Taegan Lion
Mastering the business fundamentals is a hugely important step in running or working for a successful business. We reached out to industry leaders to get their 9 top picks for business fundamental books you should read.
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#1 How to Be a Cash Flow Pro by Ken “Mr. Biz” Wentworth
According to a U.S. Bank study, 82% of business failures are due to poor cash flow management or poor understanding of how cash flow contributes to business. At some point during every business's life cycle, cash flow becomes a challenge. How to Be a Cash Flow Pro educates its readers on what cash flow is and how it differentiates from profits. More importantly, it also includes 50+ impactful tips that will help business owners avoid falling victim to the travails of poor cash flow management. Reading this book just might help prevent your company's failure!
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributors: Chip Gregory from Gregory-Fowler Media
#2 Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
This book is a game-changer. It'll teach you how to be profitable from Day 1 (and that you can be profitable from the start), and how to learn when an idea isn't profitable or feasible.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributors: Sarah Moe from Flauk
#3 First, Break All The Rules by Marcus Buckingham
There is a BIG difference between a good manager and a GREAT manager — and we know one thing for sure, people don’t leave jobs, they leave managers. Hence, GREAT management in your company is your main key to success.
This book is based on Gallup research of over 80,000 managers and really breaks down what the greatest managers do differently. Bonus - the 12 critical questions for employee engagement that start off the book are what I live by every day to improve as a great manager. If my team can answer yes to most of these questions every day my company’s effectiveness goes through the roof and when they can’t my employee retention hits rock bottom.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributors: Nikki Henry from Ladies Leading Ladies
#4 The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman
I highly recommend The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman because it not only teaches you what you'd learn during an expensive MBA program, but also because it speaks about the intricacies of owning a business.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributors: Sarah Moe from Flauk
#5 You Are A Badass At Making Money by Jen Sincero
While many of us are raised in heavily capitalistic societies, most of us have MAJOR baggage with money. We’re taught it’s inappropriate to talk about, vulgar even, that it’s the “root of all evil”, and many of us feel that we have sold out and can’t be good people if we are wealthy. That’s just BS. Jen really helps us break down those barriers with money, and realize how important it is to repair our relationship with money to be successful in business.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributors: Nikki Henry from Ladies Leading Ladies
#6 Managing to Make a Difference by Larry Sternberg and Kim Turnage
While 'Good to Great' by Jim Collins is one of my favourite books when it comes to business fundamentals, when it comes to managers and better management, my number one business book is 'Managing to Make a Difference' written by two of my colleagues, Larry Sternberg and Kim Turnage. This book is based on solid research as well as decades of management experience. It is intended to be a handbook for managers and offers a roadmap to engagement, talent development and excellence in management.
While a CEO, I gain a great deal of insight from Larry and Kim and the real-life stories they share. The techniques they offer in their book will help managers (potentially future CEOs) achieve organizational goals and will empower their employees to achieve their own.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributors: Kimberly Rath from Talent Plus, Inc.
#7 The Startup’s Owners Manual by Steve Blanks
The book that changed my perspective on starting a business and how to grow one is The Startup's Owners Manual, by Steve Blanks. For me, Steve laid out all of the pre-work that was needed to be done before a company should even be started. From getting out of the building and getting feedback from random strangers to being on top of your company and not in it, Steve takes real-world examples and explains everything in detail. He gave me the confidence and the reasoning to get the ball rolling on becoming an entrepreneur.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributors: Gene Caballero from GreenPal
#8 Leading the High-Performing Company by Heidi Pozzo
It is a complete, practical guide for leaders looking to grow their business from a leader who has been there. Filled with tools and tips, leaders can take action and see results immediately.
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Contributors: Heidi Pozzo from Pozzo Consulting
#9 Built to Last by James C. Collins
Written by the best-selling author of Good To Great, Jim Collins' follow-up book, Built To Last, has sold more than one million copies in its own right. Collins (formerly on the faculty of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business) based this comprehensive paperback (370 pages cover-to-cover) on a six-year Stanford research project.
During that research, Collins (and his co-author Jerry Porras) examined the histories of 18 exceptional companies (from their initial origins to their current levels of success as large corporations) and looked for the common practices that these organizations followed to achieve their remarkable achievements and long-lasting prosperity. Built To Last is filled with dozens upon dozens of real-world examples, and can be thought of as a blueprint for achieving lasting organizational success.
Want to read more reviews of this book or buy it? Check out the links below:
Contributors: Timothy G. Wiedman from Doane College
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This book is filled with useful tips for business owners!
Great book! Practical tips and advice for small business owners!