Rothacker Reviews

Beyond Trend

Beyond Trend by Matt Mattus

Beyond Trend is laced with a passion for design.  It is sooooo inspiring!  Like little kids grow up and want to be police and firemen, after reading Matt's book (three times now), I want to be a designer!  If I were involved in an association for designers, I'd make Beyond Trend required reading for members.  If I owned a company that used designers and caught them reading Beyond Trend, I'd promote them.  Okay, that last one's a stretch.  But their value in my eyes sure would increase.

The business world today is paying attention to the wink of design leaders.  "Pssst guys!  Get on board.  Good design will capture your customer's heart and soul."  Whether you have companies that truly get the benefits of design or companies led by CEO's who have a vague idea of what design is: "Bob, I think there is something to this design thing.  Create a design department.  Stick it between the mailroom and accounting."...the field is opening wide up.  While more people are filling creative roles, the creative work-output is growing exponentially and growing exponentially vanilla.  An overabundance of design and an overabundance of sameness.  Matt:

...it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell a Target TV ad from a Sears ad.

Moving beyond trend is Matt's answer to his own question: "In an over-designed world, how does a designer design?"  How one gets there is what this book is all about.

Basically, Matt's book is written to and for designers, those in the trenches trying to crank out new and creative work.  But he sneaks in a chapter devoted to their bosses.  It is pure gold.  In very clear and concise terms, Matt delineates between the two styles of companies I reference above. 

There is one really strong theme that courses through Matt's work.  It is the foundation and framework for moving beyond trend.  It begins with a passion for design.  And it ends with the ability to explain your output.  What informed us?  Why did it?  And where did this influence come from?  Matt asks:

How can you problem solve, or create "new," or "get it" (and help others "get it") if you never did in the first place?

The ability of a designer to move beyond trend is directly related to the work that they put in between the passion part and the explanation part.  Matt guides the student of design here with a carefully created map on how to get there and how to become a culture creator at the same time.

Matt designed this book himself and infuses brilliant pictures, illustration and art to help tell his story. 

I smoked-n-signed Beyond Trend.  It is one of the best books I've ever read!

"Jeepers dave, that's a pretty strong statement!"

You know why I feel so strongly about this book?  Because I think it's not only a recipe for designers to elevate their game above status-quo, but it will also help other creatives like artists and writers!!

Jack's Notebook

Jack's Notebook by Gregg Fraley

Do you remember when the World Series games were played in the afternoon?  Do you know what a young teenage boy did with a hollowed out book......on one of those October afternoons......while at school?  Why listened to the ballgame of course.  I, errrrr he had to trick the teachers into thinking he was studying.

Do you know what Gregg Fraley does by writing Jack's Notebook?  He spins a tale about Jack, a young man who is tired of the daily grind.  He wants a job that has meaning, that makes him jump out of bed and look forward to the day ahead.  Jack joins forces with Dreadlocks girl - Molly, and together they set forth upon a page-turning adventure in search of a new job for Jack.  One key to Jack's success is that he carries a notebook around and journals the journey.  Mr. Fraley however, does something else.  He tricks us. Just when we think we're being held spellbound by an interesting story, we're really being taught how to creatively solve problems.

CPS (Creative Problem Solving) was developed by master creative guru Alex Osborn and now retired professor, Dr. Sidney J. Parnes.  Gregg weaves his own version of CPS throughout Jack's adventure.  He also provides a reference guide to the process in the back of the book.

Gregg says to not get too up tight about processes and methods.  He breaks it down into basics.  Make a list and then make a choice.  One part about this I really, really like.  Do not judge your ideas while making your list.  This will stifle creativity and imagination.  Instead just get the ideas out of your head. I have found that once you've created your list, it's best to let it simmer and brew for a day before beginning to make choices.

This book was Smoked-n-Signed!

Pick up a copy of Jack's Notebook, pick up a notebook for yourself --- and let the journey begin!

Their Eyes Were Watching God

The National Endowment for the Arts has a program called The Big Read.  The purpose of The Big Read is to restore reading to the center of American culture.  The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest.  The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.

