The 6 books that changed how I run my business

What I learned from each one

I’m selective about business books in the same way I’m selective about parenting books. Most of them create more work than they’re worth to me. More systems to implement. More tactics to track. More noise added to an already overwhelming mental inbox.

But every once in a while, I come across a book that actually simplifies things. That cuts through the clutter and gets to what matters: how we show up for our people, how we build community, and how we serve well. How we do our work in a meaningful way while doing the business of business — increasing revenue, decreasing expenses, making the day-to-day something we actually enjoy.

These six books are different. They’re not about hustling harder or doing more. They’re about culture, connection, and clarity. About building something sustainable rather than something that burns you out.

I started reading them in stolen moments. Fifteen minutes before the kids woke up. During Brady’s middle school football practices. In carline. Some when I was a graduate student — before I had kids and had to balance allthething at once. And slowly, they shifted the way I think about leadership and what it means to build something meaningful. These books didn’t give me a rigid playbook. They gave me a way of thinking. A framework for making better decisions. A reminder of what matters most. No matter what kind of work you’re in, I hope you find them helpful too. Have a rec to share? Add it to the comments. We thank you in advance.