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Book: Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite

- by Dennis R. Mortensen. Monday, July 2, 2007 email  print   share

Most of the reviews that I have read about: Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite by Paul Arden have been negative and therefore it is with even more pleasure that I highly recommend it. The “book” is quite small. It is also fairly short. But Paul’s statements are extremely strong and you know he is right as you go from page to page - agreeing to most of them!

– the book is essentially about being comfortable with making decisions and mostly bad decisions and learn how to live life with the fact that taking risk is the best security you will ever get. But as an Entrepreneur there are simply too many great nuggets for me to mention them all. However; there is one takeaway I would like to publish (my rephrased version) as I think we all might forget this from time to time working with Web Analytics or Affiliate Marketing:

For any analytical and detail oriented person starting out on a career in Web Analytics, try not thinking about magic tools and metrics or whatever – Think about Money. It’s honest!”

I think this statement alone justifies the 2 hours reading the book. Happy reading.. I am off to: “The Black Swan” by Nassim Taleb.


7 Comments:

  1. Anil Umachigi Says:

    Think about Money! indeed the right approach, Dennis thanks for sharing! that’ll be in one of quotes i’ll preserve and use :-)

    Anil

  2. Thomas Faivre-Duboz Says:

    The title of this book reminds me a story of a friend preparing for a quite difficult exam: the teacher asked a question to the students. My friend answered something like “I think that it is true because XXX”.

    The teacher finally said “Ok…Now, tell me why you think it’s wrong !” ;-)

  3. Dennis R. Mortensen Says:

    Hi Anil,

    he he… ANY KPI that somehow relates to the Money tends to get some attention at meetings :-)

    Hi Thomas,

    You are spot on! - this a actually a great “management” tool. don’t tell what you find great - tell me what you dislike!

  4. Lars Says:

    Yeah, it’s a short book. I read like half of it in a bookstore. ;-) I definitely intend to pick up a copy. Only problem is that I am currently reading more than a handful books. It did look good though. I am all for freeing ones mind from preconceived ideas. It’s those who think outside the box who become the most successful. I recently wrote a post about hiring that touched on that subject.

  5. Dennis R. Mortensen Says:

    Hi Lars,

    We are very much on the same page ;-) then!

  6. Muskoka Says:

    Good Day Dennis
    Are you the Dennis Mortenson that helped me out with the earth day website and support thru the MM Foundation at U of T way back?

  7. Dennis R. Mortensen Says:

    Hi Muskoka,

    hmmm. I do not think so. :-)
    … but I am a helpful dude, so what was it about?

    Cheers
    Dennis

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