The 23 Best Books in 2015

The 23 Best Books in 2015

2015 was a banner year for me for expanding my horizons with the books that I read. Not coincidentally, 2015 was also the year I got my very own library card. (More on the benefits on getting your library card here.) I am a big fan of biographies, autobiographies, and business-related books so you will notice a lot of those types of books on this list.

What you will also note on this list is all the different ways in which to consume the content of a book. From hardcover to paperback and from audiobook to e-book, there are many ways to digest the knowledge within the pages of a book.

As we start wrapping up 2015, I present to you my list of the 23 best books I read this year. By no means were any of these bad books. Some books are just better than others. And some books have been in circulation for over 50 years. The lessons these books share, whether new or old, are all well worth your read. Without further ado, here is my list of the 23 best books I read in 2015:

1.

Title: Start With Why
Author: Simon Sinek
Format: Audiobook
Review: This book should be number one on your list of books to read, especially if you are looking to start your company or go off on a new idea. This book examines the most important question we should ask ourselves before we do anything: why. “People don’t by what you do, they buy why you do it.”

2.

Title: How to Win Friends and Influence People
Author: Dale Carniege
Format: Audiobook
Review: Originally published over 50 years ago, this fantastic book gives great insights into dealing with people from all walks of life and all view points. Master the points laid out in this book – much like Warren Buffett did – and you are sure to go far in life.

3.

Title: Moneyball
Author: Michael Lewis
Format: Audiobook
Review: When you combine three of my favorite things – sports, money, and statistics – it is hard not to come away with a winning formula. The great modern writer Michael Lewis masterfully writes the book that is now re-shaping the way professional sports team and business operate. (Don’t want to read the book? Just watch the movie!)

4.

Title: Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
Author: Sheryl Sandberg
Format: Audiobook
Review: What I appreciate most about this book, from a male point of view, is that this book not only shares how women can empower themselves in their business and professional lives but it also showcases how men can (and should) help with this empowerment. 

5.

Title: Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t
Author: Jim Collins
Format: Audiobook
Review: Although this book was published almost 20 years ago using data even older than that, the principles that remain in this book are as true then as they are today. In this book, Collins examines how companies – specifically large companies – can scale their business to make them last and enduring enterprises.

6.

Title: Born Standing Up
Author: Steve Martin
Format: Paperback
Review: Easily one of the best biographies of celebrities in the 20th century, this book not only shares the life story of the rise of Steve Martin as a performer and a comedian but it also sheds some light on the lessons and takeaways about what to expect once you’ve made it to the top.

7.

Title: Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces that Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
Author: Ed Catmull
Format: Hardcover
Review: Pixar might be one of if not the best technology and entertainment companies in the world. This book shares the tale of how the company got to hold that distinguished position not only through advances in technology the company sought to push but by also developing and nurturing a unique culture of creativity.

8.

Title: The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life
Author: Alice Schroeder
Format: Audiobook
Review: Take a deeper look into the life and times of one of the wealthiest men in American history and one of the greatest investors of stocks and business. There are fantastic lessons to glean from the example Buffett sets forth in his business.

9.

Title: The Five Dysfunctions of a Teams
Author: Patrick Lencioni
Format: Audiobook
Review: Examining the work of actual group of people within an organization, Lencioni breaks down how to and how not to act and react within the setting of a team.

10.

Title: Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds
Author: Carmine Gallo
Format: Audiobook
Review: If you ever want to get on the TED stage, this is a must read book. Or, even more humbly, if you ever find yourself in the need to give a presentation, the notes presented in this book showcase how to give an effective and meaningful presentation.

11.

Title: The New Rules of Real Estate
Author: Spencer Rascoff and Stan Humpries
Format: Paperback
Review: The CEO and Head Economist of the Internet marketing company Zillow released their insights into the world of residential real estate. In a Mythbusters style montage, the duo go over some common misconceptions about your home and the real estate market. A great read for real estate professionals and homeowners alike.

12.

Title: Tiger, Meet My Sister and Other Things I Probably Shouldn’t Have Said
Author: Rick Reilly
Format: Hardcover
Review: My favorite former Sports Illustrated writer released his collection of best essays and articles he published while writing for ESPN: The Magazine. Reilly is one of the best sports writers in making his audience – myself include – laugh, cry, groan, and cheer all within the same story.

