Accelerate your learning by reading two books per month to attain the equivalent knowledge as that of an MBA. The 6-month curriculum consist of the following 12 books, and only requires about 30 min reading per day, spread across 6 months in the following way:
Month 1
- Zero to One
Author(s): Peter Thiel with Blake Masters
Subject: Strategy
Key quote: “What important truth do very few people agree with you on?“
Key lessons:- Escape competition
- Being contrarian when right creates significant value
- Go from “0 to 1”, not “1 to n”
consider supplementing with
- Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Works
Author(s): A.G. Lafley, Roger L. Martin
Subject: Strategy
Key quote: “The heart of strategy is the answer to two fundamental questions: Where will we play? How will we win where we have chosen to play?“
Key Lessons:- Focus your efforts
- Craft a unique value proposition
- Align your organization
- The Lean Startup
Author(s): Eric Ries
Subject: Entrepreneurship
Key quote: “We must learn what customers really want, not what they say they want or what we think they should want.“
Key lessons:- Build minimum viable products
- When in doubt, simplify
- Get feedback + learn fast to win
Month 2
- Financial Intelligence
Author(s): Karen Berman and Joe Knight with John Case
Subject: Accounting/Finance
Key quote: “Profit ≠Cash (and you need both)“
Key lessons:- Learn to read financial statements (Income, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow)
- Fund projects based on expected ROI
- I Will Teach You to Be Rich
Author(s): Ramit Sethi
Subject: Personal Finance
Key quote: “Spend extravagantly on the things you love, and cut costs mercilessly on the things you don’t“
Key lessons:- Get clear about your “Rich Life”
- Save/invest before you see the money
- Create an automated money system
Month 3
- The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing
Author(s): Al Ries, Jack Trout
Subject: Marketing
Key quote: “Marketing is a battle of perceptions, not products.“
Key lessons:- Perception is reality
- Own a word/category to boost brand
- Follow the checklist of the 22 laws
- The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement
Author(s): Eliyahu M. Goldratt
Subject: Operations
Key quote: “The capacity of the plant is equal to the capacity of its bottlenecks.” (a chain is not stronger than its weakest link)
Key lessons:- Identify and exploit bottlenecks
- Increase net profit + increase ROI + increase cash flow
Month 4
- Thinking in Systems
Author(s): Donella Meadows
Subject: Systems Thinking
Key quote: “A system must consist of three kinds of things: elements, inter-connections, and function or purpose.“
Key lessons:- 12 leverage points change a system
- Purposes are deduced from behaviour
- Create feedback loops
- Steal the Show
Author(s): Michael Port
Subject: Public Speaking
Key quote: “By raising the stakes, you adjust to being comfortable with discomfort.“
Key lessons:- Cut out filler words by practicing
- Use pauses for impact
- Act “as if” to build confidence
Month 5
- Never Split the Difference
Author(s): Chris Voss
Subject: Negotiation
Key quote: “He who has learned to disagree without being disagreeable has discovered the most valuable secret of negotiation.“
Key lessons:- Prepare your best alternative ahead
- Let your counterpart offer first
- Ask open-ended questions
- How to Be a Power Connector
Author(s): Judy Robinett
Subject: Networking
Key quote: “Skill is fine, and genius is splendid, but the right contacts are more valuable than either.“
Key Lessons:- Your network is your net worth
- Choose your environment wisely
- Follow the “5 + 50 + 100 Rule”
Month 6
- Team of Teams
Author(s): General Stanley A. McCrystal
Subject: Leadership
Key quote: “Purpose affirms trust, trust affirms purpose, and together they forge individuals into a working team.“
Key lessons:- The world is complex and chaotic
- Resiliency and adaptability are crucial
- Leaders create more leaders
- The Almanack of Naval Ravikant
Author(s): Eric Jorgenson
Subject: Productivity and Effectiveness
Key quote: “No one can compete with you on being you.“
Key lessons:- Money and happiness are skills
- A good reputation is invaluable
- Take responsibility for your life. True learning and growth come from actively participating and facing challenges.
consider supplementing with
- The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
Author(s): Timothy Ferriss
Subject: Entrepreneurship, Productivity and Effectiveness
Key quote: “Life is not a race. Do take it slower. Hear the music, before the song is over.“
Key lessons:- Design a lifestyle business that automates income and grants freedom from a fixed location.
- Eliminate time-wasting activities and prioritize tasks that generate the most results with minimal effort.
- Delegate or automate repetitive tasks to free up your time and focus on your core strengths.
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