When you were in school, you likely had a Literature teacher who told you that you should "read the Classics." Let me assure you, my list won't include Moby Dick, The Scarlet Letter, or anything by Dickens or Shakespeare - not because they aren't classics, but because this isn't a classic literature resource recommendation.

Rather this is a list of four books you have likely heard of, and maybe even read. Whether you've read them or not, now is a perfect time to pick one of these classics up and read (or re-read) it. Keep your journal or a pad nearby along with a highlighter because each of these is filled with lessons and worthy of many notes!

Psycho-Cybernetics by Matthew Maltz

Written in the late 1950s by a leading plastic surgeon, this is seminal work on self image. Weaving in psychology and his own experiences with patients, this is one of most read books in self-help literature.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

This classic was written in 1937, but don't let that dissuade you. If you want to work on your financial goals in the New Year, this is the best place to start. Even if you aren't focusing on your financial life, this book provides powerful lessons to help you reach goals in any area - as taught from the lives of some incredibly successful people.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Carnegie's best known book, it is the forerunner of many more recent bestsellers including Likeability and Never Eat Alone. This book will inspire and help you create more effective relationships in your life.

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

First written in 1952, this classic book on attitude will help you think about your world differently and help you respond to whatever situations you face more positively. And if this topic is interesting to you, Carengie's book How to Stop Worrying and Start Living is a great add to this field of study as well!

Each of these books will teach you powerful lessons and is a perfect way to end one year, and jumpstart your progress into the next. I plan to read each over the next few weeks.

As I write this about a week before Christmas, this seems like a particularly relevant topic. Many of us are thinking about presents - who we still need to buy for, what to get them, when we will wrap those gifts and when we will get it all done. Some of us, whether the young or the young at heart, are even thinking about that magical moment when we will unwrap the gifts we've received.

The present I am writing about today isn't the new electronic gadget, pajamas or the book on your list.

The present I want to think about is a gift we all receive, and it is more valuable than any of those wonderful items.

The present I'm speaking of is the present.

Right now.

This minute.

We are all given this moment in time - the present - as a gift. And like any of the gifts you might receive at Christmas, on your birthday or some other special occasion, it must be unwrapped carefully to preserve its value.

And let me tell you - this gift is so valuable!

The past is gone forever (except in our memories), and the future is promised to none of us (though it can live in our dreams).

All we really have is the present - right now - this moment in time.

And since our lives consist of nothing more than the ongoing stream of these present moments, it makes sense for us to do a better job of understanding, valuing and unwrapping this valuable gift in the most beneficial way.

This topic overall is much bigger than I can describe in a few hundred words, so let's focus on something very important - how to unwrap this gift we call the present.

The Unwrapping Habit

I know people that unwrap presents in a fury, with paper, ribbon and tape flying in all directions, and I know others who open them much more slowly, carefully and methodically, like they are trying to preserve the wrapping paper for reuse.

And in my experience, most people do this task in a particular way and always seem to do it that way as a matter of habit.

In much the same way we tend to unwrap our "nows" in habitual ways. Regardless of how you do it, since we are always experiencing a new now, we have lots of practice at this task. But, because of the volume of this experience, we do it completely unconsciously.

Let's use the next couple of minutes of your present to think about ways to unwrap all of your future presents in a more beneficial way.

The First Step

Before you can unwrap the present, you must realize what gets in your way:

• Thinking about the past. The past is . . . well . . . over! Certainly your past experiences, both positive and negative, impact who you are, which is fine. But if you are thinking about, regretting or otherwise living in the past, you can't unwrap your present very successfully.


• Thoughts of the future. The future is important, and you should definitely think about and plan for it. However, if you are living there too much, doing too much dreaming, you aren't taking advantage of your wonderful present! Consider the gift of the present as a necessary building block for the future you want to see.


• Your self talk. If you are listening too closely to your internal dialogue, you can't experience and appreciate the present.


• Your worries. Worries (about the past or future) are a special case. When you are in worry you can't be in the present.

Three Ways to Unwrap More Successfully

Beyond recognizing the barriers that keep you from enjoying your present, what else can you do proactively to create the habit of more successfully living each present moment? While there are many habits that can aid you in this quest, here are four that I find particularly valuable.

• Appreciate now. Remember the absence of a present moment means someone is reading your obituary! When you learn to appreciate and be grateful for the events and experiences you are having, you are unwrapping your present more effectively.


