If you’re looking to motivate a friend at work or make someone you care about more enthused about their career, consider these thoughtful books and gadgets, all ready for gifting.
‘Know What Matters: Lessons From a Lifetime of Transformations’ by Ron Shaich (Harvard University Press, $30)
Who doesn’t want to own their own business? Whether it’s a side hustle or a full-time job, Ron Shaich — the brains behind Au Bon Pain, Panera Bread and Cava — has something to teach you.
Shaich led the charge in the $100 billion-plus “fast casual” dining industry. He showed the way by growing Panera from a small cookie store into a $5 billion empire with 2,400 restaurants. Here, he shares practical, philosophical and candid lessons from his success.
Shaich is both straightforward and funny, and doesn’t just recount the wins. He humbly shares his mistakes, too, and challenges you to reflect on how your business shapes your life.
‘Our Least Important Asset: Why the Relentless Focus on Finance and Accounting Is Bad for Business and Employees’ by Peter Cappelli (Oxford University Press, $29.95)
This one is for CEOs, CFOs, HR heads and anyone else whose actions and decisions could affect the well-being of an organization’s workforce.
Peter Cappelli, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, shows that executives who make decisions focused only on accounting and finance are not only bad for workers but also, in the long run, bad for business.
Cappelli asks why employees, whom companies often claim to regard as “our most important asset,” are viewed as costs on the balance sheet.
Drawing on a wealth of experience and research, Cappelli not only critiques these common errors but also proposes simple impactful changes, by connecting the dots between financial accounting distortions and detrimental workplace practices.
‘MoneyZen: The Secret to Finding Your “Enough”’ by Manisha Thakor (Harper Business, $28.99)
Manisha Thakor is a financial expert who challenges the toxic belief that we are never enough. The book explores personal and cultural factors behind this sentiment and introduces “MoneyZen” — a joy-based strategy for financial health and emotional wealth.
Thakor shares her journey and diverse stories, offering hope for those trapped in the external-success narrative and urging readers to stop tying self-worth to net worth.
The book critiques our prevailing work culture, proposing a healthier relationship to career and a reevaluation of values that will resonate among anyone suffering from work obsession and burnout.
This book not only imparts financial wisdom but also addresses the health risks linked to overworking, making it a timely guide to achieving a balanced, sustainable approach to success and well-being.
‘The House that Cheese Built: The Unusual Life of the Mexican Immigrant Who Defined a Multibillion-Dollar Global Industry’ by Miguel Leal (Wiley, $28)
Miguel Leal shares a compelling immigrant success story. Despite undergoing arduous hardships, including abuse and near-death experiences, Leal’s determination drove him to build Mexican Cheese Producers Inc., a billion-dollar cheese company. Through storytelling, Leal recounts how experiencing personal tragedy taught him to turn setbacks into opportunities.
The memoir discusses the low-paid factory jobs Leal held before founding his cheese enterprise. Setting out a practical guide for aspiring entrepreneurs, it emphasizes learning from failure and setting achievable goals.
Beyond Leal’s own business triumphs, he explores personal failures and the immigrant experience, illustrating the costs and benefits of entrepreneurship and the value of perseverance and determination.
Das Keyboard (From $119)
Know someone who spends hours typing or slinging code? Consider a mechanical keyboard, which offers a much more pleasurable experience.
You not only hear your fingers strike the keys but also feel them bounce back. Some users report that their typing speed and accuracy double when using these keyboards.
Das Keyboard offers a variety of models, from keyboards strictly for writing to those with features tailored to gaming and creative work. Some models feature keys that enhance productivity by displaying information, like weather, stock quotes or a project’s progress.
1More SonoFlow Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Headphones ($99)
These headphones will be a game changer for anyone struggling to focus during Zoom meetings.
With two listening modes, the headphones let you find the perfect balance between noise cancellation and ambient-sound awareness, effectively blocking out distracting background noise and allowing you to fully immerse yourself in your work.
Then, when you need to hear what’s going on around you, simply switch to “transparency mode.”
As a bonus, these headphones aren’t just about work — they also provide an exceptional listening experience for music and gaming.