Ever wondered what you can do to improve your entrepreneurial skills? Check out our list of top 10 reads for entrepreneurs.
Looking for advice on how to boost your business? Improve your leadership skills? On top of Bill Gates and Obama’s reading lists, here are the 10 best books every entrepreneur should read to kickstart their success.
1. How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie
Want to make a good first impression at a company gathering? Feeling awkward trying to start conversations with strangers at a dinner party? Not sure how to gently let someone know they’re doing something wrong? How to Win Friends and Influence People has all the answers. Dale Carnegie breaks down tips and tricks on how to achieve your fullest potential in any setting: how to get people to like you, how to communicate with different people, and how to sell yourself. First released in 1936, with 15 million copies sold, How to Win Friends and Influence People instantly became one of the most popular books recommended by entrepreneurs everywhere.
2. Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahnemen
If you are the type of person who jumps on a task immediately with minimum information but is prone to errors, according to Daniel Kahnemen, you are thinking in the system 1 route. Thinking, Fast and Slow is a book based on the foundations of behavioural economics. It talks about the two kinds of thinking that we engage in: system 1, fast reflex thinking, and system 2, slow thinking where you process information carefully. Both systems of thinking are very valuable and can be integrated in any situation. The book helps with optimising decision making, understanding how others think, and also guides our approaches to life to be more aware of which systems to use in different situations.
3. The E-Myth Revisited, Michael E. Gerbe
“E” stands for entrepreneurial, and The E-Myth is a good business tool for entrepreneurs looking to leave the daily grind of the business world. It makes you step back and reflect on your business with a wider perspective, and you will gain something new each read. The end goal of this book is to provide small business owners with sufficient tools to be able to let someone else run their business. Michael E. Gerber discusses and debunks all the myths entrepreneurs face and how to get out of that stereotype, and teaches his readers to step out of the flawed mindset of being owned by the business. This book is great for those who want to start a business with a strong mentality and goals.
4. The 4-Hour Workweek, Timothy Ferriss
“Live as you will wish to have lived when you are dying.” – Christian Gellert. If you relate to this quote then you should read The 4-Hour Workweek. By the end of the book, you’ll be able to not only design your ideal lifestyle but also actualise it, turning your ideal life into a reality. This book is for those who are looking to find ways to reduce the amount of time they spend on non-important tasks or for those looking to optimise their time.
5. The Lean Startup, Eric Ries
Every company has a shot at being successful, but why are some companies more prone to fail? The Lean Startup is a good read for those who are trying to get into the mindset of building a startup. Critics even say you should treat this book as a cheat sheet to refer back to every year. Listed as an essential book for startup entrepreneurs, The Lean Startup uses scientific methods to teach the whole life cycle of a startup: from building your company, to measuring success, and to improving it. This is an essential read for new business owners.
6. Zero to One, Peter Thiel
Labeled as a self-help book for entrepreneurs, Zero to One lays out the steps to building a successful business in today’s society. Peter Thiel is the German-American billionaire who co-founded PayPal, and was the first outside investor in Facebook. Through his book, Peter uses his experiences to analyse some of the structures and drivers of major tech CEOs, highlighting what went well, and how it was possible.
7. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, Charles Duhigg
The most powerful CEOs plan out their days to make sure each minute is used to the fullest. If you want to live like a successful CEO and adopt some of their habits, The Power of Habit will help guide you to that direction. This book is not your ordinary self help book, as this is mainly geared towards those who struggle with procrastination, lack of discipline, and those who want to adopt a new habit.
8. The Hard Thing About Hard Things, Ben Horowitz
In The Hard Thing About Hard Things, Ben Horowitz writes about rules and tips that he learned in his life and experience with building a successful, high-tech company. Through reading this book, you will be able to gain insights on the challenges CEOs of big companies face. Whether you are a CEO, a startup business owner, or an aspiring entrepreneur, this book will open your eyes to the cruel but fair world of business.
9. Flip the Script, Oren Klaff
Ever wonder how you can manipulate the human brain to work to your advantage? In Flip the Script, Oren Klaff discusses a common persuasion tactic that salespeople use to get people to commit to your idea: thinking it was their idea. Because people only trust themselves and their own ideas, instead of pushing your ideas onto someone, this book teaches you how to slowly guide them to discover it on their own. If you want to hone in on this persuasion ability, then Flip the Script should be your next read.
10. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey
You never stop learning, and you should treat every day like a new day to learn something new. Listed as the paperback business best seller on the New York Times, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey is a self help book geared to inspire you to ask questions like: How do you want to leave your legacy? What should I do to achieve my long term goals? And what ways can I be proactive? This book is noted as an easy read, and Stephen makes each habit point clear and concise. If you want to get things done and seize every opportunity to learn, this book is best recommended for you.
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