Library
The books, blogs, podcasts, and tools that have shaped how I think. These aren't just recommendations—they're the inputs that became my frameworks.
Books
The ones I return to
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
Ben Horowitz
The most honest book about building companies. No sugarcoating, just real talk about the impossible decisions you'll face.
Apply: I reference this constantly when advising founders on the messy middle.
Thinking in Systems
Donella Meadows
Changed how I see everything. Once you understand systems, you can't unsee the patterns.
Apply: My 80/20 and napkin test frameworks are direct descendants of this book.
Essentialism
Greg McKeown
The disciplined pursuit of less. This book gave me permission to say no to almost everything.
Apply: The foundation of my 'ship it or kill it' mentality.
Never Split the Difference
Chris Voss
Negotiation tactics from an FBI hostage negotiator. Works in everyday conversations.
Apply: Tactical empathy transformed how I handle difficult stakeholder conversations.
The Checklist Manifesto
Atul Gawande
Simple idea, profound impact. Checklists reduce errors in high-stakes environments.
Apply: Operational reliability and 'minimum viable next step' thinking.
Start With Why
Simon Sinek
Purpose-driven leadership. Understanding the 'why' unlocks buy-in.
Apply: Rationale blocks and belief-first communication.
The Motive
Patrick Lencioni
A gut-check on why you lead. Reward-centered vs responsibility-centered.
Apply: Leadership motive test before taking on new roles.
The Infinite Game
Simon Sinek
Business as infinite game. Play for longevity, not just wins.
Apply: Long-game retention and progress as identity.
Ikigai
Héctor García & Francesc Miralles
Japanese philosophy of purpose. Finding reason to get up each morning.
Apply: Micro-joy design and sustainable motivation cycles.
The Mountain Is You
Brianna Wiest
Self-sabotage patterns explained. Internal friction is the real blocker.
Apply: Shame-proof re-entry design for users who fall off.
The Obstacle Is the Way
Ryan Holiday
Stoic wisdom made practical. Obstacles become advantages.
Apply: Designing for friction points, not around them.
Hidden Potential
Adam Grant
Scaffolds and practice loops. Growth comes from systems, not talent.
Apply: Progress systems and skill-building frameworks.
10x Is Easier Than 2x
Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy
Counterintuitive truth: bigger goals force elimination and focus.
Apply: Focus filters and simplifying the path ruthlessly.
Main Street Millionaire
Codie Sanchez
Buying boring businesses. Repeatable value over flashy ventures.
Apply: Moat mapping and monetizable operations.
Differentiate or Die
Jack Trout
Positioning is survival. Be different or be forgotten.
Apply: Audience-to-action paths and distribution strategy.
Influencer
Brittany Hennessy
Building a personal brand and audience. The business of influence.
Apply: Audience-to-action paths and distribution strategy.
Creativity, Inc.
Ed Catmull
Inside Pixar's creative culture. Feedback rituals that work.
Apply: Postmortems and creative team dynamics.
The Four Agreements
Don Miguel Ruiz
Ancient Toltec wisdom. Four principles that simplify everything.
Apply: Communication systems and support matrices.
5 Personality Patterns
Steven Kessler
Defense patterns explained. Understanding why people react.
Apply: Stakeholder communication and team dynamics.
The 48 Laws of Power
Robert Greene
Power dynamics laid bare. Use sparingly and pragmatically.
Apply: Stakeholder incentives and rollout politics.
People I Follow
Worth your attention
Former VP Design at Facebook. Her writing on management and design thinking is practical and humble.
Founder of buildspace. Building in public, helping others work on their own ideas. Pure energy.
Start with Why. His thinking on leadership and purpose has shaped how I communicate vision.
Contrarian Thinking founder. Teaches how to buy boring businesses and think critically about wealth.
My Philosophy
I consume content with intention. Every book I read, every podcast I listen to, gets filtered through one question: "Can I apply this?"
The best ideas become frameworks. The frameworks become habits. The habits become how I work. This isn't about consuming more—it's about converting what matters into action.
Input quality determines output quality.