As a Man Thinketh has been on my list to read for longer than a year. Some consider it to be one of the top self-help books of all time. While this book is only 50ish pages, I found the writing to be quite difficult to follow. It took me more time than I’m willing to admit to digest the content and translate it into modern-day eighth-grade reading level takeaways. If you’d like to save some time, check out these simple notes and quotes.
Read MoreI was half way through my 6-month sabbatical after leaving PeopleKeep. I was trying to decide whether to go out on my own or join someone else’s startup. I read this book to help me think through how I might approach starting my own company. The author, Nathan Latka, might rub some people the wrong way, but he does share some useful tips and frameworks in this book. If you’re interested in entrepreneurship, check out these notes and takeaways.
Read MoreSomeone recently asked me how I would define wisdom. I had no idea what to say. So, I decided to research the concept so I could write an article attempting to answer the question. If you’re interested in exploring what wisdom is and how to acquire more of it, check out these notes from around the web. And, please let me know what I might be missing or misunderstanding.
Read MoreI wanted to improve my writing, and Stephen King’s On Writing is one of the most recommended books on the subject. There’s one interesting characteristic about taking notes on King’s work. It’s much harder to improve upon his writing than other authors I’ve noted. As a result, these notes include many direct quotes. If you want the full experience, read the book. I feel like I’m ruining a king’s work.
Read More“Make Your Bed“ is the name of both a book and a speech by Admiral William H. McRaven. The book is based on the speech of the same name, which was given at the University-wide Commencement at The University of Texas at Austin on May 17, 2014. I reviewed the speech transcript recently and wanted more. So, I read the book too. Here are my combined notes and takeaways from both the book and the speech, Make Your Bed.
Read MoreRecent shifts to remote work and increased social isolation make this subject more important than ever before. While I’ve always been interested in the concept of burnout, now seems to be a good time to dive deeper. If you’re interested in exploring what burnout is and how to protect yourself from it, check out these notes from around the web.
Read MoreI first discovered Simon Sinek’s concept of The Infinite Game via a video in December 2019. The points made in The Infinite Game help explain many of the challenges I faced as the CEO of my last company. Ironically, prior to discovering this book and concept, my friend Tyler and I started a podcast with a focus on a similar theme: building companies that are meant to last. It’s literally called Startup to Last. This book has provided me with some new words (and justification) to help explain why building a company to last is so important to me. I hope these notes help you explore the possibility of adopting an infinite mindset as well.
Read MoreDale Carnegie’s book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, has been recommended to me more times than I can count. It’s been on my reading list for years. I think I may have bought this book on three or four separate occasions. Who knows where those other copies are? I’m so glad I finally sat down and read this book. As you will see from my notes, it is packed with information and anecdotes. This book walks through four unique sets of principles you should follow when dealing with people in different situations.
Read MoreI recently sought Tyler Tringas’s advice on how to build an initial audience for my new venture, LegUp Health. Tyler is the Founder of Earnest Capital, a new type of investment firm focused on providing capital to entrepreneurs who do not want to raise traditional venture capital. Earnest Capital has an enthusiastic following. I’d like to create something similar at LegUp Health over the next few years. Tyler’s primary advice was to focus on being “generally helpful” on the internet. He recommended this video podcast interview between David Perell and Patrick McKenzie on why you should become internet famous. It’s an interesting talk and well worth the 1.5 hour watch. Here are my notes and takeaways.
Read MoreOver the years, I’ve seen Benjamin Franklin quoted countless times. And nearly every time, his quote made me pause, think, and reflect. Poor Richard’s Almanack is a collection of Franklin's maxims, rules, and aphorisms. I enjoyed reading them and I’ve included my favorite “wit and wisdom” in these notes.
Read MoreEverybody knows about Warren Buffett, but few people know about his business partner, Charlie Munger. Charlie gave this speech in 1995. It’s about how behavioral psychology can be applied to decision-making. Charlie wrote this because he wanted to help others avoid “standard thinking errors”. In it, he walks through 25 psychological tendencies that can lead to bad decision-making.
Read MoreMy biggest challenge right now at LegUp Health is figuring out how to explain what LegUp Health is to potential customers. People do not buy what they do not understand. Most businesses (and people) face this challenge at various points in their lives. This book was recommended by a friend and is now my favorite read on positioning. Whether you’re a new startup or recent college graduate attempting to position yourself for the first time, or you’ve evolved and need to revisit your positioning, this book will help you think about your business (or yourself) in a new context. And that context might make it much easier for you to explain what you are to others.
Read MoreI’ve been struggling to logically explain my gut feelings about the 2020 U.S. economy. Long story short, I’m bearish. I’ve felt this way since early Q1 2020. The goal of this research was to help me understand in more detail the forces at play that may be contributing to my gut feelings. By definition, this research is biased as it focuses exclusively on current economic problems and ignores any positive trends. If you’d like to explore the bad signs in the economy further, here are some of my notes.
Read MoreThe current protests have me curious as to how effective nonviolent protests are in bringing about political and social change. To my surprise, Professor Chenoweth’s research suggests peaceful campaigns are far more effective than violent ones.
Read MoreThis TED talk was recommended by a friend. I’m interested in vulnerability’s impact on trust in relationships and teams. This is a (very) light overview of Brené Brown’s work on vulnerability.
Read MoreI’m a big fan of both John Maxwell and Shane Parrish. When two of my favorite leaders discuss leadership, I’m required to take note...s. If you're an aspiring leader, you might find these notes helpful too.
Read MoreI watched this talk as part of my research on leadership, teams, and emotions. The speaker, Amy Edmonson, is credited with introducing the concept of “team psychological safety” in 1999. If you’re struggling with getting the most out of your team, this concept might explain why.
Read MoreThis book was recommended to me by a friend as a good read on self-awareness. I enjoyed it. The book is packed with wisdom that is relevant to leaders and teams of all kinds. It’s also a book about emotions.
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