This is the book I recommend the most. Nearly every consulting client has a copy, or has been told to go get a copy. In the past I used this book with business owners struggling to get things done. Now I have expanded my thinking to recommend employees and direct reports also be held accountable for having a master list system. Most don't so we give them a choice. Come up with something that works or use David Allen's GTD system.

Michael Gerber's classic book on business systems and processes is our go-to source for teaching business owners how to build a company that runs without them.

In the early 90's open book management became trendy, then it faded to gray like a lot of management trends. That doesn't mean it's not the best, most efficient, most empowering way to run a company. Stack's book lays out the principles of OBM with real world examples from his journey inside SRC.

People relate to pictures better than words. This book is good for opening your eyes to the possibility of communicating ideas through hand-drawn pictures. Any one who has sat in my office and watched me draw on the windows has seen this book in action. It's invaluable for knowledge workers and problem solvers.

Strategic thinking can be taught and if you're in the mood for a lesson there's no better source than Blue Ocean Strategy. Axiom has used this to create uncontested market space and clients who are willing to think outside the box have been able to use it as well. A very wise investment.

A great book recommended to me by Marc Simms of RPM. This book teaches you how to put yourself in your customer's shoes, how to understand perceived value and how to heighten that value during the sales process. Fantastic stuff. Thanks Marc.

I read this book a few years ago and it consolidated a lot of the stuff Tom Studer had been trying to drill into my head for two years. The key take away I received from this book was the leverage achieved through time blocking. I'm still working way more than 40 hours a week, but I'm happier and more productive than I was before picking this book up.

This is one of the most practical books any public or private accountant, bookkeeper, controller or CFO can read. It changed our perception of how quickly we could get clients closed out and on to achieving the next month's goals.

This classic by Frank Bettger is good food for the soul at the end of those long days of prospecting and cold calling. Business owners must be salesmen and saleswomen. There's just no way around it. Why not pick up Bettger's book and recharge your batteries every once in a while. It's good for you. 

I read this book just before starting Axiom. Subway founder Fred DeLuca serves up tons of practical advice. If you are starting a business READ THIS FIRST.

It's not all about business. Jeff Hawkins is wicked smart. After helping develop the first tablet computer, inventing the Palm Pilot and creating the first smartphone (the Treo) Hawkins turned his full attention to neuroscience. This book describes Hawkins theory of how the brain works and the central importance of expectation in brain function. This book makes life make more sense.

This is one of the most important business books I've ever read. I'm just surprised we haven't heard more from Tim Sanders.

Ricardo Semler was way ahead of his time when he wrote this book in 2004. LONG before flex time and dealing with Gen Y were hot HR seminar topics Semler was breaking new ground in Brazil. This book is about how people live and how they work. It's about personal responsibility, hiring the best and then treating them like it.