The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results

DV Weekend Pickup #49

The ONE Thing by Gary Keller

It's largely an affirmation of achievement concepts I already prescribe to which made it easy to read.  The book has done extremely well since it's 2013 release with a LONG list of awards and accomplishments.  Between that and being recommended several times throughout last year I figured it was about time to give it go.  Keller makes his point rather well...

"What's the ONE Thing I can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?"

...success demands singleness of purpose, multitasking is a lie, and mastery bears gifts.  Keller refers to the above question as the Focusing Question which could be applied in many areas of life - financial, spirituality health, personal, business, relationships - to define your top priority.  Enabling you to take a very large, hairy, problem stricken life situation and deduce it down to the single most important action you can take to start the domino effect.  He proceeds in warning us to watch out for the Four Thieves...

1. Inability to say "No"
2. Fear of chaos
3. Poor health habits
4. Environment doesn't support your goals

...that steal our time, bury our productivity, and destroy our purpose.  Keller does a great job reminding you, quality over quantity - ALWAYS.  He also throws in many real life examples to support his theories.  If you're in need of a light motivating read to keep you focused and productive then you've landed on a winner.  Grab it and let's chat about it.

Crush the day!

DV

A Zen Master's Method of Meditation, Concentration, and Relaxation

DV Weekend Pickup #48

The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh

This book serves as the perfect starting point for mindfulness beginners.  It is important to note that mindfulness is more than meditation.  Mindfulness is the ability to be acutely aware at all times, not just simply during practice.  TNH is a poet and Zen master who describes the epitome of mindfulness as...

"When walking, the practitioner must be conscious that he is walking."

...when washing dishes, wash dishes and when eating a tangerine, eat the tangerine.  If the idea seems simple, great, it's suppose to be.  The essential discipline of mindfulness is merely to be present in all that we do, every time we do it.

The book is a compilation of letters by TNH (from exile in Paris) to staff members at the School of Youth for Social Service in 1974 Vietnam.  The school he originally founded in 1960 to inspire engaged Buddhism in distraught Vietnam.  Imagine writing to your long lost friends and colleagues, this is how the book feels.

"Meditation is not evasion; it is a serene encounter with reality."

His stories share valuable anecdotes, practical exercises, and teachings to give you an introduction into mindfulness.  He goes on to describe the FIVE aggregates  - bodily formations, feelings, perceptions, mental functions, and consciousness - the latter (consciousness) serving as the basis of existence for the others.  The mental and physical health benefits of meditation are getting harder to ignore so it's an impactful read if you're looking to start your mindfulness journey.

Crush the day!

DV

What the Rich Teach their Kids About Money

DV Weekend Pickup #47

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

I realize the book has a slightly taboo title maybe that's why it's the #1 personal finance book of all time, maybe it's because the topic is that important to your future, or maybe it's a combination of both.  Either way, I appreciate the honest approach at discussing something we all seem to be experts in - financial education.

"In school we learn that mistakes are bad, and we are punished for making them.  Yet, if you look at the way humans are designed to learn we learn by making mistakes.  We learn to walk by falling down.  If we never fell down, we would never walk."

Yes, the book title is that literal.  It actually refers to two men who impacted the (now prominent) author's life as a young boy.  One man being highly educated, hard working, product of our education system and the other being self-educated, hard working, product of a street education.

I'm sure at this point you get where this is going but for me it's important to note the terms "wealth" and "rich" are neither solely described or achieved by capital creation and expansion.  The real lesson is clear...

"The single most powerful asset we have is our mind.  If it is trained well, it can create enormous wealth in what seems to be an instant."

...and we have the power to seek further comprehension in any subject we desire.  This book is packed with financial lessons large and small and should not be overlooked by superficial reasoning. You owe it to yourself to seek understanding if you only have a surface level knowledge base.  Consequently, you will immediately feel more enlightened and fulfilled by being able to see the world from a different vantage point.

Crush the day!

DV

How to Make the Right Reality-Based Strategic Decisions in a Fast-Moving World

DV Weekend Pickup #46

The CEO Who Sees Around Corners by Jay Abraham & Carlos Dias

If you want to learn how to truly optimize every resource available to you and navigate the lightening quick business world we're living in today then there may not be a better book available.  Abraham and Dias are both amazingly accomplished individuals and they do not hold back in this one.  

"It's not what you don't know that causes pain.  It's what you think you know that usually causes the most damage."

The book is carefully broken out into 4 equally essential parts - cognitive intelligence, emotional and social Intelligence, business and talent intelligence, and intellectual intelligence.  Abraham and Dias put a high emphasis on topics like self-awareness, continuous learning, and the ability to think divergently.  Driving home the point...

"We are hardwired to look at the world through our own perspective..."

