I wish I had more time to read, nowadays.
Lately, I only get a chance when I’m on an airplane or taking a much-needed relaxation trip to the beach. Even then, it’s usually just the dog-eared paperback that I’ve read at least 10 times.
That’s the entrepreneur’s life, I suppose, although it is my goal to change that. I love to read, and would very much like to set time aside everyday, to release my mind in an interesting and highly enriching book. After all, books are what got me here in the first place!
You see, before launching Independent Writing Solutions earlier this year, I read several key books that opened my eyes to business and entrepreneurial mindsets. For those of you who are thinking about starting your own business, I have some suggestions for quality reading that may help you to decide whether or not to pursue your dream of becoming an entrepreneur. I have listed them below:
- Rich Dad, Poor Dad
- Cashflow Quadrant
- The Millionaire Next Door
- Six-Week Start-Up: A Step-By-Step Program for Starting Your Business, Making Money, and Achieving Your Goals!
- Business Plan in a Day: Get It Done Right, Get It Done Fast!
I’m not going to write book reports here, so a quick summary will have to suffice. First, Rich Dad, Poor Dad (and its ensuing series) helped me to understand the benefits of working for one’s self. However, it wasn’t until I read Kiyosaki’s second book, Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant, that I realized the power and prosperity one could have just by owning their own business. Plus, the entire Rich Dad series is on CD, which is perfect for long commutes!
Next, The Millionaire Next Door taught me humbleness and frugality. Most American millionaires (based on survey results) drive Fords and wear suits from places like JC Penney and Sears. I never would have thought that to be true, since the media’s representation of so-called “Hollywood Royalty” and other multi-millionaires had tricked me into thinking that all rich people drove Ferraris, owned yachts and used Hermes scarves for napkins.
Six-Week Start-Up and Business Plan in a Day are great for getting ideas of how to start your company, but I wouldn’t use them as bibles. Utilize them as reference guides to get some ideas and then supplement with other research. Rhonda Abrams is very easy to read, so you may find these books enjoyable to read cover-to-cover. She is clear and concise, and hardly boring.
Now, if you can only find time to read them! Helpful hint: check out a local library for all of these titles to save yourself some money. Remember, maybe not today, but someday, you might be the next millionaire next door!
The Millionaire Next door is an excellent, excellent book to read for the budding entrepreneur. That book shows you how real entrepreneurs cut costs any way they can to grow their businesses into multi-million dollar operations. I would also recommend reading The Millionaire Mind after that book — both awesome books!
I’d like to add one to this list – The Must-Have Customer by Robert Gordman. It’s easily one of the most simple yet information-rich business books I’ve ever read, and has helped shaped the way I handle my business to this day.
Thanks for the comments – I will definitely look for The Millionaire Mind and The Must-Have Customer next time I go to the library! I think in the near future, I will also post a list of websites that are great for referencing in the early stages of starting a business.