My MBA students asked me to supply a suggested reading list. I thought it would make for a great blog post.
I will update this from time to time. I’ll try to post the less obvious ones.
In no particular order:
The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement
Eliyahu M. Goldratt (Author), Jeff Cox (Author)
The Goal is a great business book that is also an entertaining read. It is part of almost every MBA reading list in the world – and for good reason.
Goldratt weaves a nice tale of plant manager’s journey of trying to improve the plant he works at. Along the way, we learn the Theory of Constraints (TOC) and basic methodology for continuous process improvement.
This book was the first glimpse I ever had at the power of driving operational performance. I changed the way I thought about things forever.
All Marketers are Liars (with a New Preface): The Underground Classic That Explains How Marketing Really Works–and Why Authenticity Is the Best Marketing of All
Seth Godin (Author)
You can’t go wrong with Seth Godin books – I’ve read them all, and his blog is one that I visit daily.
I especially like this one – Originally released as all marketers are liars, it was updated by Seth to be a friendlier title.
What sticks in my mind is his definition of a brand as a promise… and when that promise matches our world view of ourselves, a connection is made.
Great book that puts marketing into a whole new framework – changed the way I teach marketing and build marketing plans.
Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery [Paperback]
Garr Reynolds (Author)
Take a stand… vow never again to perform “Death By Powerpoint”
Every presentation has common elements
- What you Say
- What they See
- What they Have
- What they Do
Make them all different – and wow them. Recommended by Seth Godin. Worth every penny.