As an entrepreneur and leader, knowledge is your secret weapon. Every aspiring leader needs those go-to resources that shape their thinking, challenge their perspectives, and inspire growth. For me, my bookshelf is not just a collection of books—it’s a source of constant learning, growth, and guidance.
I’ve shared before my top 3 essentials for business success, and one of the most important elements of success is knowledge. Below are the books that have shaped my journey and helped me grow into the leader I am today. These are the books I continually go back to, time and time again, because they offer practical insights, valuable lessons, and a solid foundation for success.
1. Start with Why by Simon Sinek
This was the book that kickstarted my journey towards living a life with intention and purpose. If you haven’t read it yet, it’s a must. Start with Why helped me realize the importance of understanding and articulating my ‘why’—the driving force behind everything I do. It’s not enough to just go through the motions of business. The real power comes from identifying your core purpose and building everything around that foundation. When your team knows why they’re doing something, they’re more motivated, engaged, and invested in the success of the business.
2. Get A Grip by Gino Wickman
This book introduced me to the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a system that’s become a game-changer for my business. It’s helped me streamline operations, create clarity, and build a solid foundation for scaling. If you’re a business owner looking to get organized, improve your systems, and gain control, this book is a must-read. Get A Grip has provided practical frameworks and tools that I still use to this day.
3. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
Leadership isn’t just about managing—it’s about building a great team. And that’s why this book is so important. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team dives into the common pitfalls that can derail teams, and it gives you actionable strategies to overcome them. From trust issues to the lack of accountability, this book outlines what makes teams fail and how to build a cohesive, high-performing team. Every leadership team should read this.
4. Good to Great by Jim Collins
I first read Good to Great years ago, and its principles are still relevant today. This book explores the key factors that separate great companies from the good ones. Good to Great is a timeless read that offers profound insights into leadership, business structure, and the importance of having the right people in the right seats. It helped me shape how I structure and lead my teams to achieve long-term success.
5. Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott
Communication is everything. Fierce Conversations helped me become a better communicator and leader. Before reading this book, I struggled with candid conversations—something I know many leaders can relate to. But Fierce Conversations taught me the importance of transparency, tough conversations, and direct communication. Effective communication isn’t just about talking; it’s about listening, empathizing, and being open with your team.
6. Bounce by Keith McFarland
As an entrepreneur, challenges are inevitable. But instead of seeing adversity as a setback, Bounce taught me to view it as an opportunity for growth. This book is a must-read if you’re facing tough times. It emphasizes the importance of resilience, adaptability, and how overcoming challenges can actually strengthen your team. It helped me learn how to turn adversity into a competitive advantage.
7. Hyper Sales Growth by Jack Daly
I’ve had the privilege of learning from some of the best, and Hyper Sales Growth by my mentor Jack Daly is one of the books that truly shaped how I approach sales and business growth. Jack’s insights on creating an intentional company culture and building systems that drive sustainable sales growth are incredibly valuable. If you’re looking to scale your business and take it to the next level, this book will show you how.
8. The Birth Order Book by Kevin Leman
At first glance, this book might seem like an odd choice for business owners. But after reading The Birth Order Book, I realized how much personality traits influenced by birth order can impact our interactions and relationships—both personally and professionally. Understanding these dynamics helped me improve how I communicate with my team and how I relate to different personality types in the workplace.
9. Rejection Proof by Jia Jiang
Sales is tough. Rejection is inevitable. Rejection Proof helped me change my perspective on rejection. Instead of being discouraged by no’s, I learned to embrace rejection as a learning tool. This book provides great strategies for building resilience, developing mental toughness, and using rejection as a tool to grow stronger and more confident.
10. Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
Can’t Hurt Me is all about mental toughness. David Goggins’ story of overcoming the most extreme physical and mental challenges is nothing short of inspiring. This book introduced me to the idea that resilience is a muscle—the more you work it, the stronger it gets. Whenever I face challenges or obstacles, I turn to this book for motivation and guidance.