In life and business, there are many problems where the main issue is that there is a high number of available choices. In business, these could be finding deciding on a primary contractor, choosing a joint venture partner or even recruiting key individuals. Optimal stopping theory possibly provides help. Briefly, optimal stopping theory suggests that you should reject […]
Author Archives: Max
April
26
Optimal stopping theory – how maths can help you maximise your decisions by Max Eskell
posted by Max
April
22
What could you learn from ‘Serial Innovators’ by Claudio Fesser (2012, 169 pages)?
posted by Max
Nokia started by selling rubber boots, and then grew to be the largest mobile phone maker in the world, only to spectacularly collapse a few years later. Apple was three months from bankruptcy. Lehman Brothers was phenomenally successful, until 2008… Why do companies die and how do you keep them alive? In the book Serial Innovators, […]
April
20
Could personality analytics revolutionise the way you work with others? By Max Eskell
posted by Max
Human interaction is incredibly complex. People can be very, very different and it takes time to get to know people. As a result, when we work with someone for the first time we often fail to pick up on their individual nuances of language and body language. By not being attuned to new people you increase the chance […]
April
16
What you could learn from ‘Quick and Nimble’ by Adam Bryant (2014, 251 pages)
posted by Max
“Innovation distinguishes between leaders and follower.” Steve Jobs Innovation is one of the strongest sources of competitive advantage. Staying ahead of the competition allows you to explore new products, services, and business models while also making sure you are exploiting your existing offering. Adam Bryant offers 16 well thought and well-crafted pieces of advice […]
April
15
Prioritization, how you could move from urgent to important by Max Eskell
posted by Max
Time is getting more and more precious each day. Deciding where to focus your most valuable resource is getting harder and harder. One solution is to get more efficient. If you improve the speed at which you work, you can get more done. While this works great in the short-term, there is a risk that […]
April
14
How you could use your American Express anywhere by Max Eskell
posted by Max
This post is more a life-hack than a post on learning. However, this hack has really helped me control my finances and the most from my American Express (AMEX). American Express offer great perks. Among these rewards are Airmiles, hotel point or even cash back (this is a great site to find the best card for […]
April
12
How you can get faster with Office shortcuts by Max Eskell
posted by Max
A key tool in the consultant’s toolkit is Microsoft Office. Whether it be Excel for data analysis, PowerPoint for presentations, or Word for report writing, Office is the ‘go to’ tool for the majority of consultants and clients. Getting 10% more efficient at using Office, could easily save you hours each week. Avoiding using the mouse and […]
April
12
What could you learn from ‘Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World’ by Gen Stanley McChrystal (2015, 304 pages)
posted by Max
General Stanley McChristal has a phenomenal reputation amongst veterans. His new book ‘Team of Teams’ charts his experience commanding the Special Operations Task Force in Iraq. Stanley pointedly highlights the initial problems when arrives. He inherits a slow, top-down, bureaucratic organisation that is failing. The book then charts the evolution of the Task Force into […]
April
12
What can you learn from ‘Made to Stick’ by Chip & Dan Heath (2008, 284 pages)
posted by Max
A fantastic precursor to ‘Switch’, this book sets out a framework for getting people to remember what you tell them. Using some compelling examples, Chip and Dan argue that humans remember stories more that statistics or logical arguments. Chip and Dan provide a useful framework for checking whether your story/idea is likely to ‘stick.’ 1. […]
April
12
What can you learn from ‘The Effective Executive’ by Peter F. Drucker (2007, 154 pages)
posted by Max
Despite being written in 1967 the advice and guidance in this book could never be more relevant. Drucker outlines his five habits for the effective executive (that Jim Collins later uses as a basis for 8 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders). Drucker’s five habits are: Track, analyse and manage your time Focus on the outcome […]
April
12
What can you learn from ‘Nudge’ by Cass Sunstein & Richard Thaler (2009, 312 pages)
posted by Max
In their book ‘Nudge’, Thaler and Sunstein are among the first to set out the arguments for using behavioural insights to change (‘nudge’) people’s behaviour. By changing the context of a decision, they argue it is possible to reduce unhealthy or undesirable decisions. Their main arguments stem from making sure that choices are presented in […]
April
12
What can you learn from ‘What Every BODY is Saying’ by Joe Navarro (2008, 250 pages)
posted by Max
Joe Navarro, a former FBI interrogator deftly takes the reader through the basic mechanics of reading body language. I feel that this is essential reading for leaders and consultants as the tips and guidance will help develop your EQ. Key insights include establishing a baseline first, as this then allows you to see how your […]
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