Whether you haven't cracked a book since college, or finish one a week, it’s a good idea to start reading business books. They're cheaper than going to conferences and you can refer to them over and over again. Here are some top reads when it comes to small business:
- Crush It!—Gary Vaynerchuk
This book details how to turn your business into a personal brand. Why? Because people buy from people. When your business is a personal brand, it's easier to attract customers. You'll learn how to transform your business into an irresistible brand, and increase sales in the process.
2. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership—John C. Maxwell
Whether you're leading a staff of three or thirty, this book's for you. Even if you're going solo, you'll pick up helpful information that will guide you as you grow your business. This book has insight gained from the author's years of experience, plus what he's learned from world leaders in business, sports, politics, and religion.
3. The ONE Thing—Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
Learn the surprising way top performers achieve excellent results in this book. The book's title gives you a clue: do just one thing. Don't buy in to the myth of multitasking. Get tips on focusing on one thing at a time as a way to boost your company's growth.
4. Virtual Freedom—Chris Ducker
As a small business owner, you wear many hats. Virtual Freedom helps you determine what you should be doing, and what you shouldn't. Let others handle the tasks you're not excellent at. This book advocates hiring virtual assistants to help take things off your plate. You'll certainly see the case for having an assistant, virtual or otherwise.
5. Profit First—Mike Michalowicz
Why do so many small business fail early on? Maybe it's because they didn't take the profits out first. The author makes a case for taking the profits out of income before you pay expenses. You may need to cut some expenses to make this work. That's fine. The book guides you a step-by-step guide so that you understand the process. Try it out for yourself and watch your profitability rise.
6. Who Moved My Cheese?—Spencer Johnson, M.D.
Change - some don't like it, but it's happening. Learning how to understand and deal with it is essential to having a resilient business. Fearful business owners stay stuck in the past until they're forced to close shop. Don't let this be you. This book will help you understand your attitude you have about the inevitable.
Arm yourself with the knowledge in these books. However, don't forget to enroll in business insurance to protect you as well. Not only will you succeed, but you'll also thrive!