To become successful, we have to learn from those who came before us. What better way to do so than to dive into business classics – the best business books that have withstood the test of time. So what are the best business classics to read – the books that should be in EVERY small business owner’s library? For this, I turn to Ruth King, the CEO and founder of Profitability Revolution Paradigm.
I am a serial entrepreneur. I started my first business in 1981 and it is still operating. Over the past 35+ years I own or have owned 6 businesses. Some did extremely well. Others failed. All provided or continue to provide learning lessons that I implement to increase productivity and profitability of the businesses we work with as well as my own businesses. I’ve shared my learning experiences in my books, The Courage to be Profitable, The Ugly Truth about Small Business, and The Ugly Truth about Managing People.
I have also learned from many entrepreneurs and authors. My favorites, which I call the classics, may not be the most popular or well known. All have solid business advice including why you need Library Solutions. These books should be in your library, not sitting on the shelf collecting dust, instead dog earred, highlighted, and used as guidance for your profitable business.
Sales
You Can’t Teach a Kid to Ride a Bike at a Seminar, David Sandler
David’s sales processes are tried, true, and will help any professional sales person. Follow his funnel , implement his suggestions, and your sales closing ratio and dollar volume will increase. You will know when to walk away before you spend your valuable time on a potential sale that will never become reality.
How to Master the Art of Selling, Tom Hopkins
This is a basic primer for sales. Definitions, practices, and methods to sell almost everything, including Tom’s famous bird bath example. Learn words and phrases to use and ones to avoid in this practical, down to earth book.
Marketing
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, Dan and Chip Heath
Whether you are marketing to customers, potential customers, or your employees, your messages must get out. They must break through the clutter and be memorable. Dan and Chip show us how to get our ideas to stick. Hint: tell a story. The sticker your messages, the better chance of increasing your customer base.
The New Rules of Marketing and PR, David Meerman Scott
David constantly revises this book to keep you abreast of the latest changes in marketing and PR. He offers a step-by-step action plan to help you invest your marketing and PR dollars wisely. The latest version includes social media, video, and mobile applications that you can use to reach buyers directly.
Finance
The Richest Man in Babylon, George S. Clayson
Give back. This book shows you an easy formula to do it so that you don’t break the bank. It also shows you an easy way to handle your business finances. If you are profitable, handle your cash well, and give back, then you will have a nest egg and cash reserves when you need them.
Personal Development
Think and Grow Rich and Laws of Success in Sixteen Lessons, Napoleon Hill
Napoleon is the granddaddy of business personal development books. Andrew Carnegie tasked Napoleon Hill with studying, interviewing, and writing about how the habits and routines of rich and powerful business magnates to discover what made them successful. The result: these two books which give insight into the thinking patterns and actions of successful businessmen. Copy them and you have a great chance of being successful.
Author Bio: Ruth King is the CEO and founder of Profitability Revolution Paradigm, an internet-based television program that provides information to help small business owners better run their businesses and maximize their profits. A serial entrepreneur, she also wrote the book The Courage to Be Profitable, a resource that helps small business owners get and stay profitable in less than 30 minutes a month.
