Happy New Year! I wish you nothing but health, happiness, good fortune, and everything that comes with it in 2018. And, thank you, thank you for all the support in 2017. In just two weeks, January 16th 2018 - The Salesperson Paradox: A Strikingly Simple Way to Provide Solutions Your Customers Can't Say No To – will be available on Amazon! Yes, I'm excited.

Okay, here's my December 2017 Reading List...

“Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.” – Steve Jobs

If you like complex stuff which I doubt you do, but if you do, then you probably shouldn’t buy my upcoming book, The Salesperson Paradox: A Strikingly Simple Way to Provide Solutions Your Customers Can’t Say No To. Or read the rest of this article. Well, maybe you should. Then, you might want to buy it.

I believe simplicity is the secret. It’s the secret to reproducibility, engagement, performance, and potentially happiness. It’s the secret for the most “successful” companies in the world, people in the world, for you, and for me. That's why I will always strive for simplicity. I won’t always obtain it, but I’ll try.

Below are 18 examples of simplicity from people who also think it's pretty important. 

Happy Friday! I'm going to be switching up the "Reading List" just a little bit.  Moving forward, I'll only be providing three titles each month.  Honestly, I think TOP 3 just sounds better, no? Plus, I like doing things in threes, it's simpler, and easier to consume.

Okay, here's my November 2017 Reading List...

Happy Halloween everyone. Absolutely crazy I know, Thanksgiving already? 

Anyway, this month’s reading list has four slightly different books.

Per the usual, they’re ranked in order of my preference. However, similar to last month there was no clear cut #1 for me. If you have a specific question regarding any of these titles, then just shoot me a line.  

It's worth mentioning this month I had no distinct #1 favorite.  In fact, the order is mostly separated by slight preferences in style.  Which, as we know, is completely subjective.

However, from an impact standpoint, I'd highly recommend book #2 on the list.  An instantly implementable system for anyone managing others.  Plus, it's a short read...and we're all in a hurry!

Okay, here's my September 2017 Reading List...

What's up everyone?  I can't believe it's already September.  It's freaking crazy, but I guess we could have worse problems.  If you need a book heading into labor day weekend, then I can help you out.

August was a 5 book month: 2 psychology/human behavior, 1 self-help, 1 business, and 1 astrophysics.  I know that last one is kind of a curveball, but it kept looking at me every time I was in the airport.  I had to pick it up! 

Okay, here's my August 2017 Reading List... 

Summer's in mid-swing and 2017 is racing.  Absolutely crazy I know, but there's a silver lining. August gives you a great opportunity to perform a self-audit - personally and professionally.  It leaves you with enough time remaining to redirect the ship or double down on what's been working.

Before we move on with the reading list.  I want to give you TWO updates I have in the works for the back half of 2017...

I heard Gary Vaynerchuk say, "If you go out to dinner and the sommelier, waiter, or waitress recommends a bottle of wine, don't buy it."  Nobody can direct you on a bottle of wine unless they know what kind of wine you typically drink (or like.)  I think, he's right.  I think, the same goes for books.

Important things to note about my reading and consequently my lists...

I've decided to switch things up a bit.  Until further notice, I am going to be cancelling the DV Weekend Pickup - wah, wah, wah - but I am going to replace it with a monthly reading list.  

You can expect an edition on the last day of each month.  I will be ranking every book I read that month from most preferred to least preferred.  I think this new format will work two fold...

1. It will benefit you by having a basis of comparison

2. It will force me to be more subjective

Plus, I just really like lists.  Below is my first iteration...

You know those days where you feel like the whole world is corroborating against you in order to sabotage your deal.  There are a slew of things we can't control that unfortunately dictate the way a deal shakes out. Quite honestly, it sucks, I'm with you.

Interestingly though if we truly internalize our sales processes along the way we can probably conclude many times we killed our own deal.