This week’s NetWorks Sports’ Recommended Book is Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson.
As with many busy corporate executives and small business owners, finding time to read for leisure is a challenge. Despite the challenges we all face in carving out valuable time to do something that is relaxing & edifying, every now & then you come across a book that offers a refreshing new perspective on an aspect of your life that you have dedicated an inordinate amount of time. Not surprisingly, we all have a lengthy list of books (or authors) that we want to read when we have a moment.
Rework is one of those books. Recommended by a close friend, Jennifer Azzi (Olympian and current Head Coach at the University of San Francisco) a year ago, it was easy to go online & order the book immediately with the hope that I could find the time to dive into the book at some point. The first few pages of Rework were so fascinating that I immediately went out and purchased copies for friends & colleagues who I felt would be inspired by reading it as well.
The best thing about Rework is that it isn’t your typical business book that dispatches career advice that we have all heard incessantly. The authors actually challenge you from the jump and want you to get a bit uncomfortable with your normal way of thinking or approaching your life and carer endeavors.
Rework, written by the founders of 37 Signals (online platforms for CRM and productivity tools), is another powerful book that can be read from cover to cover in one sitting. As the title suggests, the authors want to compel readers to “rework” their old methods of doing business and challenge what other standard business books suggest that you spend an inordinate amount of time on (from business plans to hiring staff). Over the course of these easy flowing chapters, they share their advice for rewriting the rules we have all learned “should” help lead us to successful business endeavors.
If you are an entrepreneur, this is a must read. But the book’s lessons aren’t limited for those who are looking to venture out on their own. The simple strategies & rules are applicable in any situation and for anyone who is willing to buck the system & think outside of the box a bit. Many times, we find ourselves operating under the same principles over and over and it takes a new voice to awaken our creativity.
After reading the book, you may not be compelled to follow all of the advice, but you will certainly look at things differently. If you are interested in a new perspective on how to move forward with your business and are willing to challenge the way you currently do things, you’ll enjoy this new and unique guide to reworking your business!
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