The Energy Bus | Jon Gordon

The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon is a short book that you can easily read and get some inspiration and question the way you live your life.

Positive people and positive teams produce positive results, and the essential ingredient is positive energy.

Everything happens for a reason. Don’t forget that. Every person we meet. Every event in our life. Every flat tire happens for a reason. You can choose to ignore it or ask what that reason is and try to learn from it. Every problem has a gift for you in its hands as my man Richard Bach says. You can choose to see the curse or the gift. And this one choice will determine if your life is a success story or one big soap opera.

We don’t talk this game, we play it.

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less | Greg McKeown

If I ask a key question to myself as: “What was the best book of 2024 so far?” Probably I would choose Greg McKeown’s “Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less” which was easy to understand, applicable and eye-opening for me. I found it while I was searching Amazon’s best seller list and it is a real must-read if you deal with so many to-do’s within your ordinary day. I hope my quotes from the book will help you.

THE WISDOM OF LIFE CONSISTS IN THE ELIMINATION OF NON-ESSENTIALS.

 —Lin Yutang

Sam Elliot is a capable executive in Silicon Valley who found himself stretched too thin after his company was acquired by a larger, bureaucratic business. He was in earnest about being a good citizen in his new role so he said yes to many requests without really thinking about it. But as a result he would spend the whole day rushing from one meeting and conference call to another trying to please everyone and get it all done. His stress went up as the quality of his work went down. It was like he was majoring in minor activities and as a result, his work became unsatisfying for him and frustrating for the people he was trying so hard to please.

In the midst of his frustration the company came to him and offered him an early retirement package. But he was in his early 50s and had no interest in completely retiring.

He went to speak with a mentor who gave him surprising advice: “Stay, but do what you would as a consultant and nothing else. And don’t tell anyone.” In other words, his mentor was advising him to do only those things that he deemed essential—and ignore everything else that was asked of him.

The executive followed the advice! He made a daily commitment towards cutting out the red tape. He began saying no.

Now when a request would come in he would pause and evaluate the request against a tougher criteria: “Is this the very most important thing I should be doing with my time and resources right now?”

He stopped attending meetings on his calendar if he didn’t have a direct contribution to make. He explained to me, “Just because I was invited didn’t seem a good enough reason to attend.”

He could concentrate his efforts on one project at a time. He could plan thoroughly. He could anticipate roadblocks and start to remove obstacles. Instead of spinning his wheels trying to get everything done, he could get the right things done. His newfound commitment to doing only the things that were truly important—and eliminating everything else—restored the quality of his work. Instead of making just a millimeter of progress in a million directions he began to generate tremendous momentum towards accomplishing the things that were truly vital.

To his great surprise, there were no negative repercussions to his experiment. His manager didn’t chastise him. His colleagues didn’t resent him. Quite the opposite; because he was left only with projects that were meaningful to him and actually valuable to the company, they began to respect and value his work more than ever. His work became fulfilling again. His performance ratings went up. He ended up with one of the largest bonuses of his career!

In this example is the basic value proposition of Essentialism: only once you give yourself permission to stop trying to do it all, to stop saying yes to everyone, can you make your highest contribution towards the things that really matter.

Hidden Potential | Adam Grant

Everyone has hidden potential. This book is about how we unlock it. There’s a widely held belief that greatness is mostly born—not made. That leads us to celebrate gifted students in school, natural athletes in sports, and child prodigies in music. But you don’t have to be a wunderkind to accomplish great things. My goal is to illuminate how we can all rise to achieve greater things.

Same As Ever | Morgan Housel

In the realm of financial wisdom and life’s philosophies, few voices resonate as profoundly as that of Morgan Housel. His book, “Same as Ever” is a treasure trove of insights, anecdotes, and timeless wisdom that challenges our perspectives and urges us to think deeper. This blog post aims to share some of the most impactful quotes from the book, each serving as a reminder of the enduring truths that govern our lives and the world around us. From Warren Buffett’s wisdom on the constancy of change to Jeff Bezos’ focus on the unchanging, these quotes invite us to reflect on the paradoxes that define our existence. So, let’s embark on this journey of exploration, guided by the enlightening words of Morgan Housel. Same as ever, yet always new.

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.

