#Grindworthy: September 29, 2011

Posted by Bettina Warshaw 09 / 29 / 11

This week’s required reading:

Step one: the idea
The 99 Percent interviews Tim Harford, author of Adapt: Why Success Always Starts with Failure, and learns that “when it comes to failing, our egos are our own worst enemies.” In truth, Harford says, failure sets the groundwork for real success.

Creating good strategy
Strategy is not about ambition, leadership, vision, or planning, says the McKinsey Quarterly. It’s coherent action backed by a valid argument. Here’s how to develop good strategy.

Hassle maps help make products frictionless
It pays to see your business through the eyes of your customers, and record every frustration, complication and doubt they might experience with you. Armed with this “hassle map,” you can work ruthlessly to eliminate every irritation they face, says Fast Company, making your product frictionless.

How to get a job in America
Getting a job you love is one thing, but these days even getting any old job is tough. What do you do when most resumes you send out get no response, and every response you get is “No, thanks?” Here are five solid tips for getting a job in America.

Practice to think differently
You can’t learn how to think differently, you just have to do it. In this article, Jeff Dyer and Hal Gregerson say that anyone who consistently makes the effort to think differently will eventually find they can think differently – the key to being innovative.