What Books Successful Business Owners are Currently Reading
It’s another Expert Briefs, where I ask really smart business owners to answer your burning questions.
If you've missed past Expert Briefs, you can click on the undies to see them all –>
Big News! I just finished writing my new book that will, hopefully, be published soon. (WOO HOO!)
Because I've been thinking about books 24/7, it reminded me that I haven't asked my friend what they're reading lately.
Therefore, we're revisiting a popular Expert Briefs topic this week …
What are you reading?
Here are their replies. You can click on any cover to check out that book.
(Also, be sure to check out more about each of my friends. That's how I get them to come back.) 🙂
Rachel Rofe of How To Get Every Book You Write Onto The First Page Of Kindle says:
I'm always in the middle of a few books. 🙂 Right now I'm reading through three books which are all EXTREMELY great.
#1 is The Charge: Activating the 10 Human Drives That Make You Feel Alive by Brendon Burchard. This is a phenomenal book that fills me with energy every time I read it.
#2 is Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success by Napoleon Hill. I'm re-reading it as it's one of my Top 3 books and just amazing.
#3 is The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg. One of my subscribers insisted I read this and I'm so glad he did. I started reading it in Hawaii and couldn't put it down! I love it.
Lain Ehmann of Business Love Potion says:
I'm reading a ton of stuff!
The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric RiesJust finished
No B.S. Marketing to the Affluent: The No Holds Barred, Kick Butt, Take No Prisoners Guide to Getting Really Rich by Dan Kennedy. He's always thought-provoking.
And the kids and I are reading “
Kelly McCausey of Solo Smarts says:
I am reading The Power of Story: Change Your Story, Change Your Destiny in Business and in Life by Jim Loehr.
It's about the story we tell ourselves and others about us. Most of us are telling a terrible story that isn't even based in truth. It's not a light read, he's asking me to truly evaluate what I have to say about myself. I'm convinced though that it will be worth it – I've already noticed how I'm not so quick to make reference to some ‘reasons' for this or that.
Imagine dropping all of your story crutches and standing on your own two feet instead of your own two feet plus the 50 or so good reasons that you haven't been able to succeed so far. Life gives us a lot of reasons to fail but it doesn't have to be part of my story – especially when I'm the one who gets to tell it from now on.
David Perdew of NAMS says:
Oh, I’m reading so much always. I usually have 4-6 books going at once in different genres…and since I have them all on my Kindle Fire, I can read as my mood suits me.
Self-Help –
Breaking The Habit of Being Yourself: How to Lose Your Mind and Create a New One by Dr. Joe Dispenza. I LOVE this book. It makes so much sense to me. If you’re like me, you do things over and over that may cause a feeling of unease or physical pain in your stomach some times. It can be something as small as sneaking a candy bar when I’m trying to improve my blood sugar count. I have a visceral reaction to the things I no longer want to do, but have become rooted habits in my daily life. This book is really helping me see how to change those things by describing the exact process that goes on in your brain and body.
Make A Killing On Kindle (Without Blogging, Facebook Or Twitter). The Guerilla Marketer's Guide To Selling Ebooks On Amazon
by Michael Alvear. The author is a successful Kindle publisher and publishing coach. He provides a lot of examples for great Kindle publishing strategies as well as some specific techniques. Many of them are basic, but I need those too.
Ultimate Guide to Facebook Advertising: How to Access 600 Million Customers in 10 Minutes by Perry Marshall and Thomas Meloche. Perry was THE leading expert in Google advertising techniques with his previous book 10 years ago. And now, he’s focusing on Facebook. Just starting this, but can’t wait to learn what Perry’s teaching.
Imperfect: An Improbable Life by Jim Abbott and Tim Brown. If you’re a baseball fan, you know who Jim Abbott is. He was a pitcher in the 80’s and 90’s who happened to be one-handed. Not only did he play in the major leagues with a very respectable career, but despite all odds, he was a gold medal Olympian who pitched a no-hitter in the majors.
And because I’m at the beach in Florida while writing this, I’m reading Skin Tight by Carl Hiaasen. He’s one of my favorite trash novelists who can turn murder and mayhem into some of the strangest and funniest situations you’ll ever read, and it’s all set in the pink flamingo world of corrupt land developers, crooked cops, crazy ex-governors, and strippers with hearts of gold.
Connie Ragen Green of Affiliate Marketing Secrets Explained says:
Shannon Cherry of Get Free Business Help (ie. How to Get Interns) says:
I'm in the midst of rebranding my business, so a lot of what I'm reading has to do with it. Here are my selections on my Kindle right now:
The Story Factor (2nd Revised Edition): Inspiration, Influence, and Persuasion through the Art of Storytelling – I like telling stories to make certain points, but have never actively done so. This book is pretty good so far at explaining the why of storytelling… I am hoping to get to how it works from a marketing standpoint soon!
