Category Archives: Recommended Products

The Ten Best Decision Making Books of All Time

Posted on by
2

The Ten Best Business Decision Making Books Ever Written

Gaining insight into how the editors of AskTheManager.com chose the Ten Best Decision Making Books Ever can itself be a lesson in decision making. While the list of qualified books on this subject is quite long, we decided early on to exclude any and all that read like an encyclopedia, dictionary or college textbook. While many of these types of books do provide useful decision making information, we decided we wouldn’t feel right sending our readers in search of dull or boring reads.

And just as we did with our popular Ten Best Leadership Books Ever, we struggled more with where to place each of the Top Ten on our list than we did deciding which titles actually made our Top Ten. After several heated discussions and lots of backroom deal making, we decided on the following order for the terrific tomes topping our list of The Ten Best Business Decision Making Books Ever Written:

10. Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions; by Dan Ariely – A mostly fun read that details why we decide what we decide and when, Predictably Irrational immediately grabs your attention through a very strong and entertaining start. While this tome won’t necessarily turn you into a top decision maker overnight, it does offer insight into some of the most common and odd choices we make. From a purely social or behavioral economics standpoint, this book is nowhere near the read of Freakonomics, though its explanation and application of these economic principles detailing why people make irrational decisions easily earns it a spot on our Top Ten.


9. How We Decide; by Jonah Lehrer – Very much like Number 10 on our list, How We Decide introduces the reader to many concepts surrounding behavioral psychology and economics, and how these affect our decision making. Also like Number 10, this tome is loaded with entertaining information that will stimulate your thoughts about how we think and make decisions in response to the complex situations we face. While slightly more enjoyable than Predictably Irrational, this book still falls a little short at helping the reader uncover clear rules for making better decisions; and although both are very, very good and deserve their mention on this list, you only need to read one (you make the decision).

8. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People; by Stephen R. Covey – Number One on our list of the Ten Best Leadership Books of All Time, Covey’s coverage of Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind, earns him the right to crack this Top Ten list, as well. While not a primer on avoiding analysis paralysis or helping teams makes better decisions, the chapters covering Habit 2 in this book do provide a great lesson for anyone who’s known for making bad decisions. The best part about this title is it also provides the reader with a clear plan of attack for making and executing better decisions.

7. Blunder: Why Smart People Make Bad Decisions; by Zachary Shore – Using examples of some of the biggest blunders in history, Shore provides an entertaining, historical and hard-hitting examination of bad decisions. Probably due to Shore’s fantastic ability to tell a story, we fear we may have been too easily swayed by style and not substance in including this title in our Top Ten. That said, Shore provides enough practical thought (and some very concise causation theories) to carry this read.

6. Smart Choices: A Practical Guide to Making Better Decisions; by John S. Hammond, Ralph L. Keeney, and Howard Raiffa – One of the truest books ever to its title, Smart Choices is indeed a practical guide to making better decisions. Unlike some of the novel-like reads on this list, this book clearly outlines steps readers can take when faced with both minor and major decisions in their work and personal lives – and because the authors do so without sounding like academicians, it was an easy decision to add this to our Top Ten list. 

5. Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget Things in Seconds, and Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above Average; by Joseph T. Hallinan – As much as a title this long may make you want to skip to the last page just see how it ends, we advise against this because you’d miss a great read. Although Why We Make Mistakes takes us in a slightly different direction than many of the books on this list, it strikes a cord with us by proving that we are flawed and that internal changes aren’t enough to repair these flaws. (If nothing else, this read provides a classic example as to why so many books published in the last two years made this list: We are just now becoming aware of how we make decisions and what we can do to improve them.)

4. Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior; by Ori Brafman and Rom Brafman – Probably the quickest 224 pages you’ll ever read, Brothers Brafman deliver some very compelling arguments regarding our innate irrationality. Though very similar in content to Predictably Irrational, Sway stands on its own by never bogging the reader down in too much detail (while delivering enjoyable detailed analysis throughout). Overall, Sway does an excellent job of showing us how to make better decisions by understanding the irrational forces that want to sway us otherwise.

3. The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement; by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox – A business classroom classic that was originally published in 1984 as part organizational management and part production operations management; this novel was one of the very first to use fiction to illustrate a business point. While the decision making lessons delivered here are often veiled in other concepts, the fictional factory turnaround that is engineered by the book’s protagonist provides a step-by-step plan for managers in crisis to follow when faced with difficult decisions. A must read for anyone in business. (Editor’s Note: We’re often asked which book would rank at Number 11 on our list of the best leadership books ever, and The Goal is clearly the favorite for that spot.)

2. Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Field Guide for Leaders, Managers, and Facilitators; by Patrick M. Lencioni – It’s one thing to rant about what’s wrong, it’s quite another to detail how to make things right. In Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of a Team, the master at team dynamics Lencioni offers specific, practical advice for overcoming the five dysfunctions he details in his earlier book. And while many will argue this is strictly a book about leadership or team dynamics, we say then you’ve never really read it. Among other things, Lencioni’s advice expertly helps teams become more effective by making better decisions. Clearly the best book for improving team decision making and effectiveness ever published; earning it our Number 2 spot.

1. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking; by Malcolm Gladwell – You either love this book or you hate it; there is no middle ground with Blink. By naming this the Best Decision Making Book Ever, we know we’ve probably lost half our readership – of course, had we not named it Number One, we would have lost the other half. (Because we read Blink, we went with our gut and named it Number One.) On a serious note, Blink is one of those “must reads” for anyone in business… end of story. Not only because it explains the power and accuracy of first impressions, but because it also provides data and examples to prove that over-thinking our problems is often the problem. Analysis paralysis and self doubt are the greatest enemies of management decision making today and Gladwell cuts to the quick better than anyone ever has (or likely ever will). Read Blink, it will be the best decision you ever made.

…

On the bubble: Tipping Point; Freakonomics; Execution; and Gut Feelings.

Never even in the consideration set: Nudge and The Paradox of Choice.

NY Times Business Hardcover Best Sellers – March 2009

Posted on by
1

New York Times – Hardcover Business Best Sellers – March 2009

 

The March 2009 New York Times Hardcover Business Best Sellers list looks a lot like what we saw in February. Just as last month began to (finally) reveal America’s concern over the economy, March continued this trend. While the March list contains no credible financial survival guides (sorry, Dave Ramsey, we’re not a fan), the The Great Depression Ahead, by Harry Dent vaulted to Number 2, while fellow gloom-and-doomer Paul Krugman, a former Nobel winner, saw his tome fall to Number 7.

 

It didn’t seem to matter that we warned you not to buy Dent’s book last month – we even pointed out that his previous book (The Next Great Bubble Boom: How to Profit from the Greatest Boom in History: 2006-2010) predicted the Dow would hit 40,000 in 2009 – you attacked Amazon and bricks-and-mortar retailers to push his latest prognostication-filled tome higher than it deserved. (Truthfully, his stuff doesn’t deserve to be anywhere on this list.)


 

Contrast Dent’s collection of more wild guesses with Number 1 on the NY Times’ list for the fourth consecutive month, Outliers. This is one great read and deserves a look by anyone interested in the psychology of success. (Outliers could very well be the best book released in 2008.) In Outliers, author Malcolm Gladwell poses the question: why do some people succeed, while those with more talent, brains and/or brawn never reach their full potential? We don’t want to give away the answer here, so like we do with the rest of Gladwell’s work, the editors of AskTheManager highly recommend you read it for yourself.

 

After Outliers, the next best read on this month’s list is probably Number 15’s The Snowball by Alice Schroeder. Schroeder delivers the most recent in a long line of Warren Buffett biographies; and although the list is long, her book easily made our list of the Ten Best Warren Buffett Books of all time.

 

The Top Five – NY Times Business Hardcover Best Sellers March 2009 (to view the entire list, follow this link):

 

This
Month

 

Last
Month

1

OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) Why some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent — from the author of “Blink” and “The Tipping Point.”

1

2

THE GREAT DEPRESSION AHEAD, by Harry S. Dent Jr. (Free Press, $27.) A financial prognosticator anticipates further market crashes and an extended downturn, but sees a way for savvy investors to prosper.

6

3

THE BIG RICH, by Bryan Burrough. (Penguin Press, $29.95.) The four wealthiest Texas oil families across several generations.

 

4

THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER, by Dave Ramsey (Thomas Nelson, $24.99.) Debt reduction and fiscal fitness for families, by the radio talk-show host. (†)

3

5

HOT, FLAT, AND CROWDED, by Thomas L. Friedman. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $27.95.) How a green revolution can renew America, by the New York Times columnist.

2

 

NY Times Hardcover Business Best Sellers – February 2009

Posted on by
Reply

New York Times – Hardcover Business Best Sellers – February 2009

Unlike January’s NY Times list, the February 2009 New York Times Hardcover Business Best Sellers list begins to reveal America’s concern over the economy. While the February list is still void of credible financial survival guides, there are two “the end is near” tomes using the “D” word to (we assume) shock us into purchasing a copy.

