Books about work & building

Questions to apply

• Have you noticed ways that success or competence in one area has led to more demands on your time and attention?

  The paradox of success breeding failure · from Essentialism by Greg McKeown

• Looking at how you spent your time this past week, which activities actually moved you toward what matters most to you?

  Most things are noise; few things are vital · from Essentialism by Greg McKeown

• What is the smallest step you could take today toward something that matters to you?

  Small wins through minimal viable progress · from Essentialism by Greg McKeown

• What decision have you been postponing until you feel more certain, and what might change if you accepted that certainty may never arrive?

  Lead through your own fear and uncertainty · from The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

• Looking at a current challenge, are you treating it like a crisis that requires swift action, or like a stable situation that can accommodate deliberation and input?

  Peacetime and wartime require different leadership · from The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

• What's a situation where you've been waiting for more clarity, and what could you decide with what you already know?

  Make decisions with incomplete information · from The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

• In a role where others depend on you, what's one way you could make their work easier or clearer?

  Take care of the people who take care of the work · from The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

• Is there a situation in your life where you've known for a while that something isn't working, but you've been hoping it will resolve on its own?

  Fire executives who aren't working out, quickly · from The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

• Is there a skill or knowledge you keep assuming someone should already have, rather than taking time to teach it clearly?

  Train your people systematically · from The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

• Is there something difficult you've been reluctant to communicate clearly, and what might happen if you simply said it plainly?

  Tell the truth, especially when it's bad news · from The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

• What's a piece of common advice you've been following that might not actually fit your particular circumstances?

  The right answer often contradicts best practices · from The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz