5 Must-Reads for New Entrepreneurs
As I celebrate the one-year anniversary of starting my own business, I’m sharing some of the must-read resources that were invaluable to me in this first year.
Unlocking Business Plan Writing
The One Page Business Plan by Jim Horan
Book Jacket Summary: This book eliminates all the excuses for not having a business plan! If you are a proprietor of know-how... this book was written for you! Now you can write a draft plan on a single page in less than two hours. In fact, we've done most of the hard work for you... using The One Page Plan(R) methodology, you'll never again have to start with a blank page.
My Takeaways: This book is great if you don’t know where to start with writing a business plan. The workbook helps you to spell out and think holistically about your market position, barriers, and opportunities.
Changing Your Mindset
Do Over: Make Today the First Day of Your New Career by Jon Acuff
Book Jacket Summary: You'll need a Do Over because you'll eventually face at least one of these major transitions:
- You'll hit a Career Ceiling and get stuck, requiring sharp skills to free yourself.
- You'll experience a Career Bump and unexpectedly lose your job, requiring strong relationships to survive.
- You'll make a Career Jump to a new role, requiring solid character to push through uncertainty and chaos.
- You'll get a surprise Career Opportunity, requiring dedicated hustle to take advantage of it.
Jon Acuff's unique approach will give you the resources to reinvent your work, get unstuck, and get the job you've always wanted!
My Takeaways: Whether you’re considering entrepreneurship or just need a “do over” of your own, this book will help you reframe your mindset about what you want, how to get there, and help you survive and thrive in a job that isn’t serving you (en route to a better one).
You’ve Got This! The Life-Changing Power of Trusting Yourself by Margie Warrell
Book Jacket Summary: A masterclass to build self-trust, beat self-doubt and make your boldest aspirations a reality. Does fear hold you back? We all have moments when we succumb to doubt and let our fears call the shots. Each time they do, we limit our lives. It's why learning to trust in ourselves is crucial to rising above our biggest challenges and enjoying true happiness and success -- in our careers, relationships, leadership and life.
Written with heart and humour but grounded in research, You've Got This! is a handbook for unleashing our untapped potential and passion, creativity and courage, to thrive in today's uncertain world. Filled with compelling stories and hard-won wisdom, author Margie Warrell draws on her background in business, coaching and doctoral studies as well as her challenges raising four children while living and working around the world.
My Takeaways: This book was inspirational without being preachy. It hit me right in the gut about my own fears, doubts, and self-limiting beliefs. Margie has authority with a background as a powerful woman executive working in male-dominated fields, but also brings empathy as a relatable mom who feels like she might be your best girlfriend.
Building Your Value Proposition
The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg and John David Mann
Book Jacket Summary: Nearly a decade since its original publication, the term "go-giver" has become shorthand for a defining set of values embraced by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Today this timeless story continues to help its readers find fulfillment and greater success in business, in their personal lives, and in their communities.
My Takeaways: Short, sweet, and to the point, this story in parable form is a meaningful reminder that you get ahead by giving back. By reframing business success around giving rather than receiving, it has helped me to reframe my business model around adding value, rather than extracting capital from prospective clients and relationships.
Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message so Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller
Book Jacket Summary: The StoryBrand process is a proven solution to the struggle business leaders face when talking about their companies. Without a clear, distinct message, customers will not understand what you can do for them and are unwilling to engage, causing you to lose potential sales, opportunities for customer engagement, and much more.
In Building a StoryBrand, Donald Miller teaches marketers and business owners to use the seven universal elements of powerful stories to dramatically improve how they connect with customers and grow their businesses.
My Takeaways: If you lack a marketing background or have a difficult time explaining what your product or service is - this book is invaluable. My line of consulting is not always easy to explain as an elevator pitch. This book changed that. Following the StoryBrand process, it centers your business and offerings around your customers (the heroes of your story). This book not only helped me to clarify and perfect my business pitch, but it also helped me to design my website with step-by-step directions.
