Recent Reads 2

Hey guys, it’s been a while! Here’s a few books that I’ve read over the last couple months. From the end of winter until now. I like to mix it up from self-improvement to travel, comics to Biblical, and as of lately customer service books have become more interesting.

Lewis and Clark A Photographic Journey – The Lewis and Clark book was really cool for me because I’ve hiked at a couple of the spots in North Dakota. The photos are a little older, but it is nice seeing things in color with a summary from the authors as well as notes from the expedition.

Customer Love is a good quick read for business owners or anyone in the service industry. Short stories are you used to drill in concepts that make and keep businesses successful. Eagles fly while the ducks stay quacking. If one way doesn’t work try something that does. Wowing the customer is key!

Johnny the Bagger – How can a simple act change a business?  Read about the young man whose small gesture left an impression on a lot of customers and why it boosted business. He’s the kind of worker you want serving customers in your small business. This type of service gets lost in the shuffle in our busy world. It was a kick in the pants reminder for me about quality customer service. Doing your best within your small scope may seem pointless, but the little touches matter in customer service. It’s something I need to improve on, for sure.

The Shark and The Goldfish is a dare to be great type of book. This one is a good read for jr high- adults looking for a short read. Learning to be a shark isn’t as negative as it sounds, it’s about a bold approach for people within shifting environments. Sometimes a comfortable ecosystem is the problem.

Bruce Wilkinson does a good job of challenging readers out there in reference to The Prayer of Jabez which goes like this: Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from the evil one.” And God granted his request. It’s a thing for Christians to think about. Is God not able, are prayers too small, or is fear a factor?

A good read from a Civil Rights era giant. King wrote the Measure of a Man. This was an important read for religious leaders in this country, now and in times past. He covers heavy topics like racism, poverty and war from the perspective of someone in the know. He uses Bible verses to cement some of his thoughts on the topics. It’s a definite read from me!

How Successful People Grow – John C Maxwell’s thing is his testimony of growth though and self-improvement. This book is a nice reminder for those that have already achieved some success and want to expand on it. It wasn’t a difficult read, but I wasn’t exactly a target audience because I haven’t exactly been impactful in the business/career growth world. It’s still a good book to check yourself.

As a New York sports fan this was a very interesting read. Stephen A might be the most famous in the world of sports commentary, and this book shows his bumpy climb to reach the levels of success he achieved. From dyslexia to losing his brother unexpectedly he battled through. Stubborn mistakes, pride and humbling are all told in a humorous and honest way. Straight Shooter was really entertaining.

Kevin Kelly gives a lot of advice. This was written as something to help guide his children in the latter years of his life. I would recommend you buy this one rather than rent it from the library. Wisdom I Wish I’d Known Earlier is better as a slow read. Where you write some of the tips and observations down. I liked it so much I was done in about 3 days.

Justice League Prism introduces a new character to the family. As usual, the artwork and design is excellent. The story was okay, and as long as you do right by Batman I’m on board. Multiverse is in effect for sure and what other characters emerge remains to be seen.

The Precious Present – What gift is right in front of you but not realized? A boy goes on a search for an older man’s source of happiness. Is it things, people, money, youth? Youth is sometimes wasted on the young, as my dad used to tell me. 😉  And in a journey of self discovery with a little frustration mixed in, you’ll find out why that is. Maybe what the Precious Present is will dawn on the reader precisely at the time the seeker discovers it.