CFO Bookshelf (Mark Gandy)

My four favorite authors on performance measure with improvement as the primary aim is Don Wheeler, Stacey Barr, Dean Spitzer, and Mark Graban.

In this conversation, we find out three of the most important questions surrounding performance improvement the right. Our guest is Mark Graban, and he's the author of Measures of Success, our topic for this episode.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

One of the rock stars of financial modeling is one of the founders and the Executive Director of the Financial Modeling Institute, Ian Schnoor.

In this episode, we talk about the multi-disciplinary requirements of financial modeling, the planning process, component vs systems thinking, and other big ideas around this critical business skill.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

If you do an Amazon search on KPIs, the top result will be KPI Checklists by Bernie Smith. Bernie's newest book is entitled Gamed, our topic for this discussion.

We'll find out why so many smart and creative people have a hard time agreeing on KPIs, what black hat testing is for incentives, and the KPI framework named ROKET-DS.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

I first heard Captain Charlie Plumb's POW story some twenty years ago, and I'm thrilled to share this conversation where we talk about Louis Zamperini, an unlikely parachute dialogue, culture, the leadership of Admiral James Stockdale, and some astounding research regarding PTSD of the men held at the Hanoi Hilton.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

I've always been intrigued about the roles of business psychologists and certified business coaches and their ability to elevate the performances of the people and businesses they work with.

In this show, I visited with Dr. Russell Thackeray, a business psychologist, certified coach, trainer, and renowned speaker. We addressed topics such as resistance, when to hire a business coach, the intentions and execution of tough love, psychological capacity, and much more.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Good luck on finding a book about phantom stock plans that's simple to understand with practical examples. It does not exist.

However, Paolo Pasicolan has created nearly a hundred such plans with the law firm he works for, Miles and Stockbridge. Paulo's explanation of phantom stock plans is clear, concise, and complete.

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Dan Montgomery is the founder of Agile Strategies, a boutique OKRs firm, and the author of Start Less Finish More.

Dan states the old strategic planning model of predicting and then controlling needs to give way to sensing and responding, and he calls that agile strategy.

In this conversation, he hit on many fascinating concepts:

• limitations of The Balanced Scorecard
• executing vs formulating strategy
• the retreat to cozy mental models
• the fit between OKRs and agile strategy
•  multicausal systems
• minimal viable strategies
• STEEP framework
• Platonic values
• Cynefin framework

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Joe Coulombe is one of the most intelligent, creative, and thoughtful CEOs I've read about in the past ten to twenty years. He grew Trader Joe's into one of the most successful and iconic brands in the grocery industry before he sold the business in 1979.

Patty Civalleri is the co-author of Becoming Trader Joe and was a dear friend of this gifted entrepreneur. In this episode, we touch on his compensation philosophy, creative marketing strategies, the books he read, product knowledge, and saying no to the big brands.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

As we observe the DNA behind some of our favorite CEOs, patterns will start to surface. Some are natural at scaling companies to new levels. And then there are stories like those of Phil Knight, Jeff Bezos, Reid Hoffman, and Sara Blakely who started with a kernel of an idea and went on to launch brands that are household names.

Bob Jordan is the co-author of Right Leader, Right Time, a book that reveals a framework listing four natural instincts of impactful leaders - Fixers, Artists, Builders, and Strategists.

In this episode, we unpack the FABS framework and how to make the most of it.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

If you've been searching for the PayPal version of Brad Stone's, The Everything Store, then you can start with Jimmy Soni's new book, The Founders.

In this fast-paced interview with the author, we learn many smaller stories behind the bigger ones of PayPal's big obstacles it faced before its IPO:

• the lack of innovation at the big banks
• Reid Hoffman's role in what PayPal is today
• The combination of X.com and Confinity
• Peter Thiel, the reluctant CEO and the Elon Musk Palace Coupe
• Security - from innocence to frustration to superiority
• The love-hate relationship between PayPal and eBay

Finally, we hit the bookends hard--the three-hour conversation with Elon Musk and the moving and inspiring epilogue.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

If you ask ten successful CEOs what they do, you'll probably hear many answers--all good, but vastly different from executive to executive.

A dream team of McKinsey partners decided to research the very question based on 200 in-depth interviews and surveys with successful CEOs.

Their findings are found in the new book, CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest. 

In this conversation, we hear from one of the co-authors, Carolyn Dewar as she talks about s-curves, the kitchen cabinet, defining roles vs. the right people, the 40-30-20-10 Brad Smith rule, and much more. 

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Ben Lamorte is making his third appearance on CFO Bookshelf. He certifies OKRs coaches on his platform, OKRs.com. His newest book is The OKRs Field Book.

In this conversation, we address outcomes vs outputs, setting meaningful objectives through a five-step process, and OKRs vs KPIs.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Finding, obtaining, and developing leadership talent is not easy, and there is plenty of data to support making decisions too fast or waiting too long in getting the right team in place.

Ram Charan is known for books like Execution, Boards That Deliver, and What the CEO Wants You to Know. He's also the co-author of Talent: The Market Cap Multiplier. 

In this conversation, we talk about the talent bank, the one-to-one conversations, cutting bait fast, and two of his favorite books. 

I'm going to make the bold statement that Roger Martin is this era's Peter Drucker as a prolific business writer.

Roger has co-authored my favorite book on strategy, Playing to Win which is simple, concise, pragmatic, and has plenty of sticky concepts.

Roger's newest book is A New Way to Think. If you like Adam Grant, Dan Pink, the Heath brothers, or Matthew May, this book belongs in your book queue, the topic in this conversation.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Financial writers have been telling CFOs that they need to become storytellers in their businesses. How?

John Pollack is a former presidential speechwriter and he's an expert in analogies. He's delivered a popular TEDx presentation on the topic and this book Shortcut takes a deep dive into the anatomy of this powerful tool to sell our ideas.

In this interview, we hear examples of good analogies, how they shape the legal system, and how baseball impacted a California law leading to unintended consequences.

Accordingly, John's message becomes a solid bridge for financial leaders becoming better storytellers.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Professor Jim Shein of the Kellogg School of Management is one of my favorite turnaround experts, and he's the author of my favorite book in this space, Reversing the Slide.

Some of the big ideas we address are how to get started in this field of work, the role of strategy in turnarounds, the 13-week cash flow forecast, and a handful of case studies.

