Books Every Business Owner Should Read
Are you a reader? There are a million good books out there with hundreds coming out every week. “The 5 Steps to a Better Business,” “Marketing for Dummies,” and “3 Easy Solutions to Stop Employees from Facebooking at Work” are all titles we’ve heard (or made up) recently. Who has time anymore?
But let’s be honest, if you’re not reading, learning, and challenging yourself on a daily basis, you’re missing out on growth opportunities. Successful small business owners are good at a few things, the hustle (in a good way) being one. Work til’ its done, knock on 1,000 doors, hire and fire until your team is perfect (yeah, right), and Love. Every. Minute.
Here’s today’s challenge: Work on you for just a little bit every day. Self-education and personal development are worthwhile investments, so take that literally and invest in yourself. We’ve compiled 8 books that you should read in . GO!
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Written by Dale Carnegie in 1936, this book started out as a course to take. One of the points is “Enable you to make friends quickly and easily” and I would venture to say he didn’t talk about social media here. He encourages us to appeal to basic human nature which can be forgotten in our digital world.
The E Myth Revisited
Michael Gerber’s opening line, “If you own a small business, or if you want to own a small business, this book was written for you,” says it all. He takes the reader through the process of starting a business and then through making it work long term.
Good to Great
Why do some companies leap to success and others squander there seemingly great ideas by just being mediocre at best. Jim Collins answers this and offers characteristics of Great companies and how to turn your company around.
Think and Grow Rich
Sign me up! I know it’s not that simple, but this book has been around for ages, since 1937, and the material never ceases to call us out and challenge our thinking. One of his points “Know very clearly where you want to go” resonates today as purpose and dreaming big. It lists 12 other principles that can be applied no matter the profession.
Best the Best at What Matters Most: The Only Strategy You Will Ever Need
Culture. We all kind of know what it is…but in business, it can be the lynchpin to profit and productivity. Joe Calloway discusses the reasons why a great culture is imperative if you want to build a brand and company that will thrive.
Speak Like Churchill, Stand Like Lincoln
Most people have a greater fear of public speaking than snakes. But if you’re in business, you should be comfortable speaking, especially to a group. The methods used by history’s great speakers are broken down by James Humes in the very useful book.
Getting Naked: A Business Fable About Shedding The Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty
One of my favorite business minds, Lencioni’s fabulous fable explains why it’s important to be vulnerable and open with your customers. Getting Naked is an easy and informative read.
Make the Noise Go Away: The Power of an Effective Second in Command
In my experience, building a business is a fun adventure…until it isn’t. That unease typically comes when there simply isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done. The “noise” of day-to-day becomes an overwhelming din that will drive you mad. Larry Linne suggests there is a better way; employing a ‘second-in-command’ that can do all the things you can’t or don’t like to do…yet still enable you to understand where everything is headed.
Read these and customers will come flocking to you… Nah, but when customers do choose you, you won’t look like an ass.
