Below are a list of the books that have most influenced my professional life and and why.  I’m adding this as a resource to complement the recent professional development post.  They cover a wide variety of topics but they are definitely topics that are relevant to every marketing professional.

1. Re-imagine! by Tom Peters
   • Tom Peters is an inspirational writer, business thought-leader and visionary who’s gripping book rails against business complacency.  He sounds the alarm that organizations must embrace creativity and innovation or perish.  His thinking on leadership, creativity, branding, people and everything else “business” are passionate and deeply motivating.
2. Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim & Renee Mauborgne
   • Kim and Mauborgne hammer home the importance of value innovation with tools like their strategy canvas.  When I first applied these principals my eyes were opened wide to the strategic clarity they provided.  There is no doubt I will continue to apply these strategies.
3. The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins
   • Using the STARS model I’ve had to opportunity to refine my thinking on business situations and the best course of action.  Negotiating your success is critical to building that initial relationship with your boss, establishing alignment and managing expectations.  This will be a huge addition to your potential for long term success.
4. The Revenge of Brand X by Rob Frankel
   • My views on brand building are based on years of observing others do the brand development work and playing executional roles but more and more I see the need to refine my viewpoint.  Rob Frankel’s book resenates very strongly with me.  While some of the examples are very dated the core of this book is strong and worth reading!
5. Getting Things Done by David Allen
   • I took one of David Allen’s siminars before I read the book and did another siminar after I read the book.  “Getting Things Done” is an excellent tool to drive focus in every business activity you participate in.  Workflow actually starts to flow!  Clearing your mind of the clutter, getting it all on paper an laying out the next action has become the mantra of my professional existance.
6. Don’t Think Pink by Lisa Johnson
   • After reading Re-Imagine! by Tom Peters I picked up several of the books he recommended on how to effectively market to women.  These authors including Lisa Johnson has provided me with some terrific insight into marketing to women.  I think that it is critical that marketing professionals are carefully tuned into their female customer base and Don’t think Pink is a great place to start.
7. Winning by Jack Welch
   • It’s so interesting to hear so many viewpoints about Jack Welch and then have those viewpoints tempered by the man himself.  Early in the book he talks about the importance of candor and I was hooked from there.  Covering topics like team building, leaderships, crisis management and the like you get both what people love about him and hate about him with great color commentary.
8. Satisfied Customers Tell Three Friends, Angry Customers Tell 3,000 by Pete Blackshaw
   • Pete Blackshaw is a family friend but he didn’t earn a spot on this prestigious list of mine just because of that!  In this era of social media those who are stuffing their heads in the sand and ignoring Consumer Generated Media (CGM) are going to see their credibility wrecked by the tsunami.  Pete offers clear and action oriented thinking about this important topic ending with a strong tie-in to the role important of Consumer Affairs.  Pete also has a great blog that you should plug into your reader, CGM!
9. Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury
   • Several years ago I recognized that as I began to work with more and more vendors I would have to be a better negotiator than I was.  After reading this book I’ve had plenty of opportunities to apply what I’ve learn in structuring contracts as well as solving problems.  While I’ve consumed a number of resources on this topic “Getting to Yes” was an extremely valuable start to my professional growth.
10. The 4-Hour work Week by Timothy Ferriss
    • I first was motivated to buy this book based on a recommendation from a podcast I listen to.  Timothy Ferriss certainly lives a life that is enviable in many respects.  However, if everyone worked a 4-hour week who would be insuring that Mr. Ferriss’ health products got delivered?  Nevertheless I strongly believe that there is a great deal to be learned from his outsourcing strategies and identifying creative ways to work your way out of a job.  Ultimately I see his ideas having very practical application in process improvement.