We also learn who is best suited for this type of work, CEOs or CFOs.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

For too many years than I can count, I've been listening to the audio version of How to Become a CEO by Jeffrey Fox annually. The book is a simple, to-the-point book discussion that applies to any position, even an officer in the military.

In this conversation, we hear about admitting fault, damaging emails, mastering one big new thing every year, the power and impact of handwritten notes, and a few classic books.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Glenn Hopper is the author of Deep Finance: Corporate Finance for the Information Age. 

Glenn is a likable expert who helps the rest of us better understand artificial intelligence, data science, and ERP solutions.  As a hands-on, self-taught digital expert, his writing is still easy to understand.

In this conversation, some of the big ideas we cover are the differences between machine and deep learning, practical applications of data science in smaller businesses, and comparing comprehensive ERP solutions with best-of-breed tools that are stacked together.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Have you ever worked with a software vendor who said their solution would save you as much as $1 million annually?

Or how about the big data warehousing project where the lead consultant says this project could lead to significantly more revenues?

When you accept projects with these types of claims, have you gone back one year later to find out the actual cost savings you thought realized?

Our topic on this show is the book entitled, Project Profitability by our guest, Reginald Lee. We explore project salience, mental models for project prioritization, and informational and instructional-centric projects.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

If I could only pick one book for any financial leader to read about company culture, it would be Patty McCord's book, Powerful.

In this episode, two CFOs break down the big ideas in Patty's book which include the role of the culture-centric HR professional, making decisions on facts vs. data, annual performance reviews, variable pay, learning every aspect of a business, and teams vs. families.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

If you think Netflix was the cause of Blockbuster's failure, you'll change your mind after you hear Alan Payne explain the reasons for this company's demise.

Alan was a longtime owner of a chain of successful Blockbuster stores. He was also featured in the Netflix 2020 documentary, The Last Blockbuster.

Alan's new book is Built to Fail, and we learn four reasons for Blockbuster's eventual bankruptcy which started with poor leadership at the CEO level.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Jeff Sands is the author of Corporate Turnaround Artistry. Before fixing and mending other companies' broken income statements and balance sheets, he had to fix his own.

During this conversation, we also learn about the debt stacks, myths of bankruptcies, the five stages of a turnaround, the three types of turnaround CEOs,  and what Jeff calls the salvation process. 

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

We learn from Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird, "You never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view … until you climb into their skin and walk around in it."

Elvis Pressley used to sing, "Before you abuse, criticize and accuse, walk a mile in my shoes."

What may seem so apparent to many is not to others. In this conversation, we unpack the big ideas and linkages between business success and customer empathy with Dr. Natalie Petouhoff, the co-author of Empathy in Action.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Rob Hart's book, The Warehouse, is a speculative dystopian thriller.

The central character is an online retailer called Cloud - think Amazon in the distant future dominating its rivals which has devastating effects on small retailers across the country.

Cloud's founder is dying of cancer, so he's on a farewell tour visiting all of the company's distribution centers. Is he a hero or is he delusional?

Two other characters find out how far Cloud will go to make the world a better place, but for whom? Paxton starts his employment at the very place that robbed him of everything. What's his story? And Zinnia seems like she's a better fit for a CIA operative, not a warehouse order picker. What's up her sleeve?

Rob is the first fiction writer to be interviewed on CFO Bookshelf.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Can you name any recent descendants of Cornelius Vanderbilt who didn't build one but two massive fortunes during the Gilded Age? After the third and fourth generations, the money started evaporating quickly, but why?

Katherine Howe is the co-author of Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty. During this conversation, we explore some of the fascinating stories she uncovered with her co-author, Anderson Cooper that spans six generations of the Vanderbilt family.

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The legendary Bill Campbell is called the trillion dollar coach by his biographers. Campbell coached and mentored larger-than-life business leaders Larry Page, Eric Schmidt, Steve Jobs, Marissa Mayer, and many others.

If Bill was the trillion dollar coach, then I'm not sure what to call Joe Ehrmann and his friend and fellow coach, Biff Poggi who are central pillars in the book Season of Life by Jeffrey Marx.

Little did Jeffrey Marx know that his life would be transformed forever once he stepped on a Baltimore Colts football field during training camp as an eleven-year-old. Years later, he would reconnect with Joe Ehrmann who took him under his wing during those earlier years. What was supposed to be a newspaper article about the demolition of a football field turned into a book about the building up of young men not just in football, but in the bigger game of life.

Season of Life is one of the best books I've read in years. Central themes include false masculinity, revolving integrity, the best definitions of coach and success, and a young football player's reflection on a huddle.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

What is the best book on negotiation you've ever read?

Many business readers who have read Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss would probably pick that title.

What if I said there is another title that's far more practical, ideas that you can put into practice right now? That book is Negotiation Simplified by Jim Reiman.
 
In this fast-paced conversation, we talk about the core four concepts of negotiating, the best discussion I've ever read about goals in the context of negotiating, and the 3 classes of people we have to consider in any negotiating process, Also, we hit on how to deal with bullies in the negotiating process.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

With the passing of the 20th anniversary of WorldCom filing bankruptcy in the aftermath of the whistle being blown on its reporting of fraudulent financial statements, I wanted to revisit Cynthia Cooper's page-turner, Extraordinary Circumstances.

Why was the fraud committed? How? What was internal audit's role in detecting the fraudulent entries created by the CFO and four members of his staff?

In this episode, Aaron Beam helps me to answer these questions as he draws on his experience in the financial statement fraud at HealthSouth. Aaron is an author and sought-after public speaker at major universities around the country.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

One of my favorite CFOs is Bob Lung. For the past 33 years, he's been chauffeuring players and dignitaries at the NFL's annual Hall of Fame weekend activities in Canton, Ohio.

In this fast-paced interview, we talk about Bob's favorite moments at the Hall of Fame ceremony, what it means to be a driver during this event, and a couple of special stories.

Should every business consider having its own hall of fame? We address that question along with the role of mentoring relationships in becoming a star in any field.

Should professionals like you and I be reading fiction and if so, why?

Dr. Christine Seifert is the author of a 2020 HBR article, The Case for Reading Fiction. While professionals typically read for knowledge, Christy provides numerous reasons and studies on how reading fiction can expand our analytical abilities along with understanding others better.

We explore terms such as cognitive agility and acuity, design fiction, openness to experience, and other big ideas revealing the power of reading fiction.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Who is Bill Gross?

