book notes Archives - Valchanova.me

Personal Development
The Bullet Journal Method: The Philosophy Behind My 10 Years of Analog Planning [Book Notes]
I’ve been bullet journaling since 2015 or 2016. Like many others, I first discovered the system through a Lifehacker article and that set me off on a rabbit hole of research that eventually led to a long-term habit. I was already using notebooks to track tasks, so the concept wasn’t new to me. What caught…
Brand Messaging and Copywriting
Building a Distinctive Brand: Bridge “The Brand Gap” and “Zag” [Book Notes]
As I dive deeper into the topic of branding, I’m gradually meeting more exciting experts on the topic – and Marty Neumeier is definitely one of them. His books are proof enough. Both “The Brand Gap” and “Zag” are experience-style books. The way the information is presented is definitely unique, but that’s not all. The…
Brand Messaging and Copywriting
Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind [Book Notes]
To understand a concept deeply, you need to know The Greats. Frankly, this is why I reluctantly reached out to “Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind” by Al Ries and Jack Trout. After all, the book was initially published in the 1970s, and a lot has changed. But I still found “Positioning” a useful read.…
Content Marketing
A Guide to ‘Epic Content Marketing’ [Book Notes]
Ever since I started learning about content marketing, Content Marketing Institute and Joe Pulizzi have been indispensable sources of knowledge. In a world of ‘hacks’ and ‘tricks,’ Pulizzi’s work has always been focused on the things that don’t change: the strategic value content can bring for both the audiences and the business. “The essence of…
Brand Messaging and Copywriting
Different: Building Branding that Resonates [Book Notes]
I have a beef with branding. At least with branding books, branding courses, and branding teaching. All branding advice I’ve heard so far – even in recommended talks, lessons, or posts – sounds vague or overly superfluous. However, being a marketer and not having strong branding skills is a non-starter. This is why I dived deeper…
Personal Development
The Practice: Shipping Creative Work Through Curiosity, Generosity, and Connection [Book Notes]
Thirty-two. That’s the number of sticky notes in my copy of “The Practice”. For a book that’s 250 pages long, that number clearly shows I found Seth Godin’s book pretty damn relevant. It’s a read designed to help creators and professionals come to terms with the peculiarities of a world where our best work is…