The Book That Changed How I Lead

After selling Pneuma, I hit pause. Not by choice - life just forced it. And in that space, I kept coming back to one book that reframed everything I thought I knew about building companies: Leadership Not by the Book.

He started with a $600 loan in 1970 making miniature picture frames in his garage. Today, Hobby Lobby does $8 billion in annual sales, employs 50,000 people, is completely debt-free, and gives away 50% of its profits to charitable work.

The book is the opposite of a playbook - 12 unconventional principles that break most of the "rules" you'd learn in business school.

The core argument: every pivotal decision in Hobby Lobby's history came after listening to his faith and obeying it’s guidance - even when it didn't make business sense.

A few principles from the book that landed:

• You're a steward, not an owner. The business isn't yours to maximize for yourself.

• Your people are your true bottom line - listen to them, empower them, take care of them.

• Character matters more than gifting. A leader without integrity is just competent destruction.

These aren't theoretical. I've used them to navigate decisions where the "smart" business move conflicted with what felt right. I've used them to prioritize people over short-term efficiency. And I've used them to stay grounded when success started feeling like something I owned instead of something I stewarded.

The book reinforced something I already believed but didn't always live out: clarity on why you exist matters more than cleverness in how you execute. Most companies drift because they optimize for growth without anchoring to purpose first.

If you're leading a team, building something, or trying to make decisions that matter - this book is worth your time.

Not because it's easy. Because it asks harder questions than most business books will.