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5 Books Every Entrepreneur Must Read

“I’m thinking about starting a business but I’m not sure how to go about it.” I hear this phrase quite often these days. People who find themselves out of a job and contemplating starting a new business, or  those who are trying to pursue their dreams, often find themselves at the brink of a new venture not knowing what to do next. In my experience most new businesses fail not because of lack of talent, work ethic or drive. I have seen a lot of hard-working, talented people fail because they don’t understand the “business” part of their craft.

Figuring out how to deliver a great product is only part of your business dilemma. You need to understand concepts like scalability,  sustainability, and cash-flow management. While those things might not be the “sexy” part of you do, they are vital to its survival.

Here are 5 books every business owner, ministry leader, entrepreneur should read. If you’re thinking about starting a new business, then this list is a must.

EMyth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber . I don’t care who you are, if you’re leading or thinking about leading any organization, you need to read this.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey. This book has helped me tremendously through the years on setting priorities.

How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. The title says it all.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill . Don’t let the title fool you, this book will help you understand the power of a vision.

Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne  If you’re ready to be a “game changer” you need to read this book.

What other book should this list include?

Posted on Monday, October 11th, 2010 at 4:00 am under business.

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Copyright © 2012 Maurilio Amorim

  • Susan

    Thank you for the list. It’s very good timing for me.

  • http://www.lifeasexperienced.com SethC

    I think Tribes by Seth Godin should be on the list. Such a great book on developing a following.

  • http://betterlifecoaching.wordpress.com/ Darren Poke

    When I saw your title, the first two books that I thought of were EMyth and 7 Habits so you've got them covered.

    I would add in "Good to Great" by Jim Collins. Most things by John C Maxwell or Seth Godin I would also comfortably recommend.

    I've heard of the blue ocean philosophy, but haven't read the book, so I'll have to check that one out.

  • http://www.maurilioamorim.com MaurilioAmorim

    That's a good one as well.

  • http://www.maurilioamorim.com MaurilioAmorim

    I love Good to Great, but Blue Ocean takes it out of the great category into a whole new level.

  • http://www.danieldecker.net Daniel Decker

    "Making Ideas Happen" by Scott Belsky is a great one too. Less about the business fundamentals but more about the action of getting it done.

    Jason Young and I did a pretty large survey a few months back asking people "What are the TOP 5 books ever young influencer/leader should read?” We tabulated the responses and put it into a great list that others can check out at http://www.danieldecker.net/top-books-for-young-i…

  • http://www.maurilioamorim.com MaurilioAmorim

    I haven't read Belsky’s book yet. I'll check it out. Great list, Daniel.

  • Chris Surratt

    I am reading "Rework" right now and loving it. I would put it in the top 10.

  • Dale Hart

    Everthing lines up behind Emyth-good call. How about Marketing Outrageously?

  • Maurilio Amorim

    I haven’t read it yet. I’ll put it on my list.

  • Maurilio Amorim

    I haven’t read it yet. But I’ll check it out.

  • http://www.maurilioamorim.com MaurilioAmorim

    I'm going to check it out.

  • http://www.maurilioamorim.com MaurilioAmorim

    You won't regret it.

  • http://www.maurilioamorim.com MaurilioAmorim

    I haven't read Marketing Outrageously. I'll check it out.

  • Shari

    When I saw the title of your post, Stephen Covey instantly came to mind. Anything by Stephen Covey.
    Blue Ocean Strategy is the only one on your list I haven't read… I am ordering it now.

    A couple more…
    Rich Dad, Poor Dad. by Guy Kawasaki – if you don't have these $ basics down, you should not be in business.
    Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren – you need to know the purpose.

    I'm reading 2 other great ones now:
    The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
    Plan B by Pete Wilson

    Great list!

  • Rodney Eason

    I agree with Re-Work. It does a 180 on most managerial books. I might suggest Switch by the Heath Brothers. There is so much practical information in their book.

  • http://thecullimoregirls.blogspot.com Jennifer Cullimore

    I will check a couple of these out. Thanks for the list. I think this is one thing lacking in training, especially medical training. I went through 6 years of college/grad school and a fellowship and there were zero classes on the business side of things. It needs to be a part of the training process.

  • PaulSteinbrueck

    Thanks Maurilio, a book I would add for anyone who is a Christian starting a business, non-profit, or church is The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson.

    Now I'm going to have to head over to Amazon…

  • http://www.danieldecker.net Daniel Decker

    And I would also add "Made to Stick" by Dan and Chip Heath. Outstanding book to help people understand the hook of a message and what breaks through the clutter.

  • http://www.danieldecker.net Daniel Decker

    Oh yeah, "ReWork" is a great one too.

  • http://www.fourfecta.com Mitch Ebie

    Good list! I have read a few of those. What do you think about the book "Crush it?"

  • http://www.thechasescene.com Chase Adams

    Also, "The Dip" by Seth Godin…maybe we should just add "Everything by Seth Godin" to the list. :)

    Great list Maurilio!