World Book Day. I love the drive to work on World Book day – spotting the fancy-dressed characters on their way to school! As a parent, I’ve got off lightly this year – no costumes required. Just a request to bring in your favourite book. Phew!
So today, I’ve turned my mind to my favourite business books for small business owners. Here are four that you can add to your reading list as a business owner.
Anti-Sell: Marketing, Lead Generation & Networking Tips for Freelancers Who Hate Sales by Steve Morgan
I think this might have been my first audiobook purchase.
I heard Steve speak at Freelance Heroes Day a few years ago. I had a really useful chat with him afterwards and listened to the book on my journey home.
The actionable tips in the book are delivered in a friendly, humorous way. I felt like I was continuing the conversation we’d had over coffee.
It’s full of golden nuggets of advice and actionable tips, to help you attract dream clients to you. In a genuine, non-salesy way.
Buy the paperback and highlight all the golden nuggets, or download the audiobook and enjoy Steve’s friendly wisdom.
The E-myth revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What To Do About It by Michael E. Gerber
Recommended to me by Liz Surry of Skill Supply.
As a social media manager and trainer, I have worked with a lot of people who are passionate about what they do. They are incredibly talented and decided to turn what they love into a business.
They then find themselves either overwhelmed by the tasks of running the business. Or they are so busy working IN the business, doing the thing they love, they never have time to work ON the business. To grow it and see a financial return on the many, many hours they are putting into it.
Working all hours and sacrificing time with their loved ones to scrape by a living.
This book is for you if you’d like to spend less time working in your business, and more time enjoying the profits! Systemisation and business development are the key focus here.
And of course, when you get to the part about outsourcing your social media marketing – you know where I am!
Inside her pretty little head by Jane Cunningham and Phillipa Roberts
“A new theory of female motivation and what it means for marketing” was recommended to me by Neil Simpson.
I just re-skimmed this book to pick out some best bits for this blog, and got sucked back in! I’m going to have to re-read it.
This book deals with the masculinity of traditional marketing. The fundamental differences between how men and women buy. And how you as a business can inspire, encourage and support women as they try to create Utopia.
Yes really.
If your ideal client is female, give it a read, let me know what you think.
Linchpin – are you indispensable? By Seth Godin
Recommended to me by Courtney Foster Donahue.
Do you know how when you buy a new car, you see the same make and colour of car everywhere?
Or when a friend names their baby something unusual, then you hear the name in different places?
Read this book and you’ll spot Linchpins in every area of your life.
In a world where customers are offered increasingly faster, cheaper options by big corporations, Seth Godin invites us to be less robotic and more human.
As business owners, we can’t out-Amazon Amazon.
Seth invites us to be more creative. To find solutions when there’s no handbook. To make connections to make things happen.
Read this and stop worrying about becoming faster and cheaper. Concentrate on being indispensable and people will happily pay you more.
To summarise my book summaries…
📖 Attract the people you want to work with without being salesy.
📖 Systemise and develop a business you can enjoy.
📖 Ditch the received wisdom of masculine marketing to attract and support female customers.
📖 When you can’t be any faster or any cheaper, stand out by being more human.
I love a business book recommendation, please do let me know if there’s something you think I should read next – lynda@peppersocial.co.uk
