Ep. 38 - Ten Books to Optimize Your Firm

In this episode of the Successful Barrister, Diana Berry presents a list of her top ten book recommendations for law firms. From general business tips to books specific to firms, Diana covers books that have helped her gain a better understanding of Marc Whitehead & Associates and her role at the firm. Reach out to Diana to let her know if you agree or disagree with her favorites – and tune in next week to hear Marc’s list.

For detailed show notes, navigate using the time stamps below:

[2:14] Today’s episode is on Diana’s top ten favorite books. Marc feels very free to have not prepared anything for this episode. 

[3:40] Two of Diana’s books have been covered on the show – Four Disciplines of Execution and Traction. These, along with Diana’s Atticus required reading Fireproof, will make up Diana’s first segment. 

[7:12] Diana recommends reading Fireproof first because it is a very easy read, while Traction is a lot denser. Diana says she did not understand 4DX the first time she read it – it is even denser than Traction.

[10:44] Every lawyer wants more cases, and getting cases is a lagging measure. On the other hand, getting leads is a leading measure.

[12:49] Diana’s next two book recommendations are Tools of Titans and Tribe of Mentors, both by Tim Ferris. Tools of Titans is all about the habits of billionaires and other successful people. The book has sections on health, wealth, and wisdom. 

[18:11] Tribe of Mentors is about learning from others, and it uses very specific questions to get advice from its subjects. 

[23:22] The sixth book is The First Ninety Days by Michaels Watkins, which Diana says is the easiest book on this list. She reminds it to new owners and new hires. The book notes the importance of observing as a new person in a position.

[27:29] The next three books are all by Jim Collins – Built to Last, Good to Great, and Great by Choice. These books focus on a business’s ability to capitalize on opportunities. Marc’s one criticism of the series is that it only focuses on big, publicly-traded companies, which operate differently than firms. 

[33:26] Diana’s last two books focus on soft skills. Diana’s tenth book recommendation is Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. The thesis of this book is that while businesses have access to the same tools, they are differentiated by their people – and being a good person can make you a better leader. 

[41:08] The bonus book on Diana’s list is Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy Seals Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. The thesis of the book is that humans are generally not able to manage more than 6-10 people. Creating smaller teams and hierarchies can make your firm more scalable. 

Visit the Successful Barrister website: https://www.successfulbarrister.com/ 

Visit the Marc Whitehead & Associates website: https://disabilitydenials.com/ 

Email Diana about her list: diana@marcwhitehead.com 

Email Marc Whitehead: marc@marcwhitehead.com