Procrastination provides an excuse for mediocrity. - Burka and Yuen (pg. 24).
I live in Suburbia, Pennsylvania; I have a secure job; I have ample savings for disaster recovery; I thought that I didn't have much to be worried about or afraid of. Now I know I walk with fear. Procrastination begins with a fear of something, which paralyzes until a more motivating force wins. The first half of this book explores these fears (of success, of failure, of control loss, etc.), and the second half then works out possible solutions (set goals, plan out the small intermediate steps, assign time to complete, get somebody close involved to help). The first section helped the most, as I hadn't been able to see my closely held fears before. Now they are identified, and I need to strive to be constantly aware of how any of these close fears are affecting me.
Burka and Yuen describe procrastination as a self-worth defense mechanism. Although the task could be accomplished, there is an accompanying fear which prevents immediate completion. Arjun wondered how this theory fits together with Deci and Ryan's Motivation = f(autonomy, competency, relatedness). I hazard that Deci and Ryan's ideas are incomplete as they appear to address desire (as in why is the goal wanted?), while Burka and Yuen point to fear's attendant anxiety. Are these theories just further explorations of the carrot and the stick?
You're never as bad as you look when you're losing, or as good as you look during a winning streak. A Basic Guide to Buying and Selling a Company (pg. 92).
80% of small businesses fail in 10 years, 53% fail within 5 (pg. 208). This failure rate underscores the importance of preparatory thinking and planning, which the author covers quite well. From the reasons for owning a business, to work expectations, to negotiations (pg. 40), to handling prospecti (pg. 72), and finally to Purchase and Sale agreements (pg. 164), the author covers his bases; especially given the simultaneously released companion book, A Basic Guide for Valuing a Company.
Taken as a pair, these books provide a world of perspective which I'm using as an investor in equities. We'll see how this knowledge performs. ;)