During my Elevate launch, I gifted an iPad to one lucky business owner, along with my 10 ALL-TIME favorite books for entrepreneurs. Since then, I’ve received tons of requests asking for me to share this list. So, here it is! (Please note they are in no particular order.)
1. The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield
I love Jack, and this book is chock-full of simple, timeless principles that anyone can use to move forward in their business, career, and life. It’s a great coaching refresher for yourself and your clients. No matter what your professional circumstance, this book will help you increase your confidence, tackle daily personal and professional challenges, and most importantly, live with passion and purpose.
2. Losing My Virginity: How I’ve Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way by Sir Richard Branson
This one’s my favorite, since I have spent time with this amazing entrepreneur on his private island in BVI! His fun and feisty autobiography will give you a glimpse inside the head of one of the true mavericks of the business world. Branson’s stories will shock you, while reminding you to take risks in your life and your business, and never forget to enjoy the ride.
3. The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
This book became an overnight success when it was first introduced because of the unconventional “mobile lifestyle” it recommended. The four sections—define, eliminate, automate, and liberate—show you how to streamline your life and your business. I love it because it’s chock-full of information on how to think like a true lifestyle entrepreneur.
4. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Napoleon Hill was called upon by Andrew Carnegie—one of the America’s billionaires—to interview the most successful businessmen of their time, and find out what took them to the top. Hill discovered 13 common keys to success, all of which can be learned. Whether it’s my first time reading it, or my fourteenth, I’m always surprised I gain a new insight with every read.
5. Basic Black: The Essential Guide to Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life) by Cathie Black
Don’t mess with this gal! As former president of Hearst Magazines (Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Harper’s Bazaar, and O), Cathie knows how to navigate competitive environments. While it’s not geared toward entrepreneurs, I loved her advice on getting to the top, handling setbacks, playing the corporate politics game, and more.
6. Coach Yourself to Success by Talane Miedaner
Talane was my first life coach years ago, and I still love this book. You’ll learn new ideas, tools, and techniques to achieving success and attracting everything you’ve always wanted. Her easy-to-follow, 10-part program will help you gain fresh insight into your life and your business.
7. Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi
This book drives home something I truly believe in: what distinguishes highly successful people from the masses is how they manage relationships. In Never Eat Alone, Ferrazzi gives you specific steps to connect with others and build long-lasting relationships that go beyond just “networking.” This is an absolute must-read for business owners that want to learn how to build and nurture a lifelong network of personal and professional connections.
8. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
What I love about Covey’s approach is that it is principle-centered when it comes to solving both personal and professional problems. It can get a little tedious in a few spots because this man loves his graphs and charts, but the anecdotes are helpful and do a great job of illustrating how one can live with fairness, integrity, service, and human dignity.
9. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This book was released in 1936 and still stands strong as a timeless book for business owners. Carnegie believed that most successes come from the ability to communicate effectively rather than coming up with brilliant insights. His book teaches these essential communication skills and how to apply them to everyday situations, from running a business to managing day-to-day relationships.
10. The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
This book explains why most small businesses don’t work and shows the commonplace assumptions that can get in the way of running a business. Gerber also walks you through the common stages of the life of a business: from having an idea to managing the growing pains, to expanding a mature business. There’s also an interesting section where Gerber shares lessons taken from franchising and applies them to any business.
Now, it’s your turn to share. What are YOUR favorite books for entrepreneurs?
Love and success,
