2020 may not be going quite as we'd all planned, so we've been taking some time to find the silver lining in all this chaos. For many of us, our new reality means staying within the four walls of home, getting our 10,000 daily steps in from the dining table "office" to the kitchen coffee machine, and catching up with colleagues, friends and family through our computer screens. There's no denying this gets old pretty quickly, but with the reality that we may not see life return to "normal" for quite a while it is more important than ever to unwind and pass this time in a way that is both productive and enjoyable!
Inc.com once wrote an article, “Most CEOs Read A Book A Week. This Is How You Can Too” – and while there are a plethora of other articles debunking this theory, it is absolutely FACT that there’s no feeling quite like curling up on the couch, latté in hand, flicking through the pages of a great read. We are pretty big bookworms over here at Cloud Campaign, so thought we’d share a list of our favorite business books. Check these out if you’re looking for a great way to pass this time at home, and we'd love to hear about any others that you'd recommend!
Published in 1936 (!!) this is perhaps one of the oldest business books still read today. That said, though, this one has absolutely withstood the test of time! “Over 30 million copies have been sold worldwide, making it one of the best-selling books of all time. In 2011, it was number 19 on Time Magazine's list of the 100 most influential books.”
In a world of rapid change and innovation, only fast paced and adaptable businesses survive. Are you one of them? “Rather than wasting time creating elaborate business plans, The Lean Startup offers entrepreneurs—in companies of all sizes—a way to test their vision continuously, to adapt and adjust before it’s too late. Ries provides a scientific approach to creating and managing successful startups in an age when companies need to innovate more than ever.”
We can’t recommend this book enough when it comes to learning to work with clients as well as manage teams within your business. A favorite amongst business schools and business owners – this is a must read! “Through vivid examples, Goleman delineates the five crucial skills of emotional intelligence, and shows how they determine our success in relationships, work, and even our physical well-being. What emerges is an entirely new way to talk about being smart.”
This book was first published in 1987, but has been incredibly influential over the years amongst small business owners. “Jay Levinson revolutionized marketing strategies for the small-business owner with his take-no-prisoners approach to finding clients. Based on hundreds of solid ideas that really work, Levinson’s philosophy has given birth to a new way of learning about market share and how to gain it.”
The Challenger Sale brings a really unique perspective on how to sell and develop a loyal customer base. “What's the secret to sales success? If you're like most business leaders, you'd say it's fundamentally about relationships-and you'd be wrong. The best salespeople don't just build relationships with customers. They challenge them.”
We have so many other books that we’d love to recommend! If you’re looking for help with something in particular – ping us a message and we’ll be your personal librarians! And of course, if you have any recommendations for us, we'd love to hear those too!