As a momtrepreneur, you know you need to continue learning and educating yourself. But finding the best business books is not always easy.
There are a ton of business books out there, but not all are created equal. I’ve read a lot of books—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Here is my list of the best business books I’ve read.
I am an information junkie to the point of it being a fault. I would love to stay in the realm of consuming information rather than putting it all into practice. It is easier that way. So I’ve read a lot of books, and brought you my top 11 best business books.
It is not easy to find time to invest in your education. You know you need to keep learning and growing, but how do you pick the best business books to read? Like everything else you do, this requires intentional planning and good recommendations.
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My Top 8 Best Business Books
Here are my favorite business books. I thought they were so good, I listened to the audio book from the library, and then I bought the physical book for most of them. (I’m a visual learner, so if it was good I bought the book for future reference).
These are not listed in any particular order, these are just the best business books I highly recommend. Some of them may contradict each other, but I am all for hearing both sides of the discussion and distilling the best ideas from both.
There isn’t one best book for business. It really does require reading wide and reading often in order to get the best and most information.
1. Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller
This was one of those over-hyped books that I resisted reading for so long. Let me tell you it over-delivered. It was a great book to focus on what I wanted to do and how to tell a story. It was so good, I listened to the audio version and then bought the book, so I could go through and highlight it. You won’t regret investing time or money in this book.
Everyone loves a good story, and he really shows you how to incorporate story into your business marketing model. The book also gives you the structure of story. So you can plan your business story with step-by-step guidance.
2. EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey
I thought this books was really good. It gave a lot of practical advice for leading a team. It is so good, I had my 13-year-old read it. He definitely has leadership qualities, just need to add wisdom and maturity.
If you manage a team, plan to manage a team, or have just worked under bad leaders. You should read this book. It will give you clear principles on what a good leader is and does. Leadership is a responsibility that is often given, but a skill that is rarely taught.
Dave Ramsey’s company has been named on the “Best Places to Work in Nashville” 10 times. He seems to be a leader that practices what he preaches, so a good leader to take advice from.
3. Start with Why by Simon Sinek
The premise of this book is to go beyond what you do, and really dig deep and build your businesses on why you do it. Why is what inspires you and continues to motivate you to do what you do.
As I started to pivot my Virtual Assistant business, this book helped me to really think through why and what I wanted to do. I determined that what I really wanted to do was help small businesses be successful by taking some of the frustrating must-haves off their plates. Even if I eventually change how I do this or what I do, my why will never change.
I find Simon Sinek to be a refreshing idealist, so it counters my cynical side sometimes. I heard someone say that if you scratch the surface of a cynic you find an idealist. That would be me. It is good to hear from an idealist who seems to be making this work.
4. Great at Work by Morten T. Hansen
This book can be summed up with one phrase—Do less and then obsess. When you are starting out building your business, you can have the tendency to say yes to everything, because you are building. This book will help you focus on what is the most important to you.
In any business there are many stages, and if you are not at the point that you feel like you can focus on less that’s ok. You can still start a virtual assistant business without knowing your niche. But if you want help, this is a great business book to read.
5. Grit by Angela Duckworth
This book was so good that I bought it and added it my oldest son’s curriculum for 8th grade. I have never seen myself as this highly talented or gifted individual. But I do possess a tenacity to see things through until the end.
This book focuses on that quality. When I was in college, I decided to teach myself how to play the guitar. I am not musically inclined, and I had a lot of people around me who were very good. But I knew I possessed one quality. I was gritty enough to work hard at it, and I did teach myself to play the guitar. Now don’t get me wrong, I can’t slay it like Santana or Jimmy Hendrix, but I was happy with what I could do.
If you are a mom that possess this quality, then this is a must read for you. If you are someone who has a lot of talent, then this book is also for you. It will inspire you to be gritty.
6. Range by David Epstein
If you are a generalist living in a specialist world then you need to read this book. He does get a little into the weeds on some of the points he is making, but if you can get past that, he makes some great points. So it is definitely on the best business books list. These points really challenge the accepted ideas and explore outside of the box.
Our culture is obsessed with specializing. In every business book, business blog, or education there is a constant push to specialize in something. The author very systematically dismantles this idea. With everything so focused on specializing, we need to take apart the accepted norm, and truly change our thought process when it comes to how we look at job skills, building a business, and how we learn.
I am a generalist living in a specialist world. Anyone else with me?
7. Atomic Habits by James Clear
This is another author that challenges the accepted norms when it comes to goalsetting. I have grown to despise all the mantras and how-tos when it comes to goalsetting. For one very good reason, they don’t work. Whether you are setting S.M.A.R.T goals, or S.M.A.R.T.E.R, or the big, hairy, scary…whatever. Nothing works. Yes, I follow all the steps and to-dos. You know what ends up happening? Life happens. Kids get sick. Days, weeks, even months get hijacked by things I could not foresee or plan for, and my goals end up by the wayside.
Now that I’ve ranted, I will tell you why this book was so refreshing. He doesn’t focus on goals. He focuses on creating systems to improve yourself and reach “goals” a little bit every day. The focus is to make 1% improvement every day.
For example, if you want to write a book. Don’t try to jump in with a goal of writing 500 words every day for the next 4 months to reach a 60,000 word goal. More than likely, if you aren’t used to writing you will get burned out and stop. Instead, get into the habit of writing a little bit every day. Take two minutes and write. Just do it every day. As you improve then add 2 more minutes. Eventually, you will train your mind and body to really focus on this time.
8. How to Make a Living with Your Writing by Joanna Penn
If you want to incorporate writing into your business, or even make a business with your writing I highly recommend this book and her other ones. I find her writing to be very practical, to the point, and very information rich.
I also listen to her podcast The Creative Penn, and I get a lot of enjoyment out of it. She is a self-published author, and really gives practical advice on how to do it.
9. The Long Game by Dorie Clark
Maybe it was the timing of when I listened to this book. It was exactly what I needed to hear at the time. She takes your through how long it takes to start a business, and the work she had to put into her businesses to really start seeing success.
Building a business is really hard. There are a lot of emotional stages that you go through. This book will encourage you to keep going and give you a timeframe for success.
10. To Pixar and Beyond by Lawrence Levy
really like to read biographies of successful business men and women. They were once starting out, and they can take you through their journey. The honest ones are the best. Especially, when they take you through all the ups and downs.
There was so much that I didn’t know about Pixar. I’ve always been a fan of most of their movies, but learning about the early years was incredibly encouraging.
We all start at the start. We need to hear the stories of those who persevered. This was so much fun to listen to.
11. George Lucas by Brian Jay Jones
I am big Star Wars fan. You know the one who doesn’t like the new sequels because they ruined the story…but that’s for another time. This biography of George Lucas was fabulous. He has had more failures than successes. His successes have just been wildly successful.
If you want to understand the struggle of starting out and bringing an idea to success, then you need to read this book. I will probably listen to it again, in the near future.
Conclusion to the Best Business Books
Your reading list should be full of the best business books for a while. Let me know in the comments if there are any other books that caused an ah hah moment for you. I am always looking to learn and read a good book. Tell me in the comments below, what is your favorite business book and why would you recommend it to us.
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