6 Summer Beach Reads for Entrepreneurs
Summer is a time for relaxation, fun, humidity, and beach reading. While finding time to read while running a business might be a challenge, we have a way to crack open a book and be productive simultaneously.
We asked some of our entrepreneurs for their favorite business reads. Here are their suggestions.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear - Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits--whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies to teach you how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results. Suggested by Sydney Poll, founder of SydPlayEat
Drop the Ball: Achieving More by Doing Less by Tiffany Dufu – Drop the Ball is a bold and inspiring memoir and manifesto from a renowned voice in the women's leadership movement that shows women how to cultivate the single skill they need to thrive: the ability to let go. In Drop the Ball, Dufu recounts how she learned to reevaluate expectations, shrink her to-do list, and meaningfully engage the assistance of others--freeing the space she needed to flourish at work and to develop deeper, more meaningful relationships at home. Suggested by Mara Smith, founder of Inspiro Tequila
"Drop the Ball helped me navigate the blend between being a mom and running a startup. It taught me to place a value on my time and really analyze what activities are a good use of it." Mara Smith
Leapfrog: The New Revolution for Women Entrepreneurs by Sara Grace and Nathalie Molina Niño - Despite what every other business book might say, historical data show the real secret ingredients to success in business are being rich, white, and male. Until now, Leapfrog is the decades-overdue startup bible for the rest of us. It's filled with uncompromising guidance for winning a business your way. Leapfrog is for entrepreneurs of all stripes who are fed up with status quo advice--the kind that assumes you have rich friends and family and a public relations team. Suggested by Anna Petrova, founder of Wolfe Cravings
Ramping Your Brand: How to Ride the Killer CPG Growth Curve by James Richardson - A four-part approach to thinking smarter about growth as a CPG entrepreneur. It is based on years of anthropological research into how and why consumers pay for premium-priced CPG items and analysis among an elite club of premium CPG brands that all reached $100M+ in less than a decade. Suggested by Nadine Joseph, founder of Peak + Valley, and Alison Elliott, The Farmer Foodie
"Ramping Your Brand stresses the importance of a strategic approach to scaling a brand by seeding consumer demand. Consumers are the force that turns a company into a relevant brand over time. They're the oxygen breathing life into any business, making consumer memorability a CPG entrepreneur's primary weapon of advantage. Our Cashew Parm products fill a white category with delicious and innovative flavors that naturally retain and grow our customer network." Alison Elliott
Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert Kiyosaki - Rich Dad Poor Dad consistently ranks among bestsellers around the world in the categories of Personal Finance, Parenting, and Investing, has been translated into 38 languages, and has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. This is Robert's story of growing up with two dads -- his real father and the father of his best friend, his rich dad -- and how both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing. The book explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you. Suggested by Anna Petrova, founder of Wolfe Cravings
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne - In this book, you'll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life--money, health, relationships, happiness, and every interaction you have. The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers--men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible. Suggested by Sydney Poll, founder of SydPlayEat
In addition to being considered a form of self-care, reading is a hobby of many successful entrepreneurs. According to Thrive, "the average American reads one book a year while the average CEO reads around five a month, coming out to at least 60 books a year." So, give yourself permission to open that book collecting dust on your nightstand. It could improve your bottom line.