny. They made up this name because they think that my automatic response to a question, request or problem is rather positive than negative. I’ve always tried to find some reason to do so if it seems a good idea, rather than not to. My motto is: “Oh what, just do it!” I know that many people in one kind of Pavlovian response say ‘no’ or ‘I must think about it’. “They say it when asked a question, whether it’s something small or something big and groundbreaking. Maybe they are too cautious or suspicious of new ideas or they just need time to think. But that’s not my way of doing things.

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This book is a very practical management to become a Top Negotiator!

As you might know, in a management function negotiating covers a big part of your day.

Whether you are negotiating with your staff, your business partners or your customers, this book is a helpful guide to become a top negotiator. This book is clearly established into 50 questions. These questions help you during getting to a successful outcome. It’s a very positive book, similar to Getting to Yes. I really liked it!

Here you can find an example of one of the fifty questions:

Question 33

Shall we share the difference?

This simple direct question is probably one of the biggest incentives for concessions in all negotiations. The reason for the effectiveness of this question is the obvious appeal to fairness. What could be fairer than that both parties make the same concession. The could do this by sharing the difference? The question seems so fair and reasonable that for many negotiators tend to say ”yes” is almost irresistible. The most frequent answer to this question is often a simple ‘of course’, or ‘yes’.

We use the question ‘Shall we share the difference?”after a long-term period of negotiation. It seems one cannot prevent reaching an impasse. The question increases the chance of success because it seems that you have no further concessions to make.It looks like you would like to end the negotiation.

Teaser: First Paragraph, page 19 free translation

Collecting information unnoticed

Success in negotiation is often directly related to how much accurate information you can gather about the goals, deadlines and alternatives of the other party. If you would discover that the other party has a tight deadline and not knowing where else to go, you are in an extremely favorable negotiating position. A very effective way to gather useful information is to ask the following seemingly innocuous questions. They provide you with very valuable information.

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This business must read belongs to one of the classics. Written in 1984, its leadership and management theories are still applicable nowadays. This book is Management Reading on a high level!

I recommend reading this book because of its well explained theories about human behaviour. Certain behaviour is generated by certain triggers. These triggers are based on consistency, social proof, reciprocation and authority. They take place unconsciously. Without even realizing it, people seem to react to certain triggers over and over again.

The author supports his theories with concrete examples:  how the Hare Krishna is using these triggers successfully for years, or why sometimes groups don’t act when an accident has happened and everybody is waiting for somebody else to take action. It is not an easy book to read. You need to stay focused to understand what the author is trying to make clear. I read this book a year ago. Besides the little out dated cover and the discolored pages you will not notice it is a classic written almost thirty years ago. The theories are still applicable in contemporary businesses.

Learn more about the human behaviour and use this knowledge while doing business!

Teaser: First Paragraphs page 1/2

Weapons of Influence

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
(Albert Einstein)

I got a phone call one day from a friend who had recently opened an Indian Jewelry store in Arizona. She was giddy with a curious piece of news. Something fascinating had just happened, and she thought that, as a psychologist, I might be able to explain it to her. The story involved a certain alloment of turquoise jewelry she had been having trouble selling. It was the peak of the tourist season, the store was unusually full of customers, the turquoise pieces were of good quality for the prices she was asking: yet they had not sold. My friend had attempted a couple of standard sales tricks to get them moving. She tried calling attention to them by shifting their location to a more central display area; no luck. She even told her sales staff to “push” the items hard, again without success.Finally, the night before leaving on an out-of-town buing trip, she scribbled an exasperated note to her head saleswoman, “Everything in this display case x 1/2″ hoping just to be rid of the offending pieces, even if at a loss. When she returned a few days later, she was surprised to find that every article had been sold. She was shocked though, to discover that, because the employee had read the “1/2″ in her scrawled message as a “2″, the entire alloment had sold out at twice the original price. For more stories like these, just read the book!

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The perfect holiday book! It really deserves a place between the business must reads. This book inspired me to start the website Management Reading.

Don’t expect heavy theories, but just a nice story of a very inspirational guy Timothy Ferris. He is a guest teacher at Princeton University, runs a multinational from a hammock somewhere in the world, speaks six languages and is world champion Tango dancing and national champion Chinese kickboxing. Timothy Ferris provides you with modern techniques that enable mobile working. Today it is no longer necessary to have an 8 hour working day sitting behind a desk.

