5 Books Every Startup Owner Should Read

As a startup founder and owner, learning new things, staying ahead of the game and remaining motivated are all very important. The market is changing rapidly, posing new challenges to face and a number of problems to solve. Unless you have what it takes to keep the company together, chances are you’ll start running into issues before long. Your employees are your best assets, so choose them carefully and let them add to the company in new ways. You too can continue to grow as a startup owner. 

Fortunately, there are plenty of additional resources to help you stay ahead of the game.The next four books we are about to review in this article are among the best books to read if you’re serious about staying ahead and motivated. For another insightful book review, you can also check out the Self Development Secrets review on Blinkist.

The Obstacle Is the Way

Ryan Holiday is a famous growth-hacking master with a lot of great advice and stories to tell. His book, The Obstacle Is the Way, is one of the best books to read as a startup owner or even as a person. You can learn so much from this book. As the title suggests, the book is all about the obstacles you may run into in life and how to turn them into sources of energy and innovation.

The premise is very simple, and Holiday did a very good job of taking his reader on a journey with him. Before long, you’ll be hooked and won’t be able to stop reading the book, eager to know more.

There are a number of practical solutions and ideas you can implement right away too. You will find plenty of business advice in each chapter, each of which is very applicable in today’s economy. You will also gain a completely new perspective, which will allow you to understand the obstacles you’re facing and find solutions in no time.

Into the Fire

This next book is not a business book, but it’s one filled with motivational quotes. Into the Fire: A Firsthand Account of the Most Extraordinary Battle in the Afghan War is a book written by Dakota Meyer. He is now a well-known motivational speaker, but he is also a former US Marine and a Medal of Honor recipient.

The book tells the tale of an ambush and the five missions that came afterwards. The missions were designed to help rescue US soldiers from the Afghan troops. It is an extraordinary story indeed, but what’s special about this book is the way it makes you feel as you read through it. When you’re down and the problems facing your startup feel overwhelming, reading Into the Fire will help you get that spirit burning again.

Besides, nothing beats enjoying a nice cup of coffee while reading a thrilling book at the end of a long day at work. You’ll be ready for more challenges and feel highly motivated as you read.

The Lean Startup

If you’re looking for an inside look at how to build a strong and capable startup, then this book is definitely for you. Written by Eric Ries, a man with plenty of experience in building startups and taking them to success, The Lean Startup talks about how startups can continue to innovate and develop products that are much better – and much more suitable to the customers’ demands and expectations.

The book also covers tips and practical advice on how a startup can be as lean and efficient as possible without losing competitive advantage or the ability to innovate. It even covers subjects on equity and how a startup must be able to survive a tough market with limited resources.

The Lean Startup is a highly recommended book. Top names such as Josh Avnery (the co-founder of WiseStamp) have attributed their success to this book.

The $100 Startup

Our last pick is another book that will help you stay motivated through tough times. The $100 Startup is a book about startups based on their founders’ hobbies and passions. It is filled with stories of entrepreneurs who have successfully turned their small ideas into successful businesses.

The $100 Startup is enjoyable to read. It is not as heavy or complicated as other books about startup businesses. The light reading and the motivational stories inside this book will definitely be well worth the time it takes to finish it. Combined with the other books we talked about in this article, you’ll find yourself with a lot more energy, more ideas to develop and plenty of solutions to help you get through the challenges your startup – and you – are facing.