180 Business Hacks: Little Changes, Big Difference

by Roel de Graaf

180 of the sharpest and stickiest ways to get better results at work

"Flip the org chart and put the customer on top."
"Write the press release before you start development."
"Give someone busy more work to do."

In 180 Business Hacks, you'll find these and 177 other surprising, sharp and inspiring ways to get better results at work. These cheat codes will help you succeed by shifting the way you think about business problems. Conventional thinking gets you conventional results but often the stickiest ideas are small. And like tiny cracks, they eventually turn into in something bigger.

The hacks are organized into 9 themed chapters (Innovation, Strategy, Structure, Management, Analysis, Portfolio, Change, Impact and Effectiveness) so you can find them quickly, but for best results just flip through and open at random. You'll always find something unexpected to add to your daily routine.

214 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2025

Reviews

[Scott Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roel de Graaf has compiled an impressive list of “hacks.” Each is presented in groups and with short paragraph descriptions. Many come with a citation to the originator (author, book). As you read through them, you’ll need to discern which ones apply. Many overlap. The short descriptions whet your appetite but won’t allow you to execute the idea fully: for that, you’ll need to dive into the original source on those or look for other references. Some hacks overlap and seem redundant. Others are contradictory—but that’s okay at times. Business is full of contradictions, like there’s good friction (a slowing effect that keeps you from making a mistake) and bad friction (a slowing effect that hinders progress). Or adages like “never give up” but you want to also “fail fast and adapt.” The author doesn’t spend time to sort out the contradictions or the overlaps or describe what scenarios are appropriate for any particular hack. You’re on your own for that.

Still, this is a worthwhile collection if you need to learn from others’ experiences or thoughts or you need to drive your wheels out of a business rut.

I’m appreciative of the publisher for providing an advanced copy.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Roel de Graaf's "180 Business Hacks" offers a refreshing perspective on business strategy, emphasizing the power of small, impactful changes.

Through concise and actionable advice, the book encourages readers to challenge conventional thinking and embrace unconventional approaches.

De Graaf's "hacks" are not revolutionary, but rather clever tweaks to existing practices. They range from simple suggestions like "Flip the org chart and put the customer on top" to more complex strategies like "Write the press release before you start development." Each hack is presented in a clear and engaging manner, making it easy to understand and implement.

While the book's brevity is both its strength and weakness, it's ideal for those seeking quick, practical insights to improve their business performance. However, readers looking for in-depth analysis or extensive case studies may find the book lacking.

"180 Business Hacks" is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to revitalize their business approach. By implementing these small but impactful changes, readers can achieve significant results and gain a competitive edge.

[Rachel Baldwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice idea for a book but it felt at points poorly thought out with some “hacks” being detrimental to the mental wellbeing of you and your staff. In particular the give busy people more work to do so they prioritise better. I feel in the day and age adding stress to staff can be counter intuitive and a better idea would be to support staff to manage their current workload or see if the workload is a reasonable amount.

In all a great primer if you are entering business but I would advise caution on using some of the hacks provided and understand they are very generic and will not be applicable in all situations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy.

[Mel Kettle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a super quick read with a lot of great ideas.

As someone who reads a lot of business books, much of this was not new to me, however there were a few timely reminders. I liked how it gave snapshots, but a few of the ideas would have benefited from more detail.

A few of my fave hacks included:

. don't outsource what you don't understand
. take a walk
. find the simple solution
. choose not to be busy

If you're new to business, this is worth a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Business for providing me with an advance copy.

[Darya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book with 180 ideas or hacks for different areas of business and professional life. Some of them represent wisom, some tell a story, some give you and example. Overall you can find short descriptions if 180 ideas on how to be more efficient and productive, to deal with people and lead teams, to build strategy and execute plans, innovate, manage situation and people, analyze and learn. Nice and short book.

[Murlonda Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great for working people who want to improve on the job or walk into leadership. The tips and ideas are explained in just enough detail to get you motivated to beck a better employee and/or manager. The author gave great insight into how to measure your own progress and professionalism as you navigate the corporate world. Most definitely would recommend this book to a coworker!

[Lori Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

A no nonsense guide to business. This would be a good book to have at your desk at work to read one of the hacks each day. Formatted like a daily affirmation guide, each page provides a business hack to ponder and execute. Thank you for the opportunity to be an advanced reader.

[Sarah (blissbubbley) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love these types of books as you can go back to them time and again. I found some of the hacks to be the obvious ones we know and use and others that had a bit more thought and practicality to them. A great guide for business!

[Mae B · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to 5. I learned so much.

[S Ahilan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book which explains concepts in simple terms!

[Jaber Bahari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Useful information in a short and sweet way.
I liked it.
I found it by chance in our local library.