My Top 7 Business Books
Here’s a look at the top 7 business books that have made the biggest impact on me with growing and building a successful web design business. These are not “web design specific” and can be applied to any business in any industry or market.
If you have any you love or that have made a big impact on you, let me know in the comments below!
1) Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
Changes the way you think about work, team work, hours, collaboration and more.
Favorite thought: “You don’t need more hours, you need better hours.”
2) Work Less Make More by James Shramko
Short, tactical, practical and actionable read that’ll help you build your business without working more hours. And helps focusing on the things in the life that you love and give you energy.
Favorite thought: “Email is a To Do list other people get to add to.”
3) Permission Marketing by Seth Godin
Marketing classic that still holds true today with real world, practical ideas on how to communicate and market to your customers.
Favorite thought: “Your messages should be relevant, anticipated and personal.”
4) Built To Sell by John Warrillow
Great story about building a business that you can sell. Quick, easy read that will help you scale your business or build it if you intentionally want to sell.
Favorite thought: “Focus on the product or service that is most profitable and scale it.”
5) E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
Business classic about focusing on the position in your work that you do best and that gives you energy to grow it.
Favorite thought: “CEO, Project Manager and Technician – get yourself out of the roles you don’t want to be in.”
6) It’s the Way You Say It by Carol Fleming
Practical and actionable ways to be more articulate and clear in speaking to either groups, customers, on camera or even with family and friends.
Favorite thought: “The quality of your life will depend on how well you communicate.”
7) Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Refocuses you on why you do what you do which can very quickly get lost when running a business.
Favorite thought: “The same job can feel completely different depending on your mindset.”
Love this list! I’ll be adding a few of these to my Audible wish list!
Thanks, Jake! Yeah some great one’s in here man. John recommended Built to Sell originally so props to him on that 🙂 Bout to start the new Basecamp guys’ book “It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy At Work,” this week…
G’day Josh, I am a bit biassed because this one was written by a fellow Aussie, but love the simplicity of the plan: The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Allan Dib. Available on Amazon and Kindle, both US and Aus.
Looks like a good one. On my list now!
Josh,
Excellent list and reviews.
I’ve had “REWORK” sitting on the shelf since it’s pre-release and never opened it. I guess now is the time.
Having spoken for a number of years to a variety of audiences, I’m always seeking ways to improve my delivery to help get the message across. Looks like I’ll be picking up a copy of “It’s the Way You Say it”.
Please do this again sometime in the future.
Thanks for your feedback, Don! Yes REWORK is AWESOME. You won’t regret that read 🙂 And yeah it sounds like “It’s the Way you Say It” will be a very timely read for you as well. It really helped me in so many ways when it comes to articulating my thoughts more clearly and communicating better. Will plan to do another review maybe next year!
Josh—loved this book review segment. I added Rework and Start with Why to my cart. Can’t wait to read! Thanks for the info!
Awesome! Those are 2 of my favorites from this list for sure 🙂
Two I think your list can’t do without are “Traction” and “Profit First”. The first will show you how to create a two page business plan for the next 10 years and STICK TO IT or know when to pivot. The second will make sure you and your business always have plenty of money. They are both MUST READS (and implement!). Great list otherwise, the E-Myth changed me from a freelancer to a business person back in 2003 and James Schramko’s book “Work Less Make More” simply rocks on both mindset and practicalities of building a recurring income business!
Nicola, is Traction the one by Gino Wickman? Looks like there are a few out there with that title. And funny enough…I almost added Profit First here or made this my top 10 because I just went through that over the summer and yes, it’s a great one! Particularly I like the idea of the separate bank accounts for taxes, profit, operations, owner pay, etc. I’ll need to do a best books 2.0 soon 🙂