Traction is a highly practical guide for anyone steering a business. While I might take a different approach in certain areas, the book offers a robust blueprint for effective business management and leadership. The book breaks down what it takes to run a successful business into six core elements that make up his Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS): Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction. These components help you set a clear path, focus on the right people, and build solid routines for tackling issues and tracking progress.
Wickman’s style is refreshingly practical. Instead of lofty theories, he digs into simple, actionable steps like setting quarterly “Rocks” (priority goals) and following a structured “Meeting Pulse” schedule to keep everyone accountable and issues managed before they snowball. While some readers find it a bit traditional, especially for newer business models, EOS is widely praised as a “must-have” playbook for clarity and organization in fast-growing businesses.
Do you have a grip on your business, or does your business have a grip on you? All entrepreneurs and business leaders face similar frustrations--personnel conflict, profit woes, and inadequate growth. Decisions never seem to get made, or, once made, fail to be properly implemented. But there is a solution. It's not complicated or theoretical.The Entrepreneurial Operating System(R) is a practical method for achieving the business success you have always envisioned. More than 2,000 companies have discovered what EOS can do. In Traction, you'll learn the secrets of strengthening the six key components of your business. You'll discover simple yet…
The Power of Middle Managers: How the Most Effective Leaders Keep Their Teams Engaged by Bill Schaninger and Bryan Hancock delves into the often underestimated yet critical role of middle managers in shaping an organization’s future. Schaninger and Hancock argue that middle managers are the glue holding teams together and driving sustainable change. With actionable insights, they show how these managers create engagement, foster resilience, and support organizational goals. The book is insightful for anyone looking to better understand or empower this vital role in today’s workplace transformation. It is a McKinsey book so you know it is thought provoking, based on research, and well written. You can't go wrong reading this one. I t will challnge the way you view the middle manager.
If you're thinking of cutting your midlevel managers in the new world of work, think again.
"Middle manager." The term evokes a bygone industrial era in which managers functioned like cogs in a vast bureaucratic machine. In recent decades, midlevel managers became a favorite target for the chopping block-underappreciated, often considered a superfluous layer of the organization.
Not only does this outdated perspective need to change, but the future demands it. In Power to the Middle, McKinsey thought leaders Bill Schaninger, Bryan Hancock, and Emily Field call for a profound reimagining of managers and their roles. They explain how middle…
In The Year of Living Constitutionally, A.J. Jacobs takes on the Constitution in the way only he can—by trying to live by it, literally! Known for his quirky, deep-dive experiments (like living biblically for a year which was the topic of his first book and it was hysterical), Jacobs throws himself into the nation's founding document, aiming to follow its principles as if it were a personal guidebook. Armed with curiosity, a bit of stubbornness, and a solid dose of humor, he goes beyond just reading the Constitution. He lives it, and the results are hilarious, eye-opening, and sometimes downright confusing.
Throughout the book, Jacobs chats with constitutional scholars, debates with citizens, and even approaches political figures, all while wrestling with questions like: What does "free speech" really mean in today's world? Does the right to "bear arms" mean he should try shooting a musket? And what about those oddball amendments people rarely talk about? Jacobs’ witty, conversational style keeps things moving, making legal jargon feel surprisingly fun and relatable. By the end, he’s not just pondering the big questions about freedom and government—he’s making us think about them, too, without taking ourselves too seriously. If you’ve ever wondered what the Constitution means in real life (or just want a laugh), this book’s for you!
The New York Times bestselling author of The Year of Living Biblically chronicles his hilarious adventures in attempting to follow the original meaning of the Constitution, as he searches for answers to one of the most pressing issues of our time: How should we interpret America’s foundational document?
“I don’t know how I learned so much while laughing so hard.”—Andy Borowitz
A.J. Jacobs learned the hard way that donning a tricorne hat and marching around Manhattan with a 1700s musket will earn you a lot of strange looks. In the wake of several controversial rulings by the Supreme Court and…
Cultivating Culture by Brad Federman dives into what makes workplace culture tick. The book doesn’t just talk about culture as some abstract ideal; it breaks it down into real, actionable activities that any manager can use to build a place where people actually want to work. The book emphasizes that culture isn’t a one-and-done setup—it’s a continuous process that requires effort, interaction, and, surprisingly, even play.
In a straightforward, down-to-earth style, Cultivating Culture delivers 101 short culture workouts or huddles. It is ipractical not preachy, making the book an enjoyable guide for anyone invested in building a resilient, people-centered workplace. It is a book to use not read!
