How do you plan your small business reading list?

Setting goals and priorities for my business each quarter has helped direct what books I need (and want) to read to build the knowledge and skills required to reach my goals. I also realize that not everything matters equally, so I create a list of books and then put the list in order of priority.

When I coach entrepreneurs, I often suggest they read, listen to podcasts, and access other resources based on the phase their business is in. All businesses begin in the pre-startup phase where they learn about LLC’s, insurance, licensing/permitting, accounting, business planning, etc. After start-up and as the business moves into the growth phase, marketing and sales are critically important topics to address.

Anytime I speak to a colleague, I ask them what they are reading and what value they received from it. This simple act has built up an endless list of books for me. I prioritize these recommendations based on the challenges I'm currently facing, my long-term goals, and my interests.

The best place to start is by clarifying what everyone in your industry is saying/reading and asking what perspective they might be missing. Echo chambers exist in every industry and sometimes you need to look for ideas and perspectives from way outside your standard frame of reference. Maybe it’s a book on gardening, nuclear fusion or mediation - or perhaps it’s a biography about someone whose life is very different from yours. Often breakthrough ideas and innovations come from left field so always beware if you find yourself merely reading the same thing all your peers are. You might begin to share their blind spots without realising it.

Make sure the goals and priorities are yours and not one of another. You can and will be led by managers and leaders but don’t forget that everyone has a great idea or a great novel inside them, don’t be afraid to stay true to your goals and priorities.

I read or lisiten whenever I am not operatining I take notes on a reMarkable 2 tablet and I have a notification summry setup on my phone for lunchtime. The Set Your Goals and Prioties sounds like something for kids. You know what you need to do DINE do it now every time, if you cant 1. can AI do it, 2. automation or 3. someone else do it

Avoid reading business books at nighttime to wind down. It doesn't work like that. A good business book should stimulate your thinking - so do it during your working hours and then put your bookmark in, and apply what you've learnt. Don't finish the book before you do this.

Managing multiple tasks and priorities as a business assistant can be challenging, but by implementing effective strategies, you can stay organized and maintain productivity. Here are some tips to help you: 1. Prioritize tasks: Assess the urgency and importance of each task and prioritize accordingly. 2. Create a to-do list: Prepare a daily or weekly to-do list that outlines all the tasks you need to accomplish. 3. Set realistic deadlines: Assign deadlines to each task based on their priority level. 4. Delegate whenever possible: If you have the authority, delegate tasks that can be handled by others. 5.To keep track of tasks, deadlines, and progress. Set reminders and notifications

Improving my skills via is more than just recognizing where I need to improve. It involves setting specific goals for the skills I need to focus on, which will help me learn in a structured and intentional way. By aligning my learning with business needs, I can ensure continuous growth and development. I challenge myself to a book a week, in all formats depending on my diary.

Choosing a source and format for reading is also good as someone wants an audible reading, someone wants a physical book reading, and someone wants a soft copy reading. I love physical book reading.

I love Audible! Great selection of audiobooks with recommendations based on my history! I listen while doing my morning exercises, driving, and any time during the day when I have a few spare minutes. My recent focus has been on economics and government policy.

Reading books takes time and we all could use a little more of that. Since we can't have more time, Blinkest and other book condensing apps are pretty awesome! These apps have hundreds of business books for every topic. Listen to high quality condensed content from bestselling authors in 15 minutes or so. These apps do not intend to stop one from reading, but rather provide an excellent productivity tool for your toolbelt.

For mainstream business books, I'm a big fan of Blinkist for staying on top of current business topics as well as the classics. Their digestible format allows you to listen to books while driving or yard work and you can also read their book summaries in other settings or if you want to go back and make notes from what you listened to earlier. Most books are in the 15-20 minute range as they are summarized, with some being slightly shorter or longer depending on the title.

Hard copy, soft copy, audible - I often find that reading and listening at the same time really helps me gain a greater understanding of weighty topics and concepts

I love a real book. I like to hold it, write in the margins, do all kinds of underlining, and write up ideas I get from reading a book. Often, I reread a book - study it, and let it get into me, so returning to it regularly for days and weeks is a process that works well for me. It's a text for change and growth. I have my hero authors for marketing, creativity, and business and I like to read them first as well as taking their suggestions. Early morning reading is a dream with a notepad and pen and a good cup of coffee to study a chapter or two.

