If you’d like to be successful as an entrepreneur, it’s essential to conduct research and be open to any information or inspiration you may find. Whether you’ve been running your business for several years or are just getting started, the knowledge you gain from books can help get you through trials and failures, provide hope, spark ideas, and remind you of your passions. Here are the top ten books every aspiring entrepreneur should read.
1)Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill
This is a classic title that every entrepreneur should have in their arsenal. Published in 1937 during the Great Depression, the book focuses on self-help and personal development, and the philosophy they teach can help people succeed in all lines of work. For example, pastors and boxers have applied the principles to their triumphant endeavors. Think and Grow Rich is still a best-seller and is often listed in “Must Read Books” lists.
2)Three Feet From Gold, by Sharon L. Lechter and Greg Reid
This book aims to take a fresh look at the central theme of Napoleon Hill’s work and helps you turn your obstacles into opportunities. Through interviews with business leaders and influential figures, Three Feet From Gold stresses the importance of persistence and the principle of never giving up in today’s world.
3)How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie
Another classic for the ambitious entrepreneur, Dale Carnegie has inspired people around the world since 1936. It’s packed with advice that many successful people have incorporated into their lives. Carnegie details the six ways to make people like you, twelve ways to win people over to your way of thinking, and nine ways to change others without making them resent you.
4)Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life… And Maybe the World, by William H. McRaven
Naval Admiral William H. McRaven presents ten life lessons he’s learned from his military career. He details events from his own experiences and advice from people he encountered during his service, who faced hardship and made difficult decisions with courage, compassion, and determination.
5) Founders at Work, by Jessica Livingston
Jessica Livingston fills her book with interviews conducted with some of the biggest entrepreneurs in the world, and she delves in deep as to how they got started. If you feel dwarfed by all the success stories out there, this book is an excellent reminder that everyone starts from somewhere.
6)How Successful People Think: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life, by John C. Maxwell
The successful people of this world typically have one quality that makes them stand out: they think differently. In How Successful People Think, you’ll find eleven ways of thinking you can practice yourself, which can help lead to a more successful and happier life. John C. Maxwell regards this type of thinking as a discipline that must be honed and practiced.
7)The Entrepreneur Mind, by Kevin D. Johnson
If you’re looking for further information on how to tailor your mind for success, The Entrepreneur Mind is another great resource. Kevin D. Johnson stresses the importance of positive thinking and that everything begins with your mindset. He helps entrepreneurs around the world change their thinking so they know when to keep going, and when it’s time to let go.
8)See You at the Top, by Zig Ziglar
This book has changed countless lives and is a perennial best seller. Rather than focusing on the materialistic gains of success, it teaches the value of building a healthy self-image. Zig Ziglar stresses the importance of integrity, strong personal character, faith, loyalty, and honesty. The book provides instructions on how to change the way you think about yourself, step by step.
9)The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho
This modern classic appears on many entrepreneur’s lists of favorites. By following Santiago’s journey, we’re reminded why it’s important to listen to our hearts. The treasures that Santiago finds teach us to read the omens along our paths and to follow our dreams. When entrepreneurs lose faith, they often come back to this book to reignite faith.
10)Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens
Another classic, this book by Charles Dickens is great for entrepreneurs looking for that inspiring spark. “Be a desperate spirit,” the book claims, “who dares to accomplish everything…” It’s about remaining persistent and enduring pain, as well as a reminder to stay true to a good heart and soul.
Building success can be daunting, but you have help. Reading these classic and great books can give you a solid understanding of how to grow in life and in business, readjust your mindset, and importantly, remind you how important it is to stick to your dreams. And if you are looking for some additional inspiration, check out our previous post Find Your Passion.
Written by Laura Myers