13.

Title: Think Like a Freak
Author: Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner
Format: ebook
Review: The writing and economist duo teams again for another follow up to their popular Freakonomics book from nearly 10 years ago. The best way to read this book is with an open mind, and interestingly, this is exactly what the authors are trying teach.

14.

Title: Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt
Author: Michael Lewis
Format: Audiobook
Review: Michael Lewis make is second appearance on this list, as he quickly became one of my new favorite authors. While Flash Boys didn’t read as interestingly as Moneyball, the story contained within this book is now re-shaping the way consumers and regulators view Wall Street.

15.

Title: StrengthsFinder 2.0
Author: Tom Rath
Format: Hardcover
Review: To often we focus on what is wrong with us or within our business. In this book, Rath says we are looking at the issue in the wrong direction. Instead, we should be focusing on what makes us and our business great – our strengths. Read the book and take the test to determine what are your top 5 strengths.

16.

Title: Linchpin: Are You Indispensable
Author: Seth Godin
Format: Audiobook
Review: Godin is one of the great minds of today when it comes to branding and marketing yourself and your company. In this book, he underscores the importance of making your way into this world and making yourself irreplaceable in the minds of your boss and/or clients.

17.

Title: People Over Profit: Break the System. Live with Purpose. Be More Successful.
Author: Dale Partridge
Format: Hardcover
Review: In this brief read, Partridge lays out the rules of the new business class: those that care for their employees and the environment for the right reasons are the ones who will rule the business world of the future.

18.

Title: Zero to One: Notes on Startups, Or How to Build the Future
Author: Peter Thiel with Blake Masters
Format: Paperback
Review: For a complete review of this book, check out my other blog article here.

19.

Title: How Google Works
Author: Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg
Format: Audiobook
Review: Get a behind the scenes look into what makes Google great and what are the methods behind the madness of the company.

20.

Title: The E Myth Revisted: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
Author: Michael E. Gerber
Format: Audiobook
Review: A quick and easy read with some useful and some not-so useful points, this book is worth reading if you’re wondering why your business isn’t working right.

21.

Title: Zig Ziglar’s Leadership & Success Series
Author: Zig Ziglar
Format: Audiobook
Review: More audio than book, this collection of presentation by Zig Ziglar is chock full of quotes, inspiration, and motivation for any sales and business professional.

22.

Title: 7 Levels of Communication: Go From Relationships to Referrals
Author: Michael J. Maher
Format: ebook
Review: This book can be summed up in one simple phrase: be nice and truly care about other people and they will do nice things and care about you and your business in return.

23.

Title: The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
Author: Timothy Ferriss
Format: Audiobook
Review: While I don’t advocate doing the things in this book exactly as portrayed by the author, I do like some of the methodology for streamlining and organizing your most precious resource: your time.

Focus on the Details

What Lights on a Trunk and the Inside of a Laptop Can Teach You About Forming Great Business Habits

What makes a great brand? What makes a great company? Certainly a brand or company that has an inspiring vision would fit that description. A company looking to change the world would certainly be a company that I would like to follow. But really great brands and companies know to focus on the details. Focusing on the smallest pieces within your organization are just as important as having lofty goals. Consumers remember the smallest details as much as they remember the big dreams.

To better show you how to focus on the details within your company, I want to give you two real life examples from the business world. The first is the Mercedes-Benz S Class sedan and the second is the Apple MacBook Air laptop. What do these two products do better than any other product in their respective categories? They focus on the details.

The Mercedes-Benz S Class sedan is one of the most luxurious and awe-inspiring mass market high end sedans. Mercedes, across its entire vehicle line up, produces some of the best automobiles on the road. But what makes their vehicles truly great is their attention to the smallest details on their cars. One specific example is the lights on the base of the lid of the trunk.

Mercedes-Benz S Class Sedan (Image courtesy of Mercedes-Benz)

The only time you would ever notice these lights is when you have the trunk open at night. This may seem like an insignificant addition, but at a time when a driver is outside of her vehicle at night standing over her trunk with her back to traffic having lights visible on her car to warn oncoming traffic that there is a pedestrian near the road is not only a great design feature but it also a great safety feature. Without paying attention to these little details, the company would be failing at upholding its inspiring message: "the best or nothing."

