So we are into week 3 of our poll and I am thinking that you guys have made an excellent resource for ALL Entrepreneurs. These books are packed with advice, success stories, inspiration, motivation, money making ideas and more…!
So, I decided that we should make a resource for all of your excellent entries (yep – entries, this is a competition poll – everyone who suggests a book is entered to win THE ultimate business book – as voted for by our Young Entrepreneurs).
Where better to place this resource than on Seth Godin’s very own Squidoo!
So, for the latest updates on this poll and to see a complete rundown of The Most Valuable Business Book’s, Visit “The Entrepreneurs Readers Digest” at Squidoo now!!
Keep your suggestions coming in! We would love to have some more to add to the lens!!
Matthew Toren
For inspiration and sound business and life advice, I’m going to have to go with Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich. I try and read this book at least once a year and every time I do I am instantly motivated and inspired. It is a must for every entrepreneur’s bookshelf (or Kindle directory).
I’m going to make an unconventional nomination: The Way of Transition by Bill Bridges. When I was VP for Entrepreneurship Training at a business center, I was frustrated at the “cookie cutter” way we presented our subject.
Each business and each business owner is utterly unique. What they need to do to be successful is ultimately unique. Helping people find their own answers in a rich environment of encouragement, information, and challenge is what I wish we did better.
Bridges lays out how humans “transition” from one set of understandings to another. Becoming an entrepreneur is a life-changing experience…it changes you to the core. I observe that the most successful among us embrace that challenge. Their depth of commitment and engagement is a key factor in their success.
I’m working on a book on exactly that point. It is so important, not only to the success of the business but to the happiness of the entrepreneur.
Susan Kuhn Frost
For me, nothing tops The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris. It starts with the single most important aspect of starting a business, MOTIVATION. Then it moves into some basics of starting a business, and how to optimize that business to live your dreams.
Thanks Tim!
Leadership Is An Art by Max DePree
“Life Entrepreneurs” by Chris Gergen and Gregg Vanourek. Not a “business book” per se, but that’s what makes it special. Convincingly articulates the idea that entrepreneurship is more than just a career type, but also a way of leading one’s life. With the insight gained from this book, one can start the process of creating (or revising) a life plan that maximizes happiness.
I would say “The End Result” by Cenell Harrell. It really helped me stay in tune with my ultimate goal and not worry about the sideshows of life.
Hmmm that’s a great question.
But honesty the only book that is in my mind is the Bible.
It gives the important wisdom that any entrepreneur will be needed in his journey to business success.
HA! I’ve read countless of business books and each of them came with its own lesson. According to preference, the order:
1. Rich dad poor dad by Robert Kiyosaki: The first business book i read and it really opened my eyes to creating your own wealth and how little people know about their finance and how money works.
2. The Millionaire next door: Basically the driving force for success is to live your life your own way and have the freedom to do whatever you want to anytime anyday, not necessarily the fancy cars or big house, but just FREEDOM and millionaires are the most conservative spenders and people who don’t have much spend more than they make and that’s why they can’t achieve financial freedom.
3. Loosing my virginity by Richard Branson: Autobiography of how this self made Billionaire Bootstrapped his way from nothing to a list of virgin franchise all over the world. This book was all about Virgin’s survivor in the business world and how he over came all the obstacles. A must read for every entrepreneur out there.
My fav. three
Most valuable business book ever? Where to start, not sure I will, but a couple of great books I’ve read lately:
1. If it’s Raining in Brazil, buy Starbucks by Peter Navarro
2. China Inc. by Ted C. Fishman
Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink and The Tipping Point, also by Malcolm Gladwell.