The secret weapon of a master direct response online copywriter: How to position your brand for success, based on the research of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung – I just did some archetype work with my pal Danielle Miller, to help me with my brand. Now I want to take it one step closer to how to write based on my own archetypes (Hero, Ruler and Creator). It should be fun, especially when I incorporate it with my story telling.
Jason Fladlien of Double Your Productivity for Life says:
I'm currently reading the Steve Jobs biography (again) – mainly for insight into their software development process since we run our own software company 🙂
Besides that, I'm reading Evernote For Dummies off and on a bit each day. To me, Evernote is going to be one of the next big communication channels, so I'm trying to wrap my head around it now.Daniel Hall of Procrastinators Guide To Authorship Complete Training says:
I'm currently reading
and
Nicole Dean of .. here! .. says:
ooh. I'm definitely going to have to check out several of those books.
Here's what I'm reading.
1. The 10X Rule.
I just dug the 10x Rule out again. The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure I didn't finish reading it before, because every time I started a chapter, I got so motivated that I would put the book down and go WORK. 🙂 That's not a bad thing.
I'm also reading this book by my friend, Aileen Bennett. It's full of doodles. She's a girl after my own heart. Even if you have no intention of learning more about your presentation skills, still go check this out at Amazon and do the “Look inside” feature -> Notes on Shining: Tips to improve your presentation skills It's pretty darned clever.It's Your Turn to Shine.
Please let me know what are you currently reading. Would you recommend it?
I appreciate you much.
Warmly,
Nicole Dean
Recommended.
Here are some of the books that my friends recommended the last time I asked this question, which was last year. 🙂
Valerie
October 26, 2012 at 7:37 pmSo many books – so little time!
Just finished “Fearless – Creating the Courage to Change the Things You Can” by Steve Chandler.
Up Next – “The Wealthy Freelancer” by Steve Slaunwhite, Pete Savage and Ed Gandia
Nicole
October 27, 2012 at 8:02 amThanks, Valerie!
Christine Brady
October 26, 2012 at 7:55 pmHi Nicole,
So many great titles to choose from here –
As for me, I’m going between “Positioning” by Al Ries and Jack Trout – which is just amazing by the way.
And “All Marketers Tell Stories” by Seth Godin, another awesome one, which I’m almost finished with.
Will have to check out some of these for my next endeavor!
Thanks and have a great weekend!
~Christine
Kurt Scholle
October 29, 2012 at 11:44 amI agree with you on Positioning by Ries and Trout, which has been out for, what 25 years?
I recommend anything by Dan Kennedy. His Marketing to the Affluent was mentioned. He has a book on selling information and one on time management. All are good.
Love is a Killer App by Tim Sanders is excellent, if for no other reason than his chapter on how to read a book.
Jack Canfield’s The Power of Focus is great.
My favorite book from 2012 is Mark Schaefer’s Return on Influence.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I have some books to add to the list!
— Kurt
Leslie Truex
October 27, 2012 at 6:15 amI’m an avid reader and so I love posts like this. I discovered some books on this post that I’d seen, but hadn’t yet picked up. I thought maybe I’d share a few I’m reading.
On my eReader:
Inspired & Unstoppable: Wildly Succeeding in Your Life’s Work by Tama Kieves
Free Marketing: 101 Low and No- Cost Ways to Grow Business by Jim Cockrum
Paperback:
Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World by Michael Hyatt
Pinterest Power by Jason Miles and Karen Lacey
The 12 Secrets of Hightly Successful Women by Gail McMeekin
Tiffany
October 27, 2012 at 8:10 amGreat list! I put many of them on reserve at my local library. Can’t wait to dig in.
Kelly
October 27, 2012 at 12:43 pmI’m still plugging away through 10X Rule too Nicole. I’m feeling VERY challenged by that guy 😉
Jean-Francois
October 28, 2012 at 6:00 amHello and Thank you nicole,
I came across this book just a few days ago and the title got me in straight away:
“It’s not how good you are, It’s how good you want to be.”
I love the sub-title: “The world’s best-selling book by Paul Arden.”
The contents are as good as the title and sub-title, very motivational and full of real life case examples. It’s only 127 pages but still a gem! You could easily call it: Today’s little book of golden motivational nuggets!
A Phaidon Press release.
My best to you guys.
Peace and love always,
JF Trin
Veronica
November 2, 2012 at 1:47 amThese books are heaven in a bundle! Definitely great for gift-giving and for swapping with friends. Weird huh, but when we get good finds, we swap books with our pals.
Lewis Saka
November 20, 2012 at 1:26 pmUnfortunately, I have way too many books on my Kindle at the moment and find it difficult to make time for reading them all. I got into a bit of an addictive spell and was ordering one business book after another. After seeing this list I may end up getting back to my old habits and ordering some more.
Lewis