You never stand in the same river twice.
– Heraclitus

The only constant in business is “change.” To stay ahead of the competition and maintain a healthy bottom line, your organization needs to be able to adapt to the ever-changing landscape.

Change can be difficult to manage because it often requires employees to adjust the way they work. This can lead to feelings of insecurity, resistance to change, and even anxiety.

As a business leader, you know that change is essential to growth. But you also know that it isn’t always easy to implement. To stay ahead of the competition and maintain a healthy bottom line, your organization needs to be able to adapt to the ever-changing landscape.

But leading a team through times of change can be difficult. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the 5 best books for change management. These books offer insights on topics such as organizational psychology, Agile methodology, and leadership best practices.

Whether you are looking for a general overview of change management or a more specific look at a particular method, there is sure to be a book on this list that is perfect for you.

Books reviewed in this post:

1. Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath
2. Leading Change by John P. Kotter
3. Who Moved My Cheese? An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by Spencer Johnson
4. Driven by Data: A Practical Guide to Improve Efficiencies, Reduce Costs, and Measure Performance in Your Organization by Paul R Super
5. Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace

1. Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard

Author: Chip and Dan Heath
Publication year: 2010

As a leader, you know all too well just how difficult it can be to get people on board with a new idea or initiative, especially when it means stepping outside of their comfort zones. So how do we make change happen? How do we get our team members to buy into our vision?

In their book Switch, brothers Chip and Dan Heath tackle this very question.

The Heaths are best-selling authors who have written several books on the topic of organizational behavior. In Switch, they use decades of research in the fields of psychology and neuroscience to explain why change is so difficult – and more importantly, how to overcome those obstacles.

The Heaths identify two different types of obstacles that stand in the way of successful change:

• The first type of obstacle is what the Heaths call the “Rider.” The Rider is the Rational Decision-Maker that resides in each of us. This part of our brain is logical, rational, and analytical. It enables us to make decisions based on facts and data. When it comes to making changes in our lives or our organizations, the Rider often becomes bogged down in details and risk analysis. He gets stuck trying to figure out the best possible solution instead of just taking action.
• The second type of obstacle is what the Heaths call the “Elephant.” The Elephant is our Emotional Self – the part of us that feels fear, anxiety, and uncertainty when faced with change. This part of our brain responds more to intuition than logic. It’s also much more powerful than the Rider; in fact, research has shown that elephants can be up to 10 times stronger than riders! So how do we get past these obstacles?

According to Chip and Dan Heath, the answer lies in what they call the “3 R’s”:

1. Directing the Rider – We need to give the Rider a destination by setting crystal clear goals. This will help to focus his attention and energy on the task at hand.
2. Motivating the Elephant – We need to appeal to the Elephant’s emotions by painting a picture of what success looks like. This will help to rally him behind the cause.
3. Shaping the Path – We need to create an environment that makes it easy for people to take the desired action. This could involve everything from changing the physical layout of your office to implementing new policies and procedures.

Overall, the contribution that Switch makes to the field of change management is twofold. First, it provides a clear and concise explanation of why change is so difficult. Second, it offers practical strategies for overcoming those obstacles and driving successful change in our lives and our organizations.

2. Leading Change

Author: John P. Kotter
Publication year: 1996

In Leading Change, John Kotter provides a framework for leading successful organizational change.

Drawing on his experience as a consultant to some of the world’s largest organizations, Kotter outlines an 8-step process for implementing change:

1. Establish a sense of urgency – This means getting everyone on board with the idea that change is necessary and that it needs to happen soon. This can be a difficult task because it requires both effective communication and buy-in from every member of the team.
2. Create a guiding coalition – This step involves bringing together a group of people with the power and influence to drive change. This coalition will be responsible for championing the change initiative and keeping it on track.
3. Develop a vision and strategy – To successfully implement change, you need to have a clear vision of what you’re trying to achieve. This vision should be inspiring and motivating, something that everyone can rally behind. Once you have your vision, you need to develop a strategy for achieving it. This will involve setting goals, identifying resources, and creating a timeline.
4. Communicate the change vision – Change won’t happen unless everyone is on board with the vision. This step involves communicating the vision in a way that is clear, concise, and inspiring. It’s also important to keep the lines of communication open so that people can ask questions and provide feedback.
5. Empower others to act on the vision – This step involves giving people the authority and resources they need to take action. It’s also important to remove any barriers that might prevent them from taking action. This might include changing policies or procedures or providing training and development opportunities.
6. Plan for and create short-term wins – One of the best ways to maintain momentum during a change initiative is to celebrate small victories along the way. This step involves setting goals that can be achieved in a relatively short period. It’s also important to recognize and reward people who are contributing to the success of the initiative.
7. Consolidate gains and produce more change – This step involves taking what has been learned from the previous steps and using it to drive further change. It’s also important to continue to communicate the vision and keep everyone focused on the ultimate goal.
8. Institutionalize new approaches – The final step is to make the changes permanent by incorporating them into the organizational culture. This might involve changing policies and procedures, or creating new incentives and rewards.

Leading Change is a classic in the field of change management. It’s one of the first books to provide a comprehensive framework for leading successful organizational change.

Kotter’s 8-step process has been used by organizations all over the world, and it is still relevant today.

3. Who Moved My Cheese? An A-Mazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life

Author: Spencer Johnson
Publication year: 1998

Who Moved My Cheese? is a creative book about change. The story tells a fable that narrows in on two types of people’s reaction to change, the ‘mice’ and the ‘littlepeople’.

The book is easy and quick to read, as it is only 96 pages. The story follows two different groups of friends who live in a maze and have to find cheese to survive. The cheese represents what we want in life, such as a job, a relationship, or material possessions.

The first group of friends are mice, who are afraid of change and resistant to it. They cling to the cheese they have and are unwilling to try new things. The second group of friends are little people, who are open to change and adaptable. They are willing to explore new areas of the maze and try new things.

