Books That Changed My Biz: The 4 Most Influential Books

Many folks write about their favorite business books, but below is my list based upon one this simple criteria: did it change my behavior? The following books not only shifted my thinking, but my actions as well. I encourage you to pick up every single one of them.

1. Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind by Jack Trout and Al Ries – Yes, this book was last issued in 2001, but it’s a classic and for good reasons. It provides the clarity necessary for introducing any new product or service to the market. The books’ authors also easily predicted information overload even in 2001 and argued for simplicity, especially in pricing. Thanks to them, I switched to flat fee pricing for all of my coaching.

2. Slay the E-mail Monster – 96 Easy Ways to Dramatically Increase Productivity by Lynn Coffman and Michael Valentine – This book understands the feeling of overwhelm and looking at your inbox and seeing 2,029 unread messages. Instead, it recommends mail folders for projects, clients, or tasks. Voila! I go to bed every night with an empty in-box…or at least until the next morning.

3. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo – What? There’s an organizing book in my biz list? Heck yes! Marie Kondo got me to do what years of “Jewish Guilt” couldn’t do: give stuff away that didn’t spark joy. Excuses such as “but, my mom gave me this purse” or “my best friend gave me that gift” went out the window and all the way to Goodwill. Today, my book shelves are stocked with authors I love, a prized painting by my aunt hangs in a little reading nook, and all of the clothes that I adore hang proudly in my closet and they fit.

4. How Luck Happens: Using the Science of Luck to Transform Work, Love, and Life– by Janice Kaplan – When I reviewed this book in June of last year, I highlighted the author’s definition of luck as the intersection where talent, fearlessness, and preparation meet opportunity. The takeaway here is to stop crediting luck with your success because unless you won the lottery, you earned it!

What business books have influenced you to such an extent that you’ve changed your thinking or actions? What are your top reads? Please share below.