7 Horrible Ways to Lead a Team (and the 1 Mistake Everyone Makes)

7 Horrible Ways to Lead a Team (and the 1 Mistake Everyone Makes)

   February 05, 2018       Hardik Gandhi

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Leadership is not, “Hey, you, go do this thing for me.”

When we think about leadership, we tend to think in terms of hierarchy — those at “the top” are considered “the leaders” and those at the bottom are considered “the followers.”

The problem with this sort of perspective is that, in all honesty, just because you hold a formal position on the ladder does not necessarily mean you are a “leader.” However, lots and lots of people wear their title and their badge of honor proudly — while at the same time ignoring the fact that they are, in fact, horrible leaders.

Don’t fall into the trap of doing any of the following, simply because you have a position of power — especially this first one:

1. You expect others to follow rules that you yourself do not follow.

This is, bar none, the most common mistake in leadership.

You cannot, and should not expect others to follow rules, codes, processes, and all the rest if you cannot follow them yourself.

If you’re not showing up on time, don’t expect others to as well. If you aren’t diligent and organized, don’t expect those beneath you to somehow cultivate better habits. When you are a leader, you do not realize how much of an influence you have on your team — even down to the smallest habit.

You are the leader for a reason.

Everything you do must have purpose, so that those who look to you for guidance will do everything with purpose as well.

2. You do not keep your word.

The fastest way to lose respect (and earn resentment) as a leader is to say you’re going to do something and then not do it.

First and foremost (going back to #1 here), it’s because it encourages a very bad habit in those around you — “If he/she can slack off, so can I.”

As a leader, it is so crucial that you do the things you say you are going to do. And if you cannot do them, you need to communicate that openly to your team in advance. For those looking to rise and become leaders, this is equally important advice.

If you want to climb the ranks, this is one of the most effective ways to do it.

Keep your word.

That’s it.

Keep your word and people will soon learn that you can be trusted — they can count on you, no matter what. And that in itself will propel you to where you want to go.

3. You do not (genuinely) admit when you are wrong.

Some “leaders” believe that admitting when they’re wrong is a sign of weakness.

It’s not.

In fact, being wrong or having made a mistake and yet being incapable of owning up to it reveals an even bigger weakness — and makes your team question whether or not they can trust you.

If you make a mistake, or were incorrect about something, just say so.

This will establish trust and an even playing field with you and your team, showing them that you embody the same traits you expect of them — a humility to be able to step back and take accountability.

4. You make promises you cannot keep.

This is a rabbit hole of disaster.

There is no worse habit as a leader than making promises you know you can’t keep. All this does is welcome in feelings of being let down. And the next time you say you’re going to do something for someone, they will not believe you — and even worse, they will become angry at you for thinking you can fool them again and again.

Where #2 is about following through with what you say you’re going to do on your end, #4 here is about keeping promises that you make to someone else.

5. You want to be the star.

As a leader, it’s your job to inspire, guide, direct, teach, motivate, and ultimately help others succeed.

It’s not to steal the spotlight.

The greatest leaders are the ones who, as Steve Jobs so eloquently put it, “play the orchestra.”

Fantastic leaders know how to step back and let others shine.

They know how to put others in positions to succeed themselves — which benefits the whole orchestra.

However, as long as you want to be the star, with the spotlight on you and no one else, you will squeeze the talent around you and keep it from ever unfolding.

6. You criticize others but cannot take criticism yourself.

Healthy criticism is how teams members push each other to improve and get better — iron sharpens iron.

Harsh criticism is what instills insecurity, fear, and an unwillingness to take chances. If your style of leadership is healthy and positive, expect others to do the same with you — which means you too will continue growing and improving.

But if your style of leadership is harsh, then expect the same to come back to you — or worse, cause your entire team to go silent.

7. You believe your way is the right (and only) way.

And finally, the oh-so-debated topic of what is “the right way” of doing something.

The truth is, there are very few things that have just one single “right” way of doing them. So much of life is subjective, and that goes for the work we do as well.

“Creative” to one person might be “boring” to another.

“Clean and sleek” to one is “dull and lackluster” to another.

If you are a leader looking to build and scale your team, it is important to learn and realize that your way is not necessarily “the right way.” It may be “one of the” right ways, but it is not the “end all.”

It’s important that you acknowledge this; otherwise, you will cultivate a team of people who aren’t searching for the best solution to the problem, but rather the best solution to appeal to your own unique subjective definition of what is “right.”

This article originally appeared on Inc Magazine.

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Winning The War Of Depression.

Winning The War Of Depression.

   January 16, 2018       Hardik Gandhi

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Photo by Paola Chaaya on Unsplash

We are born to disappointments. All of us meet them. Some are more sensitive to their point and bitter than others. We are often lofty in our wish, or sanguine in our expectation, that disappointments cannot but come. They come from foes and friends. They come in prosperity and adversity.

There are two sides to the events which occur and which seem so discouraging to us a dark side and a bright side. We are prone to look only on the dark side, to see only what is gloomy and discouraging. We find a melancholy satisfaction in being miserable, and in making ourselves more unhappy, as if we had been wronged, and as if there were a kind of virtue in dejection and gloom — in refusing, to be comforted. We keep chewing some bitter morsel and rolling it under our tongues so as to suck all the bitterness out of it that we can. Many of us are in great darkness, without knowing, or being able to discover the reason.

