We believe reading is IMPORTANT!
Why is it so important?
A simple answer: Ideas In = Ideas Out.
If you consistently feed your brain good ideas, you’ll excel at coming up with good solutions for your business. The ability to make great decisions will become instinctual because rather than relying on your own ideas, you’ll be using the ideas of accomplished mentors. That being said, here is our top 8 list of books for consultants.
1.) REWORK
Forget every traditional bit of academic business theory you’ve heard; this book breaks that mold into a 1000 pieces. REWORK is the perfect playbook for anyone who’s ever dreamed of doing it on their own. Entrepreneurs, small-business owners, and artists who don’t want to starve will all find valuable guidance in these pages.
Mark Cuban says, “If given a choice between investing in someone who has read REWORK or has an MBA, I’m investing in REWORK every time. A must read for every entrepreneur.”
2.) Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In
Based on the Harvard Negotiation Project, this book is all about problem solving, conflict resolution, and how to negotiate. The authors break down their method into 4 easy steps: separate the people from the problem, focus on interests not positions, invent options for mutual gains, and insist on using objective criteria.
3.) How to Win Friends and Influence People
Written by famed author and lecturer Dale Carnegie, this book focuses on the people side of doing business. It analyzes how to get people to like you and how to persuade someone to agree with your way of thinking.
If you’ve read this, you probably agree with it being on the list. If you haven’t, go get a copy!
4.) Emotional Intelligence 2.0
Plenty of people went to business school, but it’s having emotional intelligence that will set you head of the rest. Emotional Intelligence 2.0 delivers a step-by-step program for increasing your EQ (emotional IQ) via 4 core skills: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.
We cannot even explain how helpful this book has been when dealing with difficult situations in the workplace.
5.) The Alchemist
Although a work of fiction, this book is littered with parables and metaphors about life and achieving your “personal legend”. Centered around the adventure of a shepherd in Spain, this story is about being able to see opportunities in your path and finding the treasure you’re searching for. This book is a common recommendation for entrepreneurs and business owners.
6.) Million Dollar Consulting: The Professional’s Guide to Growing a Practice
The time-tested advice of Alan Weiss has helped many consultants optimize marketing strategies, make their business attractive to potential clients, and learn how to raise capital. It covers concepts that are specifically for consultants like how to set your fees and value based pricing. This book has been recommended by many of our customers.
7.) Managing Oneself
No one is going to manage your career or business for you. Get a better understanding of yourself, your valuable strengths, and any weaknesses that need to be rooted out in order to achieve excellence.
This quote pretty much sums up the book:
“Most people think they know what they are good at. They are usually wrong.
We need to know our strengths in order to know where we belong.”
8.) Accounting for Dummies
Bookkeeping will become more involved as your business grows. This easy how-to guide is invaluable to understanding accounting basics that are vital to running a business. Make sure you have at least a general idea of how and why you need to keep track of your accounting.
