The Open Shelf

Mehdi Mokhtari, Willem Myburgh
  • 0.0 (0)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Welcome to The Open Shelf, where we dive into books that shape our minds and lives. From timeless classics to contemporary must-reads, we share our takeaways, reflections, and a bit of banter along the way. Tune in, get inspired, and maybe even open a new chapter in your own reading journey.

  1. #8 Principles: Adaptability - Culture, Change and Code

    2025-09-10

    #8 Principles: Adaptability - Culture, Change and Code

    🎙️ #8 Principles: Adaptability - Culture, Change and Code In this principles episode of The Open Shelf, Willem and Mehdi tackle how to build systems that get stronger under stress while maintaining clear direction. They share stories from three books they've actually read and used in their careers. In Episode 8, we explore how organisations can thrive in uncertainty through: ✅ The Lean Startup: Build-measure-learn cycles and validated learning to avoid the "build trap" ✅ Radical Product Thinking: Preventing "Pivotitis" through clear vision and strategic direction ✅ The Mythical Man Month: Why adding people to late projects makes them slower, not faster Chapters:🔹 00:00 Intro🔹 03:13 Book: The Lean Startup🔹 25:46 Book: Radical Product Thinking🔹 38:00 Book: The Mythical Man Month🔹 46:45 Outro Goodreads Links:📖 The Lean Startup by Eric Ries https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10127019-the-lean-startup 📖 Radical Product Thinking by Radhika Dutt https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56705493-radical-product-thinking 📖 The Mythical Man-Month by Frederick P. Brooks Jr. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13629.The_Mythical_Man_Month #TheOpenShelf #Adaptability #LeanStartup #RadicalProductThinking #MythicalManMonth #Innovation #SystemsThinking #ProductManagement

    48 min
  2. #7 Principles: Human Centered Priorities - Invest in People

    2025-07-09

    #7 Principles: Human Centered Priorities - Invest in People

    🎙️ #7 Principles: Human Centered Priorities - Invest in People In this episode of The Open Shelf, we explore the principle that should guide every leader: "Take care of the people, the products, and the profits, in that order." Through three transformative books, we discover why people-first leadership isn't just good ethics, it's strategic business. In this deep dive, we explore how to build competitive advantage through human capital investment: ✅ Tony Hsieh's "Delivering Happiness" - the culture-first approach that built Zappos into a $1.2 billion company (acquired by Amazon)✅ John Kay's "The Corporation in the Twenty-First Century" - why your team's expertise IS your competitive advantage in the digital era✅ Simon Sinek's "Leaders Eat Last" - the neurochemical science behind why some teams pull together and others don't✅ Practical strategies for making the business case for training budgets to leadership✅ How employee happiness directly impacts productivity and organisational success Chapters:🔹 00:00 - Intro🔹 01:37 - Delivering Happiness🔹 07:58 - The Corporation of the 21st Century🔹 13:31 - Leaders Eat Last🔹 22:17 - Discussion🔹 33:47 - Outro Goodreads Links:📖 Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6828896-delivering-happiness 📖 The Corporation in the Twenty-First Century: Why (Almost) Everything We Are Told About Business Is Wrong by John Kay https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203173539-the-corporation-in-the-21st-century 📖 Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't by Simon Sinek https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16144853-leaders-eat-last #TheOpenShelf #TonyHsieh #JohnKay #SimonSinek #Leadership #HumanCapital #Culture #Management