A bee has an eye, for I do not know how many facets, which multiply the one thing it looks at into an enormous number. Some of us have eyes made on that fashion, or rather we manufacture for our eyes spectacles on that plan, by which we look at our griefs or our depressing circumstances, and see them multiplied and nothing but them.

We are not merely burdened, we are possessed by a feverish uncertainty. We no longer look at things calmly and therefore truly, and everything appears to us in monstrous and distorted guise. There is no more fatal minister in human life than the disquieted eye. So long as the eye can gaze at things with a cool and quiet vision we see things in their true perspective and proportion. But when the eye is shaken into restlessness its focus is perverted, and everything is seen awry. The disquieted soul is not only possessed of a restless eye, it is the possessor of a nerveless hand.

Nothing is so bad as a continued and allowed downheartedness. The conviction that the circumstances around us are stronger than we can handle. There are times when life itself becomes burdensome and is often shortened, by excessive grief. It magnifies troubles. It drags at and prevents work. It shadows blessings, making the hard things in life prominent rather than the ameliorating things. By recognition of the fact that downheartedness is worst for us, we ought to esteem it as bad for us as malignant tumour and do all we can to cure it before it grows and becomes fatal.

Some people constantly depreciate themselves, and they are thought sincere and humble persons. The truth is it is nothing more than a habit, or worse, an affected self-depreciation. The feeling of self-depreciation pervades the soul in the presence or recollection of some higher examples in matters of life and ambition. An artist of sensitive appreciation of superiority in the presence of a genuine piece of art depreciates to the dust his own performances. A poet with a true poetic sense, when they read or hear some grand poetry, feel very low in their own view. So is it in other things in life.

We Are Human. We Can’t Do Everything. We Can’t Control Everything. We Can’t Be Everywhere. We Can’t Understand Everything. We Can’t Be Someone Else. We Can Be What We Are. We Can Be The Best Of What We Are.

Learnings

1. We cannot control our thoughts nor our moods directly. We can do a great deal to regulate, modify and diminish those of them that need diminishing. Increase those thoughts that need to be increased, by looking at the reasons for them.
2. Question yourselves about your moods, and especially about your sad moods, and you will have gone a long way to make yourselves bigger and happier people than you have ever been before.
3. Heaviness of heart is often caused by bringing the future into the present. We go out to meet the cares and difficulties of tomorrow, while we are bearing and battling with those of today. Planning is good. Over-anxiety is a pain. Sorrow in prospect is much more bitter and grievous than it is in actual experience.
4. We are worth very little unless there is a tribunal in us to which we bring up our feelings and make them justify their existence and tell us what they mean by their noise and their complaining.
5. Everything has two handles. The aspect of any event depends largely on the beholder’s point of view. There’s nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
6. Despondency must have a cause. If we can discover it, in any case, the old proverb holds good that a knowledge of the disease is half its cure.
7. What can your anxiety do for you? Can it avert what you dread? No. But it hastens it. In many respects, our health, our outward well-being, and that of our household are committed to our own keeping and can be safely kept only by a self-collected mind and a quiet heart.
8. Look at the past and it will answer. The vast preponderance with us has always been on the side of happiness. If we have been long of this foreboding habit, not one in a hundred of the sorrows that we have apprehended has reached us. Those, also, that have overtaken us have been lighter than we feared.
9. No effort at tranquilizing our hearts is wholly lost. Did you ever see a child upon a swing? Each oscillation goes a little higher. Each starts from the same lowest point, but the elevation on either side increases with each renewed effort until at last the destined height is reached. So we may if I might so say, by degrees, by reiterated efforts, swing ourselves and stand high above all that breeds agitation and gloom.
10. Outward trouble will not hurt us much so long as it keeps to the outward. The sailor cares not because the green waves with crested heads curl over and dash against the ship, shaking it from stem to stern. Trouble for the sailor is when from one to another the whisper passes through the ship, “We have sprung a leak.” The water in the hold is more dreaded than all the ocean without. Let not what is outside and temporal affect you on the inside.

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Forget Goals, Be Present

Forget Goals, Be Present

   January 15, 2018       Hardik Gandhi

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We tend to think of life in terms of accomplishments, rather than experiences. But life is meant to be live with the “goal” of being present in the moment.

This is how to live a meaningful life. Not by having goals and doing things merely to reach those goals, but to live in awareness.

For the most part, society is distracted from this principle. Society tries to derive meaning through status, material wealth, and arbitrary goals.

Take the pressure off. Forget about your goals and plans and just be in the moment. Let each moment guide you.

This isn’t about being undisciplined. That’s a different type of letting go. This is about not trying to control everything. It’s about allowing inner wisdom to guide you.

Goals and plans are often disrupted by reality anyway. Having a general direction makes sense, but details written in stone don’t.

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Compassion Raises Us Up Above Ourself.

Compassion Raises Us Up Above Ourself.

