Go from Good to Great
Learning, and accepting that we have a lot to learn, is vital to achieving both personal and business growth. This is because there is always room to improve. One of the best ways to do so is by reading – books, news articles, press releases, white papers or any piece of literature actually.
“Read to lead, in order to succeed.” –Habeeb Akande
In keeping with Jim Rohn’s theory, here are 7 really great books we, at iKhokha, feel every business owner should read:
#1 Influence by Dr. Robert Cialdini
Consumers must be persuaded to buy your product or service. How do you do that? You need to know what makes people tick; hence, the book’s subtitle, “The Psychology of Persuasion.” Cialdini offers sound advice based on his 35 years of research. Inside these pages, you can find solid information that can give you an edge in the marketplace. Influence explains the psychology of why people say “yes”—and how to apply these understandings. You’ll learn the six universal principles, how to use them to become a skilled persuader—and how to defend yourself against them.
It’s perfect for people in all walks of life, the principles of Influence will move you toward profound personal change and act as a driving force for your success.
#2 Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
A follow-up to Simon Sinek’s Start with Why Simon Sinek is an optimist, a visionary thinker, and a leader of the cultural revolution of WHY. In Leaders Eat Last, he expands his ideas at the organisational level. Determining a company’s WHY is crucial, but only the beginning. The next step is how do you get people on board with your WHY? How do you inspire deep trust and commitment to the company and one another?
If businesses could adopt a supportive mentality, employees would be more motivated to take bigger risks, because they’d know their colleagues and company would back them up, no matter what. Drawing on powerful and inspiring stories, Sinek shows how to sustain an organization’s WHY while continually adding people to the mix.
“A leader needs to be generous and sacrifice to build an organization by making everyone around feel safe and comfortable.” -Simon Sinek
#3 Elon Musk: How the Billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla is Shaping our Future
You shouldn’t read Elon Musk: How the Billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla is Shaping our Future because it chronicles the very interesting life of a South African who has made good abroad (his net worth is currently estimated by Forbes at just over US$12 billion). Rather, you should read this biography because it provides an outstanding lesson in what one individual can achieve through the application of tremendous persistence and passion in pursuit of his dreams.
Find out about Elon Musk’s dreams, his power of persistence and the controversies and criticisms surrounding this fascinating entrepreneur in a book about how he shakes things up.
“Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.” –Socrates
#4 Screw It, Let’s Do It: Lessons In Life by Richard Branson
In this incredible read, Screw It, Let’s Do It, business mogul Richard Branson shares his ideas and the secrets of his success to help you achieve your individual goals. Today we are increasingly aware of the effects of our actions on the environment, and why it is up to big companies like Virgin to lead the way in a more holistic approach to business. Screw It, Let’s Do It is filled with important lessons, good advice and inspirational adages that have helped him along the road to success.
Ironically, I have never been one to do things by the book, but I have been inspired and influenced by many remarkable people. I hope that you too might find a little inspiration between these pages.
#5 It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be by Paul Arden
Advertising guru, Paul Arden, shares his wisdom on issues as diverse as problem-solving, responding to a brief, communicating, playing your cards right, making mistakes, and creativity – all endeavours that can be applied to aspects of modern life. This uplifting and humorous little book provides a unique insight into the world of advertising and is a quirky compilation of quotes, facts, pictures, wit and wisdom – all packed into easy-to-digest, bite-sized spreads. If you want to succeed in life or business, this book is a must.
It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be is a nifty handbook on how to succeed in the world. It’s for the talented and timid alike to help make the unthinkable thinkable and the impossible possible.
#6 Good to Great by Jim Collins
What’s the difference between a good business and a great business? Author Jim Collins answers this question. He identified and compiled key factors that contributed to the success of elite companies. For instance, he discovered promoting people who are the best and what they do was a top priority. Collins shares ways you can successfully implement this or other factors into your organisation.
The findings of the Good to Great study will surprise many readers and shed light on virtually every area of management strategy and practice. Using tough benchmarks, Collins identified a set of elite companies that made the leap to great results and sustained those results for at least fifteen years. How great? Read the book to find out.
“When you combine a culture of discipline with an ethic of entrepreneurship, you get the magical alchemy of great results.” –Jim Collins
#7 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is wonderful read for people, education in how to live life effectively and get closer to the ideal of being a ‘success’ in life. An enlightening read on life-changing information. If implemented, there should be no aspect of your life that should go untouched. The only thing is that you have to understand these ideals and try to implement them in your life.
Learn all about the model that was propounded by Stephen Covey in his mega-famous book and then interpret it in such a way that it pertains to every aspect of our life.
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I hope that you find much help in these recommended reads.
