Remember that new shiny thing we started last month? Not the Flyaway Friday feature, I know it is a fabulous. But the other one – yeah my way to overcome the long pending backlog of review books.
Oh yes, we are making that regular feature based on the comments I saw on that post. So every month the first Monday review edition oh Elgee Writes will have the bite sized edition of book reviews and the other Mondays will continue to have long (and longer) review (rather book rants) as usual.
If any of has seen my social feed you will know that I have an unhealthy obsession (for an adult) over cartoons and comic strips. So when I saw that the Sarah Andersen publication was offering Herding Cats for review at Netgalley I downloaded it before I could even read the blurb. Herding Cats by Sarah Andersen was the last book I read in 2017, and to be precise on 31 December 2017 after 10 PM. Yes it was worth staying in cuddled with my e-reader instead of partying on the New Year’s Eve.
Herding Cats is a very short (100+ pages) collection of Sarah’s depiction of her love for cats and other pets, autumn as well as her trying to adult. It is the third part of the Sarah Scribbles series. Every one I know will be able to relate to her cartoons and it will sure leave a grin on their faces. It is one of those books that will make you feel ‘Glad I am not the only weird one’ and wish it was longer.
But if you are looking for a common thread of cartoons (like the others in the series), you won’t find any. It is seemingly a bunch of random cartoons (that we love and are fabulous) by Sarah strewn together.
Final thought: Loved it.
Recommended to: All book lovers, millennials and cartoon lovers.
You all know how craft challenged I am, and my last water coloring project made me question all my ‘sensible shopping’ techniques. So when I stumbled across Everyday Watercolor by Jenna Rainey in Netgalley, I decided I will give water coloring a final try. And Jenna Rainey delivered exactly what it promised. NO I didn’t turn out to be an artist but now I at least now I can make a not so messy painting (which is by itself a grand achievement).
Everyday Watercolor teaches simple techniques to paint right from brush strokes and increasing the complexity day by day (in 30 days). I liked Jenna Rainey’s encouraging tone and attention to small details while teaching. I definitely will not throw my water color supplies yet.
Final thought: Perfect starter pack for learning water color.
Recommended to: Anyone interested in learning water coloring.
Find Your Awesome is an entertaining step by step instruction workbook that will help you introspect and learn to love yourself. This book is in the form of a 30 day challenge, but you can shorten or lengthen the period according to your need. I took more than 30 days to do some and I didn’t even do those challenges in that order (which probably is not how you should do).
If you are looking for a life changing piece of advice, then Find Your Awesome may not be your book. But you will definitely love it if you are up for fun and encouraging challenge to do. The book has place for you to write your lists and goals (like a journal) but I ended up using the good ol’ pen and paper.
Final thought: Entertaining way to introspect and accept self love.
Recommended to: Self help lovers who are looking for a monthly challenge.
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Do you like reading these tiny non fiction books? Should I continue with these review shots? Let me know whatever you think.
Warren Buffett’s Management Secrets was one of those first few non fictions that I read years ago. While the book did not turn my life around, it helped me understand what kinda management related books I should pursue and what I should not.
Here is a quick summary of the book Warren Buffett’s Management Secrets so that you will be able to get the gist of the book, without spending too long on it. Shall we get on with it?
Step One: Pick the Right Business to work or invest in
How to Find the Kind of Business That Offers the Greatest Career Opportunities
There is a huge difference between the business that grows and requires lots of capital to do so and the business that grows and doesn’t require capital.
Warren Buffett
Businesses with superior economics working in their favor need less capital than they earn.
This can happen in two cases Case 1: The products do not have to change, which means lesser spend on R & D or design change in assets. Example: Coco cola, – have very low costs in terms of R&D or process changes. Case 2: the products/service have competitive margin/ premium price tag.
Super companies business model
sell a unique product – they already own a piece of your mind with brand identification Example: Coca-Cola, Kraft, Procter & Gamble, Hershey.
sell a unique service, – you don’t see the person who works in the bank, but the whole bank/service as a brand Example: Mastercard, Visa, Banks
are the low-cost buyer and seller of a product or service that the public is consistently in need of. Example: Costco, Walmart, McDonalds
Three Quick Tests for Identifying the Best Company
Earnings per share Test
Look out for ten years per share earnings trend and if it is upward – they have a competitive advantage.
Upward trend also means earnings allow profit even after strategic expenditure like advertisements and expansions.
If the trend is erratic, it means they are in competitive market with booms and busts.
Debt test
Check for absence of long term debt.
Long term debt might mean the company is in a highly competitive industry with constant demands.
And that the company is highly leveraged.
Gross margin test
Find out the gross profit margin ratio.
Gross profit margin ratio = (Revenue - Cost of good sold)/ Revenue
Coco Cola consistently shows Gross profit margin of 60% or more, while United Airlines shows 14%.
Step Two Delegate Authority
Delegate job and authority as much as possible and especially,
If the job needs specialization
Delegate the job, not a task. Make them autonomous.
Trust in people with high integrity
Step Three Find the Right manager for the job
Change managers only when necessary, promote from within if possible, and if you can’t, look for talent with a proven track record.
When you win, it was you who won it, but when you lose, it was you who lost it. There is no other scapegoat
Take responsibility for your failures and in the process learn from your mistakes.
Find a Manager with the Right Qualities, by which he means someone who
takes responsibility – be a Victor than a victim
is obsessed his job and a part of winning the sales
values honesty
manages costs – always
The really good manager does not wake up in the morning and say, “This is the day I’m going to cut costs,” any more than he wakes up and decides to practice breathing.
Step Four Motivate Your Workforce
Give your employees a fine reputation to live up to.
To critcize someone – praise them first
To win an arguement you have to lose some first
If you want someone do something for you, speak in terms of what they want and not what you need.
Encourage the other person to come up with the right idea rather than giving them an idea – qns
Admit your mistakes outright
Praise by name, Criticize by category
Step Five Managerial pitfalls, challenges and learning
Lesser the borrowed money – safer you are
You get into way more trouble with good idea than a bad one
The example given was quite interesting, the idea to to insure the Commercial debts is really good but to have extended the same idea to mortgaged bonds proved to be disastrous. Though the idea is still good, but the outcome was not.
If I have seen further than others, it is by standing On The Shoulders Of Giants
Newton
Learn from your mistakes and missed opportunities – admit them.
surround yourself with as few people as possible; and look into the mirror to get the TRUE answer, instead of yes men
Bank on tried and true
Some old dogs know all the tricks!
Hang out with people who are better than you, get drifted in their direction
Manage personal borrowings – avoid debt
Bottom-line:
Overall a very short book – in size and content. Read it when you have few hours to pass and there is no other book lying around.
Have you read Warren Buffett’s Management Secrets before? Do you read self help books? If so, what other books do you want me to summarize? Let’s talk.