   January 11, 2018       Hardik Gandhi

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Photo by “My Life Through A Lens” on Unsplash

There is an appalling amount of real misery and suffering in the world. It is not far away from us. It lies at our very doors. All of us need a feeling of deep sympathy or sorrow for another who is stricken with misfortune, accompanied by the strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

Let your feelings be at hand, and feel and commiserate as soon as touched. Let your tenderest feelings come in contact with the miseries of the distressed as soon as ever they present themselves.

A feeling of their sorrows and weaknesses. A benevolence, which excludes no person, not even strangers or enemies, from its tender regards, which disdains no condescension, grudges no cost, in its labors of love! Inward pity and compassion to distressed objects, the most tender regard to persons in misery, and such compassion as is free from all hypocrisy and deceit is the need of the hour.

The heart, even more than the brain, determines you.

Real strength or weakness is closely linked with moral nature. One may have the beauty of Venus and the charms of Cleopatra, and another the figure of Adonis and still be void of “good” manners. Stand by the weak and defenseless. There is no nobler feature in anyone’s character than a determination to do this.

There is no good in a sour, misanthropic temper. None in rudeness, stiffness, and repulsiveness. None in violating the rules of good breeding.

Compassion prompts us to do good to all, to forget all national or sectional distinctions, and to aid all those who are in circumstances of poverty and want. It would be the most lovely and desirable principle on earth, and all, especially in their early years, should seek it. Nothing that a young person can gain will be so valuable as the feeling that regards all the world as one great family, and to learn early to do good to all. Be even to thy enemy in distress as kind, humane, and merciful. Let a young person have a large mental capacity, it will not weigh for much if that be all.

Compassion Heals.

All who are afflicted know how much it diminishes their sorrow to see others sympathizing with them. How sad would be a suffering world if there were none who regarded our griefs with interest or with tears! It would be miserable if every sufferer were left to bear their sorrows unpitied and alone and if all the ties of human sympathy were rudely cut at once, and people were left to suffer in solitude and unbefriended.

We owe sympathy to others because it is an effective means of contributing to their moral perfection, and because by withholding it we inflict on them a grave moral inquiry. We are tenderhearted or compassionate when we feel affection for someone else, when we look beyond our pain to see the pain of others. It not only lessens the misery of humanity but also unites humans to each other as to make them responsible for the good and comfort of one another.

While we differ in “opinions”, we should still treat each other kindly, that we should aid each other in necessity. A good thing done 3,000 years ago works now, and will work through all endless times and years. No good effort has ever been lost, or ever can be.

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Why feeling uncomfortable is the key to success

Why feeling uncomfortable is the key to success

   January 09, 2018       Hardik Gandhi

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Your comfort zone is a beautiful thing, but you will never grow there!

When I started learning web development, and especially since getting my first job, feeling uncomfortable has become a bit of a recurring theme.

I’m going to be honest, at first, it was a real struggle. Every time I would find myself in an uncomfortable situation, I would start second guessing myself — Is web development really for me? Maybe I’m just not intelligent enough? Will I ever be any good? Will I ever learn enough to actually get a job and get paid for this?

I’m sure many of you can relate.

If you want something in life that you have never had, you will have to do something that you have never done

Maybe you have been learning to code for a while but still don’t feel confident enough to apply for any developer jobs. You might not feel you are ready yet. You might fear rejection. Whatever the reason, that lack of self confidence will make you feel uncomfortable. And you’re not alone. We would all feel the same in that situation.

However, it’s the people who suck it up, apply for every job they can, contact companies asking for work, and face potential rejection after rejection who will win.

Hell, you might not be ready yet and you might not land your dream job straight away. But, by putting yourself out there — by stepping out of your comfort zone — you win. You win! You get the interview practice, the experience and you get vital feedback on where you need to improve.

At the end of the day, would you rather be someone who has been learning to code for 18 months, but hasn’t even started applying for jobs, because you don’t feel comfortable or ready yet?

Or would you rather be the person who’s been learning to code for 6 months, and starts applying for jobs? You might feel uncomfortable and maybe it takes you another 6 months to land a job, but 12 months after first opening a text editor and you are working in your dream career? Believe me, this can happen.

The uncomfortable feeling wont stop or get any easier once you get a job

I hate JavaScript. (Well, maybe hate is a strong word, but I’m not its biggest fan). Why? — Because it’s hard. I find it difficult.

I’m a fairly confident developer, but sometimes I find myself faced with a task or project, and the temptation is to reach for a technology that I feel comfortable with, rather than building with something new and challenging.

I might know that React will produce a better end product, but my initial reaction is that I don’t want to be in that uncomfortable situation where I don’t know what I’m doing and I have to reach for the documentation every 30 seconds.

However, by taking this approach, I do myself a disservice. I’m hindering my own learning, development and progression. I’m ultimately inhibiting my own success.

A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.

What I have to tell myself in these situations is that whilst I might be uncomfortable. This is actually an opportunity. An opportunity to try new things, learn a new skill or further my career.

So…What’s the key to continued success?

Get comfortable feeling uncomfortable — Embrace it

When an opportunity presents itself you have to take it. You have to step out of your comfort zone.

At the end of the day, this is what web development is. A complex, constantly evolving industry where you can never know everything and you will repeatedly be faced with situations where you are made to feel uncomfortable doing something you haven’t done before. That’s the price of progression.

As a Web Developer, and in life in general, feeling uncomfortable is just something you have to get used to.

