A post like this is way past due from me.

Also, it’s somewhat of a selfish endeavour because it's something for me to look back at on my journey and see what books poured into my growth.

I am a book bully.

I go bananas for books.

B-A-N-A-N-A-S.

A long time ago, I made the mistake of lending one of my books to a "friend" (or so I thought) and it came back with creases.

CREASES, Y'ALL! We were never the same. Still traumatized to this day.

Although, I’ve read quite a few books in my lifetime since starting my business years ago, I only binge on business books. Actually, I can't remember the last time I read fiction.

I need an intervention or a phenomenal fiction recommendation, whichever comes first. Got any?

Here are 17 business books I'd giddily re-read:

1. The Tools - Phil Stutz & Barry Michels

This book will surprise you with how practical it is...if you believe in visualization, positive thinking and whatnot. It provided me with the life tools on how to push through inevitable fear & difficult times.

“Real change requires you to change your behavior-not just your attitude.”

2. 21 Irrefutable Laws to Leadership - John A. Maxwell

“Many people view leadership the same way they view success, hoping to go as far as they can, to climb the ladder, to achieve the highest position possible for their talent. But contrary to conventional thinking, I believe the bottom line in leadership isn't how far we advance ourselves but how far we advance others. That is achieved by serving others and adding value to their lives.”

When I wanted a promotion in my job, I read this cover to cover. FYI, I got the promotion.

3. 50th Law - Robert Greene & 50 Cent

I think the re-read count on this is three times.

Connecting street hustle to boardroom politics was a genius move on both Curtis Jackson & Robert Greene. This is the 48 Laws of Power remixed.

“Reality has its own power—you can turn your back on it, but it will find you in the end, and your inability to cope with it will be your ruin.”

4. Secrets of Six-Figure Women - Barbara Stanny

“All underearners, without question, share one common trait: a high tolerance for low”

When you want to stop underearning you pick up this book. Mindset is everything. 😍

5. You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth - Jen Sincero

If you read her first one: You Are A Badass. You already know this one is a good re-read too. The stories Jen tells are hilarious and relatable. I considered it to be a primer to what Barbara Stanny shares in Secrets of Six-Figure Women.

“What comes out of your mouth comes into your life.”

6. The Magic of Thinking Big - Dr. David Schwartz

HANDS DOWN IN MY TOP 5 OF BRILLIANT BOOKS. This list isn't in any specific order, as they're all worth a re-read.

It's one of those books you buy and never crack open. Read it from the library or listen to it on audio but don't give this book any creases.

“The mind is what the mind is fed.”

7. Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness - David Ramsey

I picked up this book when my debts became out of control. David gives real & practical advice in a no nonsense fashion. You can never be too money smart.

“Winning at money is 80 percent behavior and 20 percent head knowledge. What to do isn’t the problem; doing it is. Most of us know what to do, but we just don’t do it. If I can control the guy in the mirror, I can be skinny and rich.”

8. Think & Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill

Of course, this is on the list!

The crazy thing about this book, anytime I read it, (which the count is about 5 times) I get the most vivid dreams. I am not sure what that's about.

“Put your foot upon the neck of the fear of criticism by reaching a decision not to worry about what other people think, do, or say.”

9. Born to Win - Zig Ziglar

YOU MUST READ THIS THROUGH AUDIO.

Zig Ziglar's passion is unmatched in audiobooks and I've listened to quite a few audio books through my library. TIP: Download the Overdrive app to get free books through your library card. This is an incredible mindset book on the foundations of being a winner.

“If you believe as I do that you were born to win, you’re going to have to find your fears and start facing them.”

One is a library book and one is in mint condition with no creases. Can you tell which is which?

10. Mastery - Robert Greene

This is my favorite author and he can do no wrong. It's the key to life, right-in-this-here book. He wrote the manuscript, right-here. I see why his books are banned from some prisons. You can overthrow countries if you study what's written in this-here book.

“The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.”

11. Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert

Not really a business book BUT it can help stir your creativity. And you need creativity to make money these days.

“The universe buries strange jewels deep within us all, and then stands back to see if we can find them.”

12. Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? - Seth Godin

This is geared more toward career longevity and being irreplaceable but it's worth mentioning as a business book. There are solid gold gems in here you can use in any industry. This is when I was first introduced to the concept of the Lizard Brain

"The lizard brain is the reason you're afraid, the reason you don't do all the art you can, the reason you don't ship when you can. The lizard brain is the source of the resistance.”

13. You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself - Harry Beckwith, Christine K. Clifford

I love this book because it's concise and logical. It dumbs down the whole selling yourself and makes you feel less uncomfortable about promoting your projects.

It's really teaching you the art of humble bragging.

“If I had booked a car service, it would have delivered me to Princeton ten minutes before the meeting. Instead, I chose to save $115, and lost a $125,000 opportunity in the process.”

14. Hypnotic Writing: How to Seduce and Persuade Customers with Only Your Words - Joe Vitale

You know I had to sneak in one or two copywriting books.

Writing persuasive words is marketing. And knowing how to do it right (or hire me) is critical to your online success.

"The first step in writing Hypnotic Copy is understanding the mind of your reader. That mind is not focused on your writing. That mind is absorbed with its own concerns."

15. Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die - Chip & Dan Heath

This is another-sorta-copywriting book.

It speaks to the emotion behind why people buy and how to flip your ideas into innovation. I couldn't put this one down. It's a page turner for sure.

FYI: the book in the picture is pretty beaten up because it's from the library. I would never!

“To get someone's attention break a pattern of thinking.”

16. Power of Broke: How Empty Pockets, a Tight Budget, and a Hunger for Success Can Become Your Greatest Competitive Advantage - Daymond John

Mr. Shark Tank himself.

I'm not going to lie. I was hesitant at first about picking up this book. Although the title is catchy, I wasn't sure if this was for me. It was. It's for anyone looking to start, build or run a business. It has true life stories from entrepreneurs themselves in the trenches and what they've learned. Lots of nuggets to pull from.

“Told myself it didn’t matter if my ride didn’t turn heads—it only mattered that it turned things around for me.”

17. The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime! - MJ DeMarco

FINALLY!

Where it all started for me. This book opened my mind to what was possible. It made me see limitless opportunities if I was receptive and eager to grab them. Which snowballed into the mountain of business books I've read afterward. This book gives you concepts but doesn't get to the meat and potato of HOW to do what is suggested. But boy did it make me see POSSIBILITIES.

Fair warning, after reading you may feel an urge to quit your day job.

“Instead of digging for gold, sell shovels. Instead of taking a class, offer a class. Instead of borrowing money, lend it. Instead of taking a job, hire for jobs. Instead of taking a mortgage, hold a mortgage. Break free from consumption, switch sides, and reorient to the world as producer.”

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