Archive for the 'Education' Category

The cast and crew of Joyful Jubilant Learning are running a series today (7-7-07) on the Seven Wonders of Learning. Everyone is asked to leave a comment with 7 links specifically about learning. I found some real gems on this list.

Here are seven that really sound interesting…

1. Kinesthetic learning - The Alexander Technique:

2. Best Practices: The Daily 5 Minutes framed by 9 Questions

3. The Ferrari Analogy for Organized Writing

4. Increase Your Linked-In Connections by 167% in 48 Hours

5. Writing Upside Down…

6. Unplanned Work - The Silent Killer

7. Eat ( And Present) Only Until 80% Full

Be sure to leave your comments over at JJL!

I’m a huge fan of David Allen’s best selling book, “Getting Things Done.” This book has given me a whole new outlook on time management and personal productivity. I am always recommending it to colleagues and friends and it is consistently in my top ten book list. It is usually the first productivity book I would recommend to someone… until now.

I have recently found a book that should be a precursor to GTD. A book that should be read before undertaking any time management or personal productivity program. A simple but profound read that can make all the difference in your personal development success.

Entitled, “It’s All Too Much,” by Peter Walsh, this book will give you the understanding to overcome a major problem that our modern world has thrust upon us… clutter. Peter is the organizational guru from TLC’s hit show Clean Sweep. He understands how easy it is for clutter to creep into your life and how hard it is to get rid of it.

Peter will help you climb out from that pile of junk mail on your desk, throw away the 200 old magazines that are bowing your bookshelf and finally uncover a workable horizontal surface that you can work on. This book is far from the usual, “buy more storage boxes” solution. Peter gets to the root of the problem by asking a couple of questions.

What do you want your life to look like?

How do you want to organize your house so you can live the life you want?

It’s All Too Much shows you how to reexamine your priorities and let go of the things that are weighing you down. Simply and clearly, Peter gives you the tools you need to go through your home, room by room — even possession by possession — and honestly evaluate what adds to your quality of life and what’s keeping you from living the life of your dreams.

This book has given me new insights into clutter control and some great tips for overcoming all the “stuff” that seems to find its way into my life. I used to think that clutter was just my problem, but I now realize that we all suffer from “Stuff” overload.

From junk mail, endless magazine subscriptions, to the latest kitchen gadget, this stuff accumulates and causes stress. Soon we just throw our hands in the air and say… It’s all Too Much!

The bottom line… read this book, de-clutter your life, and then pick up David Allen’s, Getting Things Done

Technorati Tags: GTD, organization

I plugged in the iPod to my car audio system and headed down the road. I was looking forward to listening to my latest Audible selection,  Why We Want You To Be Rich, by Donald Trump & Robert Kiyosaki. The audio book started with the usual introduction and then presented me with a visual of a large conference room. The audio continued…

The crowd grows silent as the limousine pulls up outside. Suddenly everyone crowds the door and forms two distinct lines. “It’s the Donald,” someone yells out from the crowd.

In walks Donald Trump and his entourage, giving hi fives to the lines of admiring fans just like football players coming on to the field for introductions.

In a word… who cares??

The first third of this audio book was a blatant promotion of Donald Trump & Robert Kiyosaki. In fact the promotion was played over and over. I found myself wanting my money back. I wanted to hear about their ideas, not limousine rides and high dollar conventions. Just when I started to push the off button, Robert started in on one of his great stories. Soon I was hooked back in.

This audio book quickly redeemed itself and presented a fascinating contrast between two very powerful and wealthy men. Point after point the book became more interesting. The book is presented in an different way than most collaborative books. Each chapter is about a specific subject and the two authors take turns expounding on each one.

It’s like listening to two separate books combined into one. The authors talk about each other but do not actually engage in conversation. They have read each others ideas and they respond with their own ideas on the subject and then to the other person’s thought. The contrast is sometimes striking yet they always seem to agree on the basic principles.

The book presents financial ideas and concepts but no specific investing advice. With the world changing ever so quickly this is actually a timely and valuable read.

Just skip the first third of the book.

I would give this book 3 out of 5 stars… some great concepts hidden among blatant self promotion and hype.