I first heard about The Big Read in a St Petersberg Times Newspaper in Education insert.  In the past I had gotten a little goofy and sappy over another publication by the St Pete Times called tbt*.  The tbt* is a free, daily publication that has a witty, articulate and humerous voice that is most soothing.  I have to tell you though, the NIE brings on a whole nuther level of goofiness!  Here is a description in their own words:

Beyond newsprint. In the know. Online. Plugged in. In The Times.

The Times Newspaper in Education program offers students and teachers a world of free learning resources including classroom newspapers and supplements, multimedia reports, podcasting and blogging opportunities.

A newspaper that truly cares about education within the community!  And another thing, an association with the NIE speaks volumes about their sponsors.  The sponsors are listed on the right hand side page of the Web site.

Sorry, got a little side tracked.  The book, Their Eyes Were Watching God, is why I started writing here today in the first place.  This book was written by Zora Neale Hurston and published in 1937.  This is a touching, powerful, humerous and scary trek through early twentieth century, rural Florida that takes Janie Crawford, a southern black girl who clashes with the values others impose on her, on a journey to find herself.

If you read and write about non fiction business topics, you must read this book.  Zora's brilliant use of metpahors combined with oscilating narrative and southern black dialogue will shake the business cobwebs from your head and provide much needed humanism to infiltrate your subconscious.

Visit here to learn more about Zora Neale Hurston. 

Do You Matter?

Do You Matter? by Robert Brunner and Stewart Emery with Russ Hall

Why yes Virginia, you do!

Does your company matter?

Well Virginia, we're not sure about that!

Here is what this book is all about.  I've read the book twice and the authors do a nice, succinct job in describing it themselves.

I have already read somewhere someone whining about the author's excessive use of Apple as an example.  It did not bother me one bit.  As a matter of fact, it helps to enhance the book's main point. 

Here is a visual that I had twice through Do You Matter?  Robert and Stewart standing in front of an auditorium filled with CEO's from the world's top companies presenting a seminar on what the book is about.  The CEO's then leave the seminar, book in hand.  Back at their office, they shelve the book and go back to business as usual. 

It certainly is not that Robert and Stewart's message isn't compelling enough.  Delivered on the great white horse of Design powerhouse Pentagram, it's actually quite piercing.  The problem is that the CEO's minds are shelled in titanium.

If you work for a company that does not holistically embrace this concept of design, (read: titanium shelled cranium), I suggest you use this book as a What Color is Your Parachute? guide to escape.

The greatest value in my opinion, of Do You Matter? can be found in applying the question to You, Inc.  It could be You as a writer, You as a student, You as a worker, You as a sole proprietor or You as a mom.  In addition to the customer experience, do you matter to those with whom you interact?  Can you put yourself in their shoes?  Do you provide value?  If so, consistently?  In a consistent manner?

You can have a lot of fun using the complete, holistic design that the lads talk about here, to build a better sparkling You, Inc.  Tom would be most proud! 

This book was smoked-n-signed.  ...and I am recommending it to anyone who will listen!

The Right to Write

The Right to Write by Julia Cameron.

It's a cold, frigid morning in Maine.  You want to read the morning paper, but to do so will require walking through two feet of snow to the end of the driveway.  What if, what if your driveway had been plowed of snow overnight?

Do you write?

You do?  Well then, put a hat on, put a coat on, wrap a scarf around your neck and lets go get that newspaper.  Oh yeah, don't forget to make a check out to Julia Cameron's Snow Plowing Service.

The Right to Write is a collection of over forty life-navigating essays for the writer.  Julia draws upon a rich life of writing as she puts her arm across our shoulder, reassuring us that as students of the written word, we are on the right path.

Although at the end of every chapter Julia provides a writing exercise, her message is more of a balm for the writing-spirit than it is an instructional writing guide. 

The Value of Julia

Julia laces within each essay, a few sentences, paragraphs - ideas, that will cause a double take.  "How did she know?" you'll ask.  It is like Julia is tuned to a satellite that has captured your GPS coordinates on the writing journey.  I've owned this book for four years and have read it about four times.  Here is an example of where Julia connects with me every time I read it:

"Writing is about getting something down, not about thinking something up."

To get something down, I must first observe.  This takes me in the opposite direction from thinking something up.  It takes away all of the pressure from, what do I write about?

This little bit fits into my own personal life philosophy of Oz is the Yellow Brick Road:

"If we are invested in a writing life - as opposed to a writing career - then we are in it for the process and not the product."

In the early years I used to shovel the driveway.  And then I used a snowblower.  I sure wish though, someone had told me about Julia's Snow Plowing Service!

Leaving Microsoft to Change the World: Synopsis

Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by John Wood.

Are you doing something meaningful with your life?  Do you work for the Man?  Do you love books?  Do you love to read?  Do you love to learn?   Do you understand the value of education?  If so, walk down the path with us towards the lake.  One word of advice: watch out for the starshine...

Sit down next to our roaring campfire on the edge of a crystal blue mountain lake on a cool autumn evening with the smell of dampened leaves and smoke whispering about.  Would you like to hear a good story?  The story that is, of a guy who leaves corporate America for an adventure?  The corporation that is, Microsoft no less?  The adventure that is a cause.  A cause that is, of educating the children of the developing world.  John Wood leaves Microsoft that is, to change the world.

"Perhaps, sir, you will someday come back with books."

While visiting a remote mountainous area in Nepal, John, founder of Room to Read, came upon a school in horrific condition.  It did however, have a library.  The problem - it contained fewer than twenty books. 

John did go back...with books.  Leaving Microsoft to Change the World is a story that chronicles John's life-journey.   It is very well written, lubricated with succinct humor and sprinkled with lessons in business.

Note to future dave:  When you first began to read this book, you randomly pulled out a bookmarker to use.  It is a Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat character, sponsored by Kellogs.  The first words written on it say, "Reading is fun..."  Nothing is random davie, you know that...

The Three Signs of a Miserable Job: Synopsis

The Three Signs of a Miserable Job by Patrick Lencioni

How does one teach managers to become pied pipers?  Tell stories of course.  Stories trump bullet pointed slide shows.  Any day.  Any time.  Any how.

In classic Lencioni fashion, Patrick spins a tale involving ex CEO Brian Bailey who is trying to stay retired.  Brian doesn' t succeed.  He does succeed though, through a series of adventures, at revealing the three signs of a miserable job.  Boss.  Boss.  Boss.

Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' bout dave!

Well, not exactly.  But close.  The signs that Brian discovers do point towards the manager.  If the manager is on her game, understands these signs and works towards a positive outcome from them, it is most likely that her team will not describe their job as miserable.

Patrick builds this page turning story on one pied piper, rock-solid premise:  All managers should view their work as a ministry - a service to others.

You, and your masquerading and you,
Always contemplating what to do,
Encase happiness found you, can’t you see?
That it’s all around you,
So follow me...to Amazon and buy the book.

Sway - Synopsis

Sway by Ori and Rom Brafman

A person pays over two-hundred dollars for an everyday, run of the mill twenty dollar bill.  Think about it.  Why?  Why would a person be swayed to do such an illogical thing? 

Do you think if you understood the reason why people do illogical and irrational things, you might be able to navigate the world a bit better?

Ori and Rom, authors of the Starfish and the Spider, help us to understand why people do irrational things.  Their method and content of writing is easy on the mind, as Sean Connery is easy on the eyes of a female.

Think Tipping Point.  Think Blink.  Think the Starfish and the Spider.  But don't think about buying Sway.  Just do it!

Sway was Smoked-n-Signed.

The Last Lecture - 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.

July 25, 2008 - Randy passed away.

Thanks to all of you folks who type in The Last Lecture Synopsis in Google. I am getting a million hits...in relation to my little corner of cyberspace.  I am not honestly sure that Randy isn't working through me right now, but if you are visiting Rothacker Reviews from Google, check out what I think that Randy might be saying right now...

Lead your life the right way and your dreams will come to you.

Leave your legacy for your kids while you are still alive.  Live your legacy.  Live your legacy.  Now.

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.