Last july I shared with you some of the books that get me motivated. But did these books really have any sort of business impact? Not really… they more helped me just get a fire under my ass.
In my journey of owning and running my own businesses for the last 15 years (the last 10 being online) there are a few books that have really changed my business thinking and I dont mean like completely altered but rather just given me more to think about. Sometimes that little extra thing you remember from them can be the difference between 100 days and 1000 days. Its really the little things that make big differences and I have picked up many little things from these books.
Now keep in mind many times when I say I have read these books that is actually a lie. I do not read books. I buy them on iTunes or buy them at bookstores on cd. I like to listen to the books while working and also I just do not have the concentration to focus on a book for a few hours. So just keep that in mind… Also if you are like me with A.D.D. I highly recommend buying them on audio too.
Seth Godin’s The Dip ($10 on amazon).
I was talking to Neil Patel a few months ago about resurrecting the Elite Retreat. Neil told me I really needed to read this book called The Dip by Seth Godin because it talked about much of the struggeles I was having with the elite retreat. I.E. should I just quit doing it. The thing was this… every event we have had with the elite retreat has always been a success from a technical standpoint. Every attendee has always had great things to say, the venture always had a positive cashflow (except for some management issues) but really its something I did not want to let go. It was defineitly something I wanted to continue doing but the management and coordination was what was killing us. The leaders/speakers just did not have time to do it and the people we had hired (we went through 3 ) just never happened to work out. So here we are with a great product… that makes money… in which I feel there is no competition and yet we cant make it work for lack of finding someone who can manage it properly.
Anyway Neil Patel said the book The Dip was just what I needed to read (listen to). So I picked it up on iTunes and started listening. I soon understood what Neil was saying. The Dip is all about knowing when to quit. It talks about the many times you should quit… and sometimes when you need to power through the dip because you have a great product that can be the “best in the world”. The Dip is a complex book that kind of goes back and fourth about quiting and following through its very hard to explain but once you read or listen to it you will know what I am saying. This is the newest book to my audio collection but being its only about 1.15 hours on audio I will listen to it many many times.
Tipping Point $10 on Amazon
I met Malcom Gladwell at PubCon 2005. I had no clue who he was. I talked to him briefly in the speaker room… I forget even what it was about…. again I had no clue who he was. I was stunned to here him keynoting and I was very enthralled with what he had to say. Immediatly when I got back I purchased his book Tipping Point. This really changed the way I thought about building my business. The practice of reaching the tipping point in your company is one of the most important things you can ever do. I used a lot of the theories in Tipping Point while building AuctionAds. Reaching connected people… using low hanging fruit to get to your tipping point… This is a MUST HAVE book for anyone launching a product and while it also addresses mainstream mom and pop products I think for internet marketers grasping the concept of tipping points is HUGE.
How To Win Friends and Influence People
Dillsmack recommended this to me not to long ago. I highly recommend it for anyone who needs to negotiate or solve problems. Keeping your wits and trying to solve problems rather then letting your ego and temper get in the way is always the way to go in business. I am still learning that 
. This book is really more about how to get people to do what you want them to do… without being a jerk. Its very handy for things like… getting better commission rates from your affiliate manager.. or things similar. On Audio this book is about 7 hours total.
I do own many books on tape. I love to listen to them while working or on planes…. or sometimes just before going to bed.
So what books do you read or listen to that have made a real difference in your business life?
Ricky Peterson (24) 
ZK @ Web Marketing Blog (23) 
R Kumar (12) 
Holly Mann (11) 
gurtey (9) 
Shanker Bakshi (9) 
Jacques Snyman | 3 Quotes (8) 
Yisraeli Foods (8) 
Find Affiliate Offers (5) 
Michael Zhao (77) 
almir (76) 
fas (75) 
R Kumar (74) 
Rick Kats (70) 
Jay @ work from home (62) 
Dino (60) 
Dick (628) 
Goran Website (495) 
Melvin (330) 
Ben Pei (329) 
Taris Janitens (274) 
meethere (269) 
Tushar Dhoot (265) 
Tushar (260) 
Moneybites (259) 
Jeremy I think a great post would be your top 10 or 20 business books… I usually listen to business books in the car and sometimes on my iPod… when is your book coming out MAN?
i will read one asap:)
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is a fantastic book. It makes you look at things in a different light. A must read for success.
