A Must-Read for Founders, Leaders, and Entreprenurial Minds

I just finished reading this book, and honestly, I could have written it myself. Not because it’s obvious, but because everything Alisa Cohn shares aligns deeply with what I believe and practice every day with my clients.

Alisa is a business coach who has worked with numerous startup founders/CEOs. This book distills that experience into a practical, no-nonsense guide, full of real stories, concrete frameworks, and tips you can apply immediately. It’s an easy read: the ideas are clear, direct, and actionable.

Here are the themes that resonated most with me:

𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱. That’s Alisa’s conclusion, and I couldn’t agree more. As she writes, “Leadership is an unnatural act. But you can learn it.” This is exactly what I tell every client who walks through my door, feeling like they should just know how to lead. You don’t. Nobody does until they do the work.

𝗔 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴.  The best founders don’t just build companies, they build themselves. Alisa is clear: if you don’t do the inner work, you’ll “hire yourself over and over again.” Your company becomes a mirror of your blind spots, with no one to cover for your weaknesses or fill the gaps. And that’s not just about you, it’s about building a team that complements who you are, not a replica of you. Growth starts with self-awareness, and it ripples outward to every hire you make and the culture you create.

𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗹𝘂𝘅𝘂𝗿𝘆; 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Alisa draws the parallel I love most: Olympic athletes don’t just train their skills; they train their mindset, and they do it with a coach. The same is true for leaders. Having a thinking partner who challenges you, holds up a mirror, and helps you close the gaps isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s what separates good from great.

Whether you’re a founder, a leader, or an entrepreneur at heart, this book is for you.

What’s the leadership skill you’re working on right now? Let’s talk.