{"id":4045,"date":"2015-01-26T08:09:49","date_gmt":"2015-01-26T08:09:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lionssharedigital.com\/?p=4045"},"modified":"2020-09-17T05:28:41","modified_gmt":"2020-09-17T05:28:41","slug":"10-business-books-read-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lionssharedigital.com\/news\/10-business-books-read-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Business Books to Read in 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

I absolutely love that feeling of finishing a good book. Being filled with inspirations and ideas, buzzing with excitement to try a new idea. I love that somehow whatever issues I’m dealing with at the time, the book will unlock a solution or spark a new path.<\/p>\n

The benefits of habitual reading<\/a> are many. Amazingly, research has shown that reading can help create new synapses (brain pathways)<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0strengthens existing ones, which assists in short-term memory<\/a> recall as well as stabilizing moods.<\/p>\n

I’ve personally found the following benefits from reading.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Mental Stimulation<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Stress Reduction<\/strong><\/li>\n
  3. Knowledge<\/strong><\/li>\n
  4. Vocabulary Expansion<\/strong><\/li>\n
  5. Memory Improvement<\/strong><\/li>\n
  6. Stronger Analytical Thinking\u00a0Skills<\/strong><\/li>\n
  7. Improved Focus and Concentration<\/strong><\/li>\n
  8. Better Writing Skills<\/strong><\/li>\n
  9. Tranquility<\/strong><\/li>\n
  10. Entertainment<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I read a healthy list fiction, Murakami, Chuck Palahniuk, Tom Robbins, and Christopher Moore are some of my favorite fiction authors. However, the last few years have been big for me with starting two new businesses and learning to manage people so many of the books I read were focused on self-improvement and real world examples of peoples and companies I look up to. I tend to watch movies and television series for the much needed distractions (Mad Men, The Walking Dead, The Wire being some of my favorites).<\/p>\n

    As 2015 rolled by, I thought it would be worth a share to refresh myself with the books I read in 2014 and share them with my communities. \u00a0So here’s my list of books I recommend for anyone looking to dive into the world of business books.<\/p>\n

    1.\u00a0The $100 Startup<\/a>\u00a0by Chris Guillebeau<\/h2>\n

    \"the-$100-startup-chris-guillebeau\"<\/a>Chris Guillebeau<\/a> is a fantastic writer. \u00a0He’s clear, concise and gets to the point. The $100 Startup is a quick read with lots of side notes and examples. Chris walks you through the process of finding a business idea that’s right for you, setting up the business and, the most important step that most wantrapreneurs miss, launching the business.<\/p>\n

    The book is broken up into three major parts:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Unexpected Entrepreneurs.<\/strong> This section covers how to connect your skills and interests with what other people want.<\/li>\n
    2. Taking it to the Streets. <\/strong>In this section, the book digs into the details with a one-page business plan, guide for creating a \u201ckiller offer,\u201d and how to raise funds, launch, and hustle for customers.<\/li>\n
    3. Leverage and Next Steps.<\/strong> Here\u2019s where you learn about how to test pricing and positioning, create a franchise, grow in line with your goals, and push past failure.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      A favorite quote:<\/p>\n

      “To succeed in a business project, especially one you\u2019re excited about, it helps to think carefully about all the skills you have that could be helpful to others and particularly about the combination of those skills.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      2.\u00a0The Lean Startup<\/a>\u00a0by Eric Ries<\/h2>\n

      \"The<\/a>The first couple of chapters are really dry but once you get into it, things start to roll. Eric Ries defines a startup as\u00a0an organization dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

      Rather than wasting time creating elaborate business plans, The Lean Startup<\/em> offers entrepreneurs – in companies of all sizes – a way to test their vision continuously, to adapt and adjust before it\u2019s too late. Ries provides a scientific approach to creating and managing successful startups in a age when companies need to innovate more than ever.<\/p>\n

      A favorite quote:<\/p>\n

      \u00a0“As you consider building your own minimum viable product, let this simple rule suffice: remove any feature, process, or effort that does not contribute directly to the learning you seek.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

