5 Books That Changed How I Think About Business
Camille's April Reading List
What happens when military discipline meets innovation theory, voice coaching, mindfulness, and relentless persistence? You get a powerful framework for business transformation.
This April, I dove into five books that, on the surface, seemed to have little in common. A business strategy book by a Harvard professor. A voice coaching manual by a Hollywood vocal coach. A mindfulness guide about our thoughts. Leadership lessons from a Navy Admiral. And a parable about persistence from a mental performance coach.
But as I closed the last page of the final book, I realized these weren't random selections—they were pieces of a puzzle that, when assembled, revealed a complete picture of what it takes to succeed in business today.
The Books That Shaped My April
"Competing Against Luck" by Clayton Christensen
"Set Your Voice Free" by Roger Love
"Don't Believe Everything You Think" by Joseph Nguyen
"The Wisdom of the Bullfrog" by Admiral William H. McRaven
"Pound the Stone" by Joshua Medcalf
Each book challenged me in different ways, but together they created a framework I now use daily in my business.
What Jobs Are Your Customers Hiring You For?
Christensen's "Competing Against Luck" transformed how I communicate to struggling brands what their real problem is—they aren't focusing on a job to be done. For years, I watched companies obsess over features, demographics, and market segments while missing the fundamental question that matters.
This book gave me a framework to diagnose why brands fail. When I now consult with struggling companies, I can pinpoint their disconnect immediately: they're selling products, not solving jobs. They think customers care about their features when customers actually care about the progress they're trying to make in their lives.
The core insight? Customers don't buy products—they hire them to do a job. Once I started communicating this to clients, everything clicked. Their marketing became clearer because they finally understood what story to tell. Their product development became focused because they knew what job needed to be done better.
Why I recommend it: If you're tired of throwing marketing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, this book gives you the language to articulate exactly why brands struggle and how to fix it.
Your Voice Is Your Personal Brand Strategy
I'll admit, "Set Your Voice Free" by Roger Love seemed like an odd choice for a business book club. But here's what I discovered: In a world where personal branding can make or break your business, your voice is the most powerful strategy for taking your brand to the next level.
Think about it—every Zoom call, every podcast appearance, every keynote speech is an opportunity to strengthen or weaken your personal brand. Love, who's coached everyone from Tony Robbins to Reese Witherspoon, breaks down how voice isn't just about communication—it's about brand positioning.
After practicing his techniques for just two weeks, I noticed how my voice became part of my brand strategy. The breathing exercises gave me gravitas. The pitch variations made me memorable. Understanding melody in speech? That's what separates thought leaders from everyone else.
Your voice is your brand's signature. It's how people remember you after the meeting ends. It's what makes you stand out in a sea of identical LinkedIn profiles and company pitches.
Why I recommend it: If you understand that personal branding is critical but haven't considered how your voice shapes that brand, this book is your secret weapon for differentiation.
The Thoughts That Hold Us Back
"Don't Believe Everything You Think" by Joseph Nguyen was perhaps the most challenging read—not because it was complex, but because it forced me to confront my own mental patterns.
In business, we pride ourselves on quick thinking and decisive action. But Nguyen shows how our thoughts often create false limitations. How many times have I killed a great idea because I thought, "That's not how our industry works" or "Our customers would never go for that"?
The book's central message—that most of our thoughts are just stories we tell ourselves—has radically changed how I approach problems. Now, before making major decisions, I ask: "Is this a fact, or is it just a thought I'm believing?"
Why I recommend it: If you've ever felt stuck in your business or found yourself repeating the same patterns, this book will help you break free from mental constraints you didn't even know existed.
Military Wisdom for Business Leaders
Admiral McRaven's "The Wisdom of the Bullfrog" initially seemed like it would be all about military discipline and rigid structure. Instead, I found timeless leadership principles wrapped in compelling Navy stories.
The Admiral's emphasis on small, daily disciplines creating extraordinary results resonated deeply. His "make your bed" philosophy (from his famous commencement speech) extends to every area of business. Small, consistent actions compound into remarkable achievements.
But what struck me most was his approach to team building. In the SEALs, individual talent matters less than team cohesion. In business, we often hire for skills and fire for attitude. McRaven's book reminded me to flip that equation.
Why I recommend it: If you want to build a team that performs under pressure and achieves extraordinary results, this book provides a blueprint tested in the most demanding conditions imaginable.
The Philosophy of Pounding the Stone
The final book in my April lineup, "Pound the Stone" by Joshua Medcalf, spoke directly to the loneliness of leadership. It's a simple parable about a young man who spends years doing nothing but pounding a stone with a hammer, trusting the process despite seeing no visible results—and facing ridicule from everyone around him.
But it was Kaiyan's quote that stopped me cold: "Most of my friends completely abandoned me, then they started shaming me and ostracizing me at every opportunity."
That's the truth about pursuing excellence that no one talks about. The higher you climb, the lonelier it gets. That's why I read so much—and the more stories I read of people who have achieved what I want to achieve, I realize most of them experienced way more shame and persecution than I ever will.
Medcalf's deeper message resonated: "There are no extraordinary people, just ordinary people willing to experience shame, persecution, and even death to pursue what sets their soul on fire."
In business, we're obsessed with outcomes—quarterly results, conversion rates, revenue growth. But this book taught me that true excellence comes from falling in love with the process, not the outcome, and being willing to pound your stone even when everyone thinks you're crazy.
Why I recommend it: If you've ever felt alone in your pursuit of excellence, or if you need courage to keep going when everyone doubts your vision, this book will remind you that the path to greatness is supposed to be lonely—and that's okay.
The Unexpected Symphony
Here's what surprised me most: These five books, read in sequence, created a complete business operating system:
Understand the job your customers need done (Christensen)
Communicate it powerfully using your voice (Love)
Challenge your assumptions about what's possible (Nguyen)
Execute with discipline to achieve extraordinary results (McRaven)
Fall in love with the process, not the outcome (Medcalf)
This wasn't planned, but it's now how I approach every business challenge.
Your April Reading Challenge
I'm not suggesting you read all five books immediately (though if you do, let me know what insights you discover). Instead, pick the one that addresses your biggest current challenge:
Struggling with product-market fit? Start with "Competing Against Luck"
Need to improve your leadership presence? Grab "Set Your Voice Free"
Feeling stuck or limited? Pick up "Don't Believe Everything You Think"
Want to build better systems and teams? Dive into "The Wisdom of the Bullfrog"
Frustrated with slow progress? Read "Pound the Stone"
The 30-Day Implementation Challenge
Reading is just the beginning. Here's my challenge to you:
Week 1: Pick one book and read it completely
Week 2: Implement one key concept from the book
Week 3: Measure the impact on your business
Week 4: Share your results with your team (or with me!)
Over to You
Which of these books speaks to your current business challenges? Have you read any of them already? What books have transformed your approach to business?
Drop a comment below or reply to this email. I'd love to hear what's on your reading list and what insights you've discovered.
Remember: The best business education doesn't always come from business books. Sometimes it comes from voice coaches, meditation teachers, and Navy SEALs.
Happy reading!
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