Book Notes

Question the book answers: Why do some people end up loving what they do, while so many others fail at this goal? • Comedian Steve Martin when asked for his advice for aspiring performers; “nobody ever takes note of my advice, because it’s not the answer they wanted to hear. What they want to hear is ‘Here’s how you get an agent, here’s how you write a script,’…but I always say, ‘Be so good they can’t ignore you.” Summary: • Why do some people end up loving what they do, while so many others fail at this goal? • Most [...]

Drive:  The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us Author: Daniel Pink Summary: when it comes to motivation, there’s a gap between what science knows and what business does.  Our current business operating system—which is built around external, carrot-and-stick motivators—doesn’t work and often does harm.  We need an upgrade.  And the science shows the way.  This new approach has three essential elements: Autonomy: the desire to direct our own lives Mastery: the urge to get better and better at something that matters Purpose: the yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves Autonomy: our default [...]

Ego Is the Enemy - by Ryan Holiday Ego = an unhealthy belief in our own importance. Arrogance. Self-centered ambition. The need to be better than, more than, recognized for, far past any reasonable utility. That’s the definition this book will use. Ego is the enemy of what you want and of what you have. Ego is the enemy of mastering a craft. Ego is the enemy of real creative insight. Ego is the enemy of working well with others. Ego is the enemy of building loyalty and support. Ego is the enemy of longevity. Ego is the enemy of [...]

The 4-Hour Work Week Author: Tim Ferriss Main theme;  Most of us work 50+ hours per week for 40 years so that we can retire at age 65+ when we are too tired to really enjoy it.  Work really hard, save up and then retire….”Deferrers.”  Why burn ourselves out, deferring our enjoyment of life, when we can redefine the rules of the game and live the life we want right now?  It sounds ludicrous and maybe even irresponsible, but Ferriss argues that this reaction is merely a product of social conditioning and fear.  We don’t need to play that game…we [...]