You cannot let the ‘fear’ of feeling uncomfortable dictate your life. If you do, it will limit what you are able to do and how much you are able to achieve.

Being in your comfort zone is synonymous with repetition. While repetition is easy, it’s also boring and un-motivating. If, however, you are striving for something more, want to get out of a rut, if you are searching for success, then you need to get out of your comfort zone. Doing that is what separates happy, passionate, successful people from those that are comfortable and bored.

Once you learn to embrace the fear you will be astounded by the progress that you will make, both within your web development career and also personally.

Success is not just about what you have done, it’s about what you inspire others to do.

Recently I watched a Ted talk, by @luvvie titled ‘Get comfortable with being uncomfortable’. I highly recommend it!

Awesomely Luvvie — ‘Get Comfortable with being uncomfortable’

Now this talk isn’t about tech or web development, but last night, while I was reading this article, the parallel between the talk and web development hit me.

One of the most important things for success in life, and web development, is pushing your boundaries and limits. What’s also important is that when you do step out of your comfort zone and do what make’s you feel uncomfortable, this in turn inspires similar change and inspiration for others to do the same.

This embodies what the whole freeCodeCamp community is about. By being part of a community, sharing your story and your successes, you inspire others to do the same.

You might have struggled to complete the Front-end certificate. You might have had periods where you felt uncomfortable and wanted to quit. But by pushing through, by becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable, and reaching that milestone, not only do you achieve you own success, you also motivate others that are struggling or feeling like giving up.

This is why it’s important to give back to the community. Share your projects, share your success, encourage fellow campers in the forums or on social media. Your success is freeCodeCamp’s success.

Step out of your comfort zone, get comfortable being uncomfortable, you owe it to yourself and the rest of us!

As Luvvie describes it — Be the domino.

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Relentlessly Improving Is the Only Way to Survive

Relentlessly Improving Is the Only Way to Survive

   January 08, 2018       Hardik Gandhi

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These are the 3 areas to focus on in order to ensure your company’s success #ShortcutYourStartup

One of the greatest feelings an entrepreneur can experience is when his or her product or service finally gains traction and begins to gain product market fit. It takes an immense amount of effort and time to get to this stage, and you may be tempted to pause, reflect, and enjoy the moment.

Don’t.

This is the time when you should be putting your foot on the gas and trying to relentlessly improve. This is one of the things we learned running our company and something we talk a lot about in Shortcut Your Startup.

While the marginal improvements may seem smaller at this stage compared to the ones you faced when you were initially starting your company, the magnitude of their effects will now be greater.

To make this more palatable, consider the analogy on the power of compound interest, or what Albert Einstein (may or may not have) called “the eighth wonder of the world.” It’s well known that incrementally adding to your retirement account when you’re just entering the workforce in your 20s has huge ramifications on your savings when you retire 40–50 years later.

This same logic applies to the incremental decisions you make at your company — seemingly small improvements (and mistakes, too!) have huge effects down the road.

From our perspective as both the founders of VEEV and investors in companies like Pinterest, Lyft, Bonobos, and Warby Parker, we realize how crucial the small, 1 percent improvements can be to a company’s success.

We realize that these changes can be difficult to identify, so we have outlined 3 key areas to keep your eyes on:

• Your Team
• Your Product
• Yourself

Your team is your company’s most important asset. Always think how it can be improved.

It’s worth reiterating that your team is something that should always be focused on building a culture of improvement. Specifically, we cannot overstate the importance of hiring team members possessing an ownership-building mindset, which means that they have a vested interest in the company’s success and don’t solely focus on performing their daily tasks.

Next, consistently test your product. Adopt the mind of a customer: what could be improved to make your life easier?

Testing your product, your landing page, or your cart checkout page is often easier said than done. We recommend dividing the responsibilities into three parts. Assign somebody to own and oversee the test, another party to design the test, and a third one to analyze the results of the test.

Why? Clearly dividing responsibilities engages more of your team and sets the stage for your company to review its product more objectively and critically. Iterations are a necessary part of any business, and your team must have a systematic decision to implement and make sense of these tests. While these processes will help keep track of your business, we also must stress the importance of keeping track of yourself.

Finally, continuously focus on improving yourself.

If two of your goals are to improve your business and your team, it’s only natural that you pay attention to improving yourself. This is something that is always ongoing but is extremely worthwhile to pay attention to.

Know your strengths and weaknesses. Beyond that, realize how your strengths and weaknesses can affect your company. Part of your hiring strategy should revolve around hiring team members that complement your skillset. In addition to your strengths and weaknesses, seek to expand your network. While connections in your industry are important, consider how you can learn from others in a completely unrelated field, as invaluable lessons aren’t solely constrained to your industry.

In the end, launching your product, receiving favorable press, or reaching a financial milestone is no reason to let up on the gas — in fact, it is the time to keep pushing. This desire to constantly improve is a shared trait of successful companies.

If you focus on your product, your team, and yourself, your odds of success will increase dramatically! We talk more about this in our book, Shortcut Your Startup. Join the conversation!

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18 Books Everyone Will Be Reading in 2018

18 Books Everyone Will Be Reading in 2018

   January 07, 2018       Hardik Gandhi

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The most productive, wealthy and highly efficient people devote at least 30 minutes a day to reading. If it works for them, it could work for you. You can make 2018 your best year yet.