• Notice and become more observant. Technology allows us to take pictures of about anything at any time with our cell phones. Being more observant though is more than a digital photo. It is a multi-sensory "snapshot" of your present moments. Be aware of the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the present. Notice the energy in the situation. Ask yourself, "what do I want to remember about this moment?"


• Enjoy it! Even if the situation isn't perfect or what you expected, find something to enjoy in each moment. Is this going to happen every minute of everyday? Perhaps not, but if you choose to enjoy, if you choose unwrap your present moments the way you unwrap a tangible gift - with joy and anticipation, you will be amazed how much more joy you will experience each day.

It is better than an iPod, a sweater or a even a new car. These tangible gifts may be wonderful, but they can never measure up to the gift that comes to us every minute - that's 1440 times every day.

Thanks for investing your present moments in reading these words.

Potential Pointer: When you recognize the gift this moment in time is, you can begin to more consciously decide how to be aware and use the present as the amazing gift that it is.

By the title, you might think this book is for "programmers, IT professionals and other technical-types." Because the author's experience in that world, yes, these groups of people will benefit.

But any of us can learn from this concise book. The "9 Simple Steps" are broken up into two areas - The Inner Game (what we control) and The Outer Game (our relationship with the outside world).

Cleverly these nine areas all start with L.

Inner Game

• Learn
• Laugh
• Look
• Leave an Lasting Impression
• Love

The Outer Game

• Leverage
• Likeability
• Listen
• Lead

Any book that bookends with two of my favorite topics, learning and leading, can’t be all bad!

This book is far better than "not that bad". Setty had 6 novels published by age 16 and tells that story in the middle chapter in the book. It's a well written book on an important topic - how can you become more valuable as a professional.

I met Rajesh in December 2007 and was struck by how smart he was. This intelligence and ability to bring things from different sources is evident in this book, and I highly recommend it.

The best news? At this moment, you can download a copy of the complete, unabridged book for free!

If you would prefer to buy a copy - to save your printer or for any other reason - you can purchase it at Amazon.

Also posted in Teamwork.

If you want to achieve more as a leader, as a team member, or as an individual, one of the most important things you can do is get more connected.

No, this isn't an article about faster internet access or the latest social media website. It also isn't advice about networking and "getting your name out there." All of those things have value, but none are what I am talking about here.

This is an article about broadening and deepening human relationships.

At some level I'm guessing you are saying, "Yes, Kevin, of course I need to connect with people." Yet most people, most of the time, don't make it a priority.

In other words, you may know the importance of and want deeper connections, but I'm guessing you aren't investing the time required to make it happen.

Why Connect?

There are probably hundreds of benefits of building deeper relationships and connections with others, but here are six that are especially important in the context of your work (whether as a leader or an individual contributor). Greater connections with others increase each of these factors:

• Trust. There is a correlation between connection and trust. We trust people more when we know them better. The opportunity for trust increases (though is not guaranteed) with familiarity and knowledge of the other person.
• Engagement. When people know you, and you share something valuable with them, they are more likely to become engaged in your project or idea.
• Speed. Steven M. R. Covey wrote a book called the Speed of Trust. While trust is valuable in and of itself, it serves as a multiplier for progress. As you build connections with others you are literally accelerating your progress anytime you are working (or even communicating) together.
• Energy. Higher speed and trust yields more energy! Would you rather work in a situation with high or low energy? Enough said.
• Ease. Isn't life easier when working with people you know and feel a deeper connection to?
• Enjoyment. Life is too short not to enjoy it. Even unpleasant tasks become more enjoyable when you are working with people you have a connection to.

Look at this list. Are there any that you don't want more of in your life?

How to Connect?

Three practical ways to build more, and deeper, connections:

• Be Conscious. If you want to build deeper connections and better relationships, you must decide it's important to you. Make this activity intentional and consider it an investment. Like many investments, it will never be an urgent matter, but something that when done will pay dividends far beyond the initial effort.
• Be Concerted. When you think about something being a concerted effort, it is both intentional (see the last point) and an effort. Deepening relationships requires taking action. Find opportunities to connect, and do new types of things that may help build those connections as well.
• Be Consistent. This isn't something you will do for the next 30 days, and cross it off of your to-do list or consider the goal achieved. Deepening connections is something that is done every day, and we must make it a habit. Ask yourself this question: "What have I done today to build a better relationship with someone?"

