Introduction
Steven Barrett, the esteemed podcast host shares his insights in his newest book, ‘The Diary of a CEO: 33 Laws of Business and Life’. While the title suggests a balance between balance and life, I found the content to lean more into business principles with much of the information being generic.
Z-Rating: 5/10
Book Description
Barrett provides 33 principles to abide by in order to improve your business and overall life. Drawing from his own experiences, Barrett depicts the lessons he has learned throughout his transformative entrepreneurial pursuits.
The Laws Summarised
- Law One: Fill knowledge and skill buckets for opportunities.
- Law Two: Teach to master a skill; share and review.
- Law Three: Avoid arguments; start with agreement, understand others.
- Law Four: Beliefs shaped by evidence, confidence, and exposure.
- Law Five: Embrace change; challenge norms and adapt.
- Law Six: Ask questions to inspire reflection and change.
- Law Seven: Uphold integrity; grit determines long-term success.
- Law Eight: Replace bad habits; willpower is finite.
- Law Nine: Prioritize health; it impacts all aspects of life.
- Law Ten: Boldness outshines steady progress in visibility.
- Law Eleven: Declutter to focus; avoid habituation and overuse.
- Law Twelve: Be provocative; emotional response over indifference.
- Law Thirteen: Small changes can shift perceptions significantly.
- Law Fourteen: Friction can create perceived value.
- Law Fifteen: Presentation is key; minimalism can enhance appeal.
- Law Sixteen: Offer varied options; middle choice often favored.
- Law Seventeen: Let customers sample to foster attachment.
- Law Eighteen: First impressions shape interactions.
- Law Nineteen: Focus on small improvements for big gains.
- Law Twenty: Small setbacks can have significant impacts.
- Law Twenty-One: Embrace failure for eventual breakthroughs.
- Law Twenty-Two: Commit fully to Plan A; fear motivates.
- Law Twenty-Three: Confront discomfort; denial worsens issues.
- Law Twenty-Four: Perceive stress as fuel for performance.
- Law Twenty-Five: Consider potential failures; prevention is key.
- Law Twenty-Six: Industry context often outweighs skills in value.
- Law Twenty-Seven: Discipline unlocks productivity hacks.
- Law Twenty-Eight: Seek advice from experts; hire wisely.
- Law Twenty-Nine: Cultivate a strong, unique company culture.
- Law Thirty: Remove toxic employees to protect team morale.
- Law Thirty-One: Consistent progress, even small, is vital.
- Law Thirty-Two: Adapt leadership style to individual needs.
Pros
- Great general business knowledge:Â If you’re just beginning to learn about business, ‘The Diary of a CEO’ offers a solid foundation. A strong background which you could build on in your entrepreneurial pursuits.
- Holistic Advice:Â Not only does Barrett cover business, but a wide array of topics including resilience and character development.Â
Cons
- Shallow Exploration:Â Many of the laws are only explained at surface level and lack depth.
- Generic Advice:Â Much of the advice is commonly iterated in popular business books and with exception to Laws 27 and 31 I didn’t find the other rules to be groundbreaking.
Who is This Book For?
The Diary of a CEO is ideal for those interested in entrepreneurship and business. I would argue that this novel caters towards beginners in these subjects, as much of the laws have been mentioned in other popular business books such as ‘Rich Dad, Poor Dad’. This book could be pivotal for those embarking on their entrepreneurial journeys.
Conclusion
Give this book a go if you are new into the business space and wish to learn foundational principles. For the more experienced readers, it may not offer new insight. The business-centric focus and lack of depth expose the book’s weaknesses. It is well written and concise, however, I did not find it particularly impactful for my own journey.
Book Length:Â
Hardcover: 368 pages.
Audiobook: 6 hours 45 minutes.