I’ve never been much of a reader until I started my business in 2016. Even though I graduated college with a business degree I had no idea what I was doing starting a business so I turned to books to help guide the way.
I challenged myself to reading 1 book per month so that I could get different perspectives and learn new things.
As a business owner I didn’t really have time to sit down and read because I was so busy starting my business so what really helped me “read” one book per month was to listen to them on audible. Not only is it just $15 a month but you get 1 book included with your membership PLUS a 30% discount if you need more books to listen to. Such a steal!
I typically listen to a book when i’m at the gym doing cardio, in the morning getting ready, in my car running errands and in the evening when i’m cooking dinner.
Today, i’m sharing the 5 most influential books that helped me start, build and scale my online business. If you’re a small business owner, I highly recommend these title to download on audible or purchase:
Delivering Happiness
Written by the CEO of Zappos, Tony Hseih, shares the different business lessons he learned in life, from a lemonade stand and pizza business through LinkExchange, Zappos, and more. Ultimately, he shows how using happiness as a framework can produce profits, passion, and purpose both in business and in life.
Billion Dollar Brand Club
A must read if you want to understand Direct to Consumer sales.
This book looks at a number of companies that are D2C and how they were created like Warby Parker, Dollas Shave Club, Casper and many others. It also studies what they offer and how they manage to offer it much more inexpensively than regular consumer channels. It looks at venture capital funding, how the ideas for the products come about and how they determine if they can actually succeed against established brands already in the market.
Buy-ology
This book reveals surprising truths about what attracts our attention and captures our dollars. Packed with entertaining stories about how we respond to such well-known products and companies like Marlboro, Calvin Klein, Ford, and American Idol, Buyology is a fascinating tour into the mind of today’s consumer.
Girlboss
One of the first business books I ever read that got me inspired to keep going even when times were tough. NY Times best selling book by Sophia Amoruso, founder of Nasty Gal shares how she went from dumpster diving to founding one of the fastest-growing retailers in the world.
Start With Why
START WITH WHY shows that the leaders who’ve had the greatest influence in the world all think, act, and communicate the same way — and it’s the opposite of what everyone else does. Sinek calls this powerful idea The Golden Circle, and it provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY.
Building A Brand Story
Donald Miller’s StoryBrand process is a proven solution to the struggle business leaders face when talking about their businesses. This revolutionary method for connecting with customers provides listeners with the ultimate competitive advantage, revealing the secret for helping their customers understand the compelling benefits of using their products, ideas, or services.
