Nicholas Bate is a prolific thinker, blogger and author. More than that, he is a wonderful friend.
He shared some of his best work with me in 2009, in form of his books and innovatively done cards. With his book titled “Instant MBA" – Think, perform and earn like a top business-school graduate” – I can safely say that I have just completed my “Instant Do-It-yourself MBA”!
The thing about a good book is – every time you read it, you learn something new. Instant MBA will do that with some very practical advice on how to inculcate MBA thinking and emotional intelligence to advance your career. Through this book, Nicholas Bate intends to say that more than a degree, MBA is a way of thinking. Whether you have done an MBA or not, whether you are experienced or novice, you got to read Instant MBA. MBA thinking is crucial for success in modern workplace.
Creativity, Effective Presentations, Pricing, Excellence, Vision, Human Resources, Research, Entrepreneurship are just some of the topics covered in the book. Bate’s brevity and style of representation comes out nicely in each chapter – informal and straight-to-the-point. Quotes at the end of chapters add to the reading pleasure.
Here are a few more FREE resources (PDF Downloads) from Nicholas Bate’s kitty -
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How to be BRILLIANT” – 50 short ideas for personal excellence. I have taken a print-out of this to refer it often.
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2010 promises to be exciting and there is no better time than now to read such brilliant resources and go from good to great!
Seth Godin recently released a free eBook titled “What Matters Now” – it is a collaborative effort of 70 great thinkers who have presented brilliant ideas that will truly shake you up to think deep and wide as we approach 2010.
I read it and found it to be truly REMARKABLE with short and profound insights. Some of the ideas that deeply influenced me:
“Everybody has their own private Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb” – Hugh McLeod
“You are only as rich as the enrichment you bring to the world around you.” – Rajesh Setty (@upbeatnow on Twitter)
“Here’s the final measure of your success as a speaker: did you change something? Are attendees leaving with a new idea, some new inspiration, perhaps a renewed commitment to their work or to the world?” – Mark Hurst
“Gratefulness is a muscle, not a feeling. You need to work it out daily. Every morning, give thanks to two people that helped you yesterday and one person that will assist you today. This will focus your mind on what you have, and you’ll soon realize you are not alone.” – TimSanders (@sanderssays on Twitter)
Download it now and share the invaluable wisdom from some of the best brains!
A Few More Gems
Enjoy reading these gems and have a great weekend ahead!
When I see my 3 years old daughter playing in the park, jumping, dancing, smiling and completely immersed in her play, I always tell myself, “She is full of life”.
When do you say that someone is full of life? 
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When they “pour themselves” in whatever they do.
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When they don’t worry much about results…
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…but focus on efforts.
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When they enjoy what they do…
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…and process of doing it.
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When they do what they really enjoy doing.
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When they stick to it till it gets done.
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When they are uber-positive about life.
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When they are energetic themselves…
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…and generate energy in people around them.
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When they are “light” from within.
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When there is a “light” within.
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When they demonstrate passion…
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…and compassion.
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When they are courageous.
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When they are thoughtful.
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When they smile a lot.
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When they seek to understand people around them.
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When they are amicable, approachable and warm.
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When they love other people…
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…and are willing to help them.
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When they appreciate and encourage…
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…more than they crib and vent.
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When they take risks…
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…and learn from failures.
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When they don’t keep worrying about death as a final consequence…
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…but live in the present moment, here and now…
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…and make the most of it.
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When they focus on being fit..
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.. physically and mentally.
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When they keep learning different things.
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When they focus on gifts “within” them…
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.. rather than trying to meet demands that are more “external”.
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When they “give” and “help”…
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…and build strong and deep relationships based on TRUST.
This post is inspired by my favorite Nicholas Bate – who is a master of putting brilliant ideas in form of very interesting lists. I could have written an long post, but I preferred following Nicholas Bate’s style – short writing that provokes long thinking!
On a second thought, don’t you think these characteristics also apply equally well to leaders? Yes, leaders ought to be full-of-life!
Have a wonderful weekend – enjoy life!
In the photo: I am tossing my daughter in the air, when she was around 9 months old.
Last year was very hectic for me – work, travel, book, blog and a host of other things. I needed a good break to re-energize and spend quality time with my family and hence, last week, I took a one-week break to Goa – my favorite destination. Sandy and rocky beaches, palms dotting the skyline, overcast skies, the grandeur of vast Arabian Sea, Portuguese architecture (some of the world heritage sites), cathedrals and food has always enticed me. A week spent without cell phone, internet and connectivity helped me spend time quality with my family and myself. My batteries are recharged and I am ready to take on more work, more reading, more thinking and more writing.
In social media, a lot can happen in one week, and it did.
There were a number of interesting conversations on the blogs I follow and I am yet to catch up with all of them. I hope to read them all in the coming week and get back on track.
I wish you a wonderful and productive week ahead!
In the photo: Vagator beach in North Goa.
Nicholas Bate has his own unique way of sharing Twitter style thoughts - in form of lists. What a brilliant way to crystallize thoughts and come up with core ideas. No long paragraphs and no complex sentences - just the essence. Just the best!
I loved the his list “DoppioEspresso101” as much as his earlier lists including “Professionalism 101“, “Success 25” and ”Be Different 25“.
Here are my favorite 10 items from DoppioEspresso 101. For the rest, I invite you to visit Nicholas Bate’s blog.
- Smile.
- Build your brand; you run your own company now.
- Never talk negatively about someone who is not present. It wrecks the chance of a high-performance team building.
- Unplug: take a technology-free break.
- Be on time. Start on time. Finish on time. Deliver on time. And people will notice you. And want you to be on their team.
- Follow Your Bliss. Joseph Campbell.
- Write a 100 word story. Exactly.
- Now Is the perfect time.
- Stephen Covey, Habit 1: Begin with the end in mind.
- Join the library again.
Read and re-read Nicholas’s lists - and get to the core of what matters the most.
Lists are powerful, so is Nicholas Bate!
Books/Reviews, Leadership | Tanmay January 3, 2010 | 
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