WHEN renowned entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker Jim Rohn said, “All the information you need to succeed already exists, the problem is you haven’t exposed yourself to it,” it was one of the most challenging and eye-opening statements I had ever heard. I immediately made a lifelong goal to read 1,000 books.
I haven’t reached that goal yet, but I’m eating away at it.
Here’s my list of must-read books
1. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is at the top of everyone’s list. Written 70 years ago, it’s still the benchmark book for attitude, goal setting, and achievement. Get an original copy (pre 1960), not one of the altered, newly minted, ‘after the copyright expired’ versions.
2. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. The all-time gem of gems for engaging with self-confidence and connecting with sincerity that contains timeless rules of success. Your Carnegie library is only one third complete until you own and read How to Stop Worrying and Start Living, and Effective Public Speaking, two books with timeless information on stress relief, positive attitude, speaking skills, and success strategies.
3. He Can Who Thinks He Can by Orison Swett Marden. One of the original ‘self-thought’ and self-help books containing thought gems such as, “Every child should be taught to expect success” and “The world makes way for the man with an idea.” If you want a list of great Marden quotes from this book, underlined by John Patterson, the founder of NCR and the father of American salesmanship, go to www. gitomer.com and enter MARDEN in the GitBit box.
4. Swim with the Sharks by Harvey Mackay. A benchmark and game-changing book for me and millions of other people in business. It’s full of applicable ideas to make you think and strategies to implement immediately.
5. Small is the Netr BIG by Seth Godin. One of many Godin books that should be in your library. Not just for the information - he’s much more than that. I don’t just marvel at what Seth writes, I marvel at how he thinks.
6. Thinkertoys by Michael Michalko. Short lessons, tools, and exercises you can easily understand and apply immediately. It recharged my brain, and opened my eyes to a new way to see creativity.
7. What Would Google Do? by Jeff Jarvis. A compelling work that centres on Google as it relates to other businesses. Jarvis compares what Google would do to diverse industries such as hotels, restaurants, schools, and the media. Amazingly insightful and thought provoking -especially if you relate it to your business (as I did).
8. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Outliers tells stories of how, why, and when people became successful entrepreneurs, and how standards were set in the 19th century that are still in place today. But it’s his concept of ‘10,000 hours’ that makes this book an absolute insightful treasure.
9. Steve Jobs by Walter Issacson. Jobs had vision, foresight, character, uncompromising ideals, and shrewdness. He was inspirational to all who came within his domain. This is a great story and important to read in order to understand where we are today.
10. The Pursuit of Prime by Ichak Adizes. This book addresses the stages every growing business goes through, and what to expect and do in each stage. Compelling because it’s both a game plan for what to do, and a pie in the face for what you haven’t done.
11. Social Boom by Jeffrey Gitomer (hey, that’s me) and several other social media experts. Business social media is not an option, and this book is the ultimate ‘how to’ and ‘why’. Yes, I have 10 other books I hope you buy, read, and implement the lessons from, but Social Boom is my best book for this moment.
12. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. An amazing, compelling read, and has a happy ending for entrepreneurs. May be my favourite of all time. When you’re finished reading this epic novel, I dare you not to start on Rand’s The Fountainhead.
12.5 There are other imperative non-books. CDs, essays, quote books, and kids books that I also highly recommend. They are, in no particular order, The Art of Exceptional Living, (CDs) by Jim Rohn, Acres of Diamonds by Russell Conwell, A Message to Garcia by Elbert Hubbard, Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper, and The Strangest Secret (CD) by Earl Nightingale.
Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of The Little Book of Leadership, and Social BOOM! President of Charlotte-based Buy Gitomer, he gives seminars, runs annual sales meetings, and conducts Internet training programs on selling and customer service at www.trainone. com. He can be reached at 704/333-1112 or e-mail to salesman@ gitomer.com
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