Bits And Pieces, 23 June, 2023

I want to call your attention to some fascinating things I’ve come across in the past couple of weeks and a few announcements.

1. Earlier this week, I watched a webcast conducted by two close friends, Jill Konrath and Tom Morris. They were discussing Tom’s book, The Everyday Patriot. Hearing Tom and Jill take lessons from the ancient (and not so ancient) philosophers, applying them to challenges we face in communicating, engaging, and learning–despite our differences, is inspiring. This YouTube video of their discussion is both fun and really important. The Everyday Patriot With Tom Morris.
2. AI one of the hottest topics around now. You can’t pick up a newspaper or magazine without seeing articles on AI–the good, the bad, the ugly. To many in selling, it seems to be the miracle cure for all that ails us. On Tuesday, June 27 @11 am CDT, I have the privilege of talking about, “How AI In Analytics Shortens Sales Cycles An Increases Win Rates” with Dr. Rudy Agovic, Chief Analytics Officer of Clarity Data Insights. Join us for what I know will be a fascinating discussion!
3. Several weeks ago, I had a fascinating discussion with Michelle Richardson of The Brooks Group. It was one of the most fun discussions I’ve had this year. Selling Through Uncertainty, Four Strategies To Win In Today’s Changing Landscape.
4. Recently, I read a fascinating book. It’s way outside my normal reading, but I find it really helpful to read very different things. These “different” books give me different insights, perspectives, and help me learn. The book was originally published in 1937 and chronicles his mental health journey from business to the Bloomingdale Mental Asylum in White Plains, NY, to his eventual recovery. It’s a fascinating read and forces you to challenge your own thinking on mental health: The Upside of a Breakdown, Henry Collins Brown.
5. Also, along the lines of very diverse reading, I’m consumed by Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness and Being, Neil Theise. For long time followers, you know my obsessions with complexity and systems thinking. This is a fascinating, but somewhat tough book coming at these ideas from biological, physical, medical and related research fields. But it brilliantly bridges these very technical aspects with things we apply everyday.
6. Notes on Complexity is such a deep and technical book that I need something different just to relax. I’ve picked up A Gentleman In Moscow, A Novel by Amor Towles. The writing is among the most beautiful I’ve experienced.
7. Finally, I don’t subscribe to many newsletters. But one of the most fun and informative newsletters I read every morning comes from a surprising source, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Recently, he started this newsletter focus on How Busy People Stay Healthy. It is amazingly practical on topics of eating, workouts/fitness, general observations. What I particularly enjoy is how he addresses our bad habits, our good intentions, and how fail. It’s fun, down to earth advice for all of us who struggle with our eating and exercising.

Enjoy these! Of all this, Jill and Tom’s discussion is the single most important thing you can watch. And I’d love to have you join Rudy and me on the 27th!

Have a great weekend!