KEEP IT SIMPLE

By Patrick Barwise and Sean Meehan
Harvard Business School Press

Crucial messages need not be complex. And I agreed so much with this book written by Patrick Barwise and Sean Meehan.

The simple message of Simply Better is that many companies have failed miserably in their stated goal to be "customer-focused". Except for relatively rare instances, customers care little for the addition of unique features and clever innovations. What they really want is the reliable delivery of "generic category benefits" - products that work and reliable services that take place on time. That is "Don't Be Unique, Be Better."

Barwise and Meehan insist that organizations that adopt a true customer-centric perspective can generate a low-risk, high return opportunity.

The authors first explain how customers see your brand and make purchase decisions. They then explain how to convert that understanding into a clear view of what customers really value. These are the actual (and potential) generic category benefits. The book also examines the management challenges to creating these benefits.

Chapter 6, "Customer-Focused Mind-Set", sets out a refreshing view of "fast and right processes and a pure air culture". And Chapter 7 is my favourite, using P&G as example, it offers insight such as companies should think of category benefits instead of brand benefits, think within the box before outside the box (contrary from common sense, of course) and think opportunities and not threats.



作者:(中)宏泰顾问编著
世界优秀企业的卓越理念这本书提供读者一个机会，探寻当今世界有代表性的优秀企业的卓越理念，了解他们成功的秘诀。

阅读这本书的确是一份机缘，上星期到中华总商会企业管理图书馆准备讲义时，无意间眼睛在扫过书架时，发现了这本书，当我把它翻开了É它竟让我爱不释手！结果花了我五天把它啃完！

这本书可分企业文化、人才理念、经营理念、营销理念、领导哲学等5个部分；共收录了约50个企业，主管和企业家的经营个案。想做作业的同学或想了解成功企业的理念，以便激励员工的主管和老板们，可得把它当宝贝看待！

我在第1章中学到了沃尔玛，诺基亚，宝洁和三星企业等独到的企业
文化。在第2章中， 微软宁缺勿滥，人尽其才；三星允许优秀人才犯错；索尼的用人之道让我印象深刻！想进一步学好行销的同学可
别错过第4章！



作者: Jim Collins

从优秀到卓越的蜕变过程绝对不是一蹴而就的。卓越的公司不是靠一次决定性的行动、一个伟大的计划、一个杀手级创意构想、一个好运气，或灵光一闪而造就。相反的，转变的过程好像无休无止地推着巨轮朝一个方向前进，轮子不停转动，累积的动能愈来愈大，终于在转折点有所突破，成为一跃卓越企业。

很多人在阅读前或许会以为“从A到A+”这本书是“不败经营”(或基业长青）的延续篇，但就如作者所指出的，“不败经营”探讨的是卓越公司如何永续的秘诀；　而 “从A到A+” 则探讨了一般原先不起眼的公司“从优秀到卓越”的路程。

企业该如何“从A到A+”，作者提供了六个关键，为了鼓励你们读这本书，我只把前四点列出：

1)“从A到A+” 的公司中，有10家公司的CEO都是经由内部升迁而坐上这个位子的。但是，对照公司选用空降部队担任CEO的比率则有6倍之多。

2)“从A到A+” 的公司　和对照公司在策略上并没有太大的差异。两组公司都有清楚的策略，没有证据显示“从优秀到卓越”的公司比对照公司花更多时间在长远的策略规划上。

3) “从A到A+” 的公司善用科技带动改变， 以科技为加速器。

4) “从A到A+” 的公司先找对人，再决定要做什么 。企业界有句老生常谈：“员工是你最重要的资产。”这句话其实说得不对，员工不是你最重要的资产，适合的人才，才是你最重要的资产。

作者也提出了一个刺猬原则：要从优秀公司蜕变成卓越公司，必须先克服“能力的诅咒”。这是你们的核心事业——只不过因为多年来，甚至数十年来，你们一直在做这门生意——但不见得表示你们一定能做得比别人优秀。如果你们的核心事业无法成为世界顶尖，公司就绝对不可能跃升为卓越的企业。

最令我动心的一段话是⋯面对残酷的现实，绝不丧失信心： 每个"从A到A+” 的公司都抱持着一种精神——勇于面对眼前最残酷的现实；但同时抱着绝不动摇的坚强信念，不管遭遇多大的横逆，都 相信自己一定能坚持到最后。

快去买一本“从A到A+” 来读吧！



作者： 戴尔·卡耐基

戴尔·卡耐基被誉为“成人教育之父”。卡耐基先生以他对人性的洞见，利用大量普通人不断努力取得成功的故事，通过他的演讲和书唤起无数陷入迷惘者的斗志，激励他们取得辉煌的成功。本书汇集了卡耐基的思想精华和最激动人心的内容。

