Over on the 800CEORead.com web site they’re taking a poll as to what The Best Business Book of all time is.
Aside from the fun of participating in a poll like that it’s a damn good list. Check it out.
By the way I also cast my personal vote for the book that is the leading vote getter this point in the poll: The Goal.
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Replies
The Art of Money Getting
by P.T. Barnum
A little dated on some aspects, but a lot of good sense.
Pete Duffy, Handyman
Oh oh....now you made me feel guilty. I've read a lot of them but I've missed a lot more!
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Well I certainly haven't read them all, I've read a lot of them but there are a lot I haven't and never even heard of until I saw the list. I did however pick out some I'm putting on my list.
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Jim,
I'm halfway thru Break All the Rules- good book, thanks for the recommendation-aside from the endless self-promotion of Gallup, much of it rings true when I worked for a large organization. But is talent innate, as the book says, or acquired? Not black and white, maybe more about desire...Expert since 10 am.
I think we're all born with innate talents and learn others. The book is saying people are going to be better, happier, and more productive in areas that exploit their innate talents.
That's what I took out of it too Mike. Lets face it though...there is no hard and fast rule. We all have talents that bridge several areas of the job. There are not that many true thoroughbreds like Jordan, Woods, Gretzky, etc. Look at MJ: he thought his athleticism could allow him to make it to the big leagues. This doesn't mean we don't work with and train the guys we have...but it does give us some blueprints for success and make our job easier as we learn to identify the talents we need to fill the various jobs that we manage. For instance: a lot of rough framers are horrible at keeping records and turning in their times. Should we make a big issue out of it and threaten the guy with sanctions or find the guy on the crew that loves to keep track of things and assign him the task of being the timekeeper? I know I screwed the pooch countless times in my early years....now, since I've read that book, I look for the "easy" button. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
You actually have a guy on your crew who likes to keep track of things? Wow. He's a keeper!
I forget, I'm sure we've discussed this, but have you done any Myers-Briggs testing stuff? I found it as enlightening as any of these books, and in pretty much the same way--confirming things I knew deep down but couldn't put into words.
Sorry about your news, Adrian. I'm not familiar with all the books mentioned so far, but I have to go with The Goal. My experience with too many business books is that by chapter 2 you can figure everything out. With The Goal, however, every chapter is hard work (in the good kind of way) that has some real wisdom for anyone who has a lot of different materials and processes that need to come together on a schedule.
have you done any Myers-Briggs testing stuff
Couple years back I did it and turned out to be an INTJ. Semi-enlighhtening, in that, like you, it confirmed what I sort-of already knew.
Seems about every 5 or 6 years I think about getting out and doing something else, for a living. It's about that time again, and found a book called "Do What You Are", based on the M-B testing. Been interesting reading, but hasn't provided an exact solution.
One of the interesting points from the book is while our dominant traits remain at the forefront, our lesser traits can emerge later in life, providing some balance. I've found that to be true. But I think part of it is in wanting to change.
"Break All The Rules" I felt dealt with being a manager, and trying to shoehorn others into a role they are not suited for. It's one of the reasons I didn't completely swallow "Break the Rules" hook line and sinker. I have seen people who desired change be able to pull it off, but the motivation to do so has to come from within. "Break All The Rules" doesn't address this possibility at all. And as a manager I doubt you could do a lot to provide that "motivation from within".
Bowz
""Break All The Rules" I felt dealt with being a manager, and trying to shoehorn others into a role they are not suited for. "Either you are saying something wrong or you are claiming the exact opposite that the book implied.The role of the manager would be to identify the talent of their employees and steer them into the job that suits them best, as opposed to trying to steer everybody to the corporate ladder and all the way to the top. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
you are correct, in re-reading my statement I should have added "Break The Rules" shows the mistake of trying to shoehorn people into roles they are not suited for. i was not clear enough.
Bowz
I don't know anythign about myer briggs. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
You'd like it. Myers and Briggs are a husband-and-wife psychology team who wrote a test that breaks personality down into four categories, with two options in each category.
Some people resent being able to be categorized, but it works. Everybody's either an "A" or a "B", or somewhere on the scale between the two.
I forget the categories now but it really helped me understand what was going on when my best buddy and I became business partners. We had hung out together since high school and got along great. Working together didn't work so well. All the things that made him fun to hang out with made him not fun to work with. I'm sure he felt the same way about me. The Myers-Briggs personality breakdowns explain the ways people take in information, process that information, and what face they present to the world.
Anyway, it goes right along with Break All the Rules (I'm pretty sure he must mention it in there somewhere) and the psychology/personality stuff you talk about a lot.
This site may be of interest to learn more about personality types, and Myers-Briggs testing.
http://www.typelogic.com
I didn't look it over real carefully, but it was listed on some other notes I had.
Bowz
The E-myth Revisited by Michael Greber
Tied with
Small Giants by Bo Burlingham
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"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
I read "The Goal" back in the mid '80's and it made a profound change in the way I've done business. I've read each of Goldratt's (the author) books since. And yet, I think he got it wrong. I no longer believe making money is the goal. I think it's one indicator that you're doing things right. Don't get me wrong, it's a really important indicator, but I believe the real goal of a business is to adapt and sustain itself.
I think Womack's book, "The Machine That Changed the World" is a better analysis of Lean production than "The Goal".
