The pride and joy of my elementary school education is having earned bragging rights for reading 100 chapter books in a single year. Oh, and that because of it I got to go to Applebees with my principle for lunch… DURING the school day! #Gasp
But going into college I stopped reading. I told myself I was too busy, forgot the magic of getting lost in fiction… ignored the growth that comes with non-fiction. Until I started my business and realized that one of the FASTEST and LEAST EXPENSIVE forms of education came through reading.
Concepts, ideas, and trainign that people pay thousands of dollars for were neatly packaged up into these $14.99 books sitting on the Target shelves. And even during the times in my life and business when I didn't have the extra money to spend, they were truly still accessible. I could go to the library. And if I really put my mind to it, I could find that $14.99.
So today I want to share with you 5 of the most impactful books I have found for business. This list with change and grow as I do, as my business does. But my hope is that I can point you in the direction of a very simple investment in yourself.
A Simplified Life By Emily Ley
If you've followed me for any amount of time, you likely already knew that this book would make my list. It was the first book I read when I started my business and it was eye opening. A book intended for daily life, this transformed the way I think about my business and what I have to offer.
The message is very simple: In life (or in business) we only need the best, our favorite, and the most necessary. Items… services… strategies… you can apply this concept to almost anything. And I encourage you to do exactly that.
Built to Sell By John Warrillow
While the sale of my business isn't in my plans… running my business to cleanly that I could is. Hear me out.
A business that can be sold is one that can be easily be operated by someone other than yourself. And in order for that to happen your business must be organized, running efficiently, have well documented processes, have a strategic plan, have excellent communication….
And if that doesn't sound like the recipe for a business built to GROW I don't know what is.
You're likely not looking to sell your business. But I bet you ARE you looking to be able to take a week or two vacation and not have to worry. I bet you are looking to work fewer hours in the day without sacrificing growth.
And building your business using the same strategies that John Marrillow recomends for prepare a business to be sold gives you the freedome and flexibility you need to do everything we dreamed about together above.
How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk By Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
I do not have kids. So how I ended up with a Facebook ad for this book on my feed is beyond me… but out of sheer curiosity I googled the book, found a free chapter online and was blown away.
In marketing language is kept simple. It makes the message more clear, it makes it easier for people to understand, and it avoids misinterpretations. And the more I read from this book the more I saw that concept coming to life in a new way. That the concept being taught, and indended for increasing communiation with children, would be incredible powerful in communication in business.
This book teaches exactly what it says in the the title – how to talk so that the person you are speaking to can understadn your message and how to truly listen so that you hear theirs too.
So what's next on my reading list?
Well, that's a great question and I'd be happy to share! Here are the next few books on my ever growing list:
- How to be an Anti Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
- Traction by Gino Wickman
- Laughing Through the Ugly Cry by Dawn Barton
- Do Less by Kate Northrup
