Books have the power to help people realize their dreams and maximize their potential. A good reading experience can be life-changing. Here are 10 books recommended by global entrepreneurs.
1. The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
“It is those who concentrate on but one thing at a time who advance in this world.” – Og Mandino
This book topped number one on Wall Street, New York Times and USA Today, so it is bound to be a good read. Figure out what matters and focus your energy accordingly. When starting out on a venture, a business, or an idea, it is incredibly easy to get side tracked. The One Thing, is perfect in allowing you to lay out exactly what you want to achieve and keeping the work you do in direct line with the end goal. If you look at some of the most successful people and companies, they likely are known for one thing. Steve Jobs, who founded Apple, one of the most profitable companies in the world, is known to focus on the one thing which is most important.
The book is described as an “excellent read for not only your business but any goal you are trying to achieve in life”.
With the amount of distractions in this day and age from emails, text messages, and phone calls, it is hard to not get side tracked from what does matter. In this book you will learn to achieve better results in a shorter amount of time with less stress and be able to get down to and achieve what truly matters to you.
As the book quotes “Extraordinary results require focused attention and time. Time on one thing means time away from another”
Figure out what the one thing is in your life that you want and achieve it.
2. The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
“Believe you can succeed and you will”
If you want to do more and achieve more, then you need to learn how to think properly.
The book quotes “Case history after case history proved that the size of bank accounts, the size of happiness accounts, and the size of one’s general satisfaction account is dependant on the size of one’s thinking. There is magic in thinking big”.
Starting a business is a lot of work to say the least, and envisioning how far it can go, how big it can be, and how many people it can reach, will be dependent upon your thoughts. Strong, true belief in something will trigger your mind in working through the difficulties and getting over the hurdles.
“Belief in success is the one basic, absolutely essential ingredient in successful people.”
In this book you will learn how to think to get through the tough times and stay positive. You will also learn that you do not need to be the smartest or the most talented to attain great success.
3. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
This may not help you with the technicalities of your business but it will make you confident you are on the right path.
Spencer Johnson a well acclaimed author described the book as, “An entrepreneurial tale of universal wisdom we can apply to the business of our own lives”.
When you are passionate and enthusiastic your are sure to succeed. We all inheritantly have different talents, strengths, and interests, and it is the pursuance of those that is said to be the purpose of life. In this book you will learn to make sure you are going after the right thing in life. It will not only give you confirmation but inspiration toward your goals.
4. The Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne
“Blue ocean strategy challenges companies to break out of the red ocean of bloody competition by creating uncontested market space that makes the competition irrelevant.”
A good read for anyone who does not want to enter the competitive bloody red ocean of business.
“A book that challenges everything you thought you knew about the requirements for strategic success”.
By developing new ideas and creating untouched market space your business is sure to flourish. In this book you will learn how to make competition irrelevant and how to build and diversify your business from what is already in the market place. This book will help you learn what may not be available to consumers, or presenting your product or service in a different way, making it more desirable, different, and not available anywhere else.
5. Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey and Raj Sisodia
“The longest journey that people must take is the eighteen inches between their heads and their hearts.”
A book on value, purpose, leadership, and management. In this book you will learn to not only build a valuable and creditable business but on how to better society as a whole. With tips on how to build sustainable success and what makes a great entrepreneur. Learn how to bring intention to the forefront and connect with not only the needs of society but your passion at large.
“Capitalism, done consciously, is the most powerful system for uplifting humankind to unimaginable levels of prosperity, peace, and happiness”. – Fred Kofman.
6. Thrive by Arianna Huffington
“Draw in on your inner wisdom and intuition and learn to thrive”.
Thrive redefines success from the typical attainment of power and money to the pursuant of your dreams, interests, and passions. A lot of people make their way up the corporate latter only to realize they are not happy when they reach the top. After collapsing from exhaustion the author questioned what success really felt like. Learn how to manage time, prioritize what really matters to you in your life and work towards what you trully want to achieve.
7. Contagious by Jonah Berger
Learn why people talk about certain products and not others. Why things get popular and why things go viral. The best part is the book does not equate it to advertising. The author talks about how things are spread through word of mouth and how a social influence will shape your product or business. With thorough statistical research and real life stories Contagious will give you a different perspective on how to get your idea out there.
“Jonah Berger knows more about what makes information ‘go viral’ than anyone in the world.” – Daniel Gilbert
8. Finding Your Way in a Wild New World by Martha Beck
Voted by Forbes as one of the top five entrepreneul books to read. If you’re lost on what to do, how to get there, or what your next move should be this is the perfect book. With a higher calling, and a desire to find out what you where meant to be doing with your life the book allows you to “find a remarkable path to the most important discovery you can make: the knowledge of what you should be doing with your one wild and precious life”.
9. Enchantment by Guy Kawasaki
Enchantment teaches you how to bring out the inner desires in others and make lasting impact on their lives with your product or service.
“Enchantment can happen during a retail transaction, a high-level corporate negotiation, or a Facebook update. And when done right, it’s more powerful than traditional persuasion, influence, or marketing techniques.”
10. Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk
Everything from card playing to knitting, Gary Vaynechuk will show you how to create an online business out of any hobby.
The book is described as the ‘ultimate driver’s manual for modern business’.
In the book Gary describes success based on your happiness not on your income. Wake up in the morning and actually be excited to go to work because you will be doing things that interest you the most in this world.
