Rothacker Reviews

The Last Lecture - Brief Synopsis

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

"What wisdom would you impart upon the world if you knew your demise was to be immediate ?"  "What matters most to you?"

College professors are frequently asked to plan a lecture with these questions in mind.  The searing difference between Randy Pausch's last lecture and all of the others?  Prior to the lecture, Randy was told he really did have only a couple of months to live.

If you can read, are related to one other person on this planet and have a heart, you must pick up this book and listen to what Randy told his students and in turn told the world.

Small Business Advertising

Do you own a small business?  Have you encountered the key to making it successful?  Be that key a person, a book, a Web site, a seminar or your spouse's brother-in-law?  Chances are you haven't had the luxury of striking it rich with one brilliant move.  You've had to build your business through hard work, grit, determination and the ability to filter every Tom, Dick and Harry's opinion as to how you should run your business.  You did say your brother-in-law's name is Dick, didn't you?

Today perhaps you might consider the opinion of David, an advertising man.  He helped a few companies sell their products and become successful.  You might be familiar with some of them; Campbell Soup Company, Rolls Royce, General Foods, Shell, IBM, Merrill Lynch, etc.  In the world of advertising, David Ogilvy was an icon.  David passed away in 1999, but his legend lives on along with his words.  You need to pick up his book Ogilvy on Advertising.  It isn't a textbook, it is a conversation.  I've read the book twice now and I feel as if David and I are sitting in a cherry wood paneled library in two big plush leather chairs looking out over a snow-filled meadow while a fire roars in the fireplace.  He talks to me about advertising and selling products while knocking the residual tobacco from his pipe.

"Wait a minute Dave, the companies that David worked with are all really big companies.  Mine isn't."

Ok, let me guess.  Your brother-in-law knows a printer.  He got you a good deal on printing out a flier.  You mailed a few out.  Or you recently bought Advertising for Dummies.  You are trying to follow it step by step.  Or you know that you should be advertising, so you ask Joe who owns the pool cleaning company.  Joe tells you.  But you're not sure if he understands the difference between pool filters and pepperoni pizza.  Or you listen blindly to the girl who sells ad space for the Neighborhood News cause you'd like to date her.  By the way, just how much business are you getting out of that ad?

The point is your advertising isn't working.  You either have to do it yourself or hire a company that works with small business.  Ultimately you should hire the company.  Either way, David will guide you through the process.  But there is a catch.  This book isn't for every small business owner.  It is only for those with an open enough mind to carry on a conversation with a dead ad guy...albeit a charming and wise dead ad guy.  You see, David isn't only going to enlighten you about advertising, if you're open enough, he'll help you build the very core of your business.

"Dave, I ran over to Amazon and ordered up a copy.  It came yesterday.  Dude, this book is written for advertising people."

Well, yes it is.  Here, grab this can of WD-40 and shoot a couple drops on the hinges of your mind.  Now, shake each leg a bit and straighten out your underwear.  Good.  Listen up.  Yes David's book was targeted for the field of advertising.  Published in 1983, he writes about getting a job in the business, running an agency, how to advertise for foreign travel and how to make TV commercials.  He also writes about how to produce advertising that sells, direct mail, how to get clients, research, competing with Proctor and Gamble, and six legends who went before him in the industry.  It is mostly in the last group where the treasure for small business owners can be found.  But you will only hear David's sage bits of wisdom if you pretend he is trying to help you run your business.

I know, I know, you're too busy trying to run your business to play pretend.  But if you made it this far into my article here, try this out...

You hire someone local to do your advertising.  It could be the girl who sells ad space for the neighborhood paper or someone who will design your ad or an agency geared for small business.  Now, listen to what David has to say about his internal operation:

I never assign a product to a writer unless I know that he is personally interested in it.

As an Advertising Director, he never assigns a product to a writer unless he knows that the writer is personally interested in the product.  Now here's where you have to pretend.  David to you:

Carol, does Bob the guy who is writing copy for your print advertisement, know anything about you or your products?  Matter of fact, does he use your products?

See what I mean?

One last suggestion.  Pick up a copy of David's book from the new and used section of Amazon.  You'll save a few bucks.

Remarkable Leadership

Remarkable Leadership by Kevin Eikenberry

Do you work for a living?  Buy Remarkable Leadership now!  Next.

"Jeepers Dave, we're not sure we got our money's worth with that review."

"Let me get this straight, you're paying me for this review?"

"Well, errr, uhhh..........no, but could you tell us a little more?"

Dave is a softy, he relents.

