Million Dollar Weekend | Noah Kagan

In the vast ocean of business literature, it’s easy to drown in the monotony. Many of these books, while well-intentioned, can often lull you into a state of inertia rather than sparking the fire of innovation. However, there’s one that stands out from the crowd - Noah Kagan’s “Million Dollar Weekend”

As a white-collar employee, I’ve come to realize that reading books can sometimes become a sophisticated form of procrastination. We convince ourselves that we’re gaining invaluable insights, but in reality, we’re just delaying the leap into action.

This is where Noah Kagan’s “Million Dollar Weekend” flips the script. Kagan understands the entrepreneurial mindset and the pitfalls of over-preparation. His book is a breath of fresh air in the business genre, cutting through the fluff and providing a practical guide to real action.

In the upcoming sections, I’ll share some insightful quotes from the book that have the potential to transform your entrepreneurial journey.

Unreasonable Hospitality | Will Guidara

I saw this book Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara in the book list that Ozan Varol shared and then I also noticed it in the bestseller list of Amazon when I was very close to finishing the book. It is a great book that every business people can find things to apply in their business life. Although Will Guidara has a profession that I am not familiar with, the method he uses will probably fit into almost all businesses.

Will Guidara was twenty-six when he took the helm of Eleven Madison Park, a struggling two-star brasserie that had never quite lived up to its majestic room. Eleven years later, EMP was named the best restaurant in the world. How did Guidara pull off this unprecedented transformation? Radical reinvention, a true partnership between the kitchen and the dining room—and memorable, over-the-top, bespoke hospitality. Let’s see what I highlighted from Will’s book.

In the rise of digital communication and increased demand for remote work, we are left feeling lonelier and more apart than at any other time in recent history. Yet our intense desire to feel a sense of belonging remains—it’s an innate human need. That’s where Unreasonable Hospitality comes.

The greatest restaurants in the world became great by challenging the way we think about food: sourcing, preparation, presentation and, of course, taste. But when Will Guidara set out to make Eleven Madison Park the best restaurant in the world, he had a crazy idea about how to do it: “What would happen if we approached hospitality with the same passion, attention to detail, and rigor that we bring to our food?”

Awaken Your Genius | Ozan Varol

Ozan Varol is one of the best "out-of-the-box thinkers" I have known and after reading his best seller "Think Like a Rocket Scientist", I started to follow his blog and weekly posts. I get new perspective from what he shares and this makes him one of my best authors. And here is the best book I read in 2024: Awaken Your Genius. No need for fancy introduction, you will understand why I love him so much after having a look at the quotes from his book below. So let's start...

Here’s the thing: No one can compete with you at being you. You’re the first and the last time that you’ll ever happen. If your thinking is an extension of you—if what you’re building is a product of your own genius—you’ll be in a league of your own. But if you suppress yourself, if you don’t claim the wisdom within, no one else can. That wisdom will be lost, both to you and to the world.

Recognizing Success: A Week of Wins, Remote Realities, and the Power of Employee Recognition in Today’s Workplace

In the ever-changing world of work, the spotlight on employee recognition is shining brighter than ever. This rings especially true in the realm of remote work, where the need for employees to feel appreciated is like the secret sauce to keeping the team happy and thriving. According to a recent survey by OnePoll on behalf of Bonusly, a whopping 46% of U.S. workers hit the exit button because they didn't feel the love at work. Talk about a wake-up call for the importance of recognition, right?

And guess what? The recognition train has been making stops at my station too! Last week brought a double dose of career awesomeness. First up, my team effort with EY (Ernst Young - our tax advisor) snagged us a shiny incentive from the tax office, giving our company a sweet tax advantage. The cherry on top? The finance management team gave me a virtual high-five in the form of the ABCD (Above and Beyond Call of Duty) Award. 

Game On: How Playing Video Games Can Boost Your Professional Skills

I had an extraordinary week with a busy agenda at work. When it came to the end of the office hour (of course, a little bit later than the official office hour), I had the “chance” to run our PS5 (not “mine” because it is originally a gift to my son) and play an online match in a Turkish League tournament in eFootball. I chose my favorite team, Beşiktaş, and lost 0-5 to Galatasaray. I accepted it as a fair result since I didn’t have the opportunity to practice for a long time, and the opponent’s team had better stats and stars than mine. Then I went to another one. This time my opponent was a different user again, with Galatasaray. The original match time ended 1-1, and in the extra time, I scored a last-minute goal. As a celebration ceremony, I chose Golazo, and I was screaming at home while enjoying the goal celebration. I went for another match, and in my third match, I played against Fenerbahçe. I started really well this time (maybe it is because of my opponent’s poor performance) and scored two early goals. Then the opponent directly quit the match, and it was officially recorded as a 3-0 win for me.

After these three matches, I shut down the PS5 and left home to hit my daily 10,000 steps target. I was feeling really good, like a derby winner pro when I started to walk down the street. That was the feeling!

This Saturday morning, while feeding myself with some Forbes articles, I came across content about game skills and careers: https://www.forbes.com/sites/markcperna/2023/11/14/why-more-employers-want-to-hire-people-based-on-their-video-game-skills/?sh=4c19fbbf472e

Now, let me share my highlights from this Forbes article by Mark C. Perna.

Riding the Waves of Success: Lessons from Alexis Ohanian

The Entrepreneurial Mindset for Achieving Career Growth

In the world of career and personal success, Alexis Ohanian is a name that stands out. As the co-founder and former executive chairman of Reddit, co-founder of an early-stage venture capital fund, a partner at Y Combinator, and a Fast Company's "Most Creative People in Business" honoree, he certainly knows a thing or two about achieving both professional and personal goals. Oh, and did I mention he's also Serena Williams's husband?

So, what can we learn from Alexis Ohanian about achieving our career aspirations and embracing the right mindset for success? Let's dive into the wisdom he shares:

Unlock Your Career Potential: Introducing "The Professional's Playbook"

Are you ready to take your career to the next level, achieve your professional goals, and become the best version of yourself in the workplace? If the answer is yes, then "The Professional's Playbook: Navigating Your Career Journey" is the guide you've been waiting for.

In this insightful and empowering book, Volkan Yorulmaz brings together a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you navigate the intricate terrain of your career. Drawing from the wisdom of best-selling authors and thought leaders, Yorulmaz offers you a comprehensive roadmap to success, providing practical advice and strategies for every step of your professional journey.