Books that shouldn't pass you by....

We all have our fave's. Here's a few of mine:

Four Hour Work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

by: Timothy Ferriss

I learned: How to Unplug!

My greatest take-away:  Inspiration.  There's never been a better time to be geographically un-tethered.

If you graduated high-school and became a successful business owner, then high-fives all around.  However, most people find themselves working for other people.  This can be valuable and lead to a happily-ever-after scenario but many of us become tied to a job we don't really love and feel helpless as we wrestle with financial and familial dependence.

This book gave me the inspirational kick I needed.  I learned new methods of action.  It wasn't just a get rich quick scheme. Maybe a get-rich smart scheme?  If nothing else, this book gave me the reinforcement to begin dreaming again.  It reminded me to take risks.  It outlined better ways of getting work done and better ways of avoiding business mistakes.  If you're looking for methods of breaking the status quo, read the Four Hour Work Week.

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't
by: Jim Collins
I learned: How to achieve excellence!
My greatest take-away:  Subtraction.  Companies achieve more by stripping away than they do by adding on.  It also reinforces the face that people are the most important asset to any company.

This book melds science and business in an engaging yet uncomplicated manner.  As Collins lays out the structure of the book, I find myself slipping back into the 'academic research' mindset that I picked up in University.  Case in point, Collins lays out the metrics and parameters he used in his quest and explains why his findings are valid.

He unveils the successful business strategies of corporations and their leaders.  The beauty of it all is that he explains it to you without sounding like a scientist or a business professor.  If you want to learn about some intriguing business strategies and unravel some interesting misconceptions, read Good to Great.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
by: David Allen
I learned: How to get organized!
My greatest take-away: Focus and Organization. Mastering your mind by mastering your in-basket.

We've all heard that old saying: "less is more".  Some call it Business Process Optimization.  It's about efficiency.  That's nothing new. That's not the magic part.

The adage of 'less is more' can be difficult to implement.  Ever try to explain love or death in a sentence?  Could you live happily if you cut your budget in half?  'Less is more' is a science that needs to be executed properly.   In other words, if you have trouble with excessive emails, you could erase them all.  That would be effective but it's probably not the best way of executing that initiative.

David Allen teaches how you can simplify your life in a smart and practical way.  I have already implemented many of the techniques that David teaches and they work! I can't stress enough how much I like finding books that actually do what they say they will.  Results matter and you will see results once you read Getting Things Done Fast.