A mom of two and busy professional, I don’t have much time to read, but when I do, I almost exclusively read two genres of books: business books and trashy romance novels.
No doubt, if you need a good escapist beach read, I can point you in the right direction. But more often I find myself diving into literature from leading scholars, business leaders and marketers to get ideas, be inspired and learn new things that I can apply to my job.
Today, I wanted to share some of my favorite books that have helped shape my perspectives on business, leadership and marketing.
1. They Ask, You Answer
Who knew selling could be so simple? Just answer your customers questions.
More than any business book else I’ve read, the philosophy and tactics outlined in this book by Marcus Sheridan have shaped how I practice marketing. They’ve brought millions in dollars of revenue to the companies that have let me enact them, and connected me with a community of likeminded TAYA marketers.
If you think this won’t work for your business, give this a read. Marcus might just convince you otherwise.
Or, you can do like I did and hire Marcus to host a workshop for your company. I brought Marcus in to host a company-wide workshop for AQUILA in 2017 and it set us on a path towards an entirely new inbound marketing strategy. That strategy is now the cornerstone of AQUILA’s marketing efforts and has brought in millions of dollars in new revenue.
Read more about AQUILA’s content marketing success in my portfolio or on the Impact website.
2. Made to Stick
Made to Stick outlines a framework for how to create “sticky” ideas. From pitches to email subject lines, I use the concepts in this book daily.
With compelling stories and real world examples, this book is truly fun to read.
This book inspired me to hire Andy Craig, author of Weekend Language, licensed “Made to Stick” trainer, and proprietor of ElevatorSpeech.com, to host a company workshop to help refine and practice AQUILA’s presentations and pitches.
This workshop was seminal in changing the format for our Asset Service’s team’s pitch style and resulted in the company’s longest-running streak of winning new business.
3. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win
Extreme Ownership is a must-read for any manager or aspiring leader.
This book follows an intriguing format, first telling a story from an actual battle or training scenario, then extracting a leadership lesson and finally applying that same leadership lesson to a real-life corporate situation.
After reading Extreme Ownership, I worked with our company’s leadership to bring in Acumen Performance Group, a consulting firm comprised of former Navy Seals, to host a company workshop, which was extremely impactful. The teambuilding was invaluable and through the workshop, we created a company ethos.
4. Start with Why
Simon Sinek’s viral Ted Talk inspired me to read this book. I believe this is a must-read for any business owner, leader, or entrepreneur. Like in his TED Talk, Sinek’s main idea is that “people don’t buy what you do, they buy what you do it.” Throughout the book, he takes you through several great stories and compelling examples that show how this concept applies to sales, marketing, and leadership. He also gives concrete ideas for how to apply these concepts within your own organization.
After reading this, I convinced our company leadership to hire Sinek’s firm to host a “Start with Why” workshop. In the midst of the companies greatest growth since its founding, the workshop allowed us to reassess and realign the company’s “why,” and prioritize a path forward.
5. The Power of Habit
This is a marketing book disguised as a self-help read. Author Charles Duhigg is an incredible storyteller, and this book is just plain fun to read.
Combining powerful research and interesting stories, this book tackles how habits can be formed and changed at a personal level and at an organizational level.
I would recommend this to any marketing professional, or anyone looking to change habits within their company or organization.
6. Crushing It: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence- And How You Can Too
To be honest, it’s been over 10 years since I read this book, and I don’t remember much about it other than it was the book that got me into reading business books.
I listened to this book on Audible, which is fun since the author, Gary Vaynerchuk, narrates it himself. I remember he was so passionate about what he was talking about that he’d go off script and say “this wasn’t in the book but it’s really important so listen up!”
If you are looking for inspiration or are just starting out in your career or with your business, this book provides great advice and motivation to hustle and work hard.
After reading the book I became a big Gary V. fan. I got the opportunity to see him speak and meet him in person in 2014 at SXSW Interactive in Austin, Texas. It was an incredible experience. I still follow him on social media channels and still read his books today!
7. Year of Yes
I love Shonda Rhimes and the shows she has created, so when I heard she had a book, I just had to read it. Well, listened to; this is another title I listen to on Audible. (It is also narrated by the author, Shonda Rhimes herself.)
This may be the furthest from a business book on the list, but this is a sleeper title that I think more business practitioners should read. Getting inside the mind of one of America’s top showrunners is fascinating, and she addresses so many relevant workplace topics such as imposter syndrome, driving innovation within large companies, and diversity and inclusion.
8. The Power of Moments
After reading Made to Stick, I knew I had to try the Heath Brothers’ other titles. This book speaks to marketers, fundraisers, educators, and business leaders. Along the lines of Made to Stick, the authors examine how to craft memorable moments. From high school graduations to poolside popsicles the stories in this book will make you smile, but also get you thinking about what opportunities you might be missing out on to make moments more memorable.
These books have been critical in my career development, and I hope you will enjoy them as much as I have!