If you're the owner of a small business, chances are you're short on time. But if you can find a few minutes here and there to get some reading done, try picking up some of the following books to gain practical advice and inspiration. Courtesy of DocStoc, here are the top 10 books every small business owner should read:
10. Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz
Consultant guru Keith Ferrazzi's book "offers specific advice on how to go about building genuine, mutually beneficial relationships and leverage these relationships to help grow your business and career," according to DocStoc.
9. The Lean Startup, by Eric Ries
"Serial entrepreneur Eric Ries teaches business owners how to set goals and achieve them without wasting a lot of time or money," says DocStoc. "The book provides specific, practical tips for incorporating a lean startup approach into any business."
8. Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose, by Tony Hsieh
"Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh teaches business owners to focus on their company's culture and to foster a sense of shared purpose," says DocStoc.
7. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen Covey
According to DocStoc, "Covey teaches readers how to become proactive and take responsibility for making big changes and decisions."
6. Guerrilla Marketing, by Jay Conrad Levinson
"Responsible for coining the term 'guerrilla marketing,' Levinson teaches small business owners that they can garner attention without outsourcing to advertising or PR agencies," says DocStoc.
5. The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail, by Clayton Christensen
"The book makes a case for when businesses should pay attention to customers, when they should adopt new technology, and how to protect their market share," according to DocStoc.
4. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don't, by Jim Collins
"The book gives a clear picture of what makes an effective leader and the type of culture a company should foster if it hopes to succeed," says DocStoc.
3. The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything, by Guy Kawasaki
Kawasaki, a tech veteran who worked with Apple, "provides expert advice on everything from funding, to hiring personnel, to sticking it out when the future--and the success of your business--is uncertain," according to DocStoc.
2. The 4-Hour Workweek, by Timothy Ferriss
"This book offers readers advice on how to work less while earning more, with practical tips for outsourcing work [and] negotiating more effectively with clients and vendors," says DocStoc.
1. How to Win Friends & Influence People, by Dale Carnegie
"An essential for those in sales and business development, the book provides a foundation for effectively engaging people and building fruitful, productive relationships," according to DocStoc.
Source: DocStoc