We were in Washington, DC, over the weekend visiting with friends and family. At some point, I was asked what books I read that influenced my business. I just finished Nick Hornby's Juliet, Naked and was inspired (again) by his facility with words -- always a good thing for a writer. But I didn't think that's what they wanted to hear. I haven't really read a straight business book since Linchpin, though I do have Rework on deck. More often than not, I get my true business inputs from magazines and blogs. Here's a short list to start with. More to come every day this week:
(I subscribe to these publications the old-fashioned way, and also follow them on Twitter and/or subscribe to their blogs for more frequent updates)
Harvard Business Review: Some of the best (and briefest) business information every month. I always find something that is immediately applicable to my business or a client's, or I get story or blog post idea. And the way the art department presents research data is really, really good.
Fast Company: I subscribed after issue one and have been a fan ever since. The writing style is crisp and clean -- again a handy indicator of the bar this writer likes to hit. And seeing how other companies solve problems and leverage opportunities is interesting, inspiring and informative for my own business and my clients'.
Fortune: An oldie, but a goodie. Besides Stanley Bing and Andy Serwer, who are perennial favorites, I love the i-depth features. Most of my clients aren't huge companies, but several want to be, and besides, I'm a firm believer that there are lessons to be learned from any business any time.
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Chris Brogan: Almost every day, I read Mr. Brogan's posts and get something of immediate use. He gets business on a level that's both old-school and new-fangled, which I find perfect for these times.
Seth Godin: Linchpin's a great book about values and value, and Mr. Godin's blog is a like a daily booster shot.
Yeah, I know. It's not a double-top-secret stunner of a list. Nobody's going to be surprised I read these things. That's not the point. I'm not putting this list out there to show I'm cool or anything. But people ask me not just over the weekend where I get information, so why not tell y'all, too? And while we're at it, where do you get the information that helps you do your business?
More from me tomorrow.