BP Editors
As an entrepreneur, you likely know that there are a plethora of books out there that can give you help running your business. There are, however, a few books that every entrepreneur should buy and load up on their Kindle, regardless of whether they are a long established businessman or just starting up their company in their garage or basement.
The Ten Commandments for Business Failure
Presenting itself as more of a “what not to do” sort of book written by former Coca-Cola executive Donald Kenough, this book contains ten chapters, each one covering a commandment such as “Quit Taking Risks.”
This book is a great read, and not quite as dry as one might expect from such a storied executive. Kenough’s tips and anecdotes about his own failures along the way are written in such a way as to keep you entertained. You might even find yourself smiling or laughing at some of the stories.
While the book is geared towards larger companies, smaller businesses can definitely extract a lot of useful ideas from this book, applying them on a smaller scale.
Bootstrapping 101: Tips to Build Your business with Limited Cash and Free Outside Help
Writing from experience, Bob Reiss has created an excellent resource to help new small business owners to make the most of what little cash they often have. The tips in this book are something that can help anyone who has decided to start their own business, particularly in the current economic situation the country finds itself in.
The tips and tactics in the book are simple ones, often so simple that many starting entrepreneurs might neglect to include them in their business operations. There are no complex formulas or corporate buzzwords involved in Reiss’s information, just simple down to earth ideas that any entrepreneur should be able to utilize to help their businesses grow.
Because this book is written from such a personal point of view by someone who started small, the chances are it will resonate deeply with many of today’s entrepreneurs. For practical advice as far as the financial side of things, the importance of this book cannot be overstated. Even if your business isn’t financially strapped, much of the advice can still be used. After all, even large corporations like to save money when possible, right? More money saved in your day to day operations means more profit for your business.
How to Win Friends and Influence People
Sometimes, it’s best to go back to one’s roots and this book is perhaps the grandfather of people skills books. Though it was published originally in 1937, the timeless advice in this book is just as useful today as it was 75 years ago.
Even if your business doesn’t deal with the public, chances are you still have to deal with other people in some capacity, from dealing with suppliers to clients, and the advice in this book is indispensable to any entrepreneur, no matter what sort of business you run.
Since the 1930s, millions of copies of this book have been sold and the book consistently receives great reviews. Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that transcends the ages, and was one of the great minds of his age. Let his wisdom from the past flow over you and teach you a few things you might not have realized about people before. It certainly can’t hurt!
