The True Leader

I read a book many years ago, it was a book on profiles of successful Amway distributors. This was in the mid-90s when I was actively conducting that business.

The book started with a phrase: the truest measurement of success of a leader is who he brings with him.

I recall that phrase now, as I am faced with a situation where a colleague of mine has recently been a victim of the exact opposite of the phrase mentioned above. Although this person has accepted the 'defeat' graciously, I still think that the 'leader' should have done a better job in extending his full self in terms of energy, efforts, and more importantly, the heart, to ensure that this person succeeds.

Yes, this person has numerous short-comings. However, a true leader will work to identify various traits of those in his lead, strengthen all positives attributes and nurture traits of success.

I am saddened that this has happened. I am not able to do anything at this moment for this person, however, will offer my strong shoulders and a listening heart to understand more.

It is essential, that if you are in a position of leadership: a parent, a teacher, an up-line, a manager, a supervisor or a CEO, or even a political leader, that we realize that the truest measurement of a leader is who he brings with him to succeed equally. Then the achievement becomes more fun and meaningful. Not to mention loyalty attained in the process.

Thinking on a lazy Saturday

I have been thinking after reading an excerpt from a book yesterday, the difference between having knowledge and understanding.

There are many instances where I have been caught short as a result of thinking that it too rigid (having knowledge) as opposed to fluidity in decisions and action (after understanding).

I am unsure if you get my drift here, but this is an area where I am seeking more understanding myself so I can better express myself to my team members. As importantly, enabling and empowering myself as well as my team members to the next level.

The lowest common denominators are as follows:

Making common sense into common practice - whereby an action or a decision is taken to benefit most people without having to wait for instructions or validation.

Another one is, as simply explained by futuristic architect, the late R. Buckminster Fuller (fondly known as Bucky Fuller among student of the Excellerated Business Schools) is the law of precession where if you see the need to do something, and even if no one else sees the need, then you take action anyway. This is vehicle to reaching the highest good to serve others, be they human, animals or environment.

It's going to be an exciting journey for me and my team members.... this is beyond what they would expect from their business relationships with me, but then, this is something that I see the need even if they don't yet. I am serving to achieve my highest good.

Thinking on a lazy Saturday is good!

The wonderful phone call

Some days are often better than others.

Yesterday was one better day where I received a phone call from a new member in one of the referral groups I am leading.

He said: 'Riyaz, I am not sure if I have done the right thing'.

'What's going on?' I enquired.

'Is it okay if I invite my company secretary and accountant firm manager to visit our group tomorrow? Will it cause the present member (who is the accountant) to get upset?'

'Not at all, in fact it will be a good networking experience for your accountant friend'.

'Yes, that's what I was thinking, he could be a customer to some of our members there. That was the plan, and I called you to enquire if this is okay'.

And then we spent a few minutes conversing on various matters.

More importantly, I was so pleased and impressed with this person's initiatives.

So, I consider this as the wonderful phone call for the day.

Ching-ching continues - always pay yourself first

Tomorrow, I'll be paying myself.

I should have done it on Friday last week, but was caught short on time. So, Monday it is.

I have to pay myself first. And so should you. Pay yourself first.

Tomorrow, I shall be visiting my bank and adding to my investment account, which holds my Financial Freedom Account. Like all previous time, as soon as the transaction is completed, I'll say it aloud 'Ching-ching!' although it is to the amusement of the officer and other customers.

Hey, when you add to your Financial Freedom Account, it's time to celebrate! And what better way than to do so with a loud sound of 'Ching-ching!!'.

And then I will also add to my Long Term Saving for Spending (LTTS) account. This account holds money for things big-ticket items I desire such as a new flat-screen TV in time for next year's FIFA 2010 World Cup, a new lazy chair to sit on while watching Mishal Husain on BBC, and even a new ergonomic spine friendly chair that I use to work.

Ching-ching!!

And I will also add a deposit to my Education account. Thus, I will have monies available when I intend to buy new titles of books, or travel for a conference abroad. Birmingham is calling me in 2010 for a European BNI Directors Conference, a space I really learn new distinctions for my BNI business.

I discovered that cutting out this money pizza is a discipline. Something done deliberately. At every moment money comes in for whatever purpose: salaries, commissions, windfalls, profits.

This round of deposits I am making is from monies derived from my sales commissions and from profits from sale of books.

