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Book 27: A Beautiful Mind

Oz — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:47:46 +0000

The biography of John Nash the mathematical genius and Nobel laureate. This text is a chronicle of his life, battles of John Nash. The text is long, 443 pages. For non game theory enthausiasts I suggest you watch the movie of the same title. Though this is not a core business book, I enjoyed reading A Beautiful Mind. Game theory and international trade was my forte in graduate school.
Sylvia Nasar’s narrative was thoughtful and incisive.

Book 26: Thinkertoys

Oz — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:23:00 +0000

The handbook about thinking, recognizing and generating great ideas. Originally written in the 90’s the book introduces simple games, tricks to spur new ideas and new perspectives of older ideas. It is well written and it is not meant to be read from front to back (I broke this rule). Rather it is a book worth keeping close by, a mine of new bits and tricks.
Michalko is a master of brain tweaks, a science which is presently experiencing its own renaissance. I read a borrowed copy and I intend to get my own copy. Yup! It was worth reading.

Book 25: First, Break All The Rules

Oz — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:10:37 +0000

Instructional, with ample data to back up the propositions. The book promised to change the way some conventional management principles were viewed and it did. The text contains valuable and even sometimes counter-intuitive insights about the role of managers in developing the work environment. There is a discussion on Talent, Skills and knowledge that is a must read for young managers. The book is based on this discussion.
Overall the book was a bit boring. Maybe the authors being pollsters from Gallup had something to do with the writing style. The discussion on the methods of sampling could have been moved to the Appendix or made down-loadable online, then the core would have been a short hand book a la Strengthsfinder style.
So far this is the only business book I have read that uses extensive primary data to back up claims. I recommend the book to any new manager and for others I suggest reading the sections selectively.

Architects of Poverty

Oz — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:32:04 +0000

The author of Architects of Poverty, Mr Mbeki speaks on poverty in Africa.

Best advice I ever got

Oz — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:48:29 +0000

Fortune magazine interviewed 22 business leaders asking for the best advice they ever received. There is a broad range of responses. From Tiger Woods, “Go ahead and hit the damn ball” which he received from his dad to Jim Singal’s (co founder of Costco) advice about teaching and leadership “Some people believe that you should say something just once. But I think you get a message across by communicating it every day.” The slide show on the CNN Money is worth reviewing.
For me the best advice I ever got was to always write stuff down. Problems, solutions, notes, ideas, tasks, dreams, inspiration whatever it is just write it down. Making list sets your mind free to actually do the things that matter. I have had this point made over and over and though I understood the rationale behind this technique, I am just starting to reap the benefits of writing things down because now I finally get it. It only works if you write everything down.
Like all business and personal tips the challenge is in the implementation. It is difficult to execute these tips if they aren’t entrenched in your gut. What is the best business or personal advice you ever got.

Book 24: Winning

Oz — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:50:14 +0000

Practical. Jack Welch’s book Winning reads like a blog. His direct and candid management style come alive through the text. The book is written in a question and answer format. His management and leadership tips and advice clearly shows that Mr. Welch has a vast wealth of management experience, through the lens of which, he can tell his war stories.
I found the chapter on career a bit dated. However I enjoyed the first part of the book Winning. While this book is not big on grand ideas it is a practical how-to text for young and aspiring managers. Winning ranks in the top 20Th percentile (in terms of usefulness) of the business books I have read so far. Recommended.

50 Books In 50 Weeks, 25th Week Review

Oz — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:50:53 +0000

I received a pre-release copy of The 100 Best Business Books of All Time from the publishers in January 2009. Flipping through the book I came of disappointed, not in the 100 Best Business Books of All Time, but that I had only read 4 of the 100 books. This was dismal. I then challenged myself to read 50 business books in 2009.
I am reading the 24Th book and today is the 27Th of June. I am right on target to read 50 business books (not necessarily the ones on the 100 best list) by years end. In doing this I have swept a few business leaders off their feet with the knowledge garnered from reading these books. I even got an invite from a CEO to visit his personal library. That was a cool experience too. If you are still wondering what the point of this entry is, this is how I pat my own back for meeting this personal goal. Look out for the two paragraph reviews of the remaining 27 business books

Steve Cunningham’s Video Review Of The Book “Positioning” By Al Ries and Jack Trout

Oz — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:12:21 +0000

Open Banks

Oz — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:20:35 +0000

Nigeria is to lift a ban on foreign takeovers of its banks, breaking a decades-old legacy of protectionism to open Africa’s biggest untapped market for financial services to international competition…“We would try to encourage foreign banks that are coming, not just with money, but with management and systems, to come in and acquire,” he said. “Why wouldn’t I be comfortable with a bank owned by a Barclays, or HSBC or China Construction Bank, who I know? For me it’s a no-brainer.”- FT
Is this a laudable rponouncement? It depends on who you ask. While lifting the 10% cap on foreign ownership may increase the confidence of foreign investors and subsequently capital inflow into these major banks, the converse is also true.
I see this move as a bit too drastic and reactionary and it may end up being counter-productive. Long term investors think long term, rhetoric that seem to be lost on the policy makers. Who knows what the next-Gov. will choose to do. A policy of new leadership resulting in a drastic overhaul, attracts the shady kind of foreign investment developing economies ought to avoid. A key lesson learned from the global financial crisis is that all foreign investments are not created equal.
The lack of confidence in financial systems right now is not a result of the limited stake of foreign banks in the Nigerian banking sector. It is pervasive in the global financial system. Regardless of their part in the global meltdown all financial institutions are viewed through the lens of the global recession. Only time will heal these wounds.
Ever wondered why Nigeria always seem to attract oppourtunistic capital?

Book 23: Getting Things Done

Oz — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:03:42 +0000

David Allen’s Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress Free Productivity is ‘USEFUL’. Reading this audiobook was worth the time and energy expended in listening to it. The basic idea is that multi-tasking as we know is, is myth. It more efficient to free ones brain up for more rewarding tasks like, the doing of tasks, than the remembering of those tasks. Makes sense. This is timely idea for the attention economy and knowledge workers. I enjoyed the discussions on open loops, ~2 minute rule, planning.

I enjoyed listening to texts so much Iwould have to grab the hard copy soon. I recommend GTD to anyone who remotely feels like they do not have enough hours in a day to fulfil their personal and professional obligation.