So, you want to be an entrepreneur, now what? The most common question I am asked is, “How do I start?”.
Whether or not you know what business you want to start, I highly recommend trying to learn to understand the mindset of an an entrepreneur. Use your greatest asset, your time, to achieve this by reading books or listen to audiobooks.
I read a lot of books when I first decided to become an entrepreneur. Below, I will share my initial suggested reading list with you. Some of these books are not necessarily business books. Some of the books help to change how you think about money or help you understand your emotions so you can navigate the fears that often come up when leaving your comfort zone. Some help you stay motivated so you can keep your eye on your end goal when the world and people around you distracts you or tells you that you won’t succeed.
If you don’t have time to read, I highly recommend listening to these books in audiobook format when you are driving, doing chores, exercising, etc. This allows you to continue to learn at a very rapid rate even if you have a busy day (such as a job and/or raising a family). I also highly recommend audible because you can alter the narration speed. I listen to most my books at 2x the normal speed and can get through books rather quickly as a result.
There are many other books that I have read later in my entrepreneurial journey that helped me as I evolved into a successful business owner, and I will share those resources in later posts.
Suggested Reading:
Rich Dad Poor Dad – by Robert Kiyosaki – Even though this book is recommended by practically every entrepreneur out there, it still needs to be included in my list. This book blew my mind. It redefined how I look at money and how I spend my money. I now always ask the questions, “Do I want to buy a ‘doodad’ for instant gratification?” or “Do I want to invest in passive income pipelines?”. For years before my businesses took off, I delayed instant gratification to invest in my passive income pipelines. This book helped me to stay disciplined. Only after my businesses were creating passive income, did I agree to indulge in doodads.
Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant – By Robert Kiyosaki – After you read Rich Dad Poor Dad, I highly recommend Cashflow Quadrant. It explains the passive income concepts in more detail and provides a very easy way to categorize your income streams. I also highly recommend Robert Kiyosaki’s Cashflow 101 Board Game or iPad App.
The Science of Getting Rich – by Wallace D. Wattles – This book provides more of a philosophical and spiritual view on money. A lot of people believe money is evil. In my opinion, money is neutral and it is people who can dictate whether or not money is evil. I do believe in and actively employ the Law of Attraction. You attract into your life what you think, and I would like to add what you feel. If you think money is evil, and you hate people who have and make money, you will block it from your reality. Another concept covered in this book that really impacted me was the idea that you can make more money if you go into a new unexplored space, one without competition. This concept of pursuing opportunities where there is less or no competition was also covered in another book I read later in my journey, called Blue Ocean Strategy, Expanded Edition: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant – By W. Chan Kim.
Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way – by Richard Branson – Deciding to become an entrepreneur can be very challenging because you are often declaring yourself different from your co-workers, friends, and family. I am a rebel. I am a non-conformist. This book is a fun read because it is written by a very successful rebel and non-conformist. He didn’t pursue a traditional academic path. His business and approach to life is quite unique and he continues to challenge the status quo…and has has a lot of fun doing it.
Think and Grow Rich – by Napoleon Hill – Again, I am a huge believer in the law of attraction. This book provides a great introduction to how what you think, you create in your reality.
Radical Marketing : From Harvard to Harley, Lessons From Ten That Broke the Rules and Made It Big – by Sam Hill – I really loved this book because it provided creative and innovative ways that entrepreneurs sucessfully started and marketed their businesses.
Pour Your Heart Into It: How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time – by Howard Schultz – I am a believer that you must love what you do. If you are passionate and believe in your cause, the chances of success are greater. The process of becoming an entrepreneur is hard. Growing a startup into a successful business is even harder. There is a lot of overtime and sacrifice. There are times when things don’t go the way you expected or hoped. Being passionate and loving what you do and loving your products or services will help energize you and see you through these painful learning opportunities as you evolve into a successful and mature business owner. This book takes you on a lovely journey of passion, love, and commitment.
Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ – by Daniel Goleman -Understanding people and yourself is really, really important and critical to the success of your business. Being self-aware and understanding compassionately why you, your team members, and customers behave a certain way is really important as a leader and business owner. It helps you collaborate more consciously and be more effective as a team. It helps you understand your customers and attract and retain them. This book is a pretty dry read but worth the effort. It explains the biology and psychology behind our actions. You will learn about yourself and others. Daniel Goleman also has a lot of great speeches that can be found on YouTube. If the book is not your cup of tea, check these out instead.
The Richest Man in Babylon – by George S. Clason – A great little parable that helps you understand the consequences of the decisions you make around money.
The Secret – By Rhonda Byrne – Another introduction to the Law of Attraction. Your thoughts create your reality. You are what you perceive. You experience who you are. The movie of the same name is pretty great too.
Warren Buffett Speaks: Wit and Wisdom from the World’s Greatest Investor – by Janet Lowe – I have always been inspired by Warren Buffet, one of the most successful rebels and non-conformists. He has an innate inner compass that he trusts and does not let external opinions or forces steer him away from that inner compass. He also is hilarious and I have laughed out loud reading some of his known quotes.
The Warren Buffett Way – by Robert G. Hagstrom – Again, Warren Buffet inspires me, so here is another book with some more insights on how he thinks and how he created his wealth.
Delivering Happiness – by Tony Hsieh – Written by the CEO of Zappos, this book encapsulates a lot of the philosophies I hold about business and life. I also was just plain happy (and inspired) after reading it, so the book also delivers happiness.
How to Win Friends and Influence People – by Dale Carnegie – This is another classic book that many entrepreneurs and business people recommend. Studies have proven that Emotional Intelligence is a better indicator of success than traditional IQ measurements. It takes people to make a business succeed. Understand yourself. Understand your team members Understand your customers.
Purple Cow – by Seth Godin – Will your brand, product, or services stand out? If you were faced with a field of regular cows and happened upon a purple cow, that purple cow sure would stand out. This book provides some great insights on how to infuse purple cow-ness in all you do and all you create so your business stands out.
When you decide to become an entrepreneur, you are drawing a line in the sand. You are telling others, “I am going to do things differently now. I am going to BE different.” Being different is difficult. Your friends and family may not support this change. Surrounding yourself with virtual mentors by reading these books infuses you with validation that your decision to change is OK. You will be OK. These virtual mentors will provide you support when you feel lonely or are doubting your decision. Trust yourself. Trust your intuition. The right people will continue to support you. Others will take their exit ramps as you continue on your entrepreneurial journey. You WILL meet new awesome friends and supporters as you continue your journey.
Above all, I just invite you to enjoy the journey! There is nothing like the beginning. You will miss this time. When your business matures and becomes successful, you will begin an entire new leg of your journey where you will continue learn, grow, and evolve. Being an entrepreneur and business owner is not only about the business and the financial freedom. You actually learn a ton about yourself and the world around you. You learn to trust yourself more, and that provides another source of freedom. The freedom to be yourself.