CFO Bookshelf Blog

When you walk through the isles of a grocery store, are you curious about how every product made its way to the shelf? For instance, what’s the story behind the fisherman on boats for months at sea dragging nets for shrimps? What are the odds of a new product finding its way to a store shelf, and at what cost? Who are the women drivers getting our food from point to point? And can we trust the certifications stamped on labels?

I am a huge fan of narrative non-fiction. Such books generally inform, inspire, or entertain. When narrative non-fiction includes each of those three traits, then we’re reading something special that hard to put down. That’s precisely what I found with Mark Paul’s, The Greatest Gambling Story Ever Told. Not only is the book fast-paced and entertaining, but I also enjoyed learning about an industry where I knew nothing.

I’ve been a Patrick Lencioni fan for years. His last book is The Motive and it was released during COVID. Is it his best book? Why did he write it? Where does it fit with his other great books on organizational health? Brian Jones is a friend of Lencioni and one of the consultants for his professional services firm, The Table Group. Brian provides a great perspective to these questions and more.

This show is being added to the podcast universe during the 2021 World Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros. While I fear isolating a financial-based audience, I needed to rationalize my way into doing a baseball-related show. Since nearly every business reader I know has read Moneyball, why not do a show based on a great book written by Nancy Finley entitled Finley Ball? Expect three big business takeaways from this interview.

I first learned about ESOPs in the 1990s after reading The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack. Since then, I’ve been fascinated with these unique benefit plans that can lead to tremendous wealth generation for the employee participants of these plans. Yet, some 25 years later, I still find myself continually learning new things about ESOPs. I’m also puzzled by the lack of awareness regarding the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of ESOPs.

Is Atomic Habits by James Clear overrated and worth reading? Atomic Habits could very well become one of the most popular self-help books of all time as it’s remained on many best-selling lists since it was released a few years ago. I’ve asked my friend and fellow CFO, Bruce Reed of PracticeLink to go all bookclub in this discussion as we break down the big ideas in this book and determine its applicability in the business.

Dealing or coping with change is one of the most difficult challenges for any financial leader to manage during times of change – either for themselves or those they lead, mentor, or coach. Rick Maurer is the author of Beyond the Wall of Resistance which includes important constructs like the three levels of resistance and the change cycle. During this conversation, Rick provides advice and guidance on how to address change in the workplace.

Every business reader has heard of a BHAG thanks to the writing of Jim Collins. But do you know how to achieve a BHAG? Successful entrepreneur, consultant, author, and speaker, Shannon Susko, has found that answer through her 3HAG framework and supporting execution tools. If you love the writing of Verne Harnish, then you’ll enjoy listening to Shannon whose enthusiasm is infectious.

If you liked the book, Barbarians at the Gate, then you’ll enjoy The Ceasars Palace Coup. Max Frumes is one of the co-authors of this work of narrative non-fiction. We learn more about what went wrong when the investors levered Harrah’s with nearly $27 billion in debt when they took the gaming business private. Think you have a handle on bankruptcy? You might change your mind after this one as you learn about the winners and losers in the process.