These are the books many people will read to get better, smarter, improve how they think or change how they work. They are books I am most excited about. This year, make a better resolution: Read more books.

From high-profile names to lesser-known authors whose books are worthwhile reads, the list below is a roundup of 18 titles coming in the first half of the year to consider adding to your bookshelf.

1. The Origins of Happiness: The Science of Well-Being over the Life Course by Andrew E. Clark,‎ Sarah Flèche,‎ Richard Layard,‎ Nattavudh Powdthavee,‎ and George Ward

“The Origins of Happiness is a wonderful book. It presents a new look at what causes human well-being, and carefully analyzes the policies and programs that can enhance it.” — Ed Diener, coauthor of Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth

“The most significant contribution of The Origins of Happiness lies in its integrated approach to life satisfaction over the life cycle. The authors combine cohort studies, longitudinal panels, and cross-section surveys to provide fuller perspectives. No one else has done this in such a systematic way.” — John F. Helliwell, University of British Columbia

2. Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts by Annie Duke

Poker champion turned business consultant Annie Duke teaches you how to get comfortable with uncertainty and make better decisions as a result.

By shifting your thinking from a need for certainty to a goal of accurately assessing what you know and what you don’t, you’ll be less vulnerable to reactive emotions, knee-jerk biases, and destructive habits in your decision making. You’ll become more confident, calm, compassionate and successful in the long run.

3. Firestarters: How Innovators, Instigators, and Initiators Can Inspire You to Ignite Your Own Life by Raoul Davis Jr,‎ Kathy Palokoff (Author),‎ and Paul Eder

The heart of the book features stories about successful entrepreneurs, CEOs, organizational leaders, and forward-looking thinkers from a variety of professions. They describe the factors and conditions that ignited their lives and helped them become achievers.

“Add this book to your library! Firestarters gives you a smart new way to achieve positive behavioral change that will improve your life and the world around you.” — Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times–bestselling author of Triggers and What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

4. Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals by Michael Hyatt

“Your Best Year Ever is full of compelling, real-life stories of average people who have achieved extraordinary results. Please take my advice and only buy this book if you want to be able to look back in twelve months and say, ‘Now that was my best year ever!’” — John C. Maxwell, author, speaker, and leadership expert

“Generous goals work (if you write them down) and powerful books work (if you read them). Michael Hyatt has created a fun, fast way to find your dreams and then turn them into reality.” — Seth Godin, author, Linchpin

5. When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by
Daniel H. Pink

Timing, it’s often assumed, is an art. In When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, Pink shows that timing is really a science.

“Pink should change many people’s understanding of timing with this book, which provides insights from little-known scientific studies in an accessible way… By the book’s end, readers will be thinking much more carefully about how they divide up theirs days and organize their routines.” — Publishers Weekly

6. Skin in the Game: Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

In his most provocative and practical book yet, one of the foremost thinkers of our time redefines what it means to understand the world, succeed in a profession, contribute to a fair and just society, detect nonsense, and influence others.

“The most prophetic voice of all . . . [Taleb is] a genuinely significant philosopher . . . someone who is able to change the way we view the structure of the world through the strength, originality and veracity of his ideas alone.” — John Gray, GQ

7. Sharp: The Women Who Made an Art of Having an Opinion by Michelle Dean

“I have to recommend Michelle Dean’s Sharp: The Women Who Made an Art of Having an Opinion, a delicious cultural history that comes out in April. It brings together some of the most influential social critics of the 20th century, including Dorothy Parker, Mary McCarthy, Hannah Arendt, Susan Sontag and Joan Didion, and shows how these glamorous iconoclasts forged their singular careers. Dean makes the convincing argument that women’s voices―if not necessarily feminist ones―did far more to define the last century’s intellectual life than we realize.”―Michelle Goldberg, New York Times

8. Great at Work: How Top Performers Do Less, Work Better, and Achieve More by Morten Hansen

“In this groundbreaking book, Morten Hansen delivers on the genius of “and:” rigorous and relevant, research-driven and well-written, empirical and empowering, timeless and practical, full of big concepts and useful tips. Hansen’s work is truly distinctive in the genre of professional effectiveness, and a tremendous contribution. This is a book I will read more than once, and reference forever.” — Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, co-author of Built to Last and Great by Choice

9. The Motivation Myth: How High Achievers Really Set Themselves Up to Win by Jeff Haden

Haden shows us how to reframe our thinking about the relationship of motivation to success. He meets us at our level — at the beginning of any big goal we have for our lives, a little anxious and unsure about our way forward, a little burned by self help books and strategies that have failed us in the past — and offers practical advice that anyone can use to stop stalling and start working on those dreams.

10. The Truth Machine: The Blockchain and the Future of Everything
by Paul Vigna,‎ and Michael J. Casey

Casey and Vigna expose the challenge of replacing trusted (and not-so-trusted) institutions on which we’ve relied for centuries with a radical model that bypasses them. The Truth Machine reveals the empowerment possible when self-interested middlemen give way to the transparency of the blockchain, while highlighting the job losses, assertion of special interests, and threat to social cohesion that will accompany this shift.

