This book by Jason Fried came across my desk courtesy of an ex-banker friend of mine. He said it had changed his perspective on business so I decided, on this rare occasion, to follow his advice. After reading the book I was so impressed and excited about it I bought over a dozen copies for my colleagues.

The book is based on the experiences of a technology company and encourages readers to take a different look at common business practice. Chapters are deliberately short and the messages are clear. Key sections for me were those that focus on motivating staff and how to encourage effective team working. I found Fried’s idea of ‘No Interruption Thursdays’ particularly interesting as it is a great way to allow employees to get on with their core work for one day each week, without any meetings or interruptions.

I also very much enjoyed the chapter which focused on the dangers of long-term planning and how, in most cases, external influences will almost always throw plans off course, rendering them redundant. Instead, Fried suggests setting short-term goals. Not only does this limit the opportunity for external influencers to change strategic direction, but it also improves team productivity.

The book is easy to read and useful for anyone looking to build or develop their business. I still refer to it regularly.