As I put the book down, I came away with the feeling that I needed to take something away. I needed to capture the spirit of the book. I knew from past history that the “Giant Erasers” would soon be wiping away the memories of this profound work. I took out a pen and wrote down the quotation from page 35 on the back of a business card.
As I viewed the quotation, the chapter came flooding back into my mind. This little card helped me remember the book. I put the card on my desk where I could see it and the book stayed alive for weeks. Powerful words and a simple reminder.
I would like to take this simple strategy and share with you 10 powerful quotations from some of my favorite authors. The subjects vary, but the quotations are powerful. Each of these books has made an impact on my life. I’ve written the quotations in an appropriate font and put them each in a single business card template. You can easily print them all out on one Avery business card sheet.
The cards work great as desktop reminders, illustrative bookmarks, or as a memory jogger for pocket or purse. Since these quotations are actually graphics you will not have to have these special fonts on your computer.
Here is a short synopsis of each book and the included quotation.
John C. Maxwell: Becoming A Person of Influence. This little book is chock full of great ideas and will really change your outlook of what “Influence” is all about. I’ve found this book is very useful for small group study or a personal development challenge. If you are looking to advance in your career, this is an important resource for your success library. The selected quotation…
“For Most People, It’s Not What They Are that Holds Them Back, It’s What They Think They’re Not.”
Nicholas Boothman: How To Connect in Business in 90 Seconds or Less. This book has simple but effective strategies to connect with people. This is one of the few audio books in my library that I have listened to multiple times. Nicholas takes us on an adventure with his old employer, Francis Xavier Muldoon. Mr. Boothman is a powerful storyteller and paints a very compelling picture. He has distilled his business strategy into KFC…
Know what you want,
Find out what you’re getting,
Change what you do until you get what you want.
David Allen: Getting Things Done. If you have read this blog for any length of time, you’ll know that I am a firm believer in the “Getting Things Done,” time management system. David’s system of project management and next actions has helped me take control of my in-box and myriad of projects. His simple mantra for dealing with “stuff” is…
Do It, Delegate It, Defer It, Drop It.
Bill Phillips: Body For Life. With a combination of aerobic exercise, weight training, and proper diet, the Body for Life system will change the way you look and feel. The real secret to success with this plan is the motivation to see it through. When I was struggling to lift the barbell for the 10th time his quotation would come rushing into my mind…
“Don’t Just Do It… Do It With Passion & Pride!”
Mark Sanborn: The Fred Factor. A small hand-held book. Only 112 pages. Profound stuff! Simplicity is key, and Mark writes about the effect his small town postman, “Fred” had on his life. It’s about going the extra mile and always doing more than expected. It can be summed up…
“Passion In Your Work & Life Can Turn The Ordinary Into The Extraordinary”
John Ortberg: If You Want To Walk On Water. This is a book I would not recommend to anyone. Don’t put it on your Amazon shopping list or pick it up at your local bookstore. Don’t even crack the cover… Unless… you want your life to be different. John will profoundly challenge you throughout the book, because as he says…
“If You Want To Walk On Water, You Have To Get Out Of The Boat”
Patrick Hanlon: Primal Branding. Why do some companies prosper and other similar companies struggle or fail? What makes a product popular? This book covers seven different areas that are necessary for your brand to differentiate itself from all of the others. One of the keys is that…
“Preference Creates Sales”
James Surowiecki: The Wisdom of Crowds. Are crowds smarter than individual experts? In this fascinating book, Mr. Surowiecki looks at many amazing aspects of crowds. From voting to traffic control, James takes us on a interesting adventure right into the heart of the largest crowds in the world. He even asks this thought provoking question…
“If You Had To Meet Someone In Paris On A Specific Day But Had No Way Of Contacting Them, When And Where Would You Meet?”
Bill Wagner: The Entrepreneur Next Door. Who is the Entrepreneur next door? What makes them tick? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Why can they start a business, when your endeavor never gets off the ground. Bill might ask you…
“Are You An Entrepreneur or a Wantapreneur?”
James C. Humes: Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln. Ever wish you could capture the imagination of your audience like Martin Luther King? Have you ever tried to start a speech with a powerful opening line like Winston Churchill? How about standing as tall as Abraham Lincoln? Mr. Humes would be sure to remind you of one important thing…
“Speech Is Theatre”
To keep these important quotations in front of you, download the 10 quotation cards template.
Instructions for use:
- Download the Powerful Quotations Template for MS Word
- Open the template in word
- Print out on Avery business card stock (10 Card)
- Break cards apart
- Put the cards on your desk or use as bookmarks
- For portability, stack cards in order and clip together with mini clip
- Transport easily in pocket or purse
- Add to your Walleteer organizer
If you are looking for inspiration in the new year, the books above will capture your imagination and take you on an incredible journey. Most fit well with a Personal MBA program to help you become more successful in business.
Put the wisdom of these book’s at your fingertips. Download a set today. For fun, pass the “Wisdom of Crowds” card around and see if other people would pick the same time and place that you do. You may be surprised at the answer.
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