There are 4 characters that represent different reactions to change:

•  The first is Hem, who is afraid of change and resistant to it. He clings to the cheese he has and is unwilling to try new things.
• The second is Haw, who is open to change and adaptable. He is willing to explore new areas of the maze and try new things.
• The third is Sniff, who is an early detector of change. He can smell the cheese before it’s there and is always on the lookout for new opportunities.
• The fourth is Scurry, who is quick to adapt to change. When the cheese runs out, he is able to quickly find a new source.

Sniff and Scurry are proactive; they accept change and adapt quickly. Hem and Haw are reactive; they resist change and take longer to adapt.

Johnson provides practical advice on how to lead teams through each stage of change.

For example, the author suggests that during the Denial stage, it’s important to keep Hem informed about the changes that are coming so that he doesn’t feel caught off guard.

During the Resistance stage, it’s important to give Haw space to vent his fears and frustrations before moving on to exploring new solutions.

One of the key takeaways from the book is that change is inevitable; the only thing you can control is your reaction to it. This message is especially relevant for business leaders who are navigating times of uncertainty within their organizations.

Overall, this book provides valuable insights into how humans react to change and how we can better manage our reactions so that we can thrive during times of transition.

4. Driven by Data: A Practical Guide to Improve Efficiencies, Reduce Costs, and Measure Performance in Your Organization

Author: Paul R. Bailo
Publication year: 2014

So, what makes Driven by Data so special? First and foremost, it’s important to note that this book is an authority in the field. It’s packed with over 200 pages of data-driven strategies that will help you navigate change within your organization.

But beyond that, it’s also written in a conversational style that makes it easy to read and digest. And perhaps best of all, it provides practical arguments that you can apply to your organization.

So what are some of the key strategies for navigating change within an organization?

According to Bailo, there are three main strategies that every organization should keep in mind: first and foremost people; secondly, process; and lastly technology. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

• People: Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind when leading your team through times of change is that people are resistant to change by nature. That’s why it’s so important to get buy-in from your team from the very beginning—if they feel like they’re being left out of the decision-making process, they’re far less likely to support any changes that are implemented. The best way to get buy-in from your team is to involve them in the decision-making process from day one; That way, they’ll feel like they have a vested interest in seeing the changes through.
• Process: The second strategy for navigating change within an organization is a process. Implementing changes can be a difficult and chaotic process—but it doesn’t have to be! By documenting and automating your processes, you can make sure that everyone on your team is on the same page, which will make implementing changes much easier (not to mention less stressful).
• Technology: Last but not least is technology. In today’s day and age, there’s no denying that technology plays a big role in organizational change. After all, disruptive technologies are often what sparked organizational changes in the first place! That’s why it’s so important to make sure that your technology infrastructure is up-to-date and able to support any changes that you implement. Otherwise, you run the risk of causing more problems than you solve. Hamamoto Enterprise Solutions offers comprehensive IT services including business continuity planning which helps ensure against disasters large or small.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to change management, then you might want to check out Driven by Data. It’s packed with data-driven strategies that will help you navigate change within your organization—no matter what industry you’re in.

5. Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

Author: Ed Catmull
Publication year: 2014

From the co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios, Ed Catmull, comesz` a book that offers a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the most successful animated films of all time were made.

But Creativity, Inc. is more than just a book about making movies—it’s a book about managing change. In it, Catmull shares his experience leading a team of creatives through times of great change and offers insights on how to overcome the unseen forces that stand in the way of true inspiration.

The book is divided into three sections: The first section looks at the history of Pixar and how it has become one of the most successful animation studios in the world by embracing change.

The second section looks at how Pixar has been able to maintain its culture of creativity despite growing larger and more complex.

The third section offers practical advice for business leaders who wish to create a culture of creativity within their organizations.

It’s no secret that to be successful, you need to have a winning business strategy. What may be less obvious is that to create a winning business strategy, you need to think like a strategist.

Why? Because business strategy is about making choices—choosing to do some things and not others. It’s also about allocating resources in a way that will create the most value.

In other words, business strategy is about making trade-offs. It’s about saying “no” to good ideas to focus on the best ones.

Of course, that’s easier said than done. This is why we’ve rounded up 8 of the best books on business strategy. These books will help guide you to think like a strategist, make better choices, and allocate resources more effectively.

So if you’re ready to take your business game up a notch, read on!

Essential Business Strategy – Book Summaries

1. Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies

Author: Jim Collins and Jerry I. Porras
Publication Year: 1994

We begin our list with one of the most influential business books of all time, Built to Last.

The authors studied 18 “visionary” companies to try and understand what made them so successful. They found that the key to these companies’ success was not their products, their services, or even their business model. But qualities that are a little more nebulous like culture, values, and purpose.

The most successful companies had a few things in common. For one, they had an outrageous goal that the authors termed a “Big Hairy Audacious Goal” or a BHAG.

The second thing they had in common was that they were what the authors called “clock builders.” That is, they built their companies to last, not just to make money for the founders or shareholders.

The third quality of these visionary companies was that they had a “core ideology.” This was a set of beliefs and values that guided everything they did.

The fourth and final quality was that they had the right people on the bus. That is, they hired people who fit their core ideology and who were passionate about the company’s BHAG.

Built To Last is definitely a must-read for anyone looking to create a lasting, successful business.

2. Your Strategy Needs a Strategy: How to Choose and Execute the Right Approach

Author: Martin Reeves, Knut Haanaes, and Janmejaya Sinha
Publication Year: 2015

Most businesses have a strategy, but few companies have a good strategy. That’s why Your Strategy Needs a Strategy is great for thinking about strategy in a more holistic and effective way.

This book is a great introduction to the study of business strategy. It covers all the essential concepts, from market entry to growth strategies.

But the real strength of this book is its focus on execution. The authors explain that there are five main types of business strategy: Classical, Adaptive, Visionary, Shaping, and Renewal.

Most businesses only use one or two of these approaches, but the best companies know how to use all four. That’s what it takes to execute a winning strategy. They call this ambidexterity which is analogous to being able to use both hands equally well.