Who is the guy who learned to take risks in college while scalping basketball tickets at Duke? Or who was the risk-taker who counted cards in Las Vegas?

Who exactly is the man once named the Morningstar Investment Manager of the Decade? And how was this lifelong investment professional able to see around corners during one of the country's greatest financial meltdowns during a time of bailouts and bank failures?

You may already know Mary Childs as a co-host at NPR's Planet Money, and she's also the author of The Bond King, the person answers each of these questions.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

When I read a biography, I want the words to jump out by telling me something I never knew about the person that's both memorable and interesting. I want to read about the subject's impact they had on others. And, I want to be inspired.

Before reading Dirk Smillie's very readable and accessible biography on Harry Guggenheim entitled, The Business of Tomorrow, I knew nothing about this iconic family name.

While one business publication heralded Harry as the godfather of flight during his day, there is so much more about this larger-than-life historical figure of the 20th century warranting a closer look at what made him special. 

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

If we think the reasons for the fall of BlackBerry are an open and shut case, we need to think again. Sean Silcoff is the co-author of Losing the Signal. The book covers the rise of BlackBerry, how its foundation started cracking before Apple's iPhone came on the scene and the breakup of two iconic founders of a company that once topped $20 billion in revenues.

This interview explores some of the highs and lows in this story, a very readable narrative that also serves as a great business case study. Finally, we ask if there could have been a different ending. The ideas you hear might surprise you.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Can you think of a top business book exclusively for professional services firms? If so, your list is probably short and presumably headed by any title from David Maister. In this episode, a new book for this industry is introduced, The Boutique: How to Start, Scale, and Sell a Professional Services Firm by Greg Alexander.

In this conversation, we talk about elephant and rabbit hunters, the one-thirds of billings, the only three types of firms in existence, and two critical metrics that buyers of professional services firms are examining closely.

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Thomas Erikson is the author of Surrounded by Idiots, a book that simplifies four basic personality types using a coloring system and a two-by-two matrix.

In this conversation, we address:

• the difference between the four letters in DISC and the colors
• the purpose and role of personality assessments in the workplace
• the validity and reliability of such assessments
• the three parts of the human mind

Some people believe personality assessments are bogus. Others live and swear by them. Regardless of where you are on this spectrum, we address the questions you have about any type of personality assessment.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Dr. Sam Savage is the gifted teacher all of us would have loved having as our professor in stats classes.

Sam is the author of The Flaw of Averages and Chancification. During this conversation, we talk about the arithmetic of uncertainty, probability management,  and the limitations of risk matrixes. And we do it on a fifth-grade level.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Sophie Theen is the author of The Soul of Startups. Sophie states that there is a misconception that a company's people make its culture. Instead, that culture starts at the top and works its way down into other teams which is consistently changing. And that can lead to unplanned and unforeseen consequences for the staff working in these startups.

In this conversation, we learn about the three audiences this book is intended for. We learn that people do indeed leave bad companies, not necessarily bad bosses or managers. And we get some great advice for any person thinking about a role in a startup.

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As of the release date of this episode, the prime interest rate in the U.S. had surpassed six percent, nearly double the rate a few months earlier.

Are higher rates good or bad for the economy? What about lower rates? The answers may seem self-evident, but should we be over-confident with our opinions? What about the law of unintended consequences when rates are universally low for an extended period of time?

Additionally, how are rates determined? Why do they go up or down? What is the history of interest?

We learn the answers to all of these questions and more as we hear from Edward Chancellor, the author of The Price of Time.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

The Crazy Eddie stores of the 1980s are probably most remembered by the Jerry Carrell commercials that have been parodied in the movies, TV shows, and even by other CEOs in the past such as Steve Ballmer.

Gary Weiss is the author of Retail Gangster, The Insane, Real-Life Story of Crazy Eddie. Through Gary's research and captivating narrative, we learn the origin story of Eddie Antar and how he first started various skimming schemes to both undercut competitors and stash untaxed sales and profits in bed mattresses and overseas bank accounts.

We also learn about one of the masterminds of Crazy Eddie's IPO and the fraud that was required to support a high stock price following the public offering. Finally, we hear about how the house of cards crumbled and the family's failed attempt to take the company private in order to hide their misdoings.

Mark's Notes on Retail Gangster

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

You probably know a little or a lot about a business practice called open book management. This podcast prefers the term, financial transparency.

During this episode, a CEO and co-founder of a physical therapy organization explains how he got started with financial transparency, why he did it, and how.

Dr. Arlan Alburo of Orthopedic and Balance Therapy based in rural Indiana near Chicago also explains that he shares non-financial metrics and how his team members can impact each of those critical numbers.

Think of this conversation as a mini MBA in financial and operational acumen that's practical and easy to understand.

Link to episode highlights on our website: What is Financial Transparency?

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

On Will Guidara's 12th birthday, he had the experience of a lifetime while dining with his family at Four Seasons. Less than thirty years later, Will and his co-partner of Eleven Madison Park were being lauded for the top spot of The World's 50 Best Restaurants in 2017.

Will's new book is Unreasonable Hospitality and I now call it one of the best books written on this topic. The book is part memoir and many parts of inspiration, encouragement, and instruction. 

In this conversation, Will explains the 95-5 rule, restaurant smart vs. corporate smart, pre-meal meetings, and the primary reason hospitality can be taught in any business. 

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Several years ago, I'll never forget when a tax partner with a Top 10 accounting firm started talking about one of his favorite books. He described the book's three pillars - marketing, production, and accounting.

I smiled because I knew the title he was talking about - In The Black by Allen Bostrom.

A few weeks prior to this episode the marketing team for this book's co-author reached out to ask if they could be on the show. The answer was a resounding yes.

Roger Knecht is the President of Universal Accounting. He's also the perfect person to explain why accounting is anything but boring. 

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

I've always assumed that great financial modelers have deep backgrounds in either corporate finance or accounting. That's not the case for Lyndsey Weber who is the Senior Solutions Consultant at Quantrix.

Lyndsey's degree is in engineering management from one of the top engineering programs in the country. She started her career at ExxonMobil where she was a supply chain data analyst and an S&OP supervisor.

After some three years, she had an itch for pivoting her career into PreSales, a story I find unique, fascinating, and informative.

In this conversation, we learn the steps that Lyndsey took to prep, investigate, and apply for positions in PreSales.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Output, Outcomes, Impact. Those are three strong words that seemingly go well together in any context. But is there a clear difference in each term?

