Welcome back to our new year’s reading list. Whether you already run a business and want to learn something new or are thinking of setting up your own company, these books will give you the tools you need to succeed. Here are the missing 5 best books for entrepreneurs to read – if you missed the beginning of the list check our original blog post.
For mums and dads who want to start their own business
6. “Mumpreneur: The complete guide to starting and running a successful business”, by Annabel Karmel
Getting back into the work world can seem challenging after stay-at-home parenthood, but Annabel Karmel is here to help you. After building her business from scratch on her kitchen table, she is here to help you do the same, with a good mix of stories from inspiring entrepreneurs and practical advice.
This advice in this book is highly applicable and will provide a boost for confidence and skills to those choosing to balance entrepreneurship and family.
If you’re keen to read more on that topic, it’s also worth checking out the advice mumpreneur Lisa Forde gave us recently on how she tackles the balancing act of kids and running a business.
Goodreads rating: 4/5
For those who want to make an impact:
7. “The Upstarts: How Uber, Airbnb, and the Killer Companies of the New Silicon Valley Are Changing the World”, by Brad Stone
A few years ago the idea of letting someone into your house or getting into someone else’s car would have been bizarre and seen as dangerous. Today we’re more than happy to take an Uber back home or stay at an Airbnb on our holidays! If your business idea involves disrupting an established industry, you need this book – it will show you how these giants changed the rules of entire industries.
It’s easy to read and provides practical insights that you can apply to your own business. Pick up your copy and meet the entrepreneurs that changed the game before our very eyes.
Goodreads rating: 4.14/5
8. “Conscious Capitalism”, by John Mackey and Raj Sisodia
John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods Market, and Raj Sisodia, a conscious capitalism professor, have written this plea to businesses around the world to take responsibility for the impact they have on all stakeholders. They argue that companies that do what’s best for their business and for society will be more successful.
If you are thinking of doing things a little differently and have your environment or local community in mind, this book will show you great examples of how a conscious business is feasible.
Goodreads rating: 3.85/5
For those who want to learn something new:
9. “Thinking, Fast and Slow”, by Daniel Kahneman
Old but gold, this book continues to be a best-seller since its publication in 2011. Daniel Kahneman is a renowned psychologist who conducts a deep analysis of the two systems (fast and slow) that drive how we think.
Knowing how we think will help you understand your customers’ decision making process, what you need to do to finalise a sale, and the behaviours that will help you make better business decisions. Get your hands on this book and start uncovering the mysteries of your mind.
Goodreads rating: 4.1/5
10. “Learn Better: Mastering the Skills for Success in Life, Business, and School, or, How to Become an Expert in Just About Anything”, by Ulrich Boser
Despite its lengthy title, this book is anything but complicated. If you have a desire to improve skills you already have or to learn something new as quickly as possible, this is the book for you in 2018. Traditionally, there has been one approach to learning based on memorising, but that doesn’t work for everyone.
This book will give you different learning techniques that are focused on learning practical skills and focusing on what truly matters to you. Now that you have the tools to succeed you only need to put your mind to it. Good luck!
Goodreads rating: 3.91/5