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Home Archives for 2016

Archives for 2016

Rapid Skill Acquisition

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The First 20 Hours by Josh Kaufman

The purpose of this book is to help you acquire new skills in record time” – Josh Kaufman

In the book ‘The First 20 Hours,’ author Josh Kaufman explores the art and science of rapid skill acquisition, and test his findings learning 6 new skills: yoga, programming, touch typing, Go, ukulele, and windsurfing.

I’ve condensed his findings to provide you with road map to rapid skill acquisition to help you learn a skill you’ve always wanted to (playing the guitar? speaking a second language?), or a skill that will add value to your career (graphic design? public speaking?).

1-Page PDF Summary of ‘The First 20 Hours’

Strategies for Self-control

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Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal

People who have better control of their attention, emotions, and actions are better off almost any way you look at it. They are happier and healthier. Their relationships are more satisfying and last longer. They make more money and go further in their careers.” – Kellly McGonigal Ph.D.

If you procrastinate or have a hard time sticking to a diet, Kelly McGonigal’s book the ‘Willpower Instinct’ can provide you with strategies to strengthen your self-control. Here is my animated summary of her book, plus a 1-page PDF summary:

1-Page PDF Summary of Willpower Instinct

Quit Fewer Dips

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The Dip by Seth Godin

Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi once said: “Quitters never win and winners never quit.”

But author Seth Godin says that is bad advice. Seth says: “Winners quit all the time. They just quit the right stuff at the right time.”

So when should you quit, and when should you persist?

The following video will help you answer that question:

1-Page PDF Summary of  ‘The Dip’

Giving with Constraints

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Give & Take by Adam Grant

The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” – Samuel Johnson

In each social exchange, you have the choice to act like a Taker, Matcher or Giver. The reciprocating style that you choose has a significant impact on your long-term career success.

The following video explores which reciprocating style is most successful and how to avoid falling to the bottom of the success ladder.

1-Page PDF Summary of Give and Take

Building a Trusted System

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Getting Things Done by David Allen

Most people have lived in a semistressful experience so consistently, for so long, they don’t know that it could be quite different—that there is another and more positive place from which to engage with their world.” – David Allen, Getting Things Done

An inability to remember all ‘things’ we want to do or need to do but can’t complete in this moment, creates stress.

Without a trusted system to capture, clarify and remind us of our ‘things,’ we are forced to live in a semistressful state all day long…..

“Hopefully this book will inspire you to raise the bar about how much pressure you will allow yourself to tolerate, knowing you have the techniques to reduce it.”

 

1-Page PDF Summary of ‘Getting Things Done’

2 Laws of Productivity

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The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

Being Busy is a form of laziness, lazy thinking and indiscriminate action.”– Tim Ferriss, The 4 Hour Workweek

We are addicted to being busy and to doing work for work’s sake because we forget two laws of productivity: Pareto’s Law & Parkinson’s Law.
The following video illustrates how you can use these two laws to be more productive, not busy:

1-Page PDF Summary of ‘The 4-Hour Workweek’

A Peak State of Productivity

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The Rise of Superman by Steven Kotler

Researchers recently coined the phrase “Twenty-First-Century Skills” to describe the myriad abilities our children need to thrive in this century. Action and adventure sports demand them all. – Steven Kotler, The Rise of Superman

Action & adventure sport athletes may seem like an odd case study for productivity; however, action & adventure sport athletes are on the cutting edge of human performance.
We can learn to master the same skills in our work by studying these athletes.
In the following video I’ll explore the secret of action & adventure sport athletes and provide you with a method to accelerate your performance at work.

1-Page PDF Summary of ‘The Rise of Superman’

The Focusing Question

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The ONE Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan

You need to be doing fewer things for more effect instead of doing more things with side effects. It is those who concentrate on but one thing at a time who advance in this world.” – Gary Keller, The ONE Thing

Achieving extraordinary results requires singleness of purpose.

When we get overwhelmed or distracted we need to remind ourselves of the ‘ONE Thing’.

In the following video I explain the pitfalls of focusing on many things (projects & priorities), and how you can discover your ‘ONE Thing’:

1-Page PDF Summary of The ONE Thing