自1937年问世以来，本书销量达1500万册，被译成所有文字，成为西方最持久的畅销书之一。正如卡耐基听言“一个人的成功，只有15%归结于他的专业知识，还有85%归于他表达思想、领导他人及唤起他人热情的能力。”只要你不断反复研读，它必将助你获取成功所必备的那85%的能力。

这本书的唯一目的就是帮助你解决你所面临的最大问题：如何在日常生活、商务活动与社会交往中与人打交道，并有效地影响他人；如何击败人类的生存之敌—— 忧虑，以创造一种幸福美好的人生。当你通过本书解决好这一问题之后，其他问题也就迎刃而解了。这是我们每个人都应该学习的人生必修课。

书中共有十个篇章,我个人最喜好的是第三章:如何让别人喜欢你;和第五章:如何有效地游说别人,想成为杰出主管或出色讲师者,可不能错过这本书。
　


作者:[日]田中孝显

<经营大脑>这本书详细介绍了怎样充实自己、如何使自己的人生和事业取得成功，以及怎样实现自己的理想和目标。这本书虽说有点学术味,但读起来并不苦涩,一般读者可以轻松地阅读这本书。

我觉得本书的第4和第7章和身心语言学的学说有不谋而和之处,即要成功就必须拥有明确的目标,并采取行动。书中指出的法则是：
1、确定目标；
2、确定期限；
3、想象具体的情景；
4、适时确认已
取得的成绩；
5、决不轻言放弃。

本书也介绍了怎样充实自己、如何使自己的人生和事业取得成功，以及怎样实现自己的理想和目标。不止于指明如何去做，而且提供了大量具有可操作性的方法，从而可以真正做到——运用大脑体操开发自我潜力。

第8章则说明了实现愿望的关键在于脑电波,这和Dr David Hawkins的体制心理学学说也有异曲同工之秒。有意者快去买吧,百胜楼的友谊企业书店只剩三本。
　


In The Hidden Messages in Water, readers are introduced to the revolutionary work of Dr. Masaru Emoto, who discovered that molecules of water are affected by thoughts, words and feelings. Dr. Emoto shares his realizations from his years of research and explains the profound implications on the healing of water, mankind and earth. He offers proof that water is alive and responsive to our every emotion.




Dr. David R. Hawkins is a world renowned psychiatrist, physician, researcher and lecturer, as his listing in Who's Who in America amply attests. He has been a guest of MacNeil/Lehrer, Barbara Walters and The Today Show. His previous book, Orthomolecular Psychiatry, co-authored with Nobelist Linus Pauling, sold out completely. By the
end of 1995, word-of mouth sales of POWER vs. FORCE were increasing by ten per cent a week., POWER vs. FORCE is the culmination of twenty years' research.


In it, David Hawkins conclusively proves the ability of kinesiological testing to distinguish truth or falsehood in any statement—an astonishing idea in itself, with far reaching implications for every aspect of human life. He goes on to demonstrate the application of his method (explained clearly for the layman) in commerce, art, sport, etc.
Then he explains its spiritual application, as a path to enlightenment, Beyond this, Dr.Hawkins demonstrates kinesiological calibration as a tool for assessing value and motive,revealing the hidden determinants of human behavior—and establishing a Map of Consciousness that illuminates the spiritual ladder we must follow
as a race and as individuals.

The volume concludes with compendious notes and bibliography, and, finally, a fascinating narrative of the author's own journey from atheism to spiritual enlightenment.

　


<破译心灵>
作者:[美]詹姆斯·希尔曼

<破译心灵>致力于寻求的是真正内在的东西，而非探寻内在的东西是怎样来的，或往何处去。希尔曼并不把人类看作是结果，或更糟是他们的生活的受害者，他也并不许诺，甚至也不寻求“医治”；相反，他欢迎构成生命的每个方面的必然性，他倡议把“症状”看作是破解守护神的需要的线索。从本质上说，希尔曼相信，传统的“非此即彼”分类法的遗传学和环境所能解释的一切远不及生命和每个个体更丰富。

希尔曼 在第六章指出...这个投射源于一个原型,这个原型正是每个灵魂的内在本质...它是心灵中的一个形象,是它带来了倾心-即使一个人能全心全意去做一件事情的动力...这就是命运的召唤和情感。

希尔曼不但迫使读者重新研究他们童年的冲动、幻想、思想甚至意外事故——所有这些都反映了指示传记进展方向的“蓝图、而且把超凡者（从耶胡迪·梅纽因到杰弗里达摩的广泛例证）当作激励平凡者的一条道路。诚如作者所说，“我们需要一种全新的方法去看待我们生活的重要意义。”他的著作提供了研究生活的极其可行的、富于想象力的方法，不仅仅是一种新的观看的方法，而且还是一种“使不可理解之物复活”的方法，因此，也是找回我们内在的自我所失落之物的方法。



The Power of Intention:
Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way
Dr Wayne Dyer

Intention is generally viewed as a pit-bull kind of determination propelling one to succeed at all costs by never giving up on an inner picture. In this view, an attitude that combines hard work with an indefatigable drive toward excellence is the way to succeed. However, intention is viewed very differently in this book. Dr. Wayne W. Dyer has researched intention as a force in the universe that allows the act of creation to take place.

