Success Starts with Failure

Success is the result of failure and like Thomas Edison, in order for us to really succeed we must fail and fail again. Through our failure, we learn to adapt and learn from our personal experiences. Such is the premise Tim Harford draws in his book Adapt Why Success Always Starts with Failure.  You can grab a copy of the book from this link (Amazon referral) or from your local library like I did.

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For the majority of the book, I enjoyed reading the stories Harford guides us through.  Most of the stories are familiar, if you've kept up with the world, ranging from fighting insurgents in the middle east to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.  He also mentions several companies that are successful because they fail, A LOT!  He tells us that success and successful ideas are like evolution.  Many ideas are necessary, few will succeed and many will fail. Business, biological evolution and economics are all tied together through the idea of success through failure.

In the end, we can take the lessons from the book and put it to work for ourselves.  Let us learn to fail without taking it personally.  We will learn and grow in that way, just as evolution, economies and successful companies grow.

Have you read this book?  Let me know your thoughts on it.

What inspiring or thought provoking books have you read lately?  I would love to hear from you.

Love Reading? Get the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation) For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

9 Books To Bring You Closer To Success

Do you read a lot of books? What about books on success and productivity? I admit I read more than I should when it comes to these topics.  I should be putting some of the concepts into practice. Had I put all of the lessons learned in these books into practice, I'm sure I would be more successful at what I do.  So like many of you, I'm still learning and doing what I can to apply the lessons I learn.

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Here are the books.  I've arranged the nine books in a tic-tac-toe format, or the Brady Bunch format if you prefer.  Aren't you glad I still remember how to do tables in HTML?  These books used to be on my sidebar, I decided to do some cleaning up and so I'm putting them on this post.


These are all great books. At the moment, my favorite book from the above list is The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.  This version contains additional content found on Tim Ferriss' blog along with testimonials from others who used some of the concepts and achieved success.  It gives you a blueprint of how to make the best use of your time so you can do the more important things in life, whatever that may be.

If you love reading, you might want to get the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation).  I think it's a better product than the Apple iPad for reading books.

What about you?  Have you read any of the books from the above list?  What is your favorite?  Do you have other books you would like to suggest?

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12 Free Ebook Download And Search Sites

With the Advent of the Apple iPad, the ebooks market is getting more crowded.  The Amazon Kindle has remained the leader up until now.  Sony, Barnes & Noble among many others will be upgrading or joining this joyride.  Buying the device can cost you a bit of pocket change, luckily ebooks are cheaper than the paper alternatives.  An even better option is to find FREE ebooks.

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To help you find more FREE ebooks than you can read in a lifetime, I've put together a list of sites that either host the books themselves or helps you search for the books.  Project Gutenberg is probably the most widely known.  Most of you have also heard about Google digitizing books.  Below you will find links to these and more.

1. pdfgeni.com
2. scribd.com
3. Project Gutenberg
4. Manybooks
5. Feedbooks
6. Books In My Phone
7. Queens Library
8. NYPL
9. Online Computer Books
10. Free Tech Books
11. Free Computer Books
12. Google Books

What sites do you use to download or find Ebooks?

Recommended Book: The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content.

Love Reading? Get the Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation)

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FrugalNYC's Frugal Philanthropist Giveaway (Book)

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UPDATE: Winners are SuppermanChef, FreeFromBroke and Sabrina (see comments). Please send us the address to send your prize to. If no contact information is received by 12:00 PM Noon Monday 11/23/09, an alternate winner will be selected. Congratulations to all!

UPDATE 2: Since we did not hear back from Sabrina, the default 3rd winner is Lisa Newton!


Welcome back to another FrugalNYC Giveaway!  This time it's a great book called How To Be An Everyday Philanthropist by Nicole Bouchard Boles.

I received a copy from the publisher about a week ago and dug right in.  I loved what I saw and decided that I definitely want to share this information with all the readers of FrugalNYC.  The book gives you 330 ways to make a difference, without being a millionaire!  You don't have to be a big business owner or win the lottery to make a big difference in your community or in someone's life.  This book shares a wealth of well researched information on how to do that TODAY!

Here's what the publisher says about the book, which describes what the book is about perfectly.