3. BOLD: How to Go Big, Create Wealth, and Impact the World

Author: Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler
Publication Year: 2015

Next on our list is BOLD, a book about how to create wealth and make a positive impact on the world.

In BOLD, Diamandis & Kotler lay out a step-by-step guide for anyone with an idea that could change the world. The book is based on the premise that we are living in an age of “abundance.”

With the help of technology, we now have unprecedented access to resources and capital. This means that anyone with a big idea has the potential to make it a reality.

The book provides readers with a framework for taking an idea and turning it into a world-changing business. It covers everything from developing a product to raising capital to build a team.

When it comes to business strategy, BOLD is all about thinking big. By taking an audacious, moonshot approach to your business, you can achieve incredible things. So, if you’ve got a big idea that could change the world, this is the book for you.

4. Love as a Business Strategy: Resilience, Belonging & Success

Author: Mohammad F. Anwar, Frank E. Danna, Jeffrey F. Ma , Christopher J. Pitre
Publication Year: 2021

Don’t let the title fool you; this book is NOT about finding love in the workplace. Rather, it’s about using love as a business strategy to improve your company’s bottom line.

The mindset is “people first” because, as the authors explain, if you take care of your people, they will take care of your customers and your business.

This book talks about the behaviors that have the biggest impact on business outcomes. The authors focus on emotional intelligence, empathy, and resilience. Because the human connection is at the heart of love, these are essential skills for anyone in business.

But this isn’t just about touchy-feely topics. The authors provide concrete examples and actionable advice that you can use to make your business more successful.

If you want to learn about business strategies that focus on resilience, team bonding, and success, then Love as a Business Strategy is for you.

5. The Outsiders: Eight Unconventional CEOs and Their Radically Rational Blueprint for Success

Author: William N. Thorndike
Publication Year: 2012

The CEO of any company has one major responsibility – returning value to shareholders. That’s exactly what The Outsiders sets out to do.

Thorndike looked at how these CEOs ran their companies and what strategies they used to achieve such great results.

The Outsiders is based on the author’s study of eight CEOs who outperformed the market by a wide margin. These “outsiders” all had one thing in common: they followed a radical, rational approach to business.

They were the original “disruptors,” a breed of entrepreneurial CEOs who transformed entire industries by ignoring the conventions of the day.

They built companies that were valued not by the crowds or the press, but by investors for their per-share profit margins. They had a knack for allocating capital as well as human resources; they knew cash flow is what mattered most in determining long-term value.

And their passion was not for empire-building or power, but for doing what they loved and were good at.

6. Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters

Author: Richard P. Rumelt
Publication Year: 2011

In today’s business world, there are a lot of so-called “strategists” who don’t understand what a good strategy is. They may have read a few books or attended a couple of seminars, but they don’t have the critical thinking skills to make sound strategic decisions.

Too many businesses are being led astray by an overload of information and bad strategy, and it’s costing them dearly. Unfortunately, a bad strategy can lead to missed opportunities, wasted resources, and even bankruptcy.

Good strategy, on the other hand, can help you achieve your goals and create a sustainable competitive advantage.

In this book, Rumelt provides a framework for understanding and evaluating strategy. He draws clear lines between good and bad strategies and provides insights into how to create a good well-informed strategy for your business.

The three parts of this book deal with the difference between good and bad strategy (Part I), sources for potential advantages in making well-crafted plans (Part II), as well how you can think like a strategist (Part III).

This book is all about getting to the “core strategy” that will make your business successful. And that begins with a change in diagnosis. Once the diagnoses are clear, the task is one of creative problem-solving through a guiding policy that is supported by a set of coherent actions.

If you want to learn how to think like a strategist and create sound strategic plans, then this book is for you.

7. The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist’s Guide to Success in Business and Life

Author: Avinash K. Dixit and Barry J. Nalebuff
Publication Year: 2010

The last several decades have seen a revolution in our understanding of strategic behavior. Game theory has emerged as the dominant framework for thinking about rivalry and conflict, and it has been applied to a wide range of business problems.

What is Game Theory? Game theory is the study of strategic behavior. It’s the study of how people interact with each other when they have something to gain or lose.

It is not about winning or losing, but about understanding and predicting what people will do in given situations. Game theory has been called “the science of strategy” because it provides a framework for understanding how people behave in situations where there are conflicting interests.

In The Art of Strategy, Dixit & Nalebuff provide a comprehensive and accessible introduction to game theory. They show how it can be used to understand a wide range of business situations, from competition among firms to the pricing of products.

The authors use a variety of case studies to show how almost every business and personal interaction has a game-theory component. This includes examples from pop culture, TV, movies, sports, politics, and history.

Whether you’re a business person, a student of game theory or just someone interested in how people interact with each other, The Art of Strategy will show you how to think about competition and conflict in a whole new way.

8. Strategy Rules: Five Timeless Lessons from Bill Gates, Andy Grove, and Steve Jobs

Authors: David B. Yoffie and Michael A. Cusumano
Publication Year: 2015

In today’s business environment, the ability to adapt and innovate is essential for success. However, many companies struggle to keep up with the pace of change, often due to obsolete business models or inflexible organizational structures.

In their book Strategy Rules, David B. Yoffie & Michael A. Cusumano examine the strategies of three highly successful tech entrepreneurs: Bill Gates of Microsoft, Andy Grove of Intel, and Steve Jobs of Apple.

By studying the way these leaders approached strategy and execution, the authors identify five key rules that can help any company stay ahead of the competition.

The authors show how these rules can be applied to a variety of industries and business situations. They also provide insights into the unique challenges that companies face as they attempt to implement them.

Whether you’re a business student or a business professional, Strategy Rules will give you a new framework for thinking about how to create and sustain a competitive advantage.

Strategy Rules is an essential guide for anyone seeking to build a lasting business.

Marketing is everything to your business. Without it, you would have no way of getting eyeballs on the products and services that matter most to your customers.

With a well-rounded marketing strategy, you can increase brand awareness, drive website traffic, and generate leads that turn into customers.

