The top 18 books entrepreneurs recommend, every entrepreneur should read.
There is a sea of information, books, gurus, mentors, free talks, lectures available to budding entrepreneurs. Finding sources of information and advice you can trust is vital for time starved entrepreneurs. One of the most reliable sources is fellow entrepreneurs. Why? Because they've been there, done that and understand first hand the life of an entrepreneur. At the beginning of each Startup Leadership Program (SLP) class one of the fellows takes the stage to recommend a book that has profoundly impacted them. Here are the top 18 books that SLP London class of 2018 recommend every entrepreneur should read:-
The Hard Thing About Hard Things, Ben Horowitz
How Will You Measure Your Life, James Allworth
The Virgin Way: How to Listen, Learn, Laugh and Lead, Sir Richard Branson
Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion and Purpose, Tony Hsieh
Rising Strong, Brené Brown
Throwing Rocks at the Google Bus: How Growth Became the Enemy of Prosperity, Douglas Rushkoff
Alchemist: A Fable about Following Your Dream, Paulo Coelho
Sales Eq: How Ultra-high Performers Leverage Sales-specific Emotional Intelligence to Close the Complex Deal, Jeb Blount
The Phoenix Project Gene Kim/Kevin Behr/George Spafford
7 Habits of Highly effective people, Stephen R. Covey
Minima Moralia: Reflections From Damaged Life, Theodor Adorno
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, Dan Ariely
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, Greg McKeown
The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business, Erin Meyer
Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist, Brad Feld
Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin Is Changing Money, Business and the World, Don Tapscott
Onward: How Starbucks Fought For Its Life without Losing Its Soul, Howard Schultz
The One Thing, Gary Keller
During the six-month program, classes, workshops and simulations are peer led and, face to face with successful applicants being taught the nuts and bolts of running and growing their businesses, often by alumni, investors and mentors from the 3,000 strong network. The emphasis at SLP is on collaborative learning, encouraging fellows to think about how their ventures can support and help their communities. Each cohort selects a different social impact cause to support each year.
Steven Hess – trustee and program lead at SLP – is himself a successful entrepreneur. An ex ad exec, Hess believes there is no single answer to what separates the good from the great in what he describes as a 'real-time explosion' of start-ups:
“Being an entrepreneur is not easy. There is significant risk, uncertainty, huge highs and bigger lows. But there are simple steps you can learn to help improve your chances, and we believe building a strong supporting network is vital to this.”
Joysy John – Director of Education at Nesta and fellow trustee – notes “fellows join the program for the educational component – which is world class – but really benefit from SLPs wide-reaching and global network.”
Hess and John might know a thing or two too – last year the NHS tapped the SLP team to support their own entrepreneurial program and SLP alumni continue to make waves both commercially and socially.
2017 alum William McQuillan led a £1.6mm investment round into SLP classmate’s Rajeeb Dey’s start-up, Learnerbly. SLP also scored with alum and co-founders Øyvind Henriksen and Jun Seki of POQ who raised their Series B £9.5mm.
“SLP gave me a great grounding in all aspects of starting a company. The most valuable part for me was the people I met, many of whom I've stayed in contact with for years since.” Melissa Morris, Founder of Lantum and SLP 2012 Alum
Hess is keen to continue SLP’s success for the class of 2018/19 stating
“If your ambition is bigger than just wanting to be the next hotshot on the block, we’d love to help.”
For more information and to apply (before August 1) please visit www.startupleadership.co.uk