Want to help make your community, your town—your world—a better place, but don’t know where to begin? How To Be An Everyday Philanthropist shows you the way. A handbook, a resource guide, a call to action, and an inspiration, it offers 330 concrete, direct ideas for making a difference—all of which have nothing to do with the size of your checkbook and everything to do with using the hidden assets that are already a part of your life. Whether you’re shopping, working, exercising, or surfing the Web, there are hundreds of ways to slip small but deeply meaningful acts of philanthropy into your life, using 330 of the most innovative and effective charitable organizations around.

Have an old pair of sneakers lying around the house? Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program will recycle them into safe playground surfaces. getting rid of that old cell phone? Call to Protect will refurbish it as an emergency lifeline for abused women. Racking up frequent-flier miles? Donate them to an ill child so they can travel and get the care they need. Like to knit? Knit hats for cancer patients. Start a petition, sign a petition, send out an awareness e-mail, and network with like-minded givers and doers at Care2.com. There are ideas for giving things you might never have thought of—your hair, old prom dress, breast milk for African AIDS orphans. Ideas for using your hobbies, talents, time, trash, technology, and more. Each suggestion can be accomplished in the course of a day, most within an hour. In tough times it’s more important than ever that people and communities pull together— How To Be An Everyday Philanthropist makes it easier than ever before.

I'm sure like me, many of you have wanted to volunteer or do something to make a difference.  After flipping through a few pages, I think you will find what you are looking for.  If you would like to purchase a copy today, you can get it from Amazon right now, it's only $7.88 and you won't break the bank.  Read the book, or just a page or two, then go out and DO something wonderful for your community or the world!  You might be doing it already and didn't know it!

Prizes

We know you love FREE prizes.  So here they are!  We are giving away three FREE copies to the winners!  We we hope it will be the beginning of numerous great deeds!

Rules

To enter, just leave a comment on this post.  Tell us a story of a good deed or what you hope to accomplish for your good deed.

Winners


Three Winners will be announced on this post and via Twitter in two weeks, November 20th 2009.
The winners will be picked via a random number as in all our previous giveaways.

We would appreciate it if you tweet about this post so the good deeds will spread!  We want to thank Workman Press for contacting us and for providing us with such a great book to give away!

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

Books and Reminder - Go Vote!

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It's Election day again, so take a few minutes and exercise your right that so many have fought for in the past.  No matter who you vote for, make sure the candidate you choose is someone who will help our society and looks at the big picture.  Most politicians seem to be focused on the present.  It takes a lot more guts and courage to do what is right for the long term.  Those few individuals who do this may not even be appreciated until the time comes when people realize what really needs to be done.

So thanks for taking a minute to read this post.  Now take a few minutes and go vote for the people who will make a difference and work hard for what is right.

Here's some additional reading for those interested!

I'm Currently Reading: Six Pixels of Separation: Everyone Is Connected. Connect Your Business to Everyone
Free eBook: Oprah.com is offering a free download of “An Ex-Mas Feast”, the first story in “Say You’re One of Them” by Uwem Akpan featured in her book club. International.
Recommended Reading: How To Be An Everyday Philanthropist: 330 Ways to Make a Difference in Your Home, Community, and World - at No Cost!

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

Top 5 FrugalNYC Posts for September 2009

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I wanted to take a moment and say Thanks to all our readers, RSS, Email Subscribers and Twitter Followers!  Please leave a comment and let us know what type of posts you would like to continue seeing.

Top 5 FrugalNYC Posts for September 2009

• FrugalNYC Broadway Ticket Giveaway
• 10 Fre Things To Do In Queens
• 10 Free Places To Visit In NYC Today
• Fancy A New Template
• FrugalNYC's Islands Of NYC - Roosevelt Island

Books I'm Currently Reading: The Way of the Bootstrapper: Nine Action Steps for Achieving Your Dreams

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

Beginner Photography Book

If you have an interest in Photography, as nearly everyone seems to these days, a great beginner photography book I recommend is The Complete Idiot's Guide to Photography Essentials.  It is an amazing introduction into photography in a small bundle.  It gives you many tips that you will continue to use as you progress in your hobby in photography.