Your ideal marketing scenario is to marry the principles that have stood the test of time with the latest strategies and trends. After all, what worked even a few years ago may not work today.

To help you stay ahead of the curve, we’ve compiled a list of the best marketing books written by the experts. The names in the mix are familiar – Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki, and Jay Baer. You may have already read their books.

But we’ve also included some lesser-known thought leaders who are shaking up the marketing world. Like Nir Eyal, who wrote Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products.

And of course, no list of top marketing books would be complete without a nod to the classics, like Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People.

This definitive list covers a range of marketing topics, from inbound marketing and copywriting to email marketing, social media, and analytics.

So whether you’re just getting started in the world of marketing or you’re a seasoned pro, there’s something in here for you.

1) How to Win Friends and Influence People

Author: Dale Carnegie
Published: 1936

We start with one of the most well-known marketing books of all time, Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People.

This book is more than 80 years old, but the wisdom within is just as relevant today as it was when it was first published. That’s because Carnegie’s advice is based on understanding human psychology – something that hasn’t changed.

Carnegie shows you how to make friends and influence people by being interested in them and their interests, being a good listener, and making the other person feel important.

He also provides practical tips for handling difficult people and situations. If you want to learn how to market yourself and your products/services in a way that’s genuine and effective, then you need to read this book.

2) Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products

Author: Nir Eyal
Published: 2014

Hooked narrows in on a specific aspect of marketing – how to create products that people can’t put down.

Hooked dives deep into the psychology of why we form certain habits and how businesses can create products that “hook” us – in a good way.

In a nutshell, the book is about understanding your customers and designing your product in a way that fits their needs and wants. If you want to create products that people can’t help but use, then you need to read Hooked.

He details the four steps of the “Hook Model” – trigger, action, variable reward, and investment – and shows how companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest have used it to achieve massive success.

This book has a unique perspective on marketing – instead of thinking about how to get people to buy your product, think about how to get them addicted to it.

3) Youtility: Why Smart Marketing is about Help, not Hype

Author: Jay Baer
Published: 2013

If you’re sick of traditional marketing tactics that rely on interruption and manipulation, then you need to read Jay Baer’s Youtility.

In this book, Baer makes the case for why businesses should focus on being useful instead of trying to sell people things they don’t need. He argues that in today’s world of information overload, the best way to stand out is by actually helping people.

This book provides lots of practical tips for creating useful content and marketing it in a way that’s non-intrusive and helpful, not pushy and sales-y.

One key takeaway from the book is the importance of creating content that is both informative and entertaining. If you can do that, you’re well on your way to creating marketing that people will want to consume.

4) The Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable

Author: Seth Godin
Published: 2002

Standing out from the crowd is not an easy task. For every niche market, a thousand other companies are vying for attention. So how do you make your business the one that people remember?

Seth Godin’s book, The Purple Cow, is all about being remarkable. He argues that to succeed, you must be willing to stand out from the rest – even if it means being weird or different.

Godin provides plenty of examples of companies that have achieved success by being different, including Jet Blue, Starbucks, Google, and IKEA.

It’s inspiring and thought-provoking and though it’s over 20 years old, the book’s message is still super relevant today.

5) Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content

Author: Ann Handley
Published: 2014

As the title suggests, this book is all about creating good content. Ann Handley is a well-respected authority on the subject, and in this book, she provides plenty of practical tips for creating content that is interesting, useful, and shareable.

She covers topics like how to come up with ideas, how to write headlines that grab attention, and how to use storytelling to make your content more engaging.

The truth is if you are in marketing, you’re a writer. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “writer”, you still have to produce content regularly – whether it’s blog posts, social media updates, or email newsletters.

Everybody writes is packed with actionable advice on how to write better and its comprehensive approach makes it an essential read for anyone who wants to improve their writing skills.

Some of the key takeaways include:

• The importance of having a distinct voice and personality in your writing
• How to make your writing more readable and engaging
• The difference between good and bad writing, and how to avoid common mistakes

Whether you’re a professional writer or not, this book will teach you how to write better and create content that people will want to read.

6) Invisible Selling Machine

Author: Ryan Deiss
Published: 2007

If you’re like most people, you probably underestimate the power of email. After all, it’s just a digital version of a letter, right? Wrong.

As Ryan Deiss explains in The Invisible Selling Machine, email is one of the most important tools in any business’s arsenal. Not only is it a great way to stay in touch with your customers, but it’s also an incredibly effective marketing tool.

With just a few clicks, you can send out updates, special offers, and reminders that keep your customers coming back for more. Not to mention, email is incredibly cheap – if you were to pay for advertising that had the same reach and impact, it would cost you a fortune.

The Invisible Selling Machine is essential reading for anyone who wants to use email to its full potential. It’s packed with great information that’s sure to help you create a strategy that works for your business.

7) Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World

Author: Gary Vaynerchuk
Published: 2013

As the title suggests, Gary Vaynerchuk’s book, Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook is all about how to tell your story on social media.

In a world where everyone is fighting for attention, it’s more important than ever to create content that cuts through the noise. Vaynerchuk provides plenty of examples of brands that are doing just that, and he offers up actionable advice on how you can tell your own story in a way that resonates with your audience.

With social media becoming increasingly saturated, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to create content that stands out from the rest.

8) The Psychology of Persuasion: How to Persuade Others to Your Way of Thinking

Author: Robert B. Cialdini
Published: 1984

Marketing is all about persuasion – getting people to see things your way and convincing them to take action.

In The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert Cialdini draws on his years of experience in the field to explore the psychology behind why people say “yes”.

In it, Cialdini outlines six principles of persuasion that have been proven to be effective time and time again. These principles are:

• Reciprocity
• Commitment and consistency
• Social proof
• Authority
• Liking
• Scarcity

Each chapter dives deep into one of these principles, providing plenty of examples of how they can be used in optimizing your marketing efforts.

9) The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing: Violate Them at Your Own Risk!

Author: Al Ries and Jack Trout
Published: 1993

This book is a great example of why marketing basics are so important. Maybe you could say it’s the marketing equivalent of The Elements of Style.

