We’re two weeks into reading season (aka summer), and it seems as though the amount of literature I’d like to consume is growing by the day. What else is new? It seems as though writing is making a serious comeback, like well known authors are scavenging to be on the front lines of word warfare when everyone else, especially the general public, rediscovers the power of the pen and its counterpart, paper. The day is quickly approaching when people not generally considered authors, not only ingest large amounts of books, but produce large amounts, as well. Tweeters are becoming bloggers, bloggers are becoming authors, authors are also becoming bloggers, and somewhere in the middle of it all the cost of producing and selling a book is becoming nearly nill. And I say excellent! Here are four reads I recommend for early summer:

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. This book is a procrastinator’s worst nightmare. Don’t read this book if you’re prone to laziness. It will hurt your feelings and make you think that you should really get up and do something fascinating for a change. Thinking about staying in a field, job or position that you hate because it seems secure and safe? Than don’t read this book. You will not want to hear what Pressfield has to say. No doubt, this book is a wake up call for the lazy and those not living up to their full potential; who are giving into “The Resistance” which tempts us to maintain the status quo and live average lives. Pressfield also believes, I think, that this is everyone at some point in their life. So beware, he may be trying to persuade you. (Read with caution, not for the faint of heart.)

A Million Miles In A Thousand Years by Donald Miller. Some books are actually worth reading. This is one of those books. However, A Million Miles is not what I would describe as a “fun” read. If you’re looking to be entertained, don’t read this book. If you’re asking for a challenge, than you should sit down for a few hours with this read and knock it out in one day. In my opinion, this is Miller’s most focused work to date. The flow and characters convey real depth, and he uses his story to transform and impact the reader. This work is about creating a fascinating, personal story; challenging words to say the least.

Linchpin by Seth Godin. Are you indispensable? That is the question Godin is seemingly pleading with us to answer. Godin gives a short yet invigorating history of “work” and goes on to explain how the system is changing, rapidly. There are certain people within every group and organization that make things go, that are worth more than you could ever afford to pay them. Those people are your linchpins. Godin says that they are more valuable than many average workers, combined. Hold onto linchpins at all costs. He also states that anyone is capable of becoming a linchpin. Most people are just too comfortable and lost in their pseudo-security to ever take the risk, work hard, and start doing their work as art. Godin centers his writing on art, that which we create or long to do or work at. He encourages the reader to work as an artist, creating and giving in ways that most people would not usually take the time or effort to do.

Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson. The guys of 37Signals have done it again. Rework is a book that addresses many of the lessons they’ve learned and lived through over the past 10 years, their entire existence as one of the leading software producing companies in the world. They discuss business, starting, mistakes that most business and organizations make, and attitude. They discuss how things are changing and how things are staying the same. Do what you love and do it now. The power of not growing is one of the most profound lessons I took from this read. Always invest your efforts into getting better, not bigger. These guys live to “make a dent in the universe,” and their philosophy is evident all throughout this book and their company. This is a personal perspective from two guys who know how to make an organization go, and they don’t hold anything back. They teach what they know. They believe in sharing what they’ve learned, and that’s why this book is so useful. It’s not fluffy or cluttered. It’s straight to the point and could potentially be a painful read for anyone who doesn’t like to be told that they could be doing more and doing it better.

Fear comes from not doing.  Inaction is the simplest formula for guaranteeing that you will live a life of fear.  If you choose not to do what it is that you know or think you should do or believe you should do, than you choose to live a life of fear.  As fear is built by not doing; it is also cured by doing.  If you act on a thought or put into action an idea, no matter how small, confidence is restored.  Take action to build confidence and fight off fear.  Be a person who does not live in fear.  Be a person who is known as someone who will take action.  

Let’s face it, if you’re thinking about it, it must be important.  Is this applicable across the board?  Probably not.  But, for the most part, if your mind is constantly going back to a certain task or idea or opportunity, then some sort of follow up and follow through action needs to be taken.  You need to explore your own thoughts by acting on them by at least taking some sort of initial step.  

1. If you are constantly thinking about a task or pondering an idea, than it is probably important to you.  Take some sort of initial step to cure your mind of constantly being bogged down with the same mental pattern.  It is hard to stop thinking about a task that is important to you unless you do the task and allow your mind to be put to rest, to move on.
2. Over-thinking leads to inaction.  Don’t over-think anything.  Being too cautious is hardly ever a good thing.
3. Taking action cures fear and builds confidence.  