    35 min
  3. #6 Measure What Matters: Chapter #3 - Tracking & Stretching

    2025-06-25

    #6 Measure What Matters: Chapter #3 - Tracking & Stretching

    🎙️ #6 Measure What Matters: Chapter #3 - Tracking and Stretching In this final episode of The Open Shelf's exploration of John Doerr's Measure What Matters, we dive deep into how tracking and stretching create organisational superpowers. In Chapter 3, we explore with Pedram Rahmati how tracking and stretching transform organisations: ✅ Why stretch goals unlock hidden potential: Real story of interns achieving the "impossible" ✅ How tracking creates alignment without micromanagement: Different perspectives reveal opportunities ✅ The power of data-driven learning: "In God we trust. All others must bring data" - W. Edwards Deming ✅ Bill Campbell's trillion-dollar coaching wisdom: OKRs as organisational nervous system ✅ Reframing failure as learning: Why red metrics indicate opportunities, not just problems Chapters: 🔹 00:00 - Introduction to OKR Tracking and Stretching 🔹 00:48 - The Importance of Tracking in Data-Driven Organisations 🔹 03:36 - Aligning Team Goals and Individual Aspirations 🔹 06:05 - Learning from Measurement and Reflection 🔹 08:43 - The Role of Stretch Goals in Achieving Ambitious Objectives 🔹 11:52 - Red Metrics: Opportunities for Growth 🔹 15:25 - The Power of Big Hairy Audacious Goals 🔹 17:33 - Challenging Beliefs and Embracing Stretching 🔹 20:42 - CFR: The Sibling of OKR 🔹 21:52 - Bill Campbell: The Trillion Dollar Coach 🔹 24:20 - Closing Thoughts and Reflections Goodreads Links: 📖 Measure What Matters by John Doerr https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37702964-measure-what-matters 📖 Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt, Jonathan Rosenberg, and Alan Eagle https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42118073 📖 Good to Great by Jim Collins https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76865 📖 Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies by Jim Collins, and Jerry I. Porras https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4122 #TheOpenShelf #JohnDoerr #MeasureWhatMatters #OKRs #Tracking #StretchGoals #DataDriven #BillCampbell

    27 min
  4. #6 Measure What Matters: Chapter #2 - Focus and Alignment

    2025-06-18

    #6 Measure What Matters: Chapter #2 - Focus and Alignment

    🎙️ #6 Measure What Matters: Chapter #2 - Focus and Alignment In this episode of The Open Shelf, we explore John Doerr's influential book Measure What Matters, focusing on how ruthless prioritisation and alignment create organisational superpowers. In Chapter 2, we explore with Pedram Rahmati how focus and alignment transform organisations: ✅ Why saying "no" unlocks innovation: Real examples from Monster vs HotJobs competitive strategy✅ The critical difference between KPIs and OKRs: Dashboard vs destination analogy✅ How aspirational OKRs drive breakthrough thinking: 90% cost reduction case study✅ Crisis management with aligned teams: Natural self-organisation during disasters Chapters:🔹 00:00 - Focus and Prioritisation in Organisations🔹 02:40 - Saying No to Innovate🔹 05:38 - The Role of OKRs in Prioritisation🔹 13:19 - KPIs vs OKRs: Understanding the Difference🔹 18:24 - Types of OKRs: Commitment vs Aspirational🔹 27:38 - Crisis Management and Communication Goodreads Links:📖 Measure What Matters by John Doerr https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37702964-measure-what-matters📖 The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/255127 #TheOpenShelf #JohnDoerr #MeasureWhatMatters #OKRs #Focus #Alignment #Prioritization #Innovation

    30 min
  5. #6 Measure What Matters: Chapter #1 - Culture Makes or Breaks OKRs

    2025-06-11

    #6 Measure What Matters: Chapter #1 - Culture Makes or Breaks OKRs

    🎙️ #6 Measure What Matters: Chapter #1 - Culture Makes or Breaks OKRs In this episode of The Open Shelf, we explore John Doerr's influential book Measure What Matters, focusing on why organisational culture determines OKR success. In Chapter 1, we explore with Pedram Rahmati how culture creates the foundation for effective OKRs: ✅ Why leadership must use OKRs themselves: "they measured themselves using OKRs" vs devaluing team efforts✅ How decoupling from compensation enables aspirational goals: "OKR need to be decoupled from compensation" Chapters:🔹 00:00 - Navigating Economic Headwinds in Tech🔹 04:57 - Chapter 1: Culture Makes or Breaks OKRs🔹 21:16 - Chapter 2: Prioritisation and Focus in OKRs Goodreads Links:📖 Measure What Matters by John Doerr https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37702964-measure-what-matters📖 How: Why How We Do Anything Means Everything by Dov Seidman https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1142408📖 Good to Great by Jim Collins https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76865 #TheOpenShelf #JohnDoerr #MeasureWhatMatters #OKRs #Culture #Leadership #TechManagement