Al Ries and Jack Trout layout 22 immutable laws of marketing, which they argue, if violated, could lead to disaster. Some of these laws include:

• The Law of Leadership: It’s better to be first than it is to be better
• The Law of the Category: If you can’t be first in a category, create a new category you can be first in
• The Law of the Mind: It’s better to be first in the mind than it is to be first in the market

Ries and Trout’s book is a great reminder of why marketing basics are so important, and why you should always keep them in mind when planning your marketing strategy.

10) Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant

Author: W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
Published: 2004

You’re probably familiar with the term “red ocean”. It’s used to describe a market that’s crowded with competitors and where there’s not much room for growth.

In contrast, a “blue ocean” is an uncontested market space where there is plenty of room for growth and opportunity. In other words, it’s a market that hasn’t been fully explored yet. And this is where you want to be.

In Blue Ocean Strategy, W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne lay out a framework for creating blue oceans. They provide plenty of examples of companies that have used this strategy to great success.

The key is to look beyond your existing industry and find new ways to reach your target market. This may seem like a daunting task, but Kim and Mauborgne provide a framework that makes it much easier to do.

So if you’re feeling stuck in a rut, pick up a copy of Blue Ocean Strategy. It just might be the key to success.

11) Permission Marketing: Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers

Author: Seth Godin
Published: 1999

This book was ahead of its time when it was published in 1999, and it’s even more relevant today.

In Permission Marketing, Seth Godin argues that the future of marketing lies in obtaining permission from customers before trying to sell them something. This means building a relationship with them first and providing them with value on an ongoing basis.

This is different from traditional marketing, where businesses interrupt people with their message whether they want it or not.

Over 20 years later, permission marketing is more important than ever. With the advent of social media and the rise of ad blockers, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to reach people with traditional marketing techniques.

But if you have a solid relationship with your customers, they will be more likely to see your message and take action.

12) UnMarketing: Stop Marketing. Start Engaging

Author: Scott Stratten
Published: 2010

Let’s be honest, we’ve all been there. You’re talking to someone at a party and they suddenly start trying to sell you something. It’s uncomfortable, and you usually try to get away from that person as soon as possible.

In UnMarketing, Scott Stratten argues that this is what traditional marketing techniques are doing to people. Instead of engaging with them, we’re interrupting them and trying to sell them something they may not even want.

Stratten advocates for a new approach to marketing, one that is based on relationships and providing value first. Only then can you hope to sell something to someone. So next time you’re thinking about making a sales pitch, think about how you would want to be treated and take a step back. Chances are, the other person will appreciate it too.

13) Guerrilla Marketing: Easy and Inexpensive Strategies for Making Big Profits from Your Small Business, 4th Edition

Author: Jay Conrad Levinson
Published: 2007

Jay Conrad Levinson’s Guerrilla Marketing is one of the most classic marketing books out there. It was originally published in 1984 and has been updated several times since then.

Levinson coined the term “guerrilla marketing” to describe low-budget, creative marketing techniques that can be used by businesses of any size.

This book is chock full of examples of businesses that have used these techniques to great effect. If you’re looking for some inspiration on how to market your business on a shoestring budget, this is the book for you.

14) Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics

Author: Richard H. Thaler
Published: 2015

Economics is all about making choices that are in your best interest, right? WRONG. In Misbehaving, Richard H. Thaler explores the field of behavioral economics and how it can be used to make better marketing decisions.

Turns out, we’re often irrational and make choices that don’t make sense from a logical standpoint. Whether it’s because of emotions, social norms, or other factors, our choices aren’t always based on what is best for us.

However, by understanding behavioral economics, we can make more informed decisions that are likely to lead to better outcomes. If you’re interested in the subject, this book is a must-read. It’s both entertaining and informative, and it will give you a new perspective on the way you make decisions.

15) Building A Story Brand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen

Author: Donald Miller
Published: 2017

Have you ever wondered why some businesses just seem to “get it” when it comes to marketing, while others always seem to be struggling? According to Donald Miller, the answer lies in their ability (or lack thereof) to tell a good story.

In Building a Story Brand, Miller uses the framework of a story to help businesses Clarify Their Message and Connect With Their Customers. The book is based on the premise that people are more likely to remember and act on a story than they are on a list of facts.

Miller walks readers through the process of Clarifying Their Message and then creating a Brand Story that will resonate with their customers. By the end, you’ll have a much better understanding of how to connect with your customers and make your brand more memorable.

16) Made To Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

Author: Chip Heath and Dan Heath
Published: 2007

Have you ever wondered why some ideas stick in our heads while others fail to make an impact? In Made to Stick, brothers Chip and Dan Heath explore this question and offer some insights into what makes an idea successful.

The Heath brothers argue that six factors make an idea more likely to stick: simplicity, unexpectedness, concreteness, credibility, emotion, and stories. Getting into the mind of the customer and understanding how these factors play into decision-making can be the difference between a successful marketing campaign and one that falls flat.

After all, if you can’t get your customers to remember your message, it doesn’t matter how good it is.

Do you know that “time” is the most commonly used word in the English language? It makes sense. Every time we converse, make plans, or look over our day, our questions revolve around time.

Do you have the time? How long will this take? Are you running late? Do you have a minute?

The biggest question we all seek to answer around time is: Do I have enough time?

Because we all have the same 1,440 minutes each day and 168 hours each week–and nearly all of us can improve how we relate to them.

Maybe you’re sick with regret, as for the second time this month, you’ve missed a flight or arrived late for an appointment, simply because you let time get away from you. Or you’re completely burnt out from working non-stop, yet completing things never brings any peace of mind. Or you’re guilt-ridden, as whenever you look around the house, you see dozens of things to do–so many, in fact, you can’t muster the will to begin any single one.

Maybe you feel torn and frustrated, as everyone wants your time; your friends, your boss, your spouse, your kids. And all you want is some time to kick back, put up your feet and feel respite from the grind.

