Alex Recommends: Business Books
okay, so they may not all strictly be “business books”, but you can definitely learn a few things about business in them, I promise.
1. Good to Great by Jim Collins
This one is no secret - Jim Collins is a renowned businessman and writer. Your boss or professor in college probably told you to read this a few times, and if you never did, you’re sorely missing out. Admittedly, this one could be found to be a bit dense for some, but it’s worth the time, I assure you.
As the title suggests, Collins and his team take a deep dive into what it takes to take a business from “good” to “great”. In what is truly a great dialogue, the book goes on to explain each and every criterion used to classify the good, the, bad, the ugly, and, most importantly, the great. You see almost any business has the potential to become “great”, but the steps necessary aren’t always as obvious as some might think. I urge you to dive into this one and get your feet wet - even if it takes you months to finish. It has even served as a great reference for me over the years, as its full of specific, historic examples of pitfalls, successes, and nuggets of wisdom.
A favorite takeaway of mine to pique your interest: the “Genius with a Thousand Helpers”. You really got to get into it to understand it fully, but Collins explains the folly of being a “genius” surrounded by a task-taking team. I’ve seen this time and time again in my career, and found it to be an enormous truth of many “good” businesses who are struggling to become great. Here’s the secret: the right team is more important than the right idea.
2. Open by Andre Agassi
You knew there was going to be a sports book in here, didn’t you? Well, yes, you were right - but while this autobiography of Andre Agassi stories his life from childhood to almost-present-day, there’s tons of business-related wisdom in here. It’s also no secret that I see business and sport in close parallel, and seemingly, so does Andre.
The life of Andre Agassi has captivated people since he first hit the scene as a young prodigy. The stories that weren’t told, live in this book. Stories of struggle, heartbreak, perseverance, competition, triumph, loss, and love. Sound a little like life in the business world? You bet it does.
This one hit me so hard, I probably kept the local tennis shop in business just based on racquet rentals alone for the better part of a few years. Maybe it’s because Andre and I are connected somehow in this vast universe because we share the same birthday - or maybe it’s because truly beautiful stories are what keep us alive inside, but you’ve gotta read this one.
3. The Wisdom of Wooden by Coach John Wooden and Steve Jamison
If you don’t know who John Wooden is, shame on you - buy this book. Coach John Wooden was lauded as one of the greatest coaches in American sports. He was famed for not only his personal philosophy, but his accomplishments - and I don’t mind his sense of style either.
This is a great one on many levels. It’s easy to read, there’s lots of pictures, it’s about John Wooden, and it’s chock-full of gems of wisdom. Short and sweet, Coach Wooden and Steve Jamison give a peek into the rules of life that Coach Wooden valued and used to not only shape great players and great teams, but also to lead a great life. This one is worth having just to set on your coffee table in the hopes that your kids pick it up.
4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Okay, another no-so-business-ey book, but hear me out. If you haven’t done some soul-searching in your business path, you’re either very blessed, or you will soon. I can’t imagine a better story that serves as a guide to some soul-searching than The Alchemist.
This book is another not-so-secret book on my shelf, but it’s become popular for good reason. It’s difficult to describe where this book will take you on your journey, because I would imagine it’s different for most everyone. For me, I open up and reread this one whenever I need to reconnect with myself and try to refocus on whatever my path might be. It might be a bit earthy for some, but there’s truth in it for sure. If you’re someone who wants to be taken away, just to find themself again, pick this one up.