Entrepreneurship just got a whole lot wittier with this roundup of the 15 best business books
Becoming a great business owner can be like trying to solve a Rubik's cube blindfolded while riding a unicycle… during a hurricane. It's challenging, to say the least. Your time is limited so you don’t have hours to waste reading the wrong books. Instead, you need to fill your shelf with business books that are like wise mentors in print form, motivational coaches, and business genies all rolled into one.
The books we’ll be highlighting here all have something special in common – they spout unconventional wisdom and innovative approaches to business. They make you look at the big picture in a whole new way. No more cookie-cutter strategies – these books give you the secret sauce to stand out from the competition and make your business soar. Whether you're a seasoned business owner or just starting out, these are the tools that will help you level up your game.
So, grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and get ready to be entertained, inspired, and motivated. These 15 business books will change your life (and business) for the better… you're welcome!
1. “ZAG” by Marty Neumeir
In this fresh take on brand differentiation, Neumeier’s tagline is: “When everybody zigs, zag.” He makes a case for radical differentiation being the only way to succeed in an oversaturated market.
“What Got You Here Won’t Get You There” is a frank message to take a look at yourself, and more importantly, your behaviors. Goldsmith covers the 20 most common “flawed” habits and how to change your behavior with his framework.
This fast-paced, interview-based title introduces the “12 Laws of Mandatory Greatness” and includes nuggets of wisdom like “Never trust a manager who always loves what you do.” The book is all about becoming the leader you want to be.
4. “Rocket Fuel” by Gino Wickman and Mark C Winters
“Rocket Fuel” is an introduction to the roles of the “Visionary” and the “Integrator” – two separate types of people that ultimately need each other to succeed. When the Visionary meets the Integrator and they fill in each other’s skill gaps, you get rocket fuel and reach new heights.
This is a great book for people interested in the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), and it comes at the perfect time. At the time of this writing, EOS is rapidly gaining… well… traction. Wickman covers the 6 key components of running a company and how applying traction helps you achieve your goals.
This gripping title may be fiction, but it will definitely make you see the corporate world in a whole new light. If you’re a leader or want to be one, you’ll relate to the message behind it and the leadership challenges that play out on the pages.
Why do some companies make the leap and others don’t? How does an average company become a great business? In this book, Collins covers his original research that asks “What characteristics make a company good or great?”
We love this book because it’s half leadership handbook and half realistic fiction. “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” is all about a new CEO facing a massive leadership crisis – her new team is a dysfunctional mess that’s changing the course of the company (for worse).
“Insanely Simple” gives you an insider’s look at working with Steve Jobs in Apple’s most formative years. It has got amazing behind-the-scenes tales about Jobs’ obsession with the concept of simplicity.
10. “Play Bigger” by Al Ramadam, Dave Peterson, Christopher Lochhead, and Kevin Maney
The authors of this page-turner say that you can succeed by focusing on dominating niche categories, not outright competing in a saturated market. In the “Play Bigger” world, category kings win in every category.
In “Scaling Up,” Verne Harnish delivers his take on why some businesses survive while others drown – it’s all about how you approach scaling. He also gives some valuable tools you can use to guide your journey when scaling your business.
12. “Team of Teams” by General Stanley McChrystal
“The role of senior leader was no longer that of controlling puppet master, but rather than of an empathetic crafter of culture.” This quote from “Team of Teams” sums up the main idea pretty succinctly. It is all about the leadership principles that actually work by nurturing communication rather than stomping feet.
According to Mark Sanborn, a little bit of passion can turn your normal work life into something extraordinary! It’s about Fred, a mail carrier who truly adores what he does, and that adoration made his work life seriously amazing.
In Steven Covey’s book, he covers how some people can juggle a million things with grace. It covers the eponymous “7 habits," which guide you in becoming highly effective when you put them to use faithfully.
In Wed Bush's book, he identifies the tactical strategies of defining your product strategy, how to build your foundation, and then ignite your growth engine.
Happy reading!
We hope you enjoyed this journey through snippets of the 15 best business books to read this year.
These books are like magic wands for entrepreneurs, providing you with the knowledge and tools you need to succeed. From sales mastery to company culture, these books cover all the important stuff that every business owner should know. So don't be afraid to get your hands dirty and dive into the pages. Your company will thank you!
There you have it, folks. Happy reading!
