Here are the top 10 inspiring business books to read this year, as recommended by you, the brilliant Business Secrets Club community!
As an online business owner, I don't know about you, but my screen time consistently racks up an unhealthy number of hours each week! One thing I am trying to do more is put my phone or laptop away and pick up a book instead.
Starting and growing a business is not easy. It can feel lonely, overwhelming, challenging and wonderful in equal measures! Picking up the right book from someone who has trodden the road before you can give you a totally new perspective, creative ideas, or even strategies you can implement to make it that bit easier.
I asked you for the best business book you've ever read, and wow, I was blown away by the response. I'll be honest, it was super hard to filter it down to a top ten, so at the end, I've included ten more that didn't quite make the cut but are still brilliant. Grab a warm drink, get cosy and let's dive into your top 10 inspiring books to read this year to give you motivation, advice and even help your personal growth.
The blog contains affiliate links, but please also check them out at your nearest independent bookshop.
1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
Goodness me, you recommended Atomic Habits by James Clear in your droves! Not just a book for business but a book that will fundamentally change all aspects of your life. In Atomic Habits, James Clear explains the science of habit-building and how small improvements compound over time to create remarkable results. Jane said, "I read it every year and take something different away each time," and Sophie raved, "It's totally transformed my mindset and behaviours." A must-read! Add it to your TBR list, stat.
2. Start With Why by Simon Sinek
If you follow me on Business Secrets Club's Instagram, you'll know I constantly encourage you to revisit and communicate your 'why'. In Start With Why by Simon Sinek, he explores exactly how finding and sharing your why can set you apart from your competition, create a loyal following, and drive long-term success. If you want to build a brand with genuine purpose, this book will be an eye-opener!
3. Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
This book inspired a massive change in my stationery business last year after many years of chasing top-line growth. Profit First by Mike Michalowicz flips everything you know about accounting on its head ith a simple, effective system that ensures you take profit first. Get past the introduction, and it gets into mindset shifts and practical tips that will encourage you to take control of your finances and build a more sustainable, profitable business. Many of you agreed. I had a lovely DM that said simply, "This is the book that helped me pay myself!"
4. Show Your Work by Austin Klein
Not just for artists, Show Your Work by Austin Klein is an essential handbook for all creatives and entrepreneurs who want to build an audience and get noticed. You actually recommended all three of Austin Klein's books (Steal Like An Artist and Keep Going being the other two), and I agree! I adore this book collection, that's easy to dip into and filled with visuals and words packed with powerful insights. I picked Show Your Work for this top 10 as I think it will help anyone struggling with self-promotion and putting themselves 'out there'. It will help you see marketing in a whole new light and the power of embracing authenticity and sharing your journey.
5. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
If fear or perfectionism has ever held you back from pursuing a creative passion or bold business idea, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert is for you. Elizabeth Gilbert explores how to embrace curiosity, overcome self-doubt, and bring your creative projects to life with courage and curiosity rather than fear. Laura in the Business Secrets Club community particularly loved how insightful Big Magic is in explaining how ideas come to us, and how to share them. A book to inspire you to live a more creative life and get more joy out of it.
6. You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero
Particularly good for female business owners, you recommended You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero for this top 10 inspiring business books for anyone who has ever doubted themselves or felt stuck. Reading like one long pep talk from a friend, Jen Sincero's witty and no-nonsense style will help you believe in yourself and start living the life and running the business you truly want. Get a confidence boost and overcome self-doubt with this inspiring book.
7. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
If you love behind-the-scenes business stories, Shoe Dog by Phil Knight is for you. This is an honest and raw memoir by Nike's co-founder that tells the story of how the brand started from humble beginnings selling shoes out of a car boot to becoming one of the world's biggest brands. Packed with valuable business lessons and moments you will 100% relate to, lots of you recommended this book as one of those 'OMG, it's not just me!' reads that makes you feel less alone but thoroughly inspired.
8. Obsessed by Emily Heyward
A lesser-known book, Obsessed by Emily Heyward, is for any entrepreneur who wants to create a brand with which customers are genuinely obsessed with. Emily Heyward explores why some brands develop cult-like followings while others fade into obscurity through real-world case studies. I've not read this, but it sounds right up my street. You've inspired me to add it to my list!
9. Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller
I am a huge believer in the power of storytelling for business owners, so when you recommended Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller, it had to go on this roundup of inspiring business books! This is THE book for anyone who wants to strengthen their messaging and attract more customers. Donald Miller takes a deep dive into how what storytelling is and his step-by-step framework to help you apply it to your business.
10. What's Your Dream? by Simon Squibb
What's Your Dream? by Simon Squibb is an inspiring and practical guide to chasing your dreams and making them happen. Nav, who kindly dropped me an email filled with his book recommendations (gosh, I love this community!), said, "I've never got through a book so fast! Simon challenges all the things most millennials were taught in education and then encourages his readers to keep their purposes alive through actionable steps." Thanks Nav, I couldn't have put it better myself!
And, because it was super hard to cut your recommendations for down, here are 10 more of your inspiring business books to read this year:
11. The Courage to Be Disliked by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi
12. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
13. Chill and Prosper by Denise Duffield-Thomas
14. The Diary of a CEO by Steven Bartlett
15. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
16. The Source by Dr Tara Swart
17. The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann
18. This Is Marketing by Seth Godin
19. Superfans by Pat Flynn
20. The Multi-Hyphen Method by Emma Gannon
What a brilliant list of inspiring business books! Think you can't fit reading any of them in? Even reading just ten pages a day, you can get through a whopping 12 books a year! So, give it a try and pick up one of these ten inspiring business books to give you inspiration and a fresh perspective. Happy reading!
Have you read any of these? Which would you recommend? Or are there any inspiring business books you'd add to the list? Come let me know in the comments below.
P.S. If you are the sort of person who loves tracking your reads and what you've learnt from each book, I'd highly recommend the amazing Personalised Book Journal made by my stationery business, Martha Brook.
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