One of the enduring legacies of Steve Jobs at Apple is his utmost attention to focus on the details. Specifically, Jobs would force his designers to make sure that the things Apple consumers would never see still look perfectly designed. Case in point, the MacBook Air is a 13-inch laptop that weighs less than two pounds, yet is every bit as powerful on the inside as it is modern and sleek on the outside.

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (Image courtesy of Apple)

What Steve Jobs knew about design is that no artist is ever completely satisfied unless every bit of his art was perfect. That included all the pieces that the consumer would never see. If you were to ever open a piece of Apple hardware, you would notice that the components and circuitry are perfectly laid out in a clean, neat and organized manner. This was not by accident. The only way Jobs would put his stamp of approval on an Apple product was if the inside was as beautifully designed as the exterior.

Having great and lofty visions and goals for your company is important to show your clients that you care about the long-term success of your company. But, consumers will remember the smallest details about your company just as much as they will remember the inspiring vision. If you do not focus on the smallest details, you could alienate the consumers you are trying to reach. The next time you have a decision to make within your company, make sure to focus on the details.

Leaders Take the Middle Seat

Southwest Airlines has a unique seating arrangement for its travelers. While most major air carriers assign individuals a specific seat on their planes, Southwest simply places travelers into groups. Then, groups are boarded on to the plane and travelers get to pick their ideal seat. Naturally, the window and isle seats usually get selected first.

No one chooses to take the middle seat.

There are several personal requirements for businessmen and women to transform themselves into leaders. While some people are just born with leadership qualities, other leaders require years of training and practice. Regardless of the route taken to get to leadership status, all leaders must have a sense of humility in their arsenal of professional development skills.

In today's culture, most travelers expect to get on the plane as quickly as possible. They expect to get to their most desired seat as fast as possible. And they expect to put their luggage in the most convenient storage spot as possible. Sadly, this mentality leaves little room for anyone other than the individual traveler. I must get on the plane as quickly as possible, I have to get to my seat first, I have to put my roll-a-board into the overhead bin first.

Where you choose to sit on a plane says quite a bit about your leadership tactics.

Those that quickly take the nearest window seat are the selfish dreamers. While always thinking with your head in the clouds isn't considered a normal way to handle situations, it has its merits sometimes. But when you take the window seat, you are effectively saying that it does not matter to me what's going on around me. Leaders can't think like that.

Those that quickly take the isle seat care more about their own needs and desires than those of the people around them. Isle passengers are the first ones to stand up and fight for the exit door when the plane pulls up to its gate. Often, they stretch their legs into the isle, giving themselves more legroom but making it more difficult for those around them to navigate the isle. Leaders can't operate like that.

Leaders choose to take the middle seat.

The middle seat is the bridge that spans the gap of the opposite ends of the spectrum, from those who only have their heads in the clouds, to those that only care about themselves. In giving up a great view and by letting others have some extra space, the leader can put the priorities of the team above herself.

It is important for leaders to be humble. Humble leaders put the successes of others first and take the blame for any and all of the faults suffered by the team. According to William M. Lambert, the CEO of MSA Safety, Inc., in a recent Wall Street Journal article, "leaders need to have a strong ego, but not a big ego."

Choosing to sit in the middle seat not only means you do not have a big ego, but it also shows that your ego is so in check that you are willing to let others have what they want first.

The next time you have the opportunity to put the needs and wants of others around you first, make sure you take it. It is not only the right thing to do, but it also the thing that great leaders do. Nobody every gives praise or thanks to the man who only does things for his own benefit. Instead, gratitude is bestowed upon those who let others first. Leaders let others first. Leaders choose to take the middle seat.

What Joe DiMaggio Can Teach You About Business

Joe DiMaggio was a Major League Baseball player with the New York Yankees from 1936 to 1951. He played with the Yankees for his entire 13-year career in the big leagues. Most notably, DiMaggio still holds the record for most consecutive games with a hit (56.)

Beyond the baseball almanac, “Joltin’ Joe” has many lessons he can teach us away from the baseball field. There is one specific quote that still holds true to this day for many business professionals.

When asked why he hustled on plays that have little effect on the outcome of a game or on his team’s standings in the league, Joe responded by saying, “because there’s always some kid who may be seeing me for the first time. I owe him my best.”

