Learning and Growing: 5 Must-read Books for Every Business Owner
I’m sure every business owner remembers reading dozens if not hundreds of books in school growing up. Maybe you’ve always been a reader and still always have a book you’re working on. Or you could be someone that can’t stand reading or says you don’t have the time to read with your schedule. Regardless of where you fall on the reading spectrum there is a lot to be gleaned from the right books. That is why today we’re looking at the top 5 books I’d recommend every business owner read.
For years people have said there is no money in art. But as our world keeps evolving more and more artist keep popping up. What started as simply painters, sculptors, and architects now includes web designers, graphic designers, filmmakers, photographers and many others. This book is a great read for any creative business or individual out there as it looks at the myth of the starving artist and practical steps you can do to be a thriving artist. The book itself is split into three sections looking at the issues surrounding your mindset, the market and a course money.
To get a taste for the book check out a few of the highlights I underlined in my first read through below.
“Being a starving artist is a choice, not a necessary condition of doing creative work.” (Goins, 2017, p. xix, para. 1)
“The difference between an artist and a copycat is that the artist builds on the work she has received and the copycat only mimics it.” (Goins, 2017, p. 31, para. 4)
“To do the work of a professional you have to stop waiting to be seen and start sharing your work now.” (Goins, 2017, p. 130, para. 4)
“We must value our work before others will.” (Goins, 2017, p. 141, para. 2)
Next on the list is a book that focuses on why your business should be considered boutique, but not in the way its thought of in today’s business world, and how you can use that to craft an experience that will have your customers coming to you for the value they receive instead of going to the big box discount store down the street. One of my favorite things about this book is that at the end of each chapter they give you several clear cut action steps on how you can go apply the topic of that chapter to your own business. The action steps aren’t overly hard or time-consuming and really helped me in thinking through how the concepts applied to my business.
Here are a few takeaways from the book.
“If you want to stop discounting you must build a strong brand.” (Petty, Verbeck, 2012, p. 18, para. 1)
“Your offerings reflect your passion for your business.” (Petty, Verbeck, 2012, p. 51, para. 1)
“Negative feedback is actually more valuable than positive feedback.” (Petty, Verbeck, 2012, p. 74, para. 4)
“Clients are not your children so you don’t have to love them equally.” (Petty, Verbeck, 2012, p. 151, para. 2)
The Go-Giver to date is still one of my overall favorite business books. The book looks at what it considers to be the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success. They are 1) The Law of Value, 2) The Law of Compensation, 3) The Law of Influence, 4) The Law of Authenticity, and 5) The Law of Receptivity.
While the book is a short, quick read, one of the things that make it stand out is that it is a written as a narrative story and uses that format to teach about the five laws. This makes the book much more engaging and memorable than if it were just another business book on the shelf. For some reason I didn’t underline key takeaways when I read it last so I guess I’m going to have to re-read it.
The second of three books written by Austin on business related topics, this book has definitely had the most direct impact on my business on how to view and handle social media and my digital footprint. The main point of the book is that you need to be creating and sharing your work, even if it’s not the most glamorous or greatest thing you’ve done. This allows people to get to know you and your business even better. If you enjoy this book then make sure to read his other two Steal Like An Artist and Keep Going.
Here are a few key takeaways from the book.
“The best way to get started on the path to sharing your work is to think about what you want to learn, and make a commitment to learning it in front of others.” (Kleon, 2014, p. 19, para. 2)
“If you want people to know about what you do and the things you care about, you have to share.” (Kleon, 2014, p. 23, para. 3)
“A daily dispatch is even better than a resume or a portfolio.” (Kleon, 2014, p. 48, para. 2)
“Teach what you know” (Kleon, 2014, p. 110, para. 1)
Finally to round out the list is The Win Without Pitching Manifesto. This actually is the most recent business book I’ve read and is by far my favorite. It’s focus is on how pitching is actually doing part of the work for free and leads to undervaluing yourself, hence why you should be winning and landing gigs without pitching. The best part is it takes you step by step through how to transition from pitching for work to not pitching. While I haven’t had much time yet to apply the lessons taught it really made me think and I am looking forward to future client meetings where I can say goodbye to the pitch.
Here are a few key takeaways.
“It is a mistake to believe that the service sector mantra of “The customer is always right” applies to us.” (Enns, 2010, p. 19, para. 2)
“The most common, and costly, business development mistake shared by creative firms around the world is that of mistaking interest for intent.” (Enns, 2010, p. 70, para. 4)
“Our client relationships should not be life sentences.” (Enns, 2010, p. 78, para. 2)
“Selectivity is one of the defining characteristics of the expert.” (Enns, 2010, p. 79, para. 2)
So there you have it. My top 5 must read books for every business owners. If you haven’t read them then I hope you will take the time to find and read the books soon. If you have read them before then maybe this post will encourage you to go back and reread them. So with that, happy reading.
Have you read these books before or have suggestions of other amazing books we should read? Drop them in the comments below.