These books are some of the most transformative and helpful in regard to how I approach work and life.

Business Made Simple by Donald Miller

Business Made Simple is a book written by Donald Miller, a best-selling author, entrepreneur, and business coach. In the book, Miller provides practical guidance and advice for business owners and entrepreneurs on how to grow and succeed in their businesses.

The book is divided into three main sections:

• Building a Story
• Building a Team
• Building a Movement.

In the first section, Miller discusses the importance of storytelling in business and how to craft a compelling narrative that will help you connect with your customers and build a strong brand. He also covers how to identify and target your ideal customer, as well as how to create a marketing plan and sales funnel.

In the second section, Miller focuses on building a strong team and creating a culture of excellence within your organization. He discusses how to hire the right people, how to motivate and retain top talent, and how to develop effective leadership skills.

Finally, in the third section, Miller talks about how to turn your business into a movement and create a passionate community of customers and supporters. He covers topics such as how to create a customer experience that stands out, how to build a loyal following, and how to use social media to connect with your audience and create a movement.

Overall, Business Made Simple is a comprehensive and practical guide that provides valuable insights and strategies for anyone looking to start or grow a business.

Business Made Simple is one of my very favorite Business Books I have read. It identifies a framework for the crucial elements for helping a business as well as a driven employee to survive and thrive. I would recommend this book to almost any employee or business owner.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Atomic Habits is a book written by James Clear, a productivity expert and best-selling author. In the book, Clear discusses the concept of "atomic habits," or small and incremental changes to your daily routine that can have a significant impact on your overall success and happiness.

Clear argues that the key to lasting change is not about motivation or willpower, but about building good habits and breaking bad ones. He provides a four-step framework for building good habits and breaking bad ones:

• Cue
• Craving
• Response
• Reward

By understanding how these elements work together, you can create a positive feedback loop that reinforces good habits and breaks bad ones.

Clear also covers topics such as how to create an identity that aligns with your goals, how to use visualization and other mental strategies to stay motivated, and how to create an environment that supports your habits.

Atomic Habits is a super practical and actionable guide that provides insights and strategies for building good habits, breaking bad ones, and achieving lasting change in your personal and professional life.

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't Hardcover by Jim Collins

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't is a book written by Jim Collins, a management consultant and business researcher. In the book, Collins and his team of researchers set out to identify the characteristics that distinguish great companies from good ones.

To do this, Collins and his team conducted a comprehensive study of 1,435 companies over a period of 35 years. They identified 11 companies that made the leap from good to great, and compared them to a control group of similar companies that did not make the leap.

The key findings of the study were that great companies:

1. Have a clear, compelling vision and set of values that are embraced by all employees.
2. Have strong, visionary leadership that is able to inspire and align the efforts of the team towards a common goal.
3. Focus on a few key priorities and ruthlessly eliminate distractions and activities that do not contribute to the company's mission.
4. Build a culture of discipline and accountability, with a focus on continuous improvement and learning.
5. Invest in the development of their people, and create an environment where employees are able to take risks and learn from their mistakes.

One thing I love about this book, is that it was clear that the researchers wanted to challenge their own assumptions. For example: They recognized that there is a cultural narrative that says that a great company needs a charismatic leader. Their bias was that this was not the case. That a great company could evolve without that. And while that was certainly not the only essential ingredient of a great company, it was one of them.