No amount is too big or too small. What's important is the habit.

I am cutting my money pizza, and it's fun. I see a bright future for myself. I hope to see you bright in my bright future.

What time do you start work?

Sounds like a trick question, but it's not.

I was speaking to a group of business people at a networking meeting this morning.

Because it was raining, many were either late or didn't attend at all.

I explained to all that, say for example, you have a potential client who want to meet you at 3pm today. What time would you be at this meeting this client? Almost all answered slightly earlier than 3pm.

Exactly right!

If it was raining, or if your car was blocked by an idiot who double parked (this happened to me sometime back), what would you do?

All answered that they would get there anyhow, and in the event of their car being blocked, even take a cab to the client meeting.

Why? Because it is work.

Then I explained that in a networking environment, it is no different from work.

Networking is work. Literally, the word Network is Net-WORK.

So when networking, get there on time or earlier to assist where you can.

Today, many people discovered that at least one day in a week, you start work at 6am!

Influenza A (H1N1) only spreads during office hours

It was reported on Malaysia Kini news portal that so far, 26 deaths were reported owing to H1N1, with the last 8 deaths within the past 24 hours itself. An upward spiral in numbers.

Now here's my part of the story:

I was away to Hat Yai for a short R&R trip, for some shopping and a long train ride, something I enjoy very much.

On the return journey, our train was scheduled to leave Hat Yai at 2.20pm local time, or 3.20pm Malaysian time (we are an hour ahead). The journey from Hat Yai to Padang Besar (our side of the border) where the CIQ (Customs, Immigration, Quarantine) is located takes about 55 minutes.

Importantly, as part of Influenza A (H1N1) control, we were given forms to be filled out, and be screened by our local health officers at the border on arrival, and be given health advise briefing, etc.

But then the Thai State Railway were out of locomotives so our journey was delayed by 2-hours! Which means that we left Hat Yai at 4.40pm local time and yes, you worked it out by now, 5.40pm Malaysian time. The Thai locomotive that eventually pulled us to Padang Besar did speed up and I believe we arrived Padang Besar in 40-minutes. So we arrived at 6.20pm Malaysian time to Padang Besar.

In a similar trip made in 2003, when the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) scare was in force, the first order of business on arrival at Hat Yai was health screening.

But this time, we were told to clear immigration first: yes get that passport stamped and officially leave Thailand. Then proceed to the Malaysian immigration counter to check-back into Malaysia.

Alright, so when was the H1N1 screening was going to take place?

You think it was the next order of business, right? Wrong!

Straight to Royal Customs and as usual the custom officers were pretty jolly in asking us boisterously, 'Can you please open your bags?'

To which I asked: Do we get screened for H1N1 now?

The reply from the jolly officer was very animated: 'Oh, ko punya train mai lambat, depa dah balik dah!'

Yes, the 'pegawai kesihatan' went back because the train was delayed.

I asked in jest: 'Kenapa Kastam tak balik dulu, tau-tau lah dah lambat ni?'

And then came in the reply I already expected: 'Kita dah biasa dah kerja sampai lewat. Itu orang klinik tak biasa, kot?'

Yes, the immigration, customs and border police were all there, albeit wearing a mask, but our health officers were not. And is it any wonder why this H1N1 thing is spreading so rapidly?

So, the morale of the story is, H1N1 only spreads during office hours, in Malaysia at least.

Working a 'To Do List' Backwards

In view of a short R&R trip I am taking this later week, there was tons of work to complete by Wednesday evening.

Therefore, yesterday early morning, I wrote out my 'To Do List' of all the work I needed to complete by Wednesday.

I must admit it was daunting at first. I was overwhelmed.

But an idea struck me:

I started doing all the work which was due only on Wednesday and worked backwards.

To my amazement, by lunch time yesterday (Monday), I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

In fact by 3pm on Monday, all work for the entire week was complete!

I took the opportunity to spend some time conducting some housekeeping and even had time to spend on me Facebook!

I got it: next time when there's much to do with little time, work backwards!

Shorter week this week!

It is a short week this week for me as I have planned a short R&R trip, by train to Hat Yai. My wife wants to get some shopping done there, so, I thought it would be a good opportunity to get away for a while.

But then, the shorter time available till Wednesday, means more work is compressed into that space of time. And I need to deliver without compromising quality!

