5 Books You Need to Read Today

DivInc
DivInc
Jul 27, 2017 · 3 min read

If there’s one thing that’s true in life, it’s that change is inevitable. We go from one job to the next and one life experience to the next. Often we end up facing these changes unprepared and bringing along with us the characteristics and traits that had made us successful previously.

As a veteran, I promise you, transitioning out of the military isn’t just a process, it’s a major life change.

You are leaving a culture, a way of life behind and joining the wider world. After many years of having lived and worked within the military, all veterans just leaving the military carry with them certain traits and approaches that have been ingrained in them by the military. Not all of these traits or approaches will help them in their new life as an entrepreneur.

Below are the five books that you need to read today in order to make a successful transition into being an entrepreneur.

1.) Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In

So here are the facts of life, not everybody who disagrees with you is your enemy. In fact, they might not even be disagreeing with you, they might just be approaching the solution from a completely different perspective.

This book helps you achieve success in business and life without picking up your knife and going for the carotid during every argument.

2.) Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool’s Guide to Surviving with Grace

As a veteran, you know what it’s like to work in a bureaucracy. You might even know what it’s like to be stymied and pulled into mediocrity.

But now that you are transitioning out of the military, it’s time to slip the bounds of mediocrity and empower yourself to be creative while ensuring that you support the bottom line.

Even if you plan on being an entrepreneur, remember that you are building a company which will have a company culture.

3.) Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

The hardest part about transitioning is figuring out what you want to do with the rest of your life. Understanding what motivates us is a key component of understanding what we will be happy doing once out of the military and why you want to become an entrepreneur.

4.) The Art of War

People who have never been in war say that business is war, but you and I know that it isn’t. However, the concepts and strategies used to defeat your enemies in war are applicable in business. Look, there is a reason why this book is still in existence and being read after having first being produced during the 2nd century BC. So just pick it up and read it.

5.) How to Win Friends and Influence People

You know what character trait is most often associated with veterans? I’ll give you a hint, it’s not interpersonal people skills.

Here’s a book that I still have on my desk and read passages from before I head into a meeting that I know is going to get heated. As an entrepreneur, you needs friends.

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Joshua Lawton is a recovering Trekkie, full time Entrepreneur, life long investor, part time writer and a once upon a time combat medic. He is currently the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Health Hat, a healthcare technology company that assists hospital networks and clinics quickly mitigate operational problems thereby increasing revenue and patient satisfaction.

He is an alum of both Johns Hopkins University and McCombs School of Business, where he earned a Masters in Technology Commercialization.

Follow him on Twitter @alertingmainst.

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