Entrepreneurship is not a cake walk. And any entrepreneur will readily agree with this, at least secretly. What makes a successful entrepreneur? The required list may be long, but the role of good books cannot be denied in that. Here is the top among the most preferred books by entrepreneurs around the world, whether established, expert or a budding one. These books, penned by renowned authors, give that much-needed insight and guidance to entrepreneurs. After all, there’s no substitute for experience and knowledge.
- “The 4-Hour Workweek” – Timothy Ferriss
The title itself sounds fascinating! Not only that, Timothy Ferriss ably demonstrates how you can get out of the monotonous 8 hours daily routine into becoming your own boss by doing what you love to do! With plenty of practical tips in this book, you will find time management is definitely possible and ridiculously simple too! But of course, keep in mind an overnight ‘4 hour work week’ is not there. But you have to put your best efforts in the proper way to that dream cycle.
- “Rich Dad Poor Dad” – Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
In this book in which one businessman and a professor donning the fathers’ role, the authors successfully motivates the reader(s) there are much more than a less satisfying Monday to Saturday 8 hours job. This book gives that needed practical insight about chasing your entrepreneurial dream without losing sleep about financial constraints. Genuine practical tips that no school or college can give!
- “Think and Grow Rich” – Napoleon Hill
Many of the wealthiest entrepreneurs in the world will swear by the very title of this book. For it has been their inspiration to start from square one to an enviable position that they are in now! Since its publication more than seven decades ago, Napoleon Hill’s book has become sort of a bible for aspiring and established businessmen alike. A trove of a real-life example that shows how hundreds of people achieved stupendous success – not with wealth but with ideas and meticulous planning alone! And it will show you how to emulate them too!
- “Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School” – Richard Branson
Unlike conventional self-help books, author Richard Branson steps out of the way to provide an entrepreneur guide book that is not only informative but entertaining as well! This will give any pursuer that needed inspiration, or enhance the life skills, help to develop that out of the box thinking, may whatever be the need of the reader. Truly a collection of secrets that won’t come easily in real life!
- “How to Win Friends and Influence People” – Dale Carnegie
This master class work from Dale Carnegie almost automatically finds its way to the list of the best self-help books in the world. As the title says, this book is not limited to making more friends or improving your communication skills alone, but it’s an overall improviser that people from all wakes of life will find very handy. Entrepreneurs can especially benefit from this Carnegie classic that clearly states how closely personality development and business building are associated. Be it becoming a better person or a better business man, this book has plenty to offer.
- “The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses” – Eric Ries
Not to be confused with the ‘lean’. In fact, what Eric Ries offers in his best-selling work is by no means lean at all! This book teaches you how to surge against adversities, and make them look silly by means of innovative schemes. Yes, creativity and innovation are very close relatives of entrepreneurship. And, Ries shows you the way to be that entrepreneur of your dreams.
- “Awaken the Giant Within” – Tony Robbins
The author himself is the perfect example in this case. Tony Robbins proved with his life how to turn one’s around for the better; much better! He amply illustrates in this book how we can be as we dream to be by altering own mindset. By converting negativity into positivity, see the light in the darkness, use the head rather than a heart! This work is sort of a personality development course that shows we are all capable of performing incredible deeds, not just entrepreneurship alone.
- “As a Man Thinketh” – James Allen
Well, here the title explains the book’s concept in a nutshell. To be precise, ‘you are what you think!’ James Allen succeeds in portraying one of the most important and crucial philosophies in life in a very easy and effective way. He brings up a most underrated secret of success. That, we are the masters of our own destiny! We, oblivious of our own potential of self-development, often tend to succumb to adversities. However, the success or failure is entirely in our own hands not somewhere else. And many a leading business tycoons will vouch for this. In spite of so many books in the similar genre, James Allen’s masterpiece still holds its place.
- “The $100 Startup” – Chris Guillebeau
Here’s one more classic where the title itself is self-explanatory. This book is particularly for those who feel let down due shortage of funds for their dream project. Author Chris Guillebeau assures us that it’s the passion to do what you want matters most; not bundles of cash! He exemplifies this is not mere motivation but proven fact with real life stories of many entrepreneurs who, with almost empty pockets, to begin with, created enviable business empires. Read and learn that if you have got the much-needed passion, the rest will follow automatically.
- “The Warren Buffett Way”- Robert G Hagstrom
In this list, this may be the last but not the least of course. Think any book or course in entrepreneurship without mentioning the authority in it? Warren Buffett always led by example in this regard, not by flashy lifestyle but with incomparable deeds! In this book, Robert Hagstrom shows how today’s entrepreneurs, whether starters or veterans, can still learn one or two (or much more) things from the illustrious life of this maestro.
This guest post is from Hobbes S Sujith. He is the senior analyst at OfficeRock.com, a UAE based ecommerce website offering office supplies. He devotes his time to inspiring his team. With over 10 years of experience in content writing and digital marketing, he now focuses on ecommerce business by offering digital marketing solutions.