Josh Seiden is the author of Outcomes Over Output, and he provides one of the best definitions of outcomes I have ever heard--a change in customer behavior that leads to better business results.

In this conversation, we learn how to apply outcomes-based thinking in any business environment along with hearing about a case study that ended in positive results when applying the philosophies in this book.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

When we do our weekly shopping at the grocery store, finding products is relatively easy because of the way food items are grouped throughout the aisles. That's the starting point for understanding category design in any business setting.

The authors of Play Bigger did not invent category design, but these gifted marketers gave this term and its underlying disciplines a name by studying more than five thousand businesses.

In this conversation, co-author Al Ramadan explains what category design along with some of the book's biggest ideas: the 6-10 rule, points of view, and different vs. better.

You'll also hear why Mark believes this book can be a replacement for strategic planning and why he loves chapter 10 of Play Bigger.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Gaining media attention may not be an ongoing goal for many growing businesses. However, a former TV host and Emmy-award winner in consumer reporting explains that if we can pitch the media effectively, we can sell anything to anyone.

Katrina Cravy is the author of On Air: Insider Secrets to Attract the Media and Get Free Publicity. This easy-to-read book also has far-reaching applications, for presentations, pitches of any type, and YouTube videos.

This fast-paced conversation includes Katrina's impactful H.A.V.E. formula, the power pose, the seven-second rule, killer-filler words, and much more.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Devin Durrant is the author of The Values Delta - A Small and Simple Way to Make a Positive Difference in Your Personal and Professional Life.

Durrant's book is not about corporate values but personal core values, and it's a fast, easy-to-read guide that's instructive and inspiring with practical business applications too.

In this conversation, this former NBA player reveals three simple questions that can lead to transformation in our personal and professional lives.

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John Seddon is the founder of The Vanguard Method and is the author of Beyond Command and Control.

In this conversation we find out which action is worse in business, commanding or controlling. John also explains demand failure, break-fix systems, and the destructive nature of budget management and arbitrary targets.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Gordon was an IT professional who took lifelong learning seriously. He joined a public utility district (PUD) because it stood for collaboration, communication, and support. Those core values at the PUD started deteriorating as a new leader focused on personal gain and power pushed for a new $8 million ERP solution without his most important team members to manage the implementation.

Gordon Graham is the author of The Intrepid Brotherhood, which provides the story leading up to the day he was pushed out of the organization. The final chapters reveal the jury's verdict on Gordon's termination.

This is a business book without trying to be like one. Readers will learn how not to manage an ERP implementation. We learn how easily corporate governance at the board level can fall apart. We also gain unique leadership and ethical insights from an IT professional's viewpoint.

Show Notes to Episode

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

I love investment books. It's a topic I could talk about for hours if allowed.

I also started listening to the podcast Investing by the Books produced by the Nordic investment banker Redeye. The hosts are Eddie Palmgren and Niklas Sävås, and they are great. Both are lifelong learners and they love books on investing.

In this show, we're going to talk about the best investment books that Eddie and Niklas have ever read. We'll find out their favorite book about Buffett. We'll also get more insights on Mr. Market, durable businesses with a competitive advantage, and the Ackman Paradox.

Important Links:
Investing by the Books podcast
Redeye

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

As a financial expert, could you estimate the cost savings in the U.S. alone through the country's use of daylight savings time?

Benjamin Franklin's estimates in 1784 yielded about $200 million in savings in today's dollars if people lived their days by making the best use of daylight.

David Prerau is the leading expert on daylight savings time, and his book, Seize the Daylight, explores not just the history of DST, but also the other two forms of artificial time--Greenwich Mean Time and the introduction of time zones.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

What can any business or financial leader learn from a twenty-year vet in the fire service?

I'm now calling John Cuomo the John Maxwell for firefighters and other public safety officials based on his book, Leadership Refined by Fire.

John has always been interested in leadership and lifelong learning, and his book is full of stories, inspiration, and big ideas that can be applied to any playing field. He ends his book on mental health, specifically PTSD, the last topic we address in this conversation.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

The subscription economy is alive and well for products-based businesses and the software industry. But how about professional services firms? Does the subscription model apply to accountants, lawyers, consultants, marketers, and other professionals?

Ron Baker founded VeraSage Institute, the leading think tank dedicated to teaching value pricing to professionals worldwide. He's the co-host of The Soul of Enterprise podcast, and he's the author of numerous books, including his newest title, Times Up!

In this conversation, we talk about the necessary mindset needed for professional firms to shift to a subscription model. Outputs vs. transformations. Easing in or starting a brand new model? Technicians vs. professionals and the role of intellectual capital. And finally, we address one of the biggest questions every professional will ask, "How will we price this?"

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Last year, one of our top episodes was our favorite books of 2021. We're at it again this year with our Top 10 books for 2022.

We also share our favorites in fiction along with a handful of honorable mentions. 

Rounding out the lists of favorites include unexpected surprises, books we didn't like, books that were worth rereading in 2022, and our heavy favorite for 2023.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Of the nearly two thousand books that the producer of CFO Bookshelf has read, there is one title he has gifted the most to CEOs than any other title. That book is Executive Toughness by Dr. Jason Selk.

In this episode, we learn three of Mark's favorite big ideas in Jason's short and fast-based book: 1) product and process goals, 2) written daily debriefs, and 3) relentless solutions focus.

Two other titles are also mentioned that are excellent companions to Jason's book.

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We recently watched a video by the CEO of the UK-based retail chain, Timpson. We loved the material so much that we found a book by the company's chairman, Sir John Timpson. The title is based on how the business is run, Upside Down Management.

According to Business Sale Report, Timpson is now a 2,000-branch-strong business with turnover totaling £300m and profits of up to £20m. 

In this conversation, we break down John's book into three big ideas, which include the hiring of ex-offenders, putting money in the till and acting the part, and unconventional management tactics in a large organization.

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He gained the world. He then lost the world and those who were the closest to him. But he never lost his soul while hitting the lowest of lows in a federal penitentiary that once housed John Gotti.

Shaun Hayes was once at the top of the banking world in St. Louis until he was in the wrong place at the wrong time during one of the worst recessions ever, which led to approving bank loans that violated state and federal laws.

 Shaun tells his story in his book, The Gray Choice, where we learn about a young man with entrepreneurial instincts as a teenager. After college, he worked for a larger-than-life legendary banker in Kansas City. That work took him to St. Louis to grow that bank's presence in that region.

