Business Book Recommendations of 2024

Whether you’re naturally studious, have a penchant for professional growth, or are on a continuing mission to be your best self, you know the value of a highly recommended book. We reached out to our editorial advisory board and some frequent contributors for suggestions on business-oriented books that left a lasting impression on them. Below are their suggestions. Are any of them already on your bookshelf? Will you be adding any to your list?

—MOD Staff

FROM OUR EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

I have so many books I’ve loved and learned from. Good to Great by Jim Collins: Get the right people on the bus, then find where they go on the bus. They’ll be self-motivated and ride with you wherever the “bus” goes!

John Pinto’s Little Green Book of Ophthalmology by John Pinto: There are so many amazing pearls in this book that relate to our industry. I think this is a must-read for anyone wanting to open a practice or for owners who want to check in on their practice growth. My big highlight is about location—be visible, try to get on a main road, then get the biggest sign your city permit will allow. Your building will be your billboard, providing 24/7 advertisement. Another memorable pearl is to keep tomorrow’s schedule full and focus on next week’s schedule next week.

The 10x Rule by Grant Cardone: Set your targets high. Your goals will take 10 times more effort to achieve than you expect. Example: If an owner wants to sell 10 pairs of glasses every day, they may need to see 100 patients each day and market to 1,000 people to get those 100 to come in, and one in 10 may buy a pair of glasses. Keep your pipeline full!

— Rebecca Miller, OD
Mueller Vision, Fort Worth, Texas

One of my favorite business books is Multipliers by Liz Wiseman. It emphasizes the power of leaders who amplify the intelligence and capabilities of their teams. Wiseman distinguishes between “multipliers,” who inspire and empower others to perform at their best, and “diminishers,” who stifle creativity and initiative. This will resonate with people seeking effective leadership strategies to foster collaboration, innovation, and growth, ultimately leading to more engaged and high-performing teams.

— Josh Johnston, OD, FAAO
Georgia Eye Partners, Atlanta, Georgia

The lessons from Marcus Aurelius’s personal reflections written nearly 1,900 years ago reflect ideals of how I strive to show up every day: focused, continuously learning, and calm under pressure. His musings are a reminder of the importance of being present and separating controllable factors from those beyond control, which serve as powerful grounding forces.

— Jessica Steen, OD, FAAO
Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Start with Why is one of my favorite business books, as it emphasizes the importance of understanding the purpose and motivation behind our actions. The book offers practical advice on how to apply the “start with why” concept in various aspects of life and work, including leadership, decision-making, and communication. Engaging storytelling, real-world examples, and case studies help illustrate the concepts, making them more relatable. Additionally, this book will encourage you to think differently about your goals and strive for a more meaningful and fulfilling life.

— Nabila Gomez, OD, FAAO
Dell Laser Consultants, Austin, Texas

The most inspiring business book I have read that was an eye-opener for me (no pun intended) is called The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko.

The authors discovered that many people with a great amount of wealth do not live in upscale neighborhoods, and they determined how ordinary people—not just the affluent—can acquire wealth throughout their lifetime. The book stresses that wealth is not the same as income. Eighty percent of millionaires living in the United States are first-generation rich. Wealth is what you accumulate, not what you spend. The authors conclude that wealth is not luck, nor is it obtained from an acquired inheritance or advanced degree. Wealth is often the result of a particular lifestyle that consists of hard work, perseverance, planning, and self-discipline. They also believe that financial independence is more important than displaying high social status. The information found in this book easily allows the reader to grasp the above-mentioned categories and, if needed, reorient certain aspects of their lifestyle to reach their financial goals.

— Carlo Pelino, OD, FAAO
Salus University, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania

The following quotes from the book say it all:

1. “Goals are about the results you want to achieve. Systems are about the processes that lead to those results.”

2. “Small changes often appear to make no difference until you cross a critical threshold. The most powerful outcomes of any compounding process are delayed. You need to be patient.”

3. “An atomic habit is a little habit that is part of a larger system. Just as atoms are the building blocks of molecules, atomic habits are the building blocks of remarkable results.”

4. “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

Concentrate on one system in your business at a time. Have every employee develop good, small habits. Meet with key team members to come up with ideas on what habit each one should develop to attain a final goal. New habits should not take longer than 2 minutes and your environment should support habit formation.

— Roxanne Achong-Coan, OD, FAAO, FIAOMC, FSLS, FBCLA, Dip AAO Section on CCLRT
Coan Eye Care, Ocoee, Florida

This book is filled with practical advice on how to prioritize your values and make better life choices. It teaches that not everything requires our attention and energy, which is crucial for personal and professional growth. By learning to care less about trivial matters, we can reduce stress and increase our overall well-being. This is particularly valuable in our clinical lives.

— Cecelia Koetting, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado

This book has improved my communication skills in both writing and speaking. It teaches the art of conveying information concisely and effectively and shows that saying less means more. Don’t use 100 words when 50 gets the point across!