 

Paul Krugman’s The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008 cracks the Top 5, with The Great Depression Ahead, by Harry Dent coming in at Number 6. These gloom and doom reads come to us from a Nobel Winner (Krugman) and a man whose last book (The Next Great Bubble Boom: How to Profit from the Greatest Boom in History: 2006-2010) predicted the Dow would hit 40,000 in this year. Our conclusion: while we will read neither book, if you plan to read one, we recommend Krugman’s. (Random thought, but if my name was Harry Dent, I’d probably change it.)

 

Number 1 on the Times’ list for the third consecutive month, Outliers could be one of the best books released last year. In this great read, author Malcolm Gladwell poses the question: why do some people succeed, while those with more talent, brains and/or brawn never reach their full potential? For those of us who still think we can grow up to be anything we want, Gladwell’s challenge of our belief in the self-made man is as uncomfortable as it is depressing. Like we do with the rest of Gladwell’s work, the editors of AskTheManager highly recommend this book.

 

After Outliers, the next best read on this month’s list is Number 14’s Panic: The Story of Modern Financial Insanity, by Michael Lewis. In this book, Lewis, author of the must-read Liar’s Poker, provides great insight into many of the economic speed bumps from the last twenty-plus years, from the ‘87 stock market crash and the bursting of the Internet stock bubble, to the recent implosion of the financial markets. This book is highly recommended for any Lewis fan and for those looking for an insider’s unedited perspective into market forces.




 

The Top Five – NY Times Business Hardcover Best Sellers February 2009 (to view the entire list, follow this link):

 

This
Month

 

Last
Month

1

OUTLIERS, by Malcolm Gladwell. (Little, Brown, $27.99.) Why some people succeed — it has to do with luck and opportunities as well as talent — from the author of “Blink” and “The Tipping Point.”

1

2

HOT, FLAT, AND CROWDED, by Thomas L. Friedman. (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, $27.95.) How a green revolution can renew America, by the New York Times columnist.

3

3

THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER, by Dave Ramsey (Thomas Nelson, $24.99.) Debt reduction and fiscal fitness for families, by the radio talk-show host.

8

4

THE ASCENT OF MONEY, by Niall Ferguson. (Penguin Press, $29.95.) A financial history of the world, stressing the link between politics and economics.

4

5

THE RETURN OF DEPRESSION ECONOMICS AND THE CRISIS OF 2008, by Paul Krugman. (Norton, $24.95.) The recipient of the 2008 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics revises his earlier work from 1999 to reflect current economic crisis.

6

 

Online at 30,000 Feet? Welcome to the World Wide Mile High Club

Posted on by
2

 

Delta-a-GoGo: Wi-Fi in the Sky – Good, Bad, Right, Wrong? It’s Here

When I first read about Delta’s plans to add wi-fi networking on some flights I was appalled. Under no circumstances did I want this one last bastion of freedom from emails to escape my personal dead zone. I truly enjoyed my twice-weekly vacation from the Internet, and I’ve always used this time wisely. Generally, I read, listen to music, read and listen to music, or work on various documents offline (and listen to music).

Today, at 9:14 AM I boarded a Tampa-bound flight in Atlanta and heard the terrifying announcement that Delta was launching a new service on this flight, GoGo (or is it Gogo?): a wireless Internet service for flyers. No way was I falling for this invasion of privacy. I’m too strong; too focused.

My Transition to the Dark Side: A Timeline

9:42:08 AM EST – The lead Delta Flight Attendant announces that Delta is proud to offer wireless Internet access on today’s flight. I find myself offended by the very thought and I decide that there is no price low enough to temp me to interrupt my Internet-free time with a Mile High Web Surf. I decide to stand firm: No Sky-High Wi-Fi for me.

9:42:25 AM EST – The lead Delta Flight Attendant further explains that there is a forty percent discount available for anyone wanting to try the GoGo (or is it go-go?) Wi-Fi today. While I despise the idea of working online at 30,000 feet, I hate the idea of missing a discount even more. (To learn why I hate missing discounts, read Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely – the third to the last book I read on a plane before this latest attempt to ensure I occupy 100% of my time on the Internet.)

9:42:26 AM EST – 40% off? I’m sold; let’s give this whole Web 2.0 a run for its money.


9:51 AM EST – After an excruciatingly long nine minutes since hearing of the forty percent discount offer, the plane is finally above 10,000 feet and we are free to use our approved electronic devices. A list of approved electronic devices can be found in the Delta Sky magazine located in the seat pocket in front of me. I release my laptop from its case in record time.

9:51:12 AM EST – I wonder why it takes so long to boot up my laptop. Could it be the altitude?

9:54 AM EST – After a brief enrollment in GoGo (or is it gogo?) that included offering up my Amex number, I am off and surfing.

9:55 AM EST – First, I attack Outlook and feverishly drive through the thirty or so emails that have accumulated in the forty-nine minutes since I last shut down.

