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 I’m asked I’ll forward the link to this post)… (EDIT – I guess I should at least now add Double Double to this list, as it took me over two years to write it for you – and it’s now being used by companies in 20 countries)… You can get Chapter 1 for free at that link too…
- Start with Why
by Simon Sinek – You need to read this if you want to build a fantastic company. And I can’t see anyone being happy in their work life until they are clearly working on their “Why” too. I’m living mine, ‘Helping entrepreneurs make their dreams happen’.
- E-Myth by Michael Gerber – This book will help you move from being a start up to where you are leading a company that can run without you doing or knowing how to do each task or job.
- Rockefeller Habits
by Verne Harnish – This in my mind is the single most important book that EVERY entrepreneurial company and their teams have to read. Re-read it when you’re done. And ensure your team re-read it yearly until you’re doing everything in it properly. If you are doing everything this book has to offer then I’d say it’s OK to move on and read another business book.
- Good to Great
by Jim Collins – In many ways I think this book is one that companies need to read when they’ve hit $25 Million in revenues and not earlier. The concepts are the best I’ve ever read. However in many ways I think entrepreneurial companies need more tactical content.
- The One Minute Manager
by Ken Blanchard – 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. Combining this book with Situational Leadership (the content developed with Dr Paul Hersey will transform any company). It’s still current today.
- Trends
by Tom Peters & Martha Barletta – This book rocked me into realizing that women make so many of the buying decisions and we’ve been focusing our selling to men. A must read for anyone in the services space.
- The Power of Full Engagement
by Jim Loehr – 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 – Every business person has to read this book. It’s time we really see the entrepreneur as the hero and realize how much government is crippling our nations today. Gov’t should serve the people not strip away all their earnings and make it harder for companies to grow.
- Man’s Search for Meaning
by Victor Frankl – While it isn’t a business book it will show you how much the human spirit can overcome and why you’ll overcome every struggle you encounter if you’re clear on what life is really all about. This is a great read before or after Start With Why.
+1 More — Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage
Enjoy. 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.
