The Hammer Report

A friend of mine sent me a blog post written by David Logan giving 3 Reasons Why Business Books Are Bad for You. I'm assuming he sent me this because of the number of books I consume each year. I won't assume that he was indicating anything hurtful (Were you David?).

So, if you want, read his post and then come back to my responses:

First - I agree that "writing a book" seems to be the thing to do these days and there are many books out there that have 10 pages of content that the author will stretch out to 480. It's like with most anything else, if you get in the business to make money you may struggle or produce something that is substandard, if you have a real talent and heart for helping people, you will shine. Cut through the junk and give me something I can use.

Second - The stories absolutely have to be relevant. The whole reason I picked the book up is that it's a subject I want to learn more of or that will support my current thinking patterns. Stories are good and help illustrate the point. If the author does it well everyone will know if you are the rider or the elephant or if you just rode the bus. Make them memorable and keep them real.

Third - I think this was kind of the same thing Logan said in the first two points but I can understand why he emphasizes it again. Using 3 bullets instead of 2 is always better when you are trying to make a point and since his point is about filling a book with nothing, maybe he's just being funny.  But I also agree with him on this point, I also begin with the first and last chapter to make sure the story or lesson aligns. If I determine that they do then I will read the rest of it. Here's one of my problems - even if I get 40% through the book and the middle isn't supporting the ends, for some reason I continue reading. Maybe the author will pull it together somehow? Maybe I'll feel like I wasted invested time? Maybe I'll feel like I wasted money? But I just keep reading. Then I start looking for the stories between the lines. I'll look for things that I wasn't expecting to get out of the book. I'm able to spend a little time with the author that I would not be able to do otherwise. I can always squeeze at least a small handful of goodness out of a book even if it's just reinforcements or another reference.

I also like where he goes with finding non-business books that make you think. My favorite ones are on a different level than his though. I like books like The Little Engine The Could and The Cat in the Hat.

I just downloaded the front heel sample of Logan's book on my Kindle for iPad. It was enough to see that his book is somewhat untraditional and maybe goes along the lines of Markus Buckingham, Tom Rath and the like. So, he's at least sold another book. I'll be the judge of whether it's an "air sandwich" or not.

BE A HAMMER!!!

I like my iPad but it’s not the best thing for reading books. Actually, I still prefer buying the paper book to getting it on the iPad primarily because of the glare and lighting problem it can’t overcome. If reading books is going to be your primary reason for getting a new device you should consider the Kindle WiFi. At $139 you can’t go wrong. Going with the 3G version for $189 gives you free lifetime 3G when you download in an AT&T hotspot. I don't think I'd go for the upgrade version because I've got WiFi at home, work, any Starbucks and almost anywhere else I may need it. 

On my iPad I Have Amazon's Kindle, Nook (Barnes & Nobles), Borders eBooks (a little late to the party girls) and Apple's iBook apps. Kindle is by far my favorite because:

• With Whispersync it remembers where I stopped reading and I can pick up where I left off even if I pick up a different device (laptop, iPad, Kindle or iPhone).
• You can highlight and make personal notes that will also sync across all platforms.
• When you highlight a word, with one button you will instantly see a pronunciation/definition and have the option to Google it or look it up on Wikipedia for more details. I really need this feature a lot.
• You don't have to go through iTunes to transfer books back to your device.
• Books seem to be cheaper at Amazon (avg $9.99 vs. $12.99 at iTunes).
• There is more depth in the selection at Amazon.

When the iPad came out I just knew it would bring certain death to the Kindle if Amazon didn’t come up with something. Well, they did, they redesigned it smaller, to the size of a Moleskine notebook, reduced the price (initially at $399) and now I think they really have something going. Of course, that prediction was well before I had seen either the iPad or Kindle in action. Now I think the Kindle is about to completely change things. Students will soon carry this device loaded with text books, people will download seminar literature to them, employees will have fingertip access to SOPs and employee handbooks. The list is endless and requires no killing of trees.

Even in perfect lighting my eyes become strained after a period of time on the iPad, especially after a long day behind the computer at work. Amazon's e-ink has great contrast and does the best at replicating a real printed page on the Kindle. I hate the idea of carrying yet another device and I know The RedHead would kill me if I asked for another piece of technology but I have got to add this to the “must have”. You read that right. I don't actually own one although I have played with one.

The other reason I really like the idea of the Kindle is that it is made for just reading. With the iPad I have so many temptations to do other things and you know I am easily distracted. Somebody please take away my ability to multi-task!

If you need for me to talk to your spouse about the perfect Christmas gift or upcoming birthday or anniversary just let me know. I'm doing it for Tiffany and I'll do it for you.

Here are a couple of links from Michael Hyatt, Chairman and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publisher that support and add to what I'm screaming here:

• Kindle, Nook, Sony and iPad - Side by side comparison
• Unboxing the New Amazon Kindle 3

BE A HAMMER!!!

Take eleven minutes and enjoy this perspective then get his book and find out why everything we know about monetary reward and compensation may be wrong. You may will be surprised.

If you are an Audiophile like me you'll love this site. Pandora is a free on-line music service that streams onto your desktop (or laptop), iPhone, iPad and many home a/v components almost as clearly as if your were playing a CD. In fact, I doubt most people could even tell the difference.

