What's Woody Doing Now

Congo Stories

I just finished a GREAT book that I strongly recommend you get. The book is "Congo Stories". I especially liked the audio (Audible) version which was read by the authors. Then, I purchased the ebook (Kindle) version for quick reference.

I will be giving away copies of the book later this month (April 2019).

 

Linchpins are Unreasonable, too

Linchpins are indispensable.  I believe a linchpin must be "unreasonable", too.  And you have to create an "unreasonable" product or service.

The book, "The Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets That Change the World", drove home the point.  I was so impressed that I gave the book away.  I JUST had to pass it on in the Seth Godin's tradition.  (Seth, what are we going to do with Kindle books?)

Muhammad Yunus is a linchpin just like Steve Jobs and Sir Richard Branson. 

Seth's Blog: Unreasonable.

All that succeeds is the unreasonable.

You can get my attention if your product is unreasonably well designed, if your preparation is unreasonably over the top, if your customer service is unreasonably attentive and generous and honest. You can earn my business or my recommendation if the build quality is unreasonable for the intended use, if the pricing is unreasonably low or if the experience is unreasonably over-the-top irresistible given the competition.

Poverty Books: The 2009 MUST reading list

I must update my Amazon Wish List.  From Steve's Reading List below, I totally missed some good ones.  Many of the books, I am waiting to read or have read.

Also, Steve did not mention books like "Three Cups of Tea", "The Power of Unreasonable People", "Mountains beyond Mountains", and few others I would add. 

Thanks to Steve at zyOzy Foundation Blog!

zyOzy Foundation Blog » Blog Archive » Poverty Books: My 2009 reading list.

Collier, P., The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries are Failing and What Can Be Done About It (Oxford University Press, 2007)

Easterly, W., The White Man’s Burden: Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good. (Oxford University Press, 2007) 

Kotler, P. Lee, N.R., Up and Out of Poverty: The Social Marketing Solution. (Wharton School Publishing, 2009)

Kristof, N. D. WuDunn, S., Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. (Kopf, 2009)

Milway, K.S., One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference (Kids Can Press, Ltd, 2008)

Moyo, D., Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is Another Way for Africa. (Farrar, Straus and Girou, 2009)

Novogratz, J., The Blue Sweater: Bridging the gap between rich and poor in an interconnected world. (Rodale Books, 2009)

Prahalad, CK., The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits (Upper Saddle River, NJ: Wharton School Publishing-Pearson, 2005)

Polak, P., Out of Poverty: What Works When Traditional Approaches Fail (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., San Francisco, 2008)

Sachs, J., The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time (New York: Penguin Press, 2005)

Sachs, J., Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet (New York: Penguin Press, 2008)

Singer, P., The Life You Can Save: Acting Now To End World Poverty (Random House, 2009)

Smith, S., Ending Global Poverty: A guide to What Works (New York: Palgrave-MacMillan, 2005)

Thurow, R. Kilman S., Enough: Why The World’s Poorest Starve In An Age Of Plenty (Public Affairs, New York, 2009)

Yunus, M., Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism (Public Affairs, New York, 2007)

Over the top: $108,000 for Acumen Fund in 49 Hours

Seth Godin is amazing!  He raised over $108,000 for the Acumen Fund in just over 49 hours.

How?  He offered a preview copy of his next book, if you made a $30 donation to the Acumen Fund.

Seth is a remarkable marketer, author and speaker.   

Seth's Blog: Over the top.

You never cease to amaze me.

Just 48 hours after launching a review copy fundraiser for Acumen Fund, we have crossed the goal of raising $100,000.

Sweet and Sour

What's an example of a brick-and mortar 'Sweet and Sour'? It's a Starbucks Coffee Shop in a Barnes & Noble Bookstore.

I am visiting my Barnes & Noble to get a copy of Godin' Purple Cow. I wanted it now instead of placing an online order at Amazon.

Then it struck me. What would Seth Godin say about a Starbucks in Barnes & Noble?

from my HTC PocketPC!