After reading Remarkable Leadership the first time, I closed the book and the first word that popped into my mind was prolific.  Remarkable Leadership is not just a book, it is a work.  Kevin focuses on thirteen core competencies.  They constitute Remarkable Leadership.  Each competency gets a chapter and Kevin weaves within each chapter components that entice you to participate.

"Participate Dave?"

Yes.  Kevin begins each chapter with a self-assessment.  This technique sets the stage for the book to become a conversation.  Then he provides in depth content on topics like continuous learning.  Kevin sculpts out each chapter with:

• Skill areas
• Your now steps
• Bonus Bytes
• Your Remarkable Principles
• Remarkable Resources

Bonus Bytes and Remarkable Resources direct you to an accompanying Web site that is packed with extra information.

If you are a teacher, mentor, manager, boss, coach, executive or otherwise bigwig, this book is for you NO QUESTIONS ASKED!  Jack Welch could benefit from reading Remarkable Leadership. 

"Daaaaave, we're feelin' a twist in the road ahead"

Do you know why Jack Welch could benefit from reading Kevin's book?  Because he isn't a bigwig anymore.  If you work, you need this book as much or even more than your manager does!!  Two reasons:

1. By understanding how your manager is trying to lead you, you'll become more effective.
2. You can become more effective.

Do you know that little guy who is dressed in white and sits on your shoulder?

"Now Dave, keep it together.  Don't loose it buddy."

Well, he kept asking me one question as I read the book.  He said, "Dave, what if you dropped the word leadership?"   I knew exactly what he meant.  I had the same thought myself.

"Your toast."

If  you approach reading Remarkable Leadership with the intent to become more effective, you will.   Nearly everything that Kevin talks about, can be instructive learning for every working person out there.  For instance, Kevin devotes time to the act of Listening.  Now, as much as you hope they would, do you think only leaders could benefit from advice on listening?  How about learning, dealing with change, communicating, telling stories, building relationships, networking, customer service, building values, creativity, innovation, collaboration, teamwork, problem solving, making decisions, responsibility, accountability, projects, processes and goal achievement?? 

"Dave!  You rebounded son!!"

Remarkable Leadership is a prolific book.  I would bind it with good, hearty stock, cover it in leather and cherish it for a lifetime.  But that's just me.

Remarkable Leadership was Smoked-n-Signed.

You, Inc. The Art of Selling Yourself

You, Inc. by Harry and Christine Beckwith

How can I tell you what I think with brevity and crystal clear clarity?  How can I make it interesting enough so you will tell others?  How can I get you to come back?

I think deeply about the above questions.  Personally however, I have a huge problem.  Picture yourself wanting to build a new home.  The most important part of a home is its foundation and basic structure.  This is where you need to start.  But your mind cannot choose a foundation so it drifts toward the floor plan and interior design.  Both important components but each will not amount to a hill of beans without the correct foundation.  And so it is with me.  My mind drifts toward bright and engaging communication, when it should be thinking about foundation.  What is your core idea dave?  What is that word that when people speak, associate it with you? 

I thought I might have a bit of fun here with this idea.  So I am going to list my fellow JJLN authors and then list the first word or phrase that comes to mind about them.  For the authors that I do not know that well I am going to visit their Web site and insert the first thing that comes to mind.  I encourage my colleagues to copy and past this list and then create their own associations.  Even if you are not a JJLN author, feel free to contribute.  Heck, add more names if you choose.

Angela Maiers - education, teach, passion.

April Groves - internal spiritual intelligence.

Ariane Benefit - organized.

Benjamin Bach - learning, networking, sharing, improving.

Blaine Collins - relationships, networking.

Chris Owen - Aussie, pink, relationships.

Dan Ward - intellectual, radical.

David Zinger - positive life outlook, educator, learning.

Dean Boyer - teacher, educator, learning.

Dwayne Melancon - sharing, growing, evolving, relationships, spirit.

EM Sky - spiritual, openness, giving, smart.

Greg Balanko-Dickson - biz coach, vast resources, teaching, learning.

Joanna Young - wordsmith, writing, giving, caring, clarity.

John Richardson - productivity, leadership.

Karen Wallace - serenity, learning, giving.

Kevin Eikenberry - relate, learn-from-life, positive, energy.

Phil Gerbyshak - relationship geek, networker-on-steroids, smile, learner.

Rosa Say - management coach, writer, value-anchored, managing with aloha, sister.

Steve Sherlock - learner, hitchhiker, observer-of-life, caring, sharing.

