Experiment! Planning, Implementing and Interpreting by Oivind Andersson - Book review

Experiment!

Planning, Implementing and Interpreting

By: Oivind Andersson

Published: August 28, 2012
Format: Paperback, 288 pages
ISBN-10: 0470688254
ISBN-13: 978-0470688250
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.










"Research students must adopt a scientific mindset, learn how to plan meaningful experiments, and understand the fundamentals of collecting and interpreting data. This book focuses on these general research skills", writes researcher from Lund University, Sweden, Oivind Andersson, in the comprehensive and very hands on book Experiment!: Planning, Implementing and Interpreting. The author describes the scientific approach to experimentation, and the tools, processes, and methodology involved in creating, conducting, and interpreting scientific experiments.

Oivind Andersson recognizes that research funding is often generated externally, with the plans for the experiments already outlined in the grant application. The author points out that this chain of events leads many students to believe mistakenly that experiments are simply a matter of taking measurements. Traditional laboratory classes based on demonstrations, rather than real experimentation, reinforces this student viewpoint.

Oivind Anderson rectifies this challenge through providing the understanding that careful planning and analysis, rooted in a scientific approach, comprise the main effort of successful experimentation. Oivind Andersson presents the concept of learning proper experimentation through doing, and shares the tools and techniques to accelerate the learning process.

Oivind Andersson understands the importance of students developing a scientific frame of mind. This scientific mindset includes the planning and design of meaningful experiments, and the proper collection and interpretation of the data. The author organizes the book into two overarching sections. The first part of the book offers a general introduction to the scientific approach.

The second portion of the book presents the methods, tools, and processes with a focus on experiments. The second part of the book also includes a methodology that guides students through the three phases of an experiment including planning, data collection, and analysis and synthesis.

Overall, the book takes a holistic approach to scientific experimentation provided in the following chapters:

* You, the discoverer
* What is science
* Science's childhood
* Science inclined to experiment
* Scientists, engineers, and other poets
* Experiment!
* Basic statistics
* Statistics for experiments
* Experimental design
* Phase I: Planning
* Phase II: Data collection
* Phase III: Analysis and synthesis

For me, the power of the book is how Oivind Anderssson combines a complete discussion of the scientific method with the practical tools and processes for scientific experimentation. The incorporation of these two topics provides both depth and context to the study of experimental methodology. The author also includes an example, in the second part of the book, that outlines the scientific approach to experiments, in action. The example provides more context as it guides the student through the three phases of planning, data collection, and analysis and synthesis.

The author includes graphics and examples of the subject matter, within each chapter, along with a summary of the main points covered within that chapter. The format of the book takes the student on a complete journey from understanding the principles of science and why they are important, through a complete examination of the process of experimentation.

I highly recommend the very practical and research skills focused book Experiment!: Planning, Implementing and Interpreting by Oivind Andersson to students from the undergraduate to the doctoral levels, instructors and educators in sciences, practitioners of science in industry and government, and anyone interested in how science works through the scientific method and experimentation. This book is an indispensable guide to planning, designing, conducting, data collecting, and analyzing and synthesizing the results.

Attractive Communication by Michael Rooni - Book review

Attractive Communication

300 Ways to Make Communication More Attractive

By: Michael Rooni, JD.

Published: August 1, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 271 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9857821-7-7
Publisher: Publish International, LLC









"Communication impacts all of us in this world in very powerful ways, each and every day", writes speaker, legal practitioner, and conflict resolution consultant, Michael Rooni, in his idea filled and very practical book Attractive Communication: 300 Ways to Make Communication More Attractive. The author describes how important it is for people to create attractiveness for themselves through improved communication skills, and provides the toolbox of skills needed to enrich your attractive communication ability.

Michael Rooni understands that there is much more to attractiveness than wealth, social status, or physical appearance. The author presents the idea that the real key to attractiveness is through an ability to communicate effectively with others. People who possess attractive communication skills create deep and lasting personal and professional relationships, that result in cooperative and collaborative resolutions. The ability to communicate attractively creates and enhances personal happiness. Michael Rooni points out that the good news is that the skills of attractive communication can be learned by anyone. The author shares three hundred attractive communications tools and techniques that relate to five different aspects of a person's life.