The Seven Habits is definitely a good read. If for nothing else, it will at least get you thinking about how you do things.
How To Win Friends And Influence People is one of the greatest books that I’ve read. And I’ve read it a couple of times. It’s amazing how you can instantly implement the advice and techniques and see the results.
You should read the e-myth revisited for business, but my suggestion is to skip all that and go right for the harry potter books on tape. Jim Dale is just amazing!
I can’t believe Dale Carnegie’s book is still so influential, but I guess that’s why it’s a classic!
Great suggestions. I have read How to influence people, butnot the others, I will check them out!
I also have the “how to win freinds and influence people” book. its a great book.
I had not heard of the http://cluetrain.com./
Just had a peak at it now and will return to it.
Loved the Purple Cow.
try the art of verbal self defense
I’ve read that one as well as one of his first, Unleashing The Idea Virus, classics!
I listen to First Things First by Stephen Covey, it has and is making a big difference in my Family, Personal, and Business life. I also find Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence people very helpful.
MAtt
Dale Carnegie’s writing is really great. It is relevant until today IMO.
I have read them all and I agree with you. They are awesome!
http://www.weeklyincomenow.com
Mine: The E-Myth Revisited and The Four Hour Workweek.
The Elite Retreat Alumni Club is all for another go!
didn’t see your post when i posted the same thing. i would also add “the world is flat”, “sparks of genius”… robert greenes books are also good. there are lots of good ones out there.
wait me wishing people would click on my links is not going to work. i have to do something?
Books that influenced me: What Do You Really Want For Your Children by Wayne Dwyer. The bottom line: If you don’t have it, you can’t give it to your kids and he’s not just talking about money, but attitude, honesty, kindness, peace, mental health. The 360 Degree Leader by John Maxwell. My son recommended this to me and I have the cd’s too. Gives great advice on how to lead from whatever level you are at in an organization; top, middle, bottom. We can all be leaders even if it’s just leading ourselves. Thanks for the topic, Jeremy.
If that’s not the truth! If the fridge is empty, you have to go to the grocery store and buy food. You can’t wish it into your life!
There are really many books that make profound impact on my life.
Wow….that’s a lot of damn hot quality book!!!
Not necessarily …
I got hooked on listening to books on tape, then CD and now I hunt down Mp3’s and podcasts…. this method of learning while in my car has been life altering for sure.
Motivation
What It Takes To Be Number 1 – Vince Lombardi JR
Commitment To Life
Greatest Salesman In The World – Og Mandino
A small thin paper back that would take you 10 months to read if you do as the book instructs.. I don’t know anyone who has made it to the end… my dad got to scroll 5 and starting making so much money he stopped?
One day at a time…
Anything by Wayne Dyer ! –
His message has saved me many a times from insanity on a full time basis.
if shoemoney wrote a book, i would listen.
I’m going to check a couple of those out, thanks. I recommend, “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… and Others Don’t by Jim Collins
I used to read a lot, then i stopped, now I listen to books on tape like shoe. These are ‘best in breed’ and changed the way i think about things. Especially the first book.
1) The Goal: A process of ongoing improvement. This will COMPLETELY change the way you think about process in your business. I was hesitant, but this is just an amazing book that many IM’ers could use.
2) How to get everything you can, out of all you got: Jay Abraham.
3) The Ultimate Sales Machine-Very good book by Chet Holmes…pretty new. This guy is probably the best/smartest salesperson I’ve ever heard. Lots to learn from him…he has really interesting ways of combing offline/online advertising.