What About Me?

Building connections is really about the other person. But there are some things you must keep in mind about how to build relationships. And it all starts by looking in the mirror; if you want to do this well, start with yourself.

• Be Genuine! What we are talking about isn't a tactic or a technique. You must be real and authentic if you want to build lasting relationships - and your intentions for doing so must be other focused as well.
• Be Glad! Enjoy the process! Don't think of it as a chore, but as a journey or expedition. As you get to know people better and find connections enjoy the new ideas, synergies and fun you're creating.
• Be Grateful! Be grateful for other people and the value they bring to your life. Appreciate them (and tell them so). You might be amazed how much a short email, call or comment of thanks might mean to the other person.

There it is. I hope I've helped you think about the power of connections in a new way - one that hopefully will compel you to fix your focus more clearly on others and on building relationships with them.

Potential Pointer: If you want to make a bigger difference in your world and have more fun doing it, you must build deeper relationships with others. In any endeavor in life you will achieve more with the help, counsel and support of other people. When you build deeper connections with people you can provide those things for them, and they for you.

Are great leaders made or born? Was Jerry Rice genetically pre-disposed to be the most prolific wide receiver in NFL history? What makes chess masters? What about Mozart and Tiger Woods?

These and related questions are explored and discussed in this wonderful book.

The short answer is that our genetic gifts from birth likely play a much smaller part (and scientifically can't be proved at all yet) than most of us think. This is good news! We can achieve in any field, regardless of our natural "talents."

The book goes on to talk about the type of practice (called deliberate practice) that is required to reach world-class performance levels. The bad news? This deliberate practice is hard, tiring and generally determined even by those top performers as "not fun."

So I've just given you the premise for the book, and I haven't even touched on the richness of the examples, the great writing and, most importantly, the keys to understanding how you can apply deliberate practice in your life. All of which you'll find when you read it.

The year isn't over; yet, this will probably be the most important and most enjoyable book I read this year. While it provides much food for thought and may challenge some of your deepest held assumptions, it is a wonderful read that you will enjoy all the while.

Buy two copies - one for yourself and one for someone you care about. It's that good.

Learn more and purchase from Amazon.

• Talked about the change in positive ways
• Engaged others in conversation about the change and its benefits
• Helped other people really understand the change - so they could see it and believe in it the way that you did
• Encouraged others in regards to the change
• Kept others excited about the change, especially when they were negative or frustrated
• Supported others in any way that you could
  

• Organizing the change efforts
• Supervising the activities
• Running things as effectively as possible
• Trying to keep the efforts on task and on time
  

• Helping to steer the change, perhaps through ongoing communication
• Conveying some sense of importance and urgency relating to the change
• Moving people, through their action perhaps, in the direction of the change
  

That old wind that's whippin' out there
It's whistlin' your tune
That wind blew pyramids to Egypt
And footprints to the moon

And that old star that you been wishin' on
Is shinin' mighty bright
But it's the fire inside your heart
That's gonna lead you to the light

How you ever gonna know
What it's like to live there
How you ever gonna know victory
How you ever gonna know
What it's like when dreams become reality
How you ever gonna know
How it feels to hold her
How you ever gonna know
What it's like to dance
How you ever gonna know
If you never take a chance

You know failure isn't failure
If a lesson from it's learned
I guess love would not be love
Without a risk of being burned


Anything in life worth havin'
Lord, it has its sacrifice
But the gift that you're receiving
Is worth more than the price

How you ever gonna know
What it's like to live there
How you ever gonna know
What you never knew
How you ever gonna know
If you're down here doin'
What the good Lord put you here to do
How you ever gonna know
If you could have done it
How you ever gonna know
How it feels to fly
How you ever gonna know
If you never dare to try

Listen not to the critics
Who put their own dreams on the shelf
If you want to get the truth to admit it
You gotta find out for yourself

How you ever gonna know
What it's like to be there
How you ever gonna know
If you're the best
How you ever gonna know
What you believe in
If you don't put it to the test
How you ever gonna know
How it feels to hold him
How you ever gonna know
What livin' means
How you ever gonna know
If you never chase the dream

How you ever gonna know
Your potential
How you ever gonna know victory
How you ever gonna know
What it's like when dreams
Become reality
How you ever gonna know
How it feels to hold her
How you ever gonna know
What it's like to dance
How you ever gonna know
If you never take the chance