Terry Starbucker - women, uber-positive-life-outlook, leadership, caring, smart.

Tim Draayer - personal development, networker.

Tim Milburn - graphic artist, college-leadership, giving, sharing, learning.

Toni Howard - coach, caring.

Ok, I got a little carried away.  I couldn't list just one thing that came to mind about these folks.  These are my perceptions.  And one perception I must expand upon before it is taken out of context.  Terry Starbucker - women.  To begin with, Terry is one of my most favorite writers.  His insight into business and life is as crystal clear as Rocky Mountain water.  Add in the essence-of-Terry, the glass-half-full philosophy of life, and we're talkin' life after service company exec here.  Here's the women connection (and it ain't deep); I've noticed that more women link to Terry's site than other business-life writers.

"dave, I thought you were going to review Harry and Christine's book here?"

The Beckwiths weave life tales and experiences around advice that navigates us through the narrow and shallow channels of business. 

You are the CEO of you.  If you have established a core idea for your Web site or are on the journey of discovering one, you'll need a copy of You, Inc., to help clarify your communications.  And, if you want to create a word or phrase that you'd like folks to associate with you, do so.  Then repeat that word before and after you read each of Harry and Christine's two hundred and seventy six chapters and you'll be on your way!

Words That Work

Words That Work by Frank Luntz.

Words That Work is the best book that I only read half of!  Author Frank Luntz weaves a recurring theme throughout his work:  It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear.  It probably explains why I only read half of his book.

This paragraph hooks me early on:

This chapter and this book are not concerned with words that are beautiful, words that are timeless, or words that are ideal in some abstract, philosophical sense.  Rather, it is concerned, again, with words that work - language of everyday utility, language that generates practical results.  My concern is with the unadorned, commonsense language of small town, middle America, not the intellectual gamesmanship of the ivory tower.  It's language that has bubbled up from the American people themselves.

While the ivory tower comment would go on to energize me for the entire book, the part that nearly caused me to drop kick the book into the street was that Frank is involved in politics and he relies heavily upon this experience throughout the book.  Of course this reveals my small-minded intellect to the world, but I go stone cold deaf when I hear a politician's name.   I am sorry, I tune it right out.  So in order not to throw up while reading Frank's book, I skipped over anything related to politics.  Of course Frank schools me before I even get to page five:

Before you can create, and certainly before you judge, you have to listen to people and respect them for who they are and what they believe.  Just because you may not ultimately accept or endorse someone's subjective perceptions is no excuse for refusing to acknowledge that they exist.

Frank is passionate about using the correct language to deliver a compelling message, one that has impact.  His passion overwhelms the political-speak and makes it a non-issue for me.

To me, Words That Work is a road map to improving relationships.  When I write, I am writing to people with whom I want a relationship with...if only for them to read and understand my words.  Frank's ten rules of effective language illuminate the highway towards a more meaningful relationship.

Would you care to go on a journey into the future with me?  I sense a world of possibility up around the bend.  I see more and more people engaging in meaningful dialog.  I see effective communication breaking down the stone walls that people have built to keep the world at bay.  (Like mine that keeps the world of politics off of my radar).

I only ask you to do one thing on our journey.  I ask that you place the world of status-quo behind us and lock and load the most powerful force known to the human race - your imagination...

Imagine a culture of shared knowledge.  A culture spread planet-wide and one fueled by the most primal rule known to man - the Golden Rule.  Imagine a cloak of non-religious spirituality lying in casual elegance over top of this vibrant culture.  People speak and write in their native languages but are understood by everyone.  There is no war.  A universal peace of mind steadies the planet and allows for  a never seen before, hassle-free exchange of knowledge and wisdom.  A teenager in Peru converses with a teen in Moscow in an evolved version of My Space.  They quickly learn that boys are boys no matter where one lives.  And they learn through crystal clear dialog that souls and hearts can be healed in a safe and healthy manner. 

The fruit and prosperity yield from this environment causes an evolution.  Though people remain independent in their thinking, the collective consciousness guided by the Golden Rule, initiates a higher level of understanding.  Innovation and risk are taken on with renewed spirit.  A planetary system of support allows people the right and freedom to move forward.  A bold idea is met with encouragement, not resentment.  The results of this movement are not held to monetary measures.  Instead, accountability is simple:  Did you learn something today?  Were you able to help someone learn something today? 