...which makes it super challenging for leaders during these turbulent times. Simply relying on the good 'ole boys club, dubious assumptions, and old world skill sets are just not viable to make the critical decision necessary to navigate the current market.  

They point to glaring case studies of companies like - Circuit City, Borders, Kodak, LA Gear - and ask the question, "Was simply prominence enough for them?"  Every concept, model, and process is backed with real data and real examples making this a tremendous business resource. Abraham and Dias pull it all together with their solution for modern day leaders - Strategic Wealth Creation System:

1. Plan an assess your current reality (from multiple perspectives)
2. Focus on delivering Abraham's Strategy of Preeminence.*
3. Create and execute a winning business strategy
4. Test ways to optimize growth
5. Sustain preeminence through continuous behaviors
6. Align human resources all on the same vision

If you happen to pick this book up, I'd love to chat with you about it, and hear what you think.  As always don't hesitate to send me a message if you have questions or book suggestions.

Crush the day!

DV

Notes on Startups Or How To Build The Future

DV Weekend Pickup #45

Zero to One by Peter Thiel

Peter Thiel was an original founder of PayPal, founder of Palantir, board member at Facebook, and a tech investor with an impeccable track record.  He is by all accounts a Silicon Valley legend.  

"If you've invented something new but you haven't invented an effective way to sell it, you have a bad business - no matter how good the product."

At first glance you'd think this book is heavily tech focused but you quickly realize it's a challenge to businesses across all industries.  Can you go from 0 to 1?  As in, can you create something that nobody else is creating?  

"Customers won't care about any particular technology unless it solves a particular problem in a superior way.  And if you can't monopolize a unique solution for a small market, you'll be stuck with vicious competition."

In theory, this sounds like a dream! In actuality, well know it's damn hard to do!  Thiel will claim if you're able to answer these 7 questions...

1. The Engineering Question:  Can you create breakthrough technology (vs. incremental improvement?)
2. The Timing Question:  Is now the right time to start this particular business?
3. The Monopoly Question:  Are you starting with a big share of a small market?
4. The People Question:  Do you have the right team?
5. The Distribution Question:  Do you have a way to not just create but deliver your product?
6. The Durability Question:  Will your market position be defensible 10-20 years into the future?
7. The Secret Question:  Have you identified a unique opportunity that others don't see?

...then you've got a chance to make something magical happen.  "The next Bill Gates is not going to create an operating system. The next Larry Page and Sergey Brin will not create a search engine," says Thiel.  

Zero to One is anything but your average take on starting a business, but it is a great read for anyone who wants see business from a different angle.  And sometimes, it's amazing what you can see when you simply change your view.

Crush the day!

DV

A Memoir by The Minimalists

DV Weekend Pickup #44

Everything That Remains by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus

A memoir written by two guys in their early thirties, uh, what?  Well, mostly just one guy Fields Millburn but typically memoir's are reserved for the later years in ones life.  Oddly, it works, mainly because he is so gifted with the pen.  Everything That Remains forces you to answer the all important question...

"Love people, use things.  The opposite doesn't work."

...what if everything you ever wanted isn't actually what you want? 

Over the last 4 years these two really have caught steam with over 4 million readers to their blog, Netflix documentary, and a tremendous story.  

Fields Millburn was living the American dream, big corporate job, huge home, tons of money, many things, and a lot of stuff.  Accompanied with the less talked - loads of debt, high pressure, crappy relationships, and no time - that goes along with it.  He proceeds to go through a particularly tough year losing both his mother and marriage.  He falls on minimalism, leaves his six-figure job, pays of all his debt, and becomes a writer...

"The things you own end up owning you."

...this is a story about Everything That Remains.  Minimalism is an interesting concept that focuses NOT on owning nothing, but asking yourself the question...does this thing bring value to my life?

Crush the day!

DV

How the Best Businesses in the World Succeed

DV Weekend Pick Up #43

Okay, this was sort of a god send if there ever was one.  All year I had been working on the concept of "simplicity" in conjunction with groundupSALES.  Then seemingly out of nowhere as I am further researching the 80/20 Principle (Richard Koch classic) I stumble across this upcoming release...

Simplify by Richard Koch & Greg Lockwood

What I like best:  I literally had my Amazon cued for pre-order on the October '16 US release.  In a weird way I felt slighted because this was a concept that I had been researching for the last year. On second thought, it felt like validation - FINALLY a book - devoted to a concept that I am absolutely sure of - Sweet!

I'll admit Koch and Lockwood are not the most graceful writers so at times you are challenged throughout the book.  However, Koch is a tremendous business mind and understands business strategy better than most so what you ultimately get is an education.  If you work in a corporation today you probably will enjoy the chapter, The Weakness of Strong Firms: 5 Bad Reasons Managers Don't Simplify.

This book is  packed with great case studies, knowledge, and structure which depicts the power of simplifying.  Specifically...

