I had an opportunity to sit down with Jeff on a Google Hangout to talk about his newest book.

In the interview we cover:

• What this book is really about.
• Why he wrote the book.
• The in-between moment in his life that has had the greatest impact.
• What we can all do to reduce our frustration while we wait.

This is a really good book that challenges our thinking about achieving our individual goals and what is really important in that process.

In a time when we can have instant everything, the message of the book resonates with a deep need to savor our lives and enjoy the in-between moments as much or more than arriving at the destination.

You can read Jeff’s blog (one of the most popular blogs on the planet) and connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.

Right now you can also pre-order the book and get access to over $200 worth of free bonus items.

Question: Which of your in-between moments helped you to the grow the most and shaped who you are today?

(*many of the links in this post are affiliate links)

It’s a book about, wait for it, how to get up early.

Now, you may be thinking, “You lost me at get up early.”

I was the same way.

I thought I would never be a “morning person.”

But here’s the thing, you can be whatever you want to be.

It starts with deciding what you want to be.

Amazingly, Andy made over $20,000 in the first 90 days after publishing his book.

It’s a book that has a simple message but has a profound result if you commit to it.

In the interview we cover:

• Why Andy wrote the book.
• The impact getting up early has had on him.
• Why he go up in the middle of the interview and ran out of the room (seriously)

This book has changed my life.

I never thought I would be getting up at 5am.

Now I do it regularly and I’m asking myself, “what else can I do in my life that I never thought was possible?”

That’s the impact this book will have on you.

You can get more information about Andy Traub at TakePermission.com, Twitter, and Facebook.

Check out the Early To Rise site to get more information about the book and to buy the book.

Question: What could getting up early make possible for you?

Then he started a blog, wrote a book, and started speaking to groups and at conferences. Dave Ramsey hired him and then he wrote another book called Quitter.

The way I wrote that sounds like he did this all one lazy afternoon. It actually took him 12 years to be where he is today.

However, Quitter is one of my all time favorite books and Jon Acuff is one of my favorite authors.

So I’m excited to tell you about Jon’s new book Start.

I was fortunate to get an advanced copy of Start as part of the launch team for Jon’s new book.

Quitter was fantastic and Start is equally fantastic, but in a different way.

If Jon Acuff were Pearl Jam, Quitter would be his Ten and Start would be his Vs.

You probably only got that reference if you wore flannel and Dr. Martens at some point in your life from approximately 1991 through 1996.

The tagline for Start is Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average & Do Work That Matters.

Jon uses his recent experiences, and his exposure to Dave Ramsey’s influence, to outline the stages of living an extraordinary life and making a meaningful contribution to the world.

Jon outlines five stages that every extraordinary life goes through:

1. Learning

2. Editing

3. Mastering

4. Harvesting

5. Guiding

Jon walks you through each of these stages and provides ways to master each stage on the way to extraordinary. Yet he does it through stories and funny illustrations that keep you glued to the pages to get to the end.

Something I appreciate is Jon’s willingness to share his failures and missteps along the way to his own excellence. He comes across as a very regular guy who has done some extraordinary things.

I also appreciate that he doesn’t come across as a know it all and confesses to still need to learn and be mentored.

Jon’s story of his meeting with Dave Ramsey about using Quitter as a title of his last book is worth the price of the book by itself.

“I was a nervous wreck. I think at some point I won’t be intimidated by Dave Ramsey anymore – probably around 2032 that will happen,” he says, adding, “So I marched up to [his] office, sweaty and a little throw-uppy.”

For readers to get the most out of Start I think there are three ways to best approach it:

As a mall kiosk. When you go to the mall and you want to figure out where you are in relation to the stores you want to visit you use a kiosk. Start can provide you with a way to determine where you are on your road to extraordinary right now.

As a map. After you determine where you are you can envision where you want to be with the five stages of excellence. You may be in Learning but you want to get to Mastering. Start will help you create your map to get there.

As a  motivator. Jon uses his funny stories to explain that the road to extraordinary is hard but it’s worth it. When you read the book you will want to be extraordinary.

I was honored to be part of the launch team for Start and I recommend the book to anyone who wants to do extraordinary things with their life.

Start comes out tomorrow but if you pre-order the book today you’ll get over $250 worth of free bonuses. Just click here for more information.

Question: Where are you on your road to excellence? What can you do to get to the next stage?

(Note: The links to books in this post are affiliate links)

However, this book was released by The Domino Project, so that was my first clue it would be good.

Yet, Read This Before Our Next Meeting wasn’t just a good book.

In fact, it really isn’t a book. It’s a manifesto. There’s a difference.

There was passion and energy in this manifesto. A passion and energy I have never observed about how to make meetings better.

For those of you who aren’t readers, and especially aren’t readers of manifestos about meetings, rest assured. This manifesto can be read in about an hour and it’s well worth your time.

Al Pittampalli is a corporate culture warrior trying to change the way modern meetings are conducted. I can say that if all companies adopted his philosophy meetings would be more substantial and effective.

So here’s the breakdown of the manifesto:

1. Al says that meetings should only be called when a decision has already been made. The    purpose of a meeting is to debate the decision, propose alternatives, make suggestions, or  address any concerns. In addition, different teams and departments can coordinate to make  their action plan.

2. The modern meeting starts on time, moves fast, and ends on schedule.

3. Modern meetings are small. Only those critical to debate the decision should be there.

4. Everyone is prepared. If they’re not, they will be asked free to leave.

5. The point of a modern meeting is an action plan. What are we doing? Who will do what?       When will actions be completed?

6. Everyone is expected to have read all pertinent memos prior to the meeting.

7. The modern meeting only works in a corporate culture where brainstorming is valued. The brainstorming happens separate from a modern meeting.

Some of my favorite quotes from the manifesto are:

“If an operating room were as sloppily run as our meetings, patients would die.”

or

“We’re now addicted to meetings that insulate us from the work we ought to be doing.”

It’s so true.

The manifesto is an insightful and strategic take on how we can make meetings better.

However, it’s much more than that.

The reason this manifesto resonated so much with me is because it’s really about how to make work life better.

Instead of spending time at work in meetings and trying to get buy in, and trying to communicate, and trying and trying. If we adopt Al’s philosophy we can spend our time doing.

That’s when the real fun begins because we get to do the work. Work we enjoy.

To purchase Read This Before Our Next Meeting go here. (Not an affiliate link)

What’s your take on the manifesto?