Technorati Tags: Audio book, Trump, Kiyosaki, Rich

Have you ever picked up a book and read the first chapter and then said to yourself “Ah-Ha”, that’s it! It’s called an Ah-Ha moment and these 5 books all contain numerous examples. I have been amazed at the material I’ve learned that has had a major effect on the way I look at the world. I recommend that you pick up a copy and see what I mean. Here are some of the Ah-Ha moments that I’ve had over the past year

1. Leave out one of these 7 Things and your business may suffer
Patrick Hanlon will take you on an amazing journey with companies like Nike, Starbucks, and UPS and show you why they have been so successful. Patrick list seven things that are an absolute must for any company to include in their “brand.” Leave any one of them out and your business may suffer.

2. Reach this “point” and your business will change forever
There is a point in the life of an idea, product, or personality that can take on amazing proportions. Business may increase 100 fold in just a few days when you hit it. While often elusive, Malcolm Gladwell will give you some clues how to achieve this magical “point” in your life or business.

3. Success does not equal money and power.
Three amazing authors will lead you on a journey through the generally held concepts of success and challenge each one of them. I’ve come away with a new outlook on success and what it really means!

4. This company will affect the way you do business.
No matter what business you are in the presence of this company will have an effect on the way you do business. Charles Fishman reveals some of the secrets of this amazing enterprise. From pricing, to supply chain, to the way you market your product, this book will really open your eyes to the power of this growing corporation.

5. You and 50,000 other people came to the same conclusion.
How is it possible to know what the majority of the people in any large group are thinking? And are these people right? James Surowiecki explores this remarkable topic and will reveal some statistics that are truly staggering.

All five of these books have changed my world view in one way or the other. From subtle little ideas to giant concepts each one of these books should be on your must read list. All of them are available in hardcover, audio, and as a download from iTunes.

On the side of my Starbucks cup was the word elucubrate. This interesting word means “to produce (a written work) by working long and diligently.” This is a great mission statement word for this blog and others. With a path of over 40 audio books, the listening experience of these books will be captured in words and pictures over the next few years in the pages of this site. This has been an amazing experience so far and one I would like to continue to share with you.

Blogs are very interesting journals and a view into different aspects of life. Some of my favorite sites are definitely elucubrating amazing works of productivity, leadership, and motivation. Take a look at some of the links on this site and become a part of their ongoing stories. Sites like 100 bloggers offers a glimpse into the psyche of a variety of different authors. One of my favorite writers, Seth Godin, elucubrates a continuation of his popular books on his website every day.

For those of you genuinely curious about life, you’ll enjoy the continuing story on Dwayne Melancan’s blog. Dwayne always finds the most interesting tidbits of information as he travels around the world. His post on travelling “Unwrinkled” is a classic. Keven Eikenberry asks questions and the answers are always thought provoking and interesting. His story about the “shoe tree,” will make you think about creativity and possibly challenge you to elucubrate that written work of art that you have promised yourself that you’ll write… someday.

I noticed this morning that popular blogger, Rajesh Setty, has elucubrated a new e-book. Entitled “Personal Branding for Technology Professionals,” this is a great example of helpful professional resources being offered for free on the net. His previous e-book entitled, “When you can’t earn an MBA,” is a great resource for anyone looking into the MBA process.

I would love to hear from anyone willing to elucubrate a comment about this post.

Have a great day!

Welcome everyone! Some short notes today about various items. I would like to say “Thank You” to all of the blogs that have spread the word so far about MBA on the Run. Brad over at Achieve-It ran a post as well as Phil “Shak” Gerbyshak over at Make it Great. The Master of Curiosity, Dwayne Melancon and Brendon Connelly of Slacker Manager have been very supportive and have given me a lot of great feedback. Please be sure to bookmark these sites.

The website Personal MBA has launched a web chat feature entitled “Personal MBA Live” using online Campfire software. The cost for the service is $4.95/month. Looks like a great tool for online collaboration.

I received an advance copy of Career Intensity, a new book from David Lorenzo, the other day. This is an amazing work and a great resource for business people as well as entrepreneurs. In Career Intensity, Lorenzo advocates workplace warriors and management mavericks taking the reins of their careers and moving into value-creating positions as intrepreneurs and entrepreneurs.

To do this, Lorenzo says that individuals need to commit to what he terms a cycle of continuous improvement. “The cycle begins with the process of discovery and learning, continues on to applying what you’ve learned to your career, and then concludes with you marketing yourself to the world in a way that communicates your ability to generate value. The trick is not to do this once, but to do it in a perpetual cycle,” Lorenzo says.

I found that David has great insight into career building and entrepreneurship. He talks about the power of creative walks. He writes…

I am particularly inspired by long walks. I carry a pen and a pad of paper with me everywhere. As I walk, I write down the ideas that pop into my head. I don’t spend time trying to focus my thoughts. I let them flow naturally. It is amazing how many great ideas were born as I walked along the streets of New York City.

