Book review of Ultimate Guide to LinkedIn for Business

Book Review of "Ultimate Guide to Linkedin for Business"

"How to Get Connected with 150 million + customers in 10 minutes" by Ted Prodromou (2012)

Reviewed by Chris Garrah on October 28, 2012

This book gives useful insight in how to use Linkedin in a way similar to Facebook.

The best insight I learned was that there are open net-workers called "LIONS "- short for Linkedin open net-workers that accept a large number of connections.  The open net-workers are people like recruiters and salespeople where success is a numbers game - where having a large number of contacts increase success in sales or recruiting.   But people on Linkedin as a group have a more serious inclination than the Facebook crowd - so having a large number of Linkedin connections builds you a solid network.  I have seen studies where a typical person usually only has time to interact with a small number of people.   But the open network and LION concept allows anyone who wants to to create a larger network.   Linkedin provides a  "social proof" as explained in the book - a way for your network to provide you with referrals.   This is a way that people who want references as in real life will seek you out and connect with you - a way to solidify and have a valuable network.

From a bloggers perspective

The book allows you as a web site operator to increase your SEO - tour search engine optimization because (unless I am mistaken) your search engine lifts you higher as a returned result if you are listed on Linkedin with many connections.  In one day by adding over a hundred connections of fellow LIONS) which you can search on Linkedin I noticed when I googled my name that I moved up in search results compared to other people who shared the same name.   For googling keywords that appear in your blogs there could be a big difference in turning up in search results or being returned on a search page many page later - buried deep!

More about the book - Ultimate Guide to Linkedin for Business

There are 24 chapters worth exploring - so I am just skimming the surface.

The book has many insights into networking on Linkedin.  It is a resource book - really an ultimate guide as the title suggests.   A search on Amazon reveals a reasonable price as well.  To connect with the author here is the link to Ted Prodoromou

Book Review  Enchantment - The Art Of Changing Hearts, Minds and Actions by Guy Kawasaki 2011

Reviewed by Chris Garrah November 3 , 2012

Well, who is Guy Kawasaki?

Guy Kawasaki is the former chief evangelist of Apple .  He describes himself this way so this gives the book credibility.  Also "Woz" gives an endorsement on the book cover.

The book describes a personal skill set that you can work at developing in the same manner as Dale Carnegies' "How to Win Friends and Influence People"

About Enchantment

Guy Kawaski in the book "Enchanted" describes not only personal traits to develop but all the steps a company and people need to use from the initial creation to developing the company product - to have enchantment embedded in the marketing of the company product.

Mr Kawasaki also explains how to use social media like Twitter, blogs and presentations in an "enchanted" way.

In totality the book has solid content .  If you worry that your eyes may have glazed over during parts of the book there is also a quiz at the back of the book to make sure you have not zoned out during the reading of the book.  In my case I was reassured by a satisfactory score - so I learned something.

Gateway to the author Guy Kawasaki

On the book cover we are given:  WWW.facebook.com/enchantment

Guy Kawasaki is the author of  at least 9 other books.   An enterpreneur in the book also recommends "The Art of the Start" by Guy Kawasaki.  That may be a book you the reader may like to explore.

Happy reading!

How to Become a Top Notch Programmer on Your Own!

How do you decide what to study - to be an in demand, rich  programmer? - by Chris Garrah 
June 30, 2013

Do you ever wander into a library or browse the internet and hope you find a computer language to study? What do you study?

One solution - try reading the  book called "The Passionate Programmer" by Chad Fowler.  Subtitle: Creating a Remarkable Career in Software Development.   The book is full of insights and tips on how to explore somputer programming in depth and how to make yourself a very valuable computer programmer.
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Sure it was written in 2009.  But it is written by a gifted saxophonist who studied the art of computer programming on his own.  When he was hired , he found he could run circles around formally trained programmers because he took the time to explore areas in depth and to constantly ask questions to dig deeper.   In his book Mr. Fowler fills in the details of how to achieve what he did in gaining an intimate understanding of programming and the areas to explore that can have a good reward for you.

Not sure what programming languages or areas to study?

The book discusses many areas - and there is a fair number of techno-speak - but how about starting  programming in Java or ".net".   To delve into it further try getting a copy of the book.  The book cover promotes it's author - "Chad Fowler is an internationally known software developer,trainer, manager, speaker and musician.

Dream Big! - Could reading and following this book  be a pathway to being a Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg?

Yes! If you find you love to program I recommend this book. The subtitle of the book shows what the book can help you find if you use the book to develop your passion for computer programming .... Here is the subtitle ...."creat(e) a remarkable career in software development.

Learning About Asperger Syndrome - Could illness turn you into a savant?

A review of Daniel Tammet's book "Born On a Blue Day" by Surfer Chris Garrah

Born On a Blue Day -  A Memoir of Aspergerès and an Extraordinary Mind by Daniel Tammet 2006

 

 

 

 

Why should you read Daniel Tammet's Memoir book?

So I was flipping through the Book "Born on a Blue Day" written by Daniel Savant.   He has Asperger syndrome but he also has an amazing ability with numbers and learning languages.   One condition he  has is synaesthesia which allows him to sees numbers much differently than the average person.  Synaesthesia could be described as a very rich multi-sensory and emotional experience of numbers.  In the book Daniel is able to describe the enriched awareness and uniqueness of different numbers.  He is able to describe how richly he sees the numbers and how different numbers affect his emotions differently.  He experiences each number in a variety of modes as if his sensory channels have been combined when experiencing numbers.

How amazing are Daniel's abilities?

His rich experience of numbers in mind allowed him to recite the number "pi" to 22,514 digits.  The sequence of numbers has a significance and multi-channel experience for him. Which explains how it is even possible to explain such an amaing feat of memorizing an amazingly long sequence of numbers. Daniel's gift of numbers allowed him to  raise funds to support epilepsy awareness.
It was after an epileptic bout that Daniel Tammett acquired his amazing abilities.

Also in the book

Daniel also describes his experience and ability counting cards in blackjack in Las Vegas and also his gift to quickly learn languages.

Daniel Tammet's full book title is:  Born on a Blue Day      A memoir of Asperger's and an Extraordinary Mind  published 2006