9:56 AM EST – Hey, there’s the receipt from GoGo (or is it GOGO?) in my inbox.

10:03 AM EST – I click through on a balance reminder email from American Express and spend the next couple of minutes verifying my charges for the last week. Did I really spend $238.62 at CostCo on Saturday? How many four-gallon cans of pork ‘n beans can one family eat?

10:09 AM EST – I’m on Digg.com reading, Digging, and re-Shouting a Digg “Shout” for a blog post from a great sales writer, Skip Anderson. (The post is titled Selling Yourself for Success and it deserves your attention.) I wonder to myself if Skip has a clue that someone is reading his post five and a half miles above Florida.

10:14 AM EST – I’ve run through my original inbox messages and now find myself replying to the replies of those messages. I am in Internet Heaven: I have discovered approximately one hundred fifty-two minutes each week during which I previously had no Internet access.

10:17 AM EST – An instant message pops in from a coworker using Yahoo! Messenger. Weird – it feels like they’re invading my personal space; like they’re standing in my bedroom or something. After a brief hesitation, I answer uncomfortably. I feel a little ashamed that I’m online at 30,000 feet, so I don’t bother to tell them.

10:26 AM EST – I’m reading Google News. It seems the Golden Globes were televised last night. Hmm, I wasn’t aware. Not sure I missed much, to be honest.

10:31 AM EST – The markets have been open for more than an hour, so I check my stock positions at CNBC.com. Even though my portfolio has not recovered in the forty-two minutes since we departed the gate, this Internet-in-the-air is starting to feel really, really good.

10:34 AM EST – Back to email. My inbox seems to fill quickest when I’m out of the office.

10:41 AM EST – I’m looking at my blog, AskTheManager.com, and admiring the cool post I wrote on New Year’s Eve. (I’ve had two drinks, and I think I’m feeling a little too good about my writing.)

10:43 AM EST – Back to email. Don’t these crazy @$#&?!s know I’m on an airplane?

10:49:03 AM EST – Are you kidding me? We’re landing already? Just thirty seconds more and then I’ll shut down, okay?

10:49:22 AM EST – Oh, you’re serious? I have to shut down now? The flight attendant is explaining some crazy rule about 10,000 feet or something.

10:50:12 AM EST – After learning about the possible Federal penalties that can be assessed on someone who disobeys the instructions of a member of the flight crew (flight attendants are members of the flight crew?); I decide it’s best to shut down the laptop and the accompanying wi-fi Internet access.

I’m In – Count Me Among the Mile High Club of Web Access

Sold. Charge me whatever you want, GoGo (or is it gOgO?), and I’ll pay it. I want my Internet access 24/7, and I was only fooling myself when I assumed I was happiest on a plane, insulated from the online world.

 

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You: Freakonomics, The Movie

Posted on by
2

Freakonomics: The Movie

During my extended time off between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I sat down with accomplished entrepreneur and filmmaker Chad Troutwine to discuss the most ambitious documentary ever to pique the interest of the editors of AskTheManager.com.

For those of you unfamiliar with Chad’s work, he is a founder (along with Markus Moberg) of Veritas Prep, one the finest and most prestigious GMAT preparation and graduate school admissions consulting companies in the world. In addition to his business interests, Chad has served as a producer or executive producer for many wonderful films.

His latest project involves taking one of the most interesting and controversial business books ever written and turning it into a feature length documentary. Freakonomics, for the few of you who’ve not yet read it, is likely one of the five best business books ever written. Although not a leadership development or management training book, Freakonomics is both a fun read and an eye-opener into real world economics. More social commentary than Economics 101, Freakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, is one of those rare books that provides something for everyone, especially for those outside the field of economics.

While the editors are not seeking to turn AskTheManager.com into a blog about Freakonomics – the book’s authors Levitt and Dubner already maintain a terrific one at NYTimes.com that (like the book) is both an economics lesson and a quirky look at humanity – we are very interested in the upcoming documentary and we do highly recommend the book.


To satisfy some of my own curiosity around the Freakonomics documentary, I cornered producer Chad Troutwine – keeping him from his Holiday shopping – and peppered him with ten tough questions:

TheManager (TM): What made you think that Freakonomics would make a good film?

Chad Troutwine (CT): The real answer is that I thought it deserved to be a film, more than I was convinced it would be a good one. I’m pretty evangelical when it comes to this subject. I want as many people as possible to learn about Freakonomics. Film is a remarkable medium to reach a mass audience. It gives people who don’t really read much the chance to enjoy the material, but it also offers the three million readers a way to enjoy Freakonomics in a brand new way. Besides, I really wanted to meet some of the amazing characters that Levitt and Dubner found for the book.

