Reset: How to Change What’s Not Working
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2025 PORCHLIGHT BUSINESS BOOK AWARD WINNER NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY OPRAH DAILY, ADAM GRANT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE MAGAZINE, AND MORE A revolutionary guide to fixing what’s not working—in systems and processes, organizations and companies, and even in our daily lives—by identifying leverage points and concentrating resources to achieve our goals.
Changing how we work can feel overwhelming. Like trying to budge an enormous boulder. We’re stifled by the gravity of the way we’ve always done things. And we spend so much time fighting fires—and fighting colleagues—that we lack the energy to shift direction.
But with the right strategy, we can move the boulder. In Reset, Heath explores a framework for getting unstuck and making the changes that matter. The secret is to find “leverage points”: places where a little bit of effort can yield a disproportionate return. Then, we can thoughtfully rearrange our resources to push on those points.
Heath weaves together fascinating examples, ranging from a freakishly effective fast-food drive-thru to a simple trick from couples therapy to an inspirational campaign that saved a million cats.
In Reset, you’ll learn:
-Why the feeling of progress can be your secret weapon in accelerating change
-How leaders can uncover and stop wasteful activities
-Why your team’s motivation is often squandered—and how to avoid that mistake
-How you can jumpstart your change efforts by beginning with a “burst”
The book investigates mysteries: Why the middle is the roughest part of a change effort. Why inefficiency can sometimes accelerate progress. Why getting “buy-in” is the wrong way to think about change.
What if we could unlock forward movement—achieving progress on what matters most—without the need for more resources? The same people, the same assets…but dramatically better results. Yesterday, we were stuck. Today, we reset.
Dr Ali Victor Binazir –
The funniest business book I’ve ever read AND exceptionally useful, too
This is by far the funniest business book I have ever read. Here’s the thing: to find the jokes, you have to read the footnotes, because that’s where Dan hides most of them. And if you’re reading the footnotes, might as well read the whole book!That would be a great idea, because this is pretty much a perfect business book. It teaches you a specific skill set succinctly, via resonant stories, and repetition of key concepts in memorable context. For example, Dan quotes health care expert Paul Batalden: “Every system is designed to get the results it gets.” And then the idea shows up over and over again, until you say, “Ohhh, I get it now. The dysfunction *is* the function.” Or: defining ‘waste’ as “any activity that doesn’t add value for the customer.” So simple, yet so profound in its implications.Dan — whom I will address by first name not just because we’re besties, but because he wouldn’t want his brother Chip to get unearned credit for not writing this book — divides the book into two main sections. First is “Finding Leverage Points”, where you seek the small actions that can yield disproportionate results:1) Go and see the work.2) Consider the goal of the goal: Identify alternate pathways to your ultimate destination.3) Study the bright spots: Who’s getting great results? Emulate that.4) Target the constraint: Assess the #1 force that is holding you back.5) Map the system: Rise above the silos to spot promising targets for action.The second half of the book, Restack Resources, exhorts you to implement the insights gleaned from the first half into six strategies for change:1) Start with a burst2) Recycle waste: Discontinue efforts that don’t serve the mission.3) Do less AND more: Shift resources from lower-value work to higher-value.4) Tap motivation: Prioritize the work that’s required and desired.5) Let people drive: Give your team the autonomy to lead the change efforts.6) Accelerate learning: Get better, faster feedback to guide your work.In the process, you’ll find out why Chick-fil-A has the most effective drive-through on the planet; how to think not just outside the box but outside the *planet* when trying to detect methane leaks; and how a moribund library turned around to become the toast of the town of Pottsboro, Texas.Each chapter contains conceptual gems that would each be worth the admission price (e.g. the “Miracle Question” for relationships, and “cluckwork”). I am also inordinately fond of the Whirlwind Reviews at the end of each chapter, summarizing the key concepts. And drawings! Note that Dan’s strategies are equally applicable to personal life, not just business problems. As such, I heartily recommend this delightfully concise book to all of you problem solvers out there. Get “Reset” for proven strategic gems that solve real-life problems, whether you want to mitigate climate change or to get your kids to clean their rooms.– Ali Binazir, M.D., M.Phil., Happiness Engineer and author of The 5 Hidden Love Questions: Radically Simple Strategies to Date Smarter, Own Your Power, and Flourish, and The Tao of Dating: The Smart Woman’s Guide to Being Absolutely Irresistible, the highest-rated dating book on Amazon for 8 years
Amazon Customer –
Easy to read and interesting!