Michale Rooni recognizes that superior communication skills are essential for increasing attractiveness in both one's personal and professional lives. As a result, the author provides appropriate tools and techniques for learning and utilizing attractive communication in every part of your life. For the author, the fastest and most effective way to become more attractive is through improved communication skills.

The author divides the techniques of attractive communication into five overarching categories. Those five sections are as follows:

* Interpersonal communication: Communication between people
* Non-verbal communication: How we communicate beyond the spoken word
* Communication timing and surroundings: Choosing the right time and place
* Listening, persuasion, and dispute resolution: Participatory listening
* Intrapersonal communication: Improving your own inner self talk

For me, the power of the book is how Michael Rooni provides an effective framework and outline for learning the practical tools and techniques of attractive communication. The book is divided well into five overall categories covering different types of communication. Each section is further divided into chapters that contain actionable and ready to apply concepts for immediate improvement in communication ability.

The author provides appropriate tools for both personal and professional communication, as well as techniques for dispute resolution. Each of the principles is easy to learn, and the book can be kept handy for future reference should the need arise for an effective communication tool.

I highly recommend the actionable and engaging book Attractive Communication: 300 Ways to Make Communication More Attractive by Michael Rooni, to anyone seeking a practical and ready to apply toolbox of skills for improving your communication attractiveness. The techniques in the book are easily learned by anyone, transforming you into an attractive communicator.

How Women Lead by Sharon Hadary & Laura Henderson - Book review

How Women Lead

The 8 Essential Strategies Successful Women Know

By: Sharon Hadary, Laura Henderson

Published: August 14, 2012
Format: hardcover, 272 pages
ISBN-10: 0071781250
ISBN-13: 978-0071781251
Publisher McGraw Hill










"Research has proven time and again that women have the capacity to be leaders and contribute significantly to profitability and success. All women need is the knowledge and tools to capitalize on their skills and strengths within the context of the business world", write Principal of Sharon Hadary & Co., Sharon Hadary; and President of Henderson Associates, Laura Henderson, in their insightful and action oriented book How Women Lead: The 8 Essential Strategies Successful Women Know. The authors describe the tremendous potential offered by women as leaders, and share practical and proven strategies for women to achieve their full leadership potential in any organization.

Sharon Hadary (photo left) and Laura Henderson recognize that women are moving into middle management and executive roles at an unprecedented rate. Despite that huge influx of female managers, armed with very impressive credentials exceeding those of their male counterparts, women are still moving very slowly into the very top leadership positions.

The authors point out that the pipeline of talented women is moving upward at a very slow pace, and women simply can't wait until the system rights itself. To guide the talented, resilient, and motivated women upward in the corporate hierarchy, to achieve the leadership spots where these women are more than capable of succeeding, the authors share their eight strategies for success.

Laura Henderson (photo left) and Sharon Hadery understand that men and women possess different leadership styles. The authors assert that neither one style or the other is superior, but instead suggest an integration of the two styles. Organizations are doing themselves and their stakeholders a disservice by failing to capitalize on the leadership skills that women bring to the table.

The authors present eight success strategies that have worked effectively for women who have reached the highest executive positions within their companies. The eight essential strategies are as follows:

* Empower the woman leader within
* Own your destiny
* Be the architect of your career
* Advocate unabashedly for yourself
* Translate the stories numbers tell to drive strategic results
* Create exceptional teams
* Nurture your greatest asset - You
* Turn possibilities into reality

For me, the power of the book is how Sharon Hadary and Laura Henderson combine leading edge research into women as leaders, with proven strategies for guiding women on their journey to the executive suite. The authors present their techniques with an eye to the skills that women possess in terms of motivation, skills, and resilience. With women being more holistic, collaborative, inclusive, and consultative than men, women bring these real strengths to the boardroom. The authors share many insightful interviews, throughout the book, conducted with successful women leaders.

The strengths and traits these amazing female executives share in common form the basis for the eight leadership principles outlined in the book. The authors go into detail about how each of the leadership pillars works for women, and how to apply these concepts to the real world of business leadership.