A few years later, Shaun bought into his first bank, which would become a small $1 billion empire that went public. Shaun points out that his gray choices started well before he was arrested, which is the topic of this conversation.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Jeff Polovick started Canadian-based Driving Force with just $80,000 and just a few years of experience. That modest investment has been parlayed into $400 million in revenues with 675 employees.

Jeff's book is Why Can't We, and like many startup stories, there's drama, adversity, success, more adversity, and even an exit.

In this conversation, we talk about continuous and lifelong learning, family, adversity, and Jeff's value system.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

What is the best book on the story of Apple Computer? This week's guest states that Return to the Little Kingdom is the best of all of the Apple books on the history of this iconic growth story dating back to the pre-startup days thru the most successful sales years of the Apple II computer.

Our guest is David Kopec, the moderator of the podcast Business Books & Co. David is a history buff on the early days of Apple and on their journey to becoming a unicorn.  Expect to hear some stories you've never heard before.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

I'm periodically scouring the podcast universe for other shows focusing on business books. I recently found Business Books & Co. founded by three buddies who went to school together.  Within three weeks, I listened to their first three seasons of episodes.

As a fan of the show, I'm thrilled to hear the origin story of this podcast with their moderator David Kopec. In this show, we learn how a book club turned into a podcast, how books are selected, their favorite episodes, the books they didn't like, and an update on season four.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Author and HBR contributor Peter Cappelli asserts that accounting and financial reporting are wreaking havoc on damaging HR decisions by corporate leaders.

In this conversation, Peter reveals that 90% of all company vacancies were filled internally prior to 1980. Today, that number is just over 20%. He adds that there were very few layoffs more than 40 years ago. Today, layoffs make headlines weekly.

Peter believes these results are being driven by accounting and financial reporting. In this episode, we'll also hear about financial reporting's impact on defined contribution plans, training and development, R&D, and layoffs.

Peter Cappelli's newest book is Our Least Important Asset (July 2023).

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

I've heard some startup founders say that every graduate should spend a year or two working in government before embarking on their chosen career path.

For business students, I believe every new graduate should consider running or managing a restaurant for one to two years because of the people, financial, and entrepreneurial skills needed to keep the store afloat.

I'm thrilled to have Ken McGarrie on the show to talk shop about his industry and his book, The Surprise Restaurant Manager.

This conversation is especially geared toward those of us outside the food service industry, but those working in it will gain valuable insights from the COO of Fabio Viviani Hospitality.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

CFO Bookshelf does not sit in the seat of judgment, nor does it play the role of pundit in the midst of the 2023 banking crisis we are witnessing. We'll let the regulators and the media handle those duties.

Instead, CFO Bookshelf is about old and revolutionary ideas that we can put to work right now in our organizations.

As I have been monitoring the news of the Silicon Valley Bank closure and similar banks that are failing, four mental models or frameworks have come to mind.

In this episode, I share 4 mental constructs that come from the banking industry playbook that we can apply in our own businesses. These ideas include:

1. CAMELs
2. Stress testing paired with resilience testing
3. The Texas Ratio
4. Reputation Risk

Show notes page - Read Here

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Mad Men's Harry Crane has found that his colleague makes $100 a week more than he does. He believes he deserves a raise, and through some fear and trepidation, he gets an extra $25 more per week from his intimidating boss. But do you think he's happy?

How about you? Are you paid fairly? If not, how do you know?  What are your thoughts on minimum wage vs. a living wage? Do you believe in pay transparency and salary surveys?

In the compensation world, David Buckmaster probably needs to introduction. He's the author of Fair Pay.

In this conversation, we're going to hear about some of the challenges and solutions on the topic of fair pay.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Do you know what a donor-advised fund (DAF) is?

Until this conversation, I knew very little about DAFs. Jake Wood founded Groundswell, whose mission is to democratize and revolutionize philanthropy for everyone. They do that through technology and DAFs.

In this conversation, we find out what DAFs are, how to set them up, who can sponsor a DAF, and why they offer tax advantages to donors.

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Behind his back, I call him a Peter Drucker. He's the co-host of one of my favorite podcasts, 2Bobs. He's also the author of six business books.

His name is David C. Baker, and I could listen to him all day with his pearls of wisdom on accumulating and sharing expertise with others.

David's newest book is Secret Tradecraft of Elite Advisors. You do not need to be a third-party business advisor to appreciate this conversation. The content of this book applies to anyone who is a knowledge worker.

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I enjoy reading books by transparent business founders who are not afraid to let their guard down in the stories they share.

Titles quickly coming to mind are Boss Life by Paul Downs, Anything You Want by Derek Sivers, and Wild Company by the founders of Banana Republic.

High on my list in this genre is What it Takes by Raegan Moya-Jones, the gritty and successful co-founder of aden + anais. Like many startup arcs, this book reveals many obstacles encountered by founders: necessary startup capital, constant cash constraints, people issues, supply chain inefficiencies, and other frustrations.

More importantly, Raegan gives us a firsthand look at the challenges of creating and building a business in a male-dominated space. Her research in the book and the advice provided in this conversation are inspiring and insightful.

Episode Highlights, Q&A with the Host, and Bookclub Starter Questions: Link

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Are you curious about the origin story of the CFO Bookshelf podcast? The great people at Oracle NetSuite wanted to know that about a year earlier when they asked that question during one of their webinars.

In this recording, the Head of Marketing at Netsuite, Ranga Bodla, asks the host of CFO Bookshelf why he started the show, who his favorite guests and been, and even some conversations that didn't turn out too well.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

David Axson is called a CFO whisperer, but I'm also calling him an expert on calling the flaws and weaknesses of some of the biggest name management tools and systems from the past that are still influencing our decision-making today.

David is the author of the 2010 book, The Management Mythbuster. In this conversation, we hit on a variety of topics, such as:

• annual budgeting
• performance pay
• calendar-driven reporting
• informational vs. analytical data
• EBITDA
• management GURUs
• cost allocation

We wrap up with David's appreciation for the business classics, and we'll hear his five favorites.

Show Notes: Read Here

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

We learned many linear frameworks in business school to help us solve simple to complex problems. Yet, systems thinking was probably missing from that curriculum.

The Fifth Discipline (Senge) and Systems Thinking (Meadows) are typical starting points for learning systems thinking. However, those books are not written from a business person's perspective.

