These Top 5 Most Powerful and Effective Business Books Made A Difference To My Business!

Reading is an excellent way to expand your knowledge and skills as an entrepreneur. But with so many effective business books out there, it’s hard to know which one to pick up next.

To make things simple, I’ve compiled a list of our five favourites for growing your business, becoming a more effective owner and manager, and understanding how to connect with potential customers. Be sure to add these great reads to your booklist for 2021!

These books helped me enormously when I started my business.  Why?  Well, you know that saying “you don't know what you don't know?”   When you're just starting out as an entrepreneur, you cannot possibly know everything you need to know.  These books not only taught me things I needed to know, they showed me where to start digging so I could begin to figure out “what I didn't know”.

Because it's only when you know what you don't know that you can begin to learn what you need to learn.

 *****

And here they are … my Top 5 “must-have” effective business books that every entrepreneur and small business owner should read

“Ask” by Ryan Levesque

“Ask” is all about getting to the heart of what your customers want. In this detailed book, author Ryan Levesque, an Inc. 500 CEO, describes his proven methodology for determining customers’ motivations, wants, and needs. Best of all, he explains how to gather this information with fully automated methods – so businesses of any size can take advantage of his approach.

By using the methods detailed in “Ask”, online business owners have generated a collective $100 million in sales in 250 industries. This book is a must-read for connecting with your customers, no matter your industry.

How this book helped me:

Talk about one of the most effective business books! This book allowed me to see marketing in a new light. I already knew about the need to market, but I was shy. “Ask” helped me realise that the secret to getting your business right is to simply ask your customers what they need and want. I used this information to hone in on my ideal customers and to provide them with exactly what they needed.

*****

“Vivid Vision” by Cameron Herold

Most businesses have a mission statement. But what is its purpose, really? In “Vivid Vision”, author Cameron Herold, explains how this seemingly small aspect of your branding can be a tool for massive inspiration and growth. It’s a short, straightforward read that’s centered on creating an actionable three-year plan for businesses of all sizes.

Additionally, Herold shows business owners how a powerful mission statement can invigorate and inspire employees, investors, and other stakeholders who play important roles in your companies. This read will help you transform your vision into an action plan for long-term success.

How this book helped me:

“Vivid Vision” walked me through creating a roadmap for the next 10 years. If you can imagine something, you can determine the steps to get there, which is what makes this read so powerful. It’s a good book for entrepreneurs at any stage in their journey.

*****

“Profit First” by Michael Michalowicz

You may already know I love this book and think it is one of the most effective business books on the market! Known as a business classic, “Profit First” emphasises the importance of paying yourself for your work. Michael Michalowicz flips the traditional sales-expenses = profit formula on its head and explains why a small, profit-focused business can be much more lucrative than a large business that prioritises expenses before profit.

The book is filled with case studies and compelling examples, so every reader is sure to find a story that resonates with their situation. The “Profit First” method has helped create happier, more fulfilled entrepreneurs everywhere, so it’s worth learning about, no matter where you are in your business.

How this book helped me:

Early in my business, I ended up spending more than I’d earned. If I’d read this book at the time, I never would have gotten in that situation. “Profit First” taught me fundamental principles about the right way to manage my budget.

*****

“Pre-Suasion” by Robert Cialdini 

In “Pre-Suasion”, Robert Cialdini teaches how subtle body language cues and actions can set the tone for your conversations – before you’ve even begun to speak. He talks about using this fact to your advantage by getting customers and clients ready to say “yes” through simple, non-aggressive techniques.

The practical advice in “Pre-Suasion” applies to anyone in a position of influence, including business owners and managers. The skills take some practice to master, but you’ll be better off for learning the power of pre-suasion.

How this book helped me:

Writing email or website copy that converts is tricky and used to be an unfathomable black box for me. After reading “Pre-suasion”, I had a much better understanding of the psychology underlying people's decision-making behaviour when it comes to taking up our offers.

*****

“Building A Story Brand: Clarifying Your Message So Customers Will Listen” by Donald Miller

Rounding out my top 5 most effective business books to add to your marketing toolkit, author Donald Miller explains how to apply the seven key ingredients of storytelling to build a brand story that catches your customer’s attention. He dives deep into the psychology of why people buy, their motivations, and how to create effective messaging for all kinds of marketing tactics.

Like all of the books on this list, Donald Miller’s advice can apply to businesses of any size, including startups that are in the process of crafting their brand message. His methods stand the test of time since they apply to all marketing methods, from social media to print advertisements.

How this book helped me:

“Building A Story Brand” honed my understanding of using stories to show others the value that you have to offer. Instead of relying on sales tactics, the methods in “Building A Story Brand” teach you to convey messages through powerful stories. I already loved tales, to begin with, so learning to do this felt natural with my business.

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