The Hot Iron

Thursday, February 14, 2008

My Take-Aways From The Book Your Inner CEO

What makes a great leader?  The answer is surely not quick or short.  Commonly it is discussed if someone is a born or made leader.  But what if it is neither and you or someone discovers you are a leader, and what kind of leader are you?  This is the premise of Your Inner CEO by Allan Cox.

Your Inner CEO takes the reader through this discovery – literally.  Stories of Cox’s own personal experiences with leaders he has met, know and consulted to are married with exercises throughout the book that take you through this journey.  They are broken into 9 steps, each one building on the previous to paint a picture of the kind of leader you could be, the kind others desire to be and be around.

My greatest takeaway from this book is leadership is not just about you.  Where the model has been and continues to be where workers follow what the leaders does solely to make the leader succeed, in reality we all gain from all of us gaining.  The leader brings out the best in all of the team so that all of the team, including the leader, succeed.  If it fails, the team fails, learns from its experiences and moves on.  This is something I have always followed myself – and anyone reading who has ever worked with me, feel free to comment on that statement!  As a sole proprietor transitioning my business to a true company, I need to shed the role of control-freak entrepreneur and be a true leader and mentor.

Speaking of mentoring, another takeaway is mentorship is not dead.  In a world where it seems being a contractor is the way to go and all we should hire, mentoring people pays for both the mentee and the mentor, and this book gives several examples of how to do it well.  Many leaders and managers and people in general do not follow this - they hired a specific set of skills where the reality is they hired a person.

A final takeaway is leadership may be in all of us.  We need to want to and try to seek it.  As I have written before that entrepreneurship may be in us already the same goes for leadership.

I recommend Your Inner CEO to leaders, people who are about to be leaders as well as people who work on teams.  Read the book through once then go back and complete the exercises, which is what I am doing now.  There are accompanying online resources to it, including a Web site, wiki and Facebook group, the latter is how I connected with the author and learned of the book.

Friday, February 01, 2008

My Take-Aways From The Book Never Give Up

Starting out another year of reading I chose a book I have owned not too long, given to me by my friend Eric when it came out a few months ago.  Never Give Up is the autobiography of New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi.  Written with Boston Globe sportswriter Michael Holley, it tells the story of his life, focusing mostly on the stroke he suffered in 2005, weeks after the team won its third Super Bowl.

Bruschi’s story made national news, both the stroke itself and his return later that year to the team.  This story tells his side, “the inside” I would all the “real” side of what he encountered within the year of his stroke.  The background of his life story lays the foundation for his path through this episode of his life.

My greatest takeaway from Never Give Up is you will never truly know what is going on in “the inside.” I call “the inside” the private interactions of one or more people, including business partners or a couple married or in a committed relationship.  Whatever you or I may see or experience from someone, it is on “the outside.” This is not saying what see of people on “the outside” is not genuine.  It may well be, but it may not be as well.  What happens on “the inside” is just for those there.  We can all probably think of a case where we didn’t consider there was an “inside” or everything was or was not ok.  Friends going through a divorce and my own move from Boston to Chicago come to mind as negative and positive “inside” events respectively.  In the case of Bruschi dealing with his stroke and recovery, this book gives high-level insight with details of people and experiences.

Another takeaway is we must keep in mind we may never know the true “inside” when we react on the “outside.” Have you ever wondered why we didn’t get some business or haven’t heard from someone?  I know myself I tend to think the worst – it may not be that I am not good enough, rather it could be the project was cancelled or the client wasn’t in a hurry to tell anyone.

In the book, Bruschi talks of how various people reacted to his stroke.  Some wrote letters, some sent food.  And some changed their tune, especially when Bruschi came back to football, though most of this came from the naysayers who didn’t have “the inside” information.

My last takeaway – don’t listen to sports talk!  Talk about an entire industry centered on not knowing the whole story!  Though I do reserve the right to rescind this takeaway if sports talk personalities and their listeners follow my first two takeaways.

Never Give Up is not just a book on sports, but is a story of a stroke survivor who happens to play football.  I recommend you read this book, especially for those who themselves or a friend or loved one goes through trying times with an illness or medical condition, or may do so, which means this book is really for anyone.

Monday, December 31, 2007

My Takeaways from the Book Power Plays

Whenever something happens to an elected official – usually something bad – reporters often ask them how they feel their reputation will be after whatever happened.  And more often than not, the politician will say history will judge them properly on their action.  This is the basis behind the book Power Plays by political analyst Dick Morris.

Power Plays takes on several politicians from the last century and a half and categorizes defining moments in their terms, then compares and contrasts their actions to others – some who faced adversity and did well, and those who did not, and in either case why.  It does so in a way that is not of a single opinion, quoting many books, authors and people who knew the subjects, which are all compiled in a lengthy format at the back of the book.

