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Title: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Author: Stephen R. Covey
Review by: Vera Quinn, COO
Description of the book: These “Seven Habits” express a simple yet compelling idea: To be effective, we must adopt a principle-centered, character-based approach. We must work from the “inside-out,” guided by the habits that correspond with each stage along the “Maturity Continuum.”
Why should you read this? My copy of Stephen R. Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People is signed by the author and constantly referenced. Most noticeable is that it is dog-eared, and well worn,—a sign not of neglect, but rather of its indispensability and enduring appeal over the years. I find its ideas as relevant and meaningful today, as when they were first introduced over 20 years ago.
At whatever stage along the path to maturity we may be, the “Seven Habits” offer us a powerful framework to solve problems, maximize opportunities, enrich relationships and continually learn and grow. For over two decades, the “Seven Habits” have given us the tools to create the lives, livelihoods and relationships we most desire—effective, productive and purposeful.
My favorite part: One passage in particular always strikes a chord:
“…[I]f you want to have a happy marriage, be the kind of person who generates positive energy and sidesteps negative energy rather than empowering it. If you want to have a more pleasant, cooperative teenager, be a more understanding, empathic, consistent, loving parent. If you want to have more freedom, more latitude in your job, be a more responsible, a more helpful, a more contributing employee. If you want to be trusted, be trustworthy. If you want the secondary greatness of recognized talent, focus first on primary greatness of character.”
What resonates is the premise that we must look within to find the change we seek and to become our best selves. We must first earn self-mastery and develop great character—what Covey calls achieving the “private victories.” Only then, can we achieve the “public victories” of teamwork, cooperation, communication, social recognition and influence. And to sustain this success, we must internalize “Seven Habits” that embody fundamental principles at the foundation of true effectiveness, such as fairness, integrity, honesty, dignity, service, quality, potential and growth.
Categor(y)(ies): Development, Entrepreneurship, Business Management
This is the ninth installment of our book reviews project designed to introduce you to books that Cydcor team members find especially valuable. This review is by Megan, Cydcor technology consultant, and is the first review she has done for us.
Title: The Tipping Point; How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
Description of the book: The Tipping Point is a succinct look at that moment where a marketing campaign becomes a success. What does it take to make something viral on the web? According to Gladwell, it's very much like how a disease becomes an epidemic. All it takes is one person, a small and targeted push, to make a campaign a success.
Why should you read this? I highly recommend the Tipping Point to anyone in sales, but it's also just an incredibly enjoyable look at human nature and how we function as a society. One gets the feeling that Malcolm Gladwell is one of those people who just really enjoys diving into data and research, and he definitely brings the reader along for the ride.
My favorite part: My favorite part of the Tipping Point was his description of the 1967 small world experiment by social psychologist Stanley Milgram. Basically, Milgram distributed almost 200 letters to students in Nebraska and asked them to try to get them to a stockbroker in Boston by passing it to people that they knew and asking them to do the same.
The study found that it took an average of six people to deliver each letter. But, more interesting, of the letters that came through to the stockbroker a vast majority passed through a single person, a travelling salesman.
This illustrated one of Gladwell's points, that success of any social epidemic is dependent on a few important types of people. That salesman was one of those types of people, a connector.
We all know connectors in our lives. They are people who know large numbers of people and who are in the habit of making connections, a sort of hub in the middle of social wheels. But the reason why this resonated with me so much is that my mother is clearly one a connector, and reading the Tipping Point helped me understand why she has been so successful, and some of the struggles that she has experienced.
This is the eighth installment of our book reviews project designed to introduce you to books that Cydcor team members find especially valuable. This review is by Brianna, Cydcor Peoples Services and Field Recruiting Intern, and is the first review she has done for us.
Title: The Secret
Author: Rhonda Byrne
Why should you read this? It is so inspiring and shows how changing your thoughts can truly change your world!
My favorite part: Real life testimonials about people who have found success after reading The Secret.
This is our fifth installment of our book reviews project designed to introduce you to books that Cydcor team members find especially valuable. This review is by Gary Polson, Cydcor CEO, and is third Gary has written for us. Gary has previously reviewed other books for us, including Wooden: A lifetime of observations and reflections on and off the court and The Effective Executive.
Title: When the Game was ours
Author: Larry Bird, Earvin Magic Johnson, with Jackie Macmulllan
Description of the book: Larry Bird and Magic Johnson will always be linked as two competitors. They are linked like Muhammad Ali versus Joe Frazier and Wilt Chamberlain versus Bill Russell. They first competed against each other in the NCAA basketball championship, which has the highest ratings of viewers of any game in history. They then competed against each other in the NBA and in three NBA finals. One was white and one was black; one from a city and one from the country; one was quiet and shy and one outgoing and loved being around people. The one thing that they had in common is that neither was a great athlete. They were considered slow, with poor jumping ability. They were great because of their work ethic and their deep desire to be great. They out-worked and out-competed their competition.