Sometimes those 1,440 minutes feel more like a tumbleweed, rolling across a prairie, laughing at us as it bobs and blows just beyond our grasp. Or those 168 hours feel like getting onto a half-broke horse. It neighs, bucks, turns and pulls us in all directions, and we have no choice but to climb back on, day after day.

We all know how we would like to relate to the hours and minutes of our day. We want a routine that allows us to produce consistent quality work, a lifestyle with plenty of time for family and leisure, and a calm disposition, with respite from the frenzied feeling of having too much to do.

But how do you tame something so uncontrollable and independent as time?

It’s not an easy question to lasso and get your head around. But fortunately it’s been written about at great length. According to some, making small changes is the solution. Compounded over time, these routines determine who we become. To others, aligning our daily lives with our core values brings continuity to our routines. Others advocate capturing to-dos with a list. Still others believe in escaping from our time-is-money paradigm altogether, and returning to a time when all work stopped with the set of sun.

With every answer, the objective is the same: developing a relationship with time that unleashes our potential and secures our peace of mind. Let’s peruse some books to read on time management and discover some great methods, ideas and time management tips to incorporate into our daily lives.

15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management: The Productivity Habits of 7 Billionaires, 13 Olympic Athletes, 29 Straight-A Students and 239 Entrepreneurs by Kevin Kruse

Publisher: The Kruse Group
Year Published: 2015
Number of Pages: 202

If someone asked you what the most important thing in your life was, what would you say?

According to Kevin Kruse, author of 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management, the correct answer to this question is “time.”

Why is time so important? Because unlike everything else in your life, including money, a job and even a spouse (he asserts), you can’t get it back. But time “is irreplaceable. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good.”

Kruse has interviewed hundreds of successful people for this book, including Sheryl Sandberg, Marissa Mayer and Jack Dorsey, and shares the common themes he’s gleaned from them.

“Highly successful people don’t think about time much at all. Instead, they think about values, priorities, and consistent habits.”

“The single most important thing when it comes to time and productivity isn’t a tactic or a trick—it’s a shift in mindset.”

He recommends identifying priorities, then creating systems around them. The first step is identifying your MIT, or most important thing. Next, create a habit of dedicating the first two hours of your day to your MIT, because that’s when your cognitive powers are the sharpest.

A great schedule (not a list, he makes clear) releases stress, as it creates a slot for all your priorities. Anything on the schedule is treated like an appointment with the dentist. It’s not shifted around or cut short.

Kruse doesn’t waste his readers’ time with 15 Secrets. In only 200 pages, he covers a lot, including sections titled: Procrastination Cure, How to Leave the Office by 5:00, Master Your Email, and Meeting Hacks. It’s written in first person and includes many personal anecdotes.

It’s helpful for people with all sorts of lifestyles. He ends each section by clarifying how his lessons apply if you’re an entrepreneur, a stay at home parent, a student, a freelancer and an executive.

Kruse is a prolific writer. He’s contributed over 100 articles to Forbes, and has written the books Employee Engagement 2.0 and Unlimited Clients. Readers find his style and voice relatable, and his presentation in 15 Secrets upbeat and fun.

Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman

Publisher: Farrar Straus and Giroux
Year Published: 2021
Number of Pages: 288

Four Thousand Weeks touches on this notion of “living versus existing.”

Its British author, Oliver Burkeman, notes that in modern society, we regard time like it’s a resource, the same way we regard water, food and money. Assuming we live into our 70s, our entire life, then, can be codified, valued, sized up and measured into around four thousand weeks.

He contrasts this attitude with peasants in pre-industrial England, where there was no clock hanging on the wall or daily planners at anyone’s desk. The seasons determined daily tasks, and the sunset determined when one fell asleep at the end of the day.

He ventures that our modern approach to time robs us of our peace of mind. When time is seen as a scarce resource, we’re haggling ourselves over whether we’ve spent it wisely. This leaves us feeling chronically dissatisfied after a hard day’s work.

This book is helpful for someone who never finds any satisfaction for a job well done, or who’s guilt-ridden for mis-managing time. He asserts that removing ourselves from a treadmill-approach to life makes us more productive in the long-term.

Burkeman presents methods for developing a healthy relationship with time, drawing on lessons from psychologists, philosophers, and spiritual teachers, “all who rejected the struggle to dominate or master [time].”

He also discusses a concept called “deep time,” which is similar to timelessness. In deep time, we forget about the treadmill and the ticking clock. “The boundary separating the self from the rest of reality grows blurry, and time stands still.” Deep time is the realm of prayer and contemplation, “a realm where there is enough of everything, where we are not trying to fill a void in ourselves and the world.”

In Four Thousand Weeks, Burkeman evaluates modern lifestyles through the lens of a historian. Chapters include “The Loneliness of the Digital Nomad” and “Becoming a Better Procrastinator.”

Readers have found that the themes and ideas in the book flow naturally, and that it’s a substantive self-help book.

Burkeman also writes a blog and a column for The Guardian called “This Column Will Change Your Life.”

The Procrastination Cure: 21 Proven Tactics for Conquering Your Inner Procrastinator, Mastering Your Time, and Boosting Your Productivity! by Damon Zahariades

Publisher: Art of Productivity
Year Published: 2017
Number of Pages: 166

Procrastination is a bit of a conundrum. For example, why do we put off something so simple as paying a bill? All it entails is either making a few clicks on the computer or putting a stamp onto an envelope then walking to the mailbox.

“We tend to pursue what is easiest and most likely to deliver immediate gratification, even if doing so is inconsistent with our long-term goals,” Damon Zaharaides writes in The Procrastination Cure.

He writes this book for the dilly-dallier, the chronic procrastinator, the person who can put off a boring task even when the stakes are high. To some extent, this is all of us.

Zahariades stresses that procrastination is a fact of life. We’ll never entirely recover, but his book aims to decrease procrastination tendencies and so “increase productivity, and better manage your time.”

A procrastinator not only pays practical consequences, but emotional ones as well: he lives with the guilt and angst that comes from putting off necessary tasks. The Procrastination Cure is about creating emotional well-being through living a responsible, productive lifestyle.