4) EMYTH-This kind of goals along with #1 in terms of process improvement in your business. One of those books i wasn’t really pumped to listen to, but has changed thew ay i think about things.
People hate the secret because the whole thing is made up and all the oprah-ites have declared it as friggin gospel.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – resurrect Elite Retreat and I will be ALL OVER promoting the heck out of it for you!!! And I even put up a post today saying that I will refuse to sell ads for internet marketing programs – unless I am personally willing to put my name on the line for them – like this one!
LOL he is gettin paid
how to win friends and influence people, there is another version for public speaking. Great if you have to make sales presentations. Very very helpful.
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, I thought it would be a cheesy book, but it was required reading in biz school, and I have to admit it has helped me a lot. Especially the part about first things first. Thanks for the Dip recommendation. I will buy it for my 12 hours plane ride to Pubcon.
I really like Sterling W Sill ’s books. Very motivational.
I forgot about him. I really enjoyed his books and newspaper column in the 90’s.
This is a great book.
If you liked The Tipping Point, I think you’ll like Gladwell’s Blink, too. I also second the recommendation for Purple Cow.
The secret??? I still don’t know how any person with a half a brain could take that seriously. If you’ve ever seen the movie, you can see how ridiculous it is. A girl standing in front of a store window hoping a diamond necklace would come into her life..haha.
Why does eveyone hate the secret? It can’t hurt to say something out loud that you want.
Hi Shoe – I’m glad you’re enjoying reading in your way. Seriously I also use audio books in the car – saves time.
How to Win Friends is one of the greatest books ever written. Did you try Think and Grow Rich or the Richest Man in Babylon yet?
I’ll definitely be checking out the Dip – thank you.
I agree – it’s the small things that make the difference, but so many people read books and don’t put a bit of the advice into practise at all. And it’s not easy to remember it all, as it soon moves into the sub-conscious as soon as you begin reading another title. So, do give yourself time to think about what you’ve read and put the good stuff into practice.
92 tricks – how to talk to anyone – Leil Lowndes – AWESOME you’ll be thanking me for this one.
Some good recommends.
Thanks Rob
Wow! I am going to go buy Tipping point now for affiliate Unleashed before the big launch!
Thanks for the tips and book recommends. I’ll check them all out.
You got to take the good parts with you. Of course if you do nothing its worthless.
who is Phil Knight for 500 $…
On Truth
UPB
Atlas Shrugged
…and most of the books you listed.
I was curious as to why the Elite Retreat ended. Like you said, it seemed like everyone had such great feedback. Hope you can get your management issues worked out.
I really liked The Dip, and I would recommend Citizen Marketers by Jackie Huba and Ben McConnell…also All Marketers Are Liars and Free Prize Inside, both by Seth Godin…you’ll get some great ideas out of both of those books.
If you want to improve conversions on your landing pages – Copyblogger recommends and so do I, Advertising Secrets of the Written Word – Joe Sugarman is a marketing bada$$!!! Best book anyone has ever told me to read.
If you are into starting a business with investors read some of the stories in Founders At Work.
Shoe, I’m glad you listen to books too…sometimes I think I’m the only one who does that…people look at me wierd when I say I listen to books on tape. It’s a huge time saver, espeically when you travel to your job and it takes 30 minutes in traffic to and from.
Affiliate commissions!
Free Prize Inside is another gem too
i havent read the whole book of Rich Dad Poor Dad, but from certain chapters, it makes me understand certain concept which i never knew. Some i have been applying unknowingly though.
And yes, feel free to quote me on that last statement. Dibs!
I’ve never read “how to win friends and influence people” but I’ve seen it plenty of times on my way through the self-help isle to the programming section. I’ll check that out as well as “the dip.”
Man, these guys should pay you royalties. You’re like the Oprah of the internet.
AHHHh! So much reading to get successful >_<
-Mike
Tipping point was really good. I also really recommend “The do-it Yourself Lobotomy”. It’a a great book on creative thinking and how it applies to everything…
Great books of course, i would recommend “Lessons From Great Lives” by Sterling W Sill and “The Greatesr Secret in the World” by Og Mandino, very motivating books.