For my BNI Business:

I am due to make no lesser than 18 phone calls this morning itself. A majority of them would be to follow-through on the guests who visited Suria Chapter last Tuesday.

A few are prospecting calls. Followed by a phone conversations with the Membership Officers from Alliance and Suria.

I have some banking work for the company which needs to be done as well, and later to instruct the forms of some applicants to be processed.

For Supreme Chapter, I am chairing the meeting this week while getting as many roles in that Chapter operating as we move along. By next week, the Chapter needs to run on its own by it's own members.

For Ampang Chapter, a regular management meeting later today to sort out some issues.

Ramadan is also around the corner in August, so, I have to announce the meeting dues for members who are fasting. Gosh, another phone call to a meeting premise manager!

Lastly, to organize a Chapter growth sessions for all Chapters, and this will be done via team-phone calls. All members will be encouraged to participate to invite their contacts to their Chapters for a Visitor Day for the purpose of adding at least 6 new members.

My Business Consulting practice:

This week, I am meeting my client for the purpose of completing her company mission statement.

I will also have to send in an invoice for two on-going projects done in July. Ching-ching!!

Family:

Lots to do before I leave. This includes concluding a spring cleaning of my study room.

I can't wait to get on that train! Have to leave for the station by 6.30pm on Wednesday

Friday morning blues. Friday evening Midsomer Murders.

Lately, I have come across some guests who ask me: ‘can I visit the other Chapter first?’ when I give them a ring to follow-up with them on promoting your Chapter.

I usually cringe at this question. Luckily this is a conversation over the phone, so the guest cannot see my facial expression. But I feel like murder! Not murdering the guest, but the member who has exposed the guest to an unnecessary element.

I wonder, how did they know of the ‘other Chapter’?

Let me share a story:

When I was 18 years old (after my Form Five, awaiting exam results), I was working in a Charles Jourdan boutique as a sales trainee.

At that time, in 1986, Charles Jourdan was a new brand-name in high fashion ladies handbag. And there were so many outlets selling the same product at that time.

But if a customer wants to plan to purchase one, did you think I said to them, ‘why not you visit the other outlets firsts?’

Of course I did not. Because, I wanted to close that sale in my branch, where my sales quota were measured.

Why would I be foolish to send them to another branch?

Yet, precisely, that’s what’s happening right now.

When a visitor arrives at your Chapter, do promote your own Chapter, and only your own Chapter. There’s no need to mention about ‘other Chapters’.

Avoid opening conversations about: ‘Oh, there’s another Chapter is so and so area. Oh, you can substitute in other Chapters’.

What is the relevance of all this in as far as the guest is concerned? The guest is invited to explore a co-operation with you and your PowerTeam, in your own Chapter. The visitor joins a Chapter, just like you did. You joined a Chapter. Not BNI. Your membership is with a Chapter (in BNI’s brand name or course).

Why expose a potential customer to buy from other branches when the transaction can be concluded in your own? Where your own referrals are at stake. If this guest joins another Chapter from your eager conversations of ‘other Chapters’ then it’s your loss. Because then they are members of that Chapter and their referrals are now going to be channelled there, not to your own Chapter.

Always engage with the guests: We really want to exchange referrals with you. Here’s our PowerTeam members who can refer you. Do you see how we can work together? Do you have contacts you can refer to us? We are exchanging lots of referrals between us, do you want to be part of it as well? We really want (their profession) on board this Chapter. We have referrals for you. Have we found this person or should we still be looking.

Promote your own turf! Be smart about this.

Do you send a prospect who came to your shop to buy a product or a service to a competitor? In gods name, I hope you don’t.

Yes, in the context of referrals, the other Chapters are your competitor, actually. How foolish to send a prospect to your competitor! Do you think the other Chapters are sending their guests to your Chapter? I have not seen one, unless co-ordinated by the Chapter BNI Directors, and don’t think I will, because everyone needs to protect their own turf.

That’s the reason why, during Visitor Days, we DO NOT ALLOW, members from another Chapter visiting, or even substituting. This is a closed-affair.

The last thing we want is that a member brought a visitor (which takes an effort) and then have this member from another chapter unnecessarily engaging or exposing the guest to another branch or Chapter.

So, the message here is: be smart, think of your Chapter first.

Remember, a person joins a Chapter, not BNI.