“Taking action causes the discomfort and guilt associated with procrastination to evaporate. It also erases the stress and worry of doing the task. And just as importantly, it gives us the momentum we need to continue working until the task has been completed.”

The book is well organized. It begins with a simple definition of procrastination, then covers Zahariades’ personal history as a chronic procrastinator, paying car tabs after they’re due (and getting his car towed), ending relationships way too late and turning projects in way past their deadline.

Then he provides reasons why we procrastinate (“Fear of Failure,” “Fear of Success,” “Feelings of Overwhelm,” “Laziness,” “Inability to Make Decisions”) and finishes with 21 tactics for overcoming procrastination, including “Eat the Frog,” “Reward Yourself,” “Ask Others to Set Deadlines,” “Take Small Steps” and “Get Rid of Distractions.”

Zahariades runs a content marketing agency, and has a blog called the “Art of Productivity.” Readers say the book provides motivating tips that really work; Netflix is getting shut off, the sock drawers are getting organized and the lawn is getting mowed.

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande

Publisher: Picador
Year Published: 2011
Number of Pages: 240

We’re living in a complex world. Even an everyday activity like going to the gym entails collecting at least fifteen items into a duffel bag. How many times have you gotten to the car, put the gym bag in the back seat and then returned to the house to retrieve a forgotten water bottle or towel?

The bestseller Checklist Manifesto promises to be a powerful antidote to the complexity we face in our everyday lives.

In the book, surgeon and author Atul Gawande recounts numerous anecdotes he’s heard over the years from colleagues overlooking “small” details in what otherwise is an earnest effort to treat a patient.

In one anecdote, a man shows up at the Emergency Room with a stab wound. “Everyone involved got almost every step right…except no one remembered to ask the patient or the emergency medical technicians what the weapon was.” As it turns out, the weapon was a bayonet, and due to this lack of knowledge, the patient nearly died.

In the modern world, Gawande argues, the cause of failure is more commonly due to ineptitude than ignorance. We know what we need to do, but things are so complex that we fail to capture and execute on all the details.

The checklist, he proposes, captures all of the requirements in a project, a task or a routine and keeps them front of mind. It is a system that applies to all areas of our lives.

The Checklist Manifesto is for anyone who feels overwhelmed or suffers from “brain clog.” Creating a list for everyday things such as what to pack for a weekend trip, a camping vacation or a session at the gym reduces brain clutter and keeps us from thinking too hard about any one thing.

Gawande is a surgeon working in Boston, a staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of another bestseller, Complications.

Readers find the stories in Checklist Manifesto gripping, even for someone with no medical background.

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

Publisher: Avery
Year Published: 2018
Number of Pages: 320

Brushing your teeth every night is such a tiny action. It only takes a few minutes. Yet, looking over the span of thirty or more years, imagine the consequences of not doing it. By the age of 60 or 70 you may well be removing a set of false teeth from your mouth at the end of each day.

James Clear’s book, Atomic Habits, is all about the impact of small actions like teeth brushing. He makes a comparison between small habits and compounding interest, claiming that a small lifestyle change, compounded over time, completely alters the course of your life.

“Improving by 1 percent isn’t particularly notable—sometimes it isn’t even noticeable—but it can be far more meaningful, especially in the long run.”

His message is heartening to someone who struggles with time management or procrastination. The remedy isn’t changing your lifestyle by 180 degrees. Rather, a tiny change has enormous long-term repercussions.

Something like routinely leaving work thirty minutes early in order to eat dinner with the family doesn’t seem like a big deal in the day-to-day. Over the span of a decade, however, that’s a huge chunk of quality family time. Or, spending thirty minutes each weekend decluttering the garage may look insignificant at first, but it starts to make a huge impact after a whole year.

“A slight change in your daily habits can guide your life to a very different destination,” writes Clear.

This “small strokes fell great oaks” message works both ways. Habits like negative thoughts, stress and outrage compound into real effects with consequences that we live with.

Changes don’t happen linearly as we’d expect, Clear points out. Rather, like compounding interest, the effects accumulate slowly, and then at some distant future date, we cash in on our habits.

Clear writes the book in five parts, with chapters such as “The Truth About Talent,” “Walk Slowly, but Never Backward” and “The Secret to Self Control.” It’s easy to read, with plenty of stories and graphs to communicate his compounding message.

Atomic Habits is a bestselling book that’s sold over 5 million copies. Clear speaks to Fortune 500 companies on habits and decision marketing and sends out a “3-2-1” newsletter to a million subscribers.

Readers find Atomic Habits informative, if somewhat redundant.

The Desire Map: A Guide to Creating Goals by Danielle LaPorte

Publisher: Sound True
Year Published: 2014
Number of Pages: 288

Desire Map is for people who’ve set goals and stayed on track to achieve them, only to arrive at the finish line disappointed. They experience no satisfactory emotional payoff.

In order to avert this disappointment, author Danielle LaPorte proposes we establish goals around the emotions we want to experience and feel in our lives, and then build out our daily routines in pursuit of these emotions.

Her method isn’t about setting concrete goals such as taking a vacation or earning a certain income. “Four feelings. Stuck in my Day-Timer. Referred to every day. Guiding my choices,” she writes.

Her system often leads to paradigm shifts in people’s lives, she warns. “So when you get clear on how you actually want to feel, your life-planning process might get turned upside down.”

When readers realize their current track leads to dead-end emotions, they end up in new careers, or find new approaches to things like budgeting.

Desire Map is helpful for someone who feels trapped in a web of “shoulds.” It’s about aligning all of a person’s precious time with her core desires.

It consists of two books: The Theory and The Workbook, with chapters like “Recalibrating the Compass” and “The Benefits of Clear Desires.” She’s also included action sheets to keep goals on track, including monthly and weekly check-ins.

The book reads like online content, which makes sense as LaPorte’s home turf is the internet. The san-serif text changes size frequently. Huge all-cap text and bold text intermingles with the regular-sized text throughout the pages of her book.

