Grab a book
“In my whole life, I have known no wise people who didn’t read all the time — none, zero.” — Charlie Munger
I sat down to write this week’s article with plenty of topics in mind (an acquisition I’m working on, planning for Q4 goals, navigating a debt recap, and various other situations my businesses are facing)…
…but really, all I’m thinking about are some good books I’m reading.
So instead of the traditional “financial tip,” today I’m sharing some of my top reads to help you. These are in no particular order and cover a variety of personal and business topics (finance, management, sales, self help, memoir, etc.).
Books that will make you a better owner, operator, or advisor:
- Simple Numbers (accounting/finance) — One of the best and easiest reads on SMB finance/accounting. It covers: taxes, reporting rhythms, labor efficiency, hiring, etc. The rolling 12-month analysis is my swiss army knife and Greg breaks it down in simple terms. A must read for any owner.
- Scaling Up (management) — Systems and processes are a wonderful thing. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a “system” for running your entire business? A structure for meetings, planning, management, finance, growth, etc. Scaling Up is essentially a handbook for just that. I consider it more robust than its peer, Traction (listed below).
- Traction (management) — Outlines the system known as EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System). Any business could benefit from implementing these tools (even if you’re just starting out and have zero employees).
- 4 Disciplines of Execution (management) — Narrower than cousins Traction/Scaling Up, 4DX focuses on setting an overarching company goal, finding leading metrics to achieve it, keeping score around those metrics, and creating accountability to hit your goal. If you don’t have a KPI scorecard, this book will get you there.
- 10x Is Easier Than 2x (planning) — For anyone struggling with “incremental” progress or thinking, this book will get you in the mental state for making needle-mover achievements. I consider it a “planning” book as it focuses on setting schedules, organizing your time, and focusing on finding and eliminating low-value activities.
- The 5 Types of Wealth (self help) — Perhaps my favorite read of 2025 so far. I’m not big on self help books, but this one truly helped me clarify where I want to go both personally and professionally. (Note: the 5 types of wealth are: time, social, mental, physical, and financial.)
- High Output Management (management) — A business classic written by the late former Intel CEO, Andy Grove. The focus is on management in a broad sense, but it’s an entire playbook covering: meetings, decision-making, planning, organizational structure, coaching, task management, etc.
- Ready, Fire, Aim (sales/growth) — A “growth oriented” book for entrepreneurs. Outlines 4 stages of growth and how to move from one to the next. Extra emphasis on product development and refinement.
- Built To Sell (exit planning) — Quick read in “story” format. It covers the changes / pivots necessary to position a business for sale. If you’re looking for those ideal factors which will make your business sellable, this is a must read.
- 12 Week Year (planning) — I’m just wrapping this up and it was fantastic. It’s a no-fluff system for planning goals and time management.
- Shoe Dog (biography) — Phil Knight / Nike biography. Phenomenal story about the trials and hardships of starting and running a business. Plenty of valuable lessons along the way. If you’re an aspiring owner looking for a peak into the world of business ownership, this is it.
- The Hard Thing About Hard Things (biography) — Ben Horowitz of Andreessen Horowitz. This is a must read for anyone dealing with a turnaround. It’s written in memoir format but full of valuable lessons ranging from managing people, downsizing, pivoting, and creating a highly efficient organization.
- The Six Month Fix (turnarounds) — Another must read for anyone navigating a turnaround. My copy is littered with dog eared pages and highlights. Chapters are highly practical and concise. Here are some chapter titles to give you a flavor for what you’re in for: stop the bleeding, slash costs, kill meetings, the turnaround never ends, manage from one piece of paper.
This should keep you busy the next few months. Remember, we do have businesses to run!