There’s a saying: ‘Charity begins at home’

Unless for a strategic reason, which is situation closely arranged by your Chapter LT and me as your Chapter Mentor, for now, do engage your guests to purely encourage them to be a part of your own Chapter.

Only after a clear level of co-operation, which is normally between a Director to Director, where we have a clearer understanding of each Chapters’ needs, do we cross send guests for mutual growth.

If in doubt, always, you can ask for my assistance. I will be happy to help.

I really want to grow your Chapters for your own prosperity.

In the meantime, just so you know, I am in the midst of rescuing 2 guests who now insists on visiting ‘other Chapters’ because they have been exposed to it quite unnecessarily. And it’s such an energy draining exercise, where that energies could be put to use in mentoring, developing new contacts, etc.

Now to connect the dots: Do you all understand the essence of this communication? Please send to me your thoughts.

I am cutting my pizza, you should too!

I am picking up from my last few series on Money Pizza.

If you haven't read that article, then please do so now, before proceeding with this article as this article here is a build-up on that.

Hopefully, by now you have been persuaded to follow the footsteps of rich people on money strategy. And if you are, and I sincerely hope so, then here's a follow-up on that line of teaching.

Have a separate account for each of the categories or jars. While it may not be feasible or even practical to have a jar to keep the monies, it is essential that you have 6 different holding accounts to hold the funds for each individual applications.

So far, here is what I have done:

1. For my Financial Freedom Account, I always had an account running for years. So, I am continuing to hold the funds for this purpose in this account. This is a high-yield account that pays at least 8% per annum for all the funds in it. From time to time, whenever I find suitable investments that will become my golden goose, then I will utilise funds from this account. But never to be used for any other purpose. Not even in emergencies.

2. Today, I re-activated a dormant investment account to feed my Long Term Savings for Spending funds. Now, I can clearly see where my new flat-screen plasma TV is going to come from, just in time for the FIFA's 2010 World Cup! Remember, for some who may be in an unfortunate credit-card debt (as a result of being ignorant about money matters) then you can use funds from this account to pay yourself out of jail.

3. Today, I opened a new savings account (with internet access) to house my Education Fund where I will use this funds to invest in my education, for example purchase of books, CDs, enrolment in courses, conferences and seminars to sharpen my business skills and my brush up my professional skills. I was speaking to a musician last week, and mentioned to her that when Kitaro, the Japanese musician is conducting a course in say, Singapore, then this funds can be used to attend that course, if indeed it helps her career as a musician.

4. For my Necessities, I already have a current account with both cheque book and internet access, so I am fine in this.

5. Next week, I will be opening another account for my Play fund. And I promise to play hard!

6. For my Gift fund, I will now, use the cookie jar, for the fun of it.

Go ahead, go get your money matters sorted. And share your experiences with me!

Connect the dots..... It eliminates uncertainty

Earlier this month, I wrote about stupidity and connecting the dots where I had a run in with some people who find it difficult to make common sense to become common practice.

The solution in these situation always is to : connect the dots.

This demands that people in leadership to clearly connect the dots to ensure that the rest of the team members know what is going on inside an organization.

I will give an example of an event last Friday, where in that particular referral generation group there was a change in personnel in the team.

Apparently a member had resigned and within a very short space, another person in the same business category took over the position in that group.

When this new person was introduced as a member, it wasn't earlier disclosed that the previous person had resigned, and that we are now introducing this new person to take over the position.

Verbatim can be: 'Hi, all members please note that our friend, Angie has now resigned from this group owing to heavier family commitments and hence the classification of Insurance in this group is open. In the meantime, we wish our friend Angie, all the best and wish her well and we will value her contributions and friendship always'.

Then give this some time to sink in. In fact, I am of the opinion that the new person need not be sworn in right away although this new person is already ready. In the context of a referral group, it is not a matter of life and death. So, let's take our time. I think one week of time is just nice.

Give it a week. Let this sink in. Let the dust settle. This will start a series of dots.

Now, conclude and connect all the dots the following time space that a new person to fill in the open classification has been found and that we will introduce him now.

This way, all the dots are connected.

This prevents anyone who is often blur... to take his time to connect the dots in his mind.

We must always never assume, not because it makes an ass out of you and me. It is because, it was the fastest (but not the cleverest) sperm that made it to conception.

So, to all the sperms out there, we need to connect the dots.

Guess that will be the title of my next book.

