Have you ever gotten an unsolicited key-chain in the mail, and donated money to the charity that sent it? At Christmas time, have you wondered why it’s suddenly impossible to find that special toy your child wants? At some point in your life, have you found yourself wanting to keep up with “the Jones’s”? Or against your better judgment, have agreed to accept less-than favourable conditions in a negotiation?
Recommended Reading
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B Cialdini
Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook – A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, And Betrayal by Ben Mezrich
With Peter Hiddema’s launch into Facebook, it seems only fitting we talk about Ben Mezrich’s account of how Facebook itself came into existence. His book is entitled Accidental Billionaires, and tells the story of a genius of an idea, and two best friends: Mark Zukerberg, a computer whiz; and Eduardo Saverin, a young monied scion, both of whom were socially-awkward Harvard undergrads back in 2004.
Why Your World is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller by Jeff Rubin
Transit fares in Canada’s largest city recently increased by $.25 per ride. As an infrequent user of public transit (short distances in off-peak hours), I already do a calculation to compare the cost of parking with the cost of my TTC fare. I don’t factor in the cost of the gasoline my car uses, I figure I’m not going too far, it can’t be that much. If Jeff Rubin is correct, those days are almost over.
Liar’s Poker by Michael Lewis
A born storyteller, Michael Lewis shows us how things really worked on Wall Street. The bond traders were presiding over enormous changes in the world economy. Lewis’s job was to transfer money, in the form of bonds, from those outside American who saved to those inside America who consumed. In doing so, he generated tens of millions of dollars for Salomon Brothers, and earned for himself a ringside seat on the greatest financial spectacle of the decade: the leveraging of America.
Getting to Resolution Turning Conflict into Collaboration by Stewart Levine
What is the greatest impediment to productive and satisfying business and personal relationships? According to empowerment guru Stewart Levine, it”s inadequate conflict resolution. Levine”s seven-step model integrates two skills essential for success — collaboration and conflict resolution — and emphasizes the importance of a shift in attitude, assumptions, and approaches when facing a problem.