This book led me to buying all other Heath brother books. I love how it’s written with stories and examples. Its a quick, engaging read but informative at the same time. Perfect blend of fact and entertainment for me
Jiri Palacky –
key question: What matters most to you and what is getting in the way?
Poorly functioning organization results in waste, downtime, waste that adds work, slows down. The author recommends to learn quickly , get the right information at the right time, map the system, install simple checks whether people are happy or not, (by asking simple questions: What matters most to you and what is getting in the way? ) in real time (Post-it notes) to be able to agilely move resources where something is not working, test paper pilots in sprints and practice teamwork, allocate resources instead of dysfunctional user support and create an expert advisory team that responds competently to a selection of queries.
Mike S –
Great read!
Very insightful and I enjoyed the stories. I felt like I learned a lot that I can apply to work and life. Highly recommended!
John –
Top 5 Favorite Books for Entrepreneurs
This book is in my top 5 all time best reads that I will continually go back to as I build my business. So well articulated and helpful in getting me thinking about how to make changes in areas of my video production business where things are stuck or experiencing friction.
WEW2 –
Practical, Methodical, Engaging
Heath’s advice is well-organized with great illustrations that demonstrate the methodology and bring it to life. It’s one of the few books I’ve recently read that I hated to stop reading and eagerly look forward to the next time I could pick it up again.
Amazon Customer –
YOU CAN MAKE SOME GOOD EFFORTS
SOME OF WHAT IS HERE IS COMMON SENSE. BUT THERE IS SOME POINTS ON REDUCING WASTES AND OTHER USEFUL POINTS.
zach –
Worth your time
Just finished “Reset” and wow – Dan Heath nails it!Heath cuts through the noise with practical advice that actually makes sense. Instead of rushing back to old habits, he shows how to cherry-pick what worked before while ditching what didn’t.The stories from real companies are the best part. They show his ideas in action without getting preachy. His take on hybrid work is refreshingly balanced – no one-size-fits-all solutions here.If you’re trying to figure out what work should look like now, grab this book. It’s an easy read with ideas you can use right away. Definitely one of Heath’s best!
reggie3 –
Well written, good information
Amazon Customer –
Interesting development and application of the lever effect. Thanks
Suchitra Eswaran –
Dan has written a gripping book about how to Reset. It has given me a great perspective on how to change things. Absolutely recommend reading this.
Mel Loy –
Another Heath masterpiece! Solid research backs insights that will make you think differently about who to get started when things might feel stuck.
Angela Shurina –
I’ve been in executive and leadership coaching for 15 years, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: what stops us isn’t a lack of talent, strategy, or resources. It’s not having a plan to address what’s not working.But how do you identify what’s not working?And how do you change it to make things work?I was blown away by the depth of research and the wealth of resources presented in this book. The structured approach made even the most complex challenges—whether with clients or in growing my consulting business—feel manageable and solvable.The best part?I now have a toolkit to tackle these challenges head-on.I’ve been eagerly anticipating this book for months, and it absolutely delivers!It’s a resource I’ll keep coming back to, time and time again. After all, my job is to help leaders get unstuck and make real progress. In the complexity of today’s life and business, that’s no small feat.Thank you, Dan, for creating such a masterpiece!P.S. One word of caution: the book opens the door to so many additional resources—books, articles, courses, case studies—that I might have my study schedule filled for the entire year. And honestly, I couldn’t be more excited. Thank you, Dan!