Book Review: Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi

Never Eat Alone is the ultimate book on networking recommended as one of the best business books ever. But after first few pages, I was skeptical that this book will turn out to be another broad level guide about networking containing importance of relationships and fearlessness ultimately from which I will come out BORED. I can say instead I have come out wiser, clearer and more creative. The book is FULL of practical and usable tips and tricks which will go a long way in improving one’s connections if implemented. And Keith Ferrazzi knows what he is talking about. He has played the game, mastered the game and reinvented it as well. Whether you are trying to succeed as a businessman, want to be a CEO or even running an NGO, this book is a must read to at least take you in the right direction. It will open your mind towards the vast array of possibilities of how you can go about expanding your network.

Now acknowledging that it is definitely a must-read I will like to criticize it a little bit as well. Mr Ferrazzi you would have been much more helpful if you would have included some bits about how people with different set of strengths than yours should try to achieve what you have. Without a doubt, as you yourself have also mentioned numerous times that you were born with gift of the gab and with an upbringing which made you comfortable in one-on-ones with seniors. Not all have the same strength as you have and by simply stating what you have done would not be of much help to the million shy people. Agreed some of your tips are easily embraceable and practice will make you better in the other tips, but because of your immense knowledge in the field I think we can expect more out of you.

So overall I am immensely benefited from reading this book as I plan to continue my struggle to come out of my shell and be comfortable with new people, making good conversations and enjoy in a group other than that of best friends and family. However, I do have these two thoughts in mind: Can drastic changes be made in personality traits and the other one being should I try to address my shortcoming or I should rather strengthen my strengths further.

Book Review: The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama

Ever tried reading those mystical or spiritual books in which half of it you do not understand and the other half that you do understand; your mind does not buy it because of being utterly illogical? If you haven’t then you should give a shot to “The autobiography of a Yogi” as I am sure your mind does not have capacity to imagine how absurd a book can be. “The Art of Happiness” was started by me with a fear in mind of encountering a similar book but since I liked an interview of Dalai Lama somewhere I did expect it to be little different. And what a fresh breeze of air this book is. I feel lucky to have read this, to be able to get a glimpse into thoughts of Dalai Lama.  Amazing book.

There is always a sense of disbelief and scorn in my mind when I hear spiritual or religious views because of my atheist inclination. But when you hear a person who is quite similar to you in thought process, trying to explain those spiritual or religious views, how they make sense and even cite some studies which prove the views right, it becomes hard to reject his narration. This book is an effort of a psychologist, Howard Cutler who is trying to first get convinced by the views of Dalai Lama and then give world a way to be able to witness the brilliance and clarity of one of the purest minds in the world today. It makes the book very interesting and credible as the author does not sound completely submissive to Dalai Lama. He reasons it, questions it and presents his view as well.

I especially liked the meditations that are suggested in this book. To me meditations were always equal to reaching the state of near-blackout while keeping your thoughts away but for the first time I have heard about mind exercises as part of meditation. And I did find these exercises very effective and practical. The book is heavily focused on the power of compassion and how you need to control your mind. Power of compassion is really unique in my readings till now but controlling your mind did seem clichéd, though the treatment of the subject by Dalai Lama is not at all hackneyed. Must Must Read Book!! Go buy it. Read it. Now!!

Book Review: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

As I am writing this, I have just paid the last installment of the fees for making a web-based application. The cost of making it was significant as was the time spent on visualizing, interacting with the developer and testing it. And now I am not sure that it is something I will be translating into a business of my own, at least not in the near future. Sigh. When I got this business idea, I wanted to just-do-it nike style before it gets too late and so I wrote the B-plan in a train travel, met the website designing company the next day and closed the deal day after. I now wish I would have read this book before that.

Eric Ries has written a masterpiece for entrepreneurs with radical concepts and ideas. And you come out buying everything the author has said much like a textbook because everything he has talked about makes sense, is practical and is backed by reason. The book is divided into three parts – Vision, Steer and Accelerate which is further divided into 12 chapters.

In the first part, he talks about how once you get an idea you should go on defining it and go about testing your hypotheses. Every business idea is made up of some hypotheses – people need X, A is inferior B will do a much better job, if there would be Z in the market people will completely change how they are currently doing things etc. All these beliefs of ours, which are obvious to us has many more layers to it or is sometimes even outright wrong though it might appear infallible from our vantage point. All these hypotheses need testing and further refinement for which one should start with what the author calls MVP – Minimum Viable Product. There are many arguments against MVP for example, mine were I will not get the best response if they do not experience the full thing or they might steal my idea. But if you think deeper through those arguments, MVP does make perfect sense.

In the second part, author discusses developing the product further by testing each and every change and deciding which one are making sense and should be included and which ones should not be. Here he highlights vanity matrices and how we should stay away from them. It is very important for startups to use relevant matrices. He also talks about pivot-or-persevere moments in startups when you have to take a call whether to continue working hard on the path you are going or to change the path now knowing something you did not know earlier.

Third part is all about the organization structure, policies and processes that will help you grow. Here he talks about different engines of growth on which a startup needs to be very clear that which one it is going to target. Here he has emphasized on innovation and how to inculcate it as part of the startup culture. The epilogue in which he has discussed how Taylor’s work has been misinterpreted and misused in today’s business world and why startup should not be victim of that, is also very interesting read.

Overall it was very enriching book. I especially liked how the author has been talking about how so much energy and talent is getting wasted chasing unclear and imagined ideas. His work has been an amazing effort towards reducing that loss. I highly recommend this book if you want to start your own company, you have one or are in involved into intrapreneurship.