12-28-2018, 09:00 PM
8 Key Books To Enhance Your Business In 2019
Is there a better time to unveil our picks for the best books of 2018 than these last days of the year?
Once again we’ve asked Orangear COO Alex Trivaylo to share his top 8 pieces of the passing year that inspire, display and explain the best business practices of today.
1. Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs by John Doerr.
It’s a number 1 book in the Strategy & Competition of Management & Leadership category on Amazon and there’s a good reason for that. While explaining the goal-setting system of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), the author talks about its profound implementation in Google and the resulting growth of the corporation.
It’s a substantial piece on the importance of long-term planning and focus, and OKRs is a coherent system to go with.
2. Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got: 21 Ways You Can Out-Think, Out-Perform, and Out-Earn the Competition by Jay Abraham.
In my opinion, this is The Most Valuable Book when it comes to strategy and marketing. Brilliant reading and a lot to take away.
The author displays clear examples from his experience for both finding and creating new opportunities for wealth-building in any existing business, enterprise, or venture.
“Phenomenal… articulate… amazing. Jay Abraham has a powerful knowledge on how things work, and how you can create a competitive edge for yourself.” — Tony Robbins.
There’s a movie about Jay and his mindset:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRWJm33ML-g
3. The Goal: A Business Graphic Novel by Eliyahu M. Goldratt.
Although this is in no way a substitution for the original, I have to admit that the graphic edition may come quite handy for those starting to learn about the Theory of Constraints.
The book is a gem for anyone who wants to achieve more, whether in business, their job or hobby.
It’s no surprise that the business novel has been a bestseller since 1984 and is a mandatory read for all top managers in Amazon.
4. High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way by Brendon Burchard.
Art and science of practicing habits from Brendon Burchard. According to Oprah, he is “one of the most successful online trainers in history”.
Anyone can practice these habits and, when they do, extraordinary things happen in their lives, relationships, and careers.
Although I strongly recommend the book experience, here’s a quick summary of the habits by Brendon himself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjwQZYHQ2Vw
5. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink.
In my eyes, this is an exceptional leadership book. Detailing the mindset and principles that enable SEAL units to accomplish the most difficult combat missions, Extreme Ownership demonstrates how to apply them to any team or organization, in any leadership environment.
6. Badass: Making Users Awesome by Kathy Sierra.
If you haven’t read any other book on usability and getting customers for life — read this one! It will change the way you think about users, their context and how to get and keep them. I’ve grabbed many ideas from this book. The most important one being: the answer to all your questions on creating better solutions lies in the people, who use them.
7. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller.
In his book, Donald Miller points out things that make for a great brand story.
The writer shouldn’t be the hero of the story, it’s the place of a user.
The brand or the company is the guide, like Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars, that helps the hero succeed.
The danger is a vital part of a story. If there’s no possibility of failure, there will be no hero. Hence, you’ve got to dramatize the issues that your solution, product, or service can solve to help your user.
That said, all people involved in brand creating and developing — will see this as the source of inspiration and useful thoughts. Building a StoryBrand will forever transform the way you talk about who you are, what you do, and the unique value you bring to your customers.
8. The Phoenix Project: A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win by Gene Kim.
Published in 2013, this book is as real as it gets. It’s about things that happen in IT departments of big companies. The Phoenix Project is a powerful piece for those seeking a sneak peek into the minds of big bosses, what issues bother them and how they deal with those.
In a fast-paced and entertaining style, three luminaries of the DevOps movement deliver a story that anyone who works in IT will recognize. Readers will not only learn how to improve their own IT organizations, but they’ll also never view the industry in the same way again.
Which books have changed the way you do business? Share your top picks in the comments.
Happy Holidays!