Worlds #1; The Compound Effect; Tracking Twitter Part 2; Super Achievers

"...keeping you great"

HEADLINES:
 
The Compound Effect -- do super achievers know (or do) something the rest of us don't? Yes, and Darren Hardy has outlined their core principles in his latest book The Compound Effect: Multiplying Your Success One Step at a Time. One key is capturing "the elusive force of momentum." Jim Collins referred to it as the flywheel effect, but Hardy provides some highly practical approaches that get you to actually do something about it. Not enough business thought leaders talk about the importance and science behind momentum. More on his book below... but first:

Better Way to Track Twitter -- last week I mentioned a couple applications for tracking when your company is mentioned on Twitter. Kevin Kruse, author of We, emailed suggesting "I found even better is http://www.socialoomph.com/ which is free, lets you plug in the keywords to monitor, and it SENDS YOU AN EMAIL WHEN THERE IS A MATCH. For better or worse we tend to notice/check our email constantly, as opposed to REMEMBERING to fire up HooteSuite/tweetdeck and manually checking." Having this information in your "flight path" of normal activity is better -- thanks, Kevin.

Another Reason to Avoid "Internal Customers" -- or at least avoid the term. Notes Ian Munro with Calgary-based Long View Systems, "If one group believes that they are the customer of another it can introduce 'caste based thinking' where the customer group utilizes the mantra of 'the customer is always right' to position themselves as superior to the service providing organization. As you point out I think it is important for all internal teams to work on a united basis to service the real customer." Excellent point, Ian - thanks.

World's #1 Managed Service Provider (MSP) -- BTW, 850-employee Long View Systems understands a thing or two about customer service. They were just named the World's #1 managed service provider (MSP) on Nine Lives Media Inc.'s fourth annual MSPmentor 100, a prestigious list that identifies the globe's top 100 MSPs every year. Congrats to Don Bialik and his team, whom many of you have met at our last half-dozen Fortune Summits.

Key Disciplines for Major Breakthroughs -- back to The Compound Effect, I was concerned Darren's book would read like all the other success-type books. However, as publisher of SUCCESS magazine, he sits in a unique position to synthesize all of what works and doesn't work -- and shares our frustrations that most success books don't actually cause anyone to "move the needle." Not surprisingly, after reading his book I instituted some small changes in my routine that have added momentum to my flywheel.

Thanksgiving Year-Round -- when you pick up the book (book club members should have received the book by now), go to page 9 and read the section "You Haven't Experienced..." Then go to page 26, if you're married, and read "Thanksgiving Year-Round" -- I implemented this simple routine and experienced its powerful effect on my own marriage.

Eradicating Bad Habits -- Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Won't Get You There, outlines the 20 habits that derail executives. Darren has the tools for eradicating these habits. That's why I've paired them up as keynoters for our Fortune Leadership Summit May 10 - 11, Houston. Please read Darren's book (couple hours) and then come meet and learn from him directly.