Hope this helps. I appreciate and welcome your experiences and comments.

The Richest Man in Babylon

My last article discussed how to have a winning strategy about money.

It was picked up from a program I attended last month. Do read that article now, to catch up with this one, if you haven't already.

The line of thinking adopted in that program was taken from this book: The Richest Man in Babylon.

Suffice for me to say that I was in heavy credit-card debts with almost no savings to my name when I first read that book. The book gave me hope, and more importantly, gave me practical ideas I could implement right away. Yes, right away.

I straight away implemented the first lesson in the book: Start thy purse to fattening and the rest as they say, is history.

Very valuable and practicable the lessons were in this book.

I ask you to go get your copy from your favourite bookstore, and buy half-a-dozen of them.

Keep one for your self and the rest is given away as presents: birthdays, anniversaries, festivals, even weddings, what have you. Forget that bottle of fragrance.

Read this book cover to cover within the first day of buying it. I can almost guarantee you that you will not put this book down.

Thereafter read it every other week, and at least once a month for 2-years. I read this book again last month after 2-years and still picked up distinctions from it.

Let all the lessons sink in. Absorbed. And then implement one lesson at a time. These lessons and practices must be right down to our DNA, to be passed on to the next generation.

A certain Kiyosaki bloke can eat his heart out, but this book, The Richest Man in Babylon is a class on its own. Because you can implement the lessons right away, and yes, I mean right away, you will be encouraged to take progress.

I am deeply enriched by book, and I now with gratitude share this book with you.

Yes, be the richest man!

The Money Pizza

Last month, I attended a program: The Millionaire Mindset Intensive conducted by a successful event management company. The program was conducted by a certain T. Harv Eker, an Irish bloke who is now living in North America. Obviously a successful and wealthy bloke.

His partner, who spoke on the first 2-days in that program taught everyone how to be powerful about money.

And it's like my favourite food and topic this month: Pizza.

So here goes:

The concept here is: Pay Yourself First.

After every incoming money from whatever source, like salaries, commissions, bonuses, even profits if you are business person, or a windfall of some kind (think of a lottery, lucky-draw, contest, competition prize money), the monies must be strategically placed in separate jars (yes, the cookie jar) until a habit has developed. And eventually, for practicality purposes, in separate bank accounts.

The monies are divided using the following ratios:

• The First 10% is placed in an account labelled as : Financial Freedom Account. This is then used to buy investments that will yield either residual or capital growth or better still, both. This money is for this purpose only. And never touch this money to pay a debt, or an expense, or even use it in emergencies. NEVER. All right, got it. So what about the balance 90% of the money.
• The next 10% is placed in an account labelled as: Long Term Savings for Spending. Yes, as the name suggests, it is a Long Terms Savings for Spending. Example: accumulate in this jar to make big ticket items purchase such as a Flat-screen TV, high quality water-filtration devise for the home, plan a renovation of the home, decorations, etc. It is saved for the purpose of spending. You can also use this fund to pay off a credit card or a nagging student loan, if it helps you bring more peace of mind.
• Now there's a balance of 80%. Therefore the next 10% is now placed in this jar called: Education Account. Use this money to buy books, video or audio materials on enhancing your life skills, or career skills. Even to attend a Conference, Seminar or a course on development of one-self or for a professional skills enhancement.
• For all our necessities in living such as rentals, mortgages, car-payments, fuel, groceries, utilities, clothing, children's schooling expenses, we allocate 55% of funds for this purposes. And if we cannot live in this amount, then a simplification of life is necessary, and yes, cut out that high-speed broadband for an entry level broadband. Yes, scale down the fuel consumed, yes, eat cheaper. Use less resources and live within this budget. Then think of ways to increase earnings so that this budget can be higher.
• Total now is 85%. So there's 15 percent to go. The next 10% is for our PLAY jar. Yes, to play! Yes, go for that massage, spa, picnic with money where your family can enjoy riding on motor-boats, have a barbecue. In other words, nurture the person doing all the work. The rule is that this jar must be empty by month end! Enjoy!
• And the last 5% is for our Give purpose. Is there a purpose that we support: do you like sponsoring books for the disabled child in your neighbourhood, or contribute comics to your community center, or support a cause such as autistic child centers, or buying a hearing aid for someone in need, etc... you get the idea?

Yes, it sounds simple but is it easy to do? Not necessarily, unless there is a decision and an action.

