What is one thing the world’s wealthiest people all have in common? 88 percent of them read for at least 30 minutes a day (compared to just 2% of the general population).
Bill Gates is known to read 50 books a year, making his rate of consumption nearly a book a week. Meanwhile, billionaire David Rubenstein reads six books a week and a staggering eight newspapers a day. But if you personally can’t commit to reading dozens of books a year, commit to just this short list of books every entrepreneur must read.
I hated reading when I was growing up and I was never good at english. I never really understood why people like to read for fun, It just never made sense to me.
That was until I started reading Business and Finance books and once I started these books, I couldn’t stop. It’s really weird like I went from completely hating reading to reading twice a day every single day.I have read a ton of books now.
Here are the 7 must-read books for entrepreneur:
1)How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
One of the first best-selling self-help books that were ever published, this book can be read by anyone but is a must for entrepreneurs.
After reading this book, you will be able to make friends quickly, get your employees to start thinking the way you do, avoid conflicts at the workplace and become a better visionary.
It’s something that everybody needs to read, so read it.
Related: 15 Reasons Why Every Entrepreneur Should Read Books
2) Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
This book is a good introduction into the basics of money.
Everyone would like to become an entrepreneur after reading this book. It is about a person who has two fathers; one rich and the other poor. Both fathers teach their kid on how to achieve success but differ vastly in their approach.
The theme revolves around two things: a can-do attitude and fearless entrepreneurship. The lesson is simple: if you desire to be an entrepreneur, you must take charge of your life by overcoming fear, laziness, cynicism and arrogance.
The book explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you.
3) The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
Without direction, purpose and strategy, any startup stands very little chance of succeeding. From the initial stages of starting a business to managing the growing operations, this book will assist you at every stage.
The book was written after conducting interviews and surveys with founders of real startups and hence is a must read for entrepreneurs who are thinking of starting their own business.
Related: 12 Personal Finance Tips: Journey To Financial Freedom
4) The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris
I can’t recommend this book enough. After reading this book, your life will never be the same again. People often complain about struggling to balance their work life and not finding enough time for leisure.
Tim Ferris lays out a brilliantly simple plan for taking your new “big idea” to market: pick a specific topic you know and have experienced more about than your audience; test different types of positioning and find out what your audience needs help with; then develop a product that meets their needs.
This is one of my favorite books of all-time that will show you plenty of shortcuts for taking your entrepreneurial dream to reality.
5) The Power of Broke by Daymond John
The Power of Broke is for anyone looking to crush those excuses for whatever is holding him or her back from success. Bootstrapping your way to success can be a viable and sustainable way to grow your empire.
Author (and Shark Tank entrepreneur) Daymond John built his own fashion label starting with home-sewn clothes and almost no money; he turned around his “broke” status with pure innovation.
The book also explores how other everyday people took a similar approach. One entrepreneur, for instance, started a million-dollar cupcake business with the $33 balance in her checking account.
6. Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion by Gary Vaynerchuk
Do you have a hobby you wish you could do all day? An obsession that keeps you up at night? Now is the perfect time to take those passions and make a living doing what you love.
In CRUSH IT! Why NOW Is The Time To Cash In On Your Passion, Gary Vaynerchuk shows you how to use the power of the Internet to turn your real interests into real businesses.
Gary spent years building his family business from a local wine shop into a national industry leader. Then one day he turned on a video camera, and by using the secrets revealed in this book, transformed his entire life and earning potential by building his personal brand.
By the end of this book, any reader will have learned how to harness the power of the Internet to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true. Step by step, CRUSH IT! is the ultimate driver’s manual for modern business.
Buy it here
7) 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
48 Laws of Power is a book that talks about how to and about how to rise in power and rise up the ranks with whatever you’re doing.
It can be kind of extreme at times but there’s a lot to learn about psychology and how other people thinks about you.
My favorite 5 Laws of Power :
- Always say less than necessary.
- Use absence to increase respect and honour.
- So much depends on reputation- Guard it with your life.
- Never put too much trust in friends, learn how to use enemies.
Be royal in your own fashion: Act like a king to be treated like one.
Buy it here
Bonus Book
-
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Successful people always have some qualities that set them apart from the rest of the crowd. To develop those qualities, you need to tread a carefully crafted path. Stephen Covey outlines this path for you in his book.
This book presents a holistic, principle-centered approach to solving personal and professional problems and was listed as one of ”The 25 Most Influential Business Management Books” by Times in 2011.
I wanted to learn from people who actually ran businesses and these guys have experience. So I highly recommend that you go get these books if you haven’t read them and if there are any other books you would add to the list, comment on the bottom.
So what’s your favorite book ? Let me know in the comments below!
Start up Nation By Dan Senor And Saul Singer