“All I have learned, I learned from books.” ― Abraham Lincoln
There is a book out there for everyone. In fact, 825.75 million books were printed in 2021 alone. Reading is proven to reduce stress, improve memory and brain function, and increase your vocabulary and comprehension. According to Sales & Marketing Executives International, those who read at least 7 business books per year earn 2.3 times more than people who only read one book per year.
August 9 is National Book Lovers Day and the perfect day to immerse yourself in a great book.
There are an endless amount of business books that can benefit you in your professional life. However, with a seemingly infinite number of options, how do you select the best book for you? The EPI team put together a list of our favorite business books to enhance your professional expertise and your business.
Walking to Destiny was written to arm business owners and their advisors with the knowledge and understanding needed to recognize their potential, execute growth tactics, and harvest the wealth locked inside a business.
The book is also designed to bridge the gap between advisors and owners to get them on the same page. From an advisor perspective, the Value Acceleration Methodology has become the leading process for exit planning and is prominently utilized by exit planning advisors across the world.
The EPI Team recommends Walking to Destiny to any advisor looking to improve their professional relationship with business owners. By understanding how to holistically improve value in an owner’s business and personal life, you place yourself in the position of their most trusted advisor.
Exit Planning Institute CEO, Christopher Snider, recommends 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and states that it “changed his life.” Chris shares, “A friend recommended this book to me at a time when I was having a lot of trouble balancing my personal life, family, and work. I still read it over and over.”
This book provides insights into seven timeless strategies toward effective leadership, collaboration, and organizational strength.
EPI President, Scott Snider, recommends Your Baby’s Ugly: Maximize the Value of Your Business or You Will Have Nothing to Sell by CEPA, Justin Goodbread. He shares, “I would recommend it to any owner who is serious about growing a better and more significant company. It’s a practical look and a deeper dive into Chris Snider’s Value Acceleration Methodology and dives deeper into the Four Intangible Capitals. This book focuses on the company and how to make it more valuable long-term and operate better day to day.”
Read Your Baby’s Ugly: Maximize the Value of Your Business or You Will Have Nothing to Sell here.
Exit Planning Institute’s Director of Business Development, Jesse Hudson, recommends Good Strategy / Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt. Jesse shares, “Too often, businesses and their leaders confuse Goals and Strategy. This book does a great job of properly defining strategy. Strategy is not goal setting, it is problem-solving.”
Richard Rumelt introduces nine sources of power, ranging from using leverage to effectively focusing on growth, that are eye-opening yet pragmatic tools that can easily be put to work on Monday morning, and uses fascinating examples from business, nonprofit, and military affairs to bring its original and pragmatic ideas to life.
EPI’s Marketing Team Lead, Chase Ross, recommends Contagious: Why Things Catch On. Berger’s book highlights the impact of popularity on the success of your products or business. Chase shares, “This book provides unique examples around why products, information, or ideas go viral. It includes information that is simple enough to grasp but might not be obvious at first glance. I would recommend this book to any colleague, no matter their department. While it provides potential business strategies to consider implementing in your business, it’s also a fascinating read into social dynamics.”
The EPI Office Assistant, Margo Coniam, recommends Quiet. This book discusses the critical role introverts play in businesses. Susan features stories about famous introverts such as Rosa Parks, Dr. Seuss, and Steve Wozniak.
Margo shares, “Quiet gives insight into the psychology behind being an introvert and how those introverted tendencies can benefit a business. It sheds new light on not trying so hard to change those introverted tendencies and instead embracing and celebrating them.”
Read Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking here.
EPI’s Content Strategist, Colleen Kowalski, recommends Do Cool Sh*t: Quit Your Day Job, Start Your Own Business, and Live Happily Ever After. As a multi-successful entrepreneur herself, Mika writes the story of her life, the successes and trials of starting her own business, and provides advice on how to achieve your entrepreneurial goals.
Colleen shares, “While most business books can seem informative at the cost of entertainment, this book combines Mika’s energetic storytelling with easily digestible tips for successfully building value in your business. I would recommend this to anyone looking to start their own business, or those looking to exit their current role to fulfill their personal purpose!”
Read Do Cool Sh*t: Quit Your Day Job, Start Your Own Business, and Live Happily Ever After here.
Our Exit Planning Institute Marketing Manager, Paige Wysocki, recommends Think Again by Adam Grant. Adam is an organizational psychologist that highlights ways to “argue like he’s right but listen like he’s wrong.”
Paige shares, “This book inspires you to be innovative and think outside of the box. It pushes you to change the way you do things to improve your outcomes. Adam shares a different perspective on leadership and encourages you to stay curious.”
Read Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know here.
Are you interested in reading more exit planning books from Certified Exit Planning Advisors (CEPAS) and best-selling authors? Check out our EPI Bookstore for a curated collection of resources for advisors and owners.
Did we miss any of your favorite business books? Send your recommendations to our content strategist, Colleen Kowalski.
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