A Reading List For Small Business Owners
By John Kirk
The beginning of the year inevitably brings new resolutions. For small business owners grappling with market disruptions, competition, and the litany of opportunities life provides, the resolution to grow comes with the territory. There are few vehicles for growth quite like reading. The right book can be as impactful as the distilled wisdom of a mentor.
Over the years, I’ve been asked what books have benefited me the most in my business. While listing my favorites, I began to consult our team for must-reads. Here are our essential reading recommendations with some commentary on the top picks in each category.
On Leadership, Team, and Human Motivation
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni is one we’ve come back to time and again. Lencioni’s parable style can seem juvenile at first, but go with it. The lessons in this book are priceless if you hope to lead a strong team. Other good reads are Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek and Wanting by Luke Burgis. Burgis’ work is one of the most fascinating we’ve found about why and how human beings are motivated.
On Career Path and Talent
Cal Newport’s So Good They Can’t Ignore You might be the best career advice book we’ve come across. It’s a must-read for my kids as they think about their professional lives and does a fantastic job of dispelling the idea that career paths are linear. If you want a book specifically focused on hiring well, check out Who by Randy Street and Geoff Smart
On Wealth, Financial Statements, and Paying Yourself
If - like me - your head spins when you look at your financials, look no further than Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. If you follow Mike’s advice, you’ll save yourself a ton of headaches and actually begin enjoying the science of running your business. Another classic must-read in this category is Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.
On Marketing
Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller has become our team’s go-to guide for all external communication and brand building. Miller makes the refreshing case that all good marketing is good storytelling and teaches a method that is simple and accessible. Another master of all things Marketing is Seth Godin. You can pick up any number of his books, but we particularly enjoyed This is Marketing.
On Business Development and Networking
Give and Take by Adam Grant beautifully lays out the principles of how great relationships can and should be built in business and in life. Grant is a great researcher, and backs his ideas up with data, making his arguments strong, even for the more analytical folks in your business. We also really enjoy autobiographical works in this category. Bill McDermott’s Winner’s Dream and Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog come to mind. Naturally, I can’t fail to mention the soon-to-be classic by our very own Pat Kilner, Find Your Six!
On Planning and Execution
The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan is hard to beat. If you are going to read one book about getting a lot done, this is it. For me, being a present father and husband is non-negotiable, and I found The One Thing applicable to every area of my life that I want to optimize. Other titles that we could wax on and on about (but won’t) are: The Four Disciplines of Execution by McChesney and Covey, Getting Things Done by David Allen, The 12-Week Year by Moran, Atomic Habits by Clear, and last but not least, Deep Work by Newport.
On General Business, Scaling, Vision
If you’ve not yet read Good to Great by Jim Collins, read this first. Jim’s work has influenced the work of every business author in the last 30 years. The terms he’s coined should become part of the vocabulary of every entrepreneur. Zero to One by Peter Thiel might be the best general startup advice book we’ve come across, and Scaling Up by Verne Harnish is essential reading for mapping out your growth.
If you think I should add any other recommendations to my list, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to drop me a line at john@kilnerkirk.com
