Top 3 Must Read Books for Start Ups

As an entrepreneur, one of the best things you can do is to learn from others. Here are three books that I have found immensely useful and that I have continually referred back to throughout my career.

The Goal by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt

This is not your typical business book with MBA-style case studies. Don't let your eyes glaze over when I tell you that it's an explanation of the Theory of Constraints model for systems management (which was, incidentally, developed by the author). The Goal is written as a novel about Alex Rogo who runs a metal working factory with many of the typical problems you might see in any business. The main plot is about the insights Alex has when pondering these problems, how he overcomes them and how he gets the business running smoothly again. In typical novel fashion, there are sub-plots dealing with Alex's personal life. This book is an easy, enjoyable read and would fit easily into a leisurely weekend reading schedule.
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't by Jim Collins

Good to Great may be the most thoroughly researched book I have ever seen. It is the result of years of research on over 1,400 companies by Jim Collins and a team of 21 others. They looked for companies that made significant and consistent improvement over a long period of time. After finding 11 companies that met all of their criteria, they compiled extensive research and interviewed numerous people within the companies.

Collins and team found several core concepts that were consistently evident across all of these eleven companies. He boils down these ideas into easy to understand language with many real-life examples and gives them memorable names such as: "Hedgehog Concept" and "The Flywheel". (There are also lots of great resources on Jim Collins' website.)
Tuned In: Uncover the Extraordinary Opportunities That Lead to Business Breakthroughs by Craig Stull, Phil Myers, and David M. Scott

Tuned in explores why some products (such as the Apple iPod) become great successes while other similar products fall flat. The book takes you through a six-step process to help tune your company in to the market, establish the trust and loyalty of your customers and build products that resonate with them. It is based on the Pragmatic Marketing framework. This book is also a quick read with lots of real-life examples. Be sure to check out the resources on the Pragmatic Marketing website as well.

Whether you are a founder, a CEO or a summer intern, put these on your reading list. Let me know what you think about them. What other books have you found helpful?

photo credit, vierdrie