Blog / ChangeThis

The First 20 Hours: Secrets of Rapid Skill Acquisition

By Josh Kaufman

"I'm willing to wager there's something in the back of your mind you've always wanted to learn how to do. [...] I'm also willing to wager you feel you don't have enough time to learn this particular skill. You're overworked already, and time is tight. You have work to do, family to take care of, friends to hang out with, and too many responsibilities as it is. By the time your work and family obligations are satisfied, you're tired: after you eat dinner and watch a little TV, it's time to call it a day. So much to do, and so little time. [...] I have good news for you: picking up new skills is way easier than you think. Believe it or not, you can pick up the fundamentals of any new skill in about 20 hours."

Blog / News & Opinion

Two 100 Best Revisited

By Sally Haldorson

It's been four years since the printing of our book, The 100 Best Business Books of All Time. We're still proud of the comprehensive list of books we reviewed to help you "find solutions to your business problems. " Two of the books we included in our list are The First 90 Days by Michael D.

Blog / News & Opinion

Hidden in Plain Sight

By Sally Haldorson

It must be a lot of pressure to live up to the billing of "James Bond of design research" and the "Indiana Jones of technology for the developing world. " I mean, what do you wear? A tux with a dusty brimmed hat?

Blog / News & Opinion

Ctrl Alt Delete

By Porchlight

There's a certain urgency to the new book by Mitch Joel, Ctrl Alt Delete: Reboot Your Business. Reboot Your Life. Your Future Depends On It.

Blog / News & Opinion

KnowledgeBlocks Giveaway: The One Thing

By Sally Haldorson

If I were to ask my husband to make a "to-do" list of the things he wants to get done over the weekend, the list would top out at around 20 items. On it would be anything from cleaning out the garage and going to the bank. .

Blog / Staff Picks

Reinventing You

Book Review by Porchlight

“What do people think of you? What do they say when you leave the room? ” Maybe you don’t think you have a brand.

Blog / News & Opinion

ChangeThis: Issue 105

By Porchlight

Monster Loyalty: How to Build Customer Loyalty like Lady Gaga by Jackie Huba “While known as much for her voice as for her over-the-top wardrobe, few recognize Lady Gaga for her stunning business acumen, which has earned her legions of loyal fans worldwide. ” Brains Favor the Ridiculously In Charge Leader by Henry Cloud, Ph. D “Leaders must establish some key boundaries in some very key areas if they want to get results.

Blog / News & Opinion

The Power of the Circle

By Sally Haldorson

Two conversations I had last week got me thinking about networking. ➻ The first was during a brainstorming meeting with Jon, our general manager, about our annual author conference. The meeting ended with a discussion on the value of mentoring, and the predominance of books that advocate for the practice.

Blog / ChangeThis

Recharge: 7 Ways to Improve Innovative Thinking

By Porchlight

"If companies want to innovate the way successful bold newcomers have, they have to unplug from the constraints of 'That's the way we've always done it' and recharge, starting with the mantra, 'Let's just not do that anymore. ' They need to be willing to take market risks that more traditional companies are often unwilling or unable to take. Consider that Apple doesn't have a formal innovation 'funnel' process with established procedures, nor do Amazon or Facebook. In this volatile world the old model of process innovation needs a new framework. It isn't in sync with the way our minds work, which brain research tells us is more serendipitous than linear. Innovation just doesn't lend itself to being predictable and risk free. Innovation demands looking at the world differently, and finding connections between seemingly disconnected things. Corporate protocol, management hierarchies, and rigid assumptions about customer needs often create anxiety and stifle freedom of thought and exploration. ".

Blog / ChangeThis

Monster Loyalty: How to Build Customer Loyalty like Lady Gaga

By Jackie Huba

"Where other businesses don't seem to have their priorities straight, pop star Lady Gaga understands that focusing on current customers is the key to building long-term, sustainable audience loyalty. With 23 million albums sold, five Grammy awards and Forbes' distinction as one of the world's most powerful celebrities, Gaga is one of the most well-known pop artists in the world. While known as much for her voice as for her over-the-top wardrobe, few recognize Gaga for her stunning business acumen, which has earned her legions of loyal fans worldwide. Lady Gaga didn't become the success she is today based solely on her talent. She did so by engendering immense loyalty from her fans—not just through her music—but also through her message and the community she has built around that message. Gaga's overarching philosophy focuses on her core advocates: the superfans called Little Monsters. These advocates become evangelists who bring in new customers on their own."