Owning a business is not easy. Not only do you have your hands full with building and growing your organization, but you need to make sure you are creating an effective and efficient internal culture, and work hard to try and get the company to a point where it can run without you. You have a very real stake in every piece of the company, and did I forget to mention that you also want to try to have a life outside of work?
Especially for SMBs, effective leadership and management can make all the difference in the world. So, our top dogs at Network Depot have put together a list of books they believe every business owner should read (actually, not just business owners. These books can be extremely helpful for all employees in the company).
1. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Reading this book will teach you how to look differently at all the opportunities in your life, both work and personal. It is a complete reference book that details the fundamentals of the success philosophy that will help you maintain positive thinking and achieve your goals.
2. The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber
This book takes you through the life cycle of a business, and explains at every stage how to keep your business moving forward. By applying these lessons of franchising to your organization, even if it is not a franchise, you will see successful results from the inside out.
3. Good to Great by Jim Collins
In this book, the author takes a careful look at what makes some companies succeed, while others fail. By engaging in years of detailed research, they were able to identify not only what makes a company succeed, but how those companies sustained their success over decades.
4. The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann
A great book for everyone in your company to read. This book tells the story of a “go-getter” who, through interactions with various people, learns the Five Law of Stratospheric Success, and how changing his attitude from one of taking to one of giving, he can improve both his professional and personal life.
5. Sam Walton: Made in America by Sam Walton and John Huey
Follow the story of Sam Walton, who founded and built up the largest retailer in the world, Wal-Mart. Learn not only how he discovered his dream, but how he made it a reality, and what advice one of the most successful business owners has for you.
6. Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson and Kenneth Blanchard
Change is a regular part of life, both personally and professionally. But, change is hard to deal with. Through this book, Dr. Spencer Johnson shows that the most important thing is the attitude we have about change, and how adjusting our perspectives on change can lead to a more successful life.
7. The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
Who wouldn’t want to double their income while working less? In this book, not only are there step-by-step guidelines on how to improve your efficiency and productivity while minimizing your time spent on work, but there are also practical tips and case studies that show you how to apply these blueprints, no matter your industry.
8. Guerilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson
A great book for companies that don’t have the money to spend on a huge marketing department. This book revolutionized the marketing industry, and will teach you how to build up the most effective marketing strategies for your business, while keeping your costs minimal.
9. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Learn how to take a new approach to problem solving, with the guidelines laid out in this book. This philosophy shows how living with fairness, integrity, service, and human dignity (to name a few) will benefit you in every aspect of your life.
10. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This advice in this book will help you climb the ladder of success, and stay there. It shows you how to interact successfully with the people around you, contributing to both your benefit, their benefit, and the benefit to your company.
There are so many great books out there for business owners and people in management positions in companies. This is just a list of some of our personal favorites.
What are the best (and worst) business books that you’ve read? Let us know in the comments!