Simple Complexity, by Dr. William (Willy) Donaldson, is the most readable and pragmatic book I've read on systems thinking. The author has a business background and uses stories from the field to simplify what otherwise would be obtuse and confusing concepts.

In this conversation, we will learn the bare essentials of systems thinking and how to apply this skill in our organizations.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

One of the best books we've read in 2023 is the story of Dame Stephanie 'Steve' Shirley, who started a business of women freelance programmers in a male-dominated world in the 1960s based in London.

The bookends of this remarkable story include an escape from the Holocaust from her homeland in Austria to her new adopted country in England, thanks to Kindertransport.

While there are many business insights in Steve's book, Let It Go, she pulls back the curtain to reveal the many ups and downs in her family life, including the love, care, and hardship of raising a son who was profoundly autistic.

The other bookend describes Steve's goal of co-ownership with her staff, along with the gifting of many millions of dollars through philanthropic causes.

Read the show notes - LINK

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Derek Sivers was an accidental business founder. All he wanted to do was put his music online and sell it online before the dotcom bubble when PayPal did not exist yet.

During one four-year period, his revenues jumped from $1 to $20 million while his staff count surged from 8 to 85. He eventually sold CD Baby for $22 million in 2008.

Derek tells his founder's story in the book, Anything You Like. Since it's a book I recommend to every CFO, I invited Hannah Munro, the host of the CFO 4.0 podcast, to unpack this story full of ups and downs for this fascinating business founder.

If you like books similar to Shoe Dog and Derek's, we list our top ten titles in this unique leadership genre. You can revisit that list here: Books Similar to Anything You Like and Shoe Dog.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

All of us have heard of the cola wars, the tennis shoe wars, and certainly the PC wars. But the tractor wars?

Neil Dahlstrom is a historian and archivist for John Deere, and he's the author of Tractor Wars, a historical narrative of the race to be the top manufacturer of power farming at the turn of the twentieth century. Will it be International Harvester, Ford, or the much smaller player, John Deere?

Neil's book is a story of what-ifs, including pricing wars, business rollups, marketing insights, and bold moves by Henry Ford.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Not only is Neil Dahlstrom the author of the business historical narrative Tractor Wars, but he's also the Branded Properties and Heritage Manager at John Deere. Before that, he was Deere's Corporate History and Archives Manager.

Neil admits he wanted to be Indiana Jones when he grew up and even worked in a museum in high school.

During this conversation, we learn what a corporate archivist does, how to start a company archive, and how to start a career in this field.

Curiosity drives much of the content on this podcast, and when Erik Hanberg's book, The Little Book of Boards, showed up in my email, I felt compelled to buy it for several reasons.

Of the six or seven boards I've served on, some have been boring experiences, others have been exceptional. I was curious if this book would have been valuable to me during my first board experience, which wasn't great--it definitely would have been.

While Erik's background is in the non-profit world, this book and conversation apply to any organization.  Some big ideas we hit are performing due diligence for the board you are considering, getting involved outside board meetings, strategic planning, compensation committees, and mission statements.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

When Walter Chrysler built his New York skyscraper in the early 1930s, his critics stated the building was a monument created for himself. The same comment could have been applied to John Jakob Raskob's justification for building The Empire State Building.

In this book club-style conversation, John Coe and I dissect the book, The Birth of a Building. The author's book addresses how a book is conceived, financed, designed, and constructed. Unlike Chrysler and Raskob, this book starts with a purpose and a philosophy for any real estate undertaking.

Our guest is John Coe, the podcast host of Icons of DC Area Real Estate.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Derek Lidow is a former business founder of a major global semiconductor company that he ultimately sold. Today, he's a professor at Princeton, where he teaches entrepreneurship, the topic of his newest book, The Entrepreneurs.

This book is rich with historical stories of entrepreneurs doing the same things in the past as they are doing today.

In this deeply insightful conversation with Derek Lidow, we learn the three major traits of entrepreneurs, the origin of the term creative destruction, the role of outsiders in business innovation, the concept of swarming, and the law of unintended consequences.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

When I finished reading Next Generation Retail by Deborah Weinswig and Renee Hartmann, my first thought was that the great ideas in this book apply to direct-to-consumer manufacturers and professional services firms.

In this conversation, co-author Renee Hartmann helps us to understand better the following technologies that are not just for big companies:

• metaverse
• blockchain
• live streaming
• social commerce
• data and the CORE framework
• retail media
• quick commerce
• supply chain
• Headless CaaS

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

More Than a Numbers Game is rich in business and accounting history. We learn about the Merchants of Venice and why they had a strategic advantage. We also learn about the many flaws and imperfections of financial reporting, where completeness and consistencies are impossible.

This conversation is geared toward non-accounting students and professionals where additional topics include the one-page report by the early railroads, what was included in the first modern financial report in 1903, the many names for the bottom line, Sarbanes–Oxley, and a stronger focus on liberal arts in higher education.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Technology with the advancement of generative AI is seemingly moving at a pace we've never seen with other innovations.

How does any organization step back and figure out how to adopt digital and AI technologies to support its strategic objectives?

That's where Rewired comes in. The subtitle for this new book is The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital and AI.

Our guest is Eric Lamarre, one of the co-authors of this practical playbook. In this conversation, we address:

• the origin story of the book
• five myths surrounding digital and AI transformations
• the harsh realities of starting a transformation
• the domain approach to getting started
• getting the team right
• the role of the CTO - chief transformation officer
• digital skills mapping
• talent win rooms
• employee value propositions
• quarterly business reviews
• pilot purgatory
• go & see visits
• Digital 101

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Gareth Pronovost is my go-to expert on his YouTube channel, GAP Consulting, where he teaches his subscribers about Airtable, SmartSuite, automation techniques, and other great insights on no-code solutions.

In this conversation, Gareth discusses how to break spreadsheet addiction. Other topics include:

• Gareth's interesting entry point to no-code apps
• the best definition for no-code applications
• what no-code is not
• the best starting point for no-code applications
• combining no-code apps with automation
• Gareth's go-to no-code tools
• The future of Python
• Is no-code only for non-developers?
• Is no-code only for simple projects?

Gareth is the founder of GAP consulting, and you can learn more about his work on his website.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

One of the most intriguing and thought-provoking management books I've ever read is the 1993 book, Maverick by Ricardo Semler.

Ricardo took over his father's business Semco not too long after he graduated from college. He knew he didn't want to run the business as his father had, so he started in small steps by getting his staff involved in all decisions of the business, not just small ones.

