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Introducing TyndaleDirect.com where you'll find special offers, gift suggestions and a selection of our favorite devotional titles—direct from the publisher at great prices. Plus, keep an eye on the Deal of the Day page—just in time for holiday gifting! 

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Boundaries for Leaders

Title:  Boundaries for Leaders

Author:  Henry Cloud

Rating:  Insightful


Reason for Reading:  I've read other of Dr. Cloud's books, including Boundaries.

Format:  Hardcover

Summary:  Boundaries for Leaders is Cloud's examination of how purpose and intentionality helps build the healthy relationships that great business success requires.  It is full of great examples, and Dr. Cloud's thorough analysis.

Review:  Dr. Cloud's unique point-of-view and insightful analysis is well worth reading.

Joseph

Other resources:

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Dear Dad

Title:  Dear Dad

Author:  Sundi Jo Graham

Rating:  Insightful

Reason for Reading:  Sundi Jo is a friend through social media

Format:  I read this on my nook SimpleTouch

Summary:  Dear Dad is written in diary form recording the author’s thought and feelings as she faces addiction, depression, and her struggles with her faith.  Told in first person, the book takes the reader on a journey of doubt and hope, and what her life is really worth to her, her friends, and (as the title would suggest) her father.

Review:  Dear Dad by Sundi Jo Graham is a serious read which poses serious questions of faith, health, and self-worth.  Sundi Jo’s words truly communicate the depth of her feelings and how fierce her struggles with her emotions were.  The book helps the reader develop sympathy for author and keeps the reader in suspense until the end.  Dear Dad is not an easy or light read, but I found it enjoyable and educational.

Joseph

Other resources:
You can learn more about Sundi Jo at her website http://www.sundijo.com/ and follow her on Twitter @sundijo.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

20,000 Days and Counting

Title:  20,000 Days and Counting

Author:  Robert D. Smith

Rating:  Great

Reason for Reading:  Robert D. Smith is the manager and best friend of my favorite author Andy Andrews.

Format:  Hardcover

Summary:  20,000 Days and Counting is Robert D. Smith treatise on the importance of living intentionally, with a great appreciation for the passage of time.  As the title suggests, Robert began writing the book and taking his life more seriously when he calculated that he had been alive for 20,000 days (roughly 54 years), and decided to rededicate himself to living his life with intensity and not bound by fear.


Review:  20,000 Days and Counting is a great example of simple wisdom.  The book is short and the chapters are short, but full of so much great material.  I read the book in one train trip from downtown out to the suburbs.  Smith provides great examples of how others have used their time effectively, but not in time management format.  The book is all about appreciating the gift of your life, not transforming the reader into time efficient ninja.  If you want to develop a greater appreciation for what you can do, and doing those things you always wanted to do, read 20,00 Days and Counting.

Joseph

Other resources: You can find author at his website http://www.therobertd.com/ and follow him on twitter @therobertd

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

BOOK GIVEAWAY: Quiet Influence by Jennifer Kahnweiler

Title:  Quiet Influence

Author:  Jennifer Kahnweiler

Rating:  Great

BOOK GIVEAWAY:  I will give away a copy of Quiet Influence.  Please read the instructions below.

Reason for Reading:  I have been reading a series of books about introversion and leadership, such as Quiet by Susan Cain.

Format:  Softcover

Summary:  In Quiet Influence, Jennifer describes 6 leadership techniques that give introverts an  advantage over extroverts.  That’s not to say that extroverts can not use these techniques, but these techniques tap into the natural strengths of introverts.
For example, introverts are naturally inclined to use engaged listening and focused conversations when relating to others.  These can be powerful leadership actions.  Also, introverts tend to prefer to communicate in writing, a critical ability in an increasingly visual world.
Throughout the book, Jennifer provides examples of leaders using these techniques to have influence over others, often in ways that can be overlooked in a cursory glance.