I highly recommend the empowering and engaging book How Women Lead: The 8 Essential Strategies Successful Women Know by Sharon Hadary and Laura Henderson, to any women managers, executives, their male counterparts, and current organizational leaders who are seeking a clear and comprehensive blueprint to strengthening corporate leadership through the addition of talented women. This book will motivate and inspire leaders everywhere to recognize, advocate, and promote more women leaders into the boardroom.

TThe Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success by Darren Hardy - Book review

The Compound Effect

Jumpstart Your Income, your Life, Your Success

By: Darren Hardy

Published: October 2, 2012
Format: Trade Paperback, 192 pages
ISBN-10: 159315724X
ISBN-13: 978-1593157241
Publisher: Vanguard Press














"This book is about success and what it really takes to earn it. It's time someone told you straight. You've been bamboozled for too long. There is no magic bullet, secret formula, or quick fix", writes entrepreneur, personal development thought leader, and publisher and editorial director of SUCCESS Magazine, Darren Hardy in his idea packed and achievement oriented book The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, your Life, Your Success. The author describes the fundamental principles that underpin success and achievement in business, relationships, and any other aspect of a person's life.

Darren Hardy understands that people have received some very dubious advice for reaching their goals and achieving success in business and in life. Because of the many supposed quick fixes offered to the public, the author realizes that many people have been sidetracked from the basic principles that create real and lasting success. Darren Hardy suggests that what he calls the operating system that people use to run their lives and make their crucial decisions needs replacement. For many people, the replacement is more in the way of doing things differently in their lives and choices. In the place of those previous ineffective operating systems, the author provides what he calls the Compound Effect.



Darren Hardy (photo left) bases the Compound Effect on his experience in applying the principles successfully in his own entrepreneurial ventures. He also reads and edits countless articles for his magazine, and has seen too many gimmicks that run counter to the Compound Effect. Those gimmicks were invariably failures. Darren Hardy warns his readers that earning success is hard work, and for many people that slow, arduous process is not what they intend to do or even consider as a course of action.

Intriguingly, the author makes the startling statement that people know already what they need to know to succeed in any area of their lives and businesses. The good news, writes Darren Hardy, is that the Compound Effect is both predictable and repeatable. It is based on sound decision making and practices that anyone can follow without difficulty.

For me, the power of the book is how Darren Hardy provides a no nonsense approach to achieving success. The principles he shares is called the Compound Effect. In reality, the concepts that comprise the Effect are universal and long held wisdom. The very timelessness of these ideas gives them long experience at achieving positive results. The author offers a step by step process for putting the Compound Effect into action.

More importantly, Darren Hardy reminds his readers that the principles are basic and easy to learn, but they take a lifetime of practice and patience to master. The good news is that like compounding interest, the effects are cumulative and accelerate over longer time periods. Instead of the failed get rich quick gimmicks offered by countless hucksters, Darren Hardy taps into long term thinking and ageless wisdom as the proven means to real and sustainable success.

I highly recommend the timeless and wisdom filled book The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, your Life, Your Success by Darren Hardy, to anyone seeking a reality based and practical approach to achieving personal and business goals and successes. Instead of the standard unhelpful advice offered by many, this book shares principles and techniques that are proven to stand the test of time. They have worked for others, and they will work for you, provided you work hard at them and give them time to repay your efforts.

Rory Vaden: Take The Stairs - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio

Self-Discipline Strategist, Co-founder of SouthwesternConsulting, and author of the motivational and real success building book Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success, Rory Vaden describes overcoming procrastination is so critical for optimizing individual output and achievement. Rory Vaden shares the insight that successful people all share the common trait of getting things done, even if they don't feel like doing them. Rory presents the difference as successful people being willing to take the stairs while the less successful waste time trying to find the escalator. To overcome the challenge of procrastination, Rory shares his seven principles of self-discipline. While Rory considers procrastination to be a habit, he guides you to replacing that bad habit with the productive habit of self-discipline to achieve your goals.

Rory Vaden is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Thursday, October 18, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Self-Discipline Strategist, Co-founder of SouthwesternConsulting, and author of the motivational and real success building book Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success, Rory Vaden describes overcoming procrastination is so critical for optimizing individual output and achievement. You will learn:

* Why so many people waste time seeking an escalator in life

* How successful people get things done even if they don't feel like it

* How to develop the habit of personal self-discipline

* How to apply the seven principles of self-discipline to your life

Rory Vaden MBA (photo left) is a Self-Discipline Strategist, Cofounder of the international training company - Southwestern Consulting, and a New York Times bestselling author.

