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What I've Learned From Going on a Business Book Binge

Over the past few years, I've read a lot of business books. 

 And I mean A LOT. 

 I'll read two books in parallel on my iPad (Kindle and iBooks). 

 I'll listen to another one on my phone through audible.com. 

 Some days I may even go retro and pop a CD into my car and listen to that.

 It's probably safe to say that if there is a top "whatever" list of business books that an entrepreneur, business leader, or manager should read -- I've definitely read at least two that are on the list. 

 Unfortunately for me, my reading comprehension skills have been terrible since the Pre-SAT which means that I'm probably missing out on many key messages or themes that these books are communicating. 

However, out of everything that I'm reading, here's what I've remembered:

  1. Values matter - Not just values, core values. Individuals need to define their core values as leaders. Companies need to identify their values as an organization. It's these values that determine the people you hire, why you do the work you do, and how your business stays on track with making a positive impact in the marketplace.
  2. Leadership, true leadership, is a scarce commodity - Leaders serve other people. Leaders help other people to become better. Leaders inspire. Leaders have followers. Leaders communicate a better future. Leaders are defined through actions and not lip service. There are a lot of people in organizations that are leaders by title only. They do not reflect the true meaning of what it is to be a leader. 
  3. Everyone is afraid to fail and not enough people are failing enough - Failing and stories of failure are a part of every successful person's timeline and story. Yet we fear it and do everything in our power to avoid failure no matter how small it may be in the grand scheme of things. There are great stories that come out of failure and even more importantly there are greater successes. 

There are a lot more themes and takeaways, but I'll start with these. Would be interesting to hear what you may have learned. 
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