Review:  I like that Quiet Influence is a straightforward and relatable book with examples and suggestions for anyone trying to leverage their introverted nature to expand their influence.  For each of the six tools Jennifer describes, she provides examples of how others have used it, and specific actions to apply them.  Jennifer also provides a cautious voice to help the reader develop the sense for when they are overusing that tools, and the subsequent pitfalls.
For a book so full of wisdom and practical information, Quiet Influence by Jennifer Kahnweiler is a fun read for anyone interested in how introverts can serve as leaders in a world that too easily overlooks how their natural strengths can benefit everyone.

Joseph Iliff

BOOK GIVEAWAY:  will give away a copy of Quiet Influence to someone who comments below with the answer to this question:  How do use your introverted nature to lead others?

Other resources:
Author website: http://jenniferkahnweiler.com/
Follow Jennifer Kahnweiler on Twitter @jennkahnweiler

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

START

Title:  START

Author:  Jon Acuff

Rating:  Awesome

Reason for Reading:  I’ve read Jon’s other books, including Stuff Christians Like and Quitter.

Format:  I read this on my nook SimpleTouch

Summary:  In START, Jon walks the reader through the 5 stages of awesome, and describes how the work in the real world.  Everyone with above average success walks through them (Learning, Editing, Mastering, Harvesting, and Guiding), and it used to be tied to someone’s age.  In your 20’s, you learned, in your 40’s you mastered, etc.

Jon describes how today, it isn’t based on someone’s age; it is based on when they started doing something.  And, you can do things from multiple stages as the same time.  But, being awesome isn’t just some attitude that you wake up with some day.  Jon puts it in real life terms with examples from his own life.

Review:  I would put this book into the hands of anyone who is wanting to be more and do more.  If their day job isn’t their dream, or if they have a bigger dream with more people to connect to, more awesome to put on canvas.
Far from just being about positive affirmations or pie in the sky thinking, Jon will make you appreciate your stumbles and setbacks, and let you know you are not alone on the road to awesome.  It isn’t easy, but if you are game, Jon is inviting you to walk the path with him.

Joseph

Other resources: www.jonacuff.com

A simple decision making formula

A friend recently asked me what a leader should do when they are stumped.  Leadership can be complicated, so it is easy for anyone to be stuck in a confusing situation.  I consider myself stumped when there are too many options or too many possibilities.  While it often sounds good to have numerous options when faced with a choice, too many can be paralyzing.  When all the options look equally good, or equally bad, it is easy to be stumped at which to choose and which to pass on.

Try this simple formula : YA + TV = NR  (Your Action + Their Values = New Reality)

Your Actions are what you will do.  But, that’s where you are stumped, so we will move on.

Their Values is how other people view the world.  So, “they” can include your team, your boss, your clients or customers, the general public, the press, or anyone impacted by YA.

The New Reality is the future result, the eventual outcome of the combination of YA and TV.  Usually this is your goal, your desired outcome of this opportunity.  It is currently the future, someday to be the present for you and all involved.

You are stumped when you can’t define YA, so set that as the variable.  Define NR, what you want, and TV, how others think and feel.  Ask yourself, “If They Value such-and-such, what would cause them to make your desired New Reality?”  Their Values is the connection between Your Actions and some New Reality.  If you can get YA and TV in harmony, you have great influence over NR.  If they are discordant, you have little influence on NR.

Can’t figure out what do to?  Start with NR, work through TV, solve for YA.

Average is contagious. So is awesome.

Lots of people can help you be average. Not help you in the sense of explaining it to you. They can't give you a how to process like the recipe for baking a cake. They can't share with you the book they read that helped them get to average.

They can help you be average just by hanging around with you. Average is contagious. That's why it's so common.

And average is comfortable. That's why it is so dangerous.

Luckily, awesome is contagious too. Want an awesome career? An awesome marriage? Awesome kids? Awesome thoughts? Find some people that have them.

