Category Archives: Books

The Weekend Read – Let my people go surfing by Yvon Chouinard

Sub-titled “The Education of a Reluctant Businessman”, I am indebted to my friend Richard Hellen for recommending this book. If you fail to be informed, inspired and encouraged then ask yourself why you are in business. Patagonia is a company that deserves the attention of any business owner, employee or customer. Founded by Yvon ChouinardContinue reading “The Weekend Read – Let my people go surfing by Yvon Chouinard”

“This year 6 US citizens won Nobel prizes. And every one of them was an immigrant….

“This year 6 US citizens won Nobel prizes. And every one of them was an immigrant. Every one of them.” via Memex And some of them have started pointing this out – while politicians on both side of the Atlantic trade in anti-immigrant rhetoric. Continues here. My mother was an immigrant, the vast majority of boysContinue reading ““This year 6 US citizens won Nobel prizes. And every one of them was an immigrant….”

Trump is exploiting the faulty mechanisms in people’s minds…

Quote of the day: “Every which way, Trump is exploiting the faulty mechanisms in people’s minds. It feels like we are in a world where, to me, some meaningful part of the electorate is beyond reasoning with – beyond fact, anti-science. All the mental faculties that lead to human progress, they are opposed to.” MichaelContinue reading “Trump is exploiting the faulty mechanisms in people’s minds…”

The Weekend Read – Traction by Gino Wickman

When Dan Sullivan, Founder of The Strategic Coach, describes a book with these words, “This book is a must for any business owner and their management team. Traction provides a powerful, practical and simple system for running your business” then you must be curious. When the writer’s assistant gives you a copy then it wouldContinue reading “The Weekend Read – Traction by Gino Wickman”

The Weekend Read – The Management of Dental Practice by Edward Samson

This book was published in 1969 and described as inheriting the character but not the anatomy from Samson’s (pictured left) 1931 book “Progressive Practice”. All I am going to say much about either book is that, although dated in some ways, much of their teaching is as relevant today as it was when they firstContinue reading “The Weekend Read – The Management of Dental Practice by Edward Samson”

The Weekend Read – Legacy by James Kerr

Published three years before the All Blacks won their second Rugby Union World Cup Final this is a fascinating book about the culture of a great team. The lessons are applicable to every team whether they be in sport or business. It starts when things were not going so well for New Zealand, in 2004Continue reading “The Weekend Read – Legacy by James Kerr”

The Life Project: what makes some people happy, healthy and successful – and others not?

A fascinating book about an intriguing and important study. Reviewed in The Guardian. In March 1946, scientists recorded the birth of almost every British baby born in one, cold week. They have been following thousands of them ever since, in what has become the longest running major study of human development in the world. TheseContinue reading “The Life Project: what makes some people happy, healthy and successful – and others not?”

Why?

I love Dog Savage’s “Savage Chickens” cartoons. I saw this one on the day after Simon Tucker’s excellent presentation at The BDA Western Counties Young Dentists Conference where he referenced Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why”. This came at the end of a week where I had insisted/suggested that three of my clients watch Sinek’s presentation.Continue reading “Why?”