The MLB season is long. There are 162 games in the regular season that stretches from April to October. It may be reasonable to assume that sometime within that arduous stretch a player, especially one playing for a losing team, may not always give it his maximum effort.

How often do you find yourself doing that in your business? When things are slow, or when you do not have a lot of important work going on, how often do you find you are not giving it your best effort?

Now imagine that when that professional baseball player did not give his maximum effort, it was the first time a young boy playing Little League came to watch a Major League Baseball game with his father. Imagine if that little boy saw the professional player not give his maximum effort. Maybe he would assume it would be OK for him not to give his best effort whenever he played baseball. Even more so, maybe the father might never take his son to another baseball game because he was not impressed by the product on the field.

The business lesson to be learned from Joe DiMaggio is simple: always do your best because you never know who is watching. It is easy to be on your best behavior or perform at your best when you know that all eyes are upon you and your every outcome will be judged. However, what do you do in your business when you think nobody is watching you? How do your actions change between these two scenarios?

Real professionals know that they must give their maximum effort all of the time. If they were not giving their best effort, could they really call themselves a professional?

The higher the level of performance required from that professional, the more is expected of that person. When more is expected from you, typically more responsibility is given to you as well. And when more responsibility is given to you, you have the opportunity to promote change, carve new paths, and allow the others around you to grow.

To get to this level in your business life, you must show that you are a professional. You cannot show that you are a professional until you have proven that you will give your maximum effort all the time, even when you think no one is looking at you. Joe DiMaggio knew that the only way to conduct himself on the field was to always play his best. How often are you always playing your best?

7 Questions to Ask When Starting a Business

7 Questions to Ask When Starting a Business

People start businesses for several different reasons. Maybe they found a solution to a problem. Maybe they found a quicker and less expensive way to do a familiar task. Maybe they have a passion for a subject and want to dedicate their life to their new career. But for whatever reason people start their business, there are seven important questions to ask yourself before you get started.

In Peter Thiel’s recent book Zero to One: Notes on Startups, Or How to Build the Future, Thiel introduces seven questions that every business must answer if they wish to succeed over several decades. A truly revolutionary company would have an answer to all seven questions. A good company should be able to answer five or six questions successfully. Any business that can only answer four or fewer questions should reconsider their long-term approach to business.

To see how well your company matches up, here are the seven questions every businessperson should answer to evaluate the long-term prospects of their business.

The Timing Question

Is now the right time to start your particular business?

Timing is everything. Timing is key. Time is of the essence.

To answer the question of when you should start your business, a business professional is required to examine several market factors. They must evaluate not only the industry in which they are planning on a starting their business, but also what are other industries - related and non-related - doing in relation to your company.

This is not to say that there is always a right to start a company. Indeed, several companies have started in economic downturns and with uncertain economic futures. However, there are certainly more optimum times to start a company. Compare what your company needs now and several years into the future and determine if your employees, vendors, and customers are ready for your company.

The Monopoly Question

Are you starting with a big share of a small market?

When Peter Thiel talks about monopolies, he is not referring to the oil, railroad, and steel conglomerates of the late 1800s and early 1900s that unequivocally dominated their markets because of a lack of oversight and regulation. While a lack of oversight and regulation can lead to a true monopoly - a company that is free to charge whatever it pleases because their is constant demand from customers and no competition from other companies - some monopolies are born in arenas with pure competition.

Another way of stating the monopoly question is understanding your niche. While there are several million restaurants across the world, what does your restaurant offer that no other restaurant provides?  Are you the only restaurant in the world that serves lobster rolls from a food truck parked in front of every federal courthouse in the country? Although that particular market may not seem large, this one restaurant certainly has a monopolistic operation.

To best answer the monopoly question, determine what your business does best and how it can serve its core customers better than anyone else can. Not only do you serve your customers better than anyone else, you serve them so well that it would not be feasible for anyone to challenge your supremacy within your niche.

The Durability Question

Will your market position be defensible 20 years into the future?

This question is an intriguing question in that a really great company creates its own durability. For example, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the primary mode of transportation for individuals was the horse-drawn buggy. When Henry Ford introduced the Model T automobile, the public initially did not react well to the invention. At the time, the general opinion was that automobiles would never last. Today, with perfect hindsight, we can clearly see the automobile was a great invention and certainly answered the durability question.

