Leadership Not by the Book

12 Unconventional Principles to Drive Incredible Results

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Conventional leadership wisdom says Hobby Lobby shouldn't work. So why does it?

David Green, the founder of Hobby Lobby and an unlikely leader, grew his company from a $600 start-up to an $8 billion company that gives 50 percent of its profits away to fund initiatives all over the world. He blazed his own path in business, drawn not from business gurus but from the pages of Scripture.

In this inspirational book, David Green challenges talented leaders with hearts committed to Christ to consider this question:

What if God wants to use you to do a new, even greater work?

To raise up and encourage the next generation of leaders, David Green shares 12 unconventional principles that drive Hobby Lobby. These core principles can open doors to greater success in business and life.

Whether you lead a business or a nonprofit, a small business or a multinational corporation, a start-up or a department, this book will show you how breaking the conventional rules of business may be the best decision you ever make.


"An alternative title for this book could have been Billion-Dollar Wisdom because that's what's inside. It's one thing to run a business for a year or two. It's an entirely different thing to lead a multibillion-dollar business for decades. Whether you've got a small team like me or a big dream of what could be, you'll always feel like you've underpaid for the amount of knowledge that's packed inside this book."--Jon Acuff, New York Times bestselling author of Soundtracks

"In my many years as a female CEO in the male-dominated trucking industry, I can testify that David Green's latest book, Leadership Not by the Book, is a refuge for those wanting to be led by God's Word and Holy Spirit and NOT by the ways of the world. I highly recommend this read for all leaders and aspiring leaders."--Marcia Taylor, founder and CEO of Bennett Family of Companies

"Leadership Not by the Book is a must-read for those desiring to live by God's Kingdom agenda with their business, their ministry, and their leadership."--Dr. Tony Evans, president of The Urban Alternative, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship

"Like David Green, I've learned in leading my own organization, Turning Point, that if you follow conventional wisdom, you'll land in conventional places. But if your leadership is by the Book and you are careful to obey, then you'll be amazed by the places God will take you. I highly recommend this read."--Dr. David Jeremiah, senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, El Cajon, CA; founder and CEO of Turning Point Ministries

"In Leadership Not by the Book, David explains how leading by the Good Book, the Bible, results in some unconventional decisions and surprising methods to exceed anything produced by human efforts alone. His fresh perspective and innovative insight make this book a must-read for every leader."--Chris Hodges, senior pastor of Church of the Highlands, author of The Daniel Dilemma and Out of the Cave

Endorsements

"An alternative title for this book could have been Billion-Dollar Wisdom because that's what's inside. It's one thing to run a business for a year or two. It's an entirely different thing to lead a multibillion-dollar business for decades. Whether you've got a small team like me or a big dream of what could be, you'll always feel like you've underpaid for the amount of knowledge that's packed inside this book."

Jon Acuff, New York Times bestselling author of Soundtracks

"In my many years as a female CEO in the male-dominated trucking industry, I can testify that David Green's latest book, Leadership Not by the Book, is a refuge for those wanting to be led by God's Word and Holy Spirit and NOT by the ways of the world. I highly recommend this read for all leaders and aspiring leaders."

Marcia Taylor, founder and CEO of Bennett Family of Companies

"I've written and spoken about God's Kingdom agenda as His visible manifestation of the comprehensive rule of God over every area of life. I can think of no better person than David Green to write about God's manifestation and the rule of God in the arena of business. This book, Leadership Not by the Book, is a must-read for those desiring to live by God's Kingdom agenda with their business, their ministry, and their leadership."

Dr. Tony Evans, president of The Urban Alternative, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship

"Like David Green, I've learned by leading my own organization, Turning Point, that if you follow conventional wisdom, you'll land in conventional places. But if your leadership is by the Book and you are careful to obey, then you'll be amazed by the places God will take you. I highly recommend this read."

Dr. David Jeremiah, senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, El Cajon, CA; founder and CEO of Turning Point Ministries

"God often calls leaders to follow His guidance rather than traditions and trends--and my friend David Green is a prime example! In Leadership Not by the Book, David explains how leading by the Good Book, the Bible, results in some unconventional decisions and surprising methods to exceed anything produced by human efforts alone. His fresh perspective and innovative insight make this book a must-read for every leader."

Chris Hodges, senior pastor of Church of the Highlands, author of The Daniel Dilemma and Out of the Cave

"For years, I've watched in awe at how Hobby Lobby, a store that's open only six days a week, has had astounding growth and success. The financial results have been remarkable, and from this insightful new book by my good friend David Green, you'll learn how this business achieved such incredible success. He shares everything you've ever wanted to know about one of the largest and most successful private companies in the United States. If you're ready to take your leadership and your business to the next level, this is the book for you!"

Robert Morris, senior pastor at Gateway Church, bestselling author of The Blessed Life, Beyond Blessed, and Take the Day Off

"In a day when there are leadership books written by those who never really successfully led an organization and church growth books written by those who never spent time pastoring a church, it is refreshing to discover this new volume by David Green with Bill High whose tried and true principles have actually been beaten out on the anvil of personal experience. This is a formula that works because it is God centered, people focused, and filled with commonsense application. In fact, across the years the Green family has been characterized by using common sense. But what sets them apart is that they also have the uncommon sense (faith) to believe God can still make the impossible possible. This is a book on leadership NOT by the book. And yet, at the same time, it is a volume on leadership by THE Book . . . of all books. Read it and reap!"

O. S. Hawkins PhD, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, President Emeritus of GuideStone Financial Resources, and bestselling author of The Code Series of devotionals with over two million sold

"If you want to learn the secret for successful significance, not just significant success, this book is a gold mine. The opposite of theory and convention, David shares the incredible story of scaling from unlikely startup to multibillion-dollar powerhouse with the decision points, principles, and leadership paradigms anyone is invited to live by. The world would be wrecked by the blessed wake that would result if business leaders read and heeded this invitation!"

Mike Sharrow, CEO, C12 Business Forums

"There are some people that when they talk, you listen. David Green is not only one of the most successful businesspeople on the planet, but he lives by a different code. He walks with godly wisdom in everything he does, and it sets him apart and gives him an authority. In Leadership Not by the Book he shares a lifetime of principles that have guided him. Some have helped him be unusually successful, and some have shaped his perspective to enjoy the journey a little bit more. In all of these, you will find pure gold advice that can dramatically change your own journey."

Matt Brown, evangelist, author of Truth Plus Love, founder of Think Eternity

"If you look at the life of Christ, you will see that He turned traditional religious practices on their heads. He left the experts dumbfounded and changed eternity's entire narrative. In Leadership Not by the Book, David Green and Bill High take a lesson from Christ's way of life by turning traditional leadership upside down. Follow the practices found in this book, and your life as a leader in business, home, and faith will be transformed because you will no longer be conformed to the patterns of the world."

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of NHCLC, author of Persevere with Power, executive producer of Flamin' Hot

The Authors

  1. David Green
    Lisa Voss

    David Green

    David Green borrowed $600 in 1970 to start making picture frames in a garage. He is now CEO of Hobby Lobby, which employs 50,000 people at 900 stores in 48 states and grosses $8 billion a year. The coauthor of Giving It All Away, Green received the...

    Continue reading about David Green

  2. Bill High
    Jessica Winter

    Bill High

    Bill High is well known for three core values: family, legacy, and generosity. After practicing law with a large law firm in Kansas City, he started what became one of the largest Christian foundations in the country. He began working with the Green family...

    Continue reading about Bill High

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