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Reading Notes:  How to Talk to Anyone

Author: Leil Lowndes

Format: Audible

Narrated By: Joyce Bean; Liel Lowndes

Subject: Communication /Relationships

Rating: 6/10

Summary:

How to Talk to Anyone is a very useful book for anybody that doesn’t already consider themselves a social butterfly.  The author, Liel does an excellent job of breaking the subject matter down into bite sized chunks.   Doing so allows the reader to gradually comprehend and implement the ideas one step at a time.

Most of the “92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships,” presented in the book are useful, but a couple of dozen of them feel a bit forced.  I found the first dozen or so tips to be the most useful.

In Conclusion, I enjoyed How to Talk to Anyone.  I recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their own social IQ.

What I liked Most About the Book:  The bite sized chunks.

What I liked Least About the Book:  The references to Big Cats (for presumed big-shots) and Little Cats ( for ordinary people trying to pose as big-shots.)

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Reading Notes: The FIVE Dysfunctions of a TEAM

The pyramid of the Five Dysfunctions of a Team

Author:  Patrick Lencioni

Format: Audible

Narrated By: Charles Stransky

Subject: Teamwork / Leadership

Rating: 8/10

Summary: 

The Five Dysfunctions of a team covers the basic issues that stop otherwise successful people from leading a company.  These issues are revealed and solved through a fictional tale of a new CEO, Catherine Petersen, who takes over a struggling Tech company that should be wiping the floor with its competition.  She spends the lion-share of her time focusing on getting her leadership team to work together to achieve results as opposed to merely just existing together.  She accomplishes this by educating the team of its dysfunctions, and ultimately helping it to overcome them.

What I liked about the book: 

The book is written as a fable as opposed to a reference manual.

Part of the book that most applied to me:  

It helped me develop a better understanding of the need of conflict in teams.

TLDR:

  • The Five Dysfunctions of a Team according to the book:
    • Absence of trust—unwilling to be vulnerable within the group.
    • Fear of conflict—seeking artificial harmony over constructive passionate debate.
    • Lack of commitment—feigning buy-in for group decisions creates ambiguity throughout the organization.
    • Avoidance of accountability—ducking the responsibility to call peers on counterproductive behavior which sets low standards.
    • Inattention to results—focusing on personal success, status and ego before team success.
  • Not everyone who started on the leadership team, stayed on the leadership team.

 

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Reading Notes: How Full Is Your Bucket

Author: Tom Rath

Format: Audible / Hardcopy

Narrated By: Tom Rath

Subject: Leadership / Motivation

Rating: 5/10

Summary:  How Full is Your Bucket is an interesting and easy read that gives insight into the ongoing effects of sincere praise and constructive criticism.   It emphasizes the value of “Bucket Filling” (sincere praise) and the consequences of “Bucket Dipping” (nonconstructive/negative interactions) has on organizations.  In fact, it reminded me of and served as a confirmation of General Colin Powell’s rule of leadership: “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.”  The book also warns of the consequences of overpraising and of giving insincere praise.

What I liked about the book: It is easy to read and apply!

Recommended by:  Peter Dunn

TLDR

  • The magic ratio: 5 positive interactions for every 1 negative interaction.
  • Too much positive emotion? More than 13 positive interactions for every 1 negative interaction could decrease productivity.
  • We experience approximately 20,000 individual moments every day.
  • 65% of Americans received no recognition in the workplace last year.
  • The number-one reason people leave their jobs: They don’t feel appreciated.
  • Bad bosses could increase the risk of stroke by 33%.
  • A study found that negative employees can scare off every customer they speak with — for good.
  • 9 out of 10 people say they are more productive when they’re around positive people.
  • During the Korean War, relentless negativity resulted in a 38% POW death rate — the highest in U.S. military history.
  • Extending longevity: Increasing positive emotions could lengthen life span by 10 years.
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IBM’s Watson and the Future of Data Analysis

I spend a large amount of my time analyzing and making decisions on various data sets.  It is something I both enjoy, and take pride in doing well.  I am also a fan of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, so this particular article caught my eye.

I’d have to see it in action to truly be sold, but I would certainly love to have a resource like this at my fingertips.  I often worry about business people making decisions based on incomplete or (even worse,) no data.  The article states that Watson will grade the quality of the data as part of the process, but I would have to see more information about how it does this to have real buy-in.

Having said that, I certainly welcome the technology and cannot wait to see what sort of new insights it provides.

IBM_Watson

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The CAGA Tour Is Back

The Tour is back after a four year hiatus.  The Central Arkansas Golf Association Tour is known for traveling the far corners of Arkansas in search of the best golf courses to hack around on.  So far, there are only three members of the original group on the active roster.  However, I am still hopeful a few more familiar faces will return.

I have ceded my reign as commissioner to my teammate, Mike Morris, who I might add, has done an excellent job on rebuilding the official website and organizing a field of players.

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Colbert Taking Over The Late Show

I grew up watching David Letterman.  His sense of humor and nightly Top Ten List always appealed to me.  Somewhere along the way I stopped watching late night programming, (probably a due to a futile attempt at more sleep.)   Then along came The Colbert Report, and I was hooked.  While I still cannot claim to have watched the show regularly.  I always wound up with more than one chuckle when I did.

 

Steven Colbert appears on The Late Show after then announcement is made.

I had a lot of mixed feelings when I read the headlines that Letterman was retiring and being replaced by Colbert.  One, Letterman stepping down is truly the end of an era.  He has been on late night television for as long as I can remember.  Two, I will miss the Steven’s character on The Colbert Report.   Lastly, (and most importantly,) I will never know how the 435ish part series of “Better Know a District” ends.

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UCA Bears Football: Conque Calls It Quits

I am very sad to see him go.  We had a great 14 years under his leadership.  Some of my best collegiate memories involve Bears football (tailgates, victory parties, road-trips.)  They were great times.  I wish him continued success as he continues his career at as the head coach for Stephen F Austin, that is of course, unless he is coaching against my beloved Bears.

Thank you for the memories Coach Conque.

Clint Conque

 

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Farewell to Memphis

Downtown Memphis has been my home for the past three years.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here.  There was never a shortage of entertainment right outside my Barborro Flats Door:

  • Memphis Grizzly Basketball Games
  • Memphis Red Bird Baseball Games
  • Beale Street
  • The Pinch District
  • Mud Island Park
  • South Main Arts District
  • The Local
  • The Majestic
  • The Memphis Zoo
  • Shelby Farms

Good times indeed!  Alas, it is time to head back to Central Arkansas.  Though I look forward to the upcoming chapters in my life, I will always look back at my time in Memphis as well spent.

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Small Changes Ripple Outward

Do the following for 21 days:

3 Gratitudes  (Emmons & McCullough, 2003) – write down 3 things you are grateful for each day

Journaling (Slatcher & Pennebaker 2006) -about one positive experience that occurred over past 24 hours

Exercise (Babyak et al. 2000)  – Teaches brain that behavior matters.

Meditate (Dweck, 2007) – allows focus.  Thwarts ADHD

Random Acts of Kindness (Lyubomirksy, 2005) – Write one positive email or text to social network everyday.