I Read The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman: Here’s What Stayed With Me

April 22, 2024

I read The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman a while ago, but the lessons have stuck with me ever since. It’s one of those books that doesn’t just teach you about business—it makes you rethink how you approach value, decision-making, and personal growth.

Even now, as I grow in my career and navigate leadership challenges, I find myself coming back to key concepts from this book. It’s not about flashy tactics—it’s about mastering fundamentals. Here are the lessons that stayed with me most:

1. Understanding Value Creation

One of the most important ideas in the book is this: every business is built on creating value. Kaufman explains that successful businesses understand their customer’s true needs and find smart, efficient ways to meet those needs.

It sounds simple, but it completely shifted the way I think. Whether you’re launching a product, managing a team, or pitching a strategy—asking “What real value am I creating here?” is a game changer.

2. The 5 Parts of Every Business

Kaufman breaks down business into five universal parts:

Value creation

Marketing

Sales

Value delivery

Finance

This framework helped me see the full picture—not just the marketing or tech side. It gave me clarity on how each part connects and why every role in a business matters. It also helped me communicate more clearly across departments and think more strategically in my current role.

3. Avoiding “Fake” Productivity

This hit me hard. The Personal MBA challenges the idea of busyness for the sake of looking productive. Kaufman pushes you to ask: “Is what I’m doing right now actually creating value?”

This reminded me to focus on what truly moves the needle—not just the to-do list. As someone managing multiple platforms and teams, this was a powerful reminder to protect my time and energy.

4. The Power of Systems Thinking

Another idea I loved was systems thinking. Instead of viewing problems as isolated, Kaufman encourages readers to look at the full system—how one decision impacts the rest.

It’s made me a better strategist. When leading digital campaigns or ecommerce launches, I now take a wider view: how will this decision impact logistics? Team workflow? User experience?

5. Learning is a Skill

Kaufman emphasizes that learning itself is a superpower. You don’t need to attend business school to think like an executive. What matters is your ability to absorb, apply, and adapt.

As someone who values personal development and has pursued certifications across marketing, analytics, and ecommerce strategy, this reinforced what I believe: staying curious and committed to learning will always set you apart.

6. Focus on the Fundamentals

This is the soul of the book. Fancy tools and trends come and go—but the fundamentals of business (creating value, delivering it well, and making decisions based on real data) will always matter. That mindset has grounded me as I take on more strategic roles and bigger responsibilities.

In conclusion:

The Personal MBA is more than just a crash course in business—it’s a mindset manual. It reminded me to think in systems, focus on value, and keep learning.

Whether you're running a business or navigating your leadership path, this book has something for you. It’s one I’ll keep coming back to as I grow—and one I’d recommend to anyone who’s serious about doing meaningful work.