Your Next Five Moves | Patrick Bet-David

If I would need to share the best book I read in 2023, it is "Your Next Five Moves" by Patrick Bet-David. I found this book from the best sellers in Amazon business books list and I read it during a time where I need to answer some key questions in my career and set a new strategy for the upcoming performance review cycles. 

Let's leave the personal things and focus on this great book and its author.  According to Patrick Bet-David, "The only thing separating us from greatness is a vision and a plan for achieving greatness. When you’re fighting for a cause, a dream, something greater than yourself, you will find the enthusiasm, passion, and joy that make life a great adventure. The key is identifying your cause and knowing who you want to be." Who am I? A short question but the answer needs a long thinking. 

From my point of view, Patrick Bet-David's "Your Next Five Moves" has 2 main take-aways. First, get into the habit of thinking five moves ahead in everything you do in business.  Just working to try and do that will lift your game and lead to greater success. Second, in every industry, 80 percent of the players will be actors, and only 20 percent will be doers. The key to positioning yourself firmly in the doers camp is to be continually investing in learning and growth. Invest in yourself. Think five moves ahead.

The Hard Thing About Hard Things | Ben Horowitz

In the last days of the summer'23, I saw my colleague's (Dr. Philipp Moser) post in Linkedin about the book by Ben Horowitz: "The Hard Thing About Hard Things". It is a book with many experiences from Ben and the book brings a new perspective to you and make you learn what is going on in the top management side of the business.

Here we go with my highlights from the book:

“This the real world, homie, school finished. They done stole your dreams, you dunno who did it.” —KANYE WEST, “GORGEOUS”

From Communist to Venture Capitalist

Father turned to me and said, “Son, do you know what’s cheap?” Since I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about, I replied, “No, what?” “Flowers. Flowers are really cheap. But do you know what’s expensive?” he asked. Again, I replied, “No, what?” He said, “Divorce.”

By doing everything, I would fail at the most important thing. It was the first time that I forced myself to look at the world through priorities that were not purely my own. I thought that I could pursue my career, all my interests, and build my family. More important, I always thought about myself first. When you are part of a family or part of a group, that kind of thinking can get you into trouble, and I was in deep trouble. In my mind, I was confident that I was a good person and not selfish, but my actions said otherwise. I had to stop being a boy and become a man. I had to put first things first. I had to consider the people who I cared about most before considering myself.

Until you make the effort to get to know someone or something, you don’t know anything. There are no shortcuts to curiosity.

The Culture Code | Daniel Coyle

Honestly, "The Culture Code" is not one of those books that I will recommend someone to read but it has well chosed quotes that I wanted to carry to my blog. Anyway, I respect to the authoe Daniel Coyle's effort. So here you may find them: 

Individual skills are not what matters. What matters is the interaction.

They are not competing for status. They stand shoulder to shoulder and work energetically together. They move quickly, spotting problems and offering help. They experiment, take risks, and notice outcomes, which guides them toward effective solutions.

They are tapping into a simple and powerful method in which a group of ordinary people can create a performance far beyond the sum of their parts.

I Will Teach You to Be Rich | Ramit Sethi

I am a fan of personal finance books and I do like to read this kind of books that I found in the best seller list of Amazon. This time, the list brought me the book: "I Will Teach You to Be Rich, Second Edition: No Guilt. No Excuses. No B.S." This New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestseller is written by Ramit Sethi.

There were some generic recommendations which do not fit to the realities of today, at least for my country Turkiye. Anyway, it is a good piece of work who want to have a mindset about where to start for personal finance. Let's continue with my highlights from the book:

People love to argue minor points, partially because they feel it absolves them from actually having to do anything. You know what? Let the fools debate the details. I decided to learn about money by taking small steps to manage my own spending. Just as you don’t have to be a certified nutritionist to lose weight or an automotive engineer to drive a car, you don’t have to know everything about personal finance to be rich. I’ll repeat myself: You don’t have to be an expert to get rich. You do have to know how to cut through all the information and get started—which, incidentally, also helps reduce the guilt.

Investing early is the best thing you can do.

The best time to start investing was ten years ago. The second best time is today.

