It’s now 2019, and with the new year always comes new aspirations. Personal, financial, professional—everything you wish you’d done last year, you have written on a list for this year. If one of your goals is to start your own business, or to grow the business you’ve started, we have a personal and professional new year’s resolution for you wrapped up into one word: read!
It’s a common resolution for people in all different professional situations. No one has ever decided to read less in the new year. So this year, in addition to wanting to read more, you should have specific goals for what you read. We have some great suggestions for you—five books to inspire and inform the entrepreneur in you—whether you’re aspiring or you’re already there.
Books for Entrepreneurs
Rise and Grind: Outperform, Outwork, and OutHustle Your Way To A More Successful And Rewarding Life by Daymond Johnson
Daymond Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of The Power of Broke, and has even more insight and advice for you in his 2018 book. He’s best known as the founder, president and CEO of FUBU, but he has his hand in tons of business areas. Investing, television, writing, and motivational speaking are just a few of his main hobbies. Read about how Santana balances work and life, how Catherine Zeta-Jones stays focused, and how Johnson stays productive every single day.
When To Jump: If the Job You Have Isn’t the Life You Want by Mike Lewis
If you started your own business, you’ve probably made lots of jumps. Whether you’ve jumped, or you’re terrified to jump, Mike Lewis has some amazing stories for you. He left a cushy job at Bain Capital to become a professional squash player, so he knows a thing or two about jumping. Read 40 stories like his, including tales from the designer of the Lyft logo and the creator of Humans of New York, and learn his four-step guide to getting your dream job.
Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence—and How You Can, Too by Gary Vaynerchuk
You’ve no doubt heard advice from this serial entrepreneur and best-selling author before, but now he’s offering something with a very personal twist. His daughter aspires to be a YouTube star, and Vaynerchuk is making sure she—and everyone reading—knows exactly how to stay relevant in social media. If you’re looking to expand your personal brand through social media platforms, this one is a must-read.
Lab Rats: How Silicon Valley Made Work Miserable for the Rest of Us by Dan Lyons
This veteran journalist has some harsh questions to ask today’s tech companies—and theorizes answers of his own. These tech companies are great at developing new features and apps for everyone, but Lyons isn’t satisfied with their gender and racial diversity. He tells you how to have profit and happy employees all at once.
Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World by Rand Fishkin
Startup culture is all around us—it’s something you have to see to understand, but Fishkin uncovers it all. As the founder and former CEO of the SEO platform, Moz, he has all the information you need about starting something up yourself. And if you’re the founder of your business, you’ll know you aren’t alone in your experiences.
To get connected with other dreamers like yourself, contact Entrepreneurs’ Organization.