My Reading List for Security Start-Ups
Today, there are a large number of security startups trying to assure our data and infrastructure. I have done two data communications start-ups in the past, over a period of 13 years. One company was acquired by a larger firm; the second went public on NASDAQ. The following reading list represents ideas that I wish I had at the time. I think they will be valuable to leadership in any security start-up. None of these are technical books. I will assume that any reader is already at the expert level in their field. These selections focus on leadership, marketing, and business.
| TITLE | AUTHOR | WHY READ? |
| How To Win At The Sport Of Business | Mark Cuban | Tips from a master business builder |
| Show and Tell | Dan Roam | How to create effective presentations |
| Leadership and the One Minute Manager | Ken Blanchard | How to lead, while wearing many hats |
| The Five Dysfunctions of a Team | Patrick Lencioni | Building your team is the number one critical success factor |
| The Art of Getting Your Own Sweet Way | Phillip Crosby | Classic guide by one of the founders of the quality movement |
| Toward Establishing a Successful Technology Business Entrepreneurship | Milton Chang | Handbook for building a business, from a serial entrepreneur |
| The Innovators | Walter Isaacson | Some time for inspiration |
| Getting to Plan B | John Mullins & Randy Komisar | You will need this |
| Powerlines | Steve Cone | How to turn your ideas into brands |
| The Art of the Start | Guy Kawasaki | Lessons from the start-up evangelist |