7 books that will turn you into a 6-7 figure entrepreneur
/Becoming a successful entrepreneur is a multifaceted journey that involves a combination of personal drive, skills, experiences, and knowledge. While books can provide valuable insights and inspiration, they are just one piece of the puzzle. That being said, here are some books that I and many other entrepreneurs have found helpful in their pursuit of success!
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"Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill: This classic book explores the mindset and principles necessary for success. It emphasizes the importance of developing a positive mental attitude and taking persistent action towards your goals. How "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill Helped Me Think About Success
As an entrepreneur, I am always on the lookout for resources that could enlighten me on how to achieve success. That's when I came across "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill, and it transformed the way I think about success.
The book combines insights from successful people with the author's research on the mindset and habits of successful individuals. The book emphasizes the importance of positive thinking and self-belief, and it was a remarkable revelation to me. I learned that one of the critical factors in achieving success is to have faith in oneself and to remain positive, even in the face of adversity.
The book provides a step-by-step guide on how to cultivate a success-oriented mindset, which includes setting clear goals, staying focused, and developing resilience. It helped me understand the importance of creating a well-designed plan that aligns with my strengths, passions, and values.
As I continued reading the book, I was fascinated by the stories of successful people, including Henry Ford and Andrew Carnegie, who applied the principles outlined in the book to achieve their dreams. These stories gave me the motivation and inspiration to believe that I could also achieve my goals with the right mindset and actions.
"Think and Grow Rich" is a must-read for anyone who desires to achieve success. The principles outlined in the book are timeless and practical, and they inspire readers to take action towards their dreams. This book has transformed the way I think about success, and it has helped me to cultivate a positive mindset and take action towards achieving my goals.
"The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries: This book offers guidance for building and scaling a startup by employing a scientific approach to entrepreneurship. It focuses on continuous innovation, validated learning, and efficient resource allocation.
As a startup founder, I was eager to learn about building and scaling my business in the most efficient way possible. That's when a fellow entrepreneur recommended "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries. I decided to give it a read, and was I ever glad that I did!
Ries' book introduced me to the concept of lean methodology, which focuses on creating a product that meets the needs of early customers with minimal resources. This approach was perfect for my startup, which was just getting off the ground and needed to prove its value quickly.
The book helped me understand the importance of conducting experiments, gathering data, and making data-driven decisions. This helped me help my clients about the importance of streamlining the product development process, resulting in a faster time-to-market and fewer wasted resources.
Another valuable lesson I took away from the book was the importance of feedback loops. Ries explains that feedback loops are essential for continuous improvement, and this is true not only for product development but also for other aspects of the business, such as marketing and customer service. By establishing feedback loops with teams, customers, and other stakeholders, I learned to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement.
One of the most significant takeaways for me was the concept of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This idea involves developing a product with just enough features to satisfy the early adopters and gain valuable feedback. This approach taught me to avoid investing time and money into features that may not be necessary or essential.
Overall, "The Lean Startup" provided me with practical insights and strategies that I applied to my startup, and to my clients’ small businesses which ultimately helped me build and scale my business efficiently and provide value to my marketing clients. The book's principles remain relevant today, and I highly recommend it to any entrepreneur looking to take their business to the next level.
"The 4-Hour Workweek" by Timothy Ferriss: This book challenges traditional notions of work and productivity. It provides strategies for automating and outsourcing tasks, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on high-value activities and create more freedom in their lives.
Tim Ferris's book is a life-changing read all about learning about productivity. He argues that productivity is not about how much you get done in a day but, rather, how much time you spend doing meaningful work. In other words, Ferris suggests that it's not about working hard, it's about working smart.
The book talks about "lifestyle design”, which was one of my favourite parts. Ferris suggests that individuals should design their lives around their priorities, not their work. For example, one of Ferris's most famous concepts is the "mini-retirement." Instead of waiting until retirement to travel or take an extended break, Ferris suggests taking multiple mini-retirements throughout your life. This approach allows individuals to pursue their passions and interests while still contributing to their work and personal lives. Although I must say…”mini-retirements” while you have kids around is not exactly relaxing!
