7 Books That Every Entrepreneur Should Read in 2021
If there’s one thing that I’m sure of, it is that learning never stops and reading a book is one way to aid learning. Elon Musk is an avid reader. Barrack Obama makes it a habit to read every night while Mark Zuckerberg reads a book every two weeks. More so, Mark Cuban reads for more than three hours every day. Bill Gates on the other hand reads about 50 books per year. With that, I decided to come up with 7 books that every entrepreneur should read in 2021
All these successful self-made entrepreneurs have one thing in common- reading books. Entrepreneurs don’t have much time at hand but they are voracious readers.
Here, I picked 7 of my own top books that every entrepreneur should read in 2021.
1. Poke the Box: When Was the Last Time You Did Something for the First Time? by Seth Godin
This mind-questioning book by this marketing superstar; Seth Godin explains the logic and thinking behind complaining about failure without actually doing anything remarkable.
It doesn’t exactly advise you on what to do but rather opens up your mind and lays a foundation on a mind refurbish. It probes and pushes one to think of inventing or starting something new, remarkable even.
Poke the box is the push that one needs to create and learn from change.
There is a phrase he made that has stuck with me- “Our economy is not static, but we act as if it is…”
Seth Godin advises entrepreneurs to stop waiting for a road map but rather draw one now.
2. Deep Work (Rules For Focused Success in A Distracted World) by Cal Newport
This is one of the 7 books that every entrepreneur should read in 2021. Focus is a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. There is so much noise outside your head as an entrepreneur, inside your head even. This noise causes distraction and it affects one’s focus as an entrepreneur.
Are you the kind of entrepreneur that gets pessimistic when you other entrepreneurs around you doing well? Or you are so insecure and distracted by your own and others’ voices?
The American non-fiction author and Computer Science professor wrote this book just for you.
Deep work expresses impact in a connective age like this. It states why focus is needed and goes on to provide four rules to make that happen for you as an entrepreneur.
3. The Power of Broke by Daymond John
Daymond takes one on a ride of how starting a business with a low budget can actually turn out to be an entrepreneur’s greatest competitive advantage. He started to sew t-shirts in his room and would go out to sell by the roadside.
The branding consultant shared with his own experience how the power of broke forces you to use your resources more efficiently. It forces you to connect with your customers more authentically, and market your ideas more imaginatively. It forces you to be true to yourself, stay laser-focused on your goals, and come up with those innovative solutions required to make a meaningful mark.
This is a book that every entrepreneur should read in 2021.
4. Start With Why by Simon Sinek
There are lots of thought-provoking fundamental questions in this masterpiece by Simon Sinek, one of which is, “Why are some people and organizations more innovative, more influential, and more profitable than others”
Start with why is wrapped in simplicity and interactive tone, you would almost guess that the author is a TED talker, and his talk starts with why is the third most popular TED Talk in the world.
It makes an entrepreneur question why are they are starting that business and re-strategizing. This is sure one of the 7 books that every entrepreneur should read in 2021.
5. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
If you are interested in wisdom-oriented books, this is a jackpot. The Chinese strategist made several noteworthy quotes in The Art of War but three stuck with me.
Ponder and deliberate before you make a move
There are five essentials for victory: He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. He will win who knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks. In addition, he will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.
The principle on which to manage an army is to set up one standard of courage which all must reach.
Times when you need a pat on the back or a light scold to get up and do something as an entrepreneur. During times when you need to strategize but you don’t have the muse or will, this is a book to read.
6. To Sell is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others by Daniel H. Pink
The New York Times business bestseller and author of Drive and A Whole New Mind explain how humans have the instinct to want to sell. Every day, more than fifteen million people earn their cash by persuading someone to buy what they are selling.
An entrepreneur is someone that knows how to persuade and get their products sold. Enhancing that persuasion spirit in you is made possible by to sell is human. The American author managed to make this book entertaining and informative. In my opinion, this book is specifically made for entrepreneurs.
7. Measure What Matters by John Doerr
Whether you are a seasoned CEO or a first-time entrepreneur, you’ll find valuable lessons, tools, and inspiration pages of measure what matters. I’m glad John invested his time to share this with the world.
Reid Hoffman
This review made me want to grab a copy of this piece so fast.
Measure what matters is a book for all levels of entrepreneur and it expresses explosive growth.
This book makes an entrepreneur a better entrepreneur, and an even better manager.
Conclusion
The growth as an entrepreneur is directly proportional to reading insightful books that every entrepreneur should read in 2021, like the ones I have listed above.
Decide today, to read one of them.