A can-do attitude prevails the planet.  There are no ivory-tower dwellers.  Those in leadership consider an efficient day a day that a barrier was removed from an individual with a can-do spirit.  Financial security follows enhanced knowledge.  A balanced approach to a worker's mind, body, heart and spirit is an investment into the company's future and yields more money than can be counted. 

A planet is restored to a village amongst villages.  Elders connect to youth with revitalized language.  Youth embodies a spirit of respect and listens in wonder.  Yes, it still requires an effort to speak out.  But a lifestyle fueled with the desire to share knowledge, wisdom and information overpowers the effort.  Yes we can rejuvenate our spirits and reinvent that one small village that turns out to be our planet by way of crystal clear, sharp communication. 

Go out today and pick up Frank's road map to improving relationships. Somewhere out there in the future people will hear our voice, no matter what language we speak.  Thanks Frank!

Writing to Change the World

Writing to Change the World by Mary Pipher.

How many books can possibly be written on writing?  Probably just a handful more than line my book shelves right now.  Still, I bought Writing to Change the World and I am so glad I did.  Sure, the book's title appealed to my inner-revolutionary.  And the fact that the author was twenty in the sixties and lived in San Francisco helped too.  But I came to learn that to change the world I must start with me.  And this is precisely where Mary writes from.

Mary spends time in the first few chapters developing the sense of how writing begins within yourself.  Know Thyself, What You Alone Can Say and Growing Our Souls are the titles of these chapters.  But a story that she tells at the end of the first chapter after explaining how writing connects, sets the tone of the book and provides a glimpse into Mary the person.  I'll not tell the story, but I will tell you that it is magical, wondrous and inspiring!

In the second half of the book, Mary guides us through the writing process.  She provides thought for context.  She does not teach the mechanics, typically laced with the do's and don'ts of grammar.  Those who already write will appreciate her advice on research, observation, organization, interviewing and point of view.

Though I was originally attracted to the revolutionary aspects concocted by the title, Writing to Change the World, I came to find out Mary's book is not a manifesto for revolt.  Instead, for me, it is a gold digger's sieve.  It helps me to pan out the unwanted rock and keep the gold.  As Mary says:

Our goal as writers is to convey to readers the greatest meaning with the  most precise images and the fewest words.

Yes, Writing to Change the World will help those who wish to create change.  But the journey that Mary leads us upon will plain out help us to become better writers. 

Do Editors Ruin Stories?

Or rather should I say, do editors and others who act as gate keepers, prevent captivating stories from being told?

Rosemary comes up to me yesterday and says, "in her first twenty pages, this author violates every rule in the book."

A knot slowly began to form in my stomach.  This was a most excellent book.  If it were non-fiction I would have smoked and signed it.  As it was I definitely smoked it and still ended up high lighting interesting text.  The book, She Walks These Hills, by Sharyn McCrumb, was recommended to me by Dick Richards for the author's strong use of sense of place.

Since completing three novels last year, Rosemary has immersed herself in the technical side of writing.  She rattles off terms like plot, back story, POV's, dialog and theme like they were ordinary house hold items and like I am supposed to understand them.  The thing is, all of the books on writing that Rosemary has read, have been mine.  Plus, I've read a whole lot more.  So I do understand, sort of.  I refuse however, to let the technicalities ruin the melody in my head. 

That's fine.  I can stand up on my platform, be self-righteous and pompous as much as I want.  I am not trying to sell my stuff.  Rosemary however, is.  So she slices and dices on the advice of agents, editors, women in her writing group, writing coaches, writing partners and published authors.  I plead for her not to lose sight of her story. 

Maybe it's me, maybe I'm the dunce, but here is what is important when I read a book.  The story must be interesting and I must want to keep turning the pages.  The words must hold a tune.  And they must carry that tune throughout the story as if I were not even aware of it.  Or, if I am made aware it is at a point where emphasis is called for.  (These are the points that I usually high light).  Rosemary's books have all of the above.  She's got great story, her dialog flows and IMHO, her use of descriptive language is above the genre that she writes for. 

Why of course I am the doting husband.  But it irks the crap out of me when I hear someone babbling about two different points of view in a chapter that I just smoked through because I thought it was interesting.  Then again, maybe all that I accomplished here was to expose all of my own non-literariness to the world...

Book Reviews: dave Style

I want your words to take a voyage.  I want them to travel from your mind to your heart to your soul.  I want them to collect pieces of each.  Then I want them to leap from your pages and grab hold of my soul.  Cause when they do, my fingers will smoke about my keyboard hoping to reach out to the world and sing your praise.