11. The Future of Humanity: Terraforming Mars, Interstellar Travel, Immortality, and Our Destiny Beyond Earth by Michio Kaku

The #1 bestselling author of The Future of the Mind traverses the frontiers of astrophysics, artificial intelligence, and technology to offer a stunning vision of man’s future in space, from settling Mars to traveling to distant galaxies.

Formerly the domain of fiction, moving human civilization to the stars is increasingly becoming a scientific possibility — and a necessity. Whether in the near future due to climate change and the depletion of finite resources, or in the distant future due to catastrophic cosmological events, we must face the reality that humans will one day need to leave planet Earth to survive as a species.

12. Human + Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI
by Paul R. Daugherty,‎ and H. James Wilson

Based on the authors’ experience and new research with 1,500 organizations, the book reveals how companies are using the new rules of AI to leap ahead on innovation and profitability, as well as what you can do to achieve similar results.

It describes six entirely new types of hybrid human + machine roles that every company must develop, and it includes a “leader’s guide” with the five crucial principles required to become an AI-fueled business. Human + Machine provides the missing and much-needed management playbook for success in our new age of AI.

13. Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley by Emily Chang

In this powerful exposé, Bloomberg TV journalist Emily Chang reveals how Silicon Valley got so sexist despite its utopian ideals, why bro culture endures despite decades of companies claiming the moral high ground (Don’t Be Evil! Connect the World!) — and how women are finally starting to speak out and fight back.

Drawing on her deep network of Silicon Valley insiders, Chang opens the boardroom doors of male-dominated venture capital firms like Kleiner Perkins, the subject of Ellen Pao’s high-profile gender discrimination lawsuit, and Sequoia, where a partner once famously said they “won’t lower their standards” just to hire women.

14. Willpower Doesn’t Work: Discover the Hidden Keys to Success by Benjamin Hardy

“If you want to get more done, don’t worry about willpower — focus on motivation. Challenging the dominant view of self-control as a muscle, Benjamin Hardy reveals that productivity is really about clarity and commitment.”―Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Originals and Give and Take

“In an age when few people think deeply about life, Benjamin Hardy is the exception. Read this book if you want to be better.”―Jeff Goins, bestselling author of The Art of Work

15. Strength in Stillness: The Power of Transcendental Meditation by Bob Roth

“Transcendental Meditation is the single most important reason for any success I have had in my life. Bob Roth’s Strength in Stillness masterfully distills the essence of this technique so that anyone can understand how it works — and why they should learn it.” — Ray Dalio

“My wife and I love Bob. He’s really helped us and our son, Oscar, who was a stressed, anxious kid. Now I see him blossoming and owning the things that make him unique. In many ways, Bob saved him during a difficult time.” — Hugh Jackman

16. The Career Manifesto: Discover Your Calling and Create an Extraordinary Life by Mike Steib

“Mike has long been a sought after mentor and revered manager, and for obvious reason: his practical, inspirational, no-nonsense advice works. This is the book that I will give to all of the motivated professionals that come through my door with questions about how to achieve their career, and life, aspirations.” — Jesse Haines, Director of Marketing, Google

17. Big Potential: How Transforming the Pursuit of Success Raises Our Achievement, Happiness, and Well-Being by Shawn Achor

In his highly anticipated follow-up to The Happiness Advantage, Achor reveals a better approach. Drawing on his work in 50 countries, he shows that success and happiness are not competitive sports. Rather, they depend almost entirely on how well we connect with, relate to, and learn from each other.

Just as happiness is contagious, every dimension of human potential — performance, intelligence, creativity, leadership ability and health — is influenced by those around us.

18. The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business: Make Great Money. Work the Way You Like. Have the Life You Want by Elaine Pofeldt

“Read The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business to learn strategies you can start using now to build a high-revenue business that gives you the freedom to lead the life you want. Pofeldt will convince you that you have more power to do so than you think!” — Stew Friedman, author of Total Leadership and Leading the Life You Want, practice professor of management at Wharton, and director of Wharton Work/Life Integration Project

“In an era when freelancing, small office/home office, and one-person businesses are exploding, Elaine Pofeldt has written a definitive guidebook for any would-be entrepreneur who is looking to brainstorm, grow, sell, and succeed.” — Gene Marks, CPA at the Marks Group PC

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The #1 Rule of Fasting

The #1 Rule of Fasting

   January 06, 2018       Hardik Gandhi

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As we start the new year, many people are looking to lose weight. Fasting, the voluntary abstention from eating is an ancient weight loss method with a long track record of success. However, many people forget the cardinal rule of fasting, or indeed, of any kind of dietary change — always make sure you are doing it safely.

I highly recommend a great new documentary now available for purchase/ rent online called Fasting — The Movie. It presents the science of fasting and how people can lose weight and even reverse many metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and its related conditions. Given the importance of these diseases in modern day medicine, this is nothing short of revolutionary. However, taken to an extreme, fasting can also have its dangers. This is true not just for fasting but for anything. If you take veganism to an extreme, you may put yourself in danger, for example, of vitamin B12 deficiency. If you take the low fat diet to an extreme, you are at danger of vitamin D deficiency. If you take salt restriction to an extreme, you may be at danger of volume depletion. If you take exercise to an extreme, you may put yourself at danger of rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown). Everything must be done responsibly, with knowledge and with common sense.

