Everyone has their own "tattoos". Review of the book "45 tattoos of a manager" by Maxim Batyrev
Posted: Sat Dec 21, 2024 4:16 am
A colleague told me about the book "45 Tattoos of a Manager". It waited for its time in the "Must Read" pile for quite a long time, because I did not consider it to be relevant for me.
Aksi Marsovich
Intergalactic expert
Everyone has their own "tattoos"
When I started reading, I really regretted that I hadn't opened it earlier. The book grabbed me from the very first paragraphs and didn't let go until the very last "tattoo".
It is worth noting that the text is written very simply, without unnecessary active telegram number data pompous turns of phrase, professional terms and other tinsel, which, according to some authors, gives more expertise. No, here you will not find the reasoning of a theorist from the category of "how it could be if", here are only facts from the life of the author himself and the conclusions he made from this or that situation.
Reading, you understand that each of us gets our "tattoos" in the process of work, but not everyone draws conclusions from this and improves their lives with the help of the experience gained. Combat tells stories from his life that are not always related to work, but which once and for all developed principles in him that helped a simple guy, who had no idea about sales, become the best in his business, and then join the management team.
Each of the tattoos found a response in my work, but some were especially memorable:
"Teach-treat-kill." A rule that helped me understand that not all people can be corrected, and not all need it, which is why it is necessary to use the only stage at which power is needed - to punish.
It is not the weak sides that need to be developed, but the strong sides. There are no people who do everything perfectly. You can do many things well, but not be the best at anything.
A manager should be extreme. Courage in decision-making, that's what I would call it. People who are ready to take responsibility for certain actions are increasingly rare. The book gives a wonderful example, I think it is necessary to present it here.
"...This was far from the first meeting where they talked about creating a space station designed for a soft landing on the Moon. They were compiling a list of the main technical parameters of the station, which essentially determined its entire future design. And then the question arose: how to make a landing device - a chassis? After all, it is impossible to design it without knowing, at least approximately, where it will land. And what the soil of the lunar surface is, no one could yet say for sure. As they say, the scientists' opinions diverged. Some believed that the surface of the Moon resembled granite rocks. Others - that it was loose dust several tens of meters thick. Still others - that it most closely resembled porous pumice ... In short, there were almost as many opinions as scientists.
And so, for the umpteenth time, the high synclitus gathers, listens to the arguments "for" and "against" each hypothesis and... and does not see sufficient grounds to confidently settle on one of them, rejecting all the others. Moreover, there is no need to reproach the venerable high synclitus for this or to make claims against it for indecisiveness, timidity of thought and a tendency to play it safe in this case: they really do not exist, these weighty grounds - a concrete example of the difficulties that inevitably accompany a person's penetration into the New.
However, "penetration into the New" and other lofty words sound good after the next accomplishment is left behind. Incidentally, it will be called an accomplishment later, when it has already taken place, but for now it has a prosaic name: a task. And if it is a task, then there are plans, then deadlines, which, as we know, do not wait... In general, it was no longer possible to delay the decision on the landing device of the "lunar".
- So, - said Korolev. - Most scientists are inclined to think that the soil on the Moon is solid. Like granite, or limestone, or pumice - these are details - but solid. And the arguments of the supporters of this point of view seem more convincing than those of the opponents... - He paused and finished decisively: - That's what we'll assume.
- But, Sergei Pavlovich, - someone present could not help but say, - How can you make such a decision based on abstract conversations? What if there is dust? After all, all these learned men only express general considerations - nothing more! None of them takes it upon themselves to write - on the Moon, they say, there is such-and-such soil... and sign it!
Korolev looked with tired eyes at those sitting at the table:
- Ah, that's what you're missing...
He took a notebook and wrote in large handwriting on a sheet of paper: “THE MOON IS SOLID.”
Signed: S. KOROLEV.
He put the date, tore the sheet out of the notebook and handed it to the employee who was to directly supervise the design of the station.
Mark Gallai. With a man on board"
An incredible book. I recommend everyone to read it.
Imagine my joy when, six months later, I learned that Maxim Batyrev was coming to Kemerovo. Having infected all my colleagues, including the director, with my enthusiasm, I and a delegation of 5 people from our company went to the Combat seminar. It was the end of November, all the roads were covered in snow, there was a terrible snowfall, but nothing could stop us.
Everything went in one breath, Maxim is an excellent speaker, the entire content of the seminar is solid practice. Having returned to work, our commercial department has undergone major changes, and the managers were inspired to new victories))
In general, if you haven't read the book yet, don't waste a minute. Some things can be perceived as a guide to action, some as food for thought, but it will clearly be difficult to remain indifferent.
The book will be useful for beginning managers, while experienced managers may find the book too obvious, but it will be useful for them too, because often the most obvious things are undeservedly ignored.
