Always be learning.
That’s the mantra Drift has lived by since day one.
Which is why you’ll often hear our founder, David Cancel, say “Don’t reinvent the wheel.” And he’s right. Innovate, don’t invent. Practically every business question has been answered in a book.
Sometimes we get so focused on one thing that we miss the easy alternative. But reading exposes us to a whole range of ideas that can help us through challenges. And the best thing? They’re pre-tested by role models like Jeff Bezos, Peter Drucker and Charlie Munger.
You can listen to DC talk about some of his personal favorites on Seeking Wisdom here. Or you can check out his list of 25 must-reads here. And we’re so obsessed with books, we’ve even written a few of our own, including Conversational Marketing (available for pre-order now).
Bezos, Drucker and Munger’s written learnings influence us every day at Drift. We even have a conference room named after Jeff and Charlie. And there are reminders all over the Drift offices of their influence on us (like this mural we have in our sales department).
So you hit an obstacle. Great! You’re likely not the first to face that challenge. And DC encourages us to read as much as we can for this very reason. Reading allows you to learn from the best, find role models you’d never otherwise have been exposed to and implement solutions to existing problems. Reading makes everyone better.
Even if you think you don’t like to read, DC has taught us all. You can learn how our VP of Marketing Dave Gerhardt went from a never reader to a voracious consumer of books here.
We have well over 100 books on Drift’s ever-expanding Book Club list to choose from. There are books you might expect: how to run a business, provide a better customer experience, how to be a better coder. But also ones you might never think of: Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War, Not Fade Away: A Short Life Well Lived, and The Kid Stays in the Picture: A Notorious Life.
There’s something for everyone and we actively take recommendations to keep things fresh.
And something not all Drifters realize about the Book Club is that DC has read every single one! Reading books that have been hand-selected by our CEO has turned Drift team members into learning machines. So we’re sharing his top picks with all of you now too!
Here are his top five book recs just this week:
- Rebel Talent: Why it Pays to Break the Rules at Work and in Life
- Good Profit: How Creating Value for Others Built One of the World’s Most Successful Companies
- The Messy Middle: Finding Your Way Through the Hardest and Most Crucial Part of Any Bold Venture
- Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley
- So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love
Know a good book you think we should add to our book club? The first 5 people to tweet to @InsideDrift will get their top pick from DC’s list!
