Academics debate whether an entrepreneur is something that you become or something that you are. It’s clear, however, that the majority of people who write books on the subject believe that it’s something that you grow into, with their help of course.
There are dozens of books out there for the budding entrepreneur on all sorts of topics from managing finances to creating a great product. But although these are exciting topics for those starting out, these aren’t the only issues that they are likely to face. Keeping a business on the straight and narrow is a far more critical issue, especially when you consider the numerous ways in which a company can fall by the wayside because of illegal activity.
Take a look at these books to help you keep your business on the right track.
Geoff Colvin – Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else
Schools and universities teach that the key to success is raw talent: that mysterious ability to apply skill subtly and deftly. But few of the people at the very top of their respective industries are the most talented or the most intelligent. They just happen to be the people who persevered the longest and never gave up.
What’s great about Colvin’s book is that it provides a framework for a person to do this without having to compromise on their values. He shows how, with the right mental frame, it is possible to break out by yourself and achieve the things that you want to, without taking unnecessary risks or forgetting your duties.
Ben Horowitz – The Hard Thing About Hard Things
Horowitz, a successful entrepreneur himself, knows a thing or two about the challenges that every new business leader faces, from hiring a white collar criminal defence attorney to keeping employees in check. He offers entrepreneurs a guide from the perspective of somebody who has done all the nasty, nitty-gritty stuff that running a business involves. He dispels the myth that it’s all about making money and developing products and show new leaders that it has more to do with making people who work with you feel good and enjoy their lives.
The book deals with serious topics, such as firing family members, but does so in a friendly and accessible tone.
Patrick King – Inspire! The Art Of Persuasive Leadership
One of the main reasons that new companies get into legal trouble is that they don’t have the full ideological support of their key employees. Although this might not seem like a problem initially, King writes persuasively in Inspire that it can soon become on. Colleagues who don’t accept your overarching goals or values will often work against them, potentially causing losses to your bottom line and exposing you to legal risk.
Kings says that the key to maximum efficiency and output is persuasiveness: how well you can align your employees with your own goals. For King, this is the true mark of leadership and the best way to generate win-win situations in your office.
