“Unprecedented”, “difficult”, “trying”. We’ve all heard 2020 described using those terms. There’s no way around it, this year has been awful for a lot of people, both personally and financially. If there’s any small comfort, it’s in knowing a lot of people are going through the same thing. And there are experts who have advice for you. Of course, there’s no one answer that will help small business owners survive this mess, but there is some great advice to be had from books. We’ve looked around, and found the books that come highly recommended by business experts. And while these were not written with Covid-19 in mind, they can give you a good foundation for weathering all sorts of business storms.
Entrpreneur.com lists eight books that they suggest “for Shifting Your Entrepreneurial Perspective”. As their contributor, Peter Daisyme, says, “Being a great entrepreneur doesn’t just mean making money when times are good. Great business leaders thrive during difficult moments, but that doesn’t make tough times any easier. If you’re hoping to learn how to weather the storm, gathering other perspectives is always helpful.”. These are some of the books he recommends:
- Be the Go-To: How to Own Your Competitive Market, Charge More, and Have Customers Love You For It by Theresa M. Līna – In times of uncertainty, consumers stop taking risks and instead gravitate toward classic “go-to” brands — but how do those brands achieve that status in the first place? Be the Go-To is a deep dive into how various companies became “go-to” brands in the past and what businesses in today’s ever-volatile market need to do to achieve that same status.
- Healing Hacks: Bring Your Body Back To Nature by Ian Hart – No matter how much entrepreneurs want to devote themselves to their businesses, they are, at the end of the day, human. If entrepreneurs want to be able to face down the challenges their business might face, they need to take care of themselves as well as their business. Healing Hacks is Ian Hart’s story of personal and professional success followed by inexplicable medical disaster — and the inspiring healing process that followed.
Chanell Turner of the Atlanta Small Business Network has suggestions for your 2020 book list.
- Financial Intelligence, Revised Edition: A Manager’s Guide to Knowing What the Numbers Really Mean by Karen Berman – Are balance sheets and expense reports not your thing? Whether you are a new or veteran entrepreneur, understanding your company’s finances is critical to your business’s long-term success. In “Financial Intelligence,” Berman describes the ins and outs of financial management in a jargon-free and easy-to-understand way. She uses real examples from companies and teaches the basics of finance so that non-financial managers can grasp these concepts. If you need a refresher course on business accounting and finance, this is the book to read.
- The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker – Commonly known as the “father of management,” Peter Drucker spent most of his career educating business owners on developing effective management tactics and strategies. In “The Effective Executive,” Drucker lays out steps for how business professionals can improve business effectiveness. He highlights time management practices, how to identify and best use your strengths, tips for determining priorities, and advice on sharpening your decision-making. While this book does address executives, you are the chief executive of your business, and may one day manage others in senior leadership at your company. For a lesson in thinking like a savvy CEO, check out this title from Drucker.
We hope our book choices help you out. And if you need any other type of help, from bookkeeping to process management, we are happy to put together a package that will help your business out.