Stephen King says that if you want to be a writer, there are two things you must do: read a lot and write a lot. This is about the “read a lot” part. I include reading lists and book reviews that will help you do business more effectively and write better for business.
In this post, I point you to reviews of Smart Collaboration, Superconsumers, A Leadership Kick in the Ass, and Own It.
From Robert Morris: Smart Collaboration
“Heidi Gardner focuses her attention on more than a dozen professional service firms in which the greatest asset is the expertise of their principals. ‘The most important challenge faced by any such organization is bringing that collective expertise to bear on the problems that, increasingly, are so complicated and so sophisticated that no single expert – no matter how smart or hardworking – is in a position to solve them.’”
From Catherine P. Taylor: It Pays to Get to Know Your Superconsumers
“Superconsumers: A Simple, Speedy, and Sustainable Path to Superior Growth may look like a slight volume. But appearances can be deceiving. In 200 powerful pages, marketing consultant Eddie Yoon finally puts some meat on the bones of an idea that’s been floating around marketing for years, and applies a process to it. Focusing on the best customers — in sheer numbers, a minority — can have a profound impact on a brand’s overall success.”
From Kevin Eikenberry: A Leadership Kick in the Ass
“Maybe you don’t love the title of the book. (For the record, the author got agreement from his mother to use the A-word. She said, ‘Let’s be honest, Bill, ass isn’t really much of a swear word.’)”
From Melissa Wylie: Sallie Krawcheck on her new book, ‘Own It,’ and the untapped power of women in business
“The challenge, she said, was compiling many personal anecdotes into meaningful lessons around a central theme – women need to harness their power in the workplace. The idea is beyond empowerment, she said. Women should see how empowered they already are and start taking steps to bring about change not only for themselves, but for society as a whole.”
Reading recommendations are a regular feature of this blog. Want more recommendations about what to read? Check out my Three Star Leadership blog, Michael McKinney’s LeadingBlog, and Bob Morris’ Blogging on Business.