But not every company is so brilliant that they can create its own durability. If the market changes in 20 years, how well is your company able to adapt to the changing market forces. Having an excess demand can sometimes be just as damning as limited demand. How ready is your company 20 years into the future?

The Engineering Question

Can you create breakthrough technology instead of incremental improvements?

This question is the most difficult for most companies to answer. Some of the best companies have simply taken an existing idea and made it better. Chic-Fil-A says it best, "We didn’t invent the chicken. Just the chicken sandwich." While there is certainly nothing wrong with taking an existing idea and making it better, companies like this will not build the future.

To build to the future you have to be innovative and bold. You cannot think about what people are doing right now. You should think about what people will be doing 20 years from now. There is a certain element of risk involved - what if the thing you are thinking everyone will use in 20 years doesn't even matter then? But with risk comes great reward. If you can successful build a new product or service that does not exist today but will existing in the future, you can create a long-lasting company.

If you can answer this question successfully, according to Peter Thiel, there is no reason your company should not be able to exist for several decades into the future.

The People Question

Do you have the right people on your team?

What good is the world’s best baseball team if it does not have a great manager to lead and organize the lineup and roster in an effective manner? What good is it to put the most gifted college professor in an underperforming second grade classroom?

In what is becoming an evermore competitive working culture, finding the right talent to lead and implement your vision is one of the greater challenges of staring a company.  Why aren’t architects designing cathedrals like they did in the 14th and 15th centuries? Is it because there aren’t good architects anymore? No, plenty of master architects exist today. However, skilled laborers and builders are coming rarer and rarer commodities every day. The ideas are certainly there, but the people are not.

When it comes to identifying talented individuals to lead your team, you must first set the mission and vision of your company. Having your goals clearly defined early in the process of your company will give you a clear mindset of who has the right skills and talents to lead your vision into the future.

The Distribution Question

Do you have a way to not just create but deliver your product?

Let's say you just wrote the Great American Novel. You have spent countless hours writing and editing your story to make it the best work in literary history. This is certainly a monumental accomplishment and certainly worthy of celebration. But how do you know if you have the next great piece of work if no one will ever read your story?

This is the importance of distribution.

Having your product, your idea, and your services is only as useful as it is in getting directly into the hands of your consumers. Telling your customers you have the best product in the world is useless until you get the product into their hands. While every business has the capability to create distribution channels, only the best companies can utilize distribution to their advantage.

The Secret Question

Have you identified a unique opportunity others don't see?

The level of importance this question has cannot be understated. How well you answer this question will determine how well into the future you can expect your company to grow. If you have no distinct competitive advantage over other businesses, what is keeping your customers and clients from going to another competitor or even coming to you in the first place? On the flip side, if your competitive advantage is so great that no other company has even an idea of how to compete with you, what's holding you back from obtaining every client?

While people start their businesses for several different reasons, every businessperson should have a long-term goal in mind for their company. If they are truly serious about creating a valuable company into the distant future, they should be able to answer these seven questions. Anything less than seven, and they may want to reconsider their future prospects. How well does your business stack up?

Leadership is Like Mortar

Leadership is Like Mortar

When you look at a brick wall, what do you see? You probably see the bricks first and the mortar second. In fact, you might not even notice the mortar at first glance. You might only notice the mortar if there is something wrong with it, or if you know what to look for.

The same can be said for leadership.

Leadership is like the mortar in a brick wall. You should never notice that it is there. Yet the mortar is the most crucial part of the wall. Without mortar, the bricks would simply be stacked on top of one another with no support. A gentle push of the wall or the removal of a handful of bricks would make the wall come tumbling down.

The same can be said for leadership.

Without leadership invisibly holding the pieces of a family, a classroom, a team, or an organization together the slightest push can cause the entire family or team structure to implode.

Without mortar, a brick wall fails. Without leadership, your organization will fail.

Let's imagine you see another brick wall, but this time the first thing you notice is the mortar. That usually means there is something wrong with the mortar or there was something wrong with the way the mortar was installed. The masons may have put too much mortar on one brick, or not enough mortar on another. This might cause the mortar to overflow on to the front face of the brick wall. Or, over periods of time, the elements may have simply eroded away the mortar. Either way, the mortar is no longer invisible.

When it comes to leadership, the best leaders are invisible.

