Eight must-read books for novice entrepreneurs
In this golden age of technology entrepreneurship
Peter Thiel may be able to rest assured about his new book "How to Build the Future of Entrepreneurship from Zero to One
Notes" ( ) is sure to find a group of enthusiastic readers.
Thiel, who turns one next month, is the co-founder of PayPal and a co-founder of a data company. He is known to have been one of the first outside investors and oversees a hedge fund as well as his own venture capital firm, Founders Fund. According to Forbes' team of outstanding wealth analysts, Thiel's net worth was estimated at $100 million as of January 1, 2018.
Could Thiel’s contribution to the long list of entrepreneurship books become a must-read for would-be business professionals and would-be founders? Time will tell. His Meditations will have to crowd out some other excellent writings. Here are a few books full of wisdom and useful tools for novice entrepreneurs
Alexander Ostwald, author of "The New Generation of Business Models"
As one of the first steps in the entrepreneurial game, business Planning well may be essential. By illustrating ideas gleaned from business model practitioners in each country, this book provides readers with an insight into the simple, basic, as well as advanced and complex business models adopted by entrepreneurs and companies around the world. This is a tool book worthy of attention.
Dale Carnegie, author of "Human Weaknesses"
Here we recommend an old classic. Human Weakness was first published as a self-help book long before the genre was taken seriously. Why is this book still important? Because it is most important for entrepreneurs to understand other people's communication skills motivations and tendencies. Whether negotiating with partners or motivating employees, interpersonal skills are essential. Carnegie also benefited from the excellent title.
"The Power of Habit Why do we live and work like this?" "( ) by Charles Duhigg
Duhigg's book on companies, leaders, and personal habits is all about insight. By understanding human behavioral patterns and the human brain’s ability to form patterns or calibrate old patterns it teaches entrepreneurs how to make useful predictions.
_ Eight must-read books for novice entrepreneurs
"The Growth Mindset of Lean Startup New Enterprises" ( ) author Eric Rice
Today, Lean Startup has become a popular term, but It's just because it makes sense for so many young companies and first-time founders. Advances in science and technology have allowed companies to be launched quickly and cheaply, and the Internet has reached billions of consumers. The Lean model eliminates wasteful activities and any aspect of the business that customers are unwilling to pay for.
Benjamin Graham, author of "The Intelligent Investor"
Warren Buffett ( ) believes this is the best investment book ever written. Markets have changed since Graham published his book in 1998, but generations of novice investors since then have gained their introduction to the stock market from his allegorical style of personifying the ups and downs of the stock indexes. A character both likeable and confusing, Graham's Mr. Market remains a worthwhile read for anyone hoping to understand the game of stock market trading.
"Telephone Sales and Closing Techniques" (( )) by Stephen Schiffman
For those whose minds have been permanently plugged into the latest communications technology, this book may seem a bit Outdated but whether you like it or not as an entrepreneur you are always picking up the phone and convincing strangers to do something that will greatly benefit you. Imagining the power of developing such a skill is what this book is about.
The Founder's Dilemma ( ) by Norm Wasserman
For more information about managing your company's talent resources. Wasserman's book focuses on avoiding disaster through preparedness. In a sense it creates a map of the entrepreneurial minefield. Ever wonder why doing business with friends can be dangerous? Why is a startup team with similar interests a bad combination? How should rewards be distributed without sparking disputes? This book answers these questions.
"The Biography of Steve Jobs" ( ) by Walter Isaacson
Why should aspiring entrepreneurs read this biography of Steve Jobs? For several reasons at least it tells an inspiring story of creativity, struggle, success and redemption. It's also a cautionary tale that business novices and inventors can learn valuable lessons from Jobs' shortcomings in dealing with friends and colleagues. They will also be forced to think about these two questions: What does success mean? Is the price we pay to achieve our vision too high (or even necessary)?
Conclusion
I am by no means saying that these few entrepreneurial books alone are all-encompassing, nor am I implying that these books are the best books in an absolute sense. There are simply too many good books for space limitations. Only the above eight books are listed.
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