The 6 Best Business Books for Entrepreneurs
One of the best ways to learn about any topic, but especially business and self-development, is by learning from others. When we open ourselves up to the experiences and stories of others, we are able to learn from their failures and shortcomings to discern the best possible path for our success. After all, if someone has already solved the equation, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Learn how they were able to do it, and find ways to improve upon it. There are many ways to learn from others, such as mentors, podcasts, and films. My favorite way of learning from the experiences of others is through reading their books.
Many of the most successful people in the world have written books. They have figured out how to “make it” and want to give back and help others “make it” as well. You might as well take advantage of this shared knowledge and use it to build the life and business of your dreams in the most efficient way possible.
This blog lists 6 of my favorite entrepreneurial and self/development books I recommend to all entrepreneurs, both current and aspiring. They all deliver unique perspectives and lessons on how to grow and scale a business, become a better leader, and be able to reap the rewards of your hard work.
1. How to Win Friends and Influence People- Dale Carnegie
“Names are the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”
Although the title of this book comes across as being a bit manipulative, it is by far the book that has helped me the most in progressing my business career and even other aspects of my life. If you only read one book on this list, let it be this one. Carnegie outlines how the human mind operates and how you can use these proven facts to handle people in a way that will make them like you and be more open to your point of view. He states the importance of remembering names and being a good listener. People love talking about themselves and feeling important. He shows ways you can let them do this more often by becoming genuinely interested in them and encouraging them to talk. He also gives advice on how you can win people over to your way of thinking in a friendly, non-manipulative manner. The tips presented in this book are ones that can be used in all walks of life and are essential behaviors for business owner’s looking to grow their business and expand their reach.
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2. Rich Dad, Poor Dad- Robert T. Kiyosaki
“Winners are not afraid of losing. But losers are. Failure is part of the process of success. People who avoid failure also avoid success.”
Kiyosaki’s book is my top recommendation for entrepreneurs looking wanting to improve their financial literacy. Unfortunately, financial literacy is not something we are taught in school. We are not taught about ways to invest and grow wealth in a way that puts your money to work for us. We are only taught to go to school, make good grades, and get a good job. As a result of this, most people are taught everything they know about finances from their elders growing up. With a majority of the world’s population living with, as Kiyosaki refers to it, the “Poor Dad mindset,” we are often conditioned at a young age to operate from a scarcity mindset. Kiyosaki was lucky enough to have the opportunity to learn as a child from both a “Rich Dad” and “Poor Dad.” This allowed him to see how the wealthy view finances in comparison to the poor. He shares all of his tested knowledge in this book and gives actionable steps to improve your financial standing and literacy.
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3. The 4-Hour Workweek- Timothy Ferris
“It’s lonely at the top. Ninety-nine percent of people in the world are convinced they are incapable of achieving great things, so they aim for the mediocre. The level of competition is thus fiercest for “realistic” goals, paradoxically making them the most time and energy-consuming.”
This book is perfect for the entrepreneur desiring to have more free time and wealth. Ferriss delineates his exact methods to the lifestyle design of the New Rich, which is what he calls individuals who have learned to leverage their time to create maximum passive wealth by working for only a short time every week. As many of us have already discovered, making more money is usually accompanied by working longer hours. More money=More headaches. However, Ferris flips this philosophy on its head with his new lifestyle design methods. He teaches of the benefits of focusing all of your energy on the 20% of your activities generating 80% of your profit and outsourcing activities to free up more of your own time. He even takes you step-by-step through the process of starting an online store to generate your source of passive, sustainable income.
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4. The Startup Way- Eric Reis
“Reading is good, action is better.”
The Startup Way, created by Eric Reis, can be used by all businesses from Pre-IPO startups to small businesses, to large multi-national corporations. In this book, Reis teaches readers how to grow their budding company using the lean startup method. This method includes methods to create a minimum viable product to gauge consumer behavior and feedback along with recommendations on deciding whether you should pivot or persevere with the established path. He also explains the importance of innovation and maintaining entrepreneurialism within employees even as the business grows. This is a great book especially for entrepreneurs looking to introduce a new product/service to market or business owners in the process of scaling their business and taking on new employees.
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5. Chop Wood, Carry Water- Joshua Medcalf
“Everyone wants to be great, until it’s time to do what greatness requires. Dream BIG. Start small. Be ridiculously faithful. Control what you can control.”
Chop Wood, Carry Water is one of my favorite books of all time. This book is my top recommendation for entrepreneurs wanting to improve their leadership skills or gain motivation for the next part of their journey. Medcalf uses the short story of a young boy in love with the samurai culture to inspire the reader to fall in love with the process of becoming great. He shares a plethora of valuable life lessons to be taken and used daily. He teaches to focus on what you can control and not let events discourage you from continuing to show up and try. Medcalf also explains how comparison is the “thief of joy” and how you are “building your house” every day with your actions. This book teaches amazing life principles that can be applied to almost all aspects of life to help you fall in love with the process and reach your highest level of being.
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6. The Energy Bus- Jon Gordon
“Positive energy and positive people create positive results.”
In this book, Gordon teaches the power of having a positive mindset through a parable following George, a middle manager, through his journey to becoming a better leader and husband. Gordon reveals how you are “the driver of your bus,” and personally responsible for what takes place in your life. He states you have to fuel your ride with positive energy to build momentum and stepping blocks for the future. He also touches on the importance of the people who you keep on your bus with you. People with negative attitudes can very quickly bring you down and transition your mindset back to one lacking control and motivation. This short story is a fun, easy read and is perfect for managers and entrepreneurs looking for ways to better serve their team.
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These six books are my top picks for entrepreneurs wanting to better themselves and the people around them. The unique perspectives presented in each give insightful trinkets of knowledge to help you efficiently progress your life and dreams.
Leave a comment below if you have already read any of these books or have other recommendations of your favorites! Until next time…
Upward and Onward!
Bailey Thibodeaux
Founder of Honeywave Creative