Take your pick of any of the most successful businesspeople in the world and you discover something interesting: they all read business books. Lots of them.
But why? Yes, knowledge matters. But more importantly, books get you thinking in the right way. They change how your brain approaches business issues, making you wiser and more capable in the process.
In this post, we take a look at the 10 best books for company leaders to grow and expand their enterprises. Check them out below:
Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Even though Napoleon Hill wrote Think & Grow Rich in the 1930s, nearly a century ago, it is still one of the best books for business motivation. Hill had an uncanny ability to probe the human psyche, see what made it tick and help people leverage that for success.
In essence, it is a personal development book. After reading it, you’ll understand the value of determination and the principle that “winners never quit, and quitters never win.”
The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman is among the top business books for beginners. In it, you’ll learn all fundamentals about running a company, negating the need to go to school.
Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen
As the title suggests, Getting Things Done is about cramming more into your day. It sounds like a hustle-culture book, but that’s not where Allen is coming from. Instead, he wants to show business owners that having a relaxed mind is one of the most advanced productivity systems known to humankind. Once you let the stress leave your body, productivity starts to flow.
By the end of the book, you’ll understand the value of relaxation. You’ll also learn the productivity systems that Allen uses to boost output.
The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
One of the best books for starting a business is The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau. This runs through case studies of 50 people who made profits of more than $50,000 starting with just $100. The book runs through what they did to generate such tremendous returns on their initial investments. By the end of it, readers understand the value of hard work, networking and organic growth.
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Good to Great is one of the best books for small business owners. In it, the author Jim Collins, explains how to move a company from mediocrity to excellence. Readers will learn the differences between “good” and truly “great” companies and how to follow in their footsteps.
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
The Lean Startup by Eric Ries is about reducing the costs of running a business. However, it is also quite broad, covering things like enhancing employee creativity and experimenting with different approaches. It’s one of the best books for new business owners trying to work out how to make ends meet.
The benefit of reading this book is the actionable insights it provides. In fact, one of Ries’s mottos is “reading is good, action is better.”
MONEY: Master the Game by Tony Robbins
Life coach Tony Robbins uses this to chronicle the advice of 50 of the world’s leading financial experts. The book is for anyone who struggles with understanding or managing their money. Benefits include knowing where to invest in times of change and making strategic financial decisions.
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek originally intended Start With Why to be for colleagues and members of staff. But it soon became clear that the lessons the book contained applied to everyone. Sinek points out that everyone who does important things in the world starts with “why” – the Wright brothers, Steve Jobs and Martin Luther King Jr. included.
Start With Why benefits you by changing how you think about communication at work. Sinek recommends treating colleagues as customers and then standing back and watching how your business blossoms.
Lean In by Cheryl Sandberg
Facebook’s COO, Cheryl Sandberg uses Lean In to explain to female leaders how they can succeed in the business world. The book includes a few of Sandberg’s personal struggles and what women need to do to be effective. Readers of the book will benefit from its teachings on independence, and how initiative almost always pays off.
Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferriss
Lastly, Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss is a distillation of the core characteristics that lead to success. The book teaches you the tactics, habits and routines you need to develop, based on interviews with around 200 of the world’s most successful people. Those who complete reading its 650 pages can refine their approach to life to become more effective and impactful.
In addition to using books as a resource for your business, the Chamber of Business is here to support your company too. Our insights are relevant for any kind of business and have been curated to create a resource for you. Explore today.