PROGRESSION: Never Split the Difference, Zig Ziglar, and How to Avoid the Traps of Mainstream Thinking
December 2019
Greetings from Valencia, CA! I hope you and your loved ones are enjoying the holidays. More recommendations than usual this month but the recaps are shorter. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Books, articles, etc.
High Output Management by Andy Grove (Book)
30+ years ago, Andy Grove, CEO of Intel, was one of the most influential executives. His book, High Output Management, was written the same year I was born (!!) but the principles still apply in today’s world. His advice ranges from running 1-on-1s with direct reports to handling performance review conversations. Many books written by successful execs are too high-level, but Grove gets into the nuts and bolts, which I love. This book came highly recommended by all three DoorDash founders and I echo their sentiment.
See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar (Book)
Almost all motivational speakers trace their roots back to Zig. This book was recommended in a podcast interview by Seth Godin where he said it was one of the three most impactful books he read. While motivational speaking often gets a bad rap, I strongly believe that our mindset is largely determined by what we put into our head. Listening to his talks over the last month helped me stay positive and maintain an internal locus of control. If you’re looking for motivation as you enter the new year, you can’t go wrong with Zig.
The Lesson to Unlearn by Paul Graham (Article)
A leader at our company recently shared this article with the following note:
“Unfortunately, all of us have been programmed, or incentivized, to think mainstream (e.g., What does the press say? What's cool on Twitter? What do my friends/parents think?). There are many reasons for this, most principally because we were all educated in a pedagogy that rewards mainstream thinking (e.g., getting straight As, getting into the most selective university, getting a job from a "top" employer, etc). I hope you give it a read this week and most importantly encourage yourself to think from first principles and to think long-term.”
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Book)
I think this was my fifth reread of this Dickens classic. This book is always a good reminder that the relationships we have will always transcend the work we do. We can’t change the past, but we can choose to do better today. I also recommend The Muppet Christmas Carol, which is both hilarious and touching.
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss (Book)
Written by a former FBI hostage negotiator, Never Split the Difference provides practical but counterintuitive advice on how to negotiate effectively. Many of Voss’ tools and tactics are at odds with what I learned in other books, but he was incredibly persuasive. Specifically, Voss teaches the need for “tactical empathy” so we can connect with those we’re negotiating with. There’s a reason this book shows up on almost every list of book recommendations. If you haven’t read it yet, now’s the time. If you’re still on the fence, check out his TED talk.
Observations
No observations to share this month. More to come in January!
Gratitudes
I’ve found power in regularly expressing gratitude so I’ll continue the habit. I’m grateful for the many people who helped our family load and unload the moving van. I’m especially grateful for Brenda, my mother-in-law, who stayed with us for several days before and after the move and served in countless ways. I can’t imagine what it would have been like without her.
Thanks for reading. If you've read anything worth sharing I'd love to hear about it. And do let me know if there's anything I can do to help you.
Nathan
If this was forwarded to you and you'd like to sign up, click here