In addition, I would like to add that on June 17, 2018, Maxim Batyrev will perform for the first time in Novokuznetsk with a seminar “Manager in the era of change”. More detailed information can be found here
Aksi Marsovich
Intergalactic expert
Everyone has their own "tattoos"
When I started reading, I really regretted that I hadn't opened it earlier. The book grabbed me from the very first paragraphs and didn't let go until the very last "tattoo".
It is worth noting that the text is written very simply, without unnecessary active telegram number data pompous turns of phrase, professional terms and other tinsel, which, according to some authors, gives more expertise. No, here you will not find the reasoning of a theorist from the category of "how it could be if", here are only facts from the life of the author himself and the conclusions he made from this or that situation.
Reading, you understand that each of us gets our "tattoos" in the process of work, but not everyone draws conclusions from this and improves their lives with the help of the experience gained. Combat tells stories from his life that are not always related to work, but which once and for all developed principles in him that helped a simple guy, who had no idea about sales, become the best in his business, and then join the management team.
Each of the tattoos found a response in my work, but some were especially memorable:
"Teach-treat-kill." A rule that helped me understand that not all people can be corrected, and not all need it, which is why it is necessary to use the only stage at which power is needed - to punish.
It is not the weak sides that need to be developed, but the strong sides. There are no people who do everything perfectly. You can do many things well, but not be the best at anything.
A manager should be extreme. Courage in decision-making, that's what I would call it. People who are ready to take responsibility for certain actions are increasingly rare. The book gives a wonderful example, I think it is necessary to present it here.
"...This was far from the first meeting where they talked about creating a space station designed for a soft landing on the Moon. They were compiling a list of the main technical parameters of the station, which essentially determined its entire future design. And then the question arose: how to make a landing device - a chassis? After all, it is impossible to design it without knowing, at least approximately, where it will land. And what the soil of the lunar surface is, no one could yet say for sure. As they say, the scientists' opinions diverged. Some believed that the surface of the Moon resembled granite rocks. Others - that it was loose dust several tens of meters thick. Still others - that it most closely resembled porous pumice ... In short, there were almost as many opinions as scientists.
And so, for the umpteenth time, the high synclitus gathers, listens to the arguments "for" and "against" each hypothesis and... and does not see sufficient grounds to confidently settle on one of them, rejecting all the others. Moreover, there is no need to reproach the venerable high synclitus for this or to make claims against it for indecisiveness, timidity of thought and a tendency to play it safe in this case: they really do not exist, these weighty grounds - a concrete example of the difficulties that inevitably accompany a person's penetration into the New.
However, "penetration into the New" and other lofty words sound good after the next accomplishment is left behind. Incidentally, it will be called an accomplishment later, when it has already taken place, but for now it has a prosaic name: a task. And if it is a task, then there are plans, then deadlines, which, as we know, do not wait... In general, it was no longer possible to delay the decision on the landing device of the "lunar".
- So, - said Korolev. - Most scientists are inclined to think that the soil on the Moon is solid. Like granite, or limestone, or pumice - these are details - but solid. And the arguments of the supporters of this point of view seem more convincing than those of the opponents... - He paused and finished decisively: - That's what we'll assume.
- But, Sergei Pavlovich, - someone present could not help but say, - How can you make such a decision based on abstract conversations? What if there is dust? After all, all these learned men only express general considerations - nothing more! None of them takes it upon themselves to write - on the Moon, they say, there is such-and-such soil... and sign it!
Korolev looked with tired eyes at those sitting at the table:
- Ah, that's what you're missing...
He took a notebook and wrote in large handwriting on a sheet of paper: “THE MOON IS SOLID.”
Signed: S. KOROLEV.
He put the date, tore the sheet out of the notebook and handed it to the employee who was to directly supervise the design of the station.
Mark Gallai. With a man on board"
An incredible book. I recommend everyone to read it.
Imagine my joy when, six months later, I learned that Maxim Batyrev was coming to Kemerovo. Having infected all my colleagues, including the director, with my enthusiasm, I and a delegation of 5 people from our company went to the Combat seminar. It was the end of November, all the roads were covered in snow, there was a terrible snowfall, but nothing could stop us.
Everything went in one breath, Maxim is an excellent speaker, the entire content of the seminar is solid practice. Having returned to work, our commercial department has undergone major changes, and the managers were inspired to new victories))
In general, if you haven't read the book yet, don't waste a minute. Some things can be perceived as a guide to action, some as food for thought, but it will clearly be difficult to remain indifferent.
The book will be useful for beginning managers, while experienced managers may find the book too obvious, but it will be useful for them too, because often the most obvious things are undeservedly ignored.
In addition, I would like to add that on June 17, 2018, Maxim Batyrev will perform for the first time in Novokuznetsk with a seminar “Manager in the era of change”. More detailed information can be found here