Beyond the Hammer - by Brian Gottlieb (Hardcover)

About the Book

Mindset matters.

Part business, part strategy, Beyond the Hammer reveals five foundational pillars of leadership, a proven approach to building teams that perform at a high level, consistently.

Book Synopsis

2025 NYC Big Book Awards Distinguished Favorite in Nonfiction Book Cover Design
2025 Independent Publisher Book Awards Bronze Medalist in Business, Career, and Sales
2025 Business Book Awards Shortlist for Business Journey
2024 Global Book Awards Gold Medalist in Business Leadership

"Brian's book inspires both successful individuals and future entrepreneurs, urging them to embrace challenges and pursue growth."
- Wolfgang Puck

• Employees that don't take ownership of their work
• Friction between departments
• Inconsistent results

These are the top challenges that face most businesses today.

These common issues create high turnover and force managers into crisis mode where they're consumed putting out daily fires. Over time, the very nature of the business changes and a new culture emerges; one shaped by the lowest level of acceptable behavior.

Beyond the Hammer approaches these concerns in two highly engaging sections: First, a fictional story of George, a business owner struggling with burnt out employees, high turnover, and frustrated customers. Readers follow George as he discovers five foundational pillars of leadership that have the power to build teams that perform at a high level, consistently.

The second section shifts from storytelling to strategy, providing an actionable path to weaving these 5 pillars into any business, enabling leaders to integrate these principles into their daily operations seamlessly.

Written for managers and leaders alike, Beyond the Hammer offers a simple yet powerful approach to creating a team where everyone is aligned, and properly positioned to win.

Review Quotes

"Brian's book inspires both successful individuals and future entrepreneurs, urging them to embrace challenges and pursue growth."

Wolfgang Puck

"Reading this book, I found myself wanting to get back to it as soon as I could find time. I learned a lot and took careful notes of all five pillars as well as the questions one can use to learn more about what motivates employees. Everyone will benefit from this book (managers and parents alike)!"

Erica Canzona
Vice President, Goldman Sachs

"A number of leadership books use fictional vignettes to highlight their lessons, but they aren't as well done as Gottlieb's, which is genuinely engaging and reads like a good novel."

Kirkus Reviews

"Brian Gottlieb's superb leadership guide Beyond the Hammer uses an inspirational narrative to impart enduring lessons about company culture, team building, and management."

Foreword Clarion

"Informative and inspirational. If you're a leader or a manager in any capacity in your work or business, this is the book for you."

Readers' Favorite

"Gottlieb's advice is actionable, straightforward, and encouraging.

BookLife by Publishers Weekly

About the Author

BRIAN GOTTLIEB is an inspirational business leader who founded a home services business in 2009--on a plastic folding table with $3,000. When he sold the businesses twelve years later, the organization had expanded across multiple states, grown to 600 employees, and neared $1B in lifetime sales. The company was recognized by INC 5000 as one of the fastest-growing companies in America.

Brian's leadership principles are simple: Have a well-defined strategy, empower your teams, provide world-class training, and execute with consistency. This clarity of focus created a meaningful culture, making his company the best place to work in the state.

A Harvard Business School executive education alumnus, Brian is an active angel investor, board member, and keynote speaker who inspires businesses and individuals to reach their utmost potential.