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Every entrepreneur needs two things: The first is a reliable internet connection. The second is a go-to stack of business books to check out during those fleeting moments between latté-laden meetings and layovers between connecting flights. If your required reading list is lagging or you just crave an infusion of ideas, pick up a few or all of the following reads. Each tackles a different element of professional life, offering insights and sparking the construction of new neural paths.
Buy Then Build: How Acquisition Entrepreneurs Outsmart the Startup Game by Walker Deibel
Buy Then Build by Walker Deibel
AmazonConventional wisdom says the route to entrepreneurial success involves bootstrapping a seed idea and surviving a bumpy beginning. Walker Deibel throws shade on this myth. He recommends acquisition entrepreneurship instead: Buy an established company with existing traction and skip those killer startup phase headaches. Deibel’s track record includes acquiring several businesses and transitioning ownership within a few months. If I were itching to put another brand under my belt, Deibel’s instructive manual would be my definitive guide.
Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein
Range by David Epstein
AmazonHeard of “interleaving”? This thought process occurs when we apply a jack-of-all-trades mentality to problems. By creatively using what we know to assess and solve the unknown, we welcome true innovation. For David Epstein, interleaving requires us to let go of our penchant for hyper-specialization, which schools use to direct students toward well-defined career paths rather than promoting exploration. As a die-hard dabbler, I appreciated this book for its support of across-the-board experimentation in search of greatness.
Brave, Not Perfect: Fear Less, Fail More, and Live Bolder by Reshma Saujani
Brave, Not Perfect by Reshma Saujani
AmazonReshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code, argues that most little girls are expected to pursue the sure path rather than take risks. By unearthing the power of failure instead, they can use life’s inevitable flops as paths to self-discovery and achievement. Saujani hopes to normalize rejection and failure for girls, reducing their reluctance to join the tech field or launch a startup. Having experienced my share of rejection in business, I found Brave insightful and thought-provoking. Use it to challenge your limiting beliefs—and perhaps your parenting decisions.
Chasing the High: An Entrepreneur's Mindset Through Addiction, Lawsuits, and His Journey to the Edge by Michael G. Dash
Chasing the High by Michael G. Dash
AmazonMichael Dash was a successful professional and functioning addict, fueled by a quest for the next high. His struggle to conquer gambling and drug use led him to lift the veil on how widespread addiction problems are among leaders. While I’m grateful I’ve never battled addiction, Dash’s case for not allowing past mistakes to taint future opportunities still resonated with me. Each page of Dash’s book offers insights and revelations applicable to anyone who battles darkness and deserves a dose of resilience.
Alchemy: The Dark Art and Curious Science of Creating Magic in Brands, Business, and Life by Rory Sutherland
Alchemy by Rory Sutherland
AmazonLogic may rule spreadsheets, but it never supersedes the power of magic. Rory Sutherland accepts the physical sciences but recommends that entrepreneurs start creating roads to miracles as a way to reimagine the future. By unbinding themselves from black and white, they can explore unknown territories. Trying something illogical may seem crazy. It could also produce unimaginable success, as illustrated in Alchemy. I encourage you to apply Sutherland’s magic-making tenets when approaching your next formidable problem.
Why Customers Leave (and How to Win Them Back): (24 Reasons People are Leaving You for Competitors, and How to Win Them Back) by David Avrin
Why Customers Leave by David Avrin
AmazonEver wondered how to woo an ex-customer? I recommend you start by analyzing your “efficient” processes as David Avrin suggests. He outlines two dozen reasons modern consumers leave brands, and many stem from typical MBA business book solutions that translate poorly during execution.
If you have become tired of spinning your wheels and watching clients leave without warning, this book will show you how to foster genuine interactions, such as through video, rather than pursuing one-off “wow” moments.
Imagine It Forward: Courage, Creativity, and the Power of Change by Beth Comstock
Imagine It Forward by Beth Comstock
AmazonThink change happens quickly? I hate to break it to you, but it will never be this slow again. That’s why Beth Comstock argues that navigating uncertainty will be the bottom-line differentiator between tomorrow’s successful and unsuccessful leaders.
Given that progress has already reached historically rapid speeds, Comstock’s experiences and guidance hold gallons of water. Using terms like “job crafting” and “total addressable problems,” her candid storytelling will leave you reassessing every choice you make to become more human and imaginative.
from Forbes - Entrepreneurs http://bit.ly/2KAHcqX
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