Why I Write Books (And You Should Too)

April 23, 2026

I’ve written multiple bestsellers. People ask me how I find the time. The honest answer: I don’t. I make the time because it’s the highest-return activity I do.

Books are the ultimate leverage

A speech reaches a room. A podcast reaches an audience. A book reaches a career. The people reading my books today will build the companies I acquire ten years from now. There’s no other medium where a CEO’s thinking compounds that long.

Writing forces clarity

You cannot write a book on a topic you don’t truly understand. The act of writing exposes every gap in your thinking. I’ve killed more bad strategies on the page than I ever have in a boardroom.

The real reason to write

The best CEOs I know aren’t writing for readers. They’re writing for themselves — to codify what they’ve learned before they forget. Every middle market operator should have a book-length manuscript of their playbook, whether they publish it or not.

Want Bill to speak to your team, board, or event?

Bill Canady keynotes sharpen middle market executives on turnaround, profitable growth, and the 80/20 discipline behind $3B+ in enterprise value. Inquire about speaking engagements at billcanady.com.

About the Author

Bill Canady

Bill Canady is a national best-selling author, Founder & CEO of The 80/20 Institute, and a global business leader known for transforming companies into high-performing, profitable enterprises. Over the course of his career, Bill has led multibillion-dollar organizations through their most critical challenges—navigating complex regulatory, investor, and media environments—while consistently delivering profitable growth.

Drawing on decades of executive experience, Bill created the Profitable Growth Operating System (PGOS), a proven framework designed to help leaders cut complexity, focus on the critical few, and accelerate growth. Through The 80/20 Institute, he and his team partner with CEOs, executives, and entrepreneurs worldwide to apply the 80/20 methodology in real-world settings, unlocking revenue growth, margin expansion, and shareholder value.

As both an operator and advisor, Bill’s mission is clear: to give leaders the tools, systems, and confidence they need to achieve sustainable, profitable growth — without sacrificing focus, culture, or execution.

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