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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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How Google Works summary
An insider's guide to one of the biggest companies in the world
18 mins
Brief summary
"How Google Works" by Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg provides insights into how the world's most successful search engine operates and thrives on innovation. The book highlights key principles such as hiring the best talent and fostering a culture of creativity.
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How Google Works
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Key idea 1 of 7
Great products developed by phenomenal employees are crucial for business success.
Over the past few decades, sweeping technological advancements have totally changed our lives and our world. Today, we can store limitless amounts of information online and effortlessly connect to the internet through practically any mobile device.
In the business world, these innovations have shifted everyone’s attention to product development. This has happened in two ways.
First, the internet has pushed consumers to demand better products by giving them more information and more choice. If customers don’t like your app, for example, they can simply download another.
In this new consumer market, winning and retaining customers is all about having the best possible product.
Second, technological advances have changed the business world by enabling companies to develop products quickly and cheaply. Even a small team of engineers, for instance, can develop a new product in mere months and then release it to millions of people online for free.
Because of these developments, good products now trump fancy marketing strategies. And this crucial insight has been Google’s guiding principle since its very beginnings.
Google’s founders from the start concentrated solely on developing the greatest search engine possible, confident that if they succeeded, money would follow. (And it did!)
Google’s search engine algorithm is an example of the kind of game-changing product that can only be created by skilled employees called smart creatives.
Smart creatives combine conventional business savvy and technical expertise with a creative sensibility. They are competitive, ambitious and curious – the kind of people who will pull all-nighters to solve a thorny problem or even ignore your direct orders just to prove a point.
Smart creatives are the very essence of Google, and in fact, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are exemplary specimens of this sort of worker.
They’ve approached hiring simply by bringing in the very best engineers and giving them as much freedom as possible to develop amazing products.
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What is How Google Works about?
How Google Works shares business insights from one of the most successful technology start-ups in history. Written by the former top executives at the company, the book lays out, step by step, Google’s path to success; a roadmap that your company can follow, too.
How Google Works Review
How Google Works (2014) is an insightful exploration of the inner workings of one of the most innovative and successful tech companies in the world. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With insider knowledge from Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg, the book offers valuable insights into Google's unique approach to business and management.
- The authors share practical tips and strategies that can be applied to any organization, regardless of its size or industry.
- Combining humor, anecdotes, and real-life examples, the book is engaging and entertaining, making the topic of technology and business accessible to all.
Best quote from How Google Works
The most important skill any business person can develop is interviewing.
—Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg
Who should read How Google Works?
- CEOs or managers at start-up companies
- Anyone with a start-up idea looking for the fast path to success
- Anyone interested in a behind-the-scenes look at Google
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How Google Works FAQs
What is the main message of How Google Works?
The main message of How Google Works is understanding the principles that drive Google's success in order to apply them to your own business.
How long does it take to read How Google Works?
The reading time for How Google Works depends on the reader, but it generally takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in 15 minutes.
Is How Google Works a good book? Is it worth reading?
How Google Works is worth reading for its valuable insights into Google's innovative culture, leadership, and strategies for success.
Who is the author of How Google Works?
Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg are the authors of How Google Works.
What to read after How Google Works?
If you're wondering what to read next after How Google Works, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Working Backwards by Colin Bryar
- Trillion Dollar Coach by Eric Schmidt
- What Would Google Do? by Jeff Jarvis
- How to Speed Read People by Patrick King
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- No Rules Rules by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer
- Communication Miracles for Couples by Jonathan Robinson
- Common Sense on Mutual Funds by John C. Bogle
- Make Today Count by John C. Maxwell
- Source Code by Bill Gates