Top 8 Books to Read as You Bring Your Business Idea to Life
Helpful Tools for Makers, Service Providers and Food Creators
When you are first growing the idea of your business, it’s important to start with quality information and helpful guides. Being an entrepreneur can feel lonely sometimes and we all need encouragement and ideas to help us keep moving towards our goals. We want to make sure that when you do have a moment to sit down and read or listen to an audio book that it’s time well spent. If you are coming up with your business idea, check out these books at your local library, using the free Libby App or find them at your local bookstore.
Book 1: The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
What You’ll Learn About: Customer Experience, User Experience, Product/Service Development, Market Testing, Finding Your Ideal Market
Learn how to use rapid test cycles to learn what customers really want so you can innovate more quickly and efficiently develop products and services that will sell.
Book 2: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
What You’ll Learn About: Creativity and Bravery to Try New Things
Starting a business requires creativity and bravery. This book outlines how to embrace your curiosity, tackle what you most love and face down what you most fear. It discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives.
Book 3: Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
What You’ll Learn About: Living your values in your business, creative problem solving, reaching your goals
Learn how to retrain your brain to think more creatively and positively in the face of setbacks so you can focus on your goals.
Book 4: 50 Ways to Find a Job by Dev Aujla
What You’ll Learn About: Building a Meaningful Career, Career Transitions
Starting your own business and searching for the right business idea has a lot in common with the job search. This book discusses how to build a meaningful career as you start this new chapter. There’s also lots of practical advice about how to make the transition work for you.
Book 5: Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon
What You’ll Learn About: Creative thinking, Discovering your own path
This book provides insights into creative thinking and discovering your own path. When you’re worried your idea is too similar to other businesses this book provides an alternative perspective and allows you to focus on what really matters as you build your business – execution.
Book 6: Start with Why by Simon Sinek
What You’ll Learn About: Brand Culture, Communication, Vision, Purpose
Learn how to build a company that will be innovative, influential and inspiring. Understand how leading with WHY helps people buy into a product, service, movement, or idea.
Book 7: Art of the Start 2.0 by Guy Kawaski
What You’ll Learn About: Basics for innovating, fundraising, branding
How to effectively deploy tools for innovating, fundraising and branding and master the fundamental challenges that have not changed: building a strong team, creating an awesome product or service, and facing down your competition.
Book 8: Startup School by Seth Godin
What You’ll Learn About: How to build and run your dream business
Podcast from thought leader and marketing expert Seth Godin that follows advice and guidance given in a live workshop to 30 entrepreneurs.
