If you don’t know IMG (the world’s premier and most diversified sports, entertainment and media company), then meet the man who founded the company with one handshake with legendary golfer Arnold Palmer.

Today i was reading through Kevin Kelly’s blog and i ran into a post:  The 100 best business books in the world.  While it referenced some powerful and persuasive books like Purple Cow, How To Win Friends And Influence People, I was surprised not to see Mark McCormack’s insightful and practical book What They Don’t Teach You At Harvard Business School in the list.

Out of the hundreds of thousands business books out there, most of them not worth reading this one is a really gem, a true keeper. Whether you’re a college graduate or not, in it’s entirety this is the book has a little something for everyone at every level.   What’s most interesting is the practical real life examples that Mr. McCormack refers to and discusses leaving you with unforgettable impressions and knowledge you can use throughout the course of your life, not too mention your business career.

If you’re a into reading for personal benefit and knowledge, you won’t be able to put it down till you finish and absorb all the golden nuggets of wisdom evenly distributed into 3 well written and concise sections;  People, Sales & Negotiation and Running a Business.  Valuable life lessons from a successful business man..

Reflecting back this book has taught me a thing or two about the practical side of the business world (which is exactly what we want to learn about).  Even after finishing the book i can’t help but ruffle through the pages every once and again referring to my favorite excerpts on the power of silence, creating impressions  and how you can greatly benefit from simple yet effective observations of the people around you.

Thought: Caterina wrote on her blog that “If you want to be an entrepreneur, drop out of college.” While her title is provocative I could conclude by saying if you’re going that route this would be a great book to start.  Of course you wouldn’t want to overlook the rest of the 100.

Excerpts:

*The people who are least secure about their abilities have the hardest time admitting their mistakes.  They fail to realize that making a mistake and admitting it-owning up to it-are two separate acts.  It is not the mistake itself but how the mistake was handled that forms the lasting impression.

*I am pasionate about the game of golf.  [truncated] Part of the reason, I’m sure is the range of emotions a round of golf can bring out and the complex array of personality traits it reveals.

*When i first shook hands with Arnold Palmer, I told him that I could make only two guarantees.  First, that if i didn’t know something, i would tell him.  Second, that when i didn’t know something, I would find someone who did.

*If you’re not going to make friends, resign yourself to neutrals and enemies.

*It’s the ability to delegate which, more than anything else, separates the good managers from the bad ones.

*Never underestimate your competition.  I think a competitive spirit is essential to both personal and corporate business success.  And how you stack up against the competition is one of the best yardsticks for measuring that success.

Note: When people ask Mark McCormack why he works over 90 hours a week and how he sustains such a hectic schedule he simply answers “I love what i do.”