What books should I be reading? This is something I am asked time and time again by entrepreneurs (and people I am coaching).
As a business coach/mentor, I always get asked by entrepreneurs around the world what my favorite business books are. I might as well put them out there for everyone right now to save me time later (yes, next time IтАЩm asked IтАЩll forward the link to this post).
- Start with Why by Simon Sinek тАУ You need to read this if you want to build a fantastic company. And I canтАЩt see entrepreneurs being happy in their work life until they are clearly working on their тАЬWHY.” IтАЩm living mine, тАШHelping entrepreneurs make their dreams happenтАЩ.
- E–Myth by Michael Gerber тАУ This book will help you move from being a start up to leading a company that can run without you doing or knowing how to do each task or job.
- Rockefeller Habits by Verne Harnish тАУ This, in my mind, is the single most important book that all entrepreneurs and their teams have to read. Re-read it when youтАЩre done. And ensure your team re-reads it yearly until youтАЩre doing everything in it properly. If you are doing everything this book has to offer, then IтАЩd say itтАЩs OK to move on and read another business book.
- Good to Great by Jim Collins тАУ In many ways, I think this book is one that companies need to read when theyтАЩve hit $25 Million in revenues and not earlier. The concepts are the best IтАЩve ever read. However, I think entrepreneurial companies need more tactical content.
- The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard тАУ In my mind simply the best book on leading people. I first read it in 1986 and being a business coach and mentor, I have all my clients read it too. Along with Situational Leadership (developed with Dr Paul Hersey), this book will transform any company. ItтАЩs still current today.
- Trends by Tom Peters & Martha Barletta тАУ This book rocked me into realizing that women make so many of the buying decisions and weтАЩve been focusing our selling to men. A must read for entrepreneurs in the services space.
- The Power of Full Engagement by Jim Loehr тАУ This book is what broke me from my workaholic doom loop. It will help you realize that work/life balance REALLY is key to growing a great company.
- The Welch Way : 24 Lessons From The Worlds Greatest CEO by Jack Welch -This little book has all of the simple lessons Jack Welch learned and used to build GE into a global dominant brand. More importantly, these are the lessons that helped it be such a well run company.
- Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand тАУ Every business person has to read this book. ItтАЩs time we really see the entrepreneur as the hero and realize how much government is crippling our nations today. GovтАЩt should serve the people not strip away all their earnings and make it harder for companies to grow.
- ManтАЩs Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl тАУ While it isnтАЩt a business book it will show you how much the human spirit can overcome and why youтАЩll overcome every struggle you encounter if youтАЩre clear on what life is really all about. This is a great read before or after Start With Why.
+1 More тАФ Endurance: ShackletonтАЩs Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing тАУ The Riveting true story of Ernest Shackleton that will rock your world. Simply the greatest book IтАЩve ever read. Tons of leadership lessons from this if you need them too, but itтАЩs also a fantastic read. Steve Jobs bought a copy for every employee at Apple. My grandfather Cam Shortts, who was one of the most voracious readers ever, said it was his favorite book of all time. Years ago, I bought a copy for EVERY franchisee at 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and it blew them away. When you see what they endured, you will KNOW that youтАЩll build your dream too.
Enjoy. But frankly, I think business owners spend FAR too much time reading business books and not enough time putting the business lessons they learn deep in place in their companies.
I took 24 months off business book reading. Now for every 1 business book I read, I next read 4 for fun. Just something to consider!
Enjoy. But frankly, I think business owners spend FAR too much time reading business books and not enough time putting the business lessons they learn deep in place in their companies. COO Alliance Group can provide insights about how to apply your knowledge to the real world.
And in case you don’t already know, I have written two books…and although I am bias I’ll say that both of them should also be on your reading list.
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