Anyone considering starting a new business has to consider a plethora of factors before spending that first dollar. Structuring a business to pay the least taxes possible is an example of a major issue every business owner must face, and it’s an issue that should always be explored before taking any steps to open a new business. Setting goals is, obviously, another consideration that has to be addressed early, as those goals serve as a basis for many other decisions later. Of course, not everyone can think of everything without a little help, and that’s where taking advantage of what other entrepreneurs have learned comes into play. There is no need to reinvent the wheel when others have learned painful lessons you can take advantage of, simply by reading books for entrepreneurs. There are many books written to help budding business owners avoid making mistakes on their paths to opening and succeeding in new businesses.
One of the first books to consider is True North by Bill George and Peter Sims. The book explores a wide variety of ways entrepreneurs can learn some important things about themselves. Before starting a business, it’s crucial to understand what is motivating your desire to own a business. Understanding what is truly motivating that desire is important, as is discovering a personal vision for the business. Blindly going into a business without knowing yourself generally makes the process far more difficult.
The second book entrepreneurs should read is Team of Teams by Stanley McChrystal. With changes rapidly taking place in the world, and many of those changes forcing dramatic alterations in how business owners function, understanding the dynamics involved and how to use change to your advantage is important.
Another volume to digest is The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday. No matter how carefully you plan, there will be obstacles that crop up on the road to success. How an entrepreneur chooses to deal with those problems can, and will, make a tremendous difference in the business’s level of success.
Of course, there are countless other books available that are certainly worth reading. Some are inspirational, like those mentioned here, while others are more nuts-and-bolts volumes on actual practices for specific types of businesses. The point is, books for entrepreneurs are as important to read as the many business publications or online resources. To get ahead of your competition, start reading now.