Economic View - College Studies for the Business of Life - NYTimes.com

www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/business/economy/05view.html?_r=1&ref=business

Skills for Life- for you personally and so that you will be better prepared for success in your career.
* Learn Some Economics- The "ordinary business of life" will be your most pressing concern. Be Prepared for poor economy. -Learn to see, understand, analyze "the forces swirling around you" and how they influence what you are working on.
-Embrace "rigorous analytical skills"
* Learn Some Statistics/ Probability
-Learn to use FACTS- research, analyze, use to make decisions
- "Number Crunching"- know its potential as well as its limitation
* Learn basics of Finances
-Stocks vs.bonds, mortgages
-"Risks and Returns/ Rewards"
-Get maximum return from your investment in college
* Learn Some Psychology- basic material for leadership and working with others
-flaws in human rationality
- Dealing with Uncertainty, be prepared, confident, flexible
* Advice- Listen but then follow your instincts and PASSIONS
* You hold the future, The Future is not certain. Prepare for Emerging Industries.

Preoccupations - Hearing the Right Notes From a Job Candidate - NYTimes.com

www.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/jobs/25pre.html?ref=business

Advice on how to prepare yourself effectively for a job, from Carl Diehl, co-owner of the Bar Method.
* Creativity and Problem Solving- Most of the applicants seemed to be wonderful people with great skills and at least some experience. But could they think creatively and solve problems? Most of them said they could. But I needed some proof.
* Understand- about the company, the competition, how they are distinguishing themselves, and why.
* Instead of talking about specific skills, talk about how you might apply what you have learned, to benefit the company.
* Understand human personality- Enneagram- which one seemed to fit you best? What are the complexities of your personality?
* What are the "dark side" of that personality type? Focusing on performance and accomplishing tasks, but can be oblivious to the emotional needs of themselves and others.
* Use imagination, intellect, energy and power of concentration to solve problems
* Passion- "the same passion that helped her master the violin is now helping our company grow."

18 APR 10

Corner Office - Fuse’s Co-Founder - Scoreboards Aren’t Everything - Interview - NYTimes.com

www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/jobs/18corner.html?ref=business

Important Lessons:

* Establish a Culture of Winning- "I was in this culture of winning, where all the coaches, the players, the kids in that high school and the administrators expected us to win... everyone was judged on how we played."
* Understand the Belief System of others- "I try to evaluate decisions based on what the 25-32 year olds ..are trying to get out of their career, what they want in a workplace."
* Help people develop confidence, independence- "I would rather have somebody make a mistake .. than have to go through an enormous amount of teaching to make the person 'client ready'"
* Giving Feedback- "..being direct is not a personal attack. When my coach was coming down on me or somebody else, I never thought he was doing it for any other reason than he wanted us, as a team, to be on the same page and to be the best that we could be."
* Understanding What is Happening- "If you don't go down the hall and talk to people, you're not going to know the real challenges."

Leadership Lessons- Create a file of best thoughts

Corner Office - Kip Tindell - Three Good Workers Equal One Who’s Great - Interview - NYTimes.com

www.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/business/14corners.html?ref=business

Leadership Lessons from Kip Tindell CEO of the Container Store.
*Relentlessly communicate everything to every employee- Leadership and Communication are the same thing. (Learn to communicate effectively)
* One Great Person could be as productive as 3 good people. So, pay 50-100% more for great people. (What makes someone great and how do we learn to become great?)
* Hire people you like personally. (Learn to be LIKED).
* Hire people who are a culture fit.(what is your culture?)
* Intuition does have a place in the work force. It is the sum total of your life experience. So- Broaden your experience
* Create a mutually beneficial relationship with everyone you work with. (win,win,win)
* Work to create an "Air of Excitement" around everything you do.
* Mold a business/ career around your philosophy.
* Everyone creates a "wake" around themselves. Everything you do and don't do impacts your business, the people and the world around you, far more than you can imagine.
* Make a file of all the best thoughts- then make them part of your life.