2. Must Reads

Must Reads

“When turmoil rules, go in.” — Lao Tzu

There is so much to read, so much to know, so many sources to follow. And the volume of news and information just keeps growing exponentially. How to keep up? Even more, how to rediscover the serendipity of learning something new and interesting for its own sake?

Here, for your enjoyment and interest, are the articles Temin and Company considers “must reads.” They are primarily on the topics of reputation and crisis management, the media, leadership and strategy, perception and psychology, self-presentation, science, girls and women, organizational behavior and other articles of interest.

They are listed below with the most recent articles first, and to the side, by category.

We hope you enjoy them and would appreciate your comments. And whenever you have any favorite articles for us to add, please let us know so that we might include them for other readers to enjoy.

There is so much to read, so much to know, so many sources to follow. And the volume of news and information just keeps growing exponentially. How to keep up? Even more, how to rediscover the serendipity of learning something new and interesting for its own sake?

Here, for your enjoyment and interest, are the articles Temin and Company considers “must reads.” They are primarily on the topics of reputation and crisis management, the media, leadership and strategy, perception and psychology, self-presentation, science, girls and women, organizational behavior and other articles of interest.

They are listed below with the most recent articles first, and to the side, by category.

We hope you enjoy them and would appreciate your comments. And whenever you have any favorite articles for us to add, please let us know so that we might include them for other readers to enjoy.

Force of Nature Leadership: Steve Jobs and the “X Factor”

Reputation Matters, Forbes, October 6, 2011

Steve Jobs has so profoundly affected both our day-to-day lives and the trajectory of our technological progress that he can be categorized as a ‘force of nature’ leader: an unstoppable, indefatigable, and transcendent leader who inspires generations by catalyzing new ideas or bringing older ones to life in revolutionary ways. […read more]

Facebook’s 880 Pages About You!

Martin Linstrom, Fast Company, September 30, 2011

The amount of data we passively let companies take in on us is staggering, and it is used in unexpected ways for advertisers. This article considers and weighs in on all of them in a thoughtful but concise and valuable manner. […read more]

The doofus factor: How can you tell a good board of directors from a bad one?

The Economist, September 17, 2011

“…It is hard to tell from the outside whether a board is any good. New guidelines requiring directors to be independent of the chief executive and to have at least some relevant qualifications have largely ended absurdities such as the octogenarian actress (as seen in “Caddyshack 2″) who sat on the board of Lehman Brothers….” […read more]

Trust the Evidence, Not Your Instincts

Jeffrey Pfeffer and Rober Sutton, The New York Times, September 3, 2011

Emphasis is placed on evidence and statistics over trusting instinct. While this is accurate it is also important to trust instinct sometimes – if you have good ones, of course. […read more]

Steve Jobs’ Ultimate Lesson for Entrepreneurs

Reputation Matters, Forbes, September 1, 2011

Steve Jobs, the genius full of contradictions: artist and engineer; Buddhist and hard-nosed businessman; visionary entrepreneur who has built large and resilient companies; optimist and pessimist; the ultimate opaque manager who has guarded his privacy and secrecy, even while providing the world with the tools of transparency. Steve Jobs had the remarkable ability to hold completely disparate ideas and values in his mind at the same time, synthesize and then act upon them. […read more]

Do You Suffer From Decision Fatigue?

John Tierney, The New York Times, August 17, 2011

“…No matter how rational and high-minded you try to be, you can’t make decision after decision without paying a biological price. It’s different from ordinary physical fatigue – you’re not consciously aware of being tired – but you’re low on mental energy. The more choices you make throughout the day, the harder each one becomes for your brain, and eventually it looks for shortcuts, usually in either of two very different ways….” […read more]

Strategy, The One “Do” Amidst the Don’ts — Wrapping Up “The 10 Don’ts of Corporate Social Media” Series

Reputation Matters, Forbes, August 17, 2011

#11: “Strategy, The One ‘Do’ Amidst the Don’ts — Wrapping Up ‘The 10 Don’ts of Corporate Social Media’ Series”

Strategy, Strategy, Strategy – that is our prescription for corporations looking to enter or exist in the world of social media.

It is so very easy to enmesh your brand in the frantic social media activity of the moment; and it is so very easy to get off track, off-message, and, well, just plain off.

Whereas Boards, CEOs, CMOs and corporate marketers are fairly adept at judging and managing the value, efficacy and quality of conventional marketing and media strategies, because they are essentially uncertain about what is going on in social media they can be easily led astray.  When you don’t know where you need to go, all roads will take you there.

When all bets are off, you do not know where to lay your money down.

And this is where strategy must come into play. […read more]