Talk Less. Say More *****

Talk Less. Say More is a book that does just that. It's a quick read, and packed full of useful tips on how to communicate more effectively.  Not only does it give advice on what to do, but also explains what not to do. The author argues that more now than ever before, people are faced with "communiclutter" in their lives. They are overloaded with information coming at them 24/7. To effectivley communicate in this  enviroment, a person must be able to; Connect by grabbing attention, Convey to gain complete clarity, and Convince to sway others into action. By following this sequence, even the busiest of people can be influenced.

 Here are some of the most memorable ideas and tips that stick out in my mind.

• Frontload- Quickly say whats relevant so people immediately grasp whats in it for them and don't tune you out. Simply deliver the most relevant part of your message first. Don't delve into details before the big picture
• Aim for the heart, not the head- When possible, speak to peoples emotions.
• Follow the Law of Inverse Propoertions- The more inflammatory the question, the more calmly your answer should be delivered. Don't be drawn into argumentative baiting- you'll look and sound defensive.
• Fight the urge to jump in- Allow people to finish what they have to say before beginning to talk.
• Think narrow and deep-  When presenting, communicate in triplets by using 3 key points then 3 sub-points under each.
• Sound decisive not wishy-washy- Sound like a wimp and you will be treated like a wimp. Confidence is the key to sounding decisive.
• Stop tagging- By adding phrases such as: ...isn't that right?, ...don't you think?, or ...okay?, you are giving away your power by seeking validation or approval for idea's you already believe in.
• Stop Hedging- Hedging involves starting a sentence by saying: I'm not an expert, but..., I guess what I'm saying is..., or I could be wrong, but.... Habitual hedging makes you sound like you doubt your own words or have weak ideas and lack backbone.

The author explains in detail why these and other communication skills are important to understand in order to be heard and taken seriously by those we want to influence. This book gets 5 stars from me!

A Random Walk Down Wall Street *****

Burton Malkiel looks at the long history of investing, beginning in the 1600's with the tulip bulb craze in the Netherlands, and finishing with some of the more recent investment mania's like the technology bubble at the turn of this century. Exposed is how the financial industry at large, complicit with the media, take advantage our basic emotions like fear and greed, creating huge profits for themselves at our expense.

After taking apart and disproving the common investment strategy's used by professional money managers, Burton Malkiel provides a simple investment strategy, based on 50 years of academic research, that is time tested and prudent for both the average Joe and even the most "sophisticated" of professionals . To summarize the book- It is extremely hard to beat the market  (most professional's fail), but very easy to achieve market rates of return, which historically have been very generous.