Step 10: Stoic vs Epicurean, Arnolds 1000 Reps, Apache Cold Showers, and the Spartan Whipping Post

The Big Idea: Do Things That Develop Toughness a nation is born stoic and dies epicurean — Will Durant stoics say sacrifice today for tomorrow (invest wisely) epicureans say live for today (eat drink and be merry, yolo) there is truth to both, but stoicism is what I recommend Arnold wanted big calves, moved to South Africa…

Step 9: Warren Buffett’s Book-A-Day Diet & Making War With A Multitude Of Counselors

The Big Idea: Reading Voraciously for Success billionaires read voraciously Warren Buffett reads 8 hours a day a rich man’s house always has a library — Jim Rohn Alexander the Great used to travel with a library survival machines that can simulate the future are one jump ahead of survival machines who can only learn…

The Next 100 Years by George Friedman

The Next 100 Years by George Friedman

The Big Idea: U.S.A will dominate the next hundred years, first by controlling the oceans, then by controlling space. Geographic isolation gives the U.S. military advantages few nations can claim, which translates to economic and political dominance. Russia will challenge American dominance but will suffer from internal problems, declining population, and poor infrastructure. China will not…

Step 8: The Integrated Good Life and The Four Pillars of Eudaimonia

The Big Idea: The good life integrates four pillars of health, wealth, love, and happiness. The Amish are so happy because they do not compartmentalize work from life. Do whatever it takes to avoid hating Mondays. The 2 Mile Rule: work and shop within 2 miles of your home; traffic (work/life compartmentalizing) is an enormous…

Step 7: Martin Seligman’s Salary Slave and Learned Helplessness

The Big Idea: Take risks in life The modern education system trains students to rely on others for their education Read a book a day and become self-educated for happiness Learned helplessness exists in education, health, income, love Great nations are born stoic and die epicurean In the American economy today, the consequences of failure are not…

Step 6: Sculpture vs Lottery and the Anthropic Media Bias

The Big Idea: The media lies to you about success.  Success takes years of focused work towards a wisely-chosen goal. The media lies to you about success The media doesn’t emphasize Bill Gates worked 7 days a week for ten years.  Arnold Schwarzenegger worked out 4 hours a day during his teens. Overnight success takes years Learn to love…

Step 5: My Poor Friends & Cameron Diaz’s Parrot

The Big Idea: Study how successful people think.   Don’t pick your friends based on their success, but be selective about which friend’s advice you listen to. Pay attention to how your more successful friends think and how your less successful friends think. Like parrots, successful people repeat quotes all the time (not their own opinions.) Successful…

Step 4: Picasso’s Rising Tide and the Law of 33%

The Big Idea: Use mentors to shorten your learning curve. Good artists copy and great artists steal. —Picasso If I’m great it’s because I’m standing on the shoulders of giants. —Einstein To get what you want you must be a learning machine. Poor people should take rich people to dinner. 70% of communication is nonverbal….

Remote by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

Remote by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

This is another quick read from the founders of 37 Signals and creators of Ruby on Rails.  Nadine West has been working remotely from the beginning and there isn’t anything in the book to disagree with. ADVANTAGES TO REMOTE TEAMS Fewer interruptions than at the office No commuting Technology makes it possible Flexible work hours No need to…

Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant

Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant

Two things about this book: it’s very short and it has a very simple message: repeat “I love myself” over and over, every day.  I bought it because it was recommended by James Altucher, Tim Ferriss, and Sean Stephenson. Repeat “I love myself” every day.  Do this with emotional intensity. Meditate for 5-10 minutes every…

Work Rules by Laszlo Bock

Work Rules by Laszlo Bock

Preface: Why Google’s rules will work for you Companies who follow many of the same principles: grocery chain Wegman’s, a Sri Lankan clothing manufacturer, a Nike factory. The book’s key messages: take power and authority over employees away from managers, managers serve the team not vice versa, empower your employees Chapter 1: Becoming a Founder…

Step 3: Sam Walton’s Night in a Brazilian Jail, Stealing from McDonald’s, and Michael Jordan’s Humility

The Big Idea: the most successful men are usually the most humble. They read and study constantly because they know there is much they do not know. I’ve never met a player listen so closely and then go and do something like Michael Jordan. —Dean Smith Michael Jordan was cocky but immensely coachable. Sam Walton…

Step 2: Blue Footed Booby Birds, ESS, and the 500 Year Old Mind

The Big Idea: Change is the basic law of nature in life, so be an adaptability machine.   Read, learn, and expect occasional setbacks towards success.  Change is the basic law of nature. The species that survives is the one that is best able to adapt to change. — Darwin Similarly, the most successful individuals and…

Delivering Happiness By Tony Hsieh
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Delivering Happiness By Tony Hsieh

This is one of our top 5 business books.  Our first company tagline was “Happiness in a Pink Package.” Book notes are below: Books recommended: Good to Great, Tribal Leadership, Fred Factor, Fish, Made to Stick, Peak, Emotional Equations, Connected, Re-Imagine, Crush It Be clear about your company’s culture, values.  Communicate them.  Commit to them. Ask yourself, “what…

The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker
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The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker

This one’s a classic business book by the dean of business thinking. Effective executives know where their time goes Effective executives focus on results Effective executives build on strengths Effective executives focus on the 80/20 Effective executives make effective decision 1. Effective executives know where their time goes people can be very time consuming be…

Predictive Analytics by Eric Siegel

Predictive Analytics by Eric Siegel

Predictive analytics is about what the mass media calls data science or big data.  It seems that practitioners prefer the more precise term, predictive analytics, which is what is sounds like, using analytics to predict behavior.  The book is a quick, non-technical introduction to data analytics, explaining basic concepts and definitions, and then sharing real-world…

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday

Stoicism is trending these days on the internet, especially among entrepreneur-types.  What is Stoicism?  Wikipedia says that stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy (300 B.C.) with a number of tenets but most practically for today’s entrepreneur: “Stoicism teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions.” The Obstacle is the…

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor
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The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

We want to model Nadine West after Zappos. Happy employees = Happy customers. Happy customers = Happy company. Which means, we need to study the science and psychology of happiness. Below are my notes from Shawn Achor’s book The Happiness Advantage. The science says that we become more successful when we are happier and more positive.  Not the other…