His insights on improving self-discipline, overcoming procrastination and enhancing productivity have been featured on Oprah radio, CBS Moneywatch, CNN, CNBC, Fox and Friends, in Businessweek, Entreprenuer, Fast Company and in SUCCESS™ Magazine. His new book "Take the Stairs: 7 Steps To Achieving True Success" released as #1 on the USA Today, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Wall St Journal Best Seller lists and #2 on the New York Times.

Rory is a member of the National Speakers Association and out of 25,000 contestants, became "The Toastmasters 2007 World Champion of Public Speaking 1st Runner Up." Rory is now on a "Take the Stairs World Tour" where he is taking the stairs to the top of the 10 tallest buildings in the world to raise money for America's high schools.

My book review of Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success by Rory Vaden.

Listen live on Thursday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.



If you miss this very informative show, it will be available for free download as a podcast for iPod, iTunes, and MP3 players; or play it right on your computer. To download this, or any other of my guest interviews, go to the Blog Business Success host page and click on Archived Segments. Once there, click on the podcast icon at the end of the episode description, to download the show free of charge for your listening enjoyment. You can also subscribe to the show feed.



To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with Self-Discipline Strategist, Co-founder of SouthwesternConsulting, and author of the motivational and real success building book Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success, Rory Vaden describes overcoming procrastination is so critical for optimizing individual output and achievement. Rory Vaden shares the insight that successful people all share the common trait of getting things done, even if they don't feel like doing them. Rory presents the difference as successful people being willing to take the stairs while the less successful waste time trying to find the escalator. To overcome the challenge of procrastination, Rory shares his seven principles of self-discipline. While Rory considers procrastination to be a habit, he guides you to replacing that bad habit with the productive habit of self-discipline to achieve your goals on Blog Business Success Radio.

Take The Stairs by Rory Vaden - Book review

Take the Stairs

7 Steps to Achieving True Success

By: Rory Vaden

Published: February 7, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 224 pages
ISBN-10: 0399537236
ISBN-13: 978-0399537233
Publisher: Perigee/Penguin













"Successful people have the self-discipline to do things they don't want to do. They do the things they don't want to do even when they don't feel like doing them". writes self-discipline strategist and co-founder of Southwest Consulting, Rory Vaden, in his inspirational and real success building book Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success. The author describes how most people seek the easy path to success, instead of developing the habit of self-discipline to take action regardless of your physical, financial, or emotional state.

Rory Vaden recognizes that achieving success isn't easy, or achieved overnight. With that insight in place, the author points out that becoming successful requires developing the habit of self-discipline. Rory Vaden presents the metaphor that successful people take the stairs, even though that route up and down requires effort and hard work. The author shows us that unsuccessful people search around for escalators, wasting time, and achieving little in the way of results. For Rory Vaden, the better path to success demands making better decisions to develop self-discipline and improve your life. Thinking about success is not enough, writes the author, but instead requires that the individual take real and positive action toward developing self-discipline as a way of living.

Rory vaden (photo left) understands that there are only two types of activities in life. There are the things a person feels like doing, and things that a person doesn't feel like doing. Fortunately, if we learn to do things we don't like to do, writes the author, we can achieve almost anything in life. Rory Vaden offers the wisdom even small choices result in tremendous results, and one of those choices is avoiding putting things off until some supposed perfect time that never seems to arrive.

To build the necessary self-discipline habit to achieve success, Rory Vaden provides his seven principles for overcoming procrastination. The seven principles are as follows:

* The paradox principle of sacrifice
* The buy-in principle of commitment
* The magnification principle of focus
* The creation principle of integrity
* The harvest principle of schedule
* The perspective principle of faith
* The pendulum principle of action

For me, the power of the book is how Rory Vaden combines his philosophy of self-discipline with the practical steps to transform that vision into a way of living. The author demonstrates how to not only change your life, but how to rake charge of that change through the habit of self-discipline. Rory Vaden provides evidence that the embracing of self -disciple, and the ending of the procrastination habit not only benefits individual success, but also leads to enhanced performance across entire organizations.

