follow this blog

Follow this blogRSS

Not a Member Yet?Follow the RSS feed now to gain access to the latest news and begin to experience a startup without the risk.Follow

featured site

www.tedxcalgary.ca

featured screen

TEDxCalgary recently finished a seminar on leadership.

twitter

twitterfollow side

Posts by Month

connect

cameronchell.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Great Reads

 
  

Steve Jobs
by Walter Isaacson

"I am in the process of reading this book."

Click to view on Amazon

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies

by Jared Diamond

"I am currently in the process of reading this book."

Click to View on Amazon

 

The Facebook Effect: Publisher: Simon & Schuster

by David Kirkpatrick

"Kirkpatrick for sure has had the best access to the company and Zukerberg. The information and insight are really valuable and interesting. If you want to get a good picture of the Facebook story and how it may affect the future of the internet and the world this is a solid read. The criticism I have for the book and more the Author, (note I am a face David Kirkpatrick) is that he has become so enamored with Facebook and Zukerberg, (for very good reason) that he does not seem to hold his line of objectivity and thus looses credibility in telling the story. That all being said this is an book for anyone in the business of tech today"

Click to View on Amazon


by Roger Lowenstein

"If you like finance and if you like history you HAVE TO read this book. I am amazed at the detail and blow by blow commentary Roger Lowenstein gives leading up to, during and immediately after the 08/09 global financial meltdown. The research and access he must have had!! Reading this was like watching a sports event - wow, wow, wow! Lowenstein has a bit of left wing bent and offers critical tone but comes across quite balanced in his insight and presentation. This book provides great information and will definitely affect your view of the market and the U.S. Fed. - part for the better and part for the worse."

>>Click To View On Amazon>>

by Sun Tzu, Joe Mantegna, Ralph D. Sawyer

"Art of War has never really resonated with me because it is built on the construct of win/lose. However the more I study Sun Tzu the more I realize that this win/lose persona may be a narrow view or interpretation adopted by the western publishing industry so that it can fit our perspective and thus easier for the masses to grasp. What is great about this Book is that it goes through the 13 principles in the first third or so of the book and then spends the rest of the time on the historical context of Sun Tzu. I found that putting the 13 principles into historical context made many of the principles easier to relate to present situations both globally and personally. This book gave me some fresh insight and perspective on Art of War. For any Sun Tzu fan this is a good read."

The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation

by Drew Westen

"This book not only explains why politics is the most irrational and emotional topic our brain encounters but it also gives great insight into how to communicated with peoples Political Brain at the same time giving great insight into the American political system. Weston is left of center in his thinking and draws examples from botched Democratic strategy and how the Right has capitalized on it."

Click to View on Amazon

Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear

by Frank I. Luntz

"Luntz is brilliant! Regardless if you agree with his political position or not you have to admit to his insight and brilliance. This book is one that has to be read if you want to get a grasp on what people hear you say and not what you think they hear you say."

Click to View on Amazon

Inbound Marketing: Get Found Using Google, Social Media, and Blogs (New Rules Social Media Series)

by Brian Halligan, Dharmesh Shah, David Meerman Scott

"Very good insights about how to attract rather than promote."

Click to View on Amazon

Early Exits: Exit Strategies for Entrepreneurs and Angel Investors (But Maybe Not Venture Capitalists)

by Basil Peters

"This book simply explains what I have been experiencing for the last 20+ years as a Serial Entrepreneur, one time VC and as an Angel Investor. I am Loving It!"

Click to View on Amazon

Escape Velocity: Free Your Company's Future from the Pull of the Past

by Geoffrey A. Moore

"If you are doing any sort of Product Development and/or a bringing a product to market this book will give you great insight. Great insights into why larger companies have a tough time innovating and why smaller companies focus on the wrong things. I am going to be re-reading this book for a long time to come."

Click to View on Amazon

This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly

by Carmen M. Reinhart, Kenneth Rogoff

"This book has instantly become the definitive work on the history of financial crises. Chronicling every financial crises of the last 800 years it is not only spectacular in its breadth and detail of data but also in its interpretation of the events and their relevance to today. In reading this book my confidence in making economic decision is much higher due to the information it presents and the context it is put in."

Click to View on Amazon

Endgame: The End of the Debt Supercycle and How It Changes Everything

by John Mauldin

"If you want a no BS assessment of the economic state of the world and what is going to have to happen to "right" it, then this is a must read. This is not a "Scare Tactic" type of book. This book is a methodical and practical look at the facts. It is not that there is no opinion or bias in this book but it is only followed by compelling data. If you are doing any strategic planning that requires you to understand Macro-Economic, (without having to be an economist to understand it) read this book."

