Spent the my first unemployed weekend doing something more productive then watching the same old Tele shows (TLC) or seeing a 200+ mindless people cycle around Spain (Vuelta). Since my girlfriend was out of town, decided to take a slow bus ride into town and do some book shopping. I can’t quite remember when was the last time I actually bought a book and read it. Its been ages and I think the last time I did that was probably somewhere in yr 2 of Uni? Gosh thats long… High time I did something to enrich myself.
I was initially looking for a particular book on Technical Selling, but somehow everywhere seemed to not carry it.
Undeterred, I took my time to slowly browse through titles and one of Malcolm Gladwell’s caught my attention. Outliers was the title and though it wasn’t the latest book (some dog book is), I have heard rave reviews about it. Read through the first chapter and thought it was something worth reading. I also saw a book called “Made to Stick” by Dan and Chip Heath. I’ve read their column on FastCompany’s website and its their point of view has always been interesting. Bought the 2 books and headed off to Kinokuniya.
Kino sadly did not carry the book I was looking for but I to my surprise, I saw “Rework” by DHH and Jason Fried of 37 Signals. I’ve been following this company since 01 and have always thought that “Underdoing” the industry was something not many will stand up to.
Things I learn from the book which I sat down 2 hrs straight and read through it…
Planning is guessing. Don’t set too long term goals. Working without a plan may seem scary, but blindly Following a plan that has no relationship with reality is even scarier.
Emulate Drug Dealers.
Less is a good thing. Embrace constraints
Meetings are toxic
1. Set a timer. Once up, finish
2. Invite as few ppl
3. Always have a clear agenda
4. Begin with a specific problem.
5. Meet at the site of the problem
6. End with a solution and meet out responsibilities.
Don’t be a hero. Quit if it’s not worth it.
There’s a lot that could be learnt from this book. I mean, say what you want about 37 signals, how “oblivion” they might be about the rest of the industry but these people live what they say. And they’ve got success to prove so why not listen?
Front Cover
Back Cover
So that was my Saturday. Ended the evening by starting Outliers.
Outliers
And how did my Sunday go?
Well, it was Church followed by brownies, jasmine green tea, Outliers and pondering on how effective Mystery Shoppers really are…
And the pondering led me to do some reflection as well…
Personal Reflections
Eric 