Readers' PicksStaff Favorites
What engages your interest? Let us know what your reading or watching — in any medium — that you find useful, inspirational or fun, and we'll share it with the ICT community. ICT2020 staffers get the ball rolling in this issue.
Jeffrey Gitomer's 'Little Red Book of Selling'
Quit whining and get on with it! Or in the words of Jeffrey Gitomer, "Are you a winner? Or a whiner?" He reminds us that "Whiners are avoided. Whiners are never listened to. Whiners are never respected." Long and short of it is, to be a good salesperson, you have to be tough and tough on yourself. You need to work while others sleep. You need to be prepared and spend the time that it will take to do a lot of research about your prospects – their vendors, their competition, their customers, other employees…don't just rely on the website.
This little red book, which really is little and red, is a fast, easy read. I picked it up at the airport before a 5-hour flight and finished it before landing at the other end. It's creative, fun to look at, and packed with great advice that rings true. Whether your job is in sales or not, the Little Red Book of Selling will give you a shot in the arm with practical advice about building your brand, ensuring people remember you, giving away something of value for free, being creative and much more. Here's wishing you many "wins"! – Taly Walsh
Physorg.com
It's said that genius is 10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration. We tend to know what the perspiration part of a project involves, but where does one find the inspiration? The next time that your brain needs a jolt, point your Web browser to physorg.com. Rather than tracking news of the just-released, Physorg keeps readers abreast of the latest advances in science — many that are still in the laboratory. Two sections deal specifically with advances that affect technology and electronics; the findings one reads about here are what will become the next "big thing" in the marketplace. Updated continuously, physorg never fails to amaze and inspire. So give the sweat glands a rest for a few minutes each day, and allow your mind to soar at physorg. There's no telling what it will inspired you to create. – Marty Davis
'Failure: The Secret to Success'
The latest installment of Honda's "The Power of Dreams" feature video series examines the positive results of pushing the envelope to the point of failure. Indycar driver Danica Patrick relates how she crashed in her first race, but keeps her competitive drive alive. Honda engineers discuss struggling in early years of their racing engine program. "Great risk reaps great reward" shines through as part of Honda's corporate philosophy. It's uplifting and motivational. Maybe a bit over the top with "New Age-iness," but the stories compensate for that, especially one engineer reminiscing about a race engine that blew up and was reduced to a bucket of parts. In trying times, it helps to remember that even the greatest inventors dealt with long periods of trial and error. The common denominator: They never stopped trying. This isn't a new story, but it's well-told – and applicable to any industry. Well worth eight minutes and change when you need a pick-me-up. Also, be sure to check out the other two vignettes available at the link above: "Mobility 2088" (with a nice nod to mobile communications midstream in the video) and "Kick out the Ladder." – Mike Snyder
Seth Godin's 'The Dip'
Quitter! Seth Godin, renowned author and marketing expert, writes how quitting is a powerful business tool when wielded properly. Despite the stigma traditionally attached to quitting, Godin argues that "the dip" — the metaphorical chasm facing a project right before things turn around or go into the tank – is a crucial assessment point for savvy business people to decide if good time and effort is being thrown after bad, or if you are just about to break through and reap the rewards of your efforts. – Brian West
Telephony Online
This online version of the popular print magazine Telephony, is a must-read for those looking to quickly mine the world of telecom news and advances. The cornerstone of the site are three sections on the home page: Top Story; From the Web; and The Briefing Room. The Top Story is a feature-length presentation of a pressing topic in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. From the Web breaks the news down into three categories—national, global, and blog. Capturing blog news is particularly valuable for directing interested readers to where online discussions about news stories are ongoing. Finally, The Briefing Room is where companies routinely put up their newest press releases. A handy way to stay on top of the industry without spending valuable hours yourself searching for relevant information. – Lora Magruder 
