Five summer reads for aspiring entrepreneurs

Stinne Friis Vognæs
The Shortcut Talks
Published in
3 min readJul 11, 2018

Many people often wonder what makes successful people successful. There are many different answers to that question and probably there is some truth in all of them.

Photo from pexels.com

One thing keeps popping up though and this is one of the things you consistently hear successful people mention: read books. Lots and lots of books.

The average CEO reads 50 books a year, so getting your hands on non-fiction books and starting to read might be your wisest decision in 2018!

Of course not all books will help you find success so if you are looking for inspiration for your entrepreneurial dreams, you are in luck!

We have gathered five titles that are continuously recommended and mentioned as required reading for aspiring entrepreneurs to get you started!

1. Tim Ferriss: Tribe of Mentors

Tim Ferriss has made it into his work to hack life. Through his podcast and from writing several books he has collected and gathered advice from some of the most successful people in the world and put it all together in this massive book.

He is asking a diverse group of people about their morning routines, book recommendations, advice and much more and all of it is available to you.

You might never have a multimillionaire as your mentor, but this book allows you to get a glimpse into what it takes to become successful and create a life on your own terms.

2. Eric Ries: The lean startup

When starting to develop your business idea and building your business model, it is easy to get lost in complex concepts and diverse advice. Eric Ries teaches us how to keep things simple and lean and build a truly agile business.

He emphasises doing and execution and how to ensure maximum effectiveness through the lean principle.

This is a must-read book for when you are just starting out.

3. Simon Sinek: Start with why

At this point, Simon Sinek’s TED talk about starting with why is one of the most watched TED talks and with good reason.

In his book on the same subject, he underlines the importance of understanding the why of your business and being able to articulate the bigger vision and not just how you do things and what you do.

With great examples and inspiring content this is a great read for getting clear on what the vision and mission is of your entrepreneurial venture!

4. Chris Guillebeau: The $100 Startup

Do you have passion or interest you feel could be monetised but you’re not sure how? In this book Chris Guillebeau gives 50 real-life examples and practical advice on how to turn your passion into a business.

It doesn’t require a ton of financial investment or an MBA. This book gives you insights on how to get started and how to combine your skills and passion to create something people are willing to pay for.

5. Brené Brown: Braving the wilderness

As an entrepreneur you are often trying to create something out of nothing. You will probably experience standing alone or maybe be the only one understanding and believing in your idea.

Brené Brown writes about the challenges of paving your own way and setting out on your adventure without certainty of the outcome. In other words, how to brave the wilderness of uncertainty and staying resilient.

It’s a great book for preparing yourself for the hardships and challenges that come with entrepreneurship and also a good reminder to you that it is in the wilderness that you will find all the creatives and entrepreneurs!

Now you just have to make your pick and get reading!

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Stinne Friis Vognæs
The Shortcut Talks

Student of Politics & Communication. Excited about cities, participation and the future of citizens engagement and democracy. Curious about people and stories.