“So, what’s on Kenneth’s bookshelf?” Here are four books I believe you’ll find fascinating …
If there’s one thing we’ve all had more of in this crazy thing called 2020, it’s time. Working from home, not wasting time in traffic, and being unable, for so many months, to go to shops and restaurants we love has allowed us to reclaim some lost hours [which has been both a blessing and a curse].
Personally, I like to fill this time with exercise and reading, so here’s the answer to the question, “What’s on Kenneth’s bookshelf?” …
Unstuck … How to Unlock and Activate the Wisdom of Others
Craig Lemasters
I am proud to call the author of this book a friend and client. Atlantan Craig Lemasters believes many industries worldwide are stuck as they struggle to survive and grow in an era of unprecedented, rapid change and multi-layered pressures. “Stuck” businesses struggle because they don’t react, pivot and redirect in a timely manner, which can have catastrophic consequences and lead to bleak outcomes. The same can be said of “stuck” individuals.
In Unstuck, Lemasters shares techniques he has applied throughout his career helping Fortune 500 companies identify and fill knowledge gaps—employing reciprocity, strategic planning, rapid-cycle learning and make-it-happen mentoring and coaching through direct connections with knowledgeable, experienced and enlightened resources.
The book is divided into two sections — Part 1: Stuck and Part 2: Unstuck.
In Part 1, Lemasters stresses that you must accept that getting “unstuck” requires a clear understanding of the complex forces leaders are facing. Readers learn to identify symptoms to look for when organizations are stuck, how expectations can differ from reality, and how our own wisdom still may not be broad enough or deep enough to survive and thrive in emerging challenges.
In Part 2: Unstuck, once an organization has analyzed and diagnosed the problem, readers learn about identifying and filling knowledge gaps, as well as practical techniques for leading high-achieving teams and making strong professional connections, locally and around the globe.
Read the book here: Unstuck … How to Unlock and Activate the Wisdom of Others
Don’t K.I.D. Yourself – Knowing Isn’t Doing
Rod Santomassimo
Another friend of mine, Rob “Waldo” Waldman [a dynamic motivational speaker and author, BTW] recommended Don’t K.I.D. Yourself – Knowing Isn’t Doing, a book that addresses how the initial excitement of starting a business can quickly turn into a whirlwind of chaos and confusion. This is a must-read for current and aspiring independent contractors, “solopreneurs” and small business owners.
Author Rod Santomassimo shares a roadmap that, if followed correctly, can turn chaos into clarity and confusion into confidence, including:
- 7-Step Sales Playbook that shows how to consistently find and win more high-quality opportunities
- 3-Tiered Personal Marketing Plan that enables you to differentiate yourself and remain top-of-mind with key market influencers
- 4-Part Blueprint for Navigating Opportunities in your pipeline and closing business
- 3-Key Elements of a Revenue-Focused Operations Plan, affording you the opportunity to work less while continuing to create consistent cash flow [and who doesn’t want that?]
- A Plan for Leveraging Your Talents and enhancing your personal value while building a strong and qualified team that embraces and supports your business goals –on a budget.
There is also a comprehensive list of downloads and exercises that will help you properly implement the methods shared by the author. This is a really, really helpful read if you seek to transform your business into a consistent and handsome income-generator and, ultimately, be able to live the lifestyle you desire.
Read the book here: Don’t K.I.D. Yourself – Knowing Isn’t Doing
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
Ashlee Vance
Mystery and intrigue have always surrounded Elon Musk, one of history’s biggest thinkers and creative inventors. With Musk, limitations are mere suggestions. He dreams big, very big.
An authorized biography, Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future is an insightful look at the extraordinary life of one of Silicon Valley’s most fascinating, unpredictable, and ambitious entrepreneurs. After selling PayPal for $1.5 billion, Musk had the means to dream even bigger and grew to be an even more renowned entrepreneur, providing the imagination and brains behind SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity. In this book, the author addresses the brilliant and fast-forward thinking and technology that defines Musk and his creations.
Vance also addresses one of the most pressing questions of our age: “Can the nation of inventors and creators who led the modern world for a century — people like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Howard Hughes and Steve Jobs — still compete in an age of fierce global competition?” It’s a fascinating question, for sure.
Read the book here: Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future
Hold On to Your Kids, Why Parents Need to Matter More than Peers
Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D & Gabor Maté, MD
On a personal level and as the parent of two active young kids, I really enjoyed reading and learning how to tackle one of the most disturbing social trends of our time — children looking to peers for influence and direction [a role that has been traditionally reserved for loving and wiser Moms and Dads].
The inherent danger in kids guiding kids is the mis-shaping of personal values, self-perceptions, and daily conduct. Alarmingly, what can be wrongfully developed in a short period of time can take years to undo, if it can even be undone. “Peer orientation” can greatly undermine cohesive families, and interfere with the healthy development of a young girl or boy.
Our youth are exposed to much more than previous generations with the emergence of the internet, mobile devices, social media, two-income households, etc. The result can be a premature, overly sexualized lifestyle at a time when discipline, respect and developing your own unique personality should be the priorities. In short, this book helps put the notion of “being cool” in its rightful place.
Hold On to Your Kids identifies the reasons for the breakdown of parental influence—and demonstrates ways to “re-attach” to sons and daughters, including the establishment of a proper hierarchy in the home; ensuring kids feel safe, valued and understood; and earning back your children’s loyalty and love.
Read the book here: Hold On to Your Kids, Why Parents Need to Matter More than Peers
Happy reading, everyone!
Cheers,
Kenneth Jones
