I know, I know. You’ve seen a million of these posts. “Books business owners need to read,” “books that will save your business,” etc. The thing is, though, is that most of these posts are different, because a book that has changed one business owner’s life might not have the same effect on yours! We’re all different, and we all respond to different types of writing and motivation.
The motivation is crucial, and so is goal-setting, so I’ve included books that cover a little of both, plus some that cover basic business principles. Read them, take notes, take it all in, and act on it from what you’ve learned. Always continue educating yourself, improving yourself, and further motivating yourself.
- You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
– This is a good one for people who aren’t looking for super peppy motivation with zero realistic outlooks on the world. It has SOME of the pep, all of the motivation, and a lot of realism with it, too. Let’s be honest, we’ve all struggled a bit to get to where we are now–no matter where that is specifically for you–and sometimes we have to be reminded that we ARE badasses and that we need to get off our butts and do something with that!
- Think and Grow Rich: The Original, an Official Publication of The Napoleon Hill Foundation
– The Law of Success – learn it, memorize it, use it. It’s a good one, and it will help you in all aspects of your life, but it will mostly help you become more successful in your business. Being rich means being rich in money and material things but also in friendship, family, and fulfillment in other parts of your life as well. This is a good read for ANYONE, but business owners especially will find value in this one (and maybe you can think yourself rich too…it’s not as hokey as it sounds, promise).
- StrengthsFinder 2.0
– This is one of my favorite “help yourself grow” books ever. It forces you to be self-aware by helping you figure out all your strengths. If you’re like most people, you’re a little humble (or maybe a little insecure), and knowing what your strengths are and how to build on them can be tough. This book comes with a code in the back for you to go to their website and take the strengthsfinder quiz. Do the quiz first, and then read the book. You’ll get more out of it that way. My findings were really interesting, but what was even cooler was being able to see how to utilize my strengths to their maximum potential and actually make something out of them!
- The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement
– Goldratt does an excellent job in this one of sucking you in and getting you to understand exactly what he’s trying to teach you by telling you stories. Rather than just explaining the same principles that you’ve read in countless other books or having to just read a bunch of motivational stuff over and over again throughout 300 pages, you get stories, so you can actually understand the process, get pulled into the story, and see how to apply the process of improvement to yourself and your business.
- Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence and How You Can, Too
– I feel like anything that Gary V does has to come with a disclaimer. He’s a little rough around the edges, and yes…there are swear words, so if you’re easily offended, he’s not the writer for you. He has a bunch of really good books, and this one stems off of his first book (Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
). It’s really motivating, and he’s a really smart, really successful, really REAL entrepreneur. It encourages you to get out there and CRUSH it in the entrepreneurial world. The best part is, it just came out, so it’s recent and about being an entrepreneur in today’s world (it’s changed a lot!). He even has books about crushing social media (Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World
). He’s a highly, highly recommended author from my point of view, and he can very much help you improve in the entrepreneurial world! He has some pretty awesome videos, too (again, shy away if the “F” word or really any swear word offends you…he’s not your guy).
– The Law of Success – learn it, memorize it, use it. It’s a good one, and it will help you in all aspects of your life, but it will mostly help you become more successful in your business. Being rich means being rich in money and material things but also in friendship, family, and fulfillment in other parts of your life as well. This is a good read for ANYONE, but business owners especially will find value in this one (and maybe you can think yourself rich too…it’s not as hokey as it sounds, promise).
– This is one of my favorite “help yourself grow” books ever. It forces you to be self-aware by helping you figure out all your strengths. If you’re like most people, you’re a little humble (or maybe a little insecure), and knowing what your strengths are and how to build on them can be tough. This book comes with a code in the back for you to go to their website and take the strengthsfinder quiz. Do the quiz first, and then read the book. You’ll get more out of it that way. My findings were really interesting, but what was even cooler was being able to see how to utilize my strengths to their maximum potential and actually make something out of them!
– Goldratt does an excellent job in this one of sucking you in and getting you to understand exactly what he’s trying to teach you by telling you stories. Rather than just explaining the same principles that you’ve read in countless other books or having to just read a bunch of motivational stuff over and over again throughout 300 pages, you get stories, so you can actually understand the process, get pulled into the story, and see how to apply the process of improvement to yourself and your business.
– I feel like anything that Gary V does has to come with a disclaimer. He’s a little rough around the edges, and yes…there are swear words, so if you’re easily offended, he’s not the writer for you. He has a bunch of really good books, and this one stems off of his first book (
). It’s really motivating, and he’s a really smart, really successful, really REAL entrepreneur. It encourages you to get out there and CRUSH it in the entrepreneurial world. The best part is, it just came out, so it’s recent and about being an entrepreneur in today’s world (it’s changed a lot!). He even has books about crushing social media (
). He’s a highly, highly recommended author from my point of view, and he can very much help you improve in the entrepreneurial world! He has some pretty awesome videos, too (again, shy away if the “F” word or really any swear word offends you…he’s not your guy).I’m constantly reading books to try to educate and better myself. I’ve set strong goals for myself and my companies for 2018, and the motivation and guidance given by these business gurus (and frankly, fantastic writers) is helping to guide me there.
Keep in mind, there are no guarantees. You’re not going to read a book and become rich the next day. You have to work your butt off, as I’m sure all of your entrepreneurs know, and your drive and determination (combined with skill and a little luck) will get you where you want to go. All of these authors recognize that it takes really hard work to run a business, reach your goals, and be successful, but a little motivation, information you didn’t know, and help along the way never hurts!
I would love to hear your input on any of these books if you’ve already read them (or when you do!) and what books you recommend! Comment them here, or head over to my Facebook page, and let me know!