The leaders of 800-CEO-READ, Jack Covert and Todd Sattersten, have just released their book called The 100 Best Business Books of All Time: What They Say, Why They Matter, and How They Can Help You. This book is a no-brainer for your bookshelf — it’s like having a literate Cliff’s Notes guide to all those books [...]
Author Archive for danheath
Bill Gates at TED
Published by February 5th, 2009 in Concreteness, Credibility, Emotion, General and Unexpectedness. ClosedIn his talk at TED, Bill Gates released a jar full of mosquitoes, sending them out to feast on some of the world’s best & brightest blood. “Malaria is spread by mosquitoes,” he said. “I brought some. Here, I’ll let them roam around. There is no reason only poor people should be infected.” He then waited [...]
“We let polluted air speak for itself”
Published by February 5th, 2009 in Concreteness, Credibility, Emotion, General and Unexpectedness. ClosedHow do you convince people that air pollution is a problem? You let them see it for themselves. Check out this very smart outdoor campaign in Hong Kong. (Thanks to Choleena at Tantramar for the tip.)
On bathroom signage
Published by February 5th, 2009 in Concreteness, General and Unexpectedness. ClosedOne of my favorite coffee shops here in Raleigh is part of a strip mall, and the businesses all share a common bathroom. Recently, someone started locking the communal bathroom, and a sign was scotch-taped to the door. In that inimitable management-font-style, the sign read: “THE BATHROOMS HAVE BEEN LOCKED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.”
Well, no. In [...]
Is it me, or is it crazy for charities to respond to someone who’s donated money by sending them a thank-you letter along with an appeal for more money (complete with SASE)?
Imagine if you gave someone a wedding gift and they responded with a thank-you card, along with an appeal to buy one more champagne flute. (Oh, and [...]
We’ve posted a bunch of resources that you may find interesting. They’re all free. So go get ‘em. Goodies include:
[PDF] Making presentations that stick
[podcast] Learning from urban legends: Creating ideas that spread
[podcast] Making you stick: How to stand out
[PDF] Teaching that sticks
Here is the first must-read article of 2009: an analysis of the breakdown of the financial system, from subprime to Madoff, written by Michael Lewis (Liar’s Poker, Moneyball) and David Einhorn (who runs a huge hedge fund called Greenlight Capital). It’s the first crisis-analysis I’ve seen that seems worthy of the task. It’s smart, opinionated, [...]
I’m a fan of Dan Solin’s no-nonsense writing about investment. Today he makes a strong case that employees who participate in 401(k) plans are underserved and overcharged:
The 401(k) system is a disgrace. Employers get paid off in the form of subsidies to select brokers and advisors who control the investment options in the plan. They, [...]
Daily Show statistics
Published by December 19th, 2008 in Concreteness, Credibility, Emotion, General and Unexpectedness. ClosedThe other night Jon Stewart mentioned that if you commit murder, you’ve got a 48% chance of going to jail. Versus if you’re an Illinois Governor, you’ve got a 50% chance. (4 out of the last 8 Governors have ended up in the clink.)
Hey, life isn’t just about agonizing over nuclear arsenals. That’s the majority of it, probably, but then there’s also Mick Jagger doing a Polka Dance!
(And here’s some additional comic relief — advertising-themed — from Patrick Scullin, the creator of the MickPolka video. You’ve got to love a piece that starts with the line, ”If you’re like me, you’re [...]