Self-growth
Business & Career
Success
Communication
Healing
Relationships
Psychology
HappinessYou’ll learn
- Why actions define your company's soul
- To combine talents into a unified culture
- Leadership from unlikely historical figures
- The real trust in business relationships
Table of contents
first KEY POINT
Your business can indeed be successful, but it definitely won't happen by chance
Unless you have clones of the same individual working for you, it is almost certain that you will not be surrounded by the same types of people. Each individual contributes to your success since they are a part of the culture, which is imperfect because there is no such thing as a perfectly functioning culture. As a result, it is your obligation to bring everyone together to create a culture that will endure all of the storms that your company will experience, which can be a difficult undertaking.This piece is intended to demonstrate how to develop your organization's culture by using examples from historical individuals and the current business world as examples. This summary examines four models of leadership and culture–building: Haiti's Toussaint Louverture, who led the only successful slave revolt in history; the Samurai, who ruled Japan for 700 years and shaped modern Japanese culture; Genghis Khan, who built the world's largest empire; and Shaka Senghor, a man convicted of murder who was imprisoned for more than two decades. The ideals you list on a wall do not define who you are; it's not something you say in a company meeting. You are not your marketing strategy; it isn't even what you think.
Your actions determine people’s perception of you.
This tidbit is designed to assist you in taking the steps necessary to become the type of leader you want to be—and that others want to follow.You've already come this far. Continue to find out how the actions you do can contribute to the success of your company's operations.
second KEY POINT
Toussaint Louverture; the man who was bold enough to make a change
It may surprise you to find that there has only been one successful slave revolution in history. It was headed by Toussaint Louverture, a revolutionary who learned to read and converse through the years he worked as a coachman. Louverture built ties with both white and French people and made sure that as many slaves as possible were released. You could question why, if people didn't like being slaves, they couldn't fight for their freedom. It wasn't enough that they wanted independence; what they did was more important.He applied these tactics to make his army better:Keep what worksInitially, he drilled 500 men and used slave songs as a medium of communication. You don't necessarily have to abandon tried–and–true methods. It's possible that they'll be useful.Make a set of surprising rules: Trust encourages communication and is founded on the expectation of future partnerships. To build trust, Louverture prohibited his married soldiers from having concubines.
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first KEY POINT
Toussaint Louverture’s approach to wars is applicable to many businesses today because of its efficiency
second KEY POINT
Think of the end; it inspires you to do the work required in the present
third KEY POINT
Different situations will require you to be a different version of yourself; prove your worth
fourth KEY POINT
Genghis Khan, through the practice of inclusion, made his mark in history
fifth KEY POINT
Conclusion
Related summaries
Frequently asked questions
What is What You Do is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture about?
What You Do is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture, authored by Ben Horowitz, explores the principles of establishing a strong organizational culture. It emphasizes that actions define a company's culture more than words, providing practical advice from historical and contemporary figures.
Is What You Do is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture worth reading?
Yes, What You Do is Who You Are is worth reading as it offers actionable insights into building a sustainable business culture. Ben Horowitz draws on real-life examples, making the concepts relatable and applicable to modern business leaders.
What are the key takeaways from What You Do is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture?
Key takeaways from What You Do is Who You Are include the importance of aligning actions with values, the role of leadership in shaping culture, and learning from historical examples. Horowitz illustrates how intentional cultures can lead to better organizational performance.
How many pages is What You Do is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture and when was it published?
What You Do is Who You Are spans 256 pages and was published on October 1, 2019. This concise guide makes it easy for readers to absorb its core concepts efficiently.
Who is the author of What You Do is Who You Are: How to Create Your Business Culture?
The author of What You Do is Who You Are is Ben Horowitz, a renowned entrepreneur and venture capitalist. His insights are based on his extensive experience in the tech industry and leadership roles.