My Top Five Business Books

1. The One Thing – Gary Keller, Jay Papasan

- The surprisingly simple truth behind extraordinary results. The simple message of this book is that at any one time there really is only one most important thing that you must do to achieve your goals. In any situation where you are faced with a to-do list of ‘important’ tasks, ask yourself the Focusing Question: What’s the one thing I can do, such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary? There is lots of practical advice on how to actually do this in all aspects of your life.  

2. Start With Why – Simon Sinek

- How great leaders inspire everyone to take action. Simon Sinek shows that many of the most successful and inspirational people and organisations have a clear focus on why they do things, rather than concentrating on what they do. Using examples like Steve Jobs, the Wright brothers and Martin Luther King he shows how they started with ‘why’ before moving on to ‘how’ and finally ‘what’. As Sinek says: “People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe”

3. The E-Myth Revisited – Michael E Gerber

- Why most small businesses don’t work and what to do about it. The core message in this book for small business owners is to “work on your business, not in it”. Small business owners often fall into the trap of spending all their time being a Technician and doing the core work of their business themselves. This leads to their business turning into a job. Instead, Michael Gerber lays out a method to structure your business and run it like a larger, successful company.

4. Conscious Capitalism – John Mackey, Raj Sisodia

- Liberating the heroic spirit of business. Business doesn’t have to be just about the bottom line. Business and capitalism can be a force for good when a strong emphasis is put on creating value for all the stakeholders in a business: customers; team members; investors; suppliers; society; the environment.

5. ReWork - Jason Fried, David Heinemeier Hansson

- Change the Way You Work Forever. Great tips and advice for starting a small business without working 80-hour weeks or depleting your life savings. The authors tell you to forget about business plans, meetings and office space – you don’t need them to get started. Co-founders of multiple successful software businesses, the authors know what they are talking about and pass on that knowledge in short, no non-sense sections.

Always looking for more great books!

So these are my favourite business books...at the moment. I usually listen to (or read) at least one a month, so I'm sure the list will change a little over time.