TM: Have there been any other projects that made you feel this way?

CT: Yes, but none as strongly as Freakonomics. I’d still like to adapt Liar’s Poker, the brilliant Michael Lewis autobiography about 1980s Wall Street excess. It seems particularly timely today. Brush With the Law would make a spectacular film. It’s the joint memoir of a Harvard Law School student who became addicted to gambling and a Stanford Law School student who occasionally smoked crack during his third year. It’s Fight Club and Trainspotting meet The Paper Chase, but it’s a true story. 

TM: Freakonomics is such a great read with many desirable topics, how did you select the main topics for the film?

CT: I let the prospective directors pitch me. First, I had to get them to agree to join the project. I described my cinematic vision with as much clarity as possible, and shared my passion for the material with them. I suggested several possible topics – including ideas that emerged after the book was published. Morgan Spurlock was great. He said something like, “As long as it doesn’t have anything to do with food or terrorism, I’m in, man.” Because Morgan was willing to commit to the project so early, it gave me instant credibility when I approached Academy Award winner Alex Gibney and the other accomplished filmmakers.   

TM: What influence, if any, did the directors play in selecting the topics?

CT: The directors chose their own topics, but I retained a veto position. I required each director to submit a treatment. If I approved, that was the topic. I rejected a couple of ideas, actually.

TM: What influence, if any, did the authors play in selecting the topics?

CT: That’s a good question. Co-authors Dubner and Levitt have shown interest throughout, particularly Dubner. They trusted me to oversee that part of the process, so our contract gives me sole responsibility. One director team pitched a story idea that required a lot of participation from Levitt. He graciously agreed, and I think it will turn out to be one of the most engaging segments.

TM: Was there a topic covered in the book that you felt was too taboo for film or too hard to deliver to a traditional audience?

CT: No. Abortion, racism, cheating, classicism, crime, terrorism, and myths about child safety were all fair game. The main premise was enough of a hindrance: taking economic analysis and making it entertaining. Fortunately, Levitt and Dubner already conquered that challenge in grand style. We’re simply emulating the model that they created. One subject was off-limits. Because Sudhir Venkatesh was writing his own book, “Gang Leader for a Day,” we were contractually obligated to avoid using material in the chapter “Why Do Drug Dealers Still Live with Their Moms?”

TM: What is the most important thing you hope audiences take away from this film?

CT: Running regression analyses and mining rich data sets are extraordinarily valuable endeavors for brilliant people like Professor Levitt because the results offer so much utility for everyday life. He can interpret the data and impart findings – often directly contradicting widely held beliefs – that can help us all be wiser parents, more informed voters, savvier business people, and better decision-makers. If we succeed, our film will inspire audiences to see the merit in challenging conventional wisdom. I’m not sure I can turn economists and sociologists into rock stars, but I hope that “thinking freakonomically” becomes synonymous with sound judgment and high intelligence. That’s pretty sexy to me.

TM: What has been the most rewarding thing for you (personally) about working on this project?

CT: We’re not done yet, but I feel a real sense of satisfaction that I was able to orchestrate what is already being hailed as the greatest collection of documentary filmmakers ever assembled. Moreover, this is, ostensibly, my first film as a lead producer. If Freakonomics can permeate the popular culture and inspire people to think more like Levitt and Dubner, and then act accordingly, that would be the ultimate.   

TM: If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?

CT: I would be a deciduous tree in autumn. Is there any other answer?

TM: No, not really… As a producer, where do you get both your motivation and your inspiration?

CT: I’ve never fully understood where I get my motivation or my inspiration.  Maybe that question is best left to others to interpret based on what I create and how much I accomplish.

…

Troutwine is eyeing a late summer 2009 final cut for the film, with a theatrical release possibly later in the year. For those of you (like us) who cannot wait, here is a list of the named directors, the working titles of each segment and current status for their respective segment:

  • Morgan Spurlock: “Would a Roshanda by Any Other Name Smell as Sweet?” (post-production)
  • Rachel Grady & Heidi Ewing: “Applying Freakonomics to the Young and Nimble Mind” (filming)
  • Alex Gibney: “Who Cheats and How Do We Catch Them?” (pre-production, filming begins January 2009)
  • Eugene Jarecki: “Abortion and Crime” (pre-production, filming begins in January 2009)
  • Fifth Segment: TBD  

We think we know who the will direct the fifth segment (and we’re thrilled if it turns out to be correct), but we were sworn to secrecy and despite our overall lack of journalistic integrity; we do plan to keep this secret. Sorry…

…

Between now and the film’s release, may we recommend you enjoy the books Chad Troutwine mentioned in his interview. We’ve read all three and highly recommend them:

·         Freakonomics

·         Liar’s Poker

·         Brush With the Law

Additionally, if you’re looking to get a daily fix of Freakonomics, we recommend you drop in on Dubner’s and Levitt’s blog.

