Red Massive Blog
5 Books Every Business Owner Should Read
You should read these books!
If you’re in charge of any sort of business, you know how hard it can be sometimes to stay afloat. To stay informed, educated, and current while balancing the many facets of your business. Luckily, there are a lot of really great authors out there who have distilled and simplified their life experiences into books that we can learn from. My friend Steve Pyle once told me that “leaders are readers,” and I have to agree. Reading is a great way to become a better leader, no matter what industry you’re in.
If you want to grow your business in 2022, you should read these books!
The 4-Hour Workweek
by Timothy Ferriss
I think it’s safe to say that all of us would love more time away from work. Whether you make your home a temporary office space, or if you make your office space a temporary home, not having to be tied to a “job” all the time sounds really great. In Tim Ferriss’ book, The 4-Hour Workweek, he explains how strategic planning and careful use of your time can drastically increase your productivity. Tim has lived an amazing life, and he claims it’s all due to the formulae he shares in the book.
Purple Cow
by Seth Godin
If you’ve ever tried to market your business, you know how hard it can be to cut through all the noise. There are so many other businesses out there trying to compete for your customers’ dollar. So how do you stand out and get noticed? Why, signing with Red Massive of course!
But seriously though, we do incorporate many aspects of this book in our daily consultations with clients. Author Seth Godin states that it’s not enough anymore to have great pricing, products, and publicity. You have to have Purple Cow! What is it about your business that stands out? What makes you different, and why would a customer care? Read this book!
How to Win Friends and Influence People
by Dale Carnegie
The longer I’m in business, the more I believe the old adage, “it’s all in who you know.” Finding success in business can sometimes feel like dangling a worm in the ocean, hoping to catch, well…anything really. If you don’t have connections with other people, it’s difficult to gain traction.
In this classic, Dale Carnegie outlines ways to make those connections, and how to make them meaningful. Nobody should be in business to cheat others, but there are ways to make yourself more appealing and approachable, which can build trust with your current and future customers. People buy things from brands they trust.
Mindset
by Dr. Carol Dweck
Let’s face it, not everyone is born equal. Everyone is born with a certain set of skills and competencies. Sometimes life presents difficulties that force a person to try much harder than everyone else to achieve the same success. In this book, Dr. Carol Dweck posits that it’s not so much about the skills you currently have (or do not have), it’s about your mindset.
The way we look at a scenario greatly affects the outcome. If we believe we will succeed, chances are that we will. Likewise, if we have a mindset based on failure and embarrassment, our outcomes will most likely reflect those qualities as well. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has tried and failed, or for anyone who may be afraid to even start. Give it a read and let me know what you think!
Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography
by Walter Isaacson
No matter what you may think about their products, it’s no secret that Apple has changed the way human beings interact with one another on planet Earth. When I was a kid, I dreamed for the day when I could have an entire music library at my fingertips, or a camera that could take more than 20-30 pictures at a time. Or a device to tell me the weather, or how my favorite sports team was doing. We now have all of those things and more, and it’s all (well, mostly) thanks to the way Steve Jobs lived his life. Unapologetic and with purpose.
In this book, Walter Isaacson dives deep into the inner workings of Steve Jobs’ brain, his methods, and his madness. There’s a lot to learn about the tenacity and expectation of excellence that Steve carried daily. Every business owner should read this book to be inspired about choosing to live your dream. Don’t accept a “less-than” mentality. Run fast and hard in the direction of your goals.