He also explains productivity by focusing on "elimination”, as well as the importance of delegation and outsourcing.
The book essentially helped me learn how achieve more in less time and ultimately live more fulfilling life. It’s important as a mompreneur to maximize your time and focus your attention on the right places at the right time so you can also be there for your kids. It’s super hard to balance everything, but once you master it you can achieve anything!
"Zero to One" by Peter Thiel: In this book, Thiel, a successful entrepreneur and investor, shares his insights on creating and building groundbreaking companies. He explores the concept of going from "zero to one," emphasizing the importance of innovation and developing unique ideas.
Thiel uses his experience as a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist to shed light on the concept of innovation. Thiel argues that regarding innovation, the true value creation lies in going from zero to one, which is creating something entirely new.
He states that entrepreneurs who can create something fundamentally new are the ones who are most successful. This type of innovation requires a willingness to take risks, think outside of the box, and create something that doesn't currently exist in the market. I related it to being specific about finding your niche in the online space and how important that is for the right clients and/or customers coming to you.
The book provides a framework for thinking about innovation and helps entrepreneurs understand what sets successful startups apart from the rest. Thiel's ideas challenge conventional wisdom and provide a roadmap for entrepreneurs who want to create something truly new and revolutionary. By fostering a culture of innovation and taking calculated risks, entrepreneurs can build successful businesses that truly change the world.
"The E-Myth Revisited" by Michael E. Gerber: This book discusses the common pitfalls and myths that entrepreneurs face when starting and growing their businesses. It provides practical advice on building systems, delegating tasks, and creating a scalable business.
My favourite topic in business is systems! I loved this book because Gerber discusses the importance of building systems in any business, particularly for entrepreneurs who often find themselves bogged down by their day-to-day operations. The book emphasizes the need for every aspect of a business, from customer service to financial management, to be clearly outlined in a step-by-step system.
One of the main points Gerber makes is that a business is replicable only if the processes involved are easily teachable and transferable. By creating a series of systems to manage each component of the business, entrepreneurs can ensure consistent quality and productivity, even during times of growth or management changes. This is why creating SOPs are so valuable to a business!
If you want to be inspired and nerd-out at the same time, you will want to get your hands on this book as soon as possible.
"Crushing It!" by Gary Vaynerchuk: Vaynerchuk offers a combination of motivational advice and practical strategies for leveraging social media and personal branding to build a successful business. He shares stories of individuals who have used these principles to achieve great success.
If you want to be inspired by social media marketers and how they have achieved success you will want to snag a copy of this book. It will surely inspire you to get out there and focus on your social media marketing efforts to gain clients as well as to get more eyeballs on your business.
"The Hard Thing About Hard Things" by Ben Horowitz: Horowitz, a successful venture capitalist and entrepreneur, shares his experiences and insights on navigating the challenges and tough decisions faced by entrepreneurs. It offers practical advice on leadership, management, and building a resilient company.
Horowitz emphasizes that entrepreneurship is not for everyone, and that building a company is incredibly difficult, with many obstacles and challenges. However, he also provides strategies and approaches that can help entrepreneurs build a company that can survive the inevitable hard times.
One key factor in building a resilient company is to hire the right people. Horowitz argues that it's important to find people who are "all in" and are as committed to the success of the company as the founder. This means hiring people who are willing to work hard, learn quickly, and adapt to changing circumstances. When the team is strong and united, the company is more likely to survive and thrive.
Another important factor in building a resilient company is to focus on the long-term vision, as well as the importance of being honest and transparent with your team. Horowitz's book provides a roadmap for entrepreneurs seeking to build a company that can survive and thrive in the face of adversity. This book really opened my eyes to becoming the “boss” of my own business and what it takes to build a team. It’s super important if you’re interested in scaling your business but you don’t have time or energy to do it all…(who does?).
Remember, reading books (or audiobooks!) alone won't guarantee success. It's important to apply the knowledge gained from these books and combine it with real-world experience, perseverance, and adaptability. If you want to learn more about how I built my business from making $150 a month making coaching contracts for clients in 2016 to now running a 6 figure service-based digital marketing business where I get to work with dream clients while working from home - come hang out with me here on the Mompreneur Hub!
