Sage Book Club: Top Reads for Working more Productively

If you’re running a business, you’ve likely got a lot of responsibilities—from surviving downturns to expanding your network. But with each day bringing new distractions, making the most of the time you have is harder than ever.

The good news is, productivity is a skill that can be learned, and many of today’s successful entrepreneurs lean on the wisdom of others to make every day count.

For this month’s Sage Book Club, we asked four business leaders to recommend a must-read book that has inspired and helped them to work more productively.

Add these gold mines to your reading list and prepare to get more done:

Blake Oliver

Blake Oliver, CPA, is an accountant, entrepreneur, and podcaster who specializes in technology. He is one of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People and has been named a 40 Under 40 in the accounting profession by CPA Practice Advisor. He’s also the creator of Earmark CPE, an app that offers NASBA-approved CPE for listening to your favorite accounting and tax podcasts, and co-hosts the Cloud Accounting Podcast.

Getting Things Done by David Allen.

In this book, David Allen provides ​​5 clear steps to order your chaos. Capture, clarify, organize, reflect and engage. I use his method every day to be more productive. It’s remarkably simple and can be adapted to most task or project management tools.

Find out more about Getting Things Done

Cyndy Trivella

Cyndy is the Managing Partner at Talent Culture and has over 20 years’ experience in HR communications, talent sourcing, and employer branding. She uses industry best practices for attracting and retaining A-Level Talent candidates.

Culture Hacker, by Shane Green

This is one of the best books I’ve read on workplace culture and productivity, and can help anyone in the workplace, regardless of their role. It differs from others by not only talking about productivity issues, but also offering actionable solutions. The author writes with unabashed intention, leaving nothing to question. He explains how the “Five Ps” impact employee engagement, which ties closely to efficiencies and productivity.

Find out more about Culture Hacker

Nicole Leinbach Reyhle

Nicole Leinbach Reyhle is the Founder and Publisher of RetailMinded.com, a well-respected retail industry resource recognized worldwide for its leading business insight since 2007. Reyhle is a frequent guest and contributor to various media outlets including The Today Show and  Forbes. She has also been the Spokesperson for American Express’s Small Business Saturday since 2014.

Free to Focus by Michael Hyatt

As a busy professional, I am always looking for tips to be more productive. FREE to FOCUS helped open up new habits for me to be more productive, ultimately bringing balance to my busy days.

Find out more about Free to Focus.

Brian Moran

Brian Moran is the founder of Small Business Edge, a global community platform that provides advice and insights to entrepreneurs and startups, helping them overcome obstacles and find answers to their questions.

Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time by Brian Tracy

Most people I know tend to procrastinate. They don’t mean to do it, but the thought of addressing a big obstacle in their way can be daunting. Brian Tracy would tell them to “Eat that frog!” He would go further and tell them to eat it first in the morning. And, if they had to eat two frogs, then start with the biggest one. I regularly follow Brian’s advice and find that I am most productive when I eat my frogs in the morning. 

Brian offers 21 ways for people to get more done in a day. The advice is practical and easy to implement. Stop wasting your most precious commodity, time, and read his book.

Find out more about Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time