“This is one of my all-time favorites. I have read it several times and each time I read it, I learn something new that I can apply to my business. Most entrepreneurs know why they started their company. It is the WHY that drives them to go out on their own. It's the WHY that keeps them working late nights and moving forward even during hard times. Often times we assume that everyone around us understands the WHY the same as we do. As the CEO of the company, I own the culture of the law firm. This book really inspired me to make communicating the WHY we do what we do the center of my message to our team of employees. The WHY has become bigger than me. It's bigger than any employee handbook. This book has helped us create a culture of accountability.
“I didn’t stumble across this book until later in my journey, but the simple concept of WHY in the context of why should anyone care has allowed Quality Logo Products to craft a website that stands out among other promotional product distributors.”
Simon Sinek has a fabulous TED Talk where he explains his Start With Why concept in a way that is insightful and very easy to understand. It is one of the most watched TED Talks of all times and well worth watching if you haven't done so; or well worth watching again to reinforce the concepts and gain a deeper understanding.
“Steve Jobs was a fascinating person whose powerful personality and extraordinary life make for a very compelling story. He revolutionized many different technological and entertainment industries by successfully blending technology and the liberal arts. After reading this book it was easy to understand why Jobs is such a historical figure. This book helped me tremendously, because Jobs was very transparent with his failures as well as his successes. When I started my company, I had unrealistic expectations as to how quickly I would turn a profit and the amount of time I would need to work on my business. And I thought I could do everything by myself! Reading this book helped me develop realistic goals for Blu Skin Care. It also taught me to never give up on my dream of becoming a billion dollar skin care company.”
“After hearing members of the Apple management team speak about Steve’s off-the-wall thinking, perfectionism with every detail, and his unprofessional mannerisms, one would think he belongs in a good case study on what not to do as a leader. Yet if you asked most people they would say Steve Jobs was a successful “pusher of boundaries” and a “mastermind of technology.” My take away was: embrace the differences and see how you can bend the organization to include all members of the team. After reading this book I look at more ways to be inclusive, versus letting a difference get in the way of awesome individual and company growth.”
“It provided me with insight that building a company is journey about the process and people, that you need to be driven by a greater mission, and that its okay to not settle. […] Also, I found listening to college graduation speeches from entrepreneurs to be the most influential as they provide small tidbits of insight about the beginning and pivotal moments that are inspirational!”
On that last note from Robin Barone, I want to highlight a fantastic commencement speech that Steve Jobs gave in 2005. You can watch the video and/or read the script here. It’s very moving, inspiring and empowering, well worth watching!
“This book really focuses in on identifying then driving focus towards that ONE THING in your business that will have the greatest impact. It’s a similar concept to Eat that Frog (featured in Part F as an Honorable Mention) but at a larger, more strategic project level. It talks a lot about the 80/20 rule, which is: 20 percent of the work actually drives 80 percent of the business. We have applied that wording into our business to help remind us that less is more, and saying no to things is OK and necessary in order to drive the greatest results.”
“I think this is my favorite business book. It has completely changed my very haphazard goals to very clear and defined goals. They are still changing and adapting as my business grows and I grow as a person. It is the one book I love giving to other business-minded people.”
Have you read any of these books? If so, please share your takeaways in the comments below—I’d love to see how you and/or your business benefited from the concepts that these authors share in their books, and I’m sure other readers will benefit from your comments too!
Come back for Part D, we will share the books that occupy the 5th spot for most popular business books on our query. Can’t wait to share them with you, see you mañana!
* * *
P.S. - As a quick reference for you to know what to expect and find in this series of posts, here’s a guide (the links will be live on the day the post is uploaded):
With your library card, it's easier than ever to choose from more than 300,000 e-books on SimplyE, The New York Public Library's free e-reader app. Gain access to digital resources for all ages, including e-books, audiobooks, databases, and more.
If you don’t have an NYPL library card, New York State residents can apply for a digital card online or through SimplyE (available on the App Store or Google Play).