Fortune magazine interviewed 22 business leaders asking for the best advice they ever received. There is a broad range of responses. From Tiger Woods, “Go ahead and hit the damn ball” which he received from his dad to Jim Singal’s (co founder of Costco) advice about teaching and leadership “Some people believe that you should say something just once. But I think you get a message across by communicating it every day.” The slide show on the CNN Money is worth reviewing.
For me the best advice I ever got was to always write stuff down. Problems, solutions, notes, ideas, tasks, dreams, inspiration whatever it is just write it down. Making list sets your mind free to actually do the things that matter. I have had this point made over and over and though I understood the rationale behind this technique, I am just starting to reap the benefits of writing things down because now I finally get it. It only works if you write everything down.
Like all business and personal tips the challenge is in the implementation. It is difficult to execute these tips if they aren’t entrenched in your gut. What is the best business or personal advice you ever got.
Best advice I ever got
June 30th, 2009 § 0
Book 24: Winning
June 28th, 2009 § 0
Practical. Jack Welch’s book Winning reads like a blog. His direct and candid management style come alive through the text. The book i
s written in a question and answer format. His management and leadership tips and advice clearly shows that Mr. Welch has a vast wealth of management experience, through the lens of which, he can tell his war stories.
I found the chapter on career a bit dated. However I enjoyed the first part of the book Winning. While this book is not big on grand ideas it is a practical how-to text for young and aspiring managers. Winning ranks in the top 20Th percentile (in terms of usefulness) of the business books I have read so far. Recommended.
50 Books In 50 Weeks, 25th Week Review
June 27th, 2009 § 0
I received a pre-release copy of The 100 Best Business Books of All Time from the publishers in January 2009. Flipping through the book I came of disappointed, not in the 100 Best Business Books of All Time, but that I had only read 4 of the 100 books. This was dismal. I then challenged myself to read 50 business books in 2009.
I am reading the 24Th book and today is the 27Th of June. I am right on target to read 50 business books (not necessarily the ones on the 100 best list) by years end. In doing this I have swept a few business leaders off their feet with the knowledge garnered from reading these books. I even got an invite from a CEO to visit his personal library. That was a cool experience too. If you are still wondering what the point of this entry is, this is how I pat my own back for meeting this personal goal. Look out for the two paragraph reviews of the remaining 27 business books
Steve Cunningham’s Video Review Of The Book “Positioning” By Al Ries and Jack Trout
June 22nd, 2009 § 0
Open Banks
June 22nd, 2009 § 0
Nigeria is to lift a ban on foreign takeovers of its banks, breaking a decades-old legacy of protectionism to open Africa’s biggest untapped market for financial services to international competition…“We would try to encourage foreign banks that are coming, not just with money, but with management and systems, to come in and acquire,” he said. “Why wouldn’t I be comfortable with a bank owned by a Barclays, or HSBC or China Construction Bank, who I know? For me it’s a no-brainer.”- FT
Is this a laudable rponouncement? It depends on who you ask. While lifting the 10% cap on foreign ownership may increase the confidence of foreign investors and subsequently capital inflow into these major banks, the converse is also true.
I see this move as a bit too drastic and reactionary and it may end up being counter-productive. Long term investors think long term, rhetoric that seem to be lost on the policy makers. Who knows what the next-Gov. will choose to do. A policy of new leadership resulting in a drastic overhaul, attracts the shady kind of foreign investment developing economies ought to avoid. A key lesson learned from the global financial crisis is that all foreign investments are not created equal.
The lack of confidence in financial systems right now is not a result of the limited stake of foreign banks in the Nigerian banking sector. It is pervasive in the global financial system. Regardless of their part in the global meltdown all financial institutions are viewed through the lens of the global recession. Only time will heal these wounds.
Ever wondered why Nigeria always seem to attract oppourtunistic capital?
Book 23: Getting Things Done
June 20th, 2009 § 0
David Allen’s Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity is ‘USEFUL’. Reading this audiobook was worth
the time and energy expended in listening to it. The basic idea is that multi-tasking as we know is, is myth. It more efficient to free ones brain up for more rewarding tasks like, the doing of tasks, than the remembering of those tasks. Makes sense. This is timely idea for the attention economy and knowledge workers. I enjoyed the discussions on open loops, ~2 minute rule, planning.
I enjoyed listening to texts so much Iwould have to grab the hard copy soon. I recommend GTD to anyone who remotely feels like they do not have enough hours in a day to fulfil their personal and professional obligation.
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Drop A Note
: who you quoting there? FT or the new guv at cbn? me think its guv but his name escapes me too.
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