But unlike average, you can't just slip into awesome. It takes action and intention. Write it down and do it. Average just isn't acceptable to you.

Start down the path to awesome.

http://thestartbook.com

Coming April 2013

When do winners quit?

You may have answered that with the proverb, "Winners never quit, and quitters never win."

But it isn't true . . . at least not entirely.

Persistence is indeed an important element to success, and most success stories include it. A common one is Thomas Edison trying 10,000 different materials before finding the one that made his incandescent light bulb work.  Edison was determined to find one that worked and kept trying when many people would have given up.

An often overlooked lesson in the story is that Edison quit 9,999 times. Every time he found a material that didn't work, he quit trying it and started trying something else.  Edison faced 10,000 dead ends, and each time he quit trying what didn't work and moved on.  When asked how it felt to fail 10,000 times, he is reported to have responded, "I haven't failed, I've found 10,000 ways that didn't work."

Like Thomas Edison, winners quit all the time, moving on from what doesn't work to find what does.  Edison considered it just one more step towards his goal.  If he didn't quit trying each of the ones that didn't work, he'd never have found the one that did.

When faced with this decision, ask yourself if there is more to be gained from another attempt. If yes, try it again. Even if it doesn't work, there is wisdom to be gained from the attempt. If you think you learned everything possible from the attempt, then it's time to move on.

Winners quit when they're learned from the experience, and persist on to try something else. 

The Encore Effect

Title:  The Encore Effect

Author:  Mark Sanborn

Rating:  Great

Reason for Reading:  I have enjoyed many of Mark’s books, including The Fred Factor and it’s upcoming sequel, Fred 2.0

Format:  Hardcover

Summary:  This book is Mark’s prescription of how anyone performing any task can do it so well, that customers want them to repeat their performance, that they demand an encore.  Key to Mark’s thesis is the idea of PDA, which is that a repeat performance is demanded when Passion, Discipline, and Action are combined.  Passion is the fuel, discipline is the focus, and action is implementation, forming a three-legged stool upon which outstanding performances are made.

Review:  As with his other books, Mark provides an easy-to-read manual on how to excel in business and life, with stories that inspire and practical tips that one can incorporate right away.  The Encore Effect is also written for anyone who serves others, not just management and supervisors.  Anyone and everyone at any level within an organization, from the front line staff to the behind the scenes worker can find something of value in it.  I highly recommend it for a quick read with powerful insight.

Joseph Iliff

Other resources: www.marksanborn.com

The Legend of the Monk and the Merchant

Title:  The Legend of the Monk and the Merchant

Author:  Terry Felber

Rating:  Very good

Reason for Reading:  I have heard Dave Ramsey talk about this book for years.  It is one of the books he makes his employees read within their first 6 months of employment

Format:  Hardcover

Summary:  The Legend of the Monk and the Merchant is a business fable set in Renaissance Italy in which a grandfather imparts upon his grandson the lessons he learned as a child.  The grandfather was adopted by a monk and raised in a monastery upon the death of his parents when he was an infant.  The grandfather has great reverence for the monastery and its holy mission to praise God, but when he reaches adulthood, his father insists that he also learn about being a merchant from his best friend, who runs a successful shipping business.

The grandfather tells his grandsons about the lessons he learned and how both his father the monk and his mentor the merchant honor God and serve the kingdom of God here on Earth.  The book contains 12 principles for conducting business well and serving God through commerce.

Review:  I found this book to truly live up to the praise that Dave Ramsey gives it on his radio show.  It does indeed demonstrate how both the monk and the merchant are praising God and doing his work here on Earth.  Through the fable, the reader receives the same insight and sense of wonder in the wisdom of the grandfather that the grandson does.  I recommend this to anyone who comes from a faith and wants to express that faith in the marketplace.  A fun read with great wisdom.  Perfect for my collection.

Joseph Iliff

Other resources: None

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”