By: Kirk Shelton
For everyone who has an interest in business, they can think of at least one successful person who has done what they would like to do. Through lots of mistakes and valuable experience, these authors have provided a perspective that benefits readers in not only business, but in living a more fulfilling life. Starting a business can be an expensive endeavor for the uninitiated, but learning from the best in business is as easy as opening a book. Here are our top 5 recommendations for business books:
1. “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” By Robert Kiyosaki
Growing up, many people think about going to school, getting a good job, and living a safe life while paying all your bills on time. Kiyosaki turns this notion on its head in his timeless narrative, arguing that most people learn to work for money instead of making money work for them. He illustrates the key differences in the ways of the rich compared to the middle and lower class, breaking down even the history of taxation, the value of forming corporations to protect wealth, and the value of finding deals untrained real estate investors overlook in a down market. If you’ve been a W2 employee at any point recently, and have wondered how to save money to buy the things you really want in life, like a house, a car, or maybe paying for college, you need to read this book immediately for a solid perspective on financial discipline.
2. “Shoe Dog” By Phil Knight
In this classic business narrative, Phil Knight ventured far beyond his parent’s expectations into the depths of entrepreneurship. He was an avid runner in undergrad at the University of Oregon, but after attending graduate school at Stanford’s School of Business, his love for running inspired him to travel across the globe to put his own twist on a Japanese running shoe that was unlike anything America has ever seen. Tried and tested, this shoe became emboldened with the swoosh that represents Nike, the Greek Goddess of Victory and inspiration for Knight’s company. In the midst of managing his business partners, negotiating on behalf of his company, setting up a supply chain to build and distribute his shoes efficiently, this story captures the essence of what it means to truly work for yourself and believe in your product in the midst of tremendous uncertainty. If you’re curious about how one of the most famous brands was established, or are planning to brand your own product, this book is definitely worth a read.
3. “Relentless” by Tim Grover
Sports fans and world renowned athletes alike know the pressure to perform on the big stage. Winning is everything, and it affects everyone in the organization from the players and coaches to the front office staff that handles ticket sales. But if there is one person that NBA athletes trust when they are not feeling like superstars, it’s gotta be Tim Grover. From Kobe and Lebron to Carmelo Anthony and Tim Duncan, Grover has trained some of the very best on how to dig within to become unstoppable on the court. His 3 tier mentality platform identifies which athletes are born to take orders and which are born to build dynasties. In the opinion of Grover, to simply compete is to lower your skill level on the court. You must dominate at everything and force others to compete with you. He breaks down what makes someone a “Cooler”, a “Closer” and ultimately a “Cleaner” in the sense of their mentality when it matters most. If you’re a sports fan or current athlete and are looking for applicable mental toughness techniques that can be applied to any industry, especially business, this book is a must-read.
“Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss
If you ask anyone in business what is the one thing their clients expect them to excel at, they may say being honest and trustworthy is key with clients. But most likely, they will say that negotiations are an absolutely necessary skill to have from their years of experience. Without it, clients will never be able to ensure that their business is in the best hands. Chris Voss, a former FBI hostage negotiator, has mastered the art of sealing the deal on his terms without disrespecting the other party. In his book, he outlines the benefits of giving open-ended responses to direct demands, the 3 types of Yes that the other party will use to get leverage, as well as the benefit of knowing the type of negotiator you are up against. With the stakes of life or death on the line for Chris, he has invaluable experience that is shared within this book. If you are the leader of a team and want to build the skills of your team members, or if you represent yourself as the face of your own business, this book is a survival guide for approaching the negotiation table with complete confidence and leaving unscathed on your own terms.
5. “The Visual MBA” by Jason Barron
For most entrepreneurs, business is their passion project that ultimately becomes their career. Entrepreneurs determine what they want to create to make the world more efficient, raise capital from family and friends, then they start seeking out venture investors for the Series A funding round. It’s an exciting time to learn about who you truly as the head of your own business. Along the way, once an undergrad degree is completed, talk of an MBA may come up. If you’re working for a corporate company and want to make your way up the latter, it’s an easy decision. But if you’re already running your own business, what can a graduate program truly offer you? Before making that decision to take the leap into more student loan debt, I’d highly recommend perusing through the Visual MBA for a crash course in what a full program would have to offer you. Jason Barron, graduate of Brigham Young University, had a crazy idea to draw pictures instead of taking regular notes in his business classes. His classmates noticed and served as his first audience with positive reviews of his content. He then challenged himself to do this for the entire 2 years of his grad school program, which would lead to the production of The Visual MBA as a crowdfunded project. What makes this book such an amazing resource and the simplicity of its teaching matched with the breadth of its contents. Barron discusses everything from International Business to Entrepreneurial Finance in the form of clean cartoons with colorful dialogue and descriptions. He then ties it all together at the end in his “index”, as a way to connect with big picture readers. If you’ve ever considered pursuing your MBA, or are just curious about what it may entail, this a great resource for a crash course in what business school will truly teach you.
During your time in quarantine and even afterwards in the time ahead, we hope that you’ll check out some of these amazing business books. Your greatest asset is your mind, and what better time to develop it than right now.