— Jaclyn Garlich, OD, FAAO
Envision Optometry, Boston, Massachusetts

This book talks about how leaders can create an environment where employees feel valued and secure, which in turn boosts productivity and innovation. This is particularly relevant for eye care professionals, emphasizing the importance of empathy, trust, and a people-first approach, which is crucial for providing exceptional patient care and leading a successful practice.

— Mahnia Madan, OD, FAAO
Lynn Valley Optometry, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

I don’t even know what a business book is. I read smut, Twitter, emails, crime dramas, books that Dr. McGee recommends, bathroom stall graffiti, tea leaves, closed captions on all my shows (currently The Veil), and directions from IKEA (until I get bored, and then I just start doing what makes sense). So, my review would be: Read? I currently read MOD to see what others think is important.

— Marc Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO
Schwartz Laser Eye Center, Scottsdale, Arizona

This is part of the orientation for members of my team, including student externs. I buy each of them a copy of this book and have them read it cover to cover. It emphasizes Disney’s customer service philosophy, including prioritizing the guest’s experience by creating memorable experiences, emphasizing attention to detail, cleanliness, and safety. Other factors discussed include service standards for exceptional customer care, empowering effective leadership with clear expectations, creating a positive work environment, and understanding that continuous improvement is necessary for success.

— Joshua Davidson, OD, FSLS, FAAO
Williamson Eye Center,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Find Your Yellow Tux by Jesse Cole is a compelling business book that advocates for creativity and customer centricity through the lens of the author’s journey revitalizing minor league baseball with the Savannah Bananas. Emphasizing the importance of standing out and embracing uniqueness, symbolized by his signature yellow tuxedo, Cole challenges conventional business strategies to create memorable customer experiences and drive success. He is truly an inspiration on and off the field.

What resonates most about this book is its practical advice on how daring to be different can lead to extraordinary business outcomes and personal fulfillment. Cole is an amazing author and friend whose storytelling and actionable insights make the concepts accessible and applicable. This is a recommended read for anyone looking to innovate in their business and connect more deeply with their patients.

— Rachael Wruble, OD, FAAO
Belmont Eye and Northlake Eye, North Carolina

I have read/listened to dozens of business-related books in my career, but this was the only one that made me pull to the side of the road due to the bulb going off in my head because I needed a second to collect my thoughts. If this book doesn’t help you, I will Zelle you the cost of the book—it’s a no-risk opportunity.

— Adam Ramsay, OD
Socialite Vision, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

FROM OUR CONTRIBUTORS

This book has transformed the way I approach patient care. I learned how to become a better leader and deliver above and beyond what is expected. I now find patient care can actually be thrilling and overwhelmingly fulfilling when approached the right way.

— Ada Noh, OD
Noh Eyes, Little Rock, Arkansas

Blue Ocean Strategy is my favorite business book of all time. I’ve read at least 200 business books since becoming an optometrist, and this one sticks out with its timeless advice. The crux of the book’s thesis is about creating new markets into which to expand your business, even if you exist in a longstanding and quickly commoditized market. This is so important for practice owners, as we face constant disruption, lack of reimbursement, and increased saturation. Creativity and implementation of new services is a must for most practices, and Blue Ocean Strategy teaches you how to navigate this.

— Aaron Neufeld, OD
Los Altos Optometric Group,
Los Altos, California

I’ve read and listened to a ton of business/leadership/finance/entrepreneurship books since graduating. I’m a firm believer that leaders are readers, so I try to keep up with it, even as busy as we get. It would be difficult for me to narrow down my favorite business book, but I’ll go slightly off route and name one of my favorite all-time books that I feel has played a key role in my life, and helped me to become better at business.

I was in a goofy stage after optometry school—I was overwhelmed with stress, financial obligations, work burnout, and work-life balance. Dare to Lead explores topics of leadership, resilience, and how the root of courage is vulnerability. Reading this book challenged me to become more self-aware and realize that I had a lot of personal growth to achieve before I could accomplish my goals and become a better leader. Most importantly, the book provided insight that helped me to become a better husband, father, and friend. A byproduct of this personal development is that by becoming a better person, the business side of my career skyrocketed. Dare to Lead is worth reading every year.

— Chris Lopez, OD
Griebenow Eyecare,
New London, Wisconsin

Good to Great by Jim Collins drives home a number of themes that can be applied to a practicing OD who wants to be a “level five” leader. It also offers principles that can help set your practice apart as great from all the good practices out there. I like the science-based analysis that will ring true with any doc who appreciates retrospective cohorts. And really, who doesn’t want an evidence-based method on how to make things great?

— Chris Kuc, OD
Medical Optometry America, Newtown Square, Pennsylvania

Books are what have allowed me to progress and invest in myself and my learnings. One life-changing read is Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell. It helped me see my blind spots when it came to managing my time and my low-level tasks that were not only hurting me, but also my companies and the people around me. The email GPS system changed my life, as I was able to get out of my own way and hire the most wonderful executive assistant. This has allowed me to slow down, and I have been able to live more intentionally and focus on the things only I can do.

— Brianna Rhue, OD, FAAO, FSLS
West Broward Eyecare Associates, Fort Lauderdale, Florida