Top 10 Self Help Books

As business owners, it’s important to keep our minds sharp. Of course maintaining a busy household with three children, a healthy marriage and a business keep us on our toes. However, we also love good books, and consider authors our mentors. We have a few good ones that we reference often to help us stay motivated and to pull from in times of need. If you’re into good reads, here’s our list.

The Power of the Subconscious Mind

By: Dr. Joseph Murphy

This book changed our lives tremendously. It was the first book that we started reading that made us aware of the importance of mental state along the journey called life. It’s about how our thoughts become things and make us the masters of our destiny. Our copy is so tattered from regular reading. I think we read it once a quarter.

The Travelers Gift

By: Andy Andrews

This is one of Chef Ed’s favorites. The premise of the book is faith based. In the book there’s a warehouse filled with ideas and prototypes that people started and abandoned. It’s a reminder of how important it is to keep going, and striving everyday toward your dreams and goals. Because you don’t know how close you are to success. Keep going!

The Psychology of Selling

By: Brian Tracy

This book was paramount to Jane’s success as a shoe saleswoman. When she first started in a commissioned sales environment this book taught her everything. After reading the book, she watched her sales increase from 20 percent to 30 percent and just keep climbing. It breaks down how selling is psychological, habits and how to ask for the sale confidently. How to bring your most confident self into the sales environment and win every time.

The Four Hour Work Week

By: Timothy Ferriss

This book is full of gems for the person that’s ready to start a business, but has a full time job. The author offers tips on time management, and how to leave the 9 to 5 life for more joy and fulfillment. We recommend this to any entrepreneurs out there.

The Money Makeover

By: Dave Ramsey

This book was the wake up call we needed as entrepreneurs, parents and just regular people. We got it on audio and felt like the author Dave Ramsey was speaking directly to us. This book is about being conscious consumers and asking yourself if you really need that three dollar cup of coffee everyday. We cut up a few credit cards after reading this book.

Crush It! and Crushing It!

By: Gary Vaynerchuk

We consider Gary one of our mentors. Keep in mind, a mentor doesn’t have to be someone that you actually talk to in person. We follow him on social media but grabbed these books. It provides insight into e-commerce and how to maximize profits in the online marketplace. We recommend reading Crush It first then, Crushing It after. You won’t be disappointed.

Girl Boss

By: Sophia Amoruso

A great read about how the author went from being broke and unable to make rent to being the owner of multi-million dollar brand Nasty Gal. She started with a few dollars in her pocket reselling items she found in a thrift store. She just kept going, bucking tradition and changed the way that online sellers do business. Grab your copy of Girl boss.

How to Win Friends and Influence People

By: Dale Carnegie

This is a great resource to learn how to navigate through life. You meet people everyday as you go about your chores and list of to-do’s. This book is about connection and how to grow a network of people who can assist you in this life journey.

48 Laws of Power

By: Robert Greene

Another book that Jane picked up along her commission sales journey. This book talks about hierarchy and how to thrive in certain environments. In this book, the author draws from the different philosophies of great people from the past. He shows you what thought processes they used to ‘win’ and how you can too.

Profit First

By: Mike Michalowicz

This might be the only book you need in your life. It borrows from the concept of how people used to put money in different envelopes for things like groceries, rent, car repair, etc. And how you don’t dip into the envelope until you need the money. Allocating money to different accounts twice a week and watching your money work for you, instead of the other way around. It’s a great resource, maybe the only book you need.