Bad Holiday Gifts – The Worst Gifts We Ever Received From Vendors

Posted on by
2

 

Vendors Give The Darnedest Things…

 

Loyal reader Tye Mills sent us a question in response to our Leader’s Gift-Giving Guide article.

 

What are the top 10 wacky gifts you have received from vendors? – Tye Mills

 

Great question, Tye…

 

Hmm, let’s see, the unfortunate result of most truly wacky or bad gifts from vendors is that they are somewhat forgetful. A poll of the AskTheManager editors at first drew blank stares – no one could recall a wacky gift. When we expanded the request to overall bad gifts (no just wacky ones) from vendors, they still seemed a bit perplexed.


 

We all remember the great, thoughtful gifts. The wine we love, the golf balls or putter we cherished, or the thoughtful basket of our favorites. And while we really couldn’t think of ten wacky vendor gifts, we did come up with a list of ten bad ones we received over the years… in no particular order:

 

  • Mouse Pad & Pens – 8-10 years ago it seemed every vendor sent you a mouse pad emblazoned with their logo, but I actually received one as a Holiday gift (with three cheap pens) just two years ago. Two problems with this gift: First, doesn’t everyone who needs one already have a mouse pad? Second, I have exclusively used a laptop (sans mouse) for the past five years – I have no use for a mouse pad (and neither does Goodwill).
  • Bottle of Liquor – He can’t remember the brand, but one of our editors once received a very nice bottle of expensive liquor from a vendor. The problem with this gift? This editor was once a raging alcoholic. The worst thing about this was that it was well-known in the industry that he was now a recovering alcoholic and always seemed ready to fall off the wagon. Not very thoughtful.
  • iPod Shuffle – I know this will sound jaded, but last year a vendor sent me an iPod Shuffle as a holiday gift and now it ends up on this list. My problem with this particular gift was that I already carried a Video iPod, as did everyone in my immediate family, and that the vendor didn’t include a note of any kind – just the iPod. I would have been happier receiving a nice handwritten note wishing me holiday cheer and a $50 donation in my company’s name to a charity. I ended giving the iPod Shuffle to my administrative assistant in one of the most shameless acts of re-gifting known to man… She was thrilled.
  • Tie Clasp – About three years ago a vendor who had been trying to do business with my company for some time sent me a logoed tie clasp as a holiday gift. No big deal… if I was 70 years old and actually wore a tie clasp! Not to mention I had no intention of doing business with them, and didn’t need to see their logo every time I looked down at my tie.
  • Paper Weights – Over the years we’ve received dozens of these and only one – a golf-ball-snow-globe-game with a tee in the middle – ever saw the top of my desk.
  • Other Desktop Do-Dads – Not sure what to call this category, but some vendors who over-think the whole holiday gift-giving thing will send those crappy executive desktop gifts you can buy in the men’s department of most large stores. A few years ago I received a miniature dartboard that provided advice based on where the dart landed. “Go Home,” “Go Fishing,” “Play Hooky,” and “Sleep Under Your Desk” were just a few of the inspirations provided – not a good thing to have on your desk if you want to convince your boss that you’re dedicated to your job.
  • Successories – While these gifts are, on the surface, very thoughtful, one of our editors once received an unframed Successories wall poster entitled “Change.” The issue was that he was with a very successful company who had gone through a painful, major change in the past few years, and who had a very, very bright future ahead. He really didn’t want to display a “Change” message in his office at this time, and he certainly didn’t want to pay to have it framed. (Besides, who is this vendor to say he needed to change?)
  • Mixed Nuts – When I was on the vendor side, one of my salesmen once sent a client, who happen to have a severe peanut allergy, a tin of mixed nuts. From what we hear, the ride to the emergency room was not pretty. He survived, though we never got another dollar of his business.
  • Live Plants – One of the editors once received an expensive fern for her office from a vendor who felt this particular leader needed to “green up” her surroundings. The fern lived for five weeks, laid dead in her office another ten and was unceremoniously dumped before Memorial Day. There was a reason she didn’t have any live plants in her office.
  • Chia Pet – Ch, Ch, Cha Chia… The undisputed king of wacky, bad gifts; the dreaded Chia Pet has appeared as a vendor gift for one of our editors in back-to-back holiday seasons. The first year, the sender sincerely believed that he would enjoy such an exotic and fun gift. The next year, a vendor who was also a close friend, sent him the same Tasmanian Devil model Chia Pet he had received a year earlier – this time as a well-received joke.

