The DV Weekend Pickup #28

Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk

What I like best:  The name Gary Vaynerchuk should ring a bell for most of you.  He seems to have some kind of omnipresence, I mean the guy is everywhere.  Aside from dominating our social platforms he is also keynoting pretty much every major conference right now, running media giant VaynerMedia, airing one of the most listened to podcasts #AskGaryVee Show, and recently released a book of same title this past year that was #1 National Bestseller (haven't read it yet.)  Not to mention he was an early investor in a few businesses you may have heard of - Twitter, Uber, Snapchat, and Venmo!

For those who don't know Gary's story he was one of the first to use the internet to market small business.  He ballooned his family owned wine shop to 60 million in revenue via eCommerce and his YouTube channel WineLibraryTV.  This book is basically a testament to Gary's story (and is a quick read at only a 137 pages.)  His style is unmistakable and you get it right from the jump.  He reveals exactly how you could turn ANY passion into a business and quite possibly the more obscure or unique - the better!  I've read several of his books and found this one (his first) to be the most impactful.  As you'll find out, the secret is there is no secret if you want to "crush it!" - it's 100% hard work. 

Best Quote:  "There no longer has to be a difference between who you are and what you do."

Crush the day!

DV

5 Quick Ways To Improve Your Day

Most of us already have our eyes on the weekend.  Believe me, I get it - your mindset is saying, "ah I'm halfway there."  We love the weekend because the perception of "free" time, no bosses, and time to relax. I'll challenge you to adjust that mindset. Why? Because continuing with this mode of thinking would mean we'd have to live 71% of our life unhappy, stressed, and caged up?  Let's say we're fortunate enough to live until 100 that means we'd only live 29 "satisfied" years.  I know, I'm sorry but I HAD to take there, ha!  It's the truth!  We can change this though by improving our daily attitude.  Here's 5 quick ways to do just that...

1. Make somebody else feel important (show appreciation, give more than you expect to get, and call people by their first name.)
2. Make yourself feel important (look important, think your work is important, feel important, etc. - you are what you think you are!) 
3. Put excitement into every greeting (handshakes, hellos, etc. - we all know and FEEL the difference.)
4. When you're bored ask more questions (next time you learn something new, pay close attention to how passionate you are when you talk about it - best way to get interested is to BE interested.)
5. Only talk about GOOD news (I know this is a challenge but try it, you'll see!)

At the very least, try ONE of these today, if it doesn't "work" then you can call me on BS, ha!

Crush the day!

DV

The DV Weekend Pickup #27

StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath

What I like best:  In all honesty it's more of a tool than it is a book.  It's a tool that helps you understand what you do best.  Do you have the opportunity to do what you do best everyday? Yup.  Do you?  Probably not.  Don't worry you're not alone - 70% of people feel the same way.

While you can definitely read the entire book to better understand the "34 talent themes," the overall concept relies on you finding your top 5.  Along with the book you take the 177 question StrengthFinder assessment developed by Donald O. Clifton Ph.D., team of scientists at Gallup, and author Tom Rath.  The assessment uses 40 years of research and a data sample of 10 million people to back its results - growing year after year.

Immediately following the assessment you are provided a 19 page report on your top 5 talents, what they mean, better direction, actions to take, etc.  The idea of finding your "talents" (as opposed to strengths) concludes you need "investment" in order to make them "strengths."

The reason I really enjoyed this book is not only is it extremely actionable but it happens to back claims that I make with my work.  The importance of honest self-reflection - Find your strengths, double down on them, be great. Find your weaknesses, use your resources, be great.  As always pick it up - let me know what you think? 

Best Quote:  "From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to our shortcomings than to our strengths."

Crush the day!

DV

The Lesson Eli Manning Has Been Trying to Teach Me for 13 Years

All is right in the world!  The G-Men finally won a season opener against the 'Boys so yes there was much to celebrate, well, until next Sunday, ha!  Interestingly though what got me most excited was this moment of clarity I had...

For years fans, media, and general public alike would get on Eli Manning for bonehead plays (at times) in critical moments of a game - yup, the same people who revered him for his magical moments.  What I now realize (and have much greater appreciation for) is his ability to ACT INSTINCTIVELY.  A quality that is typically revered in the business vertical.

Acting instinctively is exactly what all our modern day leaders and successful entrepreneurs are preaching daily - keep firing, take the good with the bad, learn from your mistakes etc. The difference was people weren't watching the Steve Jobs or Richard Bransons of the world make their split decisions on national TV.  Understanding the same quality (truly believing what's possible and being curious enough try) that made you fail will also help you succeed!  To make the play, seal the deal, or solve the problem we must possess unwavering confidence and ACT INSTINCTIVELY.  This quality alone has the ability to showcase to the world OUR greatness.

For better or worse, Eli Manning has been trying to show me this lesson for 13 years. 

Crush the day!

DV

The DV Weekend Pickup #26

Relentless by Tim Grover

What I like best:  For those of you who don't know Tim Grover is the man who privately trained Michael Jordan for 15 years and then Kobe Bryant and Dwayne Wade (just to name a few.)  Yup, the man these legends relied on to get coached up on their "legendary" mindset's. Further proving a completely different point but one I'd like to highlight - everyone requires support!  These all-time greats or "cleaners" (as Grover calls them) didn't go to him because he knew more about physical training. They went to him because he instilled the mindset they needed to be unstoppable.  Relentless DEFINITELY hammers home - mindset matters - more than anything!