The Secret leaves out the part about getting off your butt and doing something. My mother-in-law has all kinds of great ideas and is always talking and thinking about what she’s going to do, but hasn’t done squat because she sits on her lazy ass instead of “just doing it” as Nike said.
I like the Science of Getting Rich by Wattles. The biggest think I got from that book is to not feel guilty about success. I think that’s one of the most overlooked reasons for failure – people simply don’t believe they deserve it. You have to believe that you deserve to be well off, wealthy, or to have whatever it is you want.
The books is worth the read. It’s short and has some great ideas on the mental side of success.
You need to start using more aff links
I’d say anything by Og Mandino and more importantly “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by the Dr.
I dont think they have downloadable formats… but you should be able to goto just about any book store and find them.
Seth Godin is one of my favorite authors and Purple Cow is my favorite book of his. Great info about being extraordinary.
“Raising The Bar: The Story of Clif Bar” by Gary Erickson
“Let My People Go Surfing” by Yvon Chouinard
“Growing A Business” by Paul Hawken
“Startup Nation” by the Sloan Brothers
“The Hardest (Working) Man In Showbiz” by Ron Jeremy — lots of good lessons here.
How to win friends and influence people is #1 on my list. If you’re looking for another good and interesting read, check out http://www.wikinomics.com
where do you get your book audios from?…Dale Carnegie is a must!…I also like 48 Laws of Power! it uses old stories in history to teach lessons
Yeah the motivation / “fire under your butt” factor is handy in itself I find. Whats the deal with selling ebooks once you have finished with them? Like a regular book, can u sell them just one time?
1. Confessions of an SOB by Al Neuharth – Read this book while in college, and that lit a fire under my ass. Great read for someone who is not born with a Silver spoon in their mouth.
2. Beware the naked man that offers you his shirt by Harvey Mackay: All of Harveys books are great reads for starting a business or networking.
Four Hour Work week is a big that really made me change the way I viewed everyday things and made things a lot more efficient for me.
The Secret is a crock of shit. Let’s see, did 6 million Jews just have some unhappy thoughts during WWII? Didn’t think so.
My big thunderclap happened when I first read Seth Godin’s Permission Marketing. Then the IdeaVirus, then Purple Cow. Also, Tom Peters rocks: BrandYou 50 and ReImagine!
Probably the biggest mind blower of of all was the Cluetrain Manifesto, which you can read for free at http://cluetrain.com.
The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron – for helping harness creativity and stay focused on productivity
Liar’s Poker – Michael Lewis – just a great story that fires me up to work!
Is it possible to buy these books at Amazon or itunes as an Ebook (hearing problem) instead of waiting for it to be shipped?
I bought a book a few years ago called “Success Secrets of the Online Marketing Superstars” by Mitch Meyerson. Has anyone ever read this book and what do you think? I still have to re-read the book, got distracted by something… I like the “Secret” movie too.
I got a nice little list on my blog now of books to ask for, for Christmas or to give for Christmas. Check’em out. Most are strategy and business. Art of war/the prince/freakonomics/blink, etc…
I’m a huge fan of The Dip, I got it for my fiancee when she was thinkng about leaving her job.
“Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug. I make all my clients read it too.
I just purchased to “The Dip” and agree with you whole heartedly. Knowing when to quit is something that I have certainly been slacking on. “How To Win Friends and Influence People” is a timeless book that has helped me to successful succeed in Corporate America. I also recommend “The 4-Hour Workweek”, “Freakonomics”, and “blink”.
“The Secret,” If you want something to happen, you need to ask the universe for it. Great motivation also.
Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz
Self psychology book still great after 40 years.
Napolean Hill books.
That’s the great thing about these and others. Sometimes, it’s not the entire message needed, but, rather, bits and pieces from all around different sources. Also, just to “light the fire under [your] ass,” as you say.