One of the best ways to become a successful entrepreneur or knowledge broker is to learn from those who have had the most success. Dean Graziosi swears by these books as some of the most influential in his own ultra-successful career. Take the time to read them, you won’t regret it!
Measure What Matters OKRs: The Simple Idea That Drives 10x Growth By John Doerr, with contributions from Bill Gates and Bono
Shoe Dog
A Memoir by the Creator of Nike By Phil Knight
When you think about the biggest company in the world, which one comes to mind first? Google? Amazon? I love this book because it reveals the strategy that John Doerr introduced to grow Google, Amazon, and so many other companies into the absolute forces they are today. In 1999, Google had cutting-edge technology and plenty of passion and ambition – but it lacked a true plan for growth. This story is all-too-familiar, isn’t it? Doerr, a venture capitalist, invested nearly $12 million into Google that year and showed its founders the power of Objectives and Key Results, or OKRs. OKRs allow a company to constantly evolve and evaluate by setting new goals depending on what works and what doesn’t. They show that anything can be accomplished by breaking big ideas into smaller, more manageable steps. It seems simple, but Doerr’s book shows how powerful this model has been! Doerr’s biggest contribution to Google – probably not his money, but a highly successful business model – resulted in unprecedented growth. Dozens of other companies have adopted Doerr’s model and, thanks to the idea that businesses need transparent goals and honest evaluation from CEO to secretary, have all become immensely successful!
I’d be willing to bet you own at least one piece of clothing with a swoosh on it. This biography is one of my favorites because I love the story of how Knight created his own path and overcame adversity. Phil Knight turned Nike into one of the most iconic companies on the planet, and this book is his secret formula. I won’t give away too much other than to tell you that, well, there is no secret formula! Knight’s strategy was one that most of us could adopt today if we had the mindset to do it. He followed three basic principles: 1. Find a mentor who can teach you and believe in you. 2. Hire competent people and give them direction, but not directives. 3. Go for broke. You’re only getting older – so why not follow your dream right now? These are all ideas I’ve tried to adopt in my own life. I’ve had so many great mentors in my life; I always want my team to feel empowered; and I never want to take anything for granted. Read this book – you won’t regret it. If it worked for Nike, it can work for you!
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