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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, August 31, 2008

What I'm reading: Dustin Shindo, CEO, Hoku Scientific

By Christine Thomas
Special to the Advertiser

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Dustin Shindo, CEO, Hoku Scientific.

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What are you reading?

The book I just finished reading is actually a pretty easy-to-read book called "Mentor: The Kid & The CEO" by Tom Pace.

What do you like about it?

First, from the broadest perspective, it's very inspirational. It really captures the human drive to do all that you can with what you have. Reading stories like that are uplifting, but it has very tactical things as well. ... It talks about specific things you can do to better yourself — there are business things in it as well, but how to be a better person. To give you some examples, on the bottom of every page is an idea ... like for instance, "do important things first," or "impact the lives of others," "be polite." Very simple but tactical things you can do to be better.

Does it remind you to stay grounded even as Hoku continues to be adaptable and change with new solar technologies and ventures?

I work 100 hours a week and sometimes get bogged down in all these others things. But to succeed I almost have to shut everything off around me. Reading this book in particular is refreshing because it reminds you not just of the ideas that frame why we even started the company but the other things that are around us beyond the deal we're working on or the near-term business things we're focused on. Like giving time to people — my wife, my daughter, and my family — but also the employees and partners and the things that aren't necessarily captured in a number or report.