Fasting is no different. Because fasting is already more intensive than most diets, taking fasting to an extreme can be problematic. The movie goes into some of the dangers of fasting and explores many of the variants of fasting that are popular and may be beneficial for people. Simply put, fasting is a weapon to be used in the fight against obesity related conditions and perhaps some aging related conditions.

But, like any weapon, it has two edges. It has real power, and that power can be used constructively and it can also, in the wrong hands, be used destructively. It is all a matter of context and applicability. Much of the resurgence of interest in fasting as a therapeutic option centers around intermittent fasting  — generally of shorter duration done consistently and frequently. The 5:2 diet, popularized by Dr. Michael Mosley is 2 days of fasting per week, but those ‘fasting’ days still allows 500 calories per day. Time restricted eating such as a 16:8 schedule, allows you to eat during only 8 hours of the day, so 16 hours are spent fasting. Many of the patients in my Intensive Dietary Management program use 24 hour to 36 hour fasts 2–3 times per week, and this is done under medical supervision with their physician.

Certainly I use extended fasting as well, but generally limited to 7–14 days, only in the appropriate person and with supervision. Clients are always instructed to stop immediately if not feeling well, and we also check in with them regularly. Longer fasts have more power, but more risk. To me, there is no reason to fast for 30 consecutive days just for the sake of argument. Why not do 4 separate 7-day fasts instead? It will have roughly the same beneficial health effects with far less risk.

By contrast, in Fasting — the movie, director Doug Orchard tells the story of a young lady who decided to join a 30 day water-only fasting retreat. As far as I can tell, there was no medical supervision, and there was no bloodwork being checked and there was no professional who even determined whether this was appropriate. One of my primary rules for fasting is that if somebody is underweight or there is concern about malnutrition, then they should not fast. Underweight is defined by Body Mass Index < 18.5, but for a margin of safety, I don’t recommend that anybody fast longer than 24 hours if they have a BMI< 20. The reasoning seems rather obvious. During the fasting period, the body must survive on the nutrients and energy stored. If you have lots and lots of body fat (stored food energy), then you should be fine. If you do NOT have lots and lots of body fat, then it’s NOT fine. It’s stupid.

People get into trouble with extended fasts because they don’t follow common sense. Many of these fasting retreats offer 30 day water only fasts. If you become depleted of sodium (quite common), there are no doctors there to monitor for warning signs. If you become very weak and unable to get out of bed, there is very clearly something wrong, and you should not continue fasting. This is common sense. In my IDM program, clients know that they may feel hungry, maybe a little irritable, constipated perhaps, but they should not feel UNWELL. If you are really feeling poorly, you must stop. There is no reason to continue, because fasting is free. It is far better to stop and try it again (if you want) in a few days when you are feeling better. The problem with these fasting retreats is that people have paid money to be there and therefore they push on far beyond the limits of good safety practice and far beyond the limits of common sense.

Further, people undertake extreme fasting without any kind of preparation. Instead of undertaking shorter fasts and gradually extending it, they immediately opt for a full on water-only extended fast. This is like a rookie mountaineer that decides that he/she will tackle Mount Everest, without oxygen and push on to the summit irregardless of weather. The experience mountaineer would immediately recognize this as a death wish, but the rookie has no inkling of the dangers and may come home in a body bag. It’s pure stupidity. Yet fasting clinics promote this very same idea. Taking the most extreme fast (water-only fasting, as opposed to allowing some bone broth or some caloric intake), to an extended period of time (30 days instead of 1–2 days), in anybody irregardless of whether this is medically appropriate, without any adequate medical supervision or access to bloodwork? I can tell you right now, that’s pure stupidity.

[caption id=”attachment_8119" align=”alignleft” width=”270"]

Marathon[/caption]

A recent article in the New York Post “Is this the most dangerous diet ever?” tells of a man who, in an attempt to lose weight, decided that he would fast for 47 days. At day 5 he was feeling great. At day 28, he was so weak that he could hardly get out of bed. NOT smart. This is NOT something that I would advise. The Daily Mail shared similar concerns in its own article.

Consider the story of the marathon. According to legend, in 490 BC the Greek soldier Pheidippides ran approximately 26 miles from the battlefield near the town of Marathon to Athens to deliver the news of the defeat of the Persians. He shouted Niki! (Victory) and then promptly keeled over and died.

Suppose a sedentary, middle aged, out of shape man decided to run a full 26 miles at maximum speed tomorrow, without any type of preparation or knowledge. He might very well keel over and die, too. Indeed, in 2014, a 42 year old man died after the London Marathon, the event’s second death in 3 years. Later that year, a 31 year old man and a 35 year old man died in a North Carolina event. Since marathon is a relatively extreme event for most people, it takes some preparation to do safely. That’s easy to understand so you don’t see hysterical headlines saying “Running, the most dangerous thing ever”. If you want to run a few minutes, that probably won’t kill you. Running a marathon in an untrained state could very well do so.

