Being an entrepreneur is a constant learning process. If you happen to be a young person who thinks they’ve landed on the greatest idea of their life, the next thing you want to do is turn it into a business. But how do you turn it into a viable business? An entrepreneurial skillet is something you’ll be able to sharpen over time but if you’re someone who has never run a business before, the best thing to do would be to learn from others. And what better way to learn from others than by reading books?
Today we have compiled for you a list of books to help you in your entrepreneurial journey. If you happen to be a ‘serial entrepreneur’ you may already know of or even might have read these books. So bear in mind that the following titles are for people who want to become an entrepreneur or those who could do with some invaluable guidance to lift their startup from the ground and sustain it.
1. Rich Dad, Poor Dad
by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
If you want to be an entrepreneur, this is the one book you need to start with. It tells the story of a young kid who has two dads – one rich and one poor – and how they both teach him to be successful but with vastly different approaches. The book will teach you the very basics of how to start and own a business, and how to enhance your financial intelligence and financial literacy to improve your business. It’s around 200 pages long and you can probably finish it in one sitting.
2. The $100 Startup
by Chris Guillebeau
When you’re a young, budding entrepreneur talking with like-minded people or other entrepreneurs can be such a relief because they understand exactly what you are going through and can offer useful advice. The best thing about The $100 Startup is that it was written after conducting interviews with numerous startup founders. By adding lessons the writer Chris Guillebeau has learned during his life and pairing them with the feedback from startup founders, The $100 Startup will help you at every step of the way – from starting your business, to gearing up its operations, and making it last.
3. The Innovator’s Dilemma
by Clayton M. Christensen
The Innovator’s Dilemma is oft-considered as one the most influential business books and talks about how successful, companies can fail when new unexpected competitors enter the market. Mark Cuban, a judge on the TV show Shark Tank, said that this book what helped him “make sense of why things work and didn’t work in the technology industry.”While talking about the importance of this book, Steve Bank, a former serial entrepreneur said, “Entrepreneurs should read these books as “how to books” to beat large companies in their own markets.”
4. The Only Investment Guide You’ll Ever Need
by Andrew Tobias
Financial intelligence is extremely important for startup founders. If you are to manage your startup’s finances smoothly and if you hope to secure a good investment, let this book be a starting point for you. It’s a very small book and in about 150 pages it will teach you how to put your money to good use no matter how much or how little you have of it.
5. The 4-Hour Workweek
by Timothy Ferriss
This book will leave you pumped and ready for some serious action. The 4-Hour Workweek makes a point that we become like the people who we spend more time with. So if you want to be successful, surround yourself with people who will drive you to challenge yourself and achieve better things. Moreover, entrepreneurs often find it hard to balance their work and family life. This book is a perfect guide on how to come out of your monotonous life and strike a balance.
[Image Source Amazon, Cyprian Francis]
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