Favorite Business Books, Influencers Ruining the Internet & Wealth Managers

Sep 19, 2025

Bill D'Alessandro, a seasoned e-commerce entrepreneur and co-host of Acquisitions Anonymous, dives into the world of founder life and marketing. He discusses the impact of influencer marketing and the rise of consumer skepticism. Bill shares insights from his reading list, recommending key titles that shaped his entrepreneurial mindset. They explore wealth management strategies tailored for business owners, including tax optimization techniques. Prepare for a lively exchange filled with practical advice and memorable anecdotes!

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ANECDOTE

Summer Breaks And Celebration Travel

Bill spent family vacation time at Fripp Island and planned celebratory travel after selling his business.
He used vacations to recharge and prepare for upcoming travel and events.

insights

INSIGHT

Ad Whitelisting Boosts Authenticity

Ad whitelisting lets brands promote influencer posts from the influencer's account for more authentic creative.
It usually boosts click-through rates because ads appear first-person and less like branded ads.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Sauna Purchase Raised Influencer Skepticism

Andrew bought a Sisu Sauna heavily marketed by fitness influencers and found limited independent reviews.
The product had design flaws and left him wary of influencer-driven purchases.

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Events, Community & Founder Recharge

01:21 • 6min

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Influencer Marketing, Ad Whitelisting & Trust

07:10 • 15min

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Forum Thread: What Members Are Reading

Favorite Business Books & Key Lessons

26:53 • 11min

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Wealth Advisors, Fees & Long‑Short Direct Indexing

• Mentioned in 111 episodes

The hard thing about hard things

building a business when there are no easy answers

Ben Horowitz

In this book, Ben Horowitz shares his personal and often humbling experiences in the tech industry to offer essential advice and practical wisdom. He addresses various hard decisions and challenges that business leaders face, such as firing friends, managing company culture, handling layoffs, and making tough strategic decisions. Horowitz emphasizes the importance of honesty, resilience, and adaptability in leadership, drawing from his experiences with companies like Loudcloud and Andreessen Horowitz.

#18

• Mentioned in 265 episodes

The Psychology of Money

Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness

Morgan Housel

In 'The Psychology of Money,' Morgan Housel delves into the psychological and emotional aspects of financial decisions. The book consists of 19 short stories that illustrate how personal history, worldview, emotions, and biases influence financial outcomes. Housel emphasizes the importance of behavior over knowledge in managing money, highlighting the power of compounding, the dangers of greed, and the pursuit of happiness beyond mere wealth accumulation. He advocates for a frugal lifestyle, long-term perspective, and a balanced approach to investing, stressing that financial success is more about mindset and discipline than about technical financial knowledge.

#374

• Mentioned in 51 episodes

Same as Ever

A Guide to What Never Changes

Morgan Housel

In 'Same as Ever,' Morgan Housel presents a master class on optimizing risk, seizing opportunity, and living a fulfilling life by focusing on what remains constant in a changing world. Through engaging stories and examples, Housel shows how understanding permanent truths about human behavior can help readers make better decisions and navigate uncertainties. The book emphasizes the importance of recognizing and adapting to timeless principles in finance, business, and personal life, rather than trying to predict specific future events.

#4434

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

Smart Brevity

The Power of Saying More with Less

• Mentioned in 17 episodes

Who

The A Method for Hiring

Geoff Smart

Randy Street

In 'Who: The A Method for Hiring', Geoff Smart and Randy Street offer a comprehensive and structured approach to hiring top talent. The book outlines a step-by-step method to ensure that the right candidates are selected, emphasizing the importance of defining the job, finding A players, and conducting effective interviews. It also provides strategies for avoiding common hiring mistakes and ensuring long-term success.

#27

• Mentioned in 235 episodes

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen R Covey

This book, first published in 1989, outlines seven habits that are designed to help individuals become more effective in their personal and professional lives. The habits are grouped into three categories: Private Victory (habits 1-3), Public Victory (habits 4-6), and Renewal (habit 7). The habits include being proactive, beginning with the end in mind, putting first things first, thinking win-win, seeking first to understand and then to be understood, synergizing, and sharpening the saw. Covey emphasizes the importance of personal integrity, effective time management, empathetic communication, and continuous self-improvement.

#61817

Plain talk

Ken Iverson

Ken Iverson's "Plain Talk" offers insights into his management philosophy at Nucor Corporation. The book emphasizes the importance of aligning worker interests with management and shareholder interests through an egalitarian meritocracy. Iverson advocates for eliminating hierarchical inequalities and fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual respect. He argues that such an approach leads to increased productivity, profitability, and employee satisfaction. The book serves as a testament to his belief in empowering employees and creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.

#92

• Mentioned in 130 episodes

4,000 Weeks

Time Management for Mortals

Oliver Burkeman

#45

• Mentioned in 176 episodes

Extreme ownership

How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win

Leif Babin

Jocko Willink

This book by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin focuses on the principle of 'Extreme Ownership,' where leaders take full responsibility for their actions and decisions. The authors use their experiences in the U.S. Navy SEALs to illustrate how this mindset can lead to success in any organization. The book covers various principles such as believing in the mission, checking ego, and leading by example. It emphasizes that leaders must own all failures, develop plans to overcome them, and ensure their teams are well-conditioned and aligned with the mission. The authors also stress the importance of humility, discipline, and effective communication in leadership.

#73

• Mentioned in 146 episodes

Traction

Get a Grip on Your Business

Gino Wickman

In Traction, Gino Wickman provides a systematic approach to achieving business success through the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). The book focuses on six key components: Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction. It helps business leaders clarify their vision, align their leadership team, solve common business problems, and foster healthy communication and discipline within the organization. The EOS system is designed to help businesses overcome frustrations such as lack of control, people issues, insufficient profit, hitting the ceiling, and feeling stuck. The book offers practical tools, real-world examples, and actionable strategies to drive sustainable growth and improve business operations.

#200

• Mentioned in 77 episodes

Who Not How

Dan Sullivan

Benjamin Hardy

In 'Who Not How', Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy introduce the 'Who Not How' framework, which challenges the traditional 'how' mindset by encouraging readers to ask 'who' can help achieve their goals. This book teaches how to delegate tasks effectively, find experts who can handle specific challenges, and create transformational relationships. By adopting this mindset, readers can free up time, build supportive teams, and achieve their biggest goals while maintaining personal freedom and reducing burnout.

Top Grading

Randy Shreve

#293

• Mentioned in 60 episodes

10X Is Easier Than 2X

Dan Sullivan

Benjamin Hardy

What do Palm Springs hot tubs, a six-month influencer experiment, and a stack of business books have in common? In this month’s State of Play episode, I sit down with long-time friend and community member Bill D’Alessandro to unpack the latest in founder life, marketing trends, and entrepreneurial insights.

Listen in as we reflect on the return of eComm Camp in 2026, share lessons from recent vacations with kids, and debate the state of influencer marketing. We also cover wealth management strategies, social content experiments, and what’s currently on our reading lists.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4ghpbtz

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