A good leader knows that for his or her team to succeed, he or she must do everything within their power to place the team above themselves. They must set aside their own ego and let the employees or the students shine. When you look at an organization and the first thing you see is the leadership, you might as well be looking at a brick wall with the mortar overflowing the bricks. While the brick wall may be standing, it certainly doesn't look right.

Finally, when you look at a brick wall, what else do you see? You see the bricks, each one approximately the same size, shape, color, and durability. You also see the mortar. But unlike the bricks, the mortar is pliable and easily molded to fit whatever shape it needs to fit.

The same can be said for leadership.

The individuals on your team, in your classroom, and within your organization are the bricks in the brick wall. While one brick by itself may not be remarkable, as a whole, all of the bricks can make remarkable things. However, the bricks can only make remarkable things when the mortar has the flexibility and pliability to fit into the areas where the bricks cannot. Together, the bricks and the mortar can make remarkable things.

The leader within you must be forced to take various shapes - invisibly - in order to make your group stand out and be the best it can possibly be.

So the next time you look at a brick wall, what will you see?

8 Reasons to Get Your Library Card in 2015

While it may be 2015, there are still several reasons you should get your own library card. Whether you are a business owner, an inventor, a designer, an employee, a student, or retired, your local public library has many resources at your disposal – and almost all of them are free! Although Benjamin Franklin founded the public library system in the United States almost 200 years ago, here are eight reasons why you should get your library card today.

Free Audiobooks

In today’s fast-paced society, it can be hard to read a full book in between everything you have to do. This is where audiobooks come in handy. Download the audiobook – for free using your library card – from your free audiobook app (also downloaded for free with your library card) onto your phone or tablet and listen to the audiobook on the go. Plug in during your car ride and listen to a chapter or two while you’re stuck in traffic. Plug in while you exercise. Instead of listening to the same ten songs on your running list, try learning a thing or two.

Free Language Learning Software

Ever wanted to learn a new language? Your public library offers language learning software. And yes, it is completely free of charge. Using your library card you sign up in person or online to learn one or all 71 different languages the libraries offer.

Free Work Stations and Wi-Fi

Sick and tired of going to the same loud, busy and crowded Starbucks to open up your laptop and answer a few emails? Check out the public libraries. They have plenty of space to spread out, either on large tables or comfy chairs, and do your work. The best part about working in the libraries is for those that appreciate peace and quite while they’re doing their work. Need to focus on a big project coming up? Reserve a private room – for free – at your public library and work till your heart’s content all with unlimited wi-fi.

Free Digital Studio Space

At the Hillsborough County Public Libraries in the Tampa Bay region, the libraries offer free access to The Hive. The Hive is a space providing modern tools and technologies for entrepreneurs and creative designers. Full recording studios for making videos, podcasts, and more are available to reserve for free. You just need your library card! Plus, take full advantage of the digital media scape center for interactive programs and projects for you and your team.

Free Books, Magazines, and Movies

Yes, this is what libraries are most commonly known for but that doesn’t mean this benefit should be overlooked. You can get your library card and check out a book for approximately two weeks and return it to the library. You can do this for free! It makes you wonder why you even bother buying books any more. Don’t have time to read a full book within two weeks? No problem, just check out the DVD version of the book.

Free Access to 3D Printers

Think that libraries are stuck in the past with antiquated practices and technology? Think again. Some of the coolest gadgets and technologies are available at your fingertips – all for free with your library card. Some of the best new programs revolve around the 3D printer technology. Have a design ready to be printed? Want to learn how to set up a design? Just bring your material to the technology center and see the printers in action!

Free Classes and Workshops

Through various city, county, or state programs, there are several free classes available for anyone with a library card. Are you just starting up your business and you need help with setting up your taxes? Are you looking to become a graphic designer and want to know how Photoshop works? Have a new product but need to get funding for your production? These are just a few of the many different classes and workshops that are available every month at your local public library. And the best part? You guessed it, all free!

Your Wallet Never Looked So Good

Tell people you have a library card. Go ahead, do it. I’m sure you will get some very interesting looks. Whether young or old, most people do not appreciate their public libraries like they used to. Instead, show off your library card proudly. Carry it in your wallet just like you would any other card. Make your wallet proud!

Yes it is 2015 but that doesn’t mean you should ignore all the great benefits of having a library card. Just share these useful tips with the people around you and see how you can become a better person and business owner, all for free!