I concur with David about carrying a notebook. I carry a “Hipster PDA” with me on my MBA on the Run adventures and I find it helpful to jot notes as I listen to each audio book. You can order a pre-release of Career Intensity from David’s website. The book is due to be published in May.

As a visitor to this site you may find yourself interested in starting your own business. Fellow blogger Steve Pavlina has some great resources to help the new entrepreneur develop a successful business. Entitled “10 Stupid Mistakes Made by the Newly Self-Employed”, Steve outlines some of his experiences developing his personal productivity website.

Steve states…

It takes significant effort to build a successful business, but it’s also a tremendous growth experience.  I know many people who have quit their jobs to run their own businesses.  Many of them didn’t do as well as they’d hoped, but I don’t know any that regretted taking the plunge.  There’s simply no substitute for holding the reins of your own destiny.

Check out the great resources on Steve’s site.

And finally I ran across this great marketing message from Kim Klaver’s Blog

One day, there was a blind man sitting on the steps of a building
with a hat by his feet and a sign that read:

The new sign read: “Today is Spring and I cannot see it.”

Learning what to say changes everything.

Amen… 

Welcome everyone to MBA on the Run. The concept of this site is to listen to business related audio books on an iPod or other MP3 player while walking or jogging through various business districts. The idea is to immerse the listener into the business concepts that are being presented in the program on a first hand basis. Major Business Assets on the Run

Sounds like a crazy idea doesn’t it.

The concept started last year when I realized that I needed to look into the degree completion process for my current job. I have two years of college and several technology certifications. After calling around and looking into different programs I realized that I would be looking at over $50,000 and 4 to 5 years of study to receive a masters degree in business.

When I was searching around I ran into a manifesto over at changethis.com entitled the Personal MBA, by Josh Kaufmann. His thesis is that you can get the equivilent education that a traditional MBA offers by reading 42 business related books. He setup a website at personalmba.com that offers a book list and online collaboration. After doing a little research this actually sounded like a workable solution. I figure that it will probably take two years to go through the books and about a $1000 in books and supplies. A far cry from the $50,000 of the traditional program. The program has become so popular that it was picked up by Business Week in an online article.

The bottom line: You get the education but not the piece of paper (degree) that may be critical. After looking at the list of books and the probable time commitment, I considered doing this. I asked myself the question… How will this fit into my personal goals and can it be somehow worked into my current schedule? When will I be able to read 42 books? I thought to myself… I’m already time strapped and a commitment this big may not fit.

Just then my e-mail popped up and there was a special offer from Audible.com for audio books.

The light went on…

Do this program with Audio books on my Ipod…

Another light went on…

Do this program while I’m already doing something else…

Another light went on… it was getting brighter..

Do this program while walking or exercising… something I’m already doing 30 minutes a day.

A crazy flashing light went on…

Walk or run in different business areas for greater continuity

Neon lights popped up…

Interview local business owners about the subject material when done listening

A bright white spot light came on…

Blog about the results. Create an online thesis…

An MBA on the Run!

That is what this site is all about.

Over the next two years I’ll cover many of the major business books and give you insight about the experience. With each book completion I’ll interview a local business owner about the subject. A real world analysis. I’ll post the results in an easy to use article format including the following.

• Book description and weblink
• Technical items (author, book length, etc)
• Where I experienced the book (location, time, etc)
• My feedback on the material
• My feedback on the learning experience
• Three major takeaway points
• An interview with a related business person including podcast or written interview.
• Your feedback on the book.

I hope to post two reviews per month with postings at least once a week.

The first four books that will be covered are…

Some of my adventures so far…

Stories in Old Town

On Writing Well

Back to the Future

All proceeds from book and technology sales as well as ad revenue over the next two years will go to help build a youth center and computer lab. Please consider helping out our future entrepreneurs and career seekers by buying books and equipment through links on this site.

I received an invitation in the mail the other day to attend a MBA presentation put on by the University of Redland’s School of Business. They just opened a new branch in Temecula so I called and got more information. The sticker shock was expected but the overall program will probably not work for me. With my education background and my focus on technology certificates instead of a degree, I would be looking at 4 to 5 years of work to complete the program. The price tag in the $50,000 dollar range will also be a little difficult to justify.

