One thing I’ve learned for certain? Books provide nourishment for the entrepreneur’s mind. I personally believe that reading and researching is a fundamental component for growth in an entrepreneur’s business. The fact that you are reading this blog post means that you also believe in reading and growing. So, kudos to you for that!
I wanted to make a blog post about some of the better books that I have read that have influenced my personal outlook on business. While I have read more than what’s on this list (some better than others, I can tell you), many of the things I have read are targeted towards a specific type of business.
For example, Russell Brunson’s Dotcom Secrets & Expert Secrets are two incredible books, but they are very much marketing-specific books.
The following are books I have read, that I would call “timeless business classics.” They are all great for your mindset and each deserves a place on your bookshelf.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Rich Dad, Poor Dad covers the fascinating topic of learning to think like an entrepreneur. In my opinion, it shows the dichotomy of having an employee vs. employer mindset. It goes through scenarios where you get to “look” at how each person thinks.
Great book, and cannot suggest it enough.
Paperback, Kindle, and Audio versions available.
The E-Myth Revisited
This book should be required reading for ANYONE who is thinking about starting a business. Most entrepreneurs believe if you work hard enough you can achieve anything, which is not entirely true. Work ethic, in and of itself, will certainly help you to succeed, but will not guarantee your success! This book helps to drive home the importance of building systems that help you develop a truly scalable business.
The one thing that we don’t have is “more time”. ALL entrepreneurs, and people in general, have the same 168 hours in a week. This book stresses the importance of building systems that allow you to operate your business without investing more of your personal time.
Paperback, Kindle, and Audio versions available.
The Goal
This book is an amazing read. It focuses primarily on the “Theory of Constraints”, which is a way to learn to systematically solve problems. The book is written in the form of a story about a gentleman who is running a failing factory, and the steps he takes to turn the factory around.
Effectively what this book teaches you to do is look at a process and assess and remove bottlenecks from your business. By removing these bottlenecks, you are able to increase production, while lowering labor and waste. Many of the principles taught in this book are also used in the lean manufacturing and production processes, as those processes are based around waste reduction and constant improvement.
If your business involves processes, this is a can’t-miss book. It will fundamentally change the way you look at problems and teaches you to take a much more thorough approach to problem-solving.
Paperback, Kindle, and Audio versions available.
Good to Great
This book has been one of the single most influential books in helping me to understand business. I believe many entrepreneurs are their own worst enemies. They suffer from the “shiny object syndrome”, where they put some effort into a lot of stuff, but really don’t become an expert at anything.
One of the major reasons for our success has always been the fact that, for better or worse, we are generally not trying to support several different strategies, and instead focus on one thing. In Good to Great, this is called the “hedgehog concept,” and is something that EVERY entrepreneur should learn about.
Paperback, Kindle, and Audio versions available.
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Along with Good to Great, I believe that this book has had a profound impact on how I try to operate within our business. Beyond being incredibly applicable in business, this book is amazing for helping people learn how to communicate in a more efficient manner.
Whether you have aspirations to run a multi-person company or not, this book will help you. It will help you to learn effective communication strategies that can be used in all facets of life.
Okay, I realize that this isn’t your super-detailed traditional book report, but I wanted to simply draw attention to some of the books that have really helped to shape my personal business philosophy.
Paperback, Kindle, and Audio versions available.
Check them out, as they are all amazing reads. Also, be sure to let us know of some of your favorite business books!