With all this time at home, you might be on the look out for some newfound wisdom. Entrepreneurs and wannabe business folk rejoice, we have compiled a list of the 10 books you must read when working on your big idea.
Each of these books offers a new way of looking at things. Through the insight of successful business owners, you will be able to harness your own creativity and feel inspired for your next project. So, what are you waiting for? These are the top 10 best books for entrepreneurs.
How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
If you haven’t already got your hands on it, How to win friends & Influence people is a fabulous way to start your year. The book strips back our relationships with people and how we can get more from them in a non-greedy way. Our favourite line from the book?
“You can’t win an argument. You can’t because if you lose it, you lose it; and if you win it, you lose it.”
— Dale Carnegie
This book is less about influencing people to their detriment and your gain, but rather a reminder of how we should treat people around us – regardless of power plays. It is a strong reminder for team leaders and bosses that winning an argument in the short term doesn’t always mean winning in the long run.
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
This was one of our first ever Book Club suggestions and a must read for any entrepreneur in the making. Have you ever wondered what makes some people more successful than others? Question no more. Outliers is a book that dives deep into the circumstances that surround a successful person and how this aids them to become a success in their field. Gladwell uses notable examples like Bill Gates to give readers a real visual of how this looks.
The 5am Club by Robin Sharma
When I first started reading this book, I struggled to push through the storyline. The 5am Club is told in a long-winded narrative, however the golden nuggets of advice are increasingly apparent as you progress through the first few chapters. The premise of the book is that successful entrepreneurs rise early and achieve more by working in the early hours of the day. There is also a lot to say about physical exercise and its benefits to entrepreneurs, as well as structuring your day for optimum flow.
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely
Have you ever wondered how to land conversions and turn your audience into loyal customers? Dan Ariely takes a heavier approach to his research in Predictably Irrational: The hidden forces that shape our decisions and the results are priceless. Once you understand why people act on decisions and how they do so, you have a much better understanding of turning these potential customers into loyal ones.
Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
Shoe Dog is one of my favourite business books of all time. It is a light hearted read that explores the impressive rise and creation of Nike. Phil Knight tells the story from his own point of view and told with complete honesty and transparency, it uncovers how one of the most successful retail brand of our time, came to be.
The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
For a really long time I considered returning to post-graduate studies and attaining an Masters of Business Administration. That is, until I got my hands on a copy of The Personal MBA. This book is an in-depth look at all the principles you will discover over the course of a two year degree, simplified and structured into one easy to digest read.
The Four-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
I’ll never forget when this book first came out. The Four Hour Work Week promises more life in the work-life balance we all struggle and better yet, it delivers. The book reveals simple truths about how we tend to overcomplicate matters and spend too much time solving problems instead of eliminating them.
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
With more than 2 million copies sold, it is little wonder to see Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow on this list of must read books for entrepreneurs. The book promises to allow the reader to make better decisions and even more than that, how to shape thoughts of those around us. As consumers we have two natural responses: fast, intuitive thinking, and slow, rational thinking. By eliminating our prejudice, we can strip back our thought process.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
I picked up The Lean Startup in an airport before I boarded my flight back to South Africa. The book promised to explain why some businesses fail and, more importantly, how those failures can be avoided. My favourite take away from the book speaks on when to pivot and when to persevere. The books is aimed more toward high value companies and large scale ideas, though is really essential reading for understanding a business in the start up phase.
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action by Simon Sinek
It is no secret that finding your why is at the core of any good business. Take Steve Jobs for a key example: he created a product in response to a need for a product. He started with why. Start With Why: How great leaders inspire everyone to take action is one of the best books you can read on the importance of finding your purpose before shooting in the dark.
Brooke Saward founded World of Wanderlust as a place to share inspiration from her travels and to inspire others to see our world. She now divides her time between adventures abroad and adventures in the kitchen, with a particular weakness for French pastries.