Click to View on Amazon

Tell to Win: Connect, Persuade, and Triumph with the Hidden Power of Story

by Peter Guber

"This book was recommended to me by Paul Readwin. The book is a super easy read because it is a story, about Peter Guber's story. The whole book is about the power of story and how you can benifit from the use of story telling. Toward the end I started picturing myself in Peter Guber's shoes as he is sharing stories to pitch movie deals, sell/buy companys and raise investment capital. This is the type of book that once you have read it you can always pick it up for five minutes of light reading and walk away refreshed and focused on what is most important - the story."

Click to View on Amazon

Conversations With God : An Uncommon Dialogue (Book 1)

by Neale Donald Walsch

"For a fresh perspective on the Question of God and who he/she/it is and how he/she/it communicates with us this is a must read. This book is controversial and you need an open mind to appreciate it. Regardless of your religious views and what you may agree or disagree with in this book, it for sure asks courageous questions and provides bold answers. "

Click to View on Amazon

What Would Google Do?

by Jeff Jarvis

"I have just finished reading this book. My Brother Allan recommended it to me. (Allan has built an absolutely amazing asset inspection platform that is currently being rapidly adopted by the Auto industry because it instantly SEO's their auto inventory on Google). This book has gem after gem. If you are wondering how to position your company or focus your efforts as a web 2.0+ company this is a must read."

Click to View on Amazon

The Road Less Traveled, 25th Anniversary Edition : A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth

by M. Scott Peck

"This is a great book that is timeless. It masterfully navigates the path of the practical with the spiritual. I really appreciated the straight forward approach and the "this is how it is" language that blends into the no judgment of people, places or things nature of the message. This is a book I recommend for anyone looking to increase their understanding of practical psychology and personal mastery."

Click to View on Amazon

Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets

by Taleb Nassim Nicholas

"This was recommend to me by Lorne Abony a brilliant CEO who is running Mood Media. Looking forward to the read.

The critical thinking and no B.S. skepticism in which Nicholas seems to approach everything is terrific and hugely insightful. However, it is hard at time to take him seriously due to his amazing arrogance and underlying insecurity. All in all, this is very, very worth while book.
"

Click to View on Amazon

Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion

by Gary Vaynerchuk

"This book is very authentic and if you are looking for insight and motivation around your social media based business and presence this is a very worth while book."

Click to View on Amazon

The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama [Hardcover] (Apr. 6, 2010) by David Remnick

by David Remnick

"This is in-depth. If you want to get a deep sense of the man who is currently the President of the U.S. this is the book. It is a big read but really worth it. Overall it is a flattering view of Obama but rooted in great detail so it is at least compelling flattery and not nauseating flattery. I really enjoyed the portrayal of the struggle with identity faced by Obama and how this is woven into American and African History. I did find the book was very light in its account of the Democratic race which was starkly out of character with the rest of the book. Overall great read, worth the time."

Click to View on Amazon

The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal

by Jim Loehr & Tony Schwartz


"This book really makes the connection between the physiological and the mental. Finally someone is pushing the notion that to be a performer in the corporate world you need to view yourself as a corporate athlete and conduct yourself accordingly. This book makes a strong case for balance in life and the benefits it brings on all levels. "

Tuned In: Uncover the Extraordinary Opportunities That Lead to Business Breakthroughs

by Craig Stull


"VERY useful book. Six Step process to get "Tuned In" to building a product or service that resonates. I found it talked down to the reader a bit especially since they were not really providing anything really new. That being said this book is filled with gems and a good process to help ensure you do things you must do in order to be successful with your venture. Net/Net - don't make assumptions or use instincts. Do your research with your target persona's.

Step 1. Find Unresolved Problems
Step 2. Understand Buyer Persona's
Step 3. Quantify the Impact
Step 4. Create Breakthrough Experiences
Step 5. Articulate Powerful Ideas
Step 6. Establish Authentic Connections"

Outliers: The Story of Success

by Malcolm Gladwell

"Lots has been said about this book - It is good and adds a dose of reality to the hollywood myth that anyone can do anything."

 

The Buying Brain: Secrets for Selling to the Subconscious Mind

by A.K. Pradeep

"Good information but it seems a bit regurgitated and seems very sales motivated to sell the service Pradeep company offers. Worth a read but not if you are short of time."

