A Starter Collection of Questions
People collect everything from McDonalds Happy Meal toys to antique guns to books to cars. Of all the things you've heard of people collecting, perhaps questions isn't on that list.
Collecting questions might seem unusual, but consider this: people typically collect things for at least on of three reasons:
- What they are collecting is meaningful.
- What they are collecting is valuable.
- Great use or pleasure is derived from the pursuit of collecting, or the use of what is collected.
And collecting questions fits into each of these categories.
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Potential Pointer: Questions are a powerful tool - too powerful to leave to chance or spur-of-the-moment inspiration. You will ask better questions if you collect great ones that you can use whenever the time is right.
Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow’s Big Changes by Mark Penn with E. Kinney Zalesne
 In 1984 I read Megatrends, a book that shaped much conversation in the nation, influenced my thinking and heightened my observational skills.
In 2007, I'm reading Microtrends, and it is doing the same things for me; and I predict it will also shape national dialogue in some ways as well.
The lead author, Mark Penn has been a consultant to politicians (Tony Blair and Bill and Hillary Clinton are three examples) as well as business leaders including Bill Gates. He has written a book based on his research into the microtrends that are shaping the United States in ways you might not notice. By his definition microtrends are "small, under-the-radar forces that can involve as little as 1 percent of the population, but which are powerfully shaping our society."
Some examples include "uptown tattooed", "do it yourself doctors", "working retired". Overall the book identifies and describes more than 70 of these trends. Along with a plethora of statistics and trends, each microtrend chapter closes with the author’s take on the implications of this trend for businesses, new products and services and more.
While the book is largely about the U.S, the last section covers a number of international trends. If you want to read a book that will be widely talked about soon (my prediction), if you are involved in strategic thinking and/or setting business plans, are looking to start a new business, or are just interested in socio-economic trends, this is a book you will definitely want to read. It is fun, interesting and reads like a novel!
Ten Ways to Harness the Power of Questions
We all use questions everyday - in every part of our lives: as a leader, as a peer, as a parent, as a team member, as a spouse. We can't get through the day without asking at least some questions. Even if the only questions you ask all day are:
"How are you doing?", or
"What's new?"
You are still asking questions.
So I'm not going to urge you to simply ask questions; that doesn’t make much sense - you already do that.
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Potential Pointer: One of our most powerful tools as a leader and a learner is great questions. Harness the power of questions and you are on your way to greater success and effectiveness in any part of your life.
Be Unreasonable: The Unconventional Way to Extraordinary Business Results by Paul Lemberg
 I love the title of this book. That's probably part of the reason I purchased it, actually. It delivers for me - it is a book that shares specific advice, wrapped around lots of stories. The author clearly has experience in helping businesses do the things he suggests and he shares many of those stories, as well as other interesting examples that we can relate to. I found this book interesting (I'm thinking about a lot of the stories and examples), useful (I've applied and will be applying some of the strategies in the coming days) and inspiring (it's helping me think about the unreasonableness of some of my goals… and staying focused on them). If you have big aspirations, or want to help others with their big goals, this book will help you. I recommend it highly. Learn more and purchase at Amazon.com.
Business Lessons From Presidential Politics
The most influential CEO in the world (George W. Bush) is facing mandatory retirement in 16 months and already there are 20 men and women vying for the job - very publicly. They are talking about how they will do things differently if they are chosen, and they are doing everything they can to prove how all the other candidates are wrong for the job.
When President Bush leaves office, many across the country will be thankful when the 24+ month campaign cycle has ended. But before you write this off to "just politics," there are lessons to be learned from all the political maneuvering.
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Three Great Blog Posts
Recently a number of readers have told me the same thing – "Kevin, your newsletter is too expensive. Every week you recommend a book, and then I go out and buy it"
People also tell me that they have a hard time keeping up with all of the reading I recommend here.
For those two reasons, I'm doing something different this week. Instead of recommending a book, I'm going to recommend three blog posts that I've recently read. I recommend them for at least three reasons:
1. They are thought provoking, and I think you enjoy and benefit from them.
2. They will introduce you to some great authors and thinkers.
3. They might get you more interested in the blogosphere. If you haven't spent much time reading blogs, perhaps this taste will leave you wanting more!
So with no further adieu, and very little additional commentary on each, here are three posts for you to read:
Why all the Focus on Jerks?
What do you think?
What Made Jack Welch, Jack Welch
Definitely some things we can all learn here.
The Essential Qualities of Successful Sales Leadership
Are they different from any other type of leadership?
I will put this message on my blog as well, if you care to comment on the questions above, you can make those comments at my blog post.
Enjoy!
The Power of Symbols
 We all have symbols in our lives. As nations our flags and landmarks are two examples; as organizations logos or specific stories or situations may be symbols; and as individuals perhaps a picture, award or collectable fits this description. These symbols can remind us of our beliefs, of our loyalties, of our accomplishments and much more. Whether physical like a flag, symbolic like a story, or memory-anchored like a picture these can serve us in powerful ways.
None of this is new or revolutionary to you.
What may be revolutionary to you though is how we can use these symbols to our advantage as individuals and leaders.
Let me start with some examples.
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