Book list! 5 must-reads for every entrepreneur out there

Got a start-up idea on your mind? Are you an entrepreneur in the making? Or have you taken the plunge and started your entrepreneurship journey?

Irrespective of which question you answered with a yes for, building a successful business is no easy feat. So we have scoured the World Wide Web to create this list of some of the most recommended books for entrepreneurs. We hope these help you outsmart your competition, and make you the businessman of your dreams!

1.The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz

Quotable quote: “Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it. Believing a solution paves the way to solution.”

This book is for those who aspire to think bigger. All about cultivating a powerful mindset, this book has sold more than six million copies worldwide. It claims you don’t need innate talent to become successful, but you do need to understand the habit of thinking and behaving in ways that will get you there.

2.Good to great by Jim Collins

Quotable quote: “When [what you are deeply passionate about, what you can be best in the world at and what drives your economic engine] come together, not only does your work move toward greatness, but so does your life. For, in the end, it is impossible to have a great life unless it is a meaningful life. And it is very difficult to have a meaningful life without meaningful work.”

This book seeks to answer the age-old question – why do some companies succeed and others fail? Jim Collins and his research team worked over 5 years, studying 28 companies to identify the key determinants of success and failure.

3.Tribes by Seth Godin

Quotable quote: “When you hire amazing people and give them freedom, they do amazing stuff. And the sheepwalkers (obedient people driven by fear to perform brain-dead jobs) and their bosses watch and shake their heads, certain that this is an exception and that it is way too risky for their industry or their customer base.”

This quick read invites you to challenge the fear and mediocrity that allows the world to remain stagnant. It’s about curiosity, risk-taking, and becoming the kind of leader who knows people are the most important aspect of any human endeavour.

4.The innovators dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen

Quotable quote: “This is one of the innovator’s dilemmas: Blindly following the maxim that good managers should keep close to their customers can sometimes be a fatal mistake.”

Fast Company named this bestseller as one of the most influential leadership books in its Leadership Hall of Fame. An innovation classic, it has been cited by people like Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos as instrumental in shaping how they think about innovation and managing their companies.

5.Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Quotable quote: “You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

A true blue classic, this book is like an inner dialogue Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius is having with himself. Rooted in Stoic philosophy, it can teach you fruitful ways of dealing with failure and disappointment, both of which are huge parts of any success story. Besides, research suggests that the self-talk technique Aurelius used can be an effective motivational strategy.