I just finished reading The Goal and really enjoyed it. I think it would be profitable to get an informal book club going here. The printed word can be so extrememly valuable in all facets of life, and we would be amiss to ignore it’s power and influence on our respective ventures.
The Goal by Goldratt- Fiction style, a story about a manufacturing plant whose crisis proved to be a great opportunity. With the application of the scientific method and common sense the characters discover that they have been operating on faulty assumptions all along. When these are removed, the goal of the business is realized. Don’t think it just applies to a factory. We can all learn from it.
Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill- Contrary to what Blue would say, I don’t think this book is worth any time whatsoever. The application of humanistic philosphy and overshadows any worthwhile contributions this book may have.
The Essential Drucker Peter Drucker- A good book on management and the present and future struggles that we will all face in the course of our operations. I would recommend this bok to anyone who wants to get into the more academic study of management (although it’s not overly stuffy).
Feel free to add and comment on other’s opinions.
Replies
Jon the Goal is one of my favorite books and I mentioned it here and on JLC
a couple of times this past summer. The "informal book club" you mentioned
has been tried he years ago and I think it failed then for a lack of direction
and leadership. As I discovered ( I did some research on it ) there actually
is a recommended methodology to running a book club or book discussion that
works. If you are really interested I think it would be a great idea to try
and bring up to speed again. Let me know and Ill work with you on rounding up a crew and developing a plan.
Right now I'm very interested in hearing just what you got out of The
Goal and how it relates to the business operation your in. Click here and
take a look at this discussion Holding
A sub to a Schedule where I mentioned The Goal and the Theory of Constraints
in my comments. Does any of that make sense to you?
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“Systemize the Routine; Humanize the Exceptionâ€-
from Customer Culture: How FedEx and Other Great
Companies Put the Customer First Every Day
by Michael D. Basch
I'll have to get the goal now and read it. Thanks!
I managed to read around Hill's metaphysical philosophy and got a lot out of Think and Grow Rich. Plenty of communications techniques and business principles that are timeless.
Another major recommendation is Atlas Shrugged by Aynn Rand. It's got some long winded rantas to read around too, if you don't care for monolouges
Excellence is its own reward!