Top 10 Books for Entrepreneurs & Business Owners: 2023 Must-Reads
tops 10 books for entrepreneurs & business owners: 2023 must-reads
A couple of years ago, I started my business as a freelance writer and have worked on growing my success every day since. One of the top tools that has helped me on my journey is an expansive library of incredible books. If you’re looking to start or grow a business of your own, you’ll want to check out these top 10 books for entrepreneurs and business owners.
From how to stand out from your competition to tips for creating a work-life balance, there’s something for everyone below no matter where you are on your business venture.
You might also be interested in reading: 8 Ways Your Website Can Lead to Serious Business Growth
Best Books for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners
The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
Starting a Business QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Launching a Successful Small Business, Turning Your Vision into Reality, and Achieving Your Entrepreneurial Dream
Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant
How to Be an Imperfectionist: The New Way to Self-Acceptance, Fearless Living, and Freedom from Perfectionism
Do What You Love, Love What You Do: The Empowering Secrets to Turn Your Passion into Profit
Working Hard, Hardly Working: How to achieve more, stress less, and feel fulfilled
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
Get Good With Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole
Below, you’ll find a mini-review and direct link to each of these top 10 business books.
1. The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
The One Thing by Gary Keller is the first book that really shook things up for me and my business. The powerful idea of focusing on your one thing, your one goal, your one top priority for success resonated with me like no other. While this is one of the best books for entrepreneurs or business owners, it really gives incredible insight for meeting any life goals, whatever your one thing may be. The book explains this concept along with actionable steps for prioritizing your one thing effectively – whether that be starting a new business, meeting financial goals, or growing a relationship.
The One Thing teaches you how to prioritize your goals by getting past the clutter in your mind and life, achieving the best results in less time, overcoming stress and overwhelming feelings, and so much more. The improvements I’ve made in my life since reading this book have helped me grow my business in a way I never knew I could.
2. You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life
Are you looking for a good kick in the behind to really chase your dreams and goals? If so, You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero is a must-read! Every time I picked this book up, I found myself in a good mood. It’s written with a refreshing sense of humor and a real-talk kind of vibe. But, you also feel seen and heard while reading it.
The author is a success coach who’s been through her share of bumps in the road. She shares her ideas behind why you are the way you are and teaches you to love yourself and how to get past obstacles and go after everything you want.
3. Starting a Business QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Launching a Successful Small Business, Turning Your Vision into Reality, and Achieving Your Entrepreneurial Dream
Starting a Business QuickStart Guide by Ken Colwell is one of the best business books for beginners because it’s perfect for any entrepreneur or the like in their first few years. Whether you have an idea for an awesome product or service, or you’re just starting a new biz, or you’ve been doing it for a few years – this guide is filled with helpful tips and tricks.
Each page of this quick start guide is shares details for how you can stand out from your competitors. When you close the book, you’ll have lifetime access to useful resources like a business plan checklist, business taxation cheat sheet, elevator pitch template, and more.
4. Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant
Are you looking for books for entrepreneurs or biz owners to help you step your game up and be different from your competition? If so, Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne is for you! This book will challenge what you thought you knew about being successful, in a good way.
No matter what kind of organization you’re running, you’ll learn about a systematic approach to make your competition irrelevant. Discover businesses that have successfully created their own blue ocean from this strategy and how you can, too.
5. How to Be an Imperfectionist: The New Way to Self-Acceptance, Fearless Living, and Freedom from Perfectionism
Do you find that perfectionism gets in your way, causing you stress, taking up hours of your time, and leaving you with the ultimate imposter syndrome? I can relate! How to Be an Imperfectionist by Stephen Guise will change your life.
Learn how to take simple but strategic actions that allow you to let go when it’s time to let go. Eventually, this will become a habit and you’ll be able to see more success with less stress.
6. Do What You Love, Love What You Do: The Empowering Secrets to Turn Your Passion into Profit
The number one reason I started my own biz was that I was sick of living a life I didn’t love. So, naturally, I had to include Do What You Love, Love What You Do by Holly Tucker on this list of best books for starting a business. Whether you’re looking for motivation to start a new business or you’ve already done so and you’re in a rut, the author and other acclaimed founders share their biggest lessons and top tips for growing a business.
Not only will you finish this book with tips and advice from successful entrepreneurs for your business toolbox, but you’ll be inspired to reach for the stars!
7. Working Hard, Hardly Working: How to achieve more, stress less, and feel fulfilled
If you’re like I was (and still am sometimes) and find a hard time getting out of the grind mindset, you’ll love Working Hard, Hardly Working by Grace Beverly. This is easily one of the best books for entrepreneurs who are on a path to a healthy work-life balance.
Get tips from a self-proclaimed ‘lazy workaholic’ and entrepreneur for being productive and feeling fulfilled as you reflect on what you want from life. Best of all, you’ll finish this book with a clear path to achieving what you want.
8. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
Essentialism by Greg Mckeown takes on a different mindset to success – don’t focus on getting more done in less time but only focus on getting the right things done. This New York Times Bestseller is for anyone who feels overworked, overloaded, and overcommitted.
Essentialism, a systematic discipline, encourages you to focus on the things that really matter. Get ready to do less in all areas of life and do it better than you ever have before!
9. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
If I’m being honest, it took some time for me to get hooked into New York Times Bestseller Atomic Habits by James Clear. But, I am so pleased I gave it a chance! I recommend it to anyone looking to be their best self.
While Atomic Habits provides so much insight for people from all walks of life, I had to add it to this list of top 10 books for entrepreneurs because what you learn in this book can change your business for the better. Learn how habits actually work and how tiny, or atomic, habits can really make your life so much better.
10. Get Good With Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole
Once you’ve got your business on the path you’ve worked so hard to get to, you’ll be making lots of money, honey! So make sure you’re ready for that. Get Good With Money by Tiffany Aliche is an incredibly easy read that teaches you everything you need to know about money and financial success.
This New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller outlines a ten-step formula for your financial journey. And, no matter where you are on that journey, you’ll learn so much here and laugh a time or two, too!
I hope this list of great books for entrepreneurs and business owners inspired you to get reading. Which one are you most looking forward to reading? Let me know in the comments below!
