If I could only have 20 books that would help me Do More Great Work, what would they be?

The Arbinger Institute’s Leadership and Self-Deception would be one.

If you can’t see my short video review, watch it here.

Kevin Carroll has an amazingly cool background. Raised by his grandparents in Philadelphia, his first job really was with the U.S. Air Force where he served as a language interpreter and translator. And in those ten years he became fluent in Croatian and Czech and Russian and German. But while being fantastic at languages, he was also an athlete and soon an athletic trainer. Leaving the Air Force, he worked his way up to be the head athletic trainer for the Philadelpha 76ers. So he’s already cool. But then he was tapped on the shoulder by Nike. He spent a number of years at Nike helping to deepen their understanding of athletic performance and team dynamics and interpersonal connection, basically helping Nike become one of the forces it is today.

And then things shifted again, and he put his experience and wisdom into a terrific series of books, starting with the Rules of the Red Rubber Ball. In this interview we talk about:

• How it was a ball that saved and changed Kevin’s life.
• Why ‘encouragers’ are so crucial to sustaining success
• The role of curiosity and play in connecting with your great purpose and Great Work
• The role of “lonely work” is setting up for success.

You can follow Kevin on Twitter at @KCKatalyst and find him on the web at www.Kevincarrollkatalyst.com.

Listen to my interview with Kevin Carroll

Jason Fried’s new book Rework comes out today, and I’m delighted that we managed to talk just a week ago in the lead up to its launch. Now here’s a quote to kick us off. It’s from Seth Godin, and he says (and I’m paraphrasing), “Make everything a project – and run it through 37Signals’ Basecamp.” Jason is the one of the founders of 37Signals. They design useful software to help people work better – connect with people, run projects, managing stuff. (I know, because I use it!)

And what’s cool is they haven’t done it by practising business as usual, but by practising business as unusual. In this interview Jason shares some of his successful and counter-intutive approaches to how to get stuff done. We talk about:

• The evolution of 37Signals – and why where you start is not where you finish
• The value of introducing “done enough” as a measure of success
• The problem with meetings – and what to do about it
• Why planning is highly overrated
• And a bunch more…

You can pick up the new book on Amazon , follow Jason on Twitter at @JasonFried, and learn more about 37 Signals’ products at their website.

Listen to my interview with Jason Fried

(And by the way, Jason’s surname is pronounced “Freed” – Apologies to Jason, and please ignore my mistake at the start of the interview!)

Join Marshall and Michael for a free 45 minute teleclass on Monday March 29th at 12 noon Eastern share tips and insights on how to keep your Mojo and do more Great Work.

=> Register here

When times are challenging and demands on your energy, focus and time are only increasing, you need to have practical strategies to not only succeed but to flourish.

In this session you’ll hear Marshall and Michael share:

==> What’s at the heart of Mojo – and why you need to find it and keep it.

==> What’s the difference between Good Work and Great Work – and why Good Work can be part of the problem.

==> Three key tactics to help you keep your Mojo.

==> Four ways to Stop the Busywork so you can focus on your Great Work.

We expect this teleclass to be popular, and there are limited lines, so please register now

=> Register here

Marshall Goldsmith is one of the world’s leading executive coaches, and author of numerous New York Times best-sellers, including What Got You Here Won’t Get You There and his latest, Mojo: How to Get It, How to Keep It, How to Get It Back if You Lose It. You can pick up free Mojo resources at www.MojoTheBook.com

Michael Bungay Stanier is the Senior Partner of Box of Crayons, a company that helps organizations do less Good Work and more Great Work. His latest book is Do More Great Work: Stop the Busywork. Start the Work That Matters and you can find free resources at www.DoMoreGreatWork.com.

Lord Carnavon: Can you see anything?

Howard Carter: Yes, wonderful things.

It must have been quite the moment in 1922 when Howard Carter first peered through a small crack into the antechamber of King Tutankhamun’s tomb.

I do love this exchange between Carter and his sponsor, Lord Carnavon. You can almost hear the amazement and astonishment and excitement in Carter’s voice.

Occasionally, just occasionally, I’m smart enough to stop the rush, step away from my own busywork, and take a look around at my world and my life.

And lo and behold, I too see wonderful things.

If there were two things you’d point to as amazing in your life now – what would they be?