The point of reading business book is not to learn, but to implement. So when you're reading and you get excited by something, stop and implement. Now is always better than later. You don't need to know all the things. You just need to put your learnings into action, so you can test in real time, with real people, in your business.

You need to decide whether to read the book thoroughly or speed read the book quickly. Audio books are also great and can often be listened to at 1.5 or 2x the speed for efficiency.

Its very easy listen to the best people you know of in any interview they will mention names and books, read a book and for every page where relevant write down one action you can take today and do it that day or add to your journal that should be electronic and searchable for use when needed

I am one of those who reads wherever I can in any downtime, between meetings. We even have a dedicated reading hour in our office!

The best approach is to take that first step, even if it's imperfect, and start applying what I've learned. As a business owner, I constantly think about how lessons can be integrated into my operations. It's vital to have a culture that embraces constant application and adaptation. I use my learnings to improve my business, solve problems, and seize opportunities. To track and assess the impact, I make notes, action plans, and task lists. I implement changes and experiments, review results, and reflect on challenges. Sharing insights and engaging in discussions with others fosters a collaborative learning environment, enhancing both personal and organizational growth.

This is essential. I speak to so many business owners that have piles of books they “need” to read. You often only “need” to read the books that will give you motivation and a plan of action. Make time to implement.

I've coached entrepreneurs for more than 20 years and from first hand experience, I find the greatest entrepreneurs tend to be givers, not takers. It's understandable that some entrepreneurs might not want to share what they've learned with others for fear they might be helping their competitors. But the most successful entrepreneurs tend to share their experience and knowledge with others because they genuinely and authentically enjoy helping! Bottom line - Successful entrepreneurs tend to be genuine, authentic, kind, and care about helping others. They tend to "give" not "take"!

As I mentioned before, I read permanently a wide range of topics, although my goals and priorities are much more focused and I could easily limit my reading topics. But the wide range of topics provides me a wide range of perspectives of every single situation I face and the variety of solutions I can access is higher than if I would limit the range.

This is key because there's little point in engaging in learning for your business if said learning isn't applied. Learning points should be straightforward and actionable to make it as easy as possible to apply in the real world. Ideally, and if a particular insight is important, build in an accountability partner who can ask simple questions like "did you implement that new technique you told me about?"

I dont review this I read for business with an intent, ths looks like I read for fun thats fine I read to get results one of the results sometimes is a good read otherwise I read relevant part of book create actions and move on weekly

Difficult to adjust a fluid plan. Sure that may not help others, but that's the point, what works for me may not for you, biggest tip, find your way. Scheduled Outcome Driven Professional development focused It's all different, find your way, yes by trial and error, but experiment, only YOU will know what suites you.

Reading is important, but implementing is even more important. You can read a book about learning how to swim but you will never learn how to swim unless you get in the water. Take the time to learn the information and then take action.

As a small business owner, making a solid reading list is like picking out a roadmap for my business journey. I start by figuring out what my business really needs help with – maybe marketing, handling finances, or improving leadership. Then, I dig into books that have been trusted by other business folks and mix them up with newer ones to get a well-rounded view. I chat with fellow entrepreneurs, set achievable reading goals, and make sure I'm always learning and growing. It's about staying sharp and steering my business in the right direction with the knowledge I gain from these books, along with real life experience and mentorship.

Finally, books will not solve any problems for you. You need to take the concepts from different resources, modify them suitably to fit your particular situation and do the hard work yourself.

Once you are active in the small business / entrepreneur community, you will meet many smart professionals who have written or are writing books. My reading list consists primarily of books written by colleagues and friends. I also follow some individuals who interview authors and add to my list from that.

Keeping in mind that a business book is often written for the purpose of getting one's name out there, that often means that a book is just an article on steroids. Follow experts and read their posts and articles. Utilize apps such as Blinq or Headway to listen to synopses of books. This way you'll still get all the important points and have time to actually implement what you learned.