In chapter 10 of the book, the author says "If you are interested in really learning how to use lighting, then still lifes offer a unique learning experience that you will be able to apply to all of your photography.", which sounds like great advice.  It's tips like this that make me want to pick up the book again and again.  Combine that with the instant feedback of digital photography, the reason photography has bloomed so fast, nearly any "idiot" can learn lighting properly.  I'm really just a beginner when it comes to photography, and I find this book very helpful.  The book gets some great ratings on Amazon.com.

There are numerous great tips in this book that can be used by beginners like myself and advanced photo enthusiasts who have been in photography for some time.  This book is geared toward enthusiasts who want to learn how to control and get the most from their DSLR.  Many of the concepts are applicable to any camera you use of course, that's why it's an "Essentials" book.  If you'd like to see what I've shot, take a look at my other blog - VGA Photos, be warned, I'm a beginner!  They are all raw shots with no post edits or touch-ups.  If you know of a great book or other resource on how to do touch-ups for beginners, I'd be very happy if you let me know.

One of the main reasons I am interested in digital photography is because it does not cost much financially.  It is a Frugal hobby for me.  New York City offers a great canvas to paint your photo skills on.  We no longer have to spend thousands of dollars on equipment just to get started in photography.  Learning the basics is what I'm currently doing and you can only do that by "doing".  To learn anything properly, you need to DO that thing daily.  I take shots daily, which is why I started the VGA Photos blog.

Have you read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Photography Essentials? If so, what did you think of it?  If you have not, I think it is a great read and a good reference, pick it up!  What other beginner photography books or resources do you recommend?

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.

90% Discount Textbooks From Amazon

It's back to school for all, from elementary to college students.  For the college bound, you may have hit sticker shock when you checked out how much your texts will cost you.  Well, here is a way to save!

Everyone knows that Amazon is a great place to buy books.  Did you know that you can now get 30% to 90% off Textbooks at Amazon.com?  If you have gift certificates or other store credit at Amazon.com, this is a great time to put that to use.  If you are in college or know of someone in college, this is a great way to save.  I remember each text book used to cost between $70 to upwards of nearly $200 when I went to school.  Books are some of the most expensive items when you attend school.

Aside from buying books, you can even sell your old text books back to Amazon, not a bad deal. Have you bought your textbooks from Amazon before?  Would you be willing to?  We'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

Don't forget to take a break and catch a Free Broadway show, courtesy of FrugalNYC and Season of Savings!

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5 Must Read Business Books For Entrepreneurs

Below is a list of books suggested by the March 2009 copy of Entrepreneur Magazine. I'm thinking of reading this list of books so I thought I would share the list with you all. If you are an entrepreneur or thinking of becomming one, perhaps these books should be on your list as well.

1. Will It Fly? How to Know if your New Business Idea Has Wings...Before You Take the Leap, by Thomas K. McKnight

Heart of this book is its 44-item checklist for evaluating business ideas by a hugely experienced veteran of business launches. By the time you've evaluated everything from your personal attitudes to exit strategies, you'll know as well as possible your chances for success.

2. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About it. by Michael E. Gerber

This revisiti of the 1995 classic on general small-business management famously shows entrepreneurs why and how to stop working in their business and start working ON their businesses.

3. Guerrilla Marketing: Easy and Inexpensive Strategies for Making Big Profits From Your Small Businesses, by Jay Conrad Levinson

Now in its fourth Edition, the original guide to small-business marketing packs the same high-impact, low-cost, punch that made it a standard when it first came out in 1983. Now, however, it's updated iwth tips on websites, blogs, podcasting and other up-to-the minute techniques.

4. The Business Planning Guide. by David H. Bangs Jr.

This books'jargon-free writing and inside tips from a former banker and entrepreneur have made it the first and only choice for countless entrepreneurs getting started.

5. Start Run & Grow a Successful Small Business, by Toolkit Media Group editors

If anyone ever publishes the perfect all-in-one small-business reference, it will look a lot like the sixth edition of this 720-pager. It touches on everything, from accounting to staffing, with checklists and forms.


Have you read any of these books? If so I would like your opinion on them. Please leave a comment or send me an email at frugalnyc at gmail dot com.

For additional links to frugal tips and tricks follow me on Twitter. If you would like to contribute to FrugalNYC in any way, feel free to contact me via email. Click here to add FrugalNYC to your RSS reader or Subscribe to FrugalNYC by Email.