Books The 80/20 CEO: Take Command of Your Business in 100 Days by Bill Canady AND CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest by Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller

"The 80/20 CEO: Take Command of Your Business in 100 Days" by Bill Canady and "CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest" by Carolyn Dewar and Scott Keller provide complementary frameworks for effective CEO leadership.

Bill Canady's "The 80/20 CEO" focuses on applying the 80/20 principle to prioritize and transform a business quickly, especially during critical early stages. Canady emphasizes that the CEO's primary role is to set clear, quantitative goals and strategic direction. The book highlights a leadership triad: visionary, strategist, and executor. The CEO must embed the 80/20 rule deeply into all levels of the organization to focus on the vital few activities generating the greatest impact, supported by lean daily management practices like team boards and huddles. Canady advocates creating a culture of psychological safety where learning from mistakes fuels continuous improvement and profitable growth. The approach is actionable, with a clear 100-day plan for CEOs to take command and drive transformation decisively.​​

"CEO Excellence" by Dewar and Keller identifies six essential mindsets that separate the best CEOs from the rest:

Ambition for the Future – setting a bold, clear vision and direction.

Resolve to Act – decisively making tough decisions and maintaining focus.

Relentless Learning – continuously seeking feedback and new insights.

Emotional Intelligence – managing impulses and fostering trust.

Connection with Stakeholders – building strong relationships internally and externally.

Operational Discipline – ensuring execution excellence and accountability.

The book stresses that successful CEOs integrate these mindsets to balance long-term strategy with immediate operational demands while inspiring and aligning their teams. The framework is research-based and diagnostic, helpful for CEOs aiming for holistic leadership excellence.