If you’re a small business owner who is looking to become a bigger business owner, you must read our first two books on the list…
Books are a fantastic resource if you are looking to expand your knowledge. There are so many great books out there that have informed my own knowledge about how to build a business. No matter where you decide to build your business, you want to make sure you are doing everything possible to get it to thrive within its sector. For instance, if you are planning on building a business in another country, Malta for example, then you may want to look into websites such as Malta Guides as well as others, to help get you started and see the best way that you can get this going with ex-pat support and your living situation. Business is built from ideas, and those ideas can be put into ways that all budding entrepreneurs can learn from, and one of the best ways to learn is through books. Books can give direction to any entrepreneur, amateur or experienced, in all the different areas of starting and running a company. Different books can help you learn different things. For instance, reading books about business and finances could help you make a sound decision when you need to get a business checking account; how you need to expand your business; how you can move your business online; and a lot more. Absorbing the right knowledge from these books can help even a budding entrepreneur grasp various tools and techniques that can help him thrive in the world of business. Successful entrepreneurs have written many books on their journey, which comes as timely guidance to those who wish to establish their own company.
In fact, it has long been a dream of mine to publish my very own book, filled with tips and tricks to help businesses to grow. Of course, publishing a book is not a decision to be taken lightly, and while my own book is still in the early stages, I want to take my time to make it perfect.
There are so many different possibilities to consider when publishing a book. For instance, whereas some writers seek out help from publishing companies, others decide to do things independently and decide to self-publish their work.
Have you ever thought about writing a book? Perhaps you have already been published? Feel free to share any writing and publishing tips in the comments below as I would love to hear them.
So, my own aspirations to once side, let us now discuss two of my favorite book club picks.
The 4-Hour Work Week: How to Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich
by Tim Ferriss
The E-Myth: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It
by Michael E. Gerber
Being an entrepreneur requires a growth mindset that is constantly open to learning and improving yourself. You have to be willing to make changes and put in the heavy lifting in order to grow and experience freedom. These two books are the ultimate guides for taking the necessary steps to put your business on autopilot. We’re not being paid as an affiliate to promote these books, they’ve just really changed our lives.
4-Hour Work Week
The book seems a little crazy at first. Especially if you’re a small business owner who is a solopreneur and working 24/7. It seems a little outlandish to reduce your work day by 20 hours, however, we highly recommend that you give it a chance because Tim Ferriss does a great job of putting your business operations into perspective. Ferriss points out how many hundreds of hours per month are wasted on mindless tasks that can be automated or outsourced in order to free up your time for growth and more sales. Ferriss gives a ton of examples of, “high-tech shortcuts, for living like a diplomat or millionaire without being either.” Ferriss lays out step-by-step hacks for things like – how to tackle email more efficiently, how to negotiate better with clients, and most importantly, how to go from making $40,000 per year working 80 hours per week, to $40,000 per MONTH working only 4 hours per week. Read this book and your mind will go into growth hyperdrive. If you’re on the go, you can listen to the audio book or you can catch the Tim Ferriss Show podcast for a serious dose of inspiration from truly revolutionary entrepreneurs, artists and scientists. We’re addicted to it.
The E-Myth
This book is the holy grail for small business owners. This is the book that you will be giving to all of your business owner friends after you read it. Michael E. Gerber is considered to be the World’s #1 Small Business Guru for a reason. He makes a convincing argument that most people are working too hard “in” their business and not “on” it. The problem that most small business owners face is that they get into daily habits that are difficult to change and they are afraid of relinquishing control to other people. A lot of small business owners are stuck as a “One Man Band” and are so busy walking dogs, making pies, tutoring kids or teaching lessons, that they have no time left over to really work on the actual business. Gerber breaks down the mental barriers that we put up by reminding us that we can’t do it all and we can’t keep going in the vicious cycle of only making money when we’re physically working. If you are never able to confidently step away from your business for the day, the weekend, or for a vacation – you will burn out and you will feel stuck. Gerber points out that the most successful service companies in the world have been built by putting the systems and processes in place for people to consistently follow in order to maintain quality control and order. You are not the only person who can walk dogs, make pies, or tutor kids. You can build a bigger, better business by releasing control and putting the branding, systems and guidelines in place so that you can trust your team and free yourself up for more growth and freedom. This book tells you how and it speaks volumes to anyone who is starting a business or looking to take their business to the next level. We give it an A+++.
