A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes., Mahatma Gandhi
Can a book really inspire an entrepreneur?
article by Diane Shawe M.EdCEO of AVPT GLOBAL s.a.r.l
Every once in a while, you read a book that changes you — inspiring your career, clarifying your goals, challenging your thinking. The right book can give you the courage to start your business, the reality check that you’re not yet ready or the quiet affirmation that you’re not alone in your fears or ambitions. It can set you on your path to success. I have chosen 14 books one of which includes my own. I hope you like them.
Who Moved My Cheese? is an amusing and enlightening story of four characters who live in a maze and look for cheese to nourish them and make them happy. Cheese is a metaphor for what you want to have in life – whether it is a good job, a loving relationship, money or a possession, health or spirital peace of mind. And the maze is where you look for what you want – the organisation you work in, or the family or community you live in.
This profound book from bestselling author, Spencer Johnson, will show you how to anticipate change, adapt to change quickly, enjoy change and be ready to change quickly again and again. Discover the secret for yourself and learn how to deal with change, so that you suffer from less stress and enjoy more success in your work and in life.
Written for all ages, this story takes less than an hour to read, but its unique insights can last for a lifetime.
Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand (Plume, 1999)
“To start a business, you just need to define a problem. But to wake up every day, no matter what, and DO that business, you need a reason. Ms. Rand taught me that focusing on a purpose is the best way to make a difference to my world.” — Jason Womack
Getting started in the hair extension business by Diane Shawe 2007
The first ebook to advise you on ‘What they don’t tell you about Getting started in the hair extension business’ by Diane Shawe. Whether you are a beginner, been in business for a few years or want to explore how you can increase your annual turnover, this is an book designed to help you prepare yourself. A book for students, mobile hairdressers, professional hairdressers, beauticians, any one considering starting up in the hair business, hair consultants and specialist technicians. Useful for schools and colleges, private training schools and anyone currently running a hair and beauty business.
Diane Shawe Author Publisher: PMM Group (UK) Ltd (18 May 2011)
Ogilvy on Advertising, by David Ogilvy (Vintage, 1985)
“I read [this book] when I was in college, studying marketing. It helped me to cement that this was the field for me and that at the end of the day, it’s all about creativity. Although at the time it refered to advertising, it’s actually applicable to all parts of the marketing mix. Ogilvy gives rules, but then breaks them. I love it!” — Jim Joseph
The Richest Man in Babylon, by George Clason (Megalodon Entertainment, 2012)
“This was one of the first business books I read and it taught me that ‘saving’ money is equally as important as ‘making’ money. I’m now requiring my teenage children to read the book and report back to me on how it impacted them.” — Mark Kohler
The Leadership Challenge, by James Kouzes and Barry Posner (Jossey-Bass, 2012)
“This book was seminal for me early in my business career. It brought structure and insight to the at-the-time mysterious subject of leadership, and it addressed matters of both the head and heart.” — Mark Sanborn
The 4-Hour Workweek, by Tim Ferriss (Harmony, 2007)
“This book helped me in two very distinct ways. First, it opened my eyes to how business can be sourced and conducted globally for even the smallest of businesses — the global economy isn’t limited to the big corporations anymore. Second, it was life changing because it made me, as an entrepreneur, ask deeper questions about what I want out of life, not just the business.”
— Shari Alexander
Tribal Leadership, by Dave Logan, John King and Halee Fischer-Wright (HarperBusiness, 2011)
“Despite conventional wisdom, research reveals that naturally forming small groups of people within organizations, and not leaders, drive success, quality and innovation. This book provides a great framework for companies to build a culture of success, quality and innovation.”
— Ross Kimbarovsky
The Art of War, by Sun Tzu (Simon & Brown, 2013)
“I especially find this book to be helpful for businesses that are in the early stages of development as it teaches them to prepare for the many types of situations they may experience. As we all know, one of the biggest obstacles to overcome as an early-stage company is managing the element of the unknown. Strategy and preparation can, in many ways, guide a company and help mitigate future mistakes.” — Ryan Himmel
Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman (Farrar, Straus and Girouxby, 2013)
The Seven-Day Weekend, by Ricardo Semler (Century, 2004)
The Logic of Scientific Discovery, by Karl Popper (Routledge, 2002)
The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin (Harper Paperbacks, 2011)
Crush It!, by Gary Vaynerchuk (Harper Studio, 2009)
Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson (Simon & Schuster, 2013)