1. Proposition simplification
2. Pricing simplification

...you will hear profiles on the greatest companies in the world like - Apple, Southwest, Google, Amazon, IKEA - plus many more.  Even more importantly why and how each company chooses each model.  If you consider business strategy to be an interest than this is must read.  If you don't you'll probably wonder why you even picked it up.  

Best quote:  "A designer knows he has reached perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to takeaway." - Antoine de Saint Exupery

Crush the day!

DV

What to Expect in 2017...and Thank you!

First, I wanted to thank and acknowledge all the subscribers (and viewers) who have supported me in 2016 and my apologies for the slower posting pace to end the year!  In 2017, I promise to give more...

• The book review is going nowhere.  This blog will be primarily used for the book review (w/ an occasional update.)  I am toying with a new name, format, and day change.  Expect 40-60 reviews this year and #43 later this week.
• I will be doing long(er) form sales article posting.  You will be able view those on LinkedIn.  They will be richer in content, a little lengthy(er), and more fun to read.  My first article Only Losers Rely on Luck to Increase Sales will be published early next week. 
• For the first 13 weeks, every Tuesday morning (starting tomorrow) I will be posting a sales video on Facebook.  It is a re-release of each track from my audio last year with a little twist!
• If you haven't already check out my new groundupSALES.com site.  2017 promises to be a big year for my sales training company. 
• I am currently writing my 1st sales book.  It's too far out to talk about release dates but the manuscript will definitely be completed in 2017. 
• Watch out for my gS Game Planners later this year.  This is a resource I ONLY created because I wanted it for my own personal use!  I will be doing one run of them later in the year for purchase.

Below are a few things I am considering but haven't convinced myself either way...yet.  Email me, contact me, whatever, if there is a direction you'd prefer, tell me!  Your input helps me drastically.

1. My first online sales training webinar. 
2. An offline sales seminar open to the public.
3. Short(er) form motivational podcast or facebook/insta videos?

This is my intended lay out for 2017 BUT things are always liable change as the year progresses.  In fact, I would expect MORE!  As always stay positive and...

Crush the day!

DV

The DV Weekend Pickup #42

Okay, here it is, the 42nd installment AND last book review of 2016...

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss

What I like best:  This book is an encyclopedia on what "the best in the world"  are saying, doing, and thinking.  While being basic in concept, it's not basic in content.  It distills Tim's wildly successful podcast, The Tim Ferriss Show, into one behemoth of a book (674 pages to be exact.)  His podcast is easily one of the most listened to in the entire country with over 100 million downloads since it's inception. 

The book layout is three segments - healthy, wealthy, and wise - and each segment features 2-3 page mini-chapters/profiles of these modern day titans.  Additionally, Tim features some of his personal best in 40 non-profile chapters.  You'll get to hear from over 100 world class - athletes, tech giants, doctors, trainers, generals, billionaires, and entertainers.  People like Shaun White, Chris Sacca, Peter Thiel, Peter Diamandis, Tony Robbins, Paulo Coelho, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jamie Foxx.  Some of my favorite questions...

• What are your morning rituals?
• If you could have one gigantic billboard anywhere with anything on it, what would it say?
• What advice would you give to your 20 or 30 year old self?
• What's the worst advice you hear being given on a regular basis?

...and these are just a small sample size.  It's going to be fun to use this book as a reference throughout 2017.  If you have an open mind, willingness to learn more, and curiosity to understand what makes the best, the best then look no further.  As always pick it up and let me know what you think!

Best quote:  "Free education is abundant, all over the internet.  It's the desire to learn that's scarce."  -  Naval Ravikant

*Disclaimer - There are an INCREDIBLE amount of excellent one-liners, anecdotes, and quotes in this book so picking just one wasn't easy!

Crush the day!

DV

Yup, that's my slipper...smh.

The DV Weekend Pickup #41

The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau

What I like best:  Chris isn't just talking about it, he's doing it.  This guy has already visited 175 countries and has been turning ideas into income for the last decade.  He is a non-conformist in every sense of the word and even has a blog The Art of Non-Conformity which is among the top 15,000 websites visited (keep in mind we're close to 1 billion now, ha!)

In preparation for the book Chris chatted with 1500 businesses all with annual revenue exceeding $50,000.  The catch, every business had to start with an investment of only $100 or less.  He selected his favorite 100 cases to share in the book and I will say, as each page turns, you meet some pretty interesting people/businesses.  The book serves as an easy-to-use guide for starting your own business as you get templates, lessons, and yes, even motivation that you don't need an MBA or even a business plan to start your own business today.

In my eyes this book further hammers home the point that "success" has WAY more to do with fulfillment (99%) than it does the size of your paycheck (1%.)  As always pick it up and let me know what you think!

Best Quote:  "If you make your business about helping others, you'll always have plenty of work."

Crush the day!

DV