Book: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
Rating: it’s Maxwell
Lesson Learned: Takes a lot to be a leader
I have a hard time with getting through Maxwell, but there is a lot to gain from this book. Very simple and worth reading or listening to on a long car trip…The Law of Timing is the most important one.
Book: Talent is Never Enough by John C. Maxwell
Rating: meh
Lesson Learned: Don’t just rely on your talents
This is a good read for someone who has been told they are special their whole life: middle class kids. It’s lesson is to incorporate a myriad of other things to make yourself talent plus…Don’t be lazy with your gifting or they are no good to you or anyone else.
Book: The Truth About You: Your Secrets to Success by Marcus Buckingham
Rating: Good
Lesson Learned: What makes me tick
This is what I will have my kid do in high school. You go around all day with a pad and write down the things that give you energy and the things that drain your energy. It helps you to think about the kind of work you will be suited for so that you can be as effective as possible. The real point is one of the chapters, “You’ll Never Find the Perfect Job”. When you realize this the job you have becomes extremely valuable because you can make it fit who you are. You begin to do the things you are good at while letting others take the things that you are weak at.
Book: Now, Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D.
Rating: Best
Lesson Learned: What my strengths are
The real value of this book is that it lets you take the Clifton Strength finder for free. The book says we all want to talk about our strengths but there is no standard lexicon. What does being a people person really mean? This book gives a systematic approach of how you are a people person. The strength finder told me my strengths were: Activator, Focus, Ideation, Strategic, and Futuristic. Again, great book, but the real value is this test.
Book: First, Break all the Rules by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
Rating: Great
Lesson Learned: how to lead effectively
To lead effectively you cannot just follow the same ol’ rules about fair play. You have to topple the preconceived conceptions, be who you are and lead with your strengths. Find your style and voice.