 Here’s the issue:  With the onward advancement of the Internet (it’s still growing!), the huge growth in the number of social networks available and the shift in general marketing characteristics, more and more of the general public is able to join with or voice with a wider variety of groups, associations, blogs, non-profits, churches, schools or charities.  Is there anything wrong with this?  Of course not!  Networking your company or charity or church is a great way to get the word out on what exactly it is that you are trying to accomplish, what message you want to release.  The challenge is not in getting your message out or getting your company recognized or even attracting people to join with you.  The challenge lies in getting people to willingly and authentically support you.  Due to the fact that so many people and companies are accessible to the public, it is quite simple to join up with and interact with and show support for those people and companies.  However, showing support is completely different from initiating support.  In other words, it is very easy for me to join a network, give them my email, my picture and some general information, but what happens then?  They have my show of support…they have my picture for crying out loud!  But do they have my full-on initiated support?  Am I willing to act when called upon?  Would I stand up for that blog or company or person in a public forum?  Would I buy their product?  Would I sell their product?

The next step is to initiate your support.  If you love something or someone…buy that something, sell that something or tell that someone (again, not yelling)!  Do not let your support be reduced to a picture and a name in a list of millions.  If you genuinely support someone, let them know that you are for them and then get behind them full force.  If you love a product, tell the world about it so that others can come to enjoy it too.  If you love a blog, subscribe to it and let your friends know that you love it.  If you attend a great church, let others in the community know that you attend a great church.  Don’t let your show of support go to waste…Initiate it into a moving, powerful and acting force.

What if we saw everyone (everyone!) as equal?  What if there were no longer two groups categorized as those that are in need and those that are able to fill the need?  Instead, there would be just one single group:  those that are in need.  

As visionaries we see ourselves as those who can create in order to fulfill a specific need.  We can quickly pick out those that are in desperate need of something that we can offer or build.   We are quick to visualize what it is that certain niches need right now, and what it is that they will need in the future.  There is great opportunity for the man or woman or group or company that can think in this manner and act accordingly.  But, let us never forget that in all truthfulness we are all in need.  There is not a single person alive who is not in need of something or someone.  That is why being a visionary is so important and so practical.  You can meet the needs of any number and type of people.  No group is secluded.  Everyone has needs.  Everyone including you.  So many times we approach a person who is obviously in need as just that, a needy person.  Don’t do it.  Remember, you have needs to.  They may not be as obvious to others, but you have them, and deep down you are well aware of them.  Approach people with authenticity, openness and a willingness to share your needs with others as you likewise take on theirs.  This will build a foundation of trust and communication that will serve you, your company, your marriage and friendships quite well for the rest of your life.

•  We all have needs.  Don’t approach someone or some group because you only see them as needy.  Approach them because you want to share in their needs and because you recognize needs in your own life.
• Be willing to openly share your needs.  If people know that you are in it together, trust and communication can form.  You want to sell?  First, you must sell who you are, authentically.
•  Remember (remember Parke!), see everyone as equal.  No man or woman is better than the next.  Show appreciation for every client no matter what their position.  If you approach everyone equally, willingly sharing your needs, they may in all actuality be able to help you meet your needs at the same time you are helping them meet theirs.  
• There is opportunity everywhere.

If we ever expect our life or our company or our church or our relationships to progress to the next level; if we desire that our marriage develops into new realms of trust and love; if we ever expect to reach out and impact a broader market; if we want to put that latest great idea into action; if we want to be rich; if we want to help as many as possible; if we want to give it all away; if we want to decrease our negative environmental impact; then change is absolutely necessary.

Why did Facebook revamp its entire layout?  Why did WordPress totally turnover its Dashboard?  Why, when millions of people worldwide use your product or service every day, would you ever want to change a single thing!? Here is why:  They want to get better.  Why did Steve turn machine Mac into musical Apple?  He knew that in order for the company to grow (to be the best in the world!) it had to change, to be the change.  Why does Google come out with a new application almost daily (or so it seems)?  They realize that in order to stay on top, they must keep doing what got them there in the 1st place:  promote and initiate change.  Every year these companies change the way we do and see everything.

Want to get better at anything?  Get better at being willing to change.  Want to become a Visionary?  Train yourself to see the change before it happens and take advantage of it.

Does your company make a product?  Are you in sales?  Are you responsible for the marketing of a certain material or commercial good?  How about a commodity?  Over the long haul, why do your customers, consumers, clientele, patients or students continue to come back to you in order to obtain the service or product that you represent or sell?  Why?  

Why do people choose to continually buy Coke when Pepsi is always on sale?  Why do people buy iPhones when they could settle for a phone that is a quarter of the price?  Why do people consistently attend the same church service at the same church week in and week out?     Why are more and more people reading blogs to get their news instead of the Times?  Why do people shop at Wal-Mart instead of the corner hardware store?  Why do students delay taking a certain class in order to take it with a specific professor when they could take it right now and get it over with?  Why will a patient drive for hours to go to his dentist when there is another dentist down the street?

Here is why:  They, the consumer, like the product.  The results they get from the product or service (or both!) are great, they are proven and the consumer loves a great, reliable, proven product.    

Do you blame Mayor Ballard?  Surely not!  Instead, blame Toyota!  They have the better product (more fuel efficient for example).  How can you fault someone for buying the better product when we do it ourselves every single day.