Business Books We Love
Good to Great by Jim Collins
This is the one in the series to start with, but really all 6 cover important topics that any business person would benefit from reading.
“Measure What Matters” by John Doerr
Legendary venture capitalist John Doerr reveals how the goal-setting system of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) has helped tech giants from Intel to Google achieve explosive growth—and how it can help any organization thrive.
Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It…and Why the Rest Don’t
By Verne Harnish. All of Verne’s books are particularly relevant to our slice of business. They all have actionable insights and are pretty easy and quick reads. Mastering the Rockefeller Habits is another great book by Verne Harnish – Verne even suggests everyone in the company read that one, then the Executive Team read Scaling Up as advanced material!
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
The New York Times best-selling team leadership handbook for modern executives, managers, and organizations.
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Our Business Coach recommended we read this…it really helped “align” our executive team! We also really like Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek.
Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath
Another CS book club favorite. This book really helps you think about the customer journey and how to approach adopting change.
Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh
Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh shares the different lessons he has learned in business and life, from starting a worm farm to running a pizza business, through LinkExchange, Zappos, and more.
Farm Don’t Hunt by Guy Nirpaz
The definitive guide to customer success. When we have a new class of Customer Success Advisors, we read a chapter or two each week and discuss what we’ve learned!
Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
Immerse yourself in the world of courageous leadership. Brené Brown’s insights will guide you through the process of cultivating a workplace that embraces vulnerability, connection, and innovation.
Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath
We clearly are fans of the Heath brothers!
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
This beloved classic presents a principle-centered approach for solving both personal and professional problems.
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know by Adam Grant
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take and Originals examines the critical art of rethinking: learning to question your opinions and open other people’s minds, which can position you for excellence at work and wisdom in life.
New Sales Simplified by Mike Weinberg
We have all of our new-to-sales hires read this. It gives them some basic concepts and actions.
Scaling Up Excellence by Robert I. Sutton
Says it’s all about spreading the good stuff across the company. And how do you do that? By making sure everyone knows their role and nails it.
Teamwork: How to Build a High-Performance Team by Natalie Dawson
She’s spot on – accountability builds that trust.
Competing on Analytics: The New Science of Winning by Thomas H. Davenport and Jeanne G. Harris
You have more information at hand about your business environment than ever before. But are you using it to “out-think” your rivals? If not, you may be missing out on a potent competitive tool.
“Data-Driven” by Hilary Mason & DJ Patil
Succeeding with data isn’t just a matter of putting Hadoop in your machine room, or hiring some physicists with crazy math skills. It requires you to develop a data culture that involves people throughout the organization. In this O’Reilly report, DJ Patil and Hilary Mason outline the steps you need to take if your company is to be truly data-driven—including the questions you should ask and the methods you should adopt.
“Failing Forward” by John C. Maxwell
Maxwell breaks down why failure is a stepping stone to success and how to develop a mindset that embraces setbacks as part of the journey.
“The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries
A must-read for any entrepreneur, Ries emphasizes the importance of learning quickly from failures to innovate and grow.
“Let My People Go Surfing” by Yvon Chouinard, the founder of Patagonia
This book is not just a memoir but a manifesto for sustainable business practices. Chouinard’s journey shows how a commitment to environmental responsibility can go hand-in-hand with business success.
“Drive” by Daniel Pink
Learn what truly motivates individuals, beyond just money.
“The Innovator’s Dilemma” by Clayton Christensen
A classic on why disruptive innovation is critical for businesses.
The Culture Map by Erin Meyer
A deep dive into understanding the invisible boundaries between cultures and how they affect our communication styles, decision-making processes, and leadership approaches. It’s essential reading for any leader managing global teams or preparing to take their business international.
The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni
Explores how organizational health and core values play a critical role in making the best decisions for the long-term success of your company.
“The 4 Disciplines of Execution” by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling
Learn how to achieve your most important goals by focusing on what matters, acting on lead measures, and fostering a culture of accountability.
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Podcasts, Downloads and More!
In this podcast series, we invite executives and department heads to speak candidly about the ups and downs of leading a business and the most impactful parts of their jobs. Hear from top business leaders about how they’ve overcome the most common obstacles that leaders face, and how you can leverage the resources around you to scale your business to record-breaking numbers. We’re on a break right now, but you can still check out all of the incredible episodes from season 1!
A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek
Simon talks with people that inspire him about love, life, leadership, and silver linings. The hope is that we all leave with something we need these days…A Bit of Optimism.
Lenny Rachitsky (author of #1 business newsletter on Substack with 500k+ subscribers) interviews world-class product leaders and growth experts to uncover concrete, actionable, and tactical advice to help you build, launch, and grow your own product.
In six podcast episodes, Anke and Marcel introduce you to the Positive Intelligence and the PQ method, discuss the possible Saboteurs you might have and how to do deal with them. In short, they help you to train your brain in order to feel and perform better. Find out more about Positive Intelligence here.
Five awesome people, an occasional guest, and drinks all around tackling the hottest data and analytics topics of the day.
Azeem Azhar’s Exponential View
How will the future unfold? What is the impact of AI and other exponential technologies on business & society? Join Azeem Azhar, founder of Exponential View, on his quest to demystify the era of exponential change.
Each episode deconstructs world-class performers from eclectic areas (investing, sports, business, art, etc.) to extract the tactics, tools, and routines you can use. This includes favorite books, morning routines, exercise habits, time-management tricks, and much more.
Tune in to hear stories of how successful entrepreneurs faced failures head-on and turned them into triumphs.
This podcast dives deep into the latest trends in sustainable business, featuring interviews with leaders who are making a difference. It’s a great way to stay informed and inspired.
The Knowledge Project by Shane Parrish
Episodes on leadership and developing high-performing teams will give you practical insights into enhancing your people strategies. The episode with Adam Grant is a great starting point.
Cultural Differences & Cultural Diversity in International Business by Chris Smit
Explores how to navigate cultural differences in leadership, negotiation, and team management, offering practical advice for today’s global business leader. You’ll gain new perspectives on the subtle, yet impactful ways culture affects decision-making and communication.
This podcast challenges the way you think about work and leadership. Check out the episode on “The Art of Re-thinking” for insights on staying flexible when making tough decisions.