The results were phenomenal. In less than ten years, Semco grew 6x in spite of inflation, recessions, and a chaotic national policy Productivity grew 7x, profits up 5x, and one newspaper ad during this time period yielded 1.4k responses.

Even though Maverick is no longer in print, I still wanted to talk about it on the show. FP&A global thought leader Daniele Martins joins us to discuss the book from her unique perspective.

To learn more about the Ricardo Semler story along with participative leadership, here are a few resources:

1. Managing Without Numbers - HBR
2. Ricardo's Ted Talk - How to Run a Company With Almost No Rules 
3. Semco Style Institute
4. Corporate Rebels
5. Shownotes on the CFO Bookshelf website

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

According to cognitive psychologist Gary Klien, people with a seemingly high sixth sense become experts at pattern recognition through years of experience in their respective fields. But where does that experience come from? How does that person achieve such experience?

Soren Kaplan is the author of the 2023 book Experiential Intelligence. Soren explains the differences between experiential intelligence (XQ) and IQ and EQ (emotional intelligence).

In this show, we also hit topics such as:

• curiosity, empathy, and imagination
• XQ vs AI
• the three levels to building XQ
• Soren's favorite stories in his book
• the reason why every high school student should be aware of Soren's message
• the role of failure in XQ
• Both/And
• the corporate university concept
• forecasting the past

Who is Soren Kaplan?
Soren Kaplan wrote Experiential Intelligence to explore the idea that experience is a form of innovation and to help individuals and organizations develop their ability to create and innovate through their experiences. 

Soren was inspired to write the book by his work with a variety of companies and organizations, and his observation that the most successful innovators were those who were able to learn from their experiences and use them to drive new ideas and breakthrough results. 

Kaplan also saw a need for a new framework that could help individuals and organizations develop the skills and mindset needed to leverage experience as a driver of innovation. He believes that by cultivating experiential intelligence, individuals and organizations can become more agile, adaptable, and successful in today's rapidly changing world.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

The best book I've ever read on the topic of growth is by Ed Hess, and it's aptly named Smart Growth.

It's not an anti-growth book, but through research, it dismantles the mental model of what I call Wall Street Growth which is:

1.  Businesses have to continually grow or die
2. All growth is good
3. Growth has to be continuous and smooth
4. Quarterly growth is the primary measure of success

In this conversation with Ed Hess, we discuss some of his favorite case studies in the book, the opposite of the 'grow or die' mindset, and the ideal work environment where people can continually be learning, unlearning, and relearning.

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One of my favorite business authors has just released his 15th book. The title is Own Your Work Journey by Ed Hess.

Fans of Ed Hess will be treated to a mini-memoir in the introduction of the book, and we spend the first ten minutes of this conversation talking about some of the mentors in Ed's life during his upbringing as a youth.

Other key points we hit are:

• the quiet ego and the wild stallion that's brought under control
• emergent thinking
• inner peace while having an open mind
• the keys to reflecting, listening
• the skill of developing skills at a fast pace
• the ongoing concept of learning, unlearning, and relearning
• the primary reason our brains are not wired to be hyper-learners

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

After reading a book by a successful commercial developer who moved his family to France for two years, I wanted to learn more about setting up shop in a foreign country.
That's because the real estate developer faced obstacle after obstacle because he wasn't used to the vast cultural divide between his home country and France.

Accordingly, I felt I struck oil when I found the book, The Business Accidental Nomad by Kyle Hegarty. Kyle shares his experiences in building a marketing and sales presence in Asia based on data and humorous and engaging stories. I'll go so far as to say this book has a Liar's Poker feel to it; it's that good.

Some of the big ideas we hit in this conversation include:

• the 70% failure rate in starting an international operation
• stereotyping vs. data-driven generalizations
• calibrated storytelling - evidence and anecdotes
• "Treat people the way they want to be treated"
• TOR - trust, openness, and respect
• The communications contract
• The role of DISC for hiring new staff

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

I never knew there was a consulting niche for advising directors for public company boards of directors until I met Denise Kuprionis. She founded The Governance Solutions Group (GSG) based in Cincinnati, where she helps boards apply effective governance practices and achieve their most pressing objectives.

In this conversation, some of our topics include:

• The way Denise finds clients to work with
• The biggest difference between her board work today and ten years ago - there are not many
• Board assessments
• Corporate vs. board governance
• CEO succession planning and when to start
• Tone at the top
• The role of a board of advisors in private companies
• Sandra Kurtzig's first advisory group

This conversation also applies to private companies as Denise shares valuable nuggets for private company CEOs who could use the support of advisory board members to fill gaps where specialized knowledge is lacking.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

As I search for books to highlight on the show, I'm looking for unique and interesting content and an author who has probably slipped under other podcasters' radars. Take, for instance, the title Rasputin for Hire by Michael Goodman.

Michael is a marketing expert who has been consulting since 1979. In this conversation, we hear about the story behind this fascinating title and:

• the difference between his book and Dan Pink's first title, Free Agent Nation
• why new consultants have to love selling
• the problem with cold leads
• on working alone
• how to use peer networks
• having confidence in one's own abilities
• personal mission statements
• consulting between jobs
• a fascinating Seth Godin story

A special thanks to my friends at JustPaddles.com.

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One of my favorite 25 business books is The Halo Effect by Phil Rosenzweig.

During this conversation, Phil explains the halo effect, along with several other delusions business leaders are bombarded with daily from the press, business authors, and consulting gurus.

Other highlights include:

• remedies for overcoming the halo effect heuristic
• research flaws in Good to Great
• backward causalities
• business culture and financial performance
• "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
• greed and hubris
• Phil's favorite business books

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Joel Salatin is more than a gifted farm entrepreneur in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Joel is the author of twelve books and speaks around the globe on not just farming but simultaneously protecting and replenishing the land.

The book we focused on was Folks, This Ain't Normal, which includes plenty of satire and humor. Our topics included open-book farming, the difference between buying natural vs. processed food, and several fascinating concepts revolving around money.

If you want to learn more about Joel after listening to the interview, I'd start with this site as a launching pad: TheLunaticFarmer.com.

You can read the full show notes on this episode on our website.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Dan Murray is the author of Tableau Your Data, and he recently published a blog series called The BI Cantos. The 21-post series is about how to successfully deploy a business intelligence system.

Dan is the Director of Strategic Innovations at Interworks, where he has spoken across the country with audiences, including many in the Fortune 500.