 

It was a great exercise for the editors to try and remember the worst of the worst. As leaders, more often than not, we find we can learn great things from bad examples. If we learned nothing else from these ten bad/wacky gifts, let’s all at least agree that you should know your customer before sending anything.

 

Of course, this doesn’t just apply during the Holidays.  

CriminalSearches.com – Great Free Site Offering Instant Criminal Background Checks and Much, Much More

Posted on by
Reply

Great Recruiting and Hiring Tool – and it’s Free!

It’s not often we are swayed by someone’s idea of the latest, coolest website on the Internet, but we discovered a website recently that absolutely could cut time and dollars off the way managers and companies recruit and hire new employees today.

Typically, companies must spend between $25 and $500 to have third parties run criminal background checks on their potential new hires. The process is time consuming and doesn’t always fit with many managers’ go-go-go style of hiring. Because of the cost and the delay, most small companies forgo this important step.

A website still in beta, CriminalSearches.com, solves this issue and many, many more. Best of all, the site is free (at least for now). On CriminalSearches.com you can enter anyone’s name (even just a last name) and retrieve their criminal records – including arrests and (in some states) traffic violations. The results appear in milliseconds, and can save you and your staff hours of work and hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually in third party fees.

Besides being a great tool for hiring managers and the HR types, the site is actually a lot fun. We spent the afternoon entering the names of our high school and college classmates only to discover four felons, ten DUIs and one indecent exposure of a demure cheerleader (I guess you never really know about people).

To visit the CriminalSearches.com homepage and make a quick search, follow this link.

Beware of Geeks Baring Gifts?




While goofing around with this great website, I couldn’t help but hear my father’s words “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

“Dad,” I thought, “in this case, you’re wrong.” Don’t be afraid of using CriminalSearches.com just because it’s free; there really are no strings attached (yet), and it is a truly useful tool for managers and businesses of all sizes in the US.

From a personal perspective, the site is not only fun when you grab your yearbook and seek out the criminals from your graduating class, it’s also helpful for identifying criminals who might reside in your neighborhood.

Using the site’s “Neighborhood Watch” section you will quickly discover all of your neighbors’ level of past criminal activity. Unlike many government sites that merely list sex offenders in your area, this site will show, by address, who has been accused of what crime down to some very petty offenses.

Especially important, we thought, for parents who don’t like their kids playing at homes where the father has four drug convictions (not really the role model we’re looking for, if you know what we mean).

The Leader’s Gift-Giving Guide – Holiday Gifts Everyone Can Use

Posted on by
3

 

Holiday Gifts for the Office Crowd

‘tis the season to think about all the people who helped you get where you are today. Whether you are a senior leader or an up-and-coming manager, it’s important for you to thank those who make an impact in your work life. And by “thank,” I mean give them something of value.

It’s amazing what the phrases “thank you” and “I appreciate what you do” can mean to your administrative assistant throughout the average workday. Over the years, the AskTheManager editors have come to realize that our fathers’ were right: you can attract more flies with honey than you can with vinegar. And by “sugar,” they meant something of value.

Interestingly, I personally cringe when I receive a gift from anyone at work. I’m not sure why, but I just don’t like getting “boss” gifts from subordinates or anything from a peer. Of course, I am always very, very outwardly appreciative. Additionally, most gifts I’ve ever received from my supervisors were just pure crap (save for the travel alarm my boss gave me last year; I’ve used it at least twice a week since then). 

While I do enjoy the occasional gift from vendors and suppliers, I mostly receive thoughtless baskets of fruit and snacks that I put in the break room for the huddled masses to enjoy. This seems to kill two birds with one stone: as I can both receive and give with the same gift. (Careful, I’m not talking about re-gifting.)

What to get that Special Administrative Assistant?

The best gift a leader can give their admin is the daily affirmation that they really and truly “rock.” Telling them that they are “awesome,” that you “appreciate their commitment,” and that “you could not function without them” are the keys to keeping most assistants happy and healthy. If you do this daily, you are truly an enlightened leader and ahead of nearly all others.

Of course, come this time of year, your hyper-performing admin is expecting something really great. Disappoint them and you could be forced to live with a passive-aggressive psychopath for the next 365 days.

Here are our suggestions for great gifts for your administrative assistant:

  • Gift Cards – you can never, ever go wrong with the right gift card. If your admin is living at or below the poverty line, however, be careful to avoid the completely unusable $25 Morton’s Steakhouse gift card. Instead, opt for something in the $200 range from Target or Amazon.com.
  • Wine or Liquor – if you’re certain they can appreciate great wine or liquor, then you’re probably okay going in this direction. If not, avoid buying the 2002 Opus One for someone who enjoys Riunite on Ice (that’s nice). If you know they love wine, but they may not be a true connoisseur, perhaps you want to give them the best wine opener ever invented. In this case, WaffleMouse.com has some great reviews. To see these, follow this link.