I work in the K12 education field and master degrees are very common and required for upper level management. A few of our senior cabinet members even have doctorates. Given my age and my goals I have some interesting choices. I can bite the bullet and spend the next 4-5 years of my life with little spare time and a singular focus or I can pursue something a little different.

In researching this topic I’ve found many other people in the same quandary. Most people are frustrated but I found an interesting little manifesto on changethis.com that may help. Entitled “The Personal MBA“, this program consists of reading 42 books on business and applying what you learn to increase your effectiveness at work.

The books cover a wide range of subjects and are written by many popular business authors. The manifesto was written by Josh Kaufman and he has put together a website with an online forum for comments and an ongoing discussion. Josh lists the pros and cons of the program on his site…

* Can a traditional MBA program help you? Yes. You’ll meet a lot of great people and get acquainted with a few professors and corporate HR recruiters who can help you land a new job. You will also sink very deep into debt. If you decide to enroll in a full-time program, the opportunity cost of lost wages and future investable savings is huge.
* Will a traditional MBA teach you anything you can’t learn by yourself? Probably not. Classroom discussion can be beneficial, but there’s nothing presented that you can’t learn by studying a good book on the subject.
* Is a traditional MBA worth the time and money? Sorry – there’s no universal answer. If you’re looking to go into advanced corporate accounting, finance, quantitative analysis, commercial real estate, consulting, venture capital, or investment banking, an MBA or MS in a business-related field may be expected or required. In those cases, caveat emptor: once you decide to attend, the only certainty is that your bank account will be significantly smaller.

If you decide not to go to business school, the Personal MBA is a low cost way to educate yourself about business. (Even business school graduates can benefit greatly from reading these books.)

The bottom line: You get the education but not the piece of paper (degree) that may be critical. After looking at the list of books and the probable time commitment, I considered doing this. I asked myself the question… How will this fit into my time schedule and can it be somehow worked into my 12 habits program? When will I be able to read 42 books? I thought to myself… I’m already time strapped and a commitment this big may not fit.

Just then my e-mail popped up and there was a special offer from Audible.com for audio books.

The light went on…

Do this program with Audio books on my Ipod…

Another light went on…

Do this program while I’m already doing something else…

Another light went on… it was getting brighter..

Do this program while walking or exercising… something I’m already doing 30 minutes a day.

A crazy flashing light went on…

Walk or run in different business areas for greater continuity

Neon lights popped up…

While out walking Interview business owners about the subject material

A bright white spot light came on…

Blog about the results. Create an online thesis…

An MBA on the Run!

I can do this!

So here is my plan and my 6th habit in my 12 Habits quest. Listen to two new audio books a month and create two new articles or posts about the subject. While putting together the material interview a real-world business owner about the subject.

My first Audio book will be “Purple Cow” by Seth Godin and I plan to listen to this while walking through Old-Town Temecula. The goal will be to assimilate the material and find a remarkable business that is truly a “Purple Cow”. A short interview with the business owner should make the material come alive.

I’ll need a few materials to make this happen. Technology is the key to success.

1. Ipod with a belt clip or Ipod armband so I can walk and run with it

2. Audio book from Itunes or Audible

3. Pocket voice recorder for doing the interviews

4. Naturally Speaking from Dragon software for speech to text translation

Other books should be easy to choose and many good ones have been listed on Rosa Say’s Love Affair with Books. A few good ones come to mind like Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazi and another of Seth’s books… All Marketers Are Liars
The exercise part of this plan is compatible with Five Factor Fitness and Core Performance Essentials routines.

Since this program will use Audio books the book selection will be somewhat different than the Personal MBA, since some of those titles are not available in Audio form. I will purchase some of the books that are good for reference in both audio and bound versions. Given the two books per month timetable a great education can be put together over the span of two years.

The synergy of this program combining exercise, learning, communication, and writing is very powerful and it ties in great with my ongoing 12 habits program.

The entire cost of the whole program… under $1000 including the Ipod, pocket recorder, Naturally Speaking software, and 50 audio books. This is much cheaper than any conventional MBA program that I have found.

The upside is a great wealth of blogging material, an online thesis, and online stories (and possible podcasts) of real business success. This may not be a conventional MBA with a sheet of paper but I think this might look pretty good to a prospective employer especially with comments and feedback from readers of this blog.

I picked up all of the materials this week and they work great. Naturally speaking is amazing and the little pocket recorder will record up to 8 hours of speech. The Ipod allows you to bookmark sections of the audio book for future reference.

The first step starts… today