       <\/p>\n

      3.\u00a0Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, and Sharpen Your Creative Mind (The 99U Book Series)<\/a>\"\"\u00a0by Jocelyn K. Glei <\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

      \"Manage<\/a>In this ever changing world, we are constantly bombarded by distractions, new ways of working, and being asked to do more with less. In Manage Your Day-to-Day, the team at 99U have collected a series of short essays from creative leaders about how they create routines to stay productive and focused.<\/p>\n

      Contributors include\u00a0Scott Belsky, Seth Godin, Todd Henry, Scott McDowell, and more.<\/p>\n

      A favorite quote:<\/p>\n

      “Today\u2019s challenge is to keep your focus and preserve the sanctity of mind required to create, and to ultimately make an impact in what matters most to you. This can only happen when you capitalize on the here and now. To do this, alternate periods of connectedness with periods of truly being present.<\/em>\"\"“<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      4.\u00a0Rework<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0Jason Fried<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0David Heinemeier Hansso<\/span>n<\/h2>\n

      \"Rework<\/a>Jason Fried and\u00a0David Heinemeier Hansso<\/span>n are the founders of\u00a037 Signals which they renamed to more simply, Basecamp<\/a>, and writers of a wildly popular blog, Signal vs. Noise<\/a>. \u00a0We absolutely love using Basecamp. Every single project we take on gets a Basecamp project to help us stay organized and communicate effectively<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Rework really digs into the art of keeping a company lean. They talk about resisting the urge to add extra features to a product. They take a very Apple approach to things. They edit their product down to the absolute bare minimum and make sure that those features work and work well. A simple and easy read that will most definitely inspire you to take a fresh look at your work.<\/p>\n

      A favorite quote:<\/p>\n

      “Plus, if you\u2019re a copycat, you can never keep up. You\u2019re always in a passive position. You never lead; you always follow. You give birth to something that\u2019s already behind the times\u2014just a knockoff, an inferior version of the original. That\u2019s no way to live.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

       <\/p>\n

      5.\u00a0Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity<\/a>\"\"\u00a0by David Allen<\/h2>\n

      \"Getting<\/a>One of the all-time classics. Unlike most business books that are filled with platitudes, hyperbole and cheerleader nonsense., Getting Things Done gives a real world system for, you guessed it, getting things done.<\/p>\n

      \"gtdworkflow\"<\/a><\/p>\n

      From Lifehacker<\/a>: GTD is an organizational system. It doesn’t put rules around how you actually do your work. Instead, it focuses on how you capture the work you need to do, organize it, and choose what needs your attention. At its core, GTD stands on five “pillars,” or steps to getting and staying organized:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Capture<\/strong> everything. Your to-dos, your ideas, your recurring tasks, everything. Put it in a pen-and-paper notebook, a to-do app, a planner, whatever you prefer to use to get organized. GTD doesn’t say to use a specific tool, but whatever you use has to fit into your normal flow. The barrier to using it should be so low that there’s never a reason for you to say “I’ll add it to my list later.” You want to capture everything as soon as it happens so you don’t have to think about it again until it’s time to do it.<\/li>\n
      2. Clarify<\/strong> the things you have to do. Don’t just write down “Plan vacation,” break it down into actionable steps<\/a> so there’s no barrier to just doing the task. If there’s anything you can do right away and have time to do, get it done. If there’s anything you can delegate, delegate it. Here’s a helpful video where David Allen explains how to clarify your to-dos<\/a> so they don’t require more time to figure out what you meant than it takes to actually do the thing you wanted to do.<\/li>\n
      3. Organize<\/strong> those actionable items by category and priority. Assign due dates where you can, and set reminders so you follow up on them. Pay special attention to each item’s priority<\/a>, as well. You’re not actually doing any of the items on your list right now, you’re just making sure they’re in the right buckets for later, and your reminders are set. In short, this is quality time with your to-do list, inbox, and calendar.<\/li>\n
      4. Reflect<\/strong> on your to-do list. First, look over your to-dos to see what your next action should be. This is where the clarifying step pays off, because you should be able to pick something you have the time and the energy to do right away. If you see something that’s so vague that you know you won’t be able to just pick up and run with it, break it down. Second, give your to-do list an in-depth review periodically<\/a> to see where you’re making progress, where you need to adjust your priorities, and determine how the system is working for you.<\/li>\n
      5. Engage<\/strong> and get to work. Choose your next action and get to it. Your system is, as this point, set up to make figuring that out easy. Your to-dos are organized by priority and placed in categories. You know what to work on, and when. They’re broken into manageable, bite-sized chunks that are easy to start. It’s time to get to work.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        \u00a06.\u00a0Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative<\/a>\"\"\u00a0by Austin Kleon<\/h2>\n