The prescription offered by the author is straightforward and readily understood. Instead of taking supposed shortcuts that lead nowhere, and avoiding the temptation to try some quick fixes, meet and overcome your most difficult challenges as quickly as possible. With that short term pain, the end result will be long term gain. The author's seven principles of self-discipline are well presented, and offer a blueprint for personal transformation.

I highly recommend the motivational and action oriented book Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success by Rory Vaden, to anyone seeking a clear and concise road map to achieving success. The author is honest, and points out that there are no quick fixes and that the journey will require sacrifices. This candor only makes the message of the book more powerful and much more believable in its effectiveness.

Blog Bloke: Cyber Bullying - Blog Business Success Radio

Listen to Wayne Hurlbert on Blog Talk Radio



Long time blogger, BlogBloke describes the internet phenomenon of cyber bullying. BlogBloke provides information about how to identify cyber bullies, and how they inflict harm on their chosen targets. Cyber bullying can affect both individuals and companies, and BloBloke shares ideas for countering cyber bullies, and protecting your online reputation. BlogBloke presents strategies for protection of your personal data and avoiding it falling into the hands of an exploiter or cyber bully. BlogBloke offers some legal remedies and recourse that can be taken with cyber bullies. Learn how to keep the problem of cyber bullies out of your online and even offline life.

BlogBloke is my internet radio show guest on Blog Business Success; hosted live on BlogTalkRadio.

The show airs live on Tuesday, October 16, at 8:00 pm Eastern Time; 5:00 pm Pacific Time.

Long time blogger, BlogBloke describes the internet phenomenon of cyber bullying. BlogBloke provides information about how to identify cyber bullies, and how they inflict harm on their chosen targets. You will learn:

* Why cyber bullying happens on the internet

* How to identify a potential cyber bully

* How to defend against cyber bully attacks

* How to guard against being cyber bullied online



BlogBloke (avatar left) has worked in journalism and as a programmer in the computer industry before most had heard of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. A crusader at heart, he switched to law and soon made a name for himself as a successful litigation expert and mediator, helping folks who under normal circumstances can't afford justice.

A geek in every sense of the term, he carried his passion for helping others and computers into blogging that he helped pioneer. In those days there was no such thing as Wordpress or RSS newsfeeds for blogs. Having created the "Blog Tips" niche, his blog is an outstanding resource for helpful blogging tips and how-to tutorials. He has a reputation for being a straight shooter, his sharp wit and an outspoken champion for online ethics. He is bullishly pro blogging, social media, an outspoken advocate for online rights, security and technology issues.

Tech Editor and Author, BLOGBloke has been quoted in the Washington Post, New York Times and CBS News. Here are just a few of the comments that his readers have made:

"A Blogger’s Natural Resource" … “A knowledgeable, witty and fun conversationalist with both feet in the honesty camp” … “You write with passion, condor, and authenticity — that’s why I enjoy your posts” ... “Like the sense of humor in the articles” … “This site is a literary masterpiece” … “High quality sites like yours are an inspiration” … “This site is capital, constantly providing fairness in reviews and information” … “We would like to thank you for maintaining such a reputable blog. We know that it takes time, effort and commitment to keep such a blog and as such, we have added your blog as one of the top Blogging Blogs” … “You are indeed not just any average bloke!”.

Listen live on Tuesday at 8:00 pm Eastern, 5:00 pm Pacific time.





To call in questions for my guest, the number is: (347) 996-5832

Let's talk with long time blogger, BlogBloke describes the internet phenomenon of cyber bullying. BlogBloke provides information about how to identify cyber bullies, and how they inflict harm on their chosen targets. Cyber bullying can affect both individuals and companies, and BloBloke shares ideas for countering cyber bullies, and protecting your online reputation. BlogBloke presents strategies for protection of your personal data and avoiding it falling into the hands of an exploiter or cyber bully. BlogBloke offers some legal remedies and recourse that can be taken with cyber bullies. Learn how to keep the problem of cyber bullies out of your online and even offline life on Blog Business Success Radio.