Successful people write books, sharing how they created wealth, health and fulfillment. How nice of them! Here is my latest list of personal favorites.
“Leaders Eat Last”
• by Simon Sinek
• $27.95, 240 pages
• Portfolio Hardcover, Jan. 7
Your employees are not slaves. So often managers and owners are devastated when their employees don’t open their wrists for the company every single day, even though they treat their employees like indentured servants. Where is the love? Where is the promise to back your team up, in good times and bad times? When is it OK to make a mistake? In Simon Sinek’s latest polemic on management, he shares stories from his work with the military and other organizations where caring for each other comes first. That trust and support sets the stage for excellence in production and service.
If you are technically persuaded, Sinek presents interesting scientific support for his theories. He also cites evidence in nature for his Circle of Safety concept. For example, when a tiger charges a water buffalo, the herd of buffalos circle up to repel the attack. It’s all for one.
“Mastering the Rockefeller Habits” 
• by Verne Harnish
• $24.95, 176 pages
• Gazelles Inc., March 1, 2011
Inspired by John D. Rockefeller, legions of business experts have dissected his habits in the hope of replicating his success. Gazelles Inc., a management training company, has assembled the Rockefeller Habits Checklist:
- As goes the executive team, goes the rest of the firm.
- Everyone is aligned with the No. 1 thing that needs to be accomplished this quarter to move the company forward.
- Communication rhythm is established. Information moves through the organization accurately and quickly.
- Every facet of the organization has a person assigned with accountability for ensuring goals are met.
- Employee feedback and input is systematized to remove obstacles and identify opportunities.
- Reporting and analysis of customer feedback data are as frequent and accurate as financial data.
- Core ideologies are alive in the organization.
- Clear understanding of the firm’s market position drives strategic planning, sales and marketing.
- All employees can report their productivity at any time and how it compares to goals.
- A situation room is established for the weekly executive team meeting.
I suspect Rockefeller never put his approach into this kind of formal language. Verne Harnish’s book is an attempt to simplify the concepts and help you move from strategy to action. It’s a solid read for this reason, and it’s a valiant attempt. It can be simpler, still, so look for ways to streamline the forms and processes.
“Profit First”
• by Mike Michalowicz
• $24.95, 191 pages
• Obsidian Press, July 4
This is a profoundly simple book based on a great success tip: Pay yourself first. While Mike Michalowicz eschews generally accepted accounting principles, the concepts presented are really just a different way of looking at the same accounting. The distinction is discipline. It takes discipline to make sure your salary, as an expense, is honored and paid.
The best parts of this book are Michalowicz’s personal stories – from troublemaking employee, to successful entrepreneur to unsuccessful venture capitalist. The day he realized he lost everything and had to come clean to his wife makes for riveting reading. And he presents his lessons learned in a powerful, workable approach to putting profit first.
Ellen Rohr is an author and business consultant offering profit-building tips, trending business blogs and online workshops at EllenRohr.com. Her books include “Where Did the Money Go?” and “The Bare Bones Weekend Biz Plan.” She can be reached at ellen@ellenrohr.com.
