Already launched your creative business and are now looking to grow? Continuous professional development is vital, helping you hone your entrepreneurial skills and glean knowledge and wisdom about the pillars of business growth.
Here are seven essential books that will serve as invaluable guides as you enter the next stage of your business journey. They offer insights and strategies from some of the brightest minds in leadership, marketing, behaviour economics and personal development. Add them to your reading list today.
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Based on the findings from a five-year research project, Good to Great addresses this important question: Can a good company become great, and if so, how? Based on the performance of 1,435 good companies over 40 years, this book reveals the variables and strategies that enabled just 11 of them to become truly great—and how your business can make that transition, too. One concept the book heavily focuses on is level 5 leadership, characterised by a blend of personal humility and unshakable will.
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
Understanding behavioural economics is crucial in helping nudge your target audience into taking desired actions. Predictably Irrational will help you do just that. It’s an entertaining and thought-provoking look into tricks of the mind and why humans make irrational decisions without thinking… like choosing a free $10 gift card over a $20 gift card sold for $7. Prepare to have your eyes opened—and then use the insights for your marketing and sales practices.
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There explores how successful people become even more successful. You’ll find this self-improvement book useful if your creative business is doing well, but something’s stopping you from the next level of achievement. It highlights the common traps business professionals may fall into and provides solutions for change.
Measure What Matters by John Doerr
Measure What Matters explores the concept of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and how they can drive business focus, agility and rapid growth. OKRs are a revolutionary goal-setting approach and leadership tool developed by the legendary venture capitalist John Doerr and brought to Google, Amazon, Intel and Uber. In this book, Doerr shares a wealth of case studies and lessons to help organisations and teams move fast and excel.
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
Selected as a book of the year by Amazon, Apple, The Times and Financial Times, this is the best-selling biography of Elon Musk, arguably the most fascinating innovator and controversial visionary of today. Despite his humble and somewhat traumatic beginnings, Musk has helped pioneer space exploration, AI and electric vehicles. Documenting his complex life and rise to ultimate success, this book is a must-read for any entrepreneur.
Grit by Angela Duckworth
A blend of masterful storytelling and scientific research, Grit delves into the combination of perseverance and passion for long-term goals and its role in achieving success. It does away with preconceptions of limited potential and unpicks the qualities that lead to exceptional achievement. Get an insight into what Grit is all about in Duckworth’s TED talk.
Your Next Five Moves by Patrick Bet-David
Your Next Five Moves is a practical and effective guide that’ll help you think more clearly, evaluate what’s in front of you, and anticipate what to do next. You’ll get clarity on what you want to achieve, discover innovative strategies and growth tactics and gain insights about power plays. With glowing reviews, this book offers many great business lessons and principles to take your business from whatever stage it’s at to where you want it to go.
Not yet launched your creative business? Check out our essential reading for budding creative entrepreneurs. You’ll find a wealth of resources to help you think big, get your business off the ground, market yourself and much more.
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