The 14 Best Books For Starting A Business

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Congratulations on getting ready to take the plunge and start your own business!

It’s a big step—but it’s also an exciting one. Of course, a lot goes into starting a business and ensuring its success. One of the most important things you can do is educate yourself on the ins and outs of entrepreneurship and get an idea of what life looks like for the seasoned entrepreneur.

Luckily, there are tons of great books for the new business owner.

In this article, I share the books that have personally helped me the most through my experience in engineering, starting two businesses out of my passion projects, and helping others with theirs.

These books cover everything from professional advice and the entrepreneurial journey to mindset and communication to goal setting and marketing.

So whether you’re just starting to think about starting a business or are already knee-deep in the process, I am positive you’ll find something helpful here.

Best Books For Starting A Business

The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries

If you’re interested in learning more about creating a successful startup, this book is for you.

The Lean Startup covers topics like product development, customer engagement, and rapid prototyping. You’ll learn how to drive growth through innovation and continuous iteration.

This book is a must-read for anyone who wants a no nonsense guide to business that customers care about.

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael Gerber

In this book, Michael Gerber dispels the myth that small businesses are easy to start and run.

He argues that most businesses fail because their owners don’t have the necessary skill set. So if you’re considering starting your own business, this book will give you a much-needed reality check and avoid the pitfalls of most startups.

This book will help you decide whether or not you’re truly prepared for the challenges of entrepreneurship and provide you with the guidance needed to create a business plan that doesn’t fail.

Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio

In this book, Ray Dalio (a mogul in the business world) shares his unique approach to management and leadership.

He outlines the principles that have guided him throughout his career creating one of the most successful companies of all time—including the importance of radical transparency and continual learning.

This book is essential reading if you’re looking for guidance on building a strong team and creating a productive work environment.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

A classic self-help book, Carnegie’s guide is just as relevant today as it was when it was first published over 80 years ago.

It covers topics like networking, communicating effectively, and dealing with difficult people. If you want to learn how to build relationships and get people on your side, this book is required reading.

PS: I have read this book cover-to-cover four times; each read provides more value than the last.

Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight

In this memoir, Nike founder Phil Knight gives readers an inside look at what it takes to build a successful business from scratch. He shares stories of early failures, near misses, and eventual triumphs.

If you’re looking for motivation during the tough times (and there will be tough times), look no further than Shoe Dog.

Knight’s story is an inspiring reminder that hard work and perseverance can make anything possible.

The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

In this book, Ferriss challenges societal norms around work ethic and productivity.

He advocates for focusing on quality over quantity—and doing less to achieve more.

If you’re looking for creative ways to streamline your startup or existing business, or if you simply need permission to take some time off, look no further than The 4-Hour Workweek.

Trust me; it’s worth reading even if you don’t think you can spare four hours.

Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne

Blue Ocean Strategy, written by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne, is a helpful book for anyone looking for a new business idea or to refine their existing one.

The book’s overall message is that businesses should focus on creating new markets (where they can be unique) rather than competing in over-saturated ones. This is especially relevant for new entrepreneurs, who often have limited resources and need to be strategic about where they invest their time and energy.

The book provides readers with frameworks and tools to help them assess their industries and identify growth opportunities.

Overall, Blue Ocean Strategy is valuable for anyone looking for big profits or less stress.

Good to Great By Jim Collins

In the book Good to Great, author Jim Collins presents a detailed analysis of what separates good companies from great ones.

He and his team of researchers studied various real-world examples to identify the key factors contributing to long-term company success. One of the most important findings was that great companies are built on a foundation of strong values and a clear sense of purpose and mission.

This allows them to weather storms and setbacks because they know what they stand for and why they do what they do.

For anyone who is thinking about starting their own business, Good to Great is an essential read. It provides valuable insight into the mindset and practices of successful organizations.

The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek

The Infinite Game is a book by Simon Sinek that explores the idea of businesses as never-ending games.

The book argues that businesses should not focus on winning or losing but rather on ensuring that the game keeps going. This means always being open to change and evolution and never becoming complacent.

The book is full of valuable insights for anyone starting a business, as it provides a framework for thinking about how to create a lasting and successful enterprise.

In addition, the book is an enjoyable read and will provide motivation for anyone embarking on the entrepreneur journey.

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Atomic Habits by James Clear is a book that provides an ultimate guide to creating good habits and breaking bad ones.