Leadership and the One Minute Manager | Ken Blanchard, Patricia Zigarmi, Drea Zigarmi

In my previous blog post, I shared my quotes from the book "How Brands Grow: What Marketers Don't Know" by Byron Sharp - this book was one of the two books my mentor Jalal İbrahimi recommended me in our first meeting. The second one is "Leadership and the One Minute Manager Updated Edition". It is a short read and during the weekend break, I had the chance to read the book and re-read my quotes from the book. 

This new, updated edition of Leadership and the One Minute Manager reflects the latest thinking about Situational Leadership® II. Written as a parable, it tells the story of an overworked entrepreneur who learns from the One Minute Manager how to get the most out of a diverse team by becoming a situational leader.

This is a book to read and reread until being a situational leader becomes second nature to you in your leadership roles at work, in your home, and in the community.

How Brands Grow: What Marketers Don't Know | Byron Sharp

I started to work with Jalal İbrahimi who is my mentor and he recommended me two books in our first mentoring session. The first one is How Brands Grow: What Marketers Don't Know by Byron Sharp. As a finance professional, it has been a while since I haven't read a book purely on marketing since my MBA graduation. There were many "aha moments" while I was reading the book and connecting the learnings with the ideas in the weekly commercial team meetings. So, let me share my highlights from the book. 

The most important knowledge contained in this book: No marketing activity, including innovation, should be seen as a goal in itself, its goal is to hold on to or improve mental and physical availability.

Bring the Noise: The Jürgen Klopp Story | Raphael Honigstein

I recently completed reading the book by Raphale Honigstein about Jürgen Klopp: Bring the Noise: The Jürgen Klopp Story. It is not a great biography but it still has great quotes to keep in mind. Here we go: 

It ain’t where you from, it’s where you at. - Eric B. and Rakim

If you need someone in a suit and in a tie, don’t get Jürgen Klopp. But if you want a top coach, you’ll have to get him. It wasn’t a case of making an immediate decision but I know that Dortmund were looking at him a bit more closely from that day on. But they still weren’t entirely convinced. Watzke kept on calling me, I don’t know how many times. I always said: “Go for it, go for it. You will never regret the day you sign Jürgen Klopp.”’

‘Once, Mainz drew 1-1 with us, in Dortmund, and I congratulated him on winning a point. To draw at Dortmund was a success for Mainz, wasn’t it? But he just looked at me and said: “Congratulations to you too.” That was classic Klopp.

‘It’s always about making the crowd happy, it’s about producing games with a recognisable style,’ he vowed. ‘When matches are boring, they lose their rationale. My teams have never played chess on the pitch. I hope we will witness the odd full-throttle occasion here. The sun won’t shine every day in Dortmund, but we have a chance to make it shine more often.’

No Filter | Sarah Frier

Instagram is one of the two social media apps that I use regularly and when I see a book about it, I couldn't think so much about if it should be in my reading list or not, I definitely should read and learn more about it, so I just started.

It wasn't a book of "wow"s for me, it didn't enlighten me but anyway it was still a good book to learn more about Facebook and Zuckerberg. 

So let me share my highlights from Sarah Frier's "No Filter":

With the rise of Instagram, Beco do Batman has become one of São Paulo’s top tourist destinations. Via the vacation rental site Airbnb, various vendors charge about $40 per person to provide two hours of “personal paparazzi” in the alley, taking high-quality pictures of people to post on Instagram; the service is a type that’s become one of Airbnb’s most popular for its travelers in cities around the world.

For amateur photographers, the only cost is the stress of perfection.

Each month, more than 1 billion of us use Instagram. We take photos and videos of our food, our faces, our favorite scenery, our families, and our interests and share them, hoping that they reflect something about who we are or who we aspire to be.

Skin In The Game | Nassim Nicholas Taleb

In Skin In The Game, Nassim Nicholas Taleb explains how the willingness of accepting one’s own risks is an important quality of heroes, saints and successful people in all walks of life. 

Skin In The Game is about the distortions of symmetry and reciprocity in life. If you have the rewards, you must also get some of the risks and not let others pay the price of your mistakes.

Here are my highlights from the book:

If you have the rewards, you must also get some of the risks, not let others pay the price of your mistakes. If you inflict risk on others, and they are harmed, you need to pay some price for it.

Don’t tell me what you “think,” just tell me what’s in your portfolio.