10 professional lessons from 10 great novels
[First published on LinkedIn on September 17, 2014]
The recent [2014] Facebook meme asking people to list the ten books that have had the greatest impact on their life got me thinking. My list was the first ten books that came to mind, which I thought was a good proxy for impact. As I looked it over, I realised that each of these has imprinted on me a lesson that stands as firm as, or indeed firmer than, any taken from the professional tomes I referenced in one of my earlier posts on leadership.
Some are philosophical lessons, others are pretty pointed and tactical — but as a whole they also collectively deliver the insight that there is so much to learn and apply to daily life from all sources. Embrace it!
So here’s the same list I posted on Facebook, but with a thought on each about how I’ve taken them into the workplace. I could write an essay on each, but will try hard not to!
The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas
As an aside, the best book ever written. The lesson: A lot of people will irritate, anger, go behind your back or worse throughout your professional career. It is really tempting to hold on to it and take revenge, but ultimately more rewarding and effective for everyone to step above the fray and be a better person. Edmond Dantes epitomizes that struggle.
Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo
Treat everyone with courtesy and respect. Nobody is above or below your station. Incredible how many executives in particular tend to isolate themselves on mahogany row. This was taught to me by consistent example as a child, and I like to think I’ve retained it. Les Mis has many lessons — this is one that makes a genuine difference.
The Complete Calvin & Hobbes, by Bill Watterson
Don’t take yourself too seriously. Enjoy the journey, immerse yourself in it fully, and you’ll see the impact on the outcomes.
Bradman, by Charles Williams
Sorry to those who aren’t cricket fans and will be wondering what on earth this is. Read it anyway, if you at all have an interest in sport and socio-political national identity (if that’s a phrase). The lesson: Recognize that what you say and do can have a far reaching impact, for good and bad, that goes beyond the cocoon you might view yourself as being in. That understanding leads me to try and think before I speak. Most of the time!
The Master & Margarita, by Mikhail Bulgakov
This is a tougher one — love the book, but I didn’t take an obvious working lesson from it. But it does speak to the importance of intellectual honesty (i.e. don’t drink your own kool-aid too much) and questioning and challenging, with rational discourse, that which is handed down from above. Both critical working skills, without which you veer towards drone territory.
Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell
Not sure I can draw anything specific here. I’ll just recommend that everyone read some David Mitchell. Every one of his works is a class apart in modern literature.
The Thursday Next Series, by Jasper Fforde
A central concept in this series is a world in which all literature — characters, locations and words — exist and are woven together in what we experience as books. It’s incredible to read and imagine this whole backstory behind what you’re experiencing. As a product person, that translates very pointedly into considering how the experiences you are creating actually connect and resonate with your audience. It may seem trite, but thinking more deeply about the story yields a more compelling result.
The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster
A simple but big lesson in this one — to look and think beyond the surface. Its fantastical characters both are and aren’t what they seem. In a world where new ideas are often scary, I try every day to not be too quick to judge.
The Complete Sherlock Holmes, by Arthur Conan Doyle
Even if you haven’t read a lot of Sherlock Holmes (fix that immediately if this is you), you’ve probably heard reference to the curious incident of the dog in the night time. I preach a lot about desire paths — ensuring that we take the time to look at what customers or users are telling us through their actions or inactions. That’s Holmes in a nutshell — the more observant you are, the better conclusions you can reach.
The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Another simple but huge lesson. Unleash your inner child, and give yourself creative freedom. Really easy to say. Much harder to do. I know in my case that I often feel as if I’m thinking freely, only to emerge the other side and realize that I’ve been constrained by the reins of adulthood. It’s a malaise that society has forced most of us into, and we need to judiciously rebel against.
So there you have it. In the worst case, ten (and change) fabulous reads. In the best case, a few potential professional lessons.
I’d love to hear what books have had a profound impact on you and how you deal with your working day. The likes of 7 Habits, Good to Great are all welcome entries — but if there are classics or even trashy novels that taught you something, that would be fascinating to know.
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.