“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.” Joseph Addison On occasion, I am asked for reading material recommendations. The most influential, notable books I have read throughout my life include: The Bible Man’s Search for Meaning, Dr. Viktor Frankl The Laws of Success, Napoleon Hill The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven R. Covey The Greatest Salesman in the World, Og Mandino Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill Gung Ho, Ken Blanchard The Road Less … [Read more...]
Bowline Knot
“The experience of being understood, versus interpreted, is so compelling, you can charge admission.” B. Joseph Pine, II, The Experience Economy Ask any boating enthusiast to list the top marine knots they use and most will include the bowline knot. Why do boaters like this knot? As someone who has great passion for boating and fishing, and who often finds a way to be on the water, I can give three reasons: The bowline knot is simple to tie, absolutely will hold under a heavy load, and … [Read more...]
Multiply Your Time
“How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness, how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” Dr. Theodor Seuss Do you ever wish you had a few more hours in a day to get done everything you need and want to do? I can think of a recent experience in the final push to get ready for our company’s 40th Anniversary, where some extra hours in a day were needed. I even reached a point during the project thinking that we … [Read more...]
Now or Never
“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” James Dean Before I die, I want to . . . How did you, at this moment, finish that sentence? Did you actually finish the sentence? For me, several thoughts come to mind: I want to publish my second book. And I want to publish a third one, too. Through writing and speaking, I want to continue helping others find and live their purpose in life. I want to grow old with my wife. I want to continue sharing my faith with my … [Read more...]
The Last Freedom
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Viktor E. Frankl Viktor E. Frankl, M.D., Ph.D., an internationally-renowned psychiatrist and neurologist, endures years of unspeakable horror while imprisoned in Nazi death camps. In the toughest of situations, with survival a daily concern, Dr. Frankl develops the theories that would forever impact the world of psychiatry. His core belief: … [Read more...]
A Short Book about Leadership
“The Heart of a Leader,” by successful author Ken Blanchard, is a short book about leadership and is worth reading. I love reading and studying about leadership because it is a core factor in the success of organizations, and within families and marriages. In this book, Mr. Blanchard describes a three-legged stool for success in business organizations: Raving Fan Customers, Gung Ho Employees, and financial strength. The first two in his list just happen to be the titles of other books he has … [Read more...]
A Book About a Delivery Person
I was attracted to The Fred Factor, because the book shares the story of a delivery person. Mark Sanborn, an internationally known author and motivational speaker, is the author of the Fred Factor. He identifies four principles that have been mastered by Fred the delivery person in this story. The delivery guy goes out of his way to serve his customers. Fred recognizes that his job involves more than just satisfying the person that signs his paycheck. It includes all the people who are … [Read more...]
Seat on the Bus
Jim Collins, in his book, Good to Great , talks about seats on the bus. It is important in your business for people to have the right seat on the bus and to be on the right bus. A company can have the right people but have them in the wrong place. This can lead to many problems and the worst might be losing a valuable person that could succeed in a different job, the right seat. Even more important are people on the bus that do not belong on the bus. Jack Welch, the former CEO of GE, often … [Read more...]
