The Best Of The Best 2013

HOT READS FOR THE PRACTITIONER

Title: The Year’s Best Books, Articles, Websites and Videos

Competencies: numerous

Who benefits: all who are still learning and developing

Consultant Usage: excellent resources

What’s it about? At the end of each year I like to go back and review what I have written for the past 12 months. I then like to select the best of the best – those special Books, Articles, Websites and Videos that received my highest recommendations. For you readers who want to maximize your self-development, these recommendations would be a great place to start. Here are this year’s top ten:

Books:

Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business

My book of the year. It is about the future of business (I hope). If you are only going to read one business book a year, I hope this year or next you will read this one.

Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People

In my review earlier this year I wrote this summary: “This book reminds us that if we want to build a better world, we need to start with ourselves. Even in the most beautiful of mansions we can find dust and even mold, rust if we look hard enough. In ourselves, if we dig deep we can find hidden cracks and crevasses that hold unseen and unexamined stereotypes and discriminations. And if you think you are the exception to this claim, then it is imperative you read and try to understand the content of this book.”

Influence: Science and Practice and Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive

Many of our readers are in sales related jobs, so I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t offer those readers the sales co-books of the year. The books are closely related with one author involved in both books. Both books are about influence and persuasion. Influence is the well-researched in depth book on the subject. Yes! is the quick hit book when you want to know something specific and you want it now. Both books belong in the smart salesperson’s tool kit.

From Smart to Wise: Acting and Leading with Wisdom

IMHO this is the best book on leadership this year. It offers an insightful approach to “nurturing wise, resilient, and flexible leadership in a world of growing complexity”.

It’s All About Who You Hire, How They Lead…and Other Essential Advice from a Self-Made Leader

This is an “up-from-the-bootstraps” story told in the first person from someone who went from nothing to 3 billion (with a B) dollars. Peter Drucker liked him, so will you.

Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck: What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur and Build a Great Business

If you are harboring entrepreneurial ambitions, this is your book of the year. Author Anthony K. Tjan has the right credentials to be taken very seriously.

Articles

12 Things Happy People Do Differently — And Why I Started Doing Them

This short article was written by a young man who asked the age old question “Is that all there is?”.  In his quest to find meaning and happiness in life he came upon 12 things happy people do. The list makes for a great checklist for you or for a group/team discussion. Don’t miss the opportunity to read about the actionable steps that could increase you happiness and life satisfaction.

Videos

I will be a hummingbird

It is difficult to imagine anyone having a bad day after watching this 2 minute inspirational video. Recommended for kids and adults. If you haven’t watched it yet, invest 2 minutes in this energy booster and decided who else you want to share it with. Narrated by Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai.

Multitasking: How It Is Changing the Way You and Your Children Think and Feel.

Multitasking screws up your “pay attention” skills just like the social media screw up your social skills. It is time to understand just what multitasking does to our productivity (lowers it), our overall thinking skills (and especially our children’s) and even our relationships. Watch at least the first 15 minutes of this video when you are not busy with other things – please. (Stanford professor Clifford Nass, the speaker, passed away last month at the early age of 55. His contributions to society will be greatly missed.)

Websites

Coursera

Coursera is still my favorite website. If you are still open to self-development and growing intellectually, you can gain a first rate continuing education for free at this online university. I have participated in 20 courses in the past years. Two or three were clunkers – I ditched them early by clicking a button that said “unenroll”. Some were average, just okay, but 5 or 6 were better than all of my undergraduate courses and most of my graduate courses. Enrollment takes 20 second, participate only in those activities of interest, unenroll at the click of a button. It is a no hassle zone and it is open to all. Happy learning.

Conscious Capitalism Website

Catch the wave of the future of business on this website. Click on “Content” for lots of options to understand why this business concept is so important and why it is gaining momentum.

So there you have it. Ten opportunities to learn, grow, develop. I wish you Happy Learning throughout this holiday season and all of next year!

Catch you later.

Bill Bradley

Bill Bradley (mostly) retired after 35 years in organizational consulting, training and management development. During those years he worked internally with seven organizations and trained and consulted externally with more than 90 large and small businesses, government agencies, hospitals and schools.