What exactly is business intelligence? What are the best tools to use? How do we separate fact from fiction in these implementations? And what is the best way to find a consultant?

Dan answers these questions and more as this episode is geared toward those embarking on a new BI journey.

The BI Cantos Blog Series - LINK

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

I predict that Number Go Up will be considered the most fascinating and entertaining book in narrative non-fiction for 2023.

Our guest is Zeke Faux, an investigative reporter. Several years ago, he was asked to check out Tether and the money supporting that cryptocurrency. Zeke had no idea that story would take him across the globe, logging many air miles along the way.

If you are challenged or intimidated by the vocabulary surrounding cryptocurrencies, we attack about ten terms to lay the groundwork for the stories Zeke tells us later in the interview.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Confessions of a Pricing Man is easily the best book ever written on this topic.

The author is Hermann Simon, the Chairman of Simon-Kucher. He's also one of this generation's most prolific business thinkers, whose writing parallels Peter Drucker's.

In this conversation, our topic is Hermann's 2021 book, True Profit. Topics include profit maximization, the reason why pricing as a profit lever trumps volume increases or cost reductions, and the differences between profit and free cash flow.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

As a child growing up in rural Missouri who listened to countless baseball games on the radio of my favorite baseball team, I heard the names Budweiser and Busch repeatedly over the course of many years.

Because of the rise in popularity of TV shows like Riches, Succession, and Yellowstone, I was curious about the Busch family--the Kennedys of St. Louis. What became of that dynasty? How did it get started? How did it grow in fame and fortune? What caused its downfall?

To find the answers to those questions, I read Bill Knoedelseder's book Bitter Brew - The Rise and Fall of Anheuser-Busch and America's King of Beers.

In this conversation, we learn how the Busch family survived prohibition and why they were able to succeed in the years to come. But we also learn the reasons for the demise of the family-owned business and why they sold out to a larger brewer.

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

When I finished Nick Gray's The 2-Hour Cocktail Party, I immediately thought that this was the perfect follow-up book to start applying all of the teachings of Dale Carnegie in his classic, How to Win Friends and Influence Others.

Beyond Nick's practical advice in teaching readers how to host a party for friends and casual acquaintances, one of my favorite insights is the power of loose connections. Nick provides the perfect device on how to make the most of those loose connections that can be fun and meaningful for years to come.

In this conversation, Nick explains the purpose of a cocktail party, who to invite, what to serve, how to implement icebreakers, and what to do after a party.

Important Links:

• How to Introduce Two People via Email: Sample Scripts
• 9 Career Day Speech and Presentation Ideas
• Party Times: Start, End, & Best Times
• Icebreaker Name Tags: Examples and How to Do It RIGHT
• How to Host an Event: Parties & Networking
• Where to Throw a Party? Ideas and Venues for 2023
• Icebreaker Activities for Your Next Event
• Nick Gray's Personal Website
• Friendship Recession Website
• 7 Small Trade Show Booth Ideas for 2023

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

One of my favorite books in the value investing niche is 100 Baggers by Chris Mayer, a title that is also worth reading for CEOs, CFOs, and all other business managers.

During this conversation, Chris explains how small acorn businesses become large and strong oak trees. Other topics we hit include:

• the coffee can portfolio
• the reluctant seller
• owner-operators
• John Kelly's formula
• SQGLP - a power framework for finding 100 Baggers

You can learn and read more about Chris Mayer on his blog.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

If you have read any books on pricing, the title that stands above the rest is Hermann Simon's Confessions of The Pricing Man.

However, suppose you are looking for a book that includes nearly every pricing tactic ever used in business. In that case, I'd start with Handbook on the Psychology of Pricing by Dr. Markus Husemann-Kopetzky. The subtitle is 100+ effects on persuasion and influence every entrepreneur, marketer and pricing manager needs to know.

While this book is for the hardcore marketer and CMO, I recommend it to CEOs and CFOs too as pricing is a vital discipline that's lacking in many small businesses.

A few of the topics we cover include:

• Flat Rate Bias
• Scarcity
• Reciprocity
• $0.79 or $ 0.93
• Dropping Commas
• The Problem with Discounting High-Quality Products

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

As much as I enjoy reading the Goldratt books and his theory of constraints (TOC), I never considered his early book, The Race, a solid and readable primer on throughput for financial minds.

Several books have been published on throughput accounting since The Race was released in the early 1990s. In 2019, three TOC experts finished what I believe is now the best work on throughput accounting that even CEOs should read. The title is Throughput Economics.

In this conversation, we address simple definitions such as throughput, operating expense, and investment. We learn why efficiency measurements can lead to disastrous results and why this book is not just for manufacturers.

Notable links:

• Eli Schragenheim blog (one of the co-authors)
• Goldratt Bharat
• The Vanguard Method
• Kelvyn Youngman

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

I cannot begin to count the number of times I've heard the following question or something similar, "Mark, I've heard my industry EBITDA multiple is 5x. What do you think?"

As much as I want to scream at that question, this type of thinking on business value is prevalent amongst many CEOs of both big and small companies.

When the book Quick Value by Reed Phillips hit my radar, I bought it immediately and couldn't put it down as I started reading it.

Reed's process for valuing a private company is a simple but powerful method that should be completed annually by an internal leadership team. The process is easy to learn and can even replace annual strategic planning sessions.

In this conversation, we learn the Quick Value process, who should use it, and some other nifty nuggets for leaders wanting to grow the value of their business, even when they do not want to sell it.

Important Links

• The book's website
• Oaklins Valuation Index (sign-up is free)
• Reed's LinkedIn profile

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

I'd recommend The Phoenix Project if I could only recommend one book to a CEO, CFO, or COO about the essentials or the heart of IT in a heartbeat.

The Phoenix Project is the IT version of The Goal, as both are written as a novel with a protagonist with doubts, worries, and fears. Like The Goal, the main character in The Phoenix project encounters a sage who helps him glean insights from the manufacturing plant floor and apply them in a DevOps environment.

Gene Kim is one of the co-authors of this special book. In this conversation with Gene, we address The Three Ways, the four types of work, internal audit, security, and why this novel has universal appeal for all industries and all professions.

Important Links:

• IT Revolution
• The Idealcast with Gene Kim
• The DevOps bookshelf
• The COSO Cube (there are book spoilers)
• Wiring the Winning Organization
• Detailed show notes

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify