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 Learning to Lead: The Journey to Leading Yourself, Leading Others, and Leading an Organization, Driving Eureka!: Problem-Solving with Data-Driven Methods & the Innovation Engineering System, Master Your Motivation: Three Scientific Truths for Achieving Your Goals, and Building a Business with a Beat: Leadership Lessons from Jazzercise: An Empire Built on Passion, Purpose, and Heart. Plus Art Petty’s recommendation of one must-read article.
From Michael McKinney: Learning to Lead with Ron Williams
“In Learning to Lead, Williams shows how anyone can grow and succeed as leaders. He grew up in a working-class family in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Chicago in the 1960s. The book is exceptional. He weaves the experiences of his career with the lessons we can all learn from them. Well told and insightful.”
From Doug Hall: Strategy by Mission, Not Metrics, Will Make You More Money
“Strategy by numbers is a command and control approach to management. It focuses energy on the theory that when everyone hits their individual number, the total organization wins.”
From Skip Prichard: Master Your Motivation
“She’s an expert in motivation, a bestselling author, and a senior consulting partner for The Ken Blanchard Companies. Susan Fowler is a thought leader on discipline and self-leadership. Her latest book is Master Your Motivation. In it, Susan tackles motivation in a fresh way. Optimal motivation is driven by three needs: choice, connection, and competence. She outlines how to rid yourself of failed motivational tactics and shares ways to go beyond discipline, willpower, and goal setting.”
From Leigh Buchanan: After 50 Years and $100 Million in Revenue, Jazzercise Still Views the Couch as Its Only Competitor
“At age 75, Judi Sheppard Missett is still dancing, still teaching, and still CEO of Jazzercise, the ur-dance-fitness company she founded and that celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. She also has a new book: Building a Business With a Beat. Created when Jane Fonda was better known for Barbarella than for aerobics, Jazzercise today is a $100 million business with more than 8,500 franchisees, and it cracked the Inc. 5000 in 2010, at the ripe age of 41. The company not only forged fitness culture for women–It’s fun! It’s easy! It’s social! We don’t judge!–but also has helped thousands of women become business owners, some of whom have launched multiple studios to teach the program.”
From Art Petty: Why Drucker’s “Managing Oneself” is Incredibly Relevant to Your Career
“Every year I read Peter Drucker’s classic article, ‘Managing Oneself’ as part of my personal-professional career navigation process. His powerful questions and frank commentary on what we need to do in our careers helps me reorient and reset on my priorities and activities. If you are a subscriber to HBR’s online library, read the article. If not, do yourself a big $9.99 favor that will pay dividends a thousand times over and buy a copy. The article is arguably more relevant in today’s world than when it was written in 2005—a testament to Drucker’s long-range view on people, management, and society”
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 Skip Prichard’s Leadership Insights.