One of the keys to growing a successful business is to learn new things and try them in your business. Always innovating. You need to actively look for new things you can try and do in your business.
Reading books not only sharpens your skills but also gives you time to sit back and think about what you are learning. While you can watch a YouTube video and learn something, a 30-minute video does not give you time to ponder.
In this article, I will share with you five great books I read recently, and why I think you should read them this year.
This is Marketing
One of my favorites by Seth Godin. In this book, he gets you to step back and focus not just on the marketing but the people. Who makes up your market, who you should be focused on, and how to connect with those people? Marketing is more than running ads and Seth digs into building a tribe that will follow and buys your offering through passion and connection.
Building a Storybrand
If you have never heard of this book before I highly recommend it. Donald Miller teaches you how to clean up your marketing message, so you not only know who you are talking to but are speaking to them in a way that naturally invites them into your business. I don’t want to give too much away, but with references to Star Wars and digging into the art of stories and movies, this is one you don’t want to miss. Plus, the free tool he provides allows you to implement the strategies he teaches right away.
Start with Why
Simon Sinek takes you on a trip to big-name companies such as Apple and explains his theory of their success. He goes over people don’t buy what you do but the idea of ‘Why’ behind what you are doing. It got me thinking about how I could invite our customers into our ‘Why’ and how that inclusion could grow my business and help them understand what we are doing.
They Ask, You Answer
If you are looking to level up your marketing, and get more traffic from organic search, this book will teach you to do just that. Marcus goes over how he took the questions he received day in and day out in his own business and wrote about them. He teaches you the value of blogging and writing to grow your business using content marketing. And if you think about how search engines rank content by who can answer the query the best, it makes total sense. A worthy read.
Everybody Writes
If you have ever felt like you are not a good writer, this book is for you. Ann Handley takes you through basic writing skills while teaching you in a fun way. It’s true that everyone can write, and with a little effort, guidance, and practice, the content you write can be more inviting. She goes over writing drafts, common mistakes, and other things that we all should have been taught (or not taught) in school to help us communicate better. Your business deserves to have the best content, and this book can help you do just that.
Bonus: A bright shore
This one is not a business book, but hey, we all need to decompress from time to time. The first book in this series digs into a scenario where we can travel to parallel planets and a look at how life can go when we break the shackles of corrupt governments and try to build a brighter future. Fun to look at from my perspective with a military background and following the adventures of the main characters.
Not for everyone, but a worthy read if you like these kinds of books. If not, I strongly encourage you to find at least a few books that are not business-related and read them this year. Imagination does not just affect business, but your entire life.
Wrap up
Reading is an enjoyable part of my life. It helps me unwind at the end of the day and opens my mind to new thoughts and ideas. It’s a skill I am glad I have and use. I hope that I can inspire you to read more.
Are you still looking for more books to read? Check out this article I wrote back in 2017 for five other books you can add to your reading list.
