DCO Weekend Reader - 11/14/08
The web is a vast repository of opinions, commentary and occasionally, wisdom. Here’s a selection of the best articles I read over the past week.
If you would like to recommend an article, blog or book, please leave a comment with your suggestion. Weekend Reader is a regular feature here at DCO, and you can read past Weekend Readers here.
Wow - jam-packed Weekend Reader this week. We’ve got radio, we’ve got video, the only thing we’re missing is puppies. I’m not even sure where to start to recommend a “must read” for the week.
For Leaders I think your must read is the post on Leadership being a choice. At the same time inspirational yet re-affirming, a good levelset for making sure you’ve made the right choice and what happens if you don’t. I also like the post on C-Level resumes. Good advice for how it needs to be different from earlier in your career, especially if you want to switch industries. Entrepeneurs? If your concept is software-based, check out Microsoft’s BizSpark program to save that precious cash.
Feel free to peruse the rest, I hope you find some value. As always - have a great weekend!
Personal Excellence & Leadership
- National surveys show a steady decrease of trust in almost every area of American life. How do we decide who we can trust? And how good are we at judging the trustworthiness of our politicians? NPR, via KQED radio, examines the latest psychological research on trust.
- A Weekend Reader from a few weeks back had a link for a performance and potential matrix with nine leadership development strategies. The blog I found the matrix on, recently responded to some practical reader questions on implemented the strategy.
Leadership is about making the decision and taking the responsibility to bring our future into the present. This first step to becoming an effective leader… it is the choice to be proactive.
- So goes the intro to another excellent George Ambler post over on The Practice of Leadership. The rest of the post mirrors a topic I’ve been meaning to write about for a while, that we need to choose to choose. George’s spin is we need to choose to lead. Read the rest of George’s excellent article entitled Leadership is a Choice.
- New research on the causes of executive failure.
Entrepreneurship
- The StartUp Blog posts a complete list of 2008 Q3 Internet, Tech and Web acquisitions.
- Most everyone on the web writing in the entrepreneurial space is advising entrepreneurs that in his economic crisis “cash is king”. Well, duh! Here’s some practical advice on interpreting that advice in the context of your particular situation and industry. Nothing in depth, but maybe a couple good ideas for you.
- The SBA Office of Advocacy launches the Small Business Watchdog blog.
- Are you a software-focused startup that could use free Microsoft tools for 3 years? Check out their BizSpark program. Free tools, licenses and platforms for three years. If you choose not to continue to use Microsoft products after three years, simply pay $100 to leave the program. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal.
Thought-Provokers
- Making positive thoughts a habit through thought replacement.
- Need some inspiration? Looking to redesign your world? Here’s some food for thought (warning: long, but good, read).
Tips, Tricks & Resources
- We’ve talked before about online resume and portfolio resources. Here’s 3 lesser known online resume builders. For all us “old schoolers”, Emurse looks like a flashback.
- A recent survey says a little over 15% of mobile users, use their device to browse the web at least once a month, and the percentage is growing. Are you thinking you need to make your website accessible to your customers from their PDA or cell phone? This short post has some numbers and a couple good links if you are in the early information-gathering stage.
- Do you have trouble paying attention? I have to admit I do sometimes. There are so many ways that active listening is a core leadership trait, but sometimes your mind is either too busy, or the person is talking too slow, or the conclusion is already obvious, or… Well, you get my point. You won’t find anything revolutionary in these 6 skills for active listening, and we’ve heard them all before - but were we really listening? Good reinforcement.
- Economy’s down, and here comes year-end. Holiday shopping, year-end Board presentations, maybe a little fundraising. If you’re a retailer, non-profit, or service company and are looking for all the help you can get, here’s one tip for each.
- File this one under the “too good to be true?” category, but here’s a review I found on a free web-conferencing service that the review really liked. Hey, your CIO probably won’t risk his job rolling this out across the enterprise, but for personal or spot use, it might be an extremely cost-effective solution.
- Secrets of the C-Level resume. And once you get that job, here’s 6 questions to ask in your performance review. Hey, you’re a “C”. Take charge!
- I had what I thought was a pretty good post with 10 tips to recession proof your career. Actually the tips were from another blogger (and I do give credit), but I added my thoughts to his already great tips making for a very good list for raising your value and avoiding that pink slip.
One For Fun
- Glowbots! They learn what you like!!!
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