Solvita Kārkliņa

The most successful people get to where they are through constant learning. Your level of experience could be anywhere between not knowing anything about business, to being the CEO of your own company, and still, it's important to keep educating yourself. Reading about marketing, productivity, and entrepreneurship helps you plan for the future and make informed decisions. So take a look at this list of best business books handpicked by us! We promise you'll learn something new. Best business books To be successful in the business world, you need to master a lot of skills. These are our top entrepreneur books to expand your knowledge, learn new approaches, or simply refresh business ideas. 1. Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek Why are you doing what you do? Sinek has a theory called the Golden Circle. According to him, most successful companies talk about why they do something, not what they do or how they do it. Follow the guidelines of the Golden Circle to succeed in your own company and identify your why. This will make you reevaluate your goals and values, both for your business and personally. Want to get a preview? Watch how Sinek explains the Golden Circle in the 3rd most popular TED talk of all time. Published: 2009 2. How to Win Friends and Influence People: The Only Book You Need to Lead You to Success by Dale Carnegie There simply is no business without people. It’s what shapes the system. Building relationships in the business world is a must, but this is easier said than done. After all, people can be unpredictable and hard to understand. Carnegie teaches the psychology of understanding what people want from you (without them telling you) and how to build relationships. Use the tactics you learn, like being an active listener and remembering names, when talking to anyone in your life—customers, coworkers, bosses, partners, friends. This might be an old book, but Carnegie's lessons are timeless. Published: 1936 3. Death by Meeting: A Leadership Fable...about Solving the Most Painful Problem in Business by Patrick Lencioni We've all been in meetings that are slow, meaningless and feel like an eternity. Lencioni digs into your everyday business meeting and offers insight and leadership advice on how to improve them. Make your workday more effective by learning about useful strategies, like meeting in smaller groups that can go more in-depth about the topic at hand. This book is ideal for those who run meetings and those who attend them. Make sure everybody’s time is spent productively! Published: 2004 4. Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel and Blake Masters The future of business is up in the air. It’s up to us to decide what the next big thing will be. Whether you’re launching a startup or implementing new ideas, make sure you stand out from the rest. The author, Peter Thiel, is a well-known American entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He’s a co-founder of PayPal and one of the original investors of Facebook. Zero to One is inspiring and thought-provoking. Read it if you want to think of your next ground-breaking idea. Published: 2014 5. Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman According to Kahneman, there are two systems of thinking: System 1 and System 2. System 1 is fast, automatic, and it may feel like you’re thinking a hundred thoughts a minute. System 2 is slower, logical, and it can take a long time for you to mull things over. Each has its benefits and limitations. In his book, Kahneman picks apart how we think, why we make wrong decisions, and what we can do to avoid them in the future. You’ll learn how to think outside of the box and approach problems in a new way. Published: 2011 Best marketing books Marketing is all about building relationships with your customers and being smart about how to sell your products. These factors are what drive sales and grow your brand. Learn from these masters of marketing on how to up your game! 1. Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger It isn’t an accident that some ideas stick and some fade away. You want your brand to stick, so it becomes memorable, popular, and recognizable. This book talks about how. Marketing is about creating a story. Make sure that people connect with it and that your brand is easy to talk about. Once you learn how, your marketing will improve and your brand will grow. Published: 2013 2. Content Inc.: How Entrepreneurs Use Content to Build Massive Audiences and Create Radically Successful Businesses by Joe Pulizzi This content marketing book is great for any business owner who wants to learn what their customers really want. Pulizzi, a founder of Content Marketing Institute, believes that content creation is an important part of any business success. In his book, he gives advice on branding and finding your targeted niche. However, he suggests a fresh approach: build the audience first and then develop the products after. Published: 2015 3. This Is Marketing: You Can’t Be Seen Until You Learn To See by Seth Godin There are so many businesses today that it is difficult for customers to know which company to trust. Building trust with your targeted market is key to growing a loyal fan base. This marketing book encourages business owners to be sincere and transparent because that’s what builds a real relationship with consumers. Not everybody is going to be your target audience but be sure to really sell to those who are. Don't feel like reading? Watch Godin’s TED Talk where he shares his secrets. Published: 2018 4. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller When picking between companies, consumers don't always use logic. This is why pro/con spreadsheets don’t always work. In reality, consumers will go by feeling and which brand speaks to them. As an entrepreneur, you have to make your business stand out. Create a brand story that communicates what you offer and what problem your product is solving. Make your message memorable and effective. Building a StoryBrand is clear and gets right to the point: focus on the customers. Published: 2017 5. Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction by Derek Thompson Every successful company has a reason why they're so well known. Thompson examines what they do and how you can learn from them. He also analyzes how apps, songs, or logos gain and lose popularity to give you a better grasp on how to promote your products. Read the behind-the-scenes on why things go viral and how you can use these strategies. Published: 2017 Best productivity books Technology is growing and the tools meant to help us be more productive sometimes do the complete opposite. These best books on self-discipline give different advice on how to work efficiently. Use the tips given to improve your personal productivity and help you manage a productive business so you can grow and earn more profit. 1. Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen Sometimes our brains are cluttered with information. Instead of trying to do everything at once, organize your tasks and the steps you need to do to get them done. Be disciplined and set timelines for yourself. Once you have a clear action plan, it's easier to accomplish your goals. Printful's CEO, Davis Siksnans, approves and uses actionable tips from this book to implement a system at work! Published: 2001 2. The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss Work smarter, not harder. With this mindset, you'll save both time and energy. Ferriss stresses the idea of productive and disciplined work. He believes in grouping similar activities together, setting guidelines for yourself and others, and valuing your time. Instead of waiting until you're retired to do everything on your list, every five years take a “mini-retirement” vacation. You'll come back refreshed and more productive. Published: 2007 3. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport Modern technology has pros and cons. We have all of the information, connection, and help we need at the tip of our fingers. But having too much of it also distracts us. Being able to get into the zone and do meaningful work is becoming more difficult. This book focuses on making schedules to avoid stress and work overload. Take a digital detox and get into the zone of full attention towards your task. It combines business and psychology to make a useful self-help book for both startup business and large companies. Published: 2016 4. The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary W. Keller and Jay Papasan Sometimes we have to take a step back and restructure our habits to be more successful. This book addresses the issue of multitasking, the importance of discipline, and the purposes of prioritizing. For example, Keller encourages people to say “no” more. It will let you take control of your tasks and your life. You'll find yourself handling situations better and being overall more satisfied with your work progress. Happiness shouldn’t be the end goal, it should happen naturally on the way to fulfillment. Published: 2013 5. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey The word “habits” tends to have a negative connotation. Make your habits a good thing! Develop habits that will benefit both you and others. This sounds obvious, but it's easier said than done. The first step of becoming more effective in the workplace and everywhere else is personal change. Covey believes that human relationships are important to maintain and keep. A habit of listening to comprehend and not just waiting for your turn to speak is only one among many tips shared in this book. Published: 1989 Best books on creativity Creativity sparks new ideas and helps your business grow. It's hard to be creative 24/7; chances are, you've been in a creative slump. Read these...

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