Creating my Goals Book

I'm "reading" The Success Principles by Jack Canfield, cocreator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul. I put parentheses around "reading" because I'm really "skimming" because the book is a whopping 473 pages and it's only halfway interesting.

There's nothing particularly new or inspiring within the 400+ pages (and it could have been a much shorter book), but many of the concepts that he writes about are timeless and solid concepts.

For example, Canfield suggests that the reader create a Goals Book, "Another powerful way to speed up the achievement of your goals is to create a Goals Book. Buy a three-ring binder, a scrapbook, or an 8 1/2" X 11" journal. Then, create a separate page for each of your goals. Write the goal at the top of the page and then illustrate it with pictures that you cut out of magazines, catalogues, and travel brochures...review the pages of your Goals Book every day."

This process will not be entirely new to me. I write down my goals often. And I've done the "vision book" concept before (okay, it was when I was twelve...), but I think I'm ready to create a new one.

Here's a sneak peek into my pages:

• Travel to all 50 states.
• Write a book that appears on the NY Times Best Sellers list.
• Run in a marathon.
• Be a "reviewer" (books, restaurants, products, travel destinations, etc.) for a magazine, newspaper, or blog.
  

My goals will be much more specific when I actually create my book (Ex. I will X by 9 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2009), but that's a "sneak peek."

What would you put in your book?

Books that Important People Read

Zane Safrit wrote a post on his blog on 6-27-07 entitled "You are What You [Read]" based on the NY Times article - "C.E.O. Libraries Reveal Keys to Success."

The NY Times article described the wide and varied libraries of C.E.O.'s - their shelves contained everything from Aristotle to William Blake to Arthur Miller. And, apparently, many C.E.O.'s are prolific readers...

One quote from the article particularly struck me:
If there is a C.E.O. canon, its rule is this: “Don’t follow your mentors, follow your mentors’ mentors,” suggests David Leach, chief executive of a non-profit accreditation organization.

Great advice. I'd like to take it. Maybe I will think of five people that I admire and ask them for their favorite ten books - and then read them. (By the way, what are your favorite books...?)

(Photo by: chotda)

Books I've Been Reading

I just read the following three books this past week:

1. Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success by Penelope Trunk
2. How to Become a Famous Writer Before You're Dead by Ariel Gore
3. Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller
   

P.S. I also signed up for an account with Shelfari (essentially, an online book club).

What have you been reading?

Book Review: The Audacity of Hope

I just finished "The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama. Here's what I wrote immediately after I closed the pages:

Well-written and educational, yet also authentic, honest, personal, and moving. Obama presents core issues in a reasonable, balanced way - and he is not so arrogant to pretend to know the answers to all questions or the cures for all of society's failings. He shook my conscience and challenged my beliefs with his postmodern and progressive perspectives. And I actually think I might vote for this guy if he secures the democratic seat. I certainly don't agree with him on everything, but he seems fair-minded, family-oriented, and future-focused. I will watch with eager intent as Obama pursues the 2008 presidential seat.

Here are a few clarifying questions to those who might ask:

1. Isn't his book just popular because he is in a position of power?
Probably, but that makes his journey all the more intriguing to me. I am always fascinated by how successful people start out and what principles guide them as leaders.

2. Do you agree with all of Obama's stances?
Not all, but many. His discussions about foreign policy, faith and politics, and family especially resonated with me. I also enjoyed reading his ideas about reform in the areas of education and the workforce.

3. Aren't all democrats immoral schmucks?
Wow, that's harsh. Read this book. We need to be more focused on our commonalities as humans and less divisive when it comes to political party affiliations. Yes, we should debate and speak our minds (that is the beauty of democracy, after all...), but we should enter into our disagreements as listeners and not only persuaders.

4. Why would you consider voting for Obama?
I appreciate his honesty and authenticity (willing to admit that he doesn't always know the answers), his commitment to his family, and his love for our country. That said, I need to do A LOT more research before I cast my vote. After all, I read his book - so it is, of course, just a bit biased in his favor.

Book on My Wishlist: Brazen Careerist

Warner Business Books recently released Penelope Trunk's first book on 5-25-07. The book is titled "Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success" and it is definitely on my wishlist.

I stumbled upon Trunk's blog about a week ago and it is now officially bookmarked. Her posts are well-written, clever, and innovative. I love her new take on the business world and on career success. I often find myself nodding in agreement with her edgy and fresh statements.