I have been listening to and reading alot of books about business, marketing, building a business, and starting a business over the last couple months and out of them all I have a list of 5 business books you must read if you want to be successful in today&’s economy. I am not sure what I am searching for the answer to, but I feel I am lacking in some areas and I am looking at different view points in hopes that I will find the education I am seeking. The 5 books below are nothing short of amazing, they are 5 books that anyone who owns a business, a manager, or wants to make their own mark on the business world needs to read.
How the Mighty Fall
Who wrote How the Mighty Fall?
Jim Collins
Summary:
In How the Mighty Fall, Collins confronts these questions, offering leaders the well-founded hope that they can learn how to stave off decline and, if they find themselves falling, reverse their course. Collins&’ research project–more than four years in duration–uncovered five step-wise stages of decline:
Stage 1: Hubris Born of Success
Stage 2: Undisciplined Pursuit of More
Stage 3: Denial of Risk and Peril
Stage 4: Grasping for Salvation
Stage 5: Capitulation to Irrelevance or Death
By understanding these stages of decline, leaders can substantially reduce their chances of falling all the way to the bottom. Great companies can stumble, badly, and recover.
Linchpin
Who wrote Linchpin?
Seth Godin
Summary:
This is by far Seth’s most passionate book. He’s pulling fewer punches. He’s out for blood. He’s out to make a difference. And that glorious, heartfelt passion is obvious on every page, even if it is in Seth’s usual quiet, lucid, understated manner.
A linchpin, as Seth describes it, is somebody in an organization who is indispensable, who cannot be replaced—her role is just far too unique and valuable. And then he goes on to say, well, seriously folks, you need to be one of these people, you really do. To not be one is economic and career suicide.
The Big Moo
Who wrote The Big Moo?
Seth Godin
Summary:
Godin derived the title for this engaging anthology of business homiletics from his marketing manifesto Purple Cow, which extolled the importance of garish new products that grab customers&’ attention. Phrased as a feel-good kindergarten platitude, the principle seems a harmless nod to fancy-free individualism. But set in an adult business context of constant “change” and cutthroat price competition, where winning the game has absolutely nothing to do with hard work and paying your dues” and “a constant stream of industry-busting insights and remarkable innovations is the only guarantee of survival, the exhortation to uniqueness becomes terrifying and demoralizing. Fortunately, the cacophony of unsigned contributions from a Group of writers includes more reassuring and realistic lessons. There&’s a lot of New Economy histrionics, but also comparatively restrained parables about marketing and customer service. Some writers note that competent imitation of proven ideas is often a better strategy than innovation, that self-effacing Bill Murray did better than self-aggrandizing Chevy Chase, and that, yup, hard work and paying your dues does pay off. The selections are for the most part brief and pithy, and while they don’t add up to a coherent viewpoint, browsers are bound to find something that hits a chord.
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Who wrote Drive?
Daniel Pink
Summary:
According to Drive, everything we think we know about what motivates us is wrong. He pits the latest scientific discoveries about the mind against the outmoded wisdom that claims people can only be motivated by the hope of gain and the fear of loss. Drive cites a dizzying number of studies revealing that carrot and stick can actually significantly reduce the ability of workers to produce creative solutions to problems. What motivates us once our basic survival needs are met is the ability to grow and develop, to realize our fullest potential. Case studies of Google’s 20 percent time and Best Buy’s Results Only Work Environment demonstrate growing endorsement for this approach. A series of appendixes include further reading and tips on applying this method to businesses, fitness and child-rearing. Drawing on research in psychology, economics and sociology, Drive&’s analysis—and new model—of motivation offers tremendous insight into our deepest nature.
Rework
Who wrote Rework?
Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hanson
Summary:
This book will make you uncomfortable.Depending on what you do all day, it might make you extremely uncomfortable. That&’s a very good thing, because you deserve it. We all do. Jason and David have broken all the rules and won. Again and again they’ve demonstrated that the regular way isn&’t necessarily the right way. They just don&’t say it, they do it. And they do it better than just about anyone has any right to expect.
This book is short, fast, sharp and ready to make a difference. It takes no prisoners, spares no quarter, and gives you no place to hide, all at the same time. There, my review is almost as long as the first chapter of the book. I can’t imagine what possible excuse you can dream up for not buying this book for every single person you work with, right now.
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