So the bottom line is that fasting, done properly and with knowledge and experience is a powerful tool in the fight against metabolic disease and obesity. But tools can cut both ways and can sometimes harm the user. A chainsaw is a powerful tool for cutting trees. It may also kill you if used improperly. But the proper lesson is not to abandon the chainsaw. Instead, we need to learn how to properly use the tool. Fasting, used responsibly can be a powerful force for health. Fasting, used inappropriately can hurt or kill you. Fasting by starting out skipping a meal here and there — good idea. Fasting by starting out 30 day water only fast come hell or high water — bad idea. There’s a ton of free information on fasting that I’ve written extensively on my blog. Just search for the 40+ posts I’ve labelled with ‘Fasting’. I’ve also posted free videos and podcasts, too. So cost is not an issue. Be safe, everybody.

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15 Master Classes By Some of The World’s Top Experts

15 Master Classes By Some of The World’s Top Experts

   January 06, 2018       Hardik Gandhi

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Garry Kasparov, Serena Williams, James Patterson, Christina Aguilera, and others . . .

Note: If you decide to purchase anything, using the links below, you’ll be financially supporting the Personal Growth publication. Thanks for your support.

Garry Kasparov Teaches Chess

At age 22, Garry Kasparov became the youngest world chess champion. After beating Bobby Fischer’s peak rating, he outranked his fiercest competitors for over twenty years. Through detailed lessons, including his favorite openings and advanced tactics, you will develop the instincts and philosophy to become a stronger player.

Serena Williams Teaches Tennis

Serena Williams, the world’s #1 ranked women’s tennis player and winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, teaches you tennis and reveals the secrets of her game. This is as close as you can get to a private lesson with one of the world’s greatest tennis players.

James Patterson Teaches Writing

James Patterson, the author of 19 consecutive №1 New York Times bestsellers, reveals his tricks of the trade for the very first time. In this course, he guides you through every part of the book writing process.

Herbie Hancock Teaches Jazz

Join Herbie at the piano as he shares his approach to improvisation, composition, and harmony. Gain access to 10+ original piano transcriptions, including 5 exclusive solo performances.

Steve Martin Teaches Comedy

One of Steve’s first gigs was at the drive-in movies. When the audience liked a joke, they honked. In this class, Steve shares insights from performing for cars and humans over a 50-year career spanning sold-out arenas and blockbuster films. Learn how to find your voice, gather material, develop an act, and take your comedy to the next level.

Frank Gehry Teaches Design and Architecture

At 19 years old, Frank Gehry was a truck driver taking sculpture classes at night school. His vision for what architecture could accomplish went on to reshape city skylines, and the imaginations of artists and designers around the world. Now this master builder invites you into his never-before-seen model archive for a look into his creative process.

Judy Blume Teaches Writing

Judy Blume broke the rules. Her refreshingly honest children’s books were banned by hundreds of libraries — and loved by generations of readers, who bought 85 million copies. In her first online class, the award-winning author teaches you how to invent vivid characters, write realistic dialogue, and turn your experiences into stories people will treasure.

Annie Leibovitz Teaches Photography

Annie was the first woman to be named chief photographer at Rolling Stone. In her first online class, Annie shows us that what makes a picture stunning isn’t the gear or technology — it’s the story. Annie teaches you her philosophy on photography — how to develop concepts, work with subjects, shoot with natural light, and bring images to life in post-production.

Samuel L. Jackson Teaches Acting

For the first time, the Oscar nominated star teaches how he creates memorable characters, powerful performances, and a long-lasting career. Learn to master auditions, analyze scripts, and find the truth in every role you play.

Gordon Ramsay Teaches Cooking

This is Gordon Ramsay like you’ve never experienced. The seven-star Michelin chef takes you into his home kitchen to learn everything from kitchen setup and buying the freshest ingredients to constructing unforgettable dishes. In this MasterClass, you’re not just learning recipes, you’re learning how to take your cooking to the next level.

Dr. Jane Goodall Teaches Conservation

Dr. Jane Goodall teaches how you can conserve the environment. She also shares her research on the behavioral patterns of chimpanzees and what they taught her about conservation. You’ll learn how to “act locally” and protect the planet.

Aaron Sorkin Teaches Screenwriting

Aaron Sorkin wrote his first movie on cocktail napkins. Those napkins turned into A Few Good Men, starring Jack Nicholson. Now, the Academy Award winning writer of The West Wing and The Social Network is teaching screenwriting. You’ll learn his rules of storytelling, dialogue, character development, and what makes a script actually sell.

Stephen Curry Teaches Shooting, Ball-Handling, and Scoring

Join Stephen on the court in his first-ever online class as he teaches you how to improve your shooting mechanics, and leads you through ball-handling, footwork, and scoring drills. Then see the game through Stephen’s eyes as he analyzes NBA game footage to help you elevate your basketball IQ.

Christina Aguilera Teaches Singing

Christina teaches you how to expand your range, find your voice, and master the techniques that have earned her six Grammy Awards. You’ll learn warm-up exercises, breath control, vibrato, her signature growls, and hear Christina break down her biggest hits.

Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking

When the legendary director Werner Herzog was 19, he stole a camera and made his first movie. 70 films and 50 awards later, Werner is teaching documentary and feature filmmaking. You’ll learn storytelling, cinematography, locations, self-financing, documentary interview techniques, and how to bring your ideas to life.

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