10 Life-Changing Books Recommended by 10 Global Entrepreneurs
Books have the power to help people realise their dreams and maximise their potential. As Naomi Simson, Founding Director of RedBalloon, said recently; “As part of my ongoing investment in learning – I read endlessly”.
Good reading experience can be life-changing. Here’s a selection that is guaranteed to enhance your view of the world.
1. The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
“It is those who concentrate on but one thing at a time who advance in this world.” – Og Mandino
This book topped number one on Wall Street, New York Times and USA Today.
Its simple premise is that, when starting out on a venture, a business, or an idea, it is incredibly easy to get side-tracked. Figure out what matters and focus your energy accordingly.
Steve Jobs, who founded Apple, one of the most profitable companies in the world, is known to focus on the one thing which is most important.
2. The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz
“Belief in success is the one basic, absolutely essential ingredient in successful people.”
If you want to do more and achieve more, then you need to learn how to think properly.
The book quotes “Case history after case history proved that the size of bank accounts, the size of happiness accounts, and the size of one’s general satisfaction account is dependent on the size of one’s thinking. There is magic in thinking big”.
In this book you will learn how to think to get through the tough times and stay positive. You will also learn that you do not need to be the smartest or the most talented to attain great success.
3. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
This may not help you with the technicalities of your business but it will make you confident you are on the right path.
The Alchemist has been described as, “An entrepreneurial tale of universal wisdom we can apply to the business of our own lives”.
#1 on Tony Robbins’ personal top 5 reads, he calls it; “A remarkable tale about the most magical of journeys: the quest to fulfil one’s destiny. I recommend The Alchemist to anyone who passionately committed to claiming the life of their dreams – today.”
4. The Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne
“Blue Ocean Strategy challenges companies to break out of the red ocean of bloody competition by creating uncontested market space that makes the competition irrelevant.”
A book that challenges everything you thought you knew about the requirements for strategic success.
You will learn how to build and diversify your business from what is already in the market place. And it will help you learn what may not be available to consumers, or presenting your product or service in a different way, making it more desirable, different, and not available anywhere else.
5. Conscious Capitalism by John Mackey and Raj Sisodia
“The longest journey that people must take is the eighteen inches between their heads and their hearts.”
A book on value, purpose, leadership, and management. In these pages you will learn to not only build a valuable and creditable business but how to better society as a whole. Discover how to bring intention to the forefront and connect with not only your passion but the needs of society at large.
“Capitalism, done consciously, is the most powerful system for uplifting humankind to unimaginable levels of prosperity, peace, and happiness”. – Fred Kofman.
6. Thrive by Arianna Huffington
“Draw in on your inner wisdom and intuition and learn to thrive”.
Thrive redefines success from the typical attainment of power and money to the pursuit of your dreams, interests, and passions. A lot of people make their way up the corporate ladder only to realise they are not happy when they reach the top. After collapsing from exhaustion the author questioned what success really felt like. Learn how to manage time, prioritise what really matters to you in your life and work towards what you truly want to achieve.
7. Contagious by Jonah Berger
Learn why people talk about certain products and not others. Why things get popular and why things go viral. The best part is the book does not equate it to advertising. The author talks about how things are spread through word of mouth and how a social influence will shape your product or business. With thorough statistical research and real life stories Contagious will give you a different perspective on how to get your idea out there.
“Jonah Berger knows more about what makes information ‘go viral’ than anyone in the world.” – Daniel Gilbert
8. Finding Your Way in a Wild New World by Martha Beck
Voted by Forbes as one of the top five entrepreneurial books to read.
If you’re lost on what to do, how to get there, or what your next move should be this is the perfect book. With a higher calling, and a desire to find out what you were meant to be doing with your life the book allows you to “find a remarkable path to the most important discovery you can make: the knowledge of what you should be doing with your one wild and precious life”.
9. Enchantment by Guy Kawasaki
Enchantment teaches you how to bring out the inner desires in others and make lasting impact on their lives with your product or service.
“Enchantment can happen during a retail transaction, a high-level corporate negotiation, or a Facebook update. And when done right, it’s more powerful than traditional persuasion, influence, or marketing techniques.”
10. Crush It! by Gary Vaynerchuk
Everything from card playing to knitting, Gary Vaynerchuk will show you how to create an online business out of any hobby.
The book is described as the “ultimate driver’s manual for modern business”.
Gary describes success based on your happiness not on your income. Wake up in the morning and actually be excited to go to work because you will be doing things that interest you the most.
Tony Robbins & Naomi Simson both share their strategies for entrepreneurial achievement at Total Success in Sydney & Melbourne, April 2016.
Source: lifehack.org