Solutions Talk

Reading in the New Year...

Today's Notable Quote: "Those of us who have been true readers all our life seldom fully realise the enormous extension of our being which we owe to authors. We realise it best when we talk with an unliterary friend. He may be full of goodness and good sense but he inhabits a tiny world. In it, we should be suffocated. The man who is contented to be only himself, and therefore less a self, is in prison. My own eyes are not enough for me, I will see through those of others. Reality, even seen through the eyes of many, is not enough. I will see what others have invented..." - C.S. Lewis (1898 - 1963).

2008 is underway...I've finished a novel (Vince Flynn's latest "Mitch Rapp" thriller - a Christmas present)and have seven other books in my "next-up" queue. They include:

Perelandra - the second of C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy

Without Fail - Lee Child

This is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession - Daniel J. Levitin

Ten Thousand Horses - John Stahl-Wert and Ken Jennings

The Serving Leader - John Stahl-Wert and Ken Jennings

Brandscapes: Architecture in the Experience Economy - Anna Klingmann

Bobos in Paradise - David Brooks

Am also thinking about picking up Seth Godin's latest book "Meatball Sundae",  A meatball sundae is the unfortunate result of mixing two good ideas.

I'm always looking for a new title (guilty pleasure, business, inspirational, biographies, etc.) so, help me out and tell me what you are reading...

Seth on P.J. on Taylor Clark...

Today's Notable Quote: "Does Starbucks exploit impoverished coffee farmers? Clark points out it couldn’t if it wanted to: “'Despite its perceived ubiquity, it only buys a little over 2 percent of the world’s coffee.'” - from P.J. O'Rourke's review of Taylor Clark's book Starbucked.

Seth Godin's blogpost on P.J. O'Rourke's book review is of interest. I can't help chuckling or laughing out loud whenever reading O'Rourke's descriptions of other authors' writing. Enjoy the post and review for yourself by linking to:  What good writing looks like

The "Wilde" Experience...

Today's Notable Quote: "It was to have its service of the intellect, certainly, yet it was never to accept any theory or system that would involve the sacrifice of any mode of passionate experience. Its aim, indeed, was to be experience itself, and not the fruits of experience, sweet or bitter as they might be. Of the asceticism that deadens the sense, as of the vulgar profligacy that dulls them, it was to know nothing. But it was to teach man to concentrate himself upon the moments of a life that is itself but a moment." - Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900), from The Picture of Dorian Gray.

A strange, haunting and masterful literary work. One of the "Classics" that I am reading or re-reading.

Authenticity: A Review...

Today's Notable Quote: "Today's consumers, whether age 3 or 103, are savvier than ever. They want the 'real thing' and want it customized to them. Gilmore and Pine have identified a new benchmark for marketers of goods and services to differentiate even more by creating memorable, meaningful, and truly authentic experiences for their guests in the twenty-first century." - Maxine Clark, Founder, Chief Executive Bear, and Chairman, Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Upon completion of The Experience Economy in 2000, I began to really research the topic--reading some 3 dozen additional related books--while reading through it a second time. I've since completed nine readings of TEE - and plan at least a few more as I continue to draw new insight from each subsequent reading.

The latest release from Gilmore and Pine, Authenticity What Consumers Really Want seems, after my initial reading, to be a book worthy of many read-throughs, as well. Following is a succinct review of the book from experientia.com with a link to an additional review from Publishers Weekly. Enjoy...and...buy the Book: “Authenticity” by Gilmore and Pine

Putting Words in Your Head...

Today's Notable Quote: "There are two kinds of people in the world: those that like Neil Diamond and those that don't." - Bob Wiley (played by Bill Murray) from the 1991 movie What About Bob?

Noteworthy excerpt from Seth Godin's blogsite today (reminded me of  the quote above):

"There are only three kinds of people in the world:

• Those that like audio books
• Those that don't
• (and by far the largest) those that have never tried one"

To his point - audiobooks can be an entertaining and efficient means of gaining new insight and information--particularly for those with limited "reading time".

I find that I enjoy a "combination approach" to business and pleasure reading--as I am often in the midst of 3 to 5 books at a time.  Audio books are great for "on-the-run" information gathering and preview/review. Executive Book Summaries serve as a "preview" tool--much like a movie trailer to help me decide whether or not to add the complete work to my personal or business library.

Best wishes to each of you on your personal "head-loading" quests...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Inconsideration of "Spoilers"

Today's Notable Quote: "The interesting thing for me is how the Net changes what it means for something to be a secret. Five hundred year old technology (books) is just too slow for the Net" - Seth Godin from his blogpost Keeping a secret .

As a fan of the Harry Potter series, I can attest to how disconcerting it is to have to "avoid" the would-be spoilers on the Net. These "spoiler-spammers" are the epitome of inconsideration--seeking to "jump the gun"  on the author's timing--and in my mind spoil the fun of those seeking to join the community of readers who are eager to enjoy the series conclusion on their own terms--and on their own timetable. 

Although I don't disagree with Seth Godin's concept in theory--and do not doubt that it would work in practice--I still, however, lament the fact that many dismiss the value of deferred gratification--seemingly having lost the "will to wait".

The Power of Aspiration

Today's Notable Quote: "Aspirations are helpful because they help us connect emotionally to the speaker, the company, and the issues. They help us see into a person or company’s soul." - from Guy Kawasaki's blogpost review of Lois Kelly's new book Beyond Buzz: The Next Generation of Word-of-Mouth Marketing. This book's gonna make my "Library list".

Life has taught me an important lesson. Aspiration(often misinterpreted by some as idealism or naivete), belief and persistence will eventually meet with opportunity--if they are applied with diligence over time. This is where "overnight success" occurs. The Nine Best Story Lines for Marketing

Medieval Help Desk

Today's Notable Quote: "It won't open." - Quote from the video clip "Medieval Help Desk".

This video makes fun of moderns newbie computer users by illustrating - in a way fully understandable to them - how silly some of their questions are by creating a similar problem in the Middle Ages.

It's from a show produced by the Norwegian Broadcasting television channel (NRK) in 2001. The spoken language is Norwegian. It's performed by Bache and Gokstad. Enjoy!

C.S. Lewis on "Endless Books"

Today's Notable Quote: "I am the product of long corridors, empty sunlit rooms, upstairs indoor silences, attics explored in solitude, distant noises of gurgling cisterns and pipes, and the noise of wind under the tiles. Also, of endless books." - C.S. Lewis (1898 - 1963).

Clive Staples (Jack) Lewis died on this day in 1963--just shy of his 65th birthday. One of the great 20th century thinkers and writers--Lewis often spoke of his love affair with the written word. A lover of The Word, as well as the writings of other authors - Lewis left a tremendous legacy for us to enjoy. In his words once again "The man who is contended to be only himself, is in a prison. My eyes are not enough for me. I will see through those of others."

For more about the works of this scholar, writer and Christian apologist...check out the attached link: http://www.cslewis.com/index.html

The Broker...A fun read...

Today's Notable Quote: "Not a weighty tome by anyone's standards...nonetheless, as enjoyable an airplane read as I've had in some time." - SD

I enjoyed The Broker. Primarily because it speaks lovingly of the fabulous terrain, the friendly people and the fantastic foods and beverages which are an unmistakable part of the Italian experience. Italy's people are warm, its food is fantastic and its pace ranges from "relaxed" to "fun frenetic".

Kudos to JG. He has captured the essence of Italy in his most recent novel. And not a bad story, to boot...Grazie, Grisham!