5 Must-Read Books for the Aspiring Business Entrepreneur
Technology makes sharing information easy and convenient, but podcasts and blogs can’t replace the in-depth and thoughtful insight found in the pages of real books. Taking the time to read a book from a business legend or titan of industry is an investment into your own business and self. Especially for those interested in eCommerce, check out these five must-read books to inspire you to grow your business and improve yourself.
1) “Giants of Enterprise: Seven Business Innovators and the Empires They Built”
Giants of Enterprise delves deep into the stories of some of the business giants that have shaped the world as we know it. Written in 2003 by Richard Tedlow, we read the stories, struggles, and successes of Andrew Carnegie who built his empire in the steel industry, Henry Ford in the automobile industry, Robert N. Noyce who founded Intel, Charles Revson and his use of TV marketing to create explosive sales for Revlon, Thomas Watson of IBM, George Eastman who invented the Kodak camera, and Sam Walton of Walmart.
2) “Lead With a Story”
Stories captivate us. Stories allow us to create a picture in our mind and help us to understand and process concepts, ideas, and events. It’s no surprise that top executives and industry-leading companies have invested in the concept of storytelling when it comes to advertising, training, and selling. Paul Smith’s book Lead With a Story teaches us how to craft our own story to set us apart from the competition and add value to our brand. Having a story gives us passion and vision, and this is noticed and valued by customers.
3) “Traction”
Trial and error is one way to find out the most effective way to market your brand and products. But using research and statistics is a safer way to find the most effective channel of marketing for your business, and Traction gives you insight into that information. This book gives a scientific approach to marketing that allows you to analyze and test various methods to find what works best for you. Written by start-up experts Gabriel Weinberg and Justin Mares, you’ll learn how to consistently grow your business and gain traction to ensure and maintain success.
4) “The Startup Owner’s Manual”
This book should be on the shelf of everybody interested in eCommerce or any kind of online business. The Startup Owner’s Manual lays out a process for building a stable, profitable startup and is taught at Stanford, Berkeley, Columbia, and over 100 universities worldwide. Written by Silicon Valley’s own Steve Blank, the process taught in this book is tried, true, and has been refined to guide you through the do’s and don’ts of growing your company. From customer acquisition to reverse logistics, this book may become your go-to for your eCommerce or distribution company.
5) “The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business”
It’s important to realize, especially in business, that there are more ways than one to accomplish a goal, and it is often worthwhile to explore alternatives that may be more effective than our go-to method. The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life and Business by Charles Duhigg explores how our habits dictate our actions, which determine our success, both in our personal life and business decisions. Learning why we think and behave the way that we do can open our minds to explore new ideas and how to change our story based on our habits.
Grow your business and become the best leader you can be by constantly learning and exploring new ideas. As your business grows and succeeds, trust professionals like Elite Ops for your eCommerce service needs and free up your precious time for tasks and projects suited to your area of expertise.
