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There are countless successful entrepreneurs and thought leaders in the world today, each with a wealth of information and experiences to share. Fortunately, many of them have written books that detail their most powerful thoughts, ideas, and lessons. The hard part is choosing which ones to read.
For members of the Young Entrepreneur Council, the following nine books have had the biggest impact on their companies. Below, they discuss these books and why they believe every entrepreneur should read them to become better leaders for their teams.
Members pictured from left to right.
Photos courtesy of individual members.
1. “Smarter, Faster, Better: The Transformative Power of True Productivity”
Everyone on my team is required to read Smarter Faster Better: the transformative power of real productivity by Charles Duhigg during their first month with us. I recommend this book to any entrepreneur because it presents the data, stories, and anecdotes behind building a performance-oriented organization and team culture. I frequently re-read the chapters on mental models, goal setting, and focus to adjust my personal priorities and increase my team’s productivity. – Christopher Tarantino, Epicenter of Innovation
2. “Start with why: how great leaders inspire everyone to action”
My favorite leadership book is this Start with Why by Simon Sink because it shows that in order to build a successful business, a leader must clearly understand their purpose and the value they bring to the world before effectively communicating this to their team and clients. The book talks about the power of shopping psychology and how customers don’t buy what you buy, they buy Why You do it. This is an extremely powerful book for establishing company culture and branding practices. – Isabelle Shee, GROW
3. “The 5 Levels of Leadership: Proven Ways to Maximize Your Potential”
John Maxwell 5 levels of leadership offers a concise and clear framework for understanding and strengthening leadership abilities. It is especially helpful for entrepreneurs as it enables them to assess their current level of leadership and understand the steps needed to move to the next level. It also includes helpful tips and real-life examples of how to effectively manage teams and lead people, which are essential for business owners who start and run a business. – John Hall, Calendar
4. “Smartcuts: How Hackers, Innovators, and Icons Accelerate Success”
Smart cuts Shane Snow is an interesting read that describes the ways people have used innovative thinking and momentum to accelerate their careers and become successful. It’s an unconventional way of doing things that encourages “lateral thinking.” Leaders can cultivate this mindset in their teams as well. In this way, you create an environment with people who are looking for new ways to succeed for themselves and the company. There is a greater focus on experimentation and innovation, which are huge drivers of long-term success. – Firas Kittaneh, Amerisleep mattress
5. “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us”
Drive: the surprising truth about what motivates us by Daniel H. Pink is a best-selling book that explores the science of motivation and its application in the workplace. The book argues that traditional incentives such as bonuses and promotions are not always effective in motivating employees and that a more holistic approach is needed. From my perspective, the book provides valuable insights into creating a work environment that fosters creativity, innovation, and productivity. This suggests that the key to motivating employees is tapping into their innate sense of autonomy, mastery, and purpose. By providing employees with autonomy in their work, opportunities to develop skills and a sense of purpose, entrepreneurs can create a culture of engagement and motivation. – Candice Georgiadis, Digital Day
6. “Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future”
Zero to one by Peter Thiel of Blake Masters is a must read for any entrepreneur who is starting out and wants to build a team from the ground up. The book is great for all aspects of starting a business, but especially for leadership and how to build an effective, loyal team. When I started, I had no idea how to get good people to join my team and become part of my dream. It was then that I read this book, in which the author discusses this topic in detail. The most important takeaway for me was that you need to build trust and security with the people you will be working with and be open to sharing your vision in as much detail as possible without any uncertainties. That’s exactly what I did, and five years have passed. My core team stays with me, getting more loyal and stronger every day. – Vibhav Singh, XTEN-AV LLC
7. “Silence: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking”
I find Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking Susan Cain for an important book that all leaders should read. It helps to go beyond the traditional idea of what creative and “good” employees look like, and helps to appreciate the quieter members of the team. You will give them more opportunities and use the talent hidden everywhere. It also helps you look within yourself and realize the value of your introspective qualities. I have learned that by understanding my personal strengths, I can become a better leader for my company. – Syed Balkhi, WPBeginner
8. “Lean start-up”
I think every budding entrepreneur should read it Lean Startup by Eric Ries. It helps you understand the problems that new ventures may encounter and how to find cost-effective solutions. From the book, you will also learn how you can improve your products or services through testing and continuous improvement to become a viable solution in your niche. This helps not only new ventures but also existing companies like mine discover new ways to improve and grow in their industry. What’s more, by reading this book, you’ll learn how to manage your resources and incorporate customer feedback. Overall, this is excellent reading for any entrepreneur looking to build a successful business. – Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
9. “E-Myth Again: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It”
The return of e-myth by Michael E. Gerber is a must read for every entrepreneur, whether starting a new business or running a mature company. It’s full of helpful advice and does a great job of debunking what Gerber calls the “entrepreneurship myth,” which is that most people who start small businesses are entrepreneurs. Running a successful business requires more than just technical skills and a good idea, and this book is one of the few on the market that contains a recipe for success. — Jack Perkins, Hub CFO