To me, this book explores intention not as something you do but as an energy you're a part of. There are 15 chapters in this book, charter 6, 11 and 12 move me most.

Just like what Dr Dyer said, we're all intended here through the invisible power of intention. This is the first book to look at intention as a field of energy that you can access to begin co-creating your life with the power of intention.
(You can get it at Kinokuniya, Takashimaya!)



<知人知心>
作者:[新]钟骏源

《知人知心》一书以瑞士著名心理学家容格人格理论为基础，向读者带出人类有许多原型的心理活动本能，如认知功能－指感觉、直觉和判断功能－指思想、情感等个性化的心理活动。
　
这些心理活动能解释人们在沟通、管理、处世和处事等方面的差异。学习性格心理学将能使一个人的性格更为完善和成熟。性格心理学自推出以来，风靡全球，每年都吸引有超过百万以上的人参加测试，在西方和本地的政，商，教等领域都通过它培育和发掘人才。

《知人知心》是中华总商会企业管理学院资深讲师钟骏源18年教导性格心理学心得的总结。书中能帮助读者看到自身的力量和特有的才干，这些认识可以使你更深刻地了解自己、了解自己的动力来源、了解强点、弱点和潜能；也可以使你了解如何和类型与你不同的人沟通，
共事或领导团队。

《知人知心》全书共有25个章节， 可大略分为四个部分：第一部分让读者参与心理学测试，从中找寻自己的性格DNA； 从第5章起的第二部分，让读者按自己的类型了解自己的强弱点。第三部分从第9章起至第16章，这部分提供了让读者了解如何欣赏不同类型的人，并如何与其有效的沟通和共事。最后一个部分则叙述了不同性格和性情中的动力来源，以及其在工作，领导和职业选择的特点。

《知人知心》强调了一个重点：在尊重别人的世界观的同时，人人都应该学习拥有四大不同的世界观或性情，扩大和优化它， 让自己成长，成熟，成功！



By Isabel Myers & Peter Myers
　
This is a must-read, especially for those who want to understand how Myers-Briggs type indictor (MBTI) works. In Gifts Differing, Isabel talks about understanding other peoples preferred way of doing things - in particular of perceiving (gathering information) and judging (make decisions or coming to conclusions) - and how that understanding can help to make the differences more acceptable.

In talking about differences in marriage partnerships, she writes: ...In any marriage, a type difference may at times produce an outright conflict between opposite points of view. When this happens, the partners have a choice. One or both can assume that it is wrong of the other to be different—and be righteously indignant, which diminishes the partner.

They can assume that it is wrong of themselves to be different—and be depress, which is self diminishing. Or they can acknowledge that each is justifiably and interestingly different from the other—and be amused.

MBTI shows preferences a person has, the preferred way of being. In this book, Myers outlines the strengths of each type, and emphasizes that people usually work at both ends of each scale at different times, but that they will have better developed preferences. Recognising these preferences allows you to work on developing the other side of the coin, and also to appreciate those whose preferences (and therefore skills) are opposite.
　


(Canada)Barbara E. Bryden, Ph.D

Sundial is an interdisciplinary work about cognition and health that encompasses the disciplines of psychology, medicine, complementary healthcare, and spirituality. Author Barbara considers the possible connections between psychological type and disease in a way that appeals to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® practitioner.

In Sundial, the author makes the case that cognition and behavior associated with psychological type may be related to certain kinds of disease, and at that same time may provide clues to prevention and health management. Bryden let us better understand the conscious conditionsfor health in each of these various categories."

What is so very positive about this is that cognition is changeable! A given type may be able to modify his preferences, in other words, in a desired direction, to reduce his identified health risks."

Using the MBTI as a "language"for describing relationships between cognition and health, Bryden discusses these connections as well asa variety of healthcare modalities—other "languages"that might mitigate diseases to which a person may be predisposed. They all speak the same hopeful message—that health risks can be changed to some extent by changing one's thinking and behavior in specific directions.



By Jim Ball

This little book is an A-to-Z reference and guide to help you achieve what you want to achieve, become what you want to become, and do what you want to do - both in your career and in your personal life.

Each letter presents a single principle along with a short list of Dos and Don'ts for applying the principle successfully.

The A-B-C technique helps you remember and apply the principles, discuss them with others, and teach
them to others.