I've read many of the books on that list. But my vote for the best book isn't even on their list; "The Psychology of Judgment and Decision Making". In my consulting business, most of the business problems I've seen result from executive judgment failures, not, as they tell me, from bad data and information. This book and "How We Know What Isn't So" examine the origins of poor judgment and how to overcome it. Take a look at the current world situation and see how many of our problems trace back to poor executive judgment.
One executive told me "you've got the best BS detector in the world!" Those two books are why.
Frank
I'd put The Goal towards the top....just re-read it again, and it is required reading for my students, but I wouldn't call it a Lean book....rather it's complementary, and it predates a lot of what we now call Lean. Anyway, that's how I think about it....Lean and TOC blended together is a great combination.
Another vote for "The E-Myth Revisited", by Gerber, and one for "Selling the INvisible" by Harry Beckwith. Just loaned it to a friend who is having some trouble with his business, and he is loving it.
Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
hi adrian !
for me .. it all kind of blurs together...
Rich Man , Poor Man ( Kyosaki, a BS'er , but good insight anyway )
E-Myth
The Goal
Selling the Invisible
Guerilla Marketing
Positioning ( Al Ries )
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I'd like to be able to vote for 'The Collected Business Wisdom Of Mike Smith'....get that book writ. I know you helped me to get some things straight in my head.
The Goal is still way ahead in the rankings....238 votes, the next closest contender is only at 70. That's very interesting.
Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
I was warned that The Goal was addictive and it might not be possible to put it down. Sure enough I stayed up late and read the book cover to cover.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Ha, me too! Two days. I like books like that that tell a story with a moral than just saying this is how to be successful, step 1, step 2 etc.
I will say my favorite on this list is Coveys 7 Habits. Not necessarily as a business book but more of a life book. Now if only I could consistenly apply the 7 Habits.
Matt
Different things modivate people in various ways, but the 7 habits expanded audio book got me through graduate school when it was hard to do the things i knew should be done. The tapes were kept close by in a walkman in case of emergency and I must have listened to them 30-40 times.
Covey not only opened my eyes to living a more balanced life, but taught the value of leadership in all aspects of one's life. If you like Covey, Kouzes & Posner have a good book to read after the 7 Habits.
Leadership Challenge isn't a stuffy business book and isn't about being the person in charge. It shows the value of building leadership skills in people of all backgrounds and situations. It's about getting people to not simply react to their environment, but be proactive at work, home, with friends, family or subs.
I'd argue leadership is just as important for the low man on the totem pole as it is for the contractor, it's just realized in different ways. It excites me to teach someone leadership skills they can apply to all areas of their lives not just in the work place because it can be so transformational, a paradigm shift if you will.
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Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
far and away--the 2 books that have been the biggest help to me are
1) "the millionaire next door"
2) "The Jewish Phenomenon----seven keys to the enduring wealth of a people" by steven silbiger
those 2 books have been equally important to me
Picked up The Goal and also First Break All the Rules from the library yesterday--- about halfway through The Goal
I think when I am done with The Goal-- i will immediately re- read it.-- there is an idea there bubbling just under the surface with regaurds to capacity that I think I have always instinctively known-----but I can't quite put into words--I want to clarify that thinking.
Best wishes,
stephen
the goal... it's been a while.. is that the one that talks about the theory of constraints ?
i think that theory helped me to realize that "efficiency" is a relative term
and how chaotic remodeling really is...
so my GOAL is managing chaos
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Edited 2/10/2008 10:50 am ET by MikeSmith
Okay, just one more thing about The Goal then I'll let it be...
My dad passed away at Christmas, so I was back home arranging the funeral and all that stuff, with my sister. She works for a big American consulting company in the Boston branch....for those manufacturing/quality types, she's a Six Sigma girl, (she's a black belt) and I'm a Lean Manufacturing guy, so we argue about that when we're together and having a drink. I know a bit about Six Sigma, but I yank her chain about it.
Anyway, I had a copy of The Goal with me as I was re-reading it, and I was recommending she read it...I sent her home with that copy, but she was resisting, as she hadn't come across it in her Six Sigma stuff. Pretty much blew it off.
I got an email from her last week....she had a meeting with her work group, and their new boss/Master Black Belt assigned them all....The Goal as assigned reading. She thought it was pretty funny, so at least she's going to read it.
adrian...sorry about your DadMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Thanks Mike. The last couple of years were pretty horrible for him, with advanced dementia. I miss him,but I hope he is in a better place than he was.
Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Sorry to hear that Adrian. My pops has dementia and has been deteriorating since last Oct. Hard to see a guy who was bullet-proof for decades get hit like that. Also, takes a lot of care and a lot of work to help him out.
On a brighter note.... I'd vote for The Millionaire Next Door or The Millionaire Mind.
-D
I'm sorry to hear that, and I wish you and your dad the best. It's hard on the family, no doubt of that. My dad was like that too....big guy, larger than life. Touched a whole lot of people, and that's what's important, seems to me. Good luck.
Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
On a brighter note.... I'd vote for The Millionaire Next Door or The Millionaire Mind.
I second The Millionaire Next Door. Not a "How To" book exactly but it really opened my eyes and confirmed the sense of what I observed growing up. I bought copies for all four sons and it seems as though at least one of them mentions something from the book frequently. Not all of them bought into it but I think they all understand their grandparents a little better now...
I like Jim Collins' "Good to Great." It made me see what great companies were made of, and that they're not all that far from the "good" companies many of us own or work for.
"Cashflow Quadrant" by Robert Kiyosaki got my brain out of work-for-wages land and into more serious books.
"Guerilla Marketing" is a classic.
"Good to Great" wins my vote though.