National Book Lovers Day: 5 Books That Shaped POWER and its People

Culture

At POWER, we believe that leaders are readers. Books have not only inspired content we share at our leadership conferences and workshops, but guided our entire business philosophy (shoutout to Good to Great by Jim Collins).

_{Built Not Born, Vol. I is the first book authored by POWER and its leaders which is a collection of the most valuable leadership lessons we’ve learned in the past 31 years.}

In fact, we even authored our own leadership book titled, Built Not Born, Vol. I, which we published and distributed during our most recent Leadership Conference in Chicago. This book memorializes POWER’s leaders, the most valuable leadership lessons they’ve learned, and the legacy they’re leaving for generations to come.

In honor of National Book Lovers Day, we’re sharing some of our favorite books that have not only influenced how we’ve built our business, but how we live our lives.

1. Good to Great

Good to Great book is photographed amid backdrop of other books.

This list wouldn’t be complete without Good to Great — a book that explores what distinguishes good companies from great ones. Authored by researcher, Jim Collins, this book is not a self-help guide, but rather a scientific study with proven and clear results. From the “Hedgehog Concept” to “First Who, Then What,” the lessons from this book have profoundly influenced POWER’s business strategy.

“Serendipity is an idea better suited to rom-coms and boardrooms. But I don’t know how else to explain that the book Good to Great even exists, let alone that it came into our lives at the exact moment we needed it most. Everything changed after we read it. Its concepts still ring as true today as they did sixteen years ago when we first read it. Our business, offices, and departments continue to be strongest when we’re living out its values.” — Asher Raphael, co-CEO

2. No Ego

No Ego book is photographed on a book shelf.

No Ego by Cy Wakeman is another book almost everyone at POWER has read cover to cover. Or if you haven’t, you can definitely summarize at least one of its lessons. For Senior Vice President of Sales, Lee Marbury, No Ego has changed him as a leader.

“Out of all the concepts discussed at POWER’s leadership conferences over the years, its the lessons from this book that have helped me the most. No Ego quotes Buddha who said, ‘Ego is the source of all suffering. Reality, in contrast, is your friend.’ At POWER, you are put on teams, and at times, are in partnerships. If you are led by your ego, the likelihood of sustaining a healthy relationship is low, yet if you can keep an open mind the opposite is true. The best teams are built on the ability to keep it real with one another, which is an incredible way to keep your ego in check.” — Lee Marbury, Senior Vice President of Sales

3. Disney U

Disney U book photographed amid backdrop of open books.

For POWER’s Chief Production Officer and a perpetual student of customer service, Rob Borislow became obsessed with turning POWER into a best-in-class service organization back in 2014. One of the books that has guided him in this journey? Disney U by Doug Lipp.

“Disney U focuses on how great leadership creates great customer service. The company’s long-term success was cultivated by the action of exceptional leaders who exemplified their values. At POWER, our values are our handshake. It is every employee’s responsibility to personally uphold our values, and ensure they are reinforced and protected. This is how everyone impacts customer service.” — Rob Borislow, Chief Production Officer

4. Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose

Delivering Happiness book is photographed on a book shelf.

POWER’s Chief People Officer, Hollie Delaney spent a majority of her career shaping people and culture at one of the most notorious top workplaces in the country — e-commerce retailer, Zappos. She attributes the leader she is today with what she learned from her friend and former Zappos CEO, Tony Hsieh, and his book, Delivering Happiness.

“The main lesson I learned was to figure out what you are passionate about, what drives you to find your purpose, and do not settle. We applied the theory of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to work and created a new pyramid: the base level was Job; the second, Career; and the third was Calling. The work for me is the Job. Doing the work with good people is the Career. Doing the work, with good people, in the right company, with the right values and beliefs, is the Calling.” — Hollie Delaney, Chief People Officer

5. Players First: Coaching from the Inside Out

Players First book photographed amid backdrop of open books.

Former University of Kentucky basketball coach and author John Calipari wrote Players First about his coaching philosophy — a philosophy that POWER’s Senior Vice President of Customer Development, Tat Nsindu, lives by.

To summarize the lessons in his renowned book, Calipari explains that being a great coach or leader requires a multifaceted approach. You must be a nurturer, challenger, protector, teacher, promoter, and lastly a father.

“Nurturer is what I believe I am. To be a nurturer you must be patient and create a successful environment. You need to go above simply understanding someone’s ‘why.’ What Calipari taught me was that you need to go to a level above that, which is ‘going in their home’ — a strategy the coach did to better understand his players, their families, and their true purpose. Early on in my leadership role, I thought, ‘Am I willing to go the extra mile for my people? Am I willing to not only hear about their financial problems, but sit down with them after hours to go through their finances with them? Or, am I willing to not just tell them how to live healthier, but go to the gym with them? Am I willing to go into their homes?’ Without that level of care, I would always question if they knew I cared about them as people and not just employees.” — Tat Nsidu, Senior Vice President of Customer Development

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