This book actually inspired me, starting a passive income business. I thank him for writing this book. The book provides you with insights, how to set up an 4- Hour Work Week. It is not only inspiring while doing business, but also in your personal life. Timothy challenges you to do the same things as he has done. For example score at least 2 phone numbers a day of two attractive members of the opposite sex for two days in a row. Not to really do something with it, but rather to put aside your hesitation to approach people and achieve your goal you had in mind. Try this he advises: “Excuse me. I know this may sound strange, but if I don’t ask you now, I will definitely regret. I’m late for an appointment (I have friends and I am not a stalker), but I think you are really incredibly amazing (beautiful, sexy) Can I have your phone number? I’m not a psychopath, I swear (laugh). You can give an non existing number if you’re not interested”.

I didn’t succeed setting up an 4 Hour Work Week myself, but used the system my way and loved it. Especially, I really liked the 80/20 Pareto business theory. That saved me a lot of work and stress.

Teaser: First Paragragh page 11 Free translation

Frequently Asked Questions  – for doubters

Developping a new lifestyle something for you? Who knows. But before we go any further, here are some of your common doubts and fears that many people have, before they take steps to a new rich life. Should I cancel my job? Does it involve taking risks? The answer to both questions is no. There are several ways to achieve different graduations of comfort, ranging from the use of jedi-like tricks to disappear from the office to set up a company to finance your lifestyle. How does an employee of a fortune 500 company manage exploring the hidden treasures of China for a month while he actually had to sit behind his desk, using advantage of technology to cover up his absence? How to create a hands-off company that generates $ 80,000 a month without having to manage. It’s all possible. If you are interested in a 4 (or a little bit more) Hour Work Week yourself, you have to read this book!

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I consider this as one of the best leadership books in my must reads top 12. Management Reading wouldn’t exist without the existence of this book.

Covey provides you a clear and useful guide for life. Absorb his insights, not only while doing business, but also in your personal life. Covey shows you, how you can control your life. It’s all in your own hands. Make sure you have your goals clear, create win win situations and bring the habits in practise. The 7 Habits of Higly Effective People is a spiritual, social and emotional book which taught me seeing things in a different way.

Teaser First Paragraphs page 7 / 8 free translation

True allure exists in this world only by the grace of impeccable lifestyle
David Starr Jordan

In twenty five years that I work with people from trade and industry, universities and family situations, I have met many people who had incredible success, beseen from the outside, but inwardly were desperate for a harmonious and meaningful life. Some of the problems they were discussing with me, will probably sound familiar.

In my career I have achieved what I wanted, but all at the expense of my personal life. My wife and children are strangers to me. I do not even know who I am and what I really think is important. Was it worth it? I have never wondered.

I am starting a new diet, which is the fifth time this year. I know I am overweight and I really want to lose weight. I read everything that appears in this field. I set myself a goal and pep me up, but after a few weeks I quit again. I am simply not able to do what I have planned.

I Followed a lot of management courses. I expect many of my staff and I try my best to be kind and fair to them. But I do not think they are really loyal. If one day I would be sick, I think they spend most of the time chatting at the coffee stand. How can I teach my staff being responsible?

Covey takes your hand and leads the way. The ‘habits’ are not complicated, but because they are often so obvious, people forget them sometimes. Obviously it is not easy to take over all the ‘habits’ all of a sudden. Covey advises a more natural way. Take ‘baby steps’ into the right direction. Do what you are good at, but keep in mind these good ‘habits’. Each step in the right direction will enrich you. I personally do not bond with all the ‘habits’, but coincidentally agree with the most of them and practise them myself nowadays. I learned a lot from this book and I am grateful to the author for writing it!

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Good to Great is a tough cookie to read, if you ask me.This is management reading of the highest level.

This management book is not really suitable for start ups. This book is written for entrepreneurs who already made all the beginner mistakes, learned from their mistakes, build up a successful business, but have the feeling that they are standing still at the moment. Good to Great is Management Reading on a higher level and deserves to be in the top 12 of business must reads. This book has very complicated theoretically insights. Not one to be read under a parasol on a white beach. It requires no distractions. You have to really stay focused to read this book, otherwise you will get lost definitely. I sometimes catch myself digressing with my thoughts while reading. Some books allow me to, and I just pick up again. That’s not the case with this book, stay focused and try to actually understand what is written. Otherwise you may be confused at a later stadium in the book and you will no longer understand what is meant. Let’s say a very challenging book!

Teaser First Paragraph page 13 Free translation

Good is the enemy of great

Therefore, dying is so hard, the curiosity remains behind
Beryl Markham

Good is the enemy of great. Therefore, there is so little that is truly exceptional. There are no great schools because many schools are good. The government is not great because they are generally a good government. Few people have a wonderful life, it is too easy to choose for a good life. A large majority of organizations will never be great, precisely because they are pretty good that’s their biggest problem.

All this, I got a clear idea off in 1996 when I was out to eat with a group of leading thinkers from a conference on success factors for organizations. Bill Meehan, director of McKinsey in San Francisco,  confided me: ‘You know Jim, we think ‘Built for the Future’ is great. You and your co-authors have done a good job with the research for the book. Unfortunately it is not usable’. I asked him to explain that: ‘The organizations that you describe are almost all exceptional’, he said. ‘They never had to change from good to great. They had parents like David Packard and George Merck who taught them properties of being great from the beginning. But what about the majority of companies who find themselves halfway through the ride noticing they are good, but not great?’

Learn from the Great and read what it takes to get from being Good to Great. Like I said before, not suited for everyone, but if you think you are ready, buy this theoretical guide and see how the most respected companies of the world reached their position and go for it yourself.

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Did you know that only 7% of what you say, contributes to the first impression you make on one another? I do now.

This is one of the most practical books, while doing business or in other non business related situations. It is considered a real leadership and management book. I recommend it because Body Language is so important while doing business!

With clear examples and cartoons, it shows you when somebody is lying, a woman is interested in you or your business offer isn’t as interesting for your business partner as he tells you it is. I really liked this book and use it a lot. I even learned how to shake a proper hand to impress the other person. This book really provides you with the secret insides of your fellow-creature, you would love to know. With cartoons, the authors explain clearly when someone is lying. How to deal with a dominant handshake, job application tips or dating tips. Overall a useful handbook for life. The most fun is to test it out in real life. The described body language, betray other people immediately. With this book, you are always one step a head in a business conversation, that excided date or when your children are lying again to you. This book gave me great benefits. It didn’t teach me how to keep a wife, I would rather advise the book The 7 Habits of Higly Effective People for that. But, it can help you with conquering them.

Teaser First Paragraph page 15 free translation

Bodylanguage

The nails of a man, the sleeve of his jacket, his shoes, his knees in his pants, the calluses on his finger and his thumb, the words he uses, his cuffs, his movements, from all these things you can distract his profession. In any case,  it is almost inconceivable a skilled researcher can’t draw a conclusion from all this information. Sherlock Holmes, 1892.

As a small boy I was already aware that what people said was not always what they meant or felt. I was aware that I was able to let others act the way I liked, when I understood their true feelings and responded appropriately to their needs. When I was eleven, I began my business career by going along houses with sponges to get some pocket money. Soon I had in mind when they were prepared to buy something from me. If someone told me I had to go, but held his hands open and showed his handpalms then I knew could get on with my sales pitch because this person wasn’t aggressive, despite the negative spoken words.

For more useful and funny stories I recommend you just order the book and see for yourself what it can do for you.

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Managementreading

Like I said in my introduction. From every book I learn a little lesson to improve myself.

I sometimes read 200 pages and remember one sentence/lesson of them. You might think: “Waste of time”. I don’t think so, usually I am very grateful for that lesson and use it daily with all my actions. Reading 200 pages and learn a lesson of one sentence, that’s management reading too.

In Purple Cow Godin explains how a brand or a new product arises. How an idea comes into effect. He shows you practical examples out of the business field. Why are some brands so successful? And why other brands are not? Godin describes the steps to be taken to ensure becoming a successful brand. He makes you see pitfalls, but focuses mainly on the positive aspects. To place a successful brand or product in the market is not easy. It takes some effort. Godin shows you the steps needed to be taken. He introduces the eight ‘P’…..> the Purple Cow. Creating your own Purple Cow is the only way to achieve success. In this Management Reading book, you will learn how to approach and create your Purple Cow.

The lesson I learned from this book is: Be the best and don’t start something if you don’t want to become the best. How? By creating products/brands that are not common. Hope you will find your own Purple Cow as well after reading this book.

Teaser First Paragrapgh page 13 free translation

Lack of ‘P’s

In the marketing world for years has been talked about the 5 ‘P’s of the marketing mix. (There are more than five, but everyone has their own top 5.) They include:

-Product
-Price
-Promotion
-Place
-Publicity
-Presentation
-Process
-Personnel

As a marketer this list can be used for a quick check whether you have done your job well and to show people how you get people to buy the products the factory made​​. If the components of the mix do not accord (for example pureed meals designed for the elderly, but taste like baby food), then your message will miss its goal and will have little effect.

However, you never have a guarantee that your marketing strategies work, it used to be:  if your P’s were in order, you had a reasonable chance of success.
But something disturbing happened: the traditional ‘P’s are no longer suficient. This book is about a new ‘P’, a ‘P’ who suddenly become extremely important.

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