The latest book review, featuring yoga pants and resentment
hello
Hi ,
Luckily, October is shaping up to be a much better month for books and reading than September. I've just hit book 40 of 2020 (the aim is 45 books this year) and I've collated my pile of 'books I'd like to read before 31 December'.
What's on your to read list for the rest of the year? Is it just me that plans what I'm reading to this level of organisation? Please tell me I'm not alone.
Anyone?
Anyway, here's what you'll find in this email:
- a review: Little Black Stretchy Pants by Chip Wilson
- currently reading
- ear food (podcast recommendations)
- a question
- over on the bookshelf
Let's get into it.
Yours in books (and obsessive book related planning)
Steph
review: Little Black Stretchy Pants by Chip Wilson
I have mixed feelings about this one. It's very readable and interesting but leaves you with a few unanswered questions.
here’s a short synopsis: lululemon founder Chip Wilson shares the story of building lululemon off the back of selling his previous business Westbeach Snowboard. It's a tale of a twofold obsession; developing the perfect yoga legging and building a truely great company on a core foundation of excellence over mediocrity. This foundation extends beyond the product and into the culture of the company, leadership and lives of staff.
Oh and a lot of mistakes and drama along the way.
the good bits
One of the criticisms of this book is about how 'culty' working at lululemon was. Particularly how all staff were trained in 'the lululemon way' and sent on the Landmark training course. I think this is one of the standout ideas of the book. Seeing how having a clear brand personality, autonomy of leaders and an exceptional guest (not customer) experience was at the heart of the rise and rise of lululemon was fascinating and refreshing when apathy reigns supreme in most organisations.
I loved the focus on the small details. The fact that Chip and the early lululemon leadership team didn't want to see cans of Coke/Pepsi on people's desks as it meant that they weren't aligned to the overall lululemon mindset. And later, this being one of the signs that the culture was starting to unravel.
The other part I found inspirational was Chip's ability to spot a trend 5 years out and create a market-defining vision from it. He saw the transition between skating and snowboarding coming and changed Westbeach to be there first. Later he foresaw the movement towards yoga, mindfulness and athleisurewear (or streetnic, as he prefers to call it).
The book is also *packed* with lessons, particularly around the world of venture capital and private equity funding, board composition, listing, governance versus control, oversight and influence. And not just from a technical perspective, but what happens when you bring people in with either a) a vested interest in the outcome of a particular transaction and/or b) no real connection to the brand, audience or product. (Spoiler alert; nothing good comes of those things).
the not so good bits
You can't help but feel that this book is written as a way of getting 'the other side of the story' heard. Not a bad reason to write a book of course, but there's an underlying tone of resentment that flows throughout.
Whilst reading the parts I'll collectively refer to as the 'all the bad things people did to Chip' chapters, it does leave you asking 'how did all of this happen under your nose? Repeatedly?'. And wondering how many of the mistakes were innocent naivety and misplaced trust over having a head in the sand or not wanting/knowing how to to deal with them.
There were some recurring themes and there's a suspiciously short section late in the book hinting to tensions that emerged in the post-lululemon business that Chip started with his family. History repeating itself with a common denominator? Who knows. But for someone who talks about being a 'level-five leader', has done all the management reading and a lot of his own work through various leadership programs, something doesn't quite add up.
the lessons
It would be easy to dismiss or ignore this book off the back of some of the 'controversial' things Chip has said (which he states were taken out of context, sensationalised and edited) but it's sometimes these people we can learn the most from. And you don't have to like people, or everything they stand for, to learn from them. Even if it's confirming what you don't want to do. I feel like this nuance has been forgotten.
A couple of quick lessons;
1) Early on, lululemon grew slowly, intentionally. Focusing on finding the perfect yoga community to connect into, inviting those early adopters into their product focus groups and having them come and work in the stores. It's a good reminder that now-huge businesses started small, with cashflow problems, engaging with the right people and making small decisions along the way based on what they saw.
2) don't trust anyone??
what I'm currently reading
October has been a much better month of books, and I've managed to stick to my plan of reading one book at a time, which is currently...
Bad Boss by Michelle Gibbings
Verdict so far: uncomfortably real, full of empathy and very practical. I love the subtitle (and the structure) of the book being 'what to do if you work for one, manage one or are one'. Lots of lessons for new and experienced leaders alike in here.
PS. don't forget, if you'd like a 15% discount on your copy of the Archley's Book of Books book journal to keep all your book notes and lessons in, click here^.
a question
I am testing the idea of launching a very small (max 12 people), tailored non-fiction book subscription from January 2021.
Books will be hand-picked based on your preferences, previous reads, reading goals and of course, all your hopes and dreams.
What that means is...
No 'everyone getting the same book every month'
No books you've already got
No having to make your own book-buying decisions and
No having to go out to the bookshop, the book will arrive at your doorstep each month.
Initially there will be a three month and a six month option in Australia only.
If this sounds like all your bookish dreams come true, click the button below to register your early expression of interest and find out more.
ear food
Books I've Loved - if you haven't already checked out the mini-series that's been flowing through the Tim Ferriss podcast for the last few months, I recommend you do. A very wide-ranging selection of books from all eras and genres that have shaped the lives of some of the world's top performers. Following these suggestions would easily keep you in excellent reads for the rest of your life. (Spotify / Apple)
Clever - I'm very late to the party with this one (it was recorded late 2018) but this life-affirming interview with graphic design legend Jessica Hische covers everything from finding your creative style, stopping trying to make 'forever' decisions in work/life and the importance of personal projects. (Spotify / Apple)
Not a podcast but I am absolutely obsessed with the new album by Future Islands, 'As Long as You Are' and have had it on endless repeat (luckily you can't wear out a digital album). Stand out tracks are For Sure and Moonlight (Spotify).
meanwhile, on the bookshelf
Recent Steph's Business Bookshelf podcast episodes, in case you missed them...
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
(Spotify / Apple)
When I Woke Up by Paul Evans
(Spotify / Apple)