A takeaway from the book is that history repeats itself.  Where the times or technology may be different, people tend to make the same mistakes of others, even those who held a similar position.  Another is a reaffirmation of the popular phrase “keep your friends close and enemies closer” as in politics, and not much differently than in business, you must build bridges and get buy-in from those against you in order to achieve your own personal or group’s goals and tasks.

My biggest takeaway from the book was to simply be honest.  This is something I have always strived for, and is usually the toughest thing to do.  Whether it is the task at hand or a business situation or something personal impacting your role in business, the honest approach is usually the best path to take, and many times less complicated than a web of lies.  And isn’t it more about how we overcome what has happened than what happened itself?

On the note of honesty, the book interestingly concludes with a comparison to former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s honesty with their respective countrymen about the realities of World War II in comparison to how former President Lyndon Baines Johnson handled communication during the Vietnam War.  In his introduction to this section, he makes somewhat of a prediction about the war on terror in Afghanistan – the book was written in 2002 – and states that current President George Bush should follow the FDR/Churchill path of communication rather than the Johnson path in whatever happens in our fighting in the Middle East.  It is interesting to read this part in 2007, and I will leave any political opinion to you when you read the book.

Power Plays is an enjoyable text on leadership and history and I highly recommend it.  I was pleased I liked the book in the end.  I bought the book at a reading Morris did shortly after it came out, along with another book he wrote, Vote.com, which I thought was horrible.  Morris is listed as being “behind” the site along with his wife, and the book simply lacked any real substance in my opinion.  Maybe that’s why Power Plays sat on my bookshelf for a long time?  It was, however, worth the wait.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Reading Mission Accomplished

At the beginning of this year I made a pledge – a resolution if you will – to read 12 books.  I did this for several reasons – I have never been much of a reader, I had books on my bookshelf I bought but never read, seeing my wife reading books all the time… you get the picture.  As 2007 closes, I am pleased to say I met my goal.

I decided to tie these books into my newly-launched blog, and would write something on each one as I read it.  Some of the books had been in print for many years, so writing a review would be no good, plus there are book reviews elsewhere.  Instead I decided to personalize my responses by writing what I took away from each book.  I would conclude my takeaways with whether or not I recommend the book for others to read, as I felt there would be a chance I didn’t like the book.

As I read each book, what would I do with them?  My bookshelf was runneth over with books, documentation and of course sports memorabilia.  As I was now a book reader, more shelf space was required.  So rather than have these books become like trophies on the mantelpiece, I decided to give them away.  Once I finished a book and wrote my takeaways, it was promptly sent off to someone who I felt it appropriate to them.  Sometimes this was via my wife who became interested in my newfound passion, but they have all left my office and are in the hands of others.

It would not be appropriate to sum up a year’s effort without stats.  Of the 12 books I read, only 5 were in my possession at the beginning of the year.  One book was given to me by the author, a friend, and another was given to me by the city of Chicago (along with several thousand others I presume).  Two books I heard about from articles I read, and one was mentioned in several of the other books I read.  One book I read via email messages from the DailyLit service, and 1 was book was authored by someone with the same name as me.

You can read all of the book takeaways and supporting posts under the “Book Take-Aways” category, always available on the sidebar of The Hot Iron.  Now onto writing my 12th takeaway post, then starting my first book for 2008!

Sunday, November 18, 2007

My Take-Aways from The Crucible

Growing up in Massachusetts I was well versed on the story of the Salem with trials in the town on the north shore of the east coast of the Bay State.  But like many things in your backyard, I have only been there once, and that was just a few years ago.  The story of the witch hunt came back to mind as I read The Crucible, the play written by Arthur Miller in the 1950’s.  Little did I think beforehand I would find lessons of business as well as life in its pages.

Miller’s play was written at the time of anti-Communist sentiment and inquisitions in Washington DC, and these events inspired Miller to write The Crucible as he saw parallels to the inquisition of a few hundred years earlier.  The book version of the play has a detailed introduction describing both time periods and how the play came into being, and is an excellent context to the play as well as a recap of history.

My greatest take-away from the play is a quest for the truth.  It is needless to say the entirety of the witch trials were based on hearsay and emotion and not the truth.  This is not to say business should be totally devoid of emotion or compassion, rather in the face of insanity and chaos that can slip into a business setting, a quest toward facts will more likely than not be the best path to take.

Another take-away from the play is considering the impact of your actions on your environment.  Even if a decision you might make is unpopular and pursuing its resolution is the best course to take, you can take steps to minimize its impact on the community you are in.  This can be everything from being completely covert to completely transparent.  The way information is delivered as well can satisfy those who may not agree with the decision.  Sometimes the medium is the message.

Speaking of community, I read this book as it was a gift from Chicago’s One Book, One Chicago program.  This is an excellent promotion of literacy around the Windy City where thousands of people are reading the same book at the same time!

