Book it

A while ago, we told you about our version of the BBC: the Business Book Club.  We started it back in December last year and since then we've managed to make our way through three books: The Pirate Inside by Adam Morgan, The Platinum Rule by Tony Alessandra and Michael J O'Connor and True North by Bill George (click on the titles to be taken to the appropriate pages in Amazon).  Each book was useful and interesting in its own way.

'The Pirate Inside' talks of the benefits of having a 'pirate' brand, one that challenges the norms of the company within which it sits in order to serve its market more effectively. We particularly liked the author's use of real-life examples to back up his points.

'The Platinum Rule' posits that we should "do unto others as they'd like done unto them".  The authors concentrate on advising how companies can serve their differing customers in a manner that suits the customer, rather than the supplier.

The most recent book we read was all about leadership.  'True North' is founded on over 125 interviews with leaders, and focuses on the necessity of finding "the internal compass that guides you successfully through life."  George proposes that leadership can only be effective if it's authentic.  The key to being a good leader is therefore in finding your own values, your own 'true North'.  The book manages to walk the fine line between inspiring and hackneyed, and manages to translate the theory into practical applications.

We'll keep you up to date every now and again with the ongoing pursuit of knowledge that is the Business Book Club.