I don't know about you, but I think this is damn good advise and I have started following it.

I used to have my own method along this line after reading the book: The Richest Man in Babylon by George S Clason, however, this method by this Harv-Eker chap seems more far-fetched and will yield long term results.

So, as this month comes to a close, start a strategy to implement this. Contact me for more conversations and ideas, if you need.

Hmmm.. pizza seems to taste better and better!

The fastest (but highly stupid) sperm keeps haunting

Today, I would like to follow up on an article I wrote a few weeks ago.

It's about the sperm.

The fastest but highly stupid sperm. The sperm that made it to conception purely on brute strength. The sperm which is expected to be smart, but simply cannot be, as it is not. Period.

Today, I came across some of these sperms.

I am dealing with: (some are sensitive in nature, hence I will be generic)

1. People who don't understand the power of simplicity. This morning I came across some people who do not understand decorum. Saying the right thing at the right time for the right reason. Too much of verbiage to express a simple idea that the verbose was killing the environment.
2. Individuals who cannot think, who cannot analyse or question why is a certain thing done in a certain way. But they are happy to just do it, so long as the job gets done. Never mind the consequence. If only they are dealing with their own money or time or resources.

I was fuming... Wanted to kill... oh god, gods, jesus, allah, lord, ya ali ya hassan ya hussain whatever puckish power's that in charge... is this your creation? Is this the best you can do?

What made it worse was a nurse in the blood bank, who after I had completed my blood letting, just plastered the site without even looking if she's doing it right.

In people's mind they are doing it. But do people stop and think, am I doing it right? What's the point of doing something if you have to re-do it again, or worse, if your doing-ness for the sake of doing caused grief, or loss to another person.

Right now, I am too exhausted to dwell on this. But we will pick this up again. It is a mission worth pursuing for the betterment of human beings. And my sanity, of course. My sanity is worth this cause.

I have written to my guru, DC Cordova is her name, the principal of Excellerated Business Schools to give me some tips and coaching on how to enable and empower people to make common sense into common practice.

So, here's to the fastest (but highly stupid) sperm: your days are numbered! I am on to you, you MF!

Had a pizza lately?

If you have had your favourite pizza lately, then good for you. It's one of my favourite foods, especially on a certain Monday night.

But there's another pizza that needs to be looked at.

If you are in business, then this pizza is very crucial to your business.

It is a pie-chart (I'll use the term pizza from now on) that clearly displays where your business is coming from.

Every business must have 3 pizzas:

First pizza: clearly displaying the revenues from each different type of service your business offers.

Example: if you are running an optometrist business, then you need to list all your revenue sources by categories, such as: prescription glasses, contact lenses, contact lenses liquids and support, repairs, designer frames, spare-parts, etc.

Then use whatever tools, like spreadsheet or import the data from your accounting software and create a pizza to clearly see where is your revenue coming from, categorically.

Create another pizza. The second pizza, this time display profits after costs for each category.

You will by now see a trend taking place in your business. You'll clearly know (if you haven't by now) what are the areas to focus and emphasis on. Or how to enhance another area that is lagging behind.

Still, create another pizza: this time to display all your business costs and expenses, such as salaries, maintenance of equipment, rentals, supplies, overheads such as utilities.

Last pizza, display where your leads are coming from. This will give you an idea on how to plan for your prospecting and emphasising your strategies to create new clients from specific sources or categories.

I am now in the process of coaching a client to analyse her business this way, and it has given her a clarity like nothing before.

I am attracted to a phrase from the book, The E-Myth Revisited, that a successful business is all about the numbers involved in the business. Numbers define the business like nothing else. Everyone who is an owner of a business needs to know his numbers on the tip of fingers. And all numbers are indication to the health of the business and future prospects of the business.

Just like how our doctor is reading our blood pressure or blood glucose numbers, every business person need to be able to read the numbers in her business the same way.

So, the book, The E-Myth Revisited is a must for all business people.

A note on the book: this is not a book that you buy and read once and then place it on your book shelf to show-off to your friends that you read.

This book needs to be read over and over again. Implement a section in your business at a time, starting with the simpler ideas. Then build it up by implementing the ideas in the more complex areas of your business.

It will take no less that 10 readings over a 2-year period, but it's a worthwhile investment. After all, there's no short-cut to anywhere worth going.