October is National Book Month ! A time to celebrate the power of reading. But for CEOs and executive leaders, especially in industries like construction, manufacturing, and nonprofits, reading isn’t just about inspiration - it’s about staying sharp in an ever-changing business world.

The challenges you face—tight margins, labor shortages, increasing competition, and digital disruption—require more than just hard work. They require better systems, smarter decision-making, and stronger leadership. That’s where the right books come in.

Leadership and strategy books distill decades of experience into practical lessons you can apply today:

  • How to clarify your company’s vision and rally your team around it

  • How to build accountability into every level of your organization

  • How to align IT investments with business goals—not just as “costs,” but as growth drivers

  • How to design a company that runs efficiently, even when you’re not in the room

In other words: these books aren’t “nice-to-haves.” They’re essential tools for long-term success. And when paired with the right IT strategy, their lessons can transform the way your business operates—boosting efficiency, profitability, and resilience.

That’s why, this National Book Month, our leadership team at myIT.com curated five game-changing books that every decision-maker in Dallas–Fort Worth should read. Each one carries insights that go beyond theory—offering practical ways to run your business more effectively today, while preparing for tomorrow.

Let’s dive in.

📖 1. Start with Why – Simon Sinek

Core Message: People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.

💡 IT & Business Takeaway:

Whether you're building homes, manufacturing components, or serving a cause, your “why” must drive every digital transformation initiative.

For example:

  • A construction company in Arlington can frame IT upgrades (like mobile project management apps) around the purpose of building safer, faster, more client-friendly structures.
  • A nonprofit in Fort Worth can center donor management tools around its core mission - building stronger community impact.

When leaders start with “why,” IT isn’t just a cost - it becomes a catalyst for impact.

👉 Explore the book

📖 2. Extreme Ownership – Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

Core Message: Leaders must own everything in their world. There is no one else to blame.

💡 IT & Business Takeaway:

In DFW’s fast-moving construction and manufacturing sectors, too many digital projects fail because “ownership” is unclear. This book pushes leaders to:

  • Own the outcomes of IT implementations - not delegate and forget.
  • Instill a culture of accountability - where frontline teams feel empowered and responsible for technology success.

At myIT.com, we often see the most successful organizations are those whose leadership takes full responsibility for aligning IT with operations.

👉 Explore the book

📖 3. Rocket Fuel – Gino Wickman & Mark C. Winters

Core Message: Visionaries and Integrators are two distinct roles - and together, they generate explosive growth.

💡 IT & Business Takeaway:

In mid-sized organizations, it’s common to see a brilliant founder or CEO struggle with execution. This book explains:

  • Why your business needs a Visionary (idea person) + an Integrator (execution leader).
  • How this duo can transform the way IT is implemented - turning scattered goals into coordinated progress.

Imagine a Fort Worth manufacturer where the CEO envisions digital dashboards for every production line. The Integrator ensures they’re built, adopted, and optimized. That’s Rocket Fuel in action.

👉 Explore the book

📖 4. Traction / Get a Grip – Gino Wickman

Core Message: Businesses need a simple system to execute well - EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System).

💡 IT & Business Takeaway:

These books introduce EOS, a proven framework to bring clarity, focus, and accountability to your entire organization - especially critical for:

  • Construction firms juggling multiple active sites and IT systems.
  • Nonprofits trying to scale services with limited internal resources.

By using EOS tools like Scorecards, Level 10 Meetings, Rocks, and Process Docs, DFW leaders gain traction by aligning people and systems - including IT - with core business goals.

👉 Explore EOS Tools

📖 5. Profit First / Clockwork – Mike Michalowicz

Core Message: Financial discipline and operational design are non-negotiable for sustainable growth.

💡 IT & Business Takeaway:

  • In Profit First, Michalowicz teaches CEOs how to prioritize profit - by restructuring financial flows, not just “hoping” for leftover margin.
  • In Clockwork, he lays out how to design a business that runs without constant firefighting - critical for scaling IT processes and teams.

A Dallas nonprofit, for instance, can use Profit First to pre-allocate funds for tech infrastructure - ensuring sustainability and donor trust. A construction firm can use Clockwork principles to ensure IT systems operate without the CEO babysitting every function.

👉 Explore Mike’s books

🧩 Bringing It Together: Strategy + Systems = Success

What do these books have in common?
They each reinforce a truth we live by at myIT.com: businesses that win today are led by bold, clear-thinking leaders - powered by strong systems.

And in the world of IT, systems are everything.

Whether it’s integrating tools across job sites, automating donor engagement, or managing real-time inventory across warehouses - technology is no longer optional.

In fact, for mid-sized organizations across DFW, tech strategy is now as critical as your financial strategy.

🤝 Let’s Help You Turn Ideas into Action

This National Book Month, don’t just read - lead better.

At myIT.com, we help construction, manufacturing, and nonprofit organizations translate the insights from these books into actionable IT roadmaps that:

  • Increase efficiency and uptime
  • Boost team accountability
  • Cut costs without sacrificing innovation
  • Support scaling with confidence

👉 Schedule a FREE Strategy Call
Let’s bring these ideas to life - in your business.

🙋 FAQ: DFW Business Leaders Ask

  1. What are the best books for CEOs in construction or manufacturing to improve business strategy?
    Books like Start with Why, Extreme Ownership, and Traction offer proven leadership frameworks that align business vision with IT execution in operationally complex sectors.
  2. How can these leadership books improve my company's IT strategy?
    They teach clarity, ownership, and systems thinking - all crucial for choosing, implementing, and sustaining the right tech in your business.
  3. What is the EOS system and why should a nonprofit adopt it?
    EOS (from Traction) is a practical framework that helps teams stay accountable, aligned, and efficient - especially valuable for nonprofits with lean teams and big missions.
  4. Why is ‘Extreme Ownership’ so relevant for IT success?
    Because IT projects often fail when there’s no clear ownership. This book cultivates a mindset of proactive leadership and full accountability.
  5. How does ‘Profit First’ help businesses manage IT budgets?
    It ensures IT expenses are planned and protected, not reactionary - so you always have funds set aside for critical updates or new systems.

🔗 Quick Book Links

  • Start with Why – Simon Sinek
  • Extreme Ownership – Willink & Babin
  • Rocket Fuel – Wickman & Winters
  • Traction / Get a Grip – Gino Wickman
  • Books by Mike Michalowicz

✨ Final Thought

Books change minds. Systems change businesses.
Let’s build both into your company.

👉 Talk to our IT Strategy Experts