When you’re in business for yourself, it’s crucial that you make time for your personal growth and development. One of the best ways to ensure you are always growing is to read books written by experts. Here are five books that all entrepreneurs should read to get you started.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
This book is considered a classic in the self-help category. The seven habits described in this book build on one another progressively. You start by making a personal mission statement, which helps you to understand your true values. The idea is that it’s important to identify what truly matters to you before you start working towards a goal. Put this book first on your list.
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
This choice is another classic and is often considered one of the most influential business books ever written. From the title, you might think that this book is all about making money, but the author leads you through a journey that will help you create success in any area of your life that you desire. It’s another must-read!
Chasing the High: An Entrepreneur’s Mindset Through Addiction, Lawsuits, and His Journey to the Edge by Michael G. Dash
This selection is a book that every entrepreneur should read, so they can avoid falling into the trap of chasing “the next high.” While the book has a focus on addiction among leaders, you’ll find that you can relate to many of Dash’s problems and feelings, even if you’ve never suffered through addiction yourself.
Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy
Eat That Frog is about overcoming our tendency to procrastinate. The premise is if you do your most dreaded task first, you’ll be more productive for the rest of your day. Think about it, if you eat a frog first thing in the morning, everything else for the rest of the day wouldn’t seem that bad, would it? Tracy argues that the tasks we are most tempted to put off until later are the ones that make the most impact on our businesses, so they really should be done first.
Start With Why by Simon Sinek
In Start With Why, Simon Sinek argues that the “why” behind our companies is critical and often overlooked. He points out that all the great leaders of history had one thing in common, and that is that they started with “why.” Sinek says “customers don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it,” so you need to be crystal clear about what your company stands for. Once you are, you’ll be capable of leading and building a culture around your values. If you can get your team aligned with your vision and your “why,” you are much more likely to succeed.
This article was originally published on andresmanuelolivaresmiranda.com.