Great Reads for Entrepreneurs

Whether you’re just starting out as an entrepreneur or are a seasoned go-getter, it’s always a good idea to seek advice from others in your field. Maybe others will have encouraging words for you as you begin to build your business. Perhaps someone else has a unique take on something you've been doing the same way for years! Whether you are a Franchise Owner, UnFranchise Owner, or other traditional Business Owner or Entrepreneur, here are some great picks for the books you need to be reading as you further your career:

What it Takes to be an Entrepreneur 

In today’s economic uncertainties and scant job prospects, a great many opportunities avail themselves for those who decide to take charge of their future however, the challenge is in knowing what to look out for. There are a lot of things people just don’t know and questions that should be asked but if you don’t know what you don’t know, how can you ask the right questions?

This book navigates the challenges you’ll likely encounter as you set your sights on becoming your own boss.

The Rebel Entrepreneur

To the mainstream business world we entrepreneurs are extremely unusual. The mainstream business world doesn't understand us. They don’t understand how we do business. They don’t understand our creativity. Our drive. Our ambition. The risks we take every day. And how in the world could we be successful doing some of the things we do?!

We may not wear expensive suits. We may not be comfortable at a cocktail party or at the country club. And we may not be people who everyone in town knows. But we are the people who make this country strong. We are the driving force to the economy. - Howard Lewinter

Taking a different approach, The Rebel Entrepreneur tells you why you’ve been getting the wrong advice about starting your own business and shares real-life examples of successful entrepreneurs who did things differently.

How to be a Social Entrepreneur: Make Money & Change the World

As the description for this book states, “Don’t just make money… change the world.” There is so much good that you can do in this world with your power of entrepreneurship. Don’t forget to make a lasting impression for generations to come. Robert Ashton helps individuals, organisations and communities achieve greater social impact through economic self-sufficiency.

Who better to help with you help others... is there a better way to help others during challenging times than as a creative social entrepreneur?

7 Habits of Highly Effective People

“Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be.” - Stephen Covey

Here is a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, service and human dignity -- principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates. These are inspirational and aspirational standards for anyone who seeks to live a full, purposeful and a good life, and are applicable today more than ever.

Haven’t read this one yet? What are you waiting for? It’s a classic! Make sure you’re exhibiting these traits as you approach new potential business partners and customers.

New Ideas from Dead CEO’s: Lasting Lessons from the Corner Office

Here are some questions to ask: Why did Ray Kroc's plan for McDonald's thrive when many burger joints failed? How did Krispy Kreme fail to heed Kroc's hard-won lessons? How did Walt Disney's most dismal day as a young cartoonist radically change his career? When Estée Lauder was a child in Queens, New York, the average American spent $8 a year on toiletries. Why did she spot an opportunity in selling high-priced cosmetics, and why did she pound on Saks's doors? How did Thomas Watson Jr. decide to roll the dice and put all of IBM's chips on computing, when his father thought it could be a losing idea?

New Ideas from Dead CEO's uncovers the challenges, failures, and how each of these well-known CEO’s successfully rode the waves of demographic and technological changes and examines their successes and failures. If you feel like you've backtracked in your business, consider this a resource to help you climb back to the top!

This is our quick list - do you have others? Leave reading suggestions in the comments section for your fellow entrepreneurs!