  • Gag gifts – What are you, thirteen? The last thing your hardworking admin wants or needs is some piece of crap gag gift. They won’t “get it,” okay? Even if they do, they won’t appreciate receiving some bobbing head ostrich-thingy that appears to go on forever. Avoid, at all costs, any urge to go for the exotic or gag gift for your direct reports.
  • Crystal Vase – Household accessories, especially a crystal vase or similar display piece could be something your admin will not only treasure, but also remember – provided you give some measure of thought to the gift. For a quick view of more than 5,000 administrative assistant-appropriate vases you can buy from the comfort of your executive chair, check out the selection on Amazon.com.
  • Over the Top – Amazingly we are willing to spend thousands on a single business trip that yields nothing and just $50 a year on the person who may mean the most to our success, our administrative assistant. Why not go crazy in 2008 and drop $1,000 on a big screen HDTV or Movado Watch.

What Should You Get Your Boss?

In short, nothing. While it’s true that the right gift could earn you brownie points, the wrong gift can indelibly brand you as a sycophant. If you’re sure your boss loves “something,” then it might make sense to find the right gift. Here are some suggestions:

  • Is Your Boss a Wine Lover? – If so, a case of 2004 Silver Oak is the bomb. Don’t have $900 to drop on the guy? The Vertical Rabbit corkscrew from Metrokane might be just as well-received (and it will last longer).
  • Sports Fan? – If your boss follows a specific sports team or grew up watching a specific player, the right collectible could put you in their thoughts on a daily basis. An autographed card, ball or other memento – especially if it doesn’t appear contrived – might be just the ticket. To see a few cost-effective choices from Amazon.com, follow this link.
  • Not Sure? – You can never go wrong with a personalized holiday card to your superiors, especially if you have children. I’ve always included my bosses on my Christmas card mailing list. My holiday cards prominently feature my three (hungry-looking) children on the front. I’m careful not to put my ugly mug on the card, or to have too many amenities in the background for fear my boss might realize I’m overpaid.

What about the Office Gift Exchange?

The dreaded office gift exchange – why couldn’t I be sick that day?

There is almost nothing as painful as trying to look happy when you peel back the wrapping of an office party exchange gift only to reveal stinky potpourri or a book claiming to detail the “Best Bathroom Trivia” of all time. (I’m really okay never knowing that WD-40 stands for “water displacement, 40th attempt.”)

There are only two answers for the question “what is the proper gift to get someone for the office gift exchange:” Liquor or Gift Card.

  • Liquor – Company policy permitting, a bottle of Single Malt or Bombay Safire is the perfect gift for anyone on this list. Besides, if they hate it, they can always trade with the guy who got some crappy lavender potpourri.
  • Gift Card – Everyone, and I mean everyone, likes getting a gift card from a store or restaurant they’re likely to patronize. Not sure? Get them an Amazon.com gift card by following this link.

Customer Gifts Must Rock…

I’ve been on both the giving and receiving end of customer gifts, and I can tell you that (when the gifts are right) it’s much better to receive than to give.

However, before you send a thing to any of your customers, make sure you know a little something about them. For example, I only golf when forced by business circumstances, though I invariably receive at least three dozen monogrammed golf balls every holiday season. By mid-January I won’t be able to recall who sent balls and who sent nothing. Clearly, those who sent nothing are ahead of those who sent golf balls.

If you don’t know what makes your customer tick, you’re better off keeping any gifts you might send for yourself.

Start today to discover what makes them tick, what they love, and why they do what they do. Chances are you’ll find out that they really appreciate their kids, as I do, and that tickets to The Nutcracker for their family will go ten times further than a $500 bottle of wine. Here are a few tips:

  • Egomaniacs love anything that makes them feel important, so something expensive or something with their name on it works here.
  • Gift baskets might be okay for someone who isn’t yet a customer. If you’re trying to get your name in front of someone cheaply, a $75 gift basket should do the trick.
  • Liquor or wine – If you go this route, make sure you spend the cash. There is nothing worse than a bad bottle of wine (except, maybe, for bad shrimp). Instead of selecting the decent $20 Coppola for ten of your customers, get your best customer an Opus One and send the others a nice card.
  • Gift Card – what, are you crazy? This is tantamount to bribery. Avoid cash and cash equivalents when you consider gifts to customers.

When it comes to holiday gift giving, your mom was right: it’s the thought that counts. When you look at your list this year, be sure to put the proper thought to each gift and remember that most humans will reward those who most appreciate them. Happy Holidays.