Are you an entrepreneur? Do you feel the constant need to improve yourself by cultivating various arts of managing a team?
If yes, this article is a seed that we sow in your mind and heart to be a better version of who you are now. An entrepreneur has to have strong habits that will help him/her grow into a versatile leader.
Now, what are the activities you think an entrepreneur has to inculcate to become successful? Reading? Yes, of course.
In this article, we took the liberty to recommend some best books and resources to help you become the best among the lot.
Why should an entrepreneur read and encourage reading?
The first rule of an amazing entrepreneur is to read and encourage your peers and colleagues to read with you.
“Reading is a path walked alone by some, but when you join hands with many, it gives you a purpose.” – Saaradha Kumar
3 reasons to strengthen the habit of reading:
- You’ll get to respect others’ perspectives.
- You’ll talk less and listen more to what others have to say.
- You’ll inculcate fluency in whatever language you read and write more confidently.
5 Must-read business books for entrepreneurs:
“Reading is an act of civilization; it’s one of the greatest acts of civilization because it takes the free raw material of the mind and builds castles of possibilities.” – Ben Okri (A Nigerian Poet)
Yes. Reading makes you realize who you are and what kind of person you want to be. Here’s is the list of the 5 best entrepreneurial books that could help you think beyond the traditional business setup.
1. Good to Great by Jim Collins:
“By definition, it is not possible for everyone to be above average,” says Jim Collins in his book – Good to Great.
A crispy two-line summary of this book would be – knowing how ordinary companies become great and how they managed to stray away from bad habits and achieved excellence.
New things to learn:
- Learn and find the Hedgehog concept concept that suits your business.
- Get to know the worst that could happen and learn from them.
- Adopt only the new technology in your business to attain your goals.
2. MiTek: A Global Success Story: 1981-2011 by Jim Healy
Who else than Warren Buffet could be more appropriate to give finance book recommendations? That’s right – No one!
The book’s narrative is about MiTek systems, a US-based company specializing in mobile capture built based on AI algorithms and works on digital identity verification.
It’s a story of how they overcame a financial collapse and stood up as a dominant supplier in their industry. This book could be an inspiration since all businesses suffer financially due to the pandemic.
Throwing in two more top recommendations from Warren Buffet –
- Shoe Dog by Phil Knight.
- The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham.
3. Marketing – This is Marketing by Seth Godin:
This book reinforces that a marketer’s success depends on the needs, values, and wants of the target audience.
Seth Godin’s books have to be read to channel the vibrant energy towards business involvement and evolution.
Another honorable mention of Seth Godin’s works – Purple Cow.
4. Zero to One by Peter Theil:
This book is Elon Musk’s recommendation to the entrepreneurs and future leaders out there.
The book urges the startups of this generation to not turn towards improving the old technology but innovate new ones for themselves.
This is said to be one of the best motivational books for entrepreneurs.
5. The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande:
Best books and resources for entrepreneurs
Who doesn’t love a checklist? I do! Checklists serve as an aid to our routine and set higher standards for ourselves.
If you are a ‘Monica Geller’, then you would understand the need to read this book to be organized and how efficient it is to stay that way.
Best business resources for any entrepreneurs to follow:
Not just reading, listening is also one of the essential characteristics that an entrepreneur must possess. Why not start by listening to other successful people and entrepreneurs?
It’s time to jump into knowing the best free resources for an entrepreneur to widen his horizons as a successful leader.
These are the best self-help you can think of for yourself.
5 Best Ted talks to look out for:
-
Simon Sinek – a British-American author and particularly famous for his books – Start with Why, Find your Why, Leaders eat last, etc.
-> How great leaders inspire action — Simon Sinek -
Seth Godin, a globally celebrated marketer with insights as unique as the everyday evening sky.
-> Seth Godin: How to Get Your Ideas to Spread -
Are you someone who believes that data is the future? Check out – Philip Evans. He is a senior advisor in The Boston Consulting Group.
-> Philip Evans: How data will transform business -
Feeling dejected? Want to know how being persistent can help you? Watch Angela Lee Duckworth, an American academic.
-> Grit: The Power of Passion & Perseverance – Angela Lee Duckworth
- Bill H. Gross is a retired American investor and fund manager from Janus Capital Group and authored many financial books for entrepreneurs.
-> Bill Gross: The Single Biggest Reason Why Startups Succeed
5 Best Podcasts to tune in:
A huge number of people listen to podcasts, as the content world seems to be expanding vastly. These are the 5 best podcasts that you shouldn’t miss.
IdeaCast – From the Harvard Business Review.
Highly recommended: The 3 types of leaders of innovative companies.
Asian Entrepreneur.
Highly recommended: “Talk to your end customer” – Interview with Christian Mischler, Founder of HotelQuickly.
Founders.
Highly recommended: The Space Barons: The Space Barons: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the Quest to Colonize the Cosmos by Christain Davenport.
Growth Everywhere.
Highly recommended: The One Thing That No Marketer Is Going to Tell You..
Business Wars.
Highly recommended: Browser Wars – Birth of a Dot Com Giant.
5+ Best Blogsites to check out regularly!
These are some of the ‘Best startup and entrepreneurial blogs’ to read to check out on a regular basis:
5+ Best Youtube channels for entrepreneurs:
5 Suggested routine of an entrepreneur:
It’s best to have a routine, whether you are a common man or a businessman.
We came up with 5 interesting routines for an entrepreneur that’ll make you shine better.
-
Exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes a day, including stretches and pushups. When you work out, the adrenaline in your body will increase your thinking capacity.
-
Meditate 10 minutes a day. Sitting in silence for 10 minutes without your thoughts straying can help you control your mind, negative thoughts, and build resilience.
-
Spare 20 minutes every 6 hours to read.
(Note: If you are a beginner, read twice a day – Morning before work and night before going to bed)
-
Listen to music and communicate with nature once in a while. Have a small garden, listen to soothing music – it calms your mind and gives you a purpose in life.
-
Sleep 6 to 8 hours a day. Split the time evenly between the day. But your mind will need rest to increase productivity.
A successful entrepreneur is a person to whom his/her team can look up to.
You’ll be a mentor, a role model, or sometimes even a benchmark for a few. Making yourself an ideal person is not only important for business development but also from a personal standpoint.
Hope these books and resources give you a new path to walk on. Cheers!