I once heard the phrase “Leaders are Readers”, and had to pause for a moment to consider why.
What was it about reading that directly impacts leadership? How could a leader acquire desired qualities simply by absorbing words on a page?
I decided to find out for myself.
I had loved reading as a child, but when I got into middle and high school my love for reading tapered off as I shifted from reading for pleasure to reading for academic requirements. The same trend continued as I moved into college and beyond, and with the exception of discovering the Twilight series soon after graduation, I was never intrinsically compelled to read a book again.
That is, until I learned that if I wanted to become the entrepreneur I imagined, that I would need to rediscover my love for the written word. I needed to do more than just figure things out by trial and error; I needed to learn from the great minds who had gone before me, who took the time to write and share all they had learned from their own unique experiences.
See, business owners have been writing down their brilliant ideas, innovations, and failures/successes for decades. Centuries even. While it sometimes feels like we are on our own as entrepreneurs, the truth is that we are walking a path that hundreds of thousands have already walked. Many of them, to our good fortune, took the time and energy to organize their ideas and experiences and write them down, all so we don’t have to do it alone.
Isn’t that amazing? Through reading, we have access to the experiences and wisdom of so many others, all so we can improve our own lives and experiences. It gives me chills.
Several years back, after hearing that memorable phrase that “Leaders are Readers”, I began picking up books once more. Reading the words of wise entrepreneurs has been a source of comfort, inspiration, and wisdom along my journey. Reading has transformed the way I think about life and business. The words I’ve read have given me valuable tools to apply to my work and personal life, not only for tactical processes, but also in changing my heart and mindset for the better.
While I have a world’s worth of books yet to read, here are some of my favorites to date. Some are strictly business, while others are geared toward personal development and leadership that directly impact the health of a business (and human being).
I hope you find some favorites that inspire you along your journey!
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Eat That Frog, Brian Tracey
- The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer
- The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle
- Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl
- The Inner Game of Tennis, Timothy Gallwey
- The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg
- The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, John Maxwell
- Finding Your Own North Star, Martha Beck
- Essentialism, Greg McKeown
- Crazy Busy, Kevin DeYoung
- Called Out, Paula Farris
FINANCE
- Profit First, Mike Michalowicz
- The Pumpkin Patch Theory, Mike Michalowicz
BUSINESS
- Building a Story Brand, Donald Miller
- The Infinite Game, Simon Sinek
- Start With Why, Simon Sinek
- Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill
- Built to Serve, Evan Carmichael
- Built to Last, Jim Collins
- Good to Great, Jim Collins
- The Ideal Team Player, Patrick Lencioni
- The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni
- Death By Meeting, Patrick Lencioni
- Contagious, Jonah Berger
- E Myth Revisited, Michael E Gerber
LEADERSHIP
- The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey
- Dare to Lead, Brene Brown
- The Four Tendencies, Gretchen Rubin