    27 min
  6. #5 Principles: Honest Communication - When Truth Builds Trust

    2025-05-14

    #5 Principles: Honest Communication - When Truth Builds Trust

    🎙️ #5 Principles: Honest Communication - When Truth Builds Trust In this episode of The Open Shelf, we launch our new principles series with an exploration of honest communication, focusing on how transparency builds trust and enables collective problem-solving in professional environments. In this deep dive episode, we explore how honest communication shapes workplace dynamics: ✅ Why transparency about challenges builds trust when delivered with empathy✅ Techniques for delivering difficult feedback with respect and clarity✅ Creating psychological safety as a prerequisite for honesty✅ Balancing transparency and tact in professional relationships Chapters:🔹 00:00 - Introduction to Honest Communication🔹 02:27 - The Importance of Trust and Transparency🔹 05:05 - Frameworks for Honest Communication🔹 11:04 - Balancing Transparency and Information Overload🔹 19:59 - Transparency and Accountability in Organizations🔹 22:10 - Navigating Difficult Conversations🔹 33:25 - Building Trust Through Honest Communication Goodreads Links: 📖 The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitzhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18176747-the-hard-thing-about-hard-things📖 Radical Candor by Kim Scotthttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29939161-radical-candor📖 Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Stephen R. Covey, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan and Al Switzler.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15014.Crucial_Conversations📖 Teach Yourself to Think by Edward de Bonohttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7959557-teach-yourself-to-think📖 Winning by Jack Welchhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/866222.Winning📖 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Coveyhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36072.The_7_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People📖 Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babinhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23848190-extreme-ownership #TheOpenShelf #Principles #RadicalCandor #CrucialConversations #HardThingsAboutHardThings #Winning #HonestCommunication

    39 min
  7. #4 Winning: Chapter #3 - Competition & Crisis Management

    2025-04-23

    #4 Winning: Chapter #3 - Competition & Crisis Management

    🎙️ #4 Winning: Chapter #3 - Competition & Crisis Management In this episode of The Open Shelf, we continue our deep dive into Jack Welch's influential book Winning, focusing on competitive advantage, crisis management, and career development. In Chapter 3, we explore with Vladimir Greavu how organizations maintain a competitive edge while effectively managing crises and fostering career growth: ✅ Building and maintaining competitive advantage✅ Effective crisis management and strategic decision-making✅ Embracing personal career ownership and growth✅ Learning from both victories and setbacks Chapters:🔹 00:00 - Navigating Competition and Crisis Management🔹 11:09 - Crisis Management Insights from Jack Welch🔹 19:50 - Career Management and Personal Growth Goodreads Links:📖 Winning by Jack Welch https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/866222.Winning📖 Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Malone Scott https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29939161-radical-candor📖 Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/76865.Good_to_Great #TheOpenShelf #JackWelch #Winning #Leadership #CompetitiveAdvantage #CrisisManagement #CareerGrowth #BusinessStrategy #LeanSixSigma

    28 min
  8. #4 Winning: Chapter # 2 - Company Mechanics & Leadership

    2025-04-16

    #4 Winning: Chapter # 2 - Company Mechanics & Leadership

    🎙️ #4 Winning: Chapter # 2 – Company Mechanics & Leadership 🚀 In this episode of The Open Shelf, we turn our attention to one of the most impactful business leaders in history—📖 Jack Welch and his book Winning. We had the honour of speaking with Vladimir Greavu, who sheds light on Welch's core principles and how they shaped organisations worldwide. In Chapter 2, we dive into Company Mechanics & Leadership and delve into topics like: ✅ Company mechanics from the inside ✅ The shift from contributor to leader ✅ Vision, energy & feedback in leadership ✅ Balancing people and business needs ✅ Hiring for success, not just credentials Chapters: 🔹 00:00 – Understanding Company Mechanics and Leadership 🔹 04:28 – Transitioning from Individual Contributor to Leadership 🔹 10:02 – The Role of Vision in Leadership 🔹 14:31 – Creating Positive Energy in Teams 🔹 21:15 – Establishing Trust Through Candor 🔹 23:27 – The Importance of Timely Feedback 🔹 25:56 – Making Unpopular Decisions as a Leader 🔹 30:45 – Empowering Teams Through Questions 🔹 35:54 – Navigating Paradoxes in Leadership 🔹 40:10 – Hiring for Success: Key Attributes Goodreads Links: 📖 The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels by Michael D. Watkins 📖A Seat at the Table: IT Leadership in the Age of Agility by Mark Schwartz 📖 Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Malone Scott 📖 Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins #TheOpenShelf #JackWelch #Winning #Leadership #Candor #CareerGrowth #CompanyCulture #BusinessBooks #VladimirGreavu #MehdiMokhtari #WillemMyburgh

    43 min
See All (14)

Trailer

About

Welcome to The Open Shelf, where we dive into books that shape our minds and lives. From timeless classics to contemporary must-reads, we share our takeaways, reflections, and a bit of banter along the way. Tune in, get inspired, and maybe even open a new chapter in your own reading journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Mehdi Mokhtari, Willem Myburgh
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mehdi Mokhtari, Willem Myburgh
  • Show Website
    The Open Shelf