The best part is Pandora will create a "Station" based on what you are in the mood for. For example, if you're in the mood for music similar to that of Stevie Ray Vaughan, you just enter that into Pandora to create a station that features demanding instrumental part writing, extensive vamping, electric guitar riffs and solos, and heavy instrumental improvisation. On your SRV Station you'll hear the likes of Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, Jimi Hendrix, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and more. You can tailor your station by giving songs a thumbs up or a thumbs down and Pandora will refine itself to your listening pleasure.

You may even wish to add a little contrast to your station by addingsome female vocals in the mix. Add Bonnie Rait and Pandora will mix in vocal beltings by Michelle Branch, Melissa Etheridge, and Susan Tedeschi.

Stations can be created based on a song that you have in your mind. Surely, there is a tune in your head right now that you've been humming all day. Enter it in the Pandora and see what comes up. Pandora will pull songs from the same genre with similar instrumentation/vocalization, moods and stylings for your station (Can't think up a song? How about Salt Peanuts by Charlie Parker?).

Your stations are automatically saved and can be recalled from any computer that you log onto for future listening and moods. If Pandora plays a song that you like or an album you want to explore you can click on the album art and download it via your iTunes account or order a hard copy from Amazon. You can even share your stations with friends.

I have over 2,500 CDs in my musical collection and have spent thousands upon thousands of hours listening to and categorizing playlists that would suit any occasion. If you follow me on Twitter you've likely seen that I have lost all of my playlist data from iTunes, not the music itself, just the ratings and playlist data. UGH!

Pandora and the Music Genome Project have taken all of the work away for pure listening pleasure. Did I mention "the site is free?" It costs you nothing.

Happy listening!

As if the iPhone wasn't already the coolest piece of communications equipment out there this makes it better. The Owle Bubo is an accessory that improves the quality of the video you can capture with your iPhone. Your iPhone fits into the anodized body adding weight for stabilization. There's a wide-angle/macro lens combo (threaded for multiple lens changes and filters), a high quality adjustable microphone, a cold-shoe mount for standard camera add-ons, and threaded corners for tripods or monopods.

Well, I copied most of that from www.WantOwle.com, check out what it can do in the video below.

There's a little buzz at the end of the video because I didn't have the mic pushed in all the way.

There are some things that we will do and some things we won't. A good solid functioning moral compass generally guides people in the right direction and I honestly believe that people want to be good and do what is right. We all have a set of guidelines by which we make our choices. Some are passed down from parents in our upbringing, some we have learned on the job, some we have learned from reading books and the Bible, and some we have learned the hard way.   

With so much emphasis on leadership and customer service in the workplace it's just mad crazy to walk into an establishment to find printed signage like this. This General Manager not only doesn't trust his clients but he also does not trust the team that he has hired and leads.

(download)

Click here to download:

leadership-and-tips-FrhxsxiHDbdGbJBAACjs.zip (1.57 MB)

The tone that this leader is setting is quite apparent and is maintained in the atmoshpere even in his absense. I jokingly apologized to my guest saying we didn't come for ambiance and promised him the ribs and company would be worth it.  

We were not even offered a smile or greeting until I took my camera out to capture these rules baring the act of "solicitating."  The guy at the counter then felt he knew me well enough to unload all of the dirty laundry of his manager. He said the manager felt that tippers would influence portion size and that this eliminated that possibility. I kinda laughed and then he wanted to make sure I saw the sign regarding Children's Menus. After reading this I knew this manager was serious about rules.  I offered a sympathetic look to the employee as if I felt sorry for his work conditions. I told him I would not violate the sign by even offering a tip and asked what the chances were of getting some extra burnt ends? He gave me a great smile, piled them on and wished me a happy evening.

My guest and I enjoyed our abundant portions of wonderful barbeque and conversation in this restaurant at 6:00 PM with only three other customers in the large dining room. I noticed the other guests going back to the counter for containers for their leftovers. So I didn't get special treatment after all. This was how the employees paid their manager back. Empty restaurant and large portions.

As a business owner/operator it costs a lot of money to have the wrong people in place. It costs you even more to have the wrong leaders.

Further reading: The No Asshole Rule, Good to Great.

My friend Mark and I have been on a quest to find the Naga Jolokia pepper, also known as The Ghost Pepper ever since we saw it on Man vs. Food. There's just no way something could possibly be as hot as what Adam Richman portray's on the show.

To give you some perspective; a jalapeño pepper is rated at about 2,500 on the Scoville scale, a habanaro chili is rated at 100,000 while the Jolokia is rated between 855,000 and 1,075,000.

In this video you'll see me slather Dave's Insanity Sauce on like barbeque going against the recommended 1/2 drop application.

Mark stops the video as I go into an out of body experience trying to escape the pain by going to a happy place. My lips, tongue, throat, and eyes felt like balloons overfilled with hamburger meat while the heat radiated all through my upper body. So much energy was going into my head and throat that the rest of my body went limp and all I could do was rest my head on the back of the chair. 

Milk? Didn't work. Any liquid I tried drinking seemed to intensify the heat. Crushed ice in a cup suctioned to my mouth upside down as my head was leaned back was the only satisfaction I could attain.

Do not try this at home.

I read this book from cover to cover twice, back to back.  The booked is now pretty marked up with underlinings from my Sharpie pen and I have taken nine pages of notes in my Moleskine notebook from it.

There are five parts to the book and the authors do a great job at defining and then supporting with illustrations and examples.  They define the Optimal Salesperson (I), discuss how they get motivated (II) and the tools they must possess (III), and then the meat and potatoes of the book for me was identifying hidden obstacles (IV) and how to apply them to specific parts of the selling process (V).

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