Reading is one of the best tools for entrepreneurs. Is your life goal to build an incredibly successful business? Then, you need to start reading the right books for entrepreneurs.
The Power of Books To Entrepreuners
As a business owner, overcoming obstacles is evident when first starting a new business. Dealing with issues such as a lack of motivation, and inspiration is tough. By reading the right books for entrepreneurs, the stories behind many successful people will hopefully allow you to create various opportunities for yourself and your business. Reading about the challenges such as failures and successes faced by other entrepreneurs can be both inspirational and helpful to your journey.
Whether you just started a business or if you want to keep yourself motivated as an entrepreneur, look no further. We have compiled a list of books for entrepreneurs to check out.
The Must-Read Books for Entrepreneurs
1. The Go-Giver, A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea
By Bob Burg and John David Mann
The Go-Giver illustrates the story of a fictional character named Joe. He is a hard worker and desires success but does not produce the needed results his company needs. Frustrated, Joe finds himself struggling to meet his goal at the end of the quarter. With the help of a co-worker Gus, Gus refers Joe to Pindar, a consultant.
Determined to succeed, Joe agrees to meet with Pindar. His goal is to learn about a series of rules called the “5 Rules of Stratospheric Success”. Furthermore, each of Joe’s meetings with Pindar is covered in different chapters of the book. These rules ultimately emphasize the focus on others and the value you can provide to them. The authors of The Go-Giver explain that adding value to other’s lives leads to unexpected returns, which could be used in your professional life, and personal relationships. The Go-Giver is a truly heartwarming, inspiring story and a must-read book for any entrepreneur.
2. Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success
By Rebecca Minkoff
Rebecca Minkoff is a successful fashion designer and the co-founder of her namesake apparel company Rebecca Minkoff. Minkoff shares her success of building a fashion empire through hard work and perseverance to live out her dream in her book, Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. When you become an entrepreneur, being present in the moment, and overcoming fear and challenges is a constant battle in the fashion industry.
The journey for Minkoff was not easy, as she shares her experiences and the simple rules that helped her grow her brand. In her book, readers will learn how to overcome the fear and challenges that women entrepreneurs often face. Minkoff shows that if you keep persevering, work hard and face hard challenges, you can make success happen for yourself.
3. Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century (Think and Grow Rich Series)
By Napoleon Hill and Contributed by Arthur R. Pell
4. Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers (The Strategyzer series)
A handbook for visionaries and game changers looking to reinvent outdated business models. Business Model Generation teaches powerful and practical innovation techniques. In this book, readers will learn how to understand design, pursue new business models, and renovate old models through strategies co-created by 470 companies and the world’s leading consultants and companies worldwide. Business Model Generation is a practical and inspiring handbook for anyone working to improve a business model or craft a new one. Ready to change the rules? You belong to the business model generation.
5. Marketing 4.0: Moving From Traditional To Digital
By Philip Kotler
Marketing 4.0: Moving From Traditional To Digital is the ultimate handbook for next-generation marketing that offers a new perspective of marketing in the digital economy. Marketing 4.0 was written by the world’s leading marketing authorities. This book offers new techniques for readers on how to adapt from traditional marketing in the changing nature of customer paths in the digital age.
6. Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
By Ed Catmull with Amy Wallace
Edwin Catmull’s dream of creating the first computer-animated movie came true when he co-founded Pixar Animation Studios with Steve Jobs and Alvy Ray Smith in 1986. Beloved films such as Ratatouille, Monsters Inc., Inside Out, and Toy Story all have major success, setting box office records and touching the hearts of millions of people around the world. In his book, Creativity, Inc is the ultimate for those who want to learn more about how Pixar came out to be.
It is the manual for anyone who strives to be original. In the first-ever all-access trip to the center of Pixar Animation, Catmull reveals the ideas and techniques that have made Pixar wildly successful and well known globally. Catmull and his colleagues built a unique creative culture based on philosophies that protect creative processes and challenge conventional thinking. This book will have you pushing yourself and employees to new peaks.
7. Harvard Business Review Entrepreneur’s Handbook: Everything You Need to Launch and Grow Your New Business
By Harvard Business Review
Harvard Business Review Entrepreneur’s Handbook: Everything You Need to Launch and Grow Your New Business is the essential resource for getting your company started in the right direction. Starting a new business is difficult and comes with risks and potential opportunities. This handbook is helpful for beginners who want to start their own business. Also in this handbook, readers will find a step-by-step guide through the entire entrepreneurial process. It includes advice from professionals, and an explanation of tools needed for success. The Harvard Business Review also includes real-life stories of companies from eBay to Airbnb, and advice from selecting the correct legal structure for your company, to developing sales and marketing programs.
8. Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography
By Walter Isaacson
Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography is an unfiltered account of former Apple CEO Steve Job’s life. Steve Jobs revolutionized the world of personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablets, and digital publishing. Even after he died in 2011, Jobs remains one of the most influential and the ultimate icons of entrepreneurship. Above all, Job’s unique and inspiring life story invites readers to take a look into the personal life of Steve Jobs.
From being put up for adoption as a baby, to launching a startup in his parents’ garage and ultimately creating the world’s most influential companies, this biography is the most detailed and accurate account of the late Apple CEO. Get to know the real accounts of Steve Jobs in this fascinating tale from the leading figure of the computer industry.
9. In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs
By Grace Bonney
Women everywhere are embracing their entrepreneurial spirit, and are creating new businesses every day. In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney, the book profiles hundreds of women entrepreneurs all from different industries, backgrounds, ages, and races. The interviews are paired with amazing portraits of these women entrepreneurs of their creations and work.
Dive into the diverse and inspirational book that is filled with advice from the world’s leading female entrepreneurs in their detailed profiles. This book is the ultimate tool for inspiration and motivation for women who aspire to start their businesses.
10. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
By Tim Ferriss
Timothy Ferriss is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and is best known for his rapid-learning techniques. Whether your dream is experiencing high-end travel, earning a five-figure income, or escaping fierce competition, The 4-Hour Workweek is the ultimate blueprint for living a luxurious lifestyle by working smarter, not harder. In this step-by-step guide, Ferriss explains how he went from making $40,000 per year and working 80 hours per week to making $40,000 per month and working 4 hours per week.
Ferriss also gives practical tips to his readers, featuring real-life accomplishments from readers and families who have doubled their income through reinventing themselves with The 4-Hour Workweek. This book also gives readers the latest tools and tricks of the trade, as well as including high-tech shortcuts, real-world templates readers can use in their professional and personal lives when it comes to negotiating.
11. #GirlBoss
By Sophia Amoruso
Sophia Amoruso went from dumpster diving to becoming the founder and CEO of Nasty Gal. In a witty and clever first-hand account, Amoruso teaches innovative and entrepreneurial skills to readers in her book #GirlBoss. This account includes Sophia’s life story on how she built her business from the ground up.
From opening up an eBay store out of boredom, then becoming the massive success it is today, Amoruso shares her advice for young and ambitious entrepreneurs on what to do, and what not to do in the business world. From her own experiences, Amoruso recounts the times where she has made mistakes and learned from them to break the traditional rules, ultimately creating the #GirlBoss movement.
12. The Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage
By Daymond John
Fubu Founder and Shark Tank superstar Daymond John share his take in his book. In The Power of Broke he talks about starting a business while on a budget, through his previous experiences, life stories, and strategies. Daymond John has been practicing The Power of Broke since he started selling his homemade t-shirts on the streets of Queens, New York.
According to him, desperation breeds innovation. So, with a $40 budget, he came up with a way to promote his products and became successful. Eventually his homemade business, Fubu soon became a $6 billion global phenomenon. John Draws on his own experiences as an entrepreneur and branding consultant from start to finish. When the bank account gets low, that is when creativity and drive are the only resources you have to be successful.
13. Year of Yes
By Shonda Rhimes
Hollywood producer Shonda Rhimes is the creator of popular shows Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, while also working as the executive producer of How to Get Away With Murder. In her hilarious memoir Year of Yes, Rhimes recalls her professional and personal life. She tells the story of how the word, “Yes” has changed her life for the better. Rhimes’ journey from being a nervous and shy introvert who turned down opportunities all changed, when she started saying yes to every opportunity that came her way. Rhimes became a confident figure by simply saying yes. This book is specifically for those entrepreneurs who want to come out of their comfort zone.
14. The Last Black Unicorn
By Tiffany Haddish
Tiffany Haddish is a successful actress and stand-up comedian. In her autobiography, a must-read book for entrepreneurs, Haddish tells the tale of her “rags-to-riches” story. Haddish grew up in a poor neighborhood in South Central Los Angeles. She was placed in the foster care system as a teenager. Haddish was struggling to read at a basic level in ninth grade. The girl faced many challenges being in the foster care system.
As a teenager, she learned to survive her environment by making people laugh and dreamt of becoming a stand-up comedian. In her first book, Haddish recounts her early life in The Last Black Unicorn, a story of how you can come from the complete bottom, and make it to the top by being yourself, and following your dreams. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good laugh and a great book for any struggling entrepreneur.
15. How to Win Friends & Influence People
By Dale Carnegie
How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie is a self-help book published in 1936. This book is considered one of Time Magazine’s number 19 pick on the list of 100 most influential books in 2011. How to Win Friends & Influence People is among the essential books for entrepreneurs and for any working professional. It helps you to learn new ways of communication and self-improvement in your professional life. To clarify, this book is life-changing for many people around the world. In other words, it is a great resource for growing your opportunities in life and improving your social relations. Even in the era of artificial intelligence, the concept and writing of Carnegie are still very much relevant today.
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