There are so many business books out there, with so many titles to choose from, how do you know which ones are actually worth reading?
There are 8 business books that have stood the test of time and I read all eight of them. They were all New York Times best sellers and have been recommended by many critics and many of the world’s successful leaders.
To save you the trouble of reading them, I have included here the most valuable lesson you can get from each book:
1. “Think and Grow Rich,” by Napoleon Hill
Biggest takeaway – If you believe and conceive it, you can achieve it.
Thoughts are things and they are very powerful. All you need to do is focus on what you want to achieve and have a firm resolve and a definiteness of purpose, as Hill would say. You should also show persistence when facing challenges that will block your growth on your journey.
2. “Rich Dad, Poor Dad,” by Robert Kiyosaki
Biggest takeaway – Be able to tell the difference between an asset and a liability.
There is a reason people get rich. They are able to distinguish the vital difference between assets and liabilities. Assets put money in your bank and liability takes money out of your pocket. To get rich you should buy more assets and leverage income that is generated by these assets.
3. “The E-Myth,” by Michael Gerber
Biggest takeaway – Work on your business rather than in your business.
“I understand the technical work of a business, therefore, I understand a business that does that technical work.” New entrepreneurs often make this costly assumption. People who go into business has 3 personas: entrepreneur, manager, and technician. You need to build these three to have a business that can thrive without you.
4. “The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing,” by Al Ries and Jack Trout
Biggest Takeaway – Marketing is a battle of image, not products.
You always want to be #1. In today’s competitive market, being a copycat gives you very little chance to be remembered. Not every “first” will be successful. So, create a new way for your prospects to have you in mind and create your new category.
5. “How to Win Friends & Influence People,” by Dale Carnegie
Biggest Takeaway: A person’s name is the sweetest and most important sound to that person in whatever language.
The teachings in this book is as relevant today as when it was published in 1936. This is a classice best-seller and it is true that you can never go wrong with a smile and by being a good listener as this makes other people feel important.
6. “The Hard Thing About Hard Things,” by Ben Horowitz
Biggest Takeaway: “Embrace your weirdness, your background, your instinct. If the keys are not there, they do not exist.”
There is no formula for dealing with challenges, and Horowitz is absolutely on point with this. Many business books prescribe solutions to challenges, but truth is, there is no one-size solution to everything.
7. “Blue Ocean Strategy,” by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
Biggest Takeaway: Avoid focusing your efforts in beating competitors, instead make them irrelevant by creating more value for your own buyers.
The market is a red ocean, full of blood because of the sharks that feeding on the same pool of fish. Differentiate yourself from your competitors and create a blue ocean for yourself while providing an opportunity that people can’t wait to dive into.
8. “Shoe Dog,” by Phil Knight
Biggest Takeaway: Do not tell people how to do things, instead tell them what to do and you will get surprised with the results
This book offers a rare glimpse into the man who borrowed $50 from his father to start his company that today already generates $50 billion dollars annually.
