10 Business Books to Read in 2017

We have selected books that offer ways for you and your company to prepare for a future with more growth. The idea is to inspire you in building a remarkable organization.
The strategic planning season is in full swing! And with it, the possibility of the entrepreneur revisiting his plan of growth, advances, achievements and also the path that lies ahead. In this selection, we focus on books that are geared towards the growth of sustainable and striking organizations - and that are built to last. (you can check here my blog for more on best business books)


1. Exponential Organizations - why they are 10 times better, faster and cheaper than yours (and what to do about it), by Salim Ismail

It happened with us: we went to look for the book in a bookstore in a big shopping mall in São Paulo, and the seller gave us the work in a matter of seconds. That's because the title was already recommended by leaders of large companies in the city, which made the stock run out in a few days. This book was also the subject of a talk given by Julian Seabra, Endeavor General Director, to the entire team in July this year. And it has served as inspiration for our work.
The so-called Exponential Organizations have a disproportionately large impact - at least ten times higher - compared to their peers, by using new organizational techniques that leverage accelerated technologies. In practice, we speak of companies like Uber, TED, Google, Waze and Snapchat. As the available technologies intertwine, the pace of innovation accelerates even more. And every intersection of technology adds yet another multiplier into the equation, making that change exponential!

Why read?
In addition to talking about the effects of technology, the authors make clear: this is only 1% of the way we still have to go. Therefore, they present a series of 10 attributes, internal and external, that characterize these new organizations. It is up to you to understand this scenario and also design an organization prepared to grow exponentially. If you found the topic interesting, you do not have to wait for your request to arrive in the mail. You can already know this summary created by the co-author of the book , which is available on SlideShare.



2) The Founder's Mentality, by Chris Zook and James Allen

If you ask endeavor-backed entrepreneurs what the book they're reading at the moment, the answer will probably be Chris Zook's The Founder's Mentality. A few months ago, we distributed to all of them an edition so that they knew the elements that make a company really big and lasting.
The central lesson of the book is that most of these organizations have an incredible feature that runs like a golden thread for culture, identity and competitive advantage: the mindset of its founder.
This translates into some common features:
1. A clear insurgent mission 2. An unmistakable owner's head 3. A relentless obsession with the front line

Why read?
The authors spent a few years conducting more than 450 meetings and workshops in more than 50 countries in the quest for what makes these companies special, enduring and great examples. Through a variety of inspiring analyzes and examples, this book shows how any leader-not just a founder-can instill and nurture a founder's mentality throughout his organization and find lasting profitable growth.

3) Execution: the discipline to achieve results, by Larry Bossidy and Ram 

This is also likely to happen in your company: the biggest challenge of strategic planning is not in defining mission, goals or initiatives, but rather in executing what was planned. This gap between thought and deed prevents the company from leaving the place and take the next step toward the future that entrepreneurs see ahead.

Why read?

If you are starting the strategic planning process back to 2017, this book is a great help. Use each chapter to guide your communication, starting from your role as a process leader to creating a culture focused on execution, which involves recruitment, communication with the team, and even the way meetings are conducted.

 

4) Built to Last: succesful habits of Visionary Companies, by Jim Collins

"This is not a book about charismatic visionary leaders. Not even about innovative product concepts with unprecedented market insights. This is a book about something much more important, enduring and substantial: visionary organizations. " This is how the authors begin this practical guide, useful to all those who wish to create businesses that are milestones in a particular industry - and survive the passage of time.
To do this, they deconstruct the main myths that revolve around famous and well-known companies. Some of them are:
It takes a great idea to start a business. Few visionary companies started with a great idea. Many of them started without a specific idea - like HP and Sony - and others were big failures - until they reinvent themselves. In fact, a great idea early on may lead to the risk that a company will never be ready to adapt to market changes.
2. Most Successful Companies Make Decisions Through Complex Strategic Planning While maintaining planning rituals, in practice, these companies experience a number of things and keep what works, without attachment to the plan.
3. Most of them focus primarily on ending their competitors. If we imagined that these companies were very concerned about what others are doing, we engage. They can focus on "self-destruct," reinvent themselves, and create something new. Before another company goes there and does it.

Why read?
Declining the myth that a visionary leader or great idea is needed, the authors propose to all entrepreneurs a map, using the example of companies we know, with what it takes to build a company built to last.

5) Discovery Driven-Growth: A Breakthrough Process to Reduce Risk and Seize Opportunity, by Rita Gunther McGrath and Ian C. MacMillan

How do you encourage innovation and pursue ambitious growth while minimizing the potential for risk?
In this book, the authors show how entrepreneurs can plan and pursue more aggressive growth with more boldness. Carefully planning their strategic growth opportunities, testing each project with a series of checkpoints and creating a culture that focuses on evidence and learning, companies can better control their costs, minimize surprises, and know when to dispose of questionable projects - before it's too late.

Why read?

With tools that help you select and better assess the potential of any strategic risk, from new product lines to new business, the authors design a clear process that makes it possible to identify, manage and leverage your company's portfolio of opportunities