The Diary of a CEO
- “The Diary of a CEO” by Steven Bartlett, author of one of the world’s most popular podcasts, presents 33 laws divided into four categories: Self, Story, Philosophy, and Team
- The book combines Bartlett’s business experiences, insights from podcast guests, and relevant research, providing concrete guidelines for solving business and life challenges
- Clearly structured and easy to read, this book deserves recommendation both for entrepreneurs and CEOs, as well as for anyone seeking practical insights into business and personal development
“The most convincing sign that someone will achieve new results in the future is new behavior in the present” – Steven Bartlett
Ah, “The Diary of a CEO”… Steven Bartlett seems like quite an interesting personality.
His podcast (The Diary of a CEO) is one of the most popular in the world, and it seems with good reason… interesting guests, topics (from personal development through health to entrepreneurship) everything sounds spontaneous, good narrative and episode rhythm, interesting questions posed to guests.
His career path began with founding a marketing agency, then branched out to a Web3 startup, media and investment company, as well as a technology company for online business.
He’s also an author (“The Diary of a CEO” is his second book), speaker and active investor (he also appears in reality show “Dragon’s Den”… for those who don’t know, the American version “The Shark Tank” with investors investing in businesses developed from it).
If the biography is to be believed, his life/family path hasn’t exactly been easy.
Interestingly, although he’s rich, he’s not some mega-giga billionaire (what’s more, his net worth is estimated at “only” 50 million dollars)… but again, you wouldn’t complain about hearing the voice of a 33-year-old who achieved this kind of success, would you?
But, let’s leave (for now) Steven’s character and focus on his book.
“The Diary of a CEO: 33 Laws of Business and Life” is divided into (expectedly) 33 chapters/laws grouped into four categories (i.e., “pillars”):
- Self
- Story
- Philosophy
- Team
Each law covers some specific topic, and while from some titles you can conclude what it’s about (“To master a topic, you must commit to teaching others,” “You must make the small things matter”), others can, at first glance, seem confusing or ambiguous (“You must piss people off,” “The power of negative manifestation,” “You must be an inconsistent leader”). But, the good thing is, all the laws are interesting.
The book is also nicely conceived. At the beginning of each chapter, first you’ll be presented (in italics) in two-three sentences about what this law will discuss and why it can be useful to you. Then the law itself will be developed through some situations from Steven’s business (but also private) life, people he came into contact with, wisdom from guests on his podcast, as well as various research that’s been conducted (and connected to the specific topic, i.e., law), interwoven with Steven’s insights and guidelines, and finally summarizing the law in a few sentences and the unavoidable quote in the author’s style.
Likewise, you’ll find in the book, in certain laws, concrete guidelines/steps/approaches for how you could solve some concrete challenge you’re facing. And there’ll be the occasional (simple) chart or drawing woven through.
And at the book’s end, in addition, you have extensive literature the author used in preparing this book.
I must share with you some, I’ll dare say, ridiculous (not to use some harsher word) “criticisms” I came across on the internet for this book, that literally made me think. From comments that people won’t read a book that mentions cults (in the book there really is a law “Create a cult mentality,” but it has nothing to do with cults/sects at all, but talks about forming specific mentality in startup phase of companies and finding quality first people you’ll employ and how they’ll shape your company’s culture… and also explains why this mentality isn’t sustainable in the long run), to the fact this book is good for people at life’s/career’s beginning in their like 20s, and that people in their 30s, 40s, and especially 50s know most of what’s written here… and I must say these are somewhat paradoxical comments. Nearly all 33 laws from Steven’s book are familiar to me in some form, and pay attention now… I don’t even have (yet) 40 or 50 years (they categorize me as still young 😁), but I’ve read and researched really really really a lot (and I’ll be bold enough to say I’ve probably read more than successful people who declare themselves passionate readers/students), I’m probably solidly intelligent… and this book wasn’t boring to me at all nor did I have the need or desire to skip passages and the like. The book simply has lots of useful examples and insights (both realistic and sobering, as well as those that are often experienced in the business world as idealistic, i.e., “sound nice in theory, but practice, unfortunately, isn’t like that”) that nicely filled “gaps” in my knowledge (or reminded me of some things I’d forgotten).
But, one thing we must accept. This guy wrote the book two years ago, and now he’s 33. Yes, he’s young, but he’s already financially secured himself, and can lead (unless he makes some really stupid moves) a very nice and comfortable life where he can combine both private and business aspects (realistically, nothing prevents him from just doing podcasts, writing books and investing in new companies). He’s not one of those fake influencers who sell nonsense, and there’s not a dog to bite them for anything, while they pretend to be rich. But again, if he does belong to that category (and I’m quite convinced he doesn’t), kudos to him, he fooled us all. So, again, he’s worth listening to.
And let’s slowly summarize about the book. “The Diary of a CEO,” like, for example, Steven’s approach to the podcast itself, has really good narrative. And that’s an important trait in today’s (overcrowded with unnecessary information and products) world, you’ll agree. And likewise, in his laws he often draws parallels with private life too.
The book is very nicely and clearly structured, reads quickly, without lots of complicated terms, so it’s intended for everyone.
Whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur (or thinking about this calling), employee, work in marketing, IT or some third industry… or you’re none of this, this is a book really worth reading, because it gives nice and simple insights both for business and for life generally.
As far as I’m concerned, “The Diary of a CEO” goes on my “special shelf,” intended for books that have my absolute recommendation, and which I occasionally return to.
And until then I’ll continue to gradually listen to his podcast. I think I could watch/listen to the episode where Matthew McConaughey appears.
(in Matthew McConaughey’s voice) Alright, alright, alright…
And you, dear reader, have you already had the opportunity to read this book or hear any episode from Steven’s podcast? 😊
