This is one of my favorite business book reads because it was so raw and chock full of very nuanced, sound advice. It’s one of those few business books that you read, and then want to read again but take diligent notes.
“The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz draws from his experience as CEO of Opsware and co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz– one of the most well known VCs in the Silicon Valley.
Unlike typical business books, this one focuses on managing during crisis, making difficult decisions, and handling the psychological burden of leadership. He candidly shares personal struggles and mistakes.
Key insights:
- Peacetime vs. wartime CEO strategies- which one are you???
- How to deliver bad news and lay off employees
- Importance of training and promoting from within
- Managing your own psychology as a leader
- Building and maintaining company culture
Strengths:
- Practical, actionable advice
- Real examples from difficult situations
- Honest about leadership challenges
- Strong focus on people management
Weaknesses:
- Tech industry-centric examples
- Some advice specific to venture-backed companies
I really wish there was a similar version of this book that covered more about being a leader in an SMB business rather than a software startup. The examples were powerful, yet too specific to the tech industry therefore lacked some relevancy.
Verdict: Essential reading for CEOs and aspiring leaders. While other books cover what to do when things go right, this one uniquely addresses what to do when everything goes wrong which is oddly refreshing. You may also enjoy his direct, colorful language 😉