The Week of Good Books
Some weeks at Masset are all about big product pushes or new client wins. This wasn't one of those. This week was quieter. Steady. We kept building.
We’ve found that’s just how it goes. Running a startup isn’t a string of highlight reels. Most of the time, it’s small, compounding progress. You fix one thing. You test another. Maybe you ship something. You keep going.
So in that spirit, we changed things up. Instead of a typical update, we each answered a simple question:
What’s your book?
That one book you carry with you from company to company. The one that shapes how you think, work, and lead.
Here’s what we said.
Tyler’s Picks
1. How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen
This one blends business with the personal. Christensen encourages you to define the metrics you’ll use to judge a good life—and career. It’s less about frameworks and more about the questions you ask yourself as you build. The kind of book that recalibrates your ambition.
2. It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work / Rework by the 37signals team
Both books push against the hustle culture narrative. They make a case for sane, sustainable businesses. Tyler loves how these books argue that high-performing companies don’t need to be chaotic. Focus, calm, and clarity can outperform frenzy.
Ben’s Picks
1. Start With Why by Simon Sinek
The title says it all. This book reminds us to lead with purpose. For us, that “why” is content—giving it the seat at the table it deserves. No matter how the product evolves, that belief stays constant. It’s why we write. It’s why Masset exists.
2. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Okay, not technically a business book. But hear us out. It’s about a journey—about transformation, persistence, and returning home changed. That’s exactly what building a startup feels like. The ending might matter less than the process. And that’s a reminder we need, often.
A Company Built for the Journey
We both believe in content. But more than that, we believe in building a company where people enjoy the ride. One that doesn’t defer happiness until “after the exit.” One where the work feels meaningful now.
This was a quieter week. But it was still a good one.
Until next week,
Tyler and Ben