(All images courtesy of the Hillsborough County Public Library)

8 Ways to Improve Your Prospecting

The following article is an original blog post and was recently published in NAR's young professional blog.

As a sales professional, you should be conducting direct sales activities everyday that will add new prospects into your lead list. But sometimes you get into a rut or you need new ideas to help grow your list. Here are eight ways to improve your prospecting routine in order to get more clients.

Inspect Your Lead List

The most crucial checklist for anyone working in a sales position is your lead list. Your lead list will identify potential clients and where they stand in your sales cycle. At a minimum, you should be inspecting this list on a daily basis. For some people, checking this list multiple times a day is useful as well.

Having an adequate system – whether an online CRM, a spreadsheet, or index cards – to track, upgrade, downgrade, and to make notes on a particular lead is the lifeblood for a sales associate. You should always know exactly where your client is in the lifecycle of the sales process. Plus, if you can identify the likelihood of closing a particular lead, the more worthwhile your lead list.

Calendar Checking

As a sales professional, you probably rely on the records in your calendar just as much as your do as the data in your lead list. You probably note the time, date, location, and with whom you are spending every meeting, every breakfast, and every networking event with. Why not tap into all of that useful data?

Go back one day, one week, one month, and one year in your calendar. Look at what you were doing during those intervals. Who were you meeting with? Where were you meeting? Did you have coffee with a potential new client a month ago? Were you at an out-of-state conference last year? Follow up with all of the people to stay in touch or remind them of your encounters. It is an easy and free way to stay in front of your clients.

Warm Calling

Inspecting and checking your lead list is a great internal control to see where each one of your clients are in the lifecycle of your sales process. But if you never talk to any of your leads, then your lead list is practically worthless.

Use your lead list to engage in warm calling. Email your existing clients just to say hello and catch up. Text some clients who are just starting in your sales loop to give them some useful bits of information about your industry. Call a lead that may have been lost a few months ago to follow up and see if there is anything you could have done better to keep them as a client.

Networking Events

The best and most meaningful form of sales comes from face-to-face, in-person meetings. The only way to get these types of meetings is to meet new people in the first place. That is where networking events come in.

Look at your calendar for the coming weeks and if you have some openings, fill them with networking events. The beauty of networking events is that they can be anything from a kickball game with your friends to an industry specific seminar. Great sales professionals know how to network!

Social Media Engagement

By now, you should have a profile on at least three different social media outlets. The more social media outlets you have a profile on the better. But, it isn’t just about the number of profiles you have. The most important metric in social media is engagement.

To really see a return from using social media, you need to engage those on that social media platform. Don’t just post and spread your content. Like, follow, and comment on other people’s content. Start discussions with other people. Make connections with the influencers on each social media outlet so you can grow your sales by making more strategic connections.

Write a Blog Post

If the adage in the traditional media world is “content is king” then the adage in online media should be “new content is king.” Everyone with a website should be posting new blog content at least once a week. The more original, quality content you can promote the better. There are studies showing significant gains in traffic the more often you post content.

Unlike social media engagement where you are purposefully finding and communicating with other people on the different outlets, posting an article is an insightful way to get your message to your audience. Writing lots of new and inspiring content not only will get you more social media engagement, it will also start to brand you as an expert in your particular craft.

Make a Video

If writing a blog post is meant to establish yourself as an authority in a particular subject and to grow your audience, creating a video is how to spread your message exponentially quicker. If one of your social media profiles isn’t already on a video sharing outlet, you need to add it to your portfolio immediately.

Currently, nearly 3 billion hours of online media content is watched on a monthly basis in the United States alone. That means every person living in America is watching a little less than 10 hours of video online per month. If your videos aren’t part of those programming decisions, you are missing out on a great deal of potential traffic.

Cold Calling

Finally, the least enjoyable of any sales activity for most sales professionals is the cold call. Whether it is dialing every business in a certain radius or canvasing office parks in a certain part of town, cold calling can take many different shapes and styles. While today’s consumer is less and less likely to buy into a service or product from a cold call, it is still a way to make new connections. Once you have this new connection in your lead list, it is up to you how well you can cultivate them into a new client.

The next time you sit down at your desk and scratch your head as to what to do next in your sales career, think back on some of these routine refreshers and you’ll be growing your sales list in no time at all.