Just One Thing: Twelve of the World's Best Investors Reveal the One Strategy You Can't Overlook

by John Mauldin


"This is becoming recommended reading for our finance people at PODIUM Ventures and at Business Instincts Group. Dozens of Gems!"

The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything

by Stephen M.R. Covey

“This book makes a real case for the cost vs success of transactions of any sort being attributed to trust. This is an ethical and practical guide on trust. I also think that this book is the explanation of why great business is not build on “overnight success” and that rushing to the finish line is a sure sign of impending disaster.”

Click to View on Amazon

How: Why How We Do Anything Means Everything

by Dov Seidman

“This book resonated with me so much that the latest project I have been working on Podium Ventures. www.podiumventures.com is based on it. This book pitches the “How” as opposed to the “What” = success as a new formula for “success”. The book is a great and practical read. ”

Click to View on Amazon

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable (J-B Lencioni Series)

by Patrick M. Lencioni

“Lencioni is Brilliant! Along with his own thinking he also takes the best of some of our times greatest business thinkers, (i.e. Drucker) and wraps his and their lessons into a parable and summary that is an effective, memorable, relevant and easy read.”

Click to View on Amazon

Death by Meeting: A Leadership Fable...About Solving the Most Painful Problem in Business (J-B Lencioni Series)

by Patrick M. Lencioni

“Lencioni is Brilliant! Along with his own thinking he also takes the best of some of our times greatest business thinkers, (i.e. Drucker) and wraps his and their lessons into a parable and summary that is an effective, memorable, relevant and easy read.”

Click to View on Amazon

59 Seconds: Think a Little, Change a Lot (Borzoi Books)

by Richard Wiseman

“A Very interesting full of FACTS book. I love that what Wiseman says is backed up by data. Much of what we think is complete crap and this book wakes you up from fantasy thinking about what you want to be true into the reality of what is true. ”

Click to View on Amazon

Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent, Revised and Updated Edition

by Andrew Nikiforuk

“A Very interesting full of FACTS book. I love that what Wiseman says is backed up by data. Much of what we think is complete crap and this book wakes you up from fantasy thinking about what you want to be true into the reality of what is true. ”

Click to View on Amazon

The Way of Ping: Journey to the Great/ A Frog in Search of a new Pond

by Stuart Avery Gold

“A crazy simple but brilliantly told tale - Just keep it in the moment.”

Click to View on Amazon

The Man Who Owns the News: Inside the Secret World of Rupert Murdoch

by Michael Wolff

“A fascinating read on a fascinating capitalist. Murdoch knows how to command and control his own world. That being said, I can’t help but think that NewsCorp is a dead company that still happens to have some fight in it.”

Click to View on Amazon

Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

by Seth Godin

“The first third of the book seemed to repeat the same message over and over and got a bit frustrating. However, The last 2/3 just gets better and better. The principles of becoming indispensable in this book not only apply to individuals but also to Start-ups. ”

Click to View on Amazon

The Power of Story: Change Your Story, Change Your Destiny in Business and in Life

by Jim Loehr

“I think few things if anything is more powerful that your own beliefs about yourself and your life. Jim Loehr describe how putting this in the context of your story can so effectively and honesty transform what you are doing and who you are. Also to my surprise and delight Jim Loehr spend a lot of time on the reality of nutrition and our physical self effect our emotion and mental performance. I am excited to read Jim Loehr’s next book where he speaks to the concepts of corporate athletes. ”

Click to View on Amazon

Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the Box

by Arbinger Institute

“"This book was recommended to me by Dale Johnson who is the Chairman of Optimal Payments, a publicly listed company which is global electronic payment processor. 10 out of 10. This is a must read for anyone who believes and/or wants to understand that doing things the "soft" way is really the hard and only way to get things done. It is the only way to focus on results."

>>CLICK TO VIEW ON AMAZON


Inside-Out Healing: Transforming Your Life Through the Power of Presence

by Richard Moss

"Having just gone through a cancer experience this book was recomended to me. It was nothing what I expeceted, it was so much more. I have been reading a lot of books and articles lately about the power of story. None of the business, branding or psychology insights i have come accross hold a candle to this book if you want to understand why stories are so important to the human mind. This book is a practical book for you not to just change your "stories" but to eliminate them."

>> CLICK TO VIEW ON AMAZON

The Mandala of Being: Discovering the Power of Awareness

by Richard Moss

"Want to get present? This is the book to read... It is a must read!"

>> CLICK TO VIEW ON AMAZON