I had been writing book reviews in my own little way since 2001, when a very scholarly fellow once said, "dave, you don't get very deep.  You're kind of like a cheerleader."  Okay.  So a few years go by when Rosa Say first asks the Ho'ohana Community to write a book review at Talking Story.  Brendon Connelly penned a book review of Lisa Haneberg's High Impact Middle Management, that gives grist for Webster's definition and illustrates with clarity the art of the proper book review.  Brendon's articulation would have caused my friend of the cheerleader remark to become stuck on the merry-go-round in ponder.  Though Mr. Connelly's work deserves to be in a book review hall of fame, I can't write like that.

To begin with, I am not too keen on being critical.  A book and its writer must resonate with me for me to review it.  If it does, I want to help the author, not be critical.  I think readers need to know in general what the book is about, but not in Cliff Note.  I am more interested in trying to interpret my feelings and how the author touches me.  I'm pretty sure that when I do like the author, I can hardly not be a cheerleader for her. 

Now I'd like to reveal a little dave character flaw.  I am selfish. 

I am sure that I've babbled about it here a half dozen times over the years but one of the greatest and most memorable feelings that I have ever experienced came upon the heels of a book review.  A week after writing the review, the author sold fifteen books and had leads for twenty-five more (the books cost 130 bucks).  The appreciation in his voice brought me to tears ( dave doesn't cry).

Well, that's about the extent of a dave-style book review, not deep, not critical, just hoping to make a connection with the author and tell a few friends about it.

Post Secrets

Post Secrets by Frank Warren.

Frank Warren is a double secret probationary undercover salesman for the United States Postal Service.  Here is his story:

In 2004, Frank printed and randomly distributed 3000 postcards inviting people to share a secret with him.  Here was his request:

• Take a postcard, or two.
• Tell your secret anonymously.
• Stamp and mail the postcard.
• Be brief - the fewer the words used the better.
• Be legible - use big, clear and bold lettering.
• Be Creative - let the postcard be your canvas.

Frank created a Post Secret Web site and has authored four books publishing postcards that he has received.

The Post Secret book soothes my compulsive need to be in touch with pleasing design.  I even like the way it smells.  But it's the stories on the postcards that steal the show.  Though fewer than two or three sentences complete an entire story, one feels emotionally exhausted after reading just a few.  Strangers revealing and illustrating their deep, dark secrets is mysteriously intriguing.  Or perhaps not.  Perhaps it's just therapeutic and not mysterious to learn that others have held secrets, like our own, close to the vest for years.

That Frank's book is so popular and that so many people have been to his site give evidence to either our morbid curiosity or a deeper need to hear other's stories and connect with them...even if it is at the level of, "hey man, I hear your problem, I can relate brother."

Here are two postcards that aren't quite so heavy:

Frank Warren liberates desperate housewives.

Frank Warren provides a Starbuck's moment.

 

Amy Grant: Mosaic

Mosaic: Pieces of My Life So Far by Amy Grant.

I saw Amy on the Oprah show about a month ago.  Prior to that I had a vague recollection of her name.  She's a country singer, right?  She appeared on the show with husband Vince Gill.  They spoke of their time together and Amy invited the audience in on a first ever video tour of her get-away, tucked in the woods writing cabin.  At the end of the segment, Oprah plugged Amy's book Mosaic. 

I am beyond intrigued by folks who can sing, write songs and write literature - like Christine Kane.  So I bought Amy's book.  In the grand scheme of the Road Not Taken, this is a road that I seem to be meandering down.  If you were to place me in a lineup of one-hundred different men, I would be the first one you would choose who would be least likely to by a book written by Amy Grant.

One other reason that I picked up Amy's book is to force myself out of the Panama Canal of biz books that I find myself being channeled through.  I also recently bought three Dr. Seuss books.  (That felt good!).  I need these ingredients for the big pot of soup cooking on the stove - that eventually sips its way into my writing.

Amy melds short stories of her life in between written versions of her songs.  A journey through this book reveals a wonderful design that embraces one's senses.  I haven't a clue as to who Amy Grant the star is.  But I do have one now to who Amy Grant the person is. She loves her family; she cares for her friends; she respects those who have went before her;  she captures life's lessons, storing them in her heart;  she loves the oceans.  No, I am not in awe of Amy the star.  If she were standing right in front of me I wouldn't seek an autograph.  I am not a fan.  I am in awe of Amy the person.  And if she were standing in front of me I'd ask her to tell me a story.  And then my life would be better for it.

If you love your family, love to write, and are in pursuit of life, pick up Amy's book today.