Building the right entrepreneurial mindset doesn’t start with business plans or funding; it begins with how you think, adapt, and persist through uncertainty. The books that truly shape entrepreneurs go beyond tactics; they challenge limiting beliefs, strengthen resilience, and cultivate long-term vision in the face of constant change.
21 entrepreneurs share the books that shaped their entrepreneurial mindset
From mastering self-discipline and embracing failure to developing strategic thinking and emotional intelligence, certain books leave a lasting impact on how entrepreneurs approach both business and life. We asked founders and business leaders which books most influenced their mindset, and here are the ones they believe every aspiring entrepreneur should read.
1. Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell
Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell should be mandatory reading for any entrepreneur who feels trapped in their own business. Martell shows how to step out of the daily grind and focus on the work that actually drives growth. We see this all the time with business owners stuck doing too much themselves. The book gives a clear framework for reclaiming control and creating more space to lead. If you apply these principles early instead of fixing them later, it’s a real game-changer.
Thanks to Morgan Wilson, Creditte!
2. The Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
If I had to pick one book every entrepreneur should read, it’s The Shoe Dog by Phil Knight instead. It’s chaos, grit, ego, and obsession, basically entrepreneurship in print form. It taught me that every founder you admire was winging it 90% of the time. When I was building Pearl Lemon, that realization kept me sane. You don’t need to feel ready; you need to stay in motion. Every chapter of Shoe Dog screams that imperfect action beats perfect theory, every damn time.
Thanks to Deepak Shukla, Pearl Lemon!
3. Start Right by Sangeeta Mulchandani
Most entrepreneurship books jump straight into tactics and strategies like finding your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP), but skip the foundational mindset that determines whether you'll actually succeed. “Start Right” by Sangeeta Mulchandani shaped the building of Teacher PA. I knew the pain points intimately but hadn't considered the many possible solutions. This means exploring multiple pathways rather than locking into a single solution too quickly, and the safety net concept made that possible by encouraging consulting income while I tested different approaches.
Thanks to Janet Moeller, Teacher PA!
4. 100's of Tips, Tricks & Loopholes
There is an extensive new book series on the horizon, entitled “100's of Tips, Tricks & Loopholes.” Each volume dives more and more into not only the right mindset but step-by-step instructions for entrepreneurs seeking to scale, climb, write, and make sales. You name it, it's all there. Literally, one of the best book series to date. It begins with where to start and how to succeed with the end in mind. It provides you with tricks and loopholes that are not normally told. The series takes you from writing to selling, to marketing, to multiple sales.
Thanks to Chantay Bridges, Bridges Publishing House!
5. Essentialism by Greg McKeown
Essentialism by Greg McKeown is the ultimate entrepreneurial mindset reset. When you run a business, it’s easy to believe success means doing more, and this often leads to more clients, more offers, and more chaos. This book flips that script and reminds you that focus is the real flex. It taught me to ditch busywork disguised as progress and to pour my energy into the few things that actually move the needle. Essentialism is the permission slip to simplify your business, say “no” more often, and to build a business that supports the life you actually want to lead.
Thanks to Cat Dunn.
6. 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
One book that has profoundly shaped both my mindset and my approach to entrepreneurship is 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. It taught me that growth isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing less of what doesn’t matter and focusing only on what truly moves the needle. That concept completely reframed how I run my business and mentor others. It helped me release perfectionism, simplify my strategies, and scale with more clarity and energy than ever before.
Thanks to Sasha Eburne.
7. The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz
The book that resonated with me the most and shaped my entrepreneurial life was The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz. It speaks about the realities of leadership when there are no easy answers. It shaped how I lead in the toughest moments, when my company faced real threats. You have to go head-down and find other ways to sort things out. Horowitz calls this using ‘lead bullets’ instead of looking for magic solutions. That mindset helps you stay focused during tough periods when the path forward isn’t clear.
Thanks to Stefan Zhang, Dream Garden!
8. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
The top spot has long belonged to Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” It’s a book that captures most – if not all – of the truly transformative approaches to personal and professional effectiveness. After that, the rest depends on the type of entrepreneur you are and the kind of business you’re building. My current top four (I revisit this list from time to time) are: “Make It Stick” by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel, “Alchemy” by Rory Sutherland, all books by Alex Hormozi, and all books by Russell Brunson
Thanks to Jeff Tilley, Muncly!
9. Drive by Daniel Pink
Daniel Pink’s “Drive” has profoundly influenced my thinking about motivation and leadership. Entrepreneurs often assume financial success will drive performance, but Pink’s research shows that autonomy, mastery, and purpose are far more powerful motivators. Those principles have guided much of our work at HRDQ and HRDQ-U, where learning isn’t just about instruction but inspiration. When I first stepped into a leadership role, I thought structure and clear direction were the key. I realized people do their best work when they’re trusted to take ownership.
Thanks to Bradford R. Glaser, HRDQ!
10. The Art of Impossible by Steven Kotler
I recommend reading “The Art of Impossible” by Steven Kotler. This book discusses the mindset of overcoming challenges and the necessary tools to make an impact in your world. The author encompasses 20 years of research on elite performers: athletes, artists, scientists, CEOs, and the list goes on. Doing the impossible goes beyond entrepreneurship; it’s also about setting goals in your personal life. It empowers readers to dream big and embark on a journey of achieving their goals.
Thanks to Kimberly Ihekwoaba, Copywriter with Kim!
11. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
I've found “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries to be absolutely essential for developing an entrepreneurial mindset. What resonated most was Ries's emphasis on validated learning and rapid iteration, principles that directly shaped how we approached product development at DataNumen. In data recovery software, the technical challenges are immense, but the real breakthrough came when we stopped trying to build the “perfect” solution in isolation and started getting customer feedback early and often. The book taught me that failure isn't the opposite of success; it's a data point that guides you toward it.
Thanks to Chongwei Chen, DataNumen!
12. Build. Excite. Ignite by Jim Cock
Mindset is the foundation that fuels sustainable success. “Build. Excite. Ignite”, by Jim Cock offers a real, raw, and relatable perspective on what it truly takes to start and grow a business. Through honest storytelling and practical insights, the book helps readers break through limiting beliefs and embrace the messy, unpredictable nature of entrepreneurship. Its down-to-earth tone and actionable mindset shifts make it more than just inspiration; it becomes a guide that empowers business owners to move forward with confidence, resilience, and clarity. This book isn’t just helpful; it is essential.
Thanks to Melissa Rodda, Mel Jean Rodda!
13. Financial Intelligence by Karen Berman and Joe Knight
Financial Intelligence by Karen Berman and Joe Knight strips away all the MBA jargon and teaches you how to actually read financials like someone who has to make payroll decisions when you're starting out. It walks you through one company's entire financial story using real numbers you can literally recreate in Excel and follow along, and teaches you the art of understanding your cash flow, margins, and profitability in plain English. I highly recommend it for newbies.
Thanks to Christopher Keane, Newfi Lending!
14. Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
For developing the right mindset for entrepreneurship, I find the book “Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin to be the most essential. It’s all about taking full responsibility for every decision, action, and outcome, something I believe is key to success in business and in life. Being competitive, whether with myself or the challenges around me, and setting high standards for my team. This book reinforces that leadership is about clarity, accountability, and decisiveness, all of which drive results. It also aligns with how I approach growth personally, always striving to be the best version of myself, learning from setbacks, and tackling challenges head-on.
Thanks to Rebecca Bryson, BTE Plant Sales!
15. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
If there’s one book that still sticks with me, it’s The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. It’s blunt, weirdly spiritual, and hits way harder than a business textbook ever could. It doesn’t sugarcoat anything. It basically tells you that your biggest enemy is your own procrastination. I mean, resistance with a capital R; Pressfield treats it like it’s alive. That’s the part most people skip when they jump into business. They’re chasing big ideas, but flinch the second things get uncomfortable. This book flips that switch. In a sense, entrepreneurship is about being wildly persistent in the face of invisible pushback.
Thanks to Guillermo Triana, PEO-Marketplace!
16. The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday
The most essential book for an entrepreneurial mindset, in my opinion, is “The Obstacle Is the Way” by Ryan Holiday. Not because it is trendy or sounds smart, but because it rewired how I respond to chaos, especially when we had thousands stuck in delayed inventory across two ports for days. You cannot panic your way through that. You need stoicism that produces action. This book teaches you how to hold your nerve, turn hits into levers, and stop blaming things that do not move. I re-read it every time we’re reworking product lines or scaling out logistics.
Thanks to Kieran Sheridan, GulfPhysio!
17. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
There is one book that hit me hard early in my career and shaped how I think about ownership, failure, and grit: Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. It is raw, direct, and built on real experience, not theory. The book pushes you to stop pointing fingers and start taking full responsibility for every outcome, good or bad. That lesson stuck. That is why Extreme Ownership stays on my desk: dog-eared, highlighted, and full of grit. It teaches how to lead yourself first, so your team follows naturally.
Thanks to Aaron Jakel, Bubblegum Roofing!
18. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
For developing the right mindset in entrepreneurship, I always recommend Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. It’s a classic, but the principles are timeless, especially the idea that success begins with your thoughts long before it shows up in your results. Hill studied successful leaders and uncovered common traits like clarity of purpose, persistence, and faith in the process. Early in my career, I relied heavily on mindset when I didn’t have experience or resources. This book reinforced the belief that discipline, goal-setting, and resilience make the difference.
Thanks to Jimmy Welch.
19. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
One book I recommend for anyone stepping into entrepreneurship is Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. It teaches a principle I had to learn early in my career: success isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what truly matters. Between managing clients, court deadlines, and running a practice, I realized that saying yes to everything spreads you thin and leads to mistakes. McKeown explains how to cut out distractions, identify your highest priorities, and protect your time so you can focus on real progress. Entrepreneurship demands clarity and discipline, not constant motion.
Thanks to Justin Lovely, Lovely Law Firm Injury Lawyers!
20. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
One book I often recommend to aspiring entrepreneurs is Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. It’s not a business manual, it’s a mindset shift. The core message is simple: leaders take full responsibility for everything that happens on their watch, no excuses. That hit home for me early in my career. The book breaks down principles like clear communication, planning, and staying calm under pressure, skills that matter whether you’re managing a construction site or a growing team.
Thanks to Victor Fiore, Magnolia Home Remodeling Group!
21. The Mom Test
My book recommendation for all entrepreneurs is to read The Mom Test. When starting a business, the biggest risk is solving the wrong problem. It’s a mistake I’ve made myself and seen many other entrepreneurs make as well. The strategies outlined in The Mom Test help build the right mindset for asking better questions, validating ideas through honest customer feedback, and identifying real problems early. This approach reduces assumptions and significantly increases the chances of long-term business success.
Thanks to Keiran James, Business Sales!
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