“Let Me Save You 25 Years: Mistakes, Miracles, and Lessons from the Lovesac Story” by Shawn Nelson
I loved this story and picture book from Shawn since it’s an experience that every entrepreneur can relate to. Shawn goes through all the ups and downs on his way to building a $690M company.
When I first interviewed Kurt earlier this year before Elon Musk got involved in politics, I thought he had it right on that Twitter would fail after the acquisition. But after Musk backed the new president (and now seems to have a major unofficial role in in the administration), maybe Musk made the smartest play of all with his megaphone since his wealth since then has increase by $200 B.
“The Age of Outrage: How to Lead in a Polarized World’ by Karthik Rammana
If there ever was a book for our times, this is it. Outrage is everywhere and many companies have found themselves in the middle of the conflict. GoFundMe was pressured to cut off funding to protesting truckers in Ottawa. Disney’s CEO was dragged down for mishandling both sides of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law. Facebook and other tech companies have been accused of manipulating elections in many countries and by many parties.
It is one thing to have your own point of view on political and social issues around you. But how do you lead a team that has ones that are so drastically different from each other?
“Our New World of Adult Bullies: How to Spot Them – How to Stop Them” by Biil Eddy
As we go through business and life, bullies are everywhere; in today’s world where conflict, crisis, chaos, and fear reign supreme, every day we see the worst behavior of celebrities, politicians, and other public figures who serve as role models. We will even have one self-described bully in the oval office again in January!
“Profiles in Mental Health Courage” by Patrick Kennedy
So many small business owners (plus our employees) struggle with metal health. It’s time now not to sweep this epidemic under the rug but bring these illnesses out in the open so we can treat them. Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy talks about his own problems and profiles well known and respected people that unknown to us, suffer the same mental health issues.
“Your Brain on Art: How Art Transforms Us” by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross.
Many of us think of the arts as entertainment—a luxury of some kind. In this book, Susan and Ivy show how activities from painting and dancing to expressive writing, architecture, and more are essential to our lives.
“Mindshift: Transform Leadership, Drive Innovation, and Reshape the Future” by Brian Solis.
This is one smart guy who keeps spotting trends year after year. Every company needs leaders who can seize on opportunities at a moment’s notice. Every company needs leaders who can rally teams together around these new opportunities. Those who can see these emerging trends can harness those forces, translate them into actionable insights and motivation to fuel their company’s march into the future rather than ignoring or running or hiding from opportunities.
“On The Road Less Travelled: An Unlikely Journey from the Orphanage to the Boardroom “ by Ed Hajim
At the age of 3, Ed Hajim is kidnapped by his father, driven cross-country, and told his mother is dead. He presses his face against the car window, watches the miles pass and wonders where life will take him. In a memoir filled with human drama, wisdom and timeless life lessons, “On The Road Less Travelled: An Unlikely Journey from the Orphanage to the Boardroom” tells the improbable story of how Ed bounced from foster homes to orphanages, in a daily struggle to survive, to living the American dream as an accomplished Wall Street executive and model family man with great moral fiber and the means to give back to a world that seemed intent on rejecting him.
“Sell Like a Spy: The Art of Persuasion from the World of Espionage” by Jeremy Hurewitz
Learn the art of influence from the best salespeople on Earth—spies. Tapping into the history of intelligence gathering and his working relationships with former CIA, FBI, and counterterrorism agents, corporate sales and security expert Jeremy offers field-tested spy craft strategies to anyone can use to build relationships, persuade others, and sell anything.
“Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind” by Andy Dunn
I loved the title of this book since we all know that launching a start up that cash is king and we can lose our mind in the process.
The book is an entrepreneurial memoir, a parable for the twenty-first-century economy, and a look at the prevalence of mental illness in the startup community. Andy Dunn, the founder of Bonobos, fearlessly shines a light on the dark side of success and challenges us all to take part in the deepening conversation around creativity, performance, and disorder.
What were you reading this year?
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