        \"Steal<\/a><\/p>\n

        Austin Kleon<\/a>\u00a0is a talented writer from my hometown, Austin, Texas. His wildly popular tumblr, Newspaper Blackout<\/a>\u00a0is\u00a0a collection of poems made by redacting newspapers with a permanent marker to create poems.<\/p>\n

        \"Newspaper<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        The main points of Steal Like An Artist<\/strong><\/a> are the following:<\/p>\n

        1. Steal like an artist<\/b>: The author cautions that he does not mean \u2018steal\u2019 as in plagiarise, skim or rip off \u2014 but study, credit, remix, mash up and transform. Creative work builds on what came before, and thus nothing is completely original.<\/p>\n

        2. Don’t wait until you know who you are to start making things<\/b>: You have to start doing the work you want to be doing, you have to immerse, internalise and even dress like the person you aspire to be. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to look like your heroes, you want to see like your heroes,\u201d Kleon urges. Go beyond imitation to emulation.<\/p>\n

        3. Write the book you want to read<\/b>: It is important to do what you want to do, and insert your take on things of art.<\/p>\n

        4. Use your hands<\/b>: It is important to step away from the screen and immerse in actual physical work. \u201cComputers have robbed us of the feeling that we\u2019re actually making things,\u201d Kleon cautions. “Involve your full body, and not just your brains.”<\/p>\n

        5. Side projects are important<\/b>: Hobbies are important because they keep you happy. \u201cA hobby is something that gives but doesn\u2019t take,\u201d Kleon says.<\/p>\n

        6. Do good work and put it where people can see it<\/b>: Sharing your work and even your thoughts about what you like help you get good feedback and more ideas.<\/p>\n

        7. Geography is no longer our master<\/b>: \u201cTravel makes the world look new, and when the world looks new, our brains work harder,\u201d Kleon explains. Constraints can also act favorably \u2013 bad winters or summers can force you to be indoors and work on your projects.<\/p>\n

        8. Be nice (the world is a small town.)<\/b>: Stop fighting and channel your rage into a creative pursuit. Show appreciation for the good things you see around you.<\/p>\n

        9. Be boring (it’s the only way to get work done.)<\/b>: You can\u2019t be creative all the time, so set a routine \u2013 for example, with a regular day job which sets a fixed schedule and exposes you to new people and skills.<\/p>\n

        10. Creativity is subtraction<\/b>“: In an age of information overload and abundance, focus is important. Choose what you want to leave out of your key work. \u201cNothing is more paralysing than the idea of limitless possibilities. The best way to get over creative block is to simply place some constraints on yourself,\u201d Kleon says.<\/p>\n

        Two favorite quotes:<\/p>\n

        “If you ever find that you’re the most talented person in the room, you need to find another room.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

        Draw the art you want to see, start the business you want to run, play the music you want to hear, write the books you want to read, build the products you want to use \u2013 do the work you want to see done.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

        7.\u00a0Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered<\/a>\"\"\"Show<\/h2>\n

        Another great read from Austin Kleon. Less impactful but great for anyone looking to get past the block of pushing their work out to the world. \u00a0Austin\u00a0shows how to take that critical next step on a creative journey to getting known. It’s about doing the work to be findable and using your networks instead of wasting time networking<\/del>\u00a0“notworking”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

        Show Your Work! offers ten transformative rules for being open, generous, brave, productive.<\/p>\n

        Some of his tips include:<\/p>\n