The author entered the Swiss military as a young man, and his time as a soldier greatly affected how he later chose to run his business (“here’s the thing about a country maniacally focused on executing at an elite level for its very survival: there’s a lot you can learn from that approach”). In these pages, Goodner assembles the tools he used to build his own company and highlights their connections to his military service. Incorporating personal stories of both failure and success, the author also offers case studies in each chapter of other businesses and colleagues, detailing how they overcame various problems. Each chapter starts with a difficulty rating and describes the ways in which his military service taught him skills he then transferred to the business world. His topics include an employee’s first day at a company, how to use existing employees to recruit for open positions, how checklists are boring but helpful tools, and how clear communication at all levels of a business prevents mistakes from happening. Goodner provides useful tips for businesses of all sizes and suggestions for how to implement the practices he outlines with real-world strategies. While the chapters do reference previous sections, each can be read on its own, and the author even supplies a guide to which chapters to focus on to address specific challenges businesses face. The well-organized text makes the advice easily digestible. In a crowded field, the author sets himself apart by using a unique angle to frame the issues of business: Goodner asks, how does a well-organized, world-renowned military run, and how can your business use the same methods to get ahead? Appendices include the author’s “Golden Rules,” recommended reading, a case study index, and a reading guide.
