Education: MBA, buy the Books
I had the opportunity to earn an MBA from an institution not without some prestige and esteem. For my friends and colleagues who were not afforded such an opportunity I offer the following list of books followed by a bit about each book.
The MBA may require more time or money than currently available to you. Still, you feel the need to gather a little more information before you embark on your glorious venture.
This book is brilliant only in its simplicity and common sense. The short story is “get up and do it”. If you need business to be demystified a bit, this book may be for you. All of the jargon and nonsense, or “bull shitake” as Guy Kawasaki would say, has been stripped away. If you need to do a little research, The Art of the Start may be all you need.
Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets
One major criticism of the MBA is it’s focus on spreadsheets and quantitation to the detriment of all else. Nassim Nicholas Taleb delights in reminding us of the folly in this. I recommend this book for a number of reasons but here I offer it with the hope you will learn the folly of expertise. There are too many examples of the failure of experts and quantitation. One needs only to study Long-term Capital Management to realize that there is more to business than spreadsheets and magic models.
Develop your story and learn to tell it well. It is painfully obvious but Seth Godin did a great job delivering the point.
Develop your story, learn to tell it well, and tell it at every opportunity. Trust me on this. If you need more convincing, click on the icon and buy the book.
Influence: Science and Practice
Master the principles outlined in this book and you will meet nothing but success. To some of you, influence comes naturally. To others, a bit of practice is needed. Robert Cialdini lays it all out for you.