I enjoyed The Crucible and recommend it to anyone.  It is a well-written story accurately retelling a dark period of the early history of the US.  Its script format helps the reader get deeper into the characters and see the story as someone living at that time.  Though Halloween has passed, read it now, and then re-read it next October.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

My Take-Aways from the book Perpetual Motivation

No matter how beautiful or comforting a home is, if it is not built on a solid foundation it will surely crumble.  This analogy can be used for many things in our world, from ourselves to families to businesses to sports teams.  Having a strong foundation and core values will provide a solid base for everything else in life.  It’s not that everything else will come automatically, as anything in life worth achieving is worth working for.

There are many books published on the topic of motivation.  Some speak more scientifically and others more organizationally.  I have read a few of these books myself, as a self-employed entrepreneur keeping motivated is key.  After reading the book Perpetual Motivation by Dave Durand, I learned to take a step back and look inward to find the motivators to keep me positive and progressing.

Perpetual Motivation, like many motivational books and stories, has an equation to help keep you going.  The formula in the book was different from others I have seen, as it seemed more humbling and therefore more achievable.  The equation states motivation is the result of balance plus influence plus creativity plus a sense of humor minus runaway self-esteem.  Where Durand does a better job of describing all of these than myself, his exclusion of it being all about “me” and being about family and friends is a refreshing approach.

My greatest take-away from the book is focusing on the pursuit of balance.  This goes contrary to the common notion where you must work hard and be focused on work and from that rewards will come, everything else being a distraction.  The catalyst for many entrepreneurs is independence and calling the shots, allowing them greater control over their work and personal time, and hopefully more of the latter.  However the demand of the job, revenue and success make the personal venture at times comparable to that previous full-time job.  Durand reminds us that the pursuit of balance is necessary to keep everything in perspective and equal.

I recommend any of my readers to pick up a copy of Perpetual Motivation.  It is a good read and packed with real world examples and stories and does not have excessive fluff or hype (just maybe one too many references to the Green Bay Packers!).  I enjoyed reading this book and its unique perspective.

Ironically I had this book sitting on my bookshelf for sometime, and honestly I don’t recall where I got it, if I bought it or if it was a gift.  The fact I am now going through and reading all of these books I have accumulated itself shows my belief in the message from this book.

Monday, November 05, 2007

My Take-Aways from The Prince

Whenever one thinks of written word that has stood the test of time over the centuries, religious text or government laws may come to mind.  Through the course of reading many of the books I have read and blogged about, I found references to one text in particular, The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli, which intrigued me enough to read it myself.  As much as the book itself was interesting was the fact it was published in 1532.

The Prince is written in the form of letters to a person who has newly become a prince.  Additional reading of the time period when Machiavelli lived can help explain how princes and religious figures ruled Europe and especially his homeland of Italy.  In this political treatise, he gives advice to a prince on how to rule and maintain his rule.  As I read this short text, I began to see why many business books quote Machiavelli – many of his recommendations to political leaders almost 500 years ago hold true to business leaders today.  His applicable advice is my take away from The Prince.

The one that rang truest to me was his recommendation of not using mercenary forces for the military and to build and maintain a military force of your own.  This relates to today not only for the military but for business, namely in the hiring and development of a team of employees rather than working solely with contractors and consultants.  His justifications included loyalty, and the fact that mercenaries are more concerned with getting paid than the work they do.  Where this latter point is not always the case with hired help, having some “skin in the game” is a good motivator.  As I am expanding my own operations, Machiavelli’s thinking is similar to my own.

Other advice from Machiavelli included seeking counsel from others while avoiding flattery but ultimately making the decision yourself, being decisive in your decision making, not seeking to be liked but to be respected and to takes sides in any battles.

If you pick up a copy you will find it has been translated into English from its native Italian and heavily annotated for the benefit of the reader.  It is a short but powerful book, and you can glean a hint of sarcasm in Machiavelli’s approach to offering his advice.  I recommend The Prince to any leader or would-be leader, as words of so long ago still ring true today.

Monday, September 17, 2007

My Take-Aways from the book Not On The Level by Michael V. Maddaloni

Where I was behind on meeting my goal of reading one book a month this year and writing my “take-aways” from them here at The Hot Iron, I am well ahead on reading but behind on writing!  This post gets me caught up on a journey of reading, not to mention clearing off my bookshelf.  As I read books, I give them away.  This makes room on my shelf and I can share what I read with others.

The book Not On The Level by Michael V. Maddaloni is a welcome departure from the books I have read so far as it is fiction.  It is the story of Joe DeFalco, a first-generation Italian-American baby-boomer who grows up in Philadelphia and his life story from grade school to retirement.  As an Italian-American myself, I greatly enjoyed reading this story.

If you read the story and then read the bio of the author, you will see they are very similar, so it can be assumed that much of the book is based on real events or stories heard through his life.  The book takes you from his youth in Catholic schools to the Marines, college, the Secret Service and corporate America to this retirement.  At each stage there are opportunities presented to Joe and decisions to be made.  Where some earlier decisions in his life may not have been the best he made, many of these were influenced by his environment.  As he grows and experiences more of life, his wisdom shows in his decision-making.

As a result a take-away from this book was on decision-making and how much they are influenced by our environment.  Fresh in a new environment, these influences are greater than later as we get accustomed to it and make our own observations and couple them with past experiences.  I also have to admit another take-away is to read something other than business books.

My overall take-away from this book is that you need to know who else is out there who shares the same name as you!  Though our middle initials are different, I share the same name as the author of this book.  I first found about the book and author when Googling myself, and many others have pointed this out to me as well.  I don’t think we are related, as Maddaloni is a town in Italy and many people have surnames derived from where their ancestors are from.  Nonetheless, in addition to my recommendation to read this book here on The Hot Iron, I will contact him directly with my praise for his enjoyable work.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

My Take-Aways from Art of Money Getting

You don’t have to walk far into any bookstore today to see a myriad of books about making money and getting rich.  Where some of these publications give a unique perspective, some are merely reiterating timeless advice on money and wealth.  This became more evident when I read Art of Money Getting, published in 1880 by an iconic businessman.

P.T. Barnum name is recognized in the full name of the Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus.  He was a businessman and showman whose entertainment was billed as “the greatest show on Earth” a phrase that still is popular today.  He published several books in his life as a way to promote himself and his entertainment offerings.  Art of Getting Money was one of them, and it is a quick read that offers very practical information about living life and earning, saving and spending money.

My biggest take-away from the book was how appropriate in 2007 Barnum’s advice is.  For example, the chapter titled “Advertise Your Business” not only applies today, but today’s media, including online advertising.  The name of the title speaks loudly of getting directly to your point without any fluff.  For someone of Barnum’s reputation, he uses many quotes from famous people from Benjamin Franklin to Goethe to reinforce his statements and points.  If this book was a Web site, it would be full of hyperlinks!

I recommend reading Art of Getting Money.  It is a quick read that packs a lot of useful information is a confident tone.  The book has attitude, and could be compared to The 4-Hour Workweek or any book written by Donald Trump.  Now that would be a good pair to get in a room, P.T, Barnum and Donald Trump, but I digress.

Of note is how I read this book.  I read the book over a series of email messages from DailyLit, a service that delivery many public-domain books in this manner.  For this book, it was distributed over 26 emails.  It will automatically send one email a day, or you can request the next message sent once you read the first one.  Check out the site, as it is a unique and quality service.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

My Take-Aways from The Ultimate Gift

You can’t take it with you.  Growing up Italian-American, I heard that phrase a lot because Italians always talk about death.  You can start talking about pasta or baseball, but it would ultimately lead to the topic of death.  And when receiving an unexpected gift from a relative, their response to your questioning the gift is they can’t take it with them, so they want you to have it so they can see you enjoy it before their, well, you know.

You may not be able to take money with you to the grave, but can you effect what happens to your money after you die?  Especially if you realized near the end of your life you didn’t do such a good job with doling it out when alive?  This is the core of The Ultimate Gift.

Though the book is fiction, it tells a true tale of the value of money and life and can resonate with anyone.  The book was published almost a decade ago, but a recent mention in Forbes magazine and an upcoming movie based on the book have refocused attention on it.  It is the story Howard “Red” Stevens, a successful entrepreneur who dies at the beginning of the story.  At the reading of his will, his drooling relatives get their inheritances, with the exception of one, his great-nephew Jason.  Red’s attorney, Ted Hamilton, is charged in Red’s will with leading Jason on a year-long journey, and at the end if he completes all 12 one-month steps, he gets to inherit “The Ultimate Gift” which is not revealed unless he completes all steps.  Needless to say Jason is irked but agrees to go through the process, and the book tells of the learning odyssey by all parties involved.

I read this book right after The 4-Hour Workweek, and it turned out to be a good order to read them.  It continued my thinking of how to evaluate how we spend our time and what is truly important in life.  As Red Stevens learned this in life, he reassured my thinking of how we can only affect what happens going forward, and cannot change the past.  This is important from an entrepreneur’s standpoint for if we fail or don’t do as planned, we can always try again!

It is a short book and a quick read.  Each month of the journey is interesting, and I was compelled to want to finish the book to find out if Jason gets The Ultimate Gift and what it is.  If you’re looking for a light-hearted read this is a good book you can read on a single flight.  And I would not be complete if I didn’t point out there is a reference in the book to my beloved New England Patriots, as the attorney is based in Boston.