As entrepreneurs, we’re always on the lookout for ways to level up our game and conquer the inevitable challenges that come our way. And one of the best tools at our disposal? Books!
But with so many to choose from (and our time at a premium), how do we know where to start?
While industry expertise is undoubtedly important, there’s one crucial—but often overlooked—aspect of entrepreneurship that is *always* worth prioritizing when choosing books: mindset.
Your mindset is your most powerful asset as a business owner. It’s what fuels our drive to keep going when things get tough, encourages us to take those bold risks, and makes us think outside the box in ways that others might not dare.
A positive and resilient mindset can be the difference between giving up at the first sign of failure and pushing through to achieve your wildest dreams.
And that’s why we’ve handpicked four book recommendations for entrepreneurs, all focused around mindset, to help you overcome any obstacles standing between you and your business goals.
Because no matter how brilliant our business ideas may be, if our mindset isn’t aligned with success, we’ll constantly find ourselves hitting roadblocks and struggling to reach our full potential.
So, without further ado, let’s jump right into our top picks!
1. The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield
Although we see the word “art” in the title, this book is addressed not just to artists, but to all creatives, entrepreneurs, and basically anyone looking to overcome self-doubt and beat procrastination.
Is there something you know you need to be doing in your life…but aren’t? Like, say, launching an online course or taking that important next step to grow your business…
Are you afraid because it feels out of your comfort zone?
Pressfield’s The War of Art introduces the idea of Resistance (yes, with a capital “R”!) as the enemy that keeps you from showing up as your best self. Think Big, Bad Wolf, but worse. It lies to you, sneaks up on you and *will* eat you up. But only if you let it.
This must-read for entrepreneurs examines how we can move past that resistance stopping us from becoming the most successful entrepreneur we can be!
And if you’re the kind of person that likes to highlight, star, and underline gems of wisdom in a book, get your best pen ready because every page is packed with valuable insights. In fact, The War of Art is essentially one long, motivational quote—but here’s one of our favorites:
“Most of us have two lives. The life we live and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.”
Steven Pressfield, The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles
2. Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield
The second half of The War of Art is all about getting serious enough about your dreams and yourself to push past that voice of resistance (aka “turn pro”).
And if you want to dig deeper into the question of: “Exactly how do we overcome Resistance?” this is a great follow-up book to read.
In Turning Pro, we learn that if you make the decision every day to avoid running from your fears and commit to being serious about what you want to achieve, you’ll become a true pro.
As Pressfield says, “Amateurs have amateur habits. Pros have pro habits.”
But to be a “pro” entrepreneur doesn’t mean being fearless—it just means pushing through the fear to find success.
3. Ego Free Leadership: Ending the Unconscious Habits that Hijack Your Business by Brandon Black and Shayne Hughes
Ego Free Leadership is a must-read for anyone who’s ever wondered if their ego might be getting in the way of their success (hint: it probably is!).
We often think of ego-driven leaders as those loud, overbearing types who bulldoze their way to the top, but we don’t often associate ego-driven behavior with ourselves, which is part of the problem.
And in this book, we find out the hidden (and often unintentional) ways that our ego can sabotage our path to success.
Brandon Black, former CEO of Encore Capital Group, Inc thought he had all the qualities of a great leader—decisive, confident, capable—but something just wasn’t clicking. Turns out, his own “leader’s ego” was holding him back.
Ego Free Leadership is *not* about pointing fingers though; it’s about recognizing these tendencies and taking steps to overcome them. As Black and Hughes wisely put it, “In leadership, if you look around and think everyone else is the problem, it means you’re the problem.”
So, if you’re ready to lead with clarity, authenticity, and humility, get your copy of Ego Free Leadership now!
4. I Didn’t Do the Thing Today: Letting Go of Productivity Guilt by Madeline Dore
As a business owner, every day brings a never-ending list of things to do. There’s all the usual work stuff like meetings, interviews, and those new projects you’ve been delaying—unless you’ve already read book recommendation #1, of course 😉
And then there’s all the other life stuff like cooking, laundry, exercise, kids…the list goes on.
But even on our more productive days, it’s easy to focus on what we *didn’t* get to, leaving us feeling guilty, anxious or annoyed.
Madeleine Dore spent five years looking for the “secret to productivity”, until she discovered that, well…there isn’t one. Her book I Didn’t Do the Thing Today is the permission slip we all need to press pause on the constant pressure to do more, be more, and achieve more.
Instead, we can learn how to release productivity guilt and embrace the hidden values in our daily lives!
Your Turn
What books do you think every entrepreneur must read? Let us know in the comments below!
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