The Top 10 Books That Had The Biggest Impact On My Business And My Life

The 10 Books That Had the Biggest Impact

Books can change lives.  Daoud Kakish has read dozens (maybe hundreds) of business books that have helped him on his journey to be a successful entrepreneur. 

These aren’t books written by academics who probably haven’t ever applied their ideas to create and sustain a profitable business.  These are books written by real people who have failed and succeeded in their business and have real-life stories to tell.  These books are written by people who understand the pressure of being able to make payroll at the end of the month and understand what it’s like to be unsure of where your next customer will come from.  We love books written for a small or mid-sized business, not just the multi-million-dollar corporations.  It’s the small, community businesses that keep the economy ticking after all. 

The authors of the books included on this list are people who don’t just have a theory to share, they have a real story to tell.

10. The Power of Starting Something Stupid. How to Crush Fear, Make Dreams Happen, and Live without Regret.

By Richie Norton

Key takeaway: Just start something and see where it takes you!  There are lots of crazy ideas that turned into very successful businesses.  We don’t have to go back very far to see popular media telling Jeff Bezos that selling books online was a terrible idea.  But look today at the empire Amazon has become.  Maybe “stupid” is the new smart.

9. The Art of the Start.  The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything.

By Guy Kawasaki

Key takeaway: Just get going!  Not every business is successful and the stumbling blocks are great lessons for others to learn. 

8. Rework

By Jason Fried

Key takeaway: This book offers great insights and wisdom on building a great business that doesn’t necessarily need to be a big business. The author was a founder in Basecamp that took an approach different to the typical Silicon Valley startup. 

7. No B.S. Direct Marketing.  The Ultimate No Holds Barred Kick Butt Take No Prisoners Direct Marketing for Non-Direct Marketing Businesses.

By Dan Kennedy

Key takeaway: This book is focused on direct response marketing (not to be confused with direct mail) and why it’s a great approach for small and midsize businesses.  It’s focused on businesses with limited budgets who need practical marketing that generates a return on investment.

6. Anything You Want.  40 lessons for a new kind of entrepreneur.

By Derek Sivers

Key takeaway: Build the business that you want, it’s your work of art.  Just like a great painter who puts their effort and passion into their artwork, entrepreneurs create their own work of art in their business.  You spend a lot of time and energy building a business you love. 

5. The Gap and The Gain. The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success.

By Dan Sullivan

Key takeaway: This book is a self-development tool for a high performing entrepreneur.  High achievers always look to the future.  But too often, they’re focused on the gap between where they are today and where they want to be.  We should appreciate the past and how far we’ve come. 

4. They Ask, You Answer.  A Revolutionary Approach to Inbound Sales, Content Marketing, and Today's Digital Consumer.

By Marcus Sheridan

Key takeaway: Content marketing can have a big impact on the growth of your business.  Especially when you’re in a very niche market, you can create opportunities to really stand out in your target market.  Niche content is king.

3. Profits First.  Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine.

By Mike Michalwicz

Key takeaway: This book is all about profitability and how to transform your business into a cash cow. Growth doesn’t always mean profitability.  Profitability is a habit that you can work on.  

2. Traction.  Get a Grip on Your Business.

By Gino Wickman

Key takeaway: This book highlights the idea of EOS – the Entrepreneurial Operating System – a great operating system to run a small or midsize business.  The emphasis is on 6 core things that you really need to focus on. 

1. The E-Myth Revisited.  Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About.

By Michael Gerber

Key takeaway: Create business systems and learn from the franchising business model.  There are lots of successful franchises who have built great systems.  Gerber highlights what you can take from those business models and apply to smaller independent businesses.