Readers love LaPorte for her energy, and believe she’s brought a lot of herself to this book, and that it includes thoughtful details.

LaPorte has an eponymous website that’s been named by Forbes as one of the top 100 websites for women, where she dispenses life and business advice. Her charismatic online presence has amassed an enormous social media following. She also wrote The Fire Starter Sessions.

Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Year Published: 2016
Number of Pages: 304

Sometimes we may have a solid two hours for a task, yet it barely reaches the finish line even so. Too many “Ya got a minute?” knocks at the office door results in a sloppy deliverable that’s not at all representative of our best work.

According to Cal Newport, author of Deep Work, this level of performance won’t cut it in the current economy. As robots swoop in to replace labor, only highly skilled employees can retain their positions.

Performing at a skilled, elite level requires what he calls “deep work.” Deep work is a method for improving output that maximizes the cognitive value of your brain, and requires “distraction-free concentration.” He contrasts deep work from shallow work, which includes things like sorting papers and answering emails.

Deep Work takes a refreshing spin on time management, as it’s about how to improve the quality of work time, rather than how to structure a workday. It provides specific instructions on how to create an environment to produce exceptional work.

Newport illustrates the concept of deep work with the story of Nate Silver, who in 2008 garnered praise for predicting the presidential outcome by using a thorough analysis of polling data. Using the same “deep work” method, Silver’s gone on to predict things like the recipients of Oscars at the Academy Awards.

Even at the book’s 2016 publication date, the Nate Silver story sounds dated, especially since “deep work” is a cutting-edge phenomenon. Chapters in Deep Work include no-brainers such as “Quit Social Media.”

But the book was a bestseller nonetheless. Newport is a Georgetown professor, and author of other bestsellers, including Digital Minimalism and A World Without Email. He hosts the podcast “Deep Questions” and speaks regularly on NPR.

Readers have noted the concepts presented in deep work have been around for some time. Finding a quiet place to work and eliminating distractions is common sense. And producing high-quality work isn’t a cutting edge notion. It’s been a requirement in several professions for some time now.

Time Blocking: Destroy Procrastination, Get More Done, and Feel Great About It by Abe Wood

Publisher: Thomas Steel
Year Published: 2021
Number of Pages: 47

You know in the movies when the camera focuses on one person’s face, and everything in the background goes fuzzy?

Time blocking is like this. It’s when you focus on one activity for an hour or two, and let everything else around you “go fuzzy.” It’s also known as batching, boxing and chunking.

In his book Time Blocking, author Abe Wood believes time blocking is the key to insane productivity. Sometimes we only have an hour to dedicate to an important task. Time blocking is about maximizing the productivity of that hour.

“The idea of time blocking is to pre-plan your day before it arrives…before you go to sleep, you’ll spend a bit of time creating a plan for the next day. Then, when you wake up, you’ll immediately know what you need to get started on.”

The book has two parts, and includes the chapters “Unload and Free Your Brain,” “Don’t Be a Tyrant with Yourself,” “The Elon Musk Method” and “The Cal Newport Method.”

Readers have appreciated that Wood has packed some great lessons into his quick book. At under 50 pages, you can read Time Blocking in an afternoon, and start applying his lessons the following day!

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen

Publisher: Penguin Books
Year Published: 2015
Number of Pages: 352

Are you ever so overwhelmed with everything to do that you can’t even focus on the task at hand? David Allen aims to tackle this problem in his book, Getting Things Done.

He addresses his book both to professionals and non-professionals and his goal is to remove stress and anxiety from people’s work and day-to-day lives.

“This book is not so much concerned with getting things done as it is championing appropriate engagement with your world—guiding you to make the best choice of what to do in each moment, and to eliminate distraction and stress about what you’re not doing.”

It’s a practice, a method, a set of habits that one develops, and he presents both the principles behind it and then the ingredients for practicing it.

“The behavioral ingredients of GTC are…to write something down, decide what the next step is to move forward, record the reminder of that on a list, and review the list.”

The book is structured to present the principles behind his “GTC Method,” then its components, and finally the ingredients to put his method into practice. “Capturing” is central to the method. This essentially entails outlining all of the tasks or components of a process, project or routine.

This is the second edition of Getting Things Done. Allen updated the 2001 version to keep pace with technology.

Allen is a coach to CEOs and business leaders. He’s trademarked his GTD method. It works for anyone, including students, parents and executives. He’s also written Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work and Life.

Some readers really stand by the method, calling it a game-changer and saying it helps them de-clog their brain, while others find it’s a dressed up version of a checklist.

Mind Mapping: Improve Memory, Concentration, Communication, Organization, Creativity, and Time Management (Mental Performance) by Kam Knight

Publisher: MindLily
Year Published: 2012
Number of Pages: 209

We all know how it feels to get drawn into a long, stream of consciousness conversation with someone, where one thing leads to another then another, down the rabbit hole until you have no idea where you started.

This is a little how our brain works, Kam Knight asserts in his book, Mind Mapping. Whenever we encounter a certain smell, for example, our brain makes all sorts of associations with the other times we encountered the smell, going all the way back to early childhood.

And it’s part of the power behind mind mapping. The mind map visually represents what’s going on in our brains. It helps to process complex information and is applicable with all learning styles: verbal, auditory and kinesthetic.

How does mind mapping assist with time management? It’s a powerful tool for organizing ideas, planning a project or capturing requirements.

If you’ve managed a project in the past and certain areas became disaster zones, try mind mapping this time around. For example, a mind map created around costs and responsibilities can help identify known unknowns and minimize scope creep.

In the book, Knight explains how mind mapping is helpful in daily life, with creating things like chore lists and daily schedules.

Knight is a coach who’s written extensively on productivity and time management. He’s also written the book, Speed Reading: Learn to Read a 200+ Page Book in 1 Hour.

Readers find Mind Mapping comprehensive, as it explains how to make mind maps, why they work, and what to use them for. They also stress that mind mapping is a practice that needs to be developed.