top of page
Writer's pictureAriam Kesete

Five books you should read before you start a business.

There is a way to avoid going to business school if you want to start your own company. Even though many great CEOs have never attended college, they are among the most knowledgeable people in their profession. You can take a more grassroots approach to learn what you need to know about establishing a business by reading the words of others who have gone before you. It is not easy to start a new business. According to the Small Business Administration, 50 percent of new businesses fail within five years owing to a lack of research and planning.


While no single "How-to" or "How-I" book can provide you with all of the information you need to start a successful business, a library of high-quality books can provide you with valuable insight and inspiration before you take the jump. These books are necessary reading for any prospective tech entrepreneur or aspiring artist looking to sell their work.


Here is a list of five books that I would confidently suggest to any serious aspiring entrepreneur.

1. Zero to One by Peter Thiel

Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel



Zero to One is an inside look at Peter Thiel's startup company philosophy and strategy. Peter Theil is a billionaire co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and Founders Fund. Zero to One is a collection of articles based on Theil's 2012 startup talk notes. He discusses his experiences starting PayPal, investing in Facebook, and becoming a millionaire.


This book offers a fresh outlook on the future and the future of startups. Thiel has often shown his ability to achieve new goals. In addition, his engineering mindset allows him to implement a strategy quickly and successfully.


"The founding moment of a company, however, really does happen just once: only at the very start do you have the opportunity to set the rules that will align people toward the creation of value in the future."

Peter Thiel, Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future

2. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses


Eric Reiss is an information architect, usability expert, and service designer. In The Lean Startup, Ries examines why most firms fail and avoid it. This guide is all about learning the fundamentals of new business success and failure.

However, this does not necessitate the creation of a detailed business plan. Instead, it entails learning sound concepts that will guide and measure your company's performance. These pointers are ideal for anyone looking to get their feet wet in the realm of business ownership.


Ries discusses how successful firms use human creativity while keeping expenses low, focusing on quick experimentation, eliminating vanity metrics, and adjusting to consumer needs. As a result, Ries' Lean Startup methodology has become a movement, inspiring firms to rethink their habits.


Reis' book discusses how firms can utilize innovative strategies to adapt to change. Those hoping to avoid the problems of unsuccessful startups should read The Lean Startup.


"We must learn what customers want, not what they say they want or what we think they should want."

Eric Ries, The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses.


3. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie





Dale Carnegie was a self-improvement author and educator who created courses in salesmanship, public speaking, and other interpersonal skills.


Written in 1936, How to Win Friends and Influence People is a self-help classic that has sold over 30 million copies worldwide. Carnegie's book drew on his decades of experience teaching business education.


Carnegie explores practical ideas for relating to people in professional and personal situations. He outlines how to achieve respect as a leader without provoking anger.


The thing that makes you happy or miserable is not what you have, who you are, or where you are. "It is what you think."


"How to Win Friends and Influence People"


4. Book of Branding By Radim Malinic

A guide to creating a brand identity for startups and beyond




The Book of Branding is a must-have for entrepreneurs, founders, graphic designers, brand developers, and anybody looking to understand the complex world of brand identification.

The book's conversational, non-jargon tone helps the reader grasp the key concepts of brand identity. In addition, the book uses real-life case studies to show how readers can do outstanding collaborative work.‍



5. Will It Fly? by Thomas K. McKnight

How to Know if Your New Business Idea Has Wings … Before You Take the Leap



McKnight gives forth methods for determining whether a business concept has potential before you get started in this book. More than 200 startups contributed to McKnight's data. He has assessed their business plans, investment strategies, and other aspects of their operations. He also lays out 44 company success rules to help you figure out how to move forward.


McKnight's goal is to assist entrepreneurs in turning their initial concepts into successful businesses. He also equips them with the knowledge to make sound business decisions straight away.


You have a better probability of success if you have more knowledge at the start. This understanding can also assist you in safeguarding your investors. Asking oneself questions like these is an important component of McKnight's self-assessment for business entrepreneurs.

• Do you have enough cash on hand to make this work?

• Do you have a steady stream of customers?

• Is it simple to dethrone your rivals?

Business owners use each of these characteristics and many more to evaluate themselves, enabling them to put together a sound business plan that is certain to succeed – long before they invest the time or money.


This book will walk you through the entire process, from assessing your attitudes to developing a business plan. Finally, it would help if you had a good sense of your odds of succeeding.

28 views0 comments

תגובות


bottom of page