Book Briefs: Smart Reads, Real Impact
The Innovation Stack by Jim McKelvey
2 Key Insights:
- Innovation is a response to real constraints—not just a brainstorm session: McKelvey argues that most successful innovations are born out of frustration. Square didn’t emerge from a whiteboard strategy session—it came from a very personal business failure. True innovators aren't chasing trends—they're fixing what’s broken when no one else will. That kind of necessity-fueled innovation often leads to novel solutions that no roadmap would have predicted.
- The “stack” is what sets innovators apart: What makes a company like Square difficult to copy isn’t a single brilliant idea—it’s the stack of interconnected, reinforcing innovations. Individually, each component might be replicable. But together, they form a system that’s far more resilient and defensible. The lesson? Don’t stop at one good idea. Build layers. Improve the tech, the delivery, the customer support, the onboarding—all of it.
1 Practical Takeaway:
Start with a problem you understand deeply—and don’t stop at solving it once.
The Innovation Stack teaches us that the first solution is just the beginning. Productivity and progress accelerate when organizations take that first idea and build outward—layering better systems, smarter tools, and stronger user experiences. Whether you're in a startup, public sector, or institutional setting, this mindset shifts the focus from “best practices” to bold, custom-fit innovation.
The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
2 Key Insights:
- Productivity is about making choices, not just managing time.
Duhigg argues that focus, mental models, and decision-making are what separate effective people and organizations—not crammed schedules or checklists. - Motivation grows when people feel in control.
Whether it’s a factory floor or a boardroom, giving teams autonomy (with accountability) fuels initiative and problem-solving—two major drivers of productivity.
1 Practical Takeaway:
Let teams frame problems themselves.
Instead of handing over a task and the method, define the goal—and let the team define how they’ll get there. This builds ownership, creativity, and momentum.
The Lean Strategy By Michael Balle, Dan Jones, Jacques Chaize & Orest Fiume
2 Key Insights
- Lean isn’t a project—it’s a way of thinking.
It’s not about applying tools to reduce waste. It’s about helping people see problems, solve them, and grow in the process. - Leaders are teachers, not fixers.
Sustainable productivity comes when leaders stop providing answers and start creating the conditions for continuous improvement.
1 Practical Takeaway
Before solving a recurring issue, ask:
“What process are we failing to understand?”
Improvement begins when we solve for the system, not the symptom.
Deep Work by Cal Newport
2 Key Insights
- Shallow Work Is the Silent Killer of Progress
Busy doesn’t always mean productive. Newport differentiates between shallow work — logistical, low-impact tasks like emails and meetings — and deep work, which demands full concentration and delivers real results. Organizations that normalize shallow work risk stalling innovation and undermining long-term success. - Focus Is Not a Trait — It’s a Trainable Skill
You don’t need to be a genius to produce exceptional work. You need to be focused. Newport offers proven strategies to cultivate deep work: scheduling distraction-free time blocks, setting rituals, reducing digital clutter, and designing environments that prioritize uninterrupted concentration.
1 Practical Takeaway
Guard Your Deep Work Like a CEO Guards Their Calendar
Block out 90-minute windows 1–2 times a week for your most demanding work. Turn off notifications, shut the door (literally or metaphorically), and focus on a single task. You’ll be amazed at how much clarity and progress those sessions bring.
