In a New York Times interview, Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the most successful people in our generation, said he reads about 50 books a year. Although reading 50 business books may be startling at first, Bill Gates explains how reading is one of the chief ways he learns new things and tests his understanding. As an Entrepreneur and basic human being, you may often fall into a “I know it all” mindset. You’re closed off to taking on new ways of doing things or reject advice and feedback from others. It’s normal to sometimes put up a wall or get defensive at times.
That’s what comes with Entrepreneurship. You are blessed to have an unstoppable drive and extreme passion for your ideas. Which is why it may be difficult when someone tells you to remove, edit, or change something in your lifestyle or routine. Being able to change your mindset from “I’m being attacked” to “I’m being helped” is essential. Take the opportunity to learn from mentors, get a new perspective on things, or develop skills in things outside of your comfort zone.
Authors take the time to put their years of hard work and knowledge into a few chapters for us to read. So with so many books out there on the market, which books are exactly the Best Business Books for Entrepreneurs? We broke down a list of 13 Top Entrepreneur Books from the most inspirational books to how to be an entrepreneur. Our list ranges from business books, negotiation tactics, and famous books on mindfulness.
Written by a former international hostage negotiator for the FBI, Chris Voss breaks down the principles of negotiation he used as the FBI’s lead international kidnapping negotiator. He reveals tactics and strategies that will give you the upper hand in discussions you may have.
You may be wondering...why would I need to know to negotiate? Well you can learn how to negotiate when buying a car, getting a promotion, or talking business with clients. By learning these negotiation techniques, you’ll have the competitive advantage in every situation. Chris breaks down real world situations and how he was able to use his negotiation tactics to win in business.
Have you ever felt like your plate was too full and your priorities were all mixed up? The ONE Thing discusses the importance of focusing on, you guessed it, ONE THING. Whether it may be focusing on a single task or one project, this business book teaches you how to achieve the perfect work-life balance.
By only focusing on one thing, you’re able to increase your productivity and start building habits. This is a great business book that explains the step by step concept of “time blocking” and how to focus on one thing to eliminate distractions so you can focus on growing your business.
Dr. Robert B. Cialdini, a seminal expert in the field of influence and persuasion, explains what makes people say “yes” and why. Using psychology, the book illustrates how to apply these principles of persuasion to your business and everyday situations.
Let me show you an example. Have you ever felt like you HAD to do someone a favor because they did you a favor before? That’s called Reciprocation, the rule states “...we should try to repay, in kind, what another person has provided us.” By learning the principle of reciprocation, we’re able to see the power of being able to produce a “yes” response and change behaviors easily. If you're currently running a business or about to start a business, we recommend you read this book.
Whether you’re an expert copywriter or someone looking to improve their skills, The Copywriter’s Handbook covers all the essential information to master copywriting. You’ll be able use these practical advice and copywriting techniques to create better headlines, write ads to increase conversions, or ensure your e-mail messages get opened. Copywriting may seem simple, just a few words on an ad right? Wrong. “A copywriter is a sales person behind a typewriter”.
Copywriting can make or break your ads. Your copy must be able to grab attention, communicate what your product does, and persuade your consumer to buy it. The book states, “According to Dr. Leo Bogart of the Newspaper Advertising bureau, consumers are exposed to more than twice as many ads today (2020) as fifteen years ago, but pay attention to only 20% more.” So with all that competition out there, learn how to stand out and convert more sales.
Branding is essential when building a business to be recognized by consumers. This great book explains why your brand should be a leader and dominate a certain category. The ultimate goal is for your consumers to have the idea that there is no other product on the market quite like your product. And once you conquer that goal, you’ll have the ability to influence purchasing behavior and create a powerful brand and structured business plan.
The book states “you know your brand owns the category name when people use your brand name generically.” For example, most people will often say “Q-tip” over “cotton swab” even though Q-Tip is actually the name of a cotton swab brand. Another example would be “tape” and “Scotch tape”, Scotch being a brand that produces tape.
Joe Navarro, a former FBI counterintelligence officer and a recognized expert on nonverbal behavior, teaches you how to “speed-read” people. By reading their body language, you’ll be able to look for deceptive behaviors, show powerful behaviors that reveal confidence, and instantly establish trust. Of course, body language could vary per person, but having a general knowledge of it can influence what your boss, family, friends, and strangers think of you.
Did you know that feet could reveal a lot about a person’s mood? Let’s say there’s a couple out for dinner. By analyzing their feet positions, you’ll know if that date is going good or bad. If their feet are facing towards each other and even touching each other, that’s a great sign of comfort and trust between those two people. On the other hand, if their feet are looking away from each other’s, an argument or disagreement could be happening.
Have you heard the quote, “If you don’t come from a rich family, a rich family must come from you”? This book teaches you about the method the Rockefellers have used to protect and grow their wealth for generations. Imagine being able to leave behind a financial legacy of wealth and empowerment for your kids and future generations to come.
Something to keep in mind, you aren’t creating “trust fund babies”. With the Rockefeller Method, you decide the terms of where your wealth goes. So you can set it up in a way for your kids to only receive their family fortune if they finish their education or start a charity foundation. All in all, this book teaches you exactly what to do with your money and change your family’s financial destiny.
This book is the best for young entrepreneurs with a small business. teaches you a counterintuitive cash management solution that transforms your business from a cash eating monster to a cash cow. When running a business, you are the first to take profit, then you’ll be able to limit your portions into things like expenses.
Michalowicz also simplifies a way to set up your accounting to make it easier to manage your business’ expenses and balances.
Besides being skilled in business, your mind should be trained to handle negative thoughts. Michael A. Singer tells his story of what happened after he learned to let go and surrender to life’s experiences. I won’t ruin the book for you, but how could the story of a man who had decided to live alone in the middle of the woods, meditate, and embrace a life of solitude - lead to a thriving spiritual community on over 600 acres of forest, a cutting-edge software package that transformed the medical-practice management industry, a billion-dollar public company, and a massive raid by the FBI with accusations by the US government? The story teaches you the journey of a deep spiritual awakening because of a man that let life call the shots.
Overworking is common among entrepreneurs and professionals. It is not uncommon for people to invest more than 10 to 15 hours a day into their business, which can be very stressful. This book is a self-help guide to spend less time working and more time just living your life. It involves outsourcing to virtual assistants, methods to get work down quickly, and spending only four hours every day working.
Crush It is a great book for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to get their business the recognition it deserves. The book helps business owners make more sales and market their products through various available online. It was originally published in 2004 and is considered one of the most helpful books in this field.
This book was published in 2013 and is considered one of the best motivational books for entrepreneurs. Tim Grover explains how great people in some of the most competitive fields achieve their success. He showcases how to adapt to different situations and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. The goal is to teach you how to attain completely physical and mental dominance.
As a Man Thinketh is a beautiful book on the power of thought and application of it. The book was published in 1903 and explores how the mind holds the key to success. The book helps readers understand how to apply their thoughts and use the power of the mind to achieve success.
Add the best entrepreneur books to your library and let us know what you think! They can keep you motivated and help you on the path to success.
Alex Quin is a full-stack marketing expert and global keynote speaker. Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of UADV Marketing - a member of the Forbes Agency Council.