The book is based on the idea that we are often our own worst enemies when developing new habits and that the key to success is to identify and correct the small things we do wrong on a daily basis.

In addition to providing helpful advice on how to create better habits, Atomic Habits also offers insight into why we struggle with habit formation in the first place.

This makes it an essential read for everyone, as understanding the psychology of habit formation is vital for long-term success in life.

In short, Atomic Habits is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their productivity and build lasting success in all areas of life.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is a self-help book written by Stephen Covey and published in 1989 (the fact that it has been regarded as one of the best books for decades shows its value).

The book is based on the premise that effective people are self-aware, purpose-driven, and proactive. They also focus on the present and future rather than dwelling on the past. They strive to improve themselves and their organizations.

The book’s 7 habits can be applied to any area of life, but they are particularly relevant for anyone starting a business. By understanding and internalizing these habits, entrepreneurs can put themselves on the path to success.

The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco

The Millionaire Fastlane is a book written by entrepreneur and self-made millionaire MJ DeMarco.

In it, he outlines his blueprint for financial success. He argues that the traditional path to wealth – through jobs, 401(k)s, and slowly investing in stocks and real estate – is a slow lane to riches.

Instead, he advocates for being your own boss as the fastest way to achieve wealth. He provides a solid plan for how to get started, how to market your business, and how to scale your business to achieve success.

The Millionaire Fastlane is an inspiring and informative read for anyone interested in entrepreneurship. It provides valuable insights into what it takes to be successful in business and will surely motivate anyone who dreams of achieving financial freedom.

The Practice by Seth Godin

The Practice by Seth Godin is a book about how to become an expert in your field by sharing your work with the world (before you think it is ready).

It provides valuable insights into the process of learning and developing one’s skills.

The Practice is an essential read for anyone nervous about sharing with the world.

It teaches the importance of practice and hard work and provides guidance on how to hone one’s skills and become the best at what you do.

The Practice is an inspiring book that will help entrepreneurs focus on their goals and achieve success through dedication to their work.

This is Marketing by Seth Godin

In This is Marketing, Seth Godin offers a new perspective on marketing (which almost all new businesses need to improve).

He challenges the traditional view of marketing as a tool to sell products. Instead, He argues that marketing is about finding and connecting with customers who will benefit from what you have to offer.

This book is essential reading for anyone wanting a solid foundation in how to market without being sleazy.

Godin provides practical advice on how to identify your target market and build relationships with customers. He also discusses the importance of creating a narrative around your product or service and tells stories of companies successfully using this approach to grow their businesses.

This is Marketing is an insightful and inspiring book that will give you the tools you need to share your message with the world.

Other Great Resources For Starting A Business

Business books are an incredible resource for new business owners; however, sometimes, it is nice to learn in other ways, like reading blogs, watching videos, and taking courses.

Website/Blogs

Tim Ferriss for Business Hacks and Mindset

Seth Godin for Mindset and Marketing

Brandon Rose for Lifestyle Engineering, Professional Development, and Personal Development

Ramit Sethi (I Will Teach You To Be Rich) for Money Management

Youtube Channel

Alex Hormozi for Mindset To Create Business Success

Ali Abdaal for Lifestyle Deisgn

Behind The Brand for Great Interviews With Many Seasoned Entrepreneurs

Grant Cardone for Sales and Marketing

Y Combinator – Startup Advice

Courses

One of the best strategies to become a successful entrepreneur is acquiring skills as fast as possible and taking courses (with step-by-step instructions) is the fast lane for acquiring skills.

Here are some of my favorite courses for new entrepreneurs.

Project 24 – For Blogging

Grant Cardone – For Sales

Ralph Kison – For Engineering Sales

Darren Hardy – For Leadership and Productivity

Summary

If you’re considering taking the plunge, educate yourself on all aspects of entrepreneurship.

These books cover everything from mindset and communication to goal setting and marketing. So dive in, learn, and get ready to achieve your dreams!

When you need a break from all of the reading immerse yourself with blogs and videos and when you want to dive deep and accelerate your growth then sign up for a course.

Where ever you are on your path to entrepreneurship just know you got this!

Thank you for reading!

PS: all of my recommendations are from courses I have done, books I have read, and people that I follow so if you have any questions at all put them in the comments below or email me on the contact page.