Grover shares stories on exactly what these past players were willing to do day in, day out.  You will learn the differences between a cooler, closer, and cleaner - a point Grover never let's you forget. If you are looking for a how to book then this probably isn't your best option. The book tends to be more conceptual as opposed to tactile. Either way it's fun too crawl inside the mind of a man who spent a lifetime 1 on 1 with the most envied NBA players of all-time. As always pick it up - let me know what you think!

Best Quote: "The fact is, you can't train your body - or excel at anything - before you train your mind. You can't commit to excellence until your mind is ready to take you there. Teach the mind to train the body."

Crust the day!

DV

The DV Weekend Pickup #25

In honor of the NY Giants upcoming season I thought it was perfect timing for this book...

Earn the Right to Win: How Success in Any Field Starts with Superior Preparation by Tom Coughlin

What I like best:  Although Coach Coughlin is no longer with the team he has been cemented in G-Men lore forever. The principles displayed in this book are exactly why that is the case. They are also the primary reason why he is two-time Super Bowl winning head coach. He stresses the importance of preparation starting with self-analysis and how preparing to excel starts while nobody is watching!

If you want a book that punches you in the face with preparation techniques then look no further. "This is not a football book...it's a systematic approach to life," says Coughlin. Making this book applicable to everyone hence the title.  It's an easy read as he shares untold stories about his past players like Michael Strahan, Fred Taylor, Tony Boselli, Justin Tuck, Doug Flutie, and Eli Manning. You will also learn the importance of "Coughlin time" or 5 minutes earlier which most Giant's fans already are familiar with, ha! I love his thought/technique on how to anticipate obstacles and future situations - SO enviable. Pick it up this weekend and PREPARE yourself to crush the last four months of the year!

Best Quote:  "We learned there was a purpose behind his system. He didn't enforce the rules because he wanted to catch people and punish them but rather to make sure everyone was committed to the same purpose." - Michael Strahan

Crush the day!

DV

A Thought On Support

In the 21st century support comes in many forms. Support is a kind word of encouragement, a thank you, or yes, even a "like" on Facebook.  All forms of support can be taken to the next level. For example this is precisely why the "share" was created. The ultimate form of social media support.

However, I will contend the best kind of support still comes through human to human interaction, conversations, and interest. Yes - engagement, so if you truly want to maximize your support for somebody or something, then show interest and inquire more about it. This form of support trumps every other by a mile. Don't believe me, just think about your own life. Which means the most to you? 

Support your customers. Support your friends. Support your family. Support makes a world of difference.

Crush the day!

DV

The DV Weekend Pickup #24

All Marketers Are Liars by Seth Godin

What I like best: If you follow me at all then you know what I like best...Seth Godin, ha! You can't take the title of this book literally though. Seth is being slightly satirical and because of that it's original release misaligned the public to the messaging of the book. Which is why he later changed the name to All Marketers Tell Stories in a re-release years later. "All marketers are storytellers. Only the losers are liars," says Godin. So what he really meant was authenticity is the key and we believe things we want to believe. Or as puts it, "many things that are true are true because you believe them." 

So ultimately this book is about how great marketers tell stories and even more importantly how they tell stories to people who have the same worldviews. Making authenticity and targeting two very important qualities. Which is the exact reason you can get $80,000 for a Porsche and $36,000 for a Volkswagen that's largely made with the same parts or why people pay $3 for a bottle of Fiji water.

Whether you're trying to market yourself, a company, product, or service - doesn't matter - the principles are the same. This book will show and prove you that. As always, pick it up! Let me know what you think.

Best quote: "We drink the can, not the beverage."

Crush the day!

DV

The DV Weekend Pickup #23

The Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason

What I like best:  Clason's work with TRMB is touted as one of the most important finance books of all time.  It's only 110 pages long but packs a wealth of knowledge.  It is the epitome of simple and actionable.  Published in 1926 and still selling copies today, it surely has stood the test of time. Clason uses ancient Babylonian principles to guide the reader with story after story of timeless personal finance lessons. You will meet the goddess of luck, the luckiest man in Babylon, the gold lender of Babylon, and of course the richest man in Bablyon. You will learn the 7 cures for a lean purse, 5 laws of gold, and the golden rule - "a part of all you earn is yours to keep." Overall it is a fun, quick, and impactful read on an extremely important topic. Pick it up, read it, and engage - let me know what you think!

Best Quote: "Our acts can be no wiser than our thoughts."

Crush the day!

DV

Before You're A Good Salesperson, Be A Good Person

In our culture salespeople have been battling a bad wrap for decades.  It's a career and skill set that's assumed to hinge on lying, deceit, and quick-wit.  Like most thing's in life, there's more than meets the eye.  Unfortunately, the majority of people choose to not seek comprehension.  It's not their fault we all do it.  It's requires signicantly less work to assume.  However, this surface level assessment couldn't be farther from the truth (in quality salespeople.)  They believe first and foremost, BE A GOOD PERSON.

As salespeople it's our responsibility to understand this very real societal assumption exists. Yes, we have to take responsibility for it.  Otherwise, your lack of awareness will be your downfall. Sorry, it's what you signed up for.  We are fighting an uphill battle everyday.  Which means people, yes, even our customers are commonly looking for a way to pin that assumption on you. It's just easier for them, the association has been conditioned by society.  Don't let it happen, BE A GOOD PERSON.

I'd recommend, CHOOSING to view this positively, not as a victim.  It is an opportunity to stand out, showcase our character, provide unique value, and be an asset to our customers.  This set's you up for long term success rather than short term gain.  So before you're a good salesperson, BE A GOOD PERSON.

Happy Selling!

DV