One of my favorite things about having a small team at Diamond6 is that we know each other really well!
We enjoy each other very much, have fun working together, support each other through personal and professional challenges.
We also like to share ideas and resources for personal and professional development with each other.
We do this all while getting A LOT of work done! (You have heard me refer to us as small but mighty, right?)
During our Monday staff meeting we had a brief conversation about books...what we're currently reading, what we've read recently, and books we hope to read again.
We thought we would share our books picks with you!
And, we want to hear yours.
What are you reading to start off 2022?
What Jeff is Reading 👨🦳
The Cubs Way - The Zen of Building the Best Team in Baseball and Breaking the Curse by Tom Verducci
Obviously, I would read this book since I am an ardent Cubs fan and have been so for the better part of 60 years! 2016 will always be a special year for me as my granddaughter was born and the Cubs won the World Series, as well as breaking the curse. She and I watched the 7th game together, though I doubt she remembers it since she was only about 6 weeks old! Tom Verducci is a superb sportswriter. In this book he dissects the intricate choices of management (the use of data) and leadership (the art of dealing with humans) and underscores not only the power of a team but also the critical importance of character.
The Pacific Crucible - War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942 by Ian Toll
This is the first of the three part trilogy by Toll that focuses on World War II in the Pacific. I read this as his analysis of the attack on Pearl Harbor as well as the diplomatic efforts prior to the Japanese surprise attack are superb. I also wanted to gain a better understanding of the importance of the Doolittle Raid on the morale and optimism of Americans in early 1942 when everything seemed to be going wrong for the US. Finally, it also provides a great description of the Battle of Midway which occurred in June of 1942. I'm reading this as part of my research for our leadership workshop that focuses on the attack on Pearl Harbor that I will be delivering to two clients in May this year.
2034- A Novel of the Next World War by Eliot Ackerman and Admiral Jim Stavridis
Jim Stavridis is an old friend of nearly forty years as we both attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. 2034 is a fascinating novel that describes the risk of growing tensions between the US and China leading to war in the future. It is a warning to leaders about the risks of escalation in any conflict as well the fact that the greatest threat to America remains internal. In the final pages one of the main characters (an American diplomat) reflects on an admonition from Abraham Lincoln prior to the American Civil War. “All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest, with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge in a trial of a thousand years…If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide”.
The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis is just a superb writer, and this book is the narrative of how important many of the services provided by the federal government are to the average American though we very rarely consider them. It is also an admonition to all leaders about the challenge of leadership transitions and the ultimate risk being what we don’t know or cannot imagine.
First Friends by Gary Ginsberg
I often talk about leading (or being led by…) your peers. This book describes that at the highest level of leadership – the President of the United States. Ginsberg describes the fascinating relationships between Presidents and their closest friends who were not in any way part of their administration. These powerful but unsung (and unelected..) people shaped Presidents from Thomas Jefferson to Bill Clinton.
How to Lead – Wisdom from the World’s Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game Changers by David Rubenstein
This book is exactly what the title describes – interviews between great leaders who are visionaries (Oprah Winfrey), builders (Jamie Diamond), transformers (Tim Cook), commanders (Colin Powell) decision-makers (Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg), and “masters” (Mike “Coach K” Kyzyzewski) as well as many, many more. Rubenstein is an excellent interviewer and the insights provided by this distinguished group are invaluable to any leader.
What Tanya, Bri, and Holly are Reading 💗 👩💼 🎾
Tanya is reading....Atlas of the Heart - Mapping Meaningful Connections and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown
I'll admit, I've been a bit obsessed with Brené Brown ever since I read her first book The Gifts of Imperfection. Her two podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead are regular companions on my drives to the office, to preschool pick ups, and the grocery store. In Atlas of the Heart she has created an encyclopedia of eighty-seven of the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. As she writes, “If we want to find the way back to ourselves and one another, we need language and the grounded confidence to both tell our stories and be stewards of the stories that we hear. This is the framework for meaningful connection.” I can't see anything that is more important than this, right now. Through memorable stories, beautiful art, and powerful quotes this book is one I will pick up again and again.
Bri and Tanya are reading....Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
Bri and Tanya have been following Marie and her work for a few years now - mostly for ideas for growing the business. But, she has also helped inspire their personal and professional development journey's. She is a business and marketing guru AND has plenty of advice on the daily challenges of being a productive human while also making positive change in the world. We especially appreciate that she doesn't claim to know it all. Marie has spent several years interviewing leaders and experts such as Simon Sinek, Seth Godin, Nicholas Kristof, Sheryl WuDunn, Tim Ferris, and Judge Victoria Pratt on topics including fear and failure, poverty and racism, leadership and business, relationships and creativity. They are reading this book simultaneously to stay on track and share ideas.
Holly has read....and will read again...Winning Ugly by Brad Gilbert, and The Inner Game of Tennis by Tim Gallwey
In case you didn't know....our very own Holly Tiley is quite the tennis star! You wouldn't think it when you first meet her, but get her "talkin' tennis" and you will see her competitive side jump out like full powered backhand. She takes her tennis very seriously and we LOVE hearing about her latest matches in the office. Both of these books are focused on the mental part of the game, but from completely different sides of the coin. Whereas Gallwey strives to have you improve your game through confidence, Gilbert strives to improve your game by teaching you how to identify and attack your opponent's weaknesses. They're both great, and have become an important part of her preparation for each tennis season.
Also, as a fellow tennis player for many year, Jeff seconds these picks!