Well, in the interest of keeping whatever’s on my mind out in the open, here are a few more business books that I’ve been reading and a few of my massively abridged thoughts on them.
Grind
By Michael J. McFall
I wasn’t really sure what to think of this book as it looked a bit pushy. Alarm clock and coffee beans on the cover gave me, I think, the wrong impression. There were a few key lessons in here that I really liked. Namely: starting a business is hard, but can be very rewarding; cutting corners is one of the first signs that a business is going to crumble; you don’t know it all and you’re going to make mistakes – your determination and positivity are good indicators of your potential for success; if a pair of guys can make it in the coffee world, you can probably make it in yours; don’t forget to sell!; make sure that you are consistently excellent. Hmm. I guess that’s rather a lot of things.
I get the feeling that I’ll be coming back to this book a fair bit over the next few years.
Will it Fly
Pat Flynn
I know, two Pat Flynn books… and there is a certain part of me that rankles at the enthusiastic delivery and mentor-like vibe. But there’s also a lot of meat in these books. It’s strange. They come across as very easy to digest with a lot of different exercises to add an interactive element – both of which are typically warning signals for me. They seem a little bit like being talked to by a motivational speaker. And yet, I came away from the experience having picked out a bunch of things to work on.
There was something in there for me, and there probably is for you too, especially if you’re thinking about or currently running a small business.
What if?
Steve L. Robbins
Here’s another book that I really wasn’t sure about. The byline says that it is Short stories to spark inclusion & diversity dialogue. I care a lot about inclusion and diversity, but I wasn’t sure. I’m still not really sure.
What I like is that each chapter starts with an extended metaphor in story form. They’re straightforward and the message they’re getting across is pretty clear. What I’d like to hear more about are actual stories of institutional change and how difficult it can be. I’d like to hear successes and failures. Through it all, there’s a thin vein of why, and for me, this part is essential. Nurturing inclusion and supporting a diverse future is just the right thing to do. It scratches an ethical itch in a very good way.
If this book can help a few more places to question their assumptions and start moving towards some positive changes, which I think it probably can, then it has earned its value to me.
