As entrepreneurs, many of us have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and, as such, love books. We may not feel we have the time to read but love it nonetheless. We often want to know what other successful entrepreneurs have read, what they’re currently reading, and the top books they recommend.
As you put together your 2015 reading list, here are 10 greats to consider:
- The ONE Thing – The title says it all. In this book, Gary Keller talks about how to be more productive by stripping away distractions and focusing on your most important thing.
- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber covers why most businesses fail and how to avoid these very common pitfalls.
- The Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steve Blank – This one is said to have launched the Lean Startup approach to new ventures. It provides a four-step customer development process, steps for iterating rapidly, getting customer feedback, testing assumptions, and marketing and sales.
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey – You may have read this one in high school; I know we had to, and I remember being so excited to read it. It’s an amazing book that has sort of become a staple for business owners. It is essentially a manual for performing better personally and professionally by accomplishing a “paradigm shift.” It covers productivity, time management, positive thinking, team work, and being proactive.
- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill – Another timeless classic inspired by a suggestion from Dale Carnegie that teaches the power of positive thinking and overcoming psychological barriers that can hold people back from achieving wealth. One of the most powerful takeaways from the books is the six steps to wealth and the script he recommends creating and referring to regularly.
- Rework by Jason Fried and David Hansson, the founders of 37signals, is like a playbook for launching a business. It shows you how to be more productive and more easily and efficiently succeed in business.
- The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss – In all honesty, I was reluctant to read this one initially because I thought the title was all hype. But this book really lives up to the title and is a great read for anyone who wants to take more control of their life. It’s a highly motivating book.
- Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini – I love this book! It outlines the psychology of why people say “yes” and how to apply these in your own marketing or sales. It also makes you become more aware as a consumer. Very interesting read. The author is also from my alma mater.
- The Innovator’s Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change The Way You Do Business by Clayton M. Christensen – This one is on my list. It focuses on why creating disruptive technology is essential in business and how to know when it’s time to abandon traditional business practices for the sake of the company.
- The Lean Startup – Author Eric Ries provides a scientific approach that relies on “validated learning” to create and manage successful startups and deal with uncertainty. It allows startups to learn what customers really want and how to shift directions with agility before it’s too late.
There are so many greats out there. Just find what resonates most with you. Another one that’s on my list came from a recommendation from my good friend, and fellow SuccessLabr, Sean Tierney. It’s called Launch by Jeff Walker and is great read for anyone looking to start a business or launch a new project. The author gives a step-by-step on how he launched his lucrative online business.