They did not like each other at first, yet there was respect. They each practiced hard, and were motivated to beat the other. Then because of a television commercial they became friends. This book tells about each of their lives, how hard they worked and practiced and how they became friends.
Why should you read this? This is a must read for people who want to be successful. It does help if you have a slight interest in basketball, but it may not be necessary. This is a compelling story of what it takes to win. We often think these great stars are born great. Not the case with most and especially Bird and Magic. They did it by will and effort.
My favorite part: One of the best quotes from the book, summarizes what I am referring to about why this book is a must read for those who want to know what it takes to be successful: “[Magic] worked tirelessly on his ball-handling and his rebounding with the advice [Coach] Fox gave him imprinted on his mind: when you think you have done enough, do a little more, because someone out there is working harder than you. Bird was told the same thing by Coach Jim Jones. As he advanced from high school to the college game, he wasn’t sure that “other person” truly existed. ‘Not until I met Magic,’ Bird said.”
This is our third installment of our book reviews project designed to introduce you to books that Cydcor team members find especially valuable. This review is by Edvil, a Cydcor DM Lead. This is the first review that Edvil has done for us.
Title: The One Minute Manager
Author: Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson
Description of the book: Story is about a young man who wants to find out what makes a great manager. He meets a manager that everyone talks about in a company and how amazing he is at managing people. He talks to several people about this manager and finally speaks with the manager himself. He gives him some tools on how to become a good "one minute manager".
Why should you read this? If anyone is new at managing this would be a good book to start out with on how to manage people. It's a very easy read and easy to understand the logic behind the tips/tools given to become a good manager.
My favorite part: Favorite part for me was on how to make the people you manage lead the meetings we have and come up with their own ideas/goals. Making them feel like they came up with them instead of me "telling" them what to do. Makes them manage their own notes and prepare better before the meetings.
Welcome to Cydcor Reviews! This is our first installment of our book reviews project designed to introduce you to books that Cydcor team members find especially valuable. Check back soon for more reviews!
Title: Wooden; A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court
Author: John Wooden with Steve Jamison
Review by: Gary Polson, Cydcor CEO
Description of the book: Coach Wooden is one of the great men of modern time who exemplified the balance of family, success and contribution. If you read any Coach Wooden book, this is the one I recommend.
Why should you read this? This easy-to-read book begins at his foundation: family, values and virtues and then discusses and offers wisdom on the topics of success, achievement, competition and leadership.
My favorite part:
How do you approach a touchy, but important, subject with someone at home or at work without damaging the relationship?
This has always been a challenge for me, and for most people I know. Because we are afraid the conversation will damage the relationship we tend to avoid it or dance around the issue, which in the long-term is more damaging.
An effective conversation starts with first understanding what you are trying to accomplish with the conversation? Do you want to show who is boss? Win an argument? Shame them? Defend yourself? Dump your uncertainty, anxiety on them?
I learned at the “Crucial Conversations” class, given by Vital Smart that the objectives of crucial conversations are to:
(1) Get facts
(2) Learn
(3) Build the relationship
(4) Get a productive result
If I focus on this and not on any emotions, anxieties, etc., it will go well. I try to avoid these conversations when I am upset or have strong emotions. It makes it about me rather than the four objectives. Is it a good time for them? I try not to be the coach to yell at the kids in the outfield to “keep your eye on the ball” right after they drop it. They are too embarrassed and self-shaming to listen to coaching at that time.
Timing is important.
The basic outline that often works is a 3-step approach.
I start with the belief that I do not know. I just have a hunch. Also, I try not to be accusatory and have a calm tone. “Why would an intelligent, reasonable person do this” is a good mindset.
“Joe, I observed when you were talking to Cindy that you interrupted her three times in the conversation; I noticed you interrupted Juan twice when he gave his side of the story. I am wondering if interrupting people is a reason you are struggling building your team. What is your perspective?”
Then LISTEN.
Coach Wooden is one of the great men of modern time who exemplified the balance of family, success and contribution. If you read any Coach Wooden book, this is the one I recommend.
This easy-to-read book begins at his foundation: family, values and virtues and then discusses and offers wisdom on the topics of success, achievement, competition and leadership.
I've pulled some of my favorite quotes from the book to share with you: