Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, the founders of 37signals, is a must read for anyone running a business or looking to start one.

Especially if you don’t identify as an entrepreneur, or don’t like many of the unquestioned beliefs about conventional business practice.

This is one of those books I am reading through in one sitting. And going back to …

Henry Mintzberg in The Rise and Fall of Strategic Planning: “Analysis is not synthesis, and strategic planning is not strategy formation … Ultimately, the term ‘strategic planning’ has proved to be an oxymoron.”

Here’s what I wrote down on reading the above:
Analysis ? insights and revelations
Synthesis ? new thoughts, new combinations
Strategy formulation ? strategic planning ? execution

Dev Paitnaik went on to say: “real strategy isn’t some plan that …

“The quality of a society is more important than your place in that society. … it is better to be a small fish in a clean pond than a big fish in a polluted lake.”

From Eric Weiner’s book The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search For The Happiest Places In The World. ISBN 978-0-446-69889-4.

As business builders, is it more important that we create a clean pond rather …

“The measure of a society is how well it transforms pain and suffering into something worthwhile.” Nietzsche

From Eric Weiner’s book The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search For The Happiest Places In The World. ISBN 978-0-446-69889-4.

In the current economic climate, the same can be said of businesses. How can your business transform its pain and suffering into something worthwhile. How do you decide what is worthwhile?

“Collectivist cultures, like Japan and other Confucian nations, value social harmony more than any one person’s happiness.”

“Individualistic cultures, like the United States, value personal satisfaction more than communal harmony.”

From Eric Weiner’s book The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search For The Happiest Places In The World. ISBN 978-0-446-69889-4.

Similarly, individuals and businesses have cultures that are more towards one type or the other. This is probably where the …

The hedonic treadmill describes the process where we all eventually adapt to a pleasurable event like winning the lottery. Over time, the pleasure we get from it will decrease.

With two exceptions.

“Studies have found that we never really get used to loud noises, despite prolonged exposure” so we continue to be irritated by loud noises because we simply cannot adapt to them.

And…

“Women who get breast implants never tire …

“As E.F. Schumacher said ‘The richer the society, the more difficult it becomes to do worthwhile things without immediate payoff.’ … In a wealthy , industrialized society, … we are discouraged from doing anything that isn’t productive.” Eric Weiner in his book The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search For The Happiest Places In The World. ISBN 978-0-446-69889-4.

Put another way, the wealthier we become, the less we value …

It is normal for Icelanders to have diverse and eclectic work histories because the culture, the lack of envy, not only encourages individuals to try different things but also admires failure as a noble sign of having tried. It is one of the happiest countries in the world.

“Having multiple identities … is … conducive to happiness. This runs counter to the prevailing belief in … other western nations, …

“Trust is a prerequisite for happiness. … Several studies, in fact, have found that trust – more that income or even health – is the biggest factor in determining our happiness.”

From Eric Weiner’s book The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search For The Happiest Places In The World. ISBN 978-0-446-69889-4.

Are you building and practicing trust within your business?

Buy now from Amazon:
The Geography of Bliss: One …

“The more talented somebody is, the less they need the props.” said Hugh MacLeod in his great book Ignore Everybody and 39 Keys to Creativity.

He advocates the concept of “pillar management”. Pillars meaning the props that businesses and persons acquire to hide behind. They need managing (or rather removal) because they “get in the way” of letting authenticity and real talent shine through, and provide distractions and excuses …