Doing This ONE Thing Helped Me Become Successful As An Entrepreneur

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Are you a small biz owner looking for that thing? You know, that one thing that’s really going to make things pop off, fill your cup and give you inspiration. Well, if you’re a crazy creative who likes shiny things *raises hand* then there’s probably a ton of different things that add up together to build your foundation of success. However, what I will say is that reading has really changed the game for me and my business. And my personal life, really. (Side note: also when I say “reading” that could mean actually reading OR more often than not, popping in those earbuds and listening to the audiobook version.)

I’m sure you can relate. Owning and running a business is wonderful, brilliant, dirty, HARD work. But we’re the handful few who are crazy in love with it enough to actually do all the things, feel all the feelings of entrepreneurship and create something that only we can create. And sometimes, that can be a lonely road. Not everyone is meant to be a business owner, leader or an expert in the thing that you’re an expert in. And that’s ok. But it can leave us feeling isolated and wondering, “WHO CAN HELP ME THROUGH THIS,” or “WHO THE HECK HAS DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.” And that’s where these books come in, y’all. 

If you dive into these reads and others like them, you’re going to find more people like you. Regular, ordinary people that had big dreams, a great idea and the gusto to make it happen. Sometimes it can be difficult to relate to those around you because they’re not in the same trenches of biz & life like you. But these authors have BEEN THERE and they can offer advice and shine the light of obtainability for you.

Continuous learning is essential if you want to stay ahead of the entrepreneurship game and navigate through the challenges it can throw us. Books can offer insights that save time, money, and energy. My bookshelf is full with titles that inspire us and push us to the next level.

So if I had to guess, you might be thinking, “Ok, but I. DO. NOT. HAVE. TIME. FOR. ANYTHING. ELSE,” or “But what I do is really niche, so how is reading going to help me?” or “Where the heck do I even start with all this?”

Don’t you worry! As always, The Sunburst Strategies Collaborative has got you covered. Keep on scrolling to read about how to intentionally incorporate reading into your daily schedule, some benefits of reading for entrepreneurs and our top four picks on where you could get started with your reading-for-success journey.

Intentionally Incorporating Reading into a Busy Schedule

First things first, let’s talk about habits. Just like brewing coffee or checking emails, reading should be an intentional part of your day. The question is, how do we make it stick and work for us? I’ll say it again, let’s BE INTENTIONAL.

• Set a Consistent Schedule: Aim to read a little every day. Maybe it's 20 minutes with your morning coffee or a chapter before bed. Make reading as routine as brushing your teeth, and you'll start seeing the payoff in no time.

• Turn Spare Moments into Reading Opportunities: Set a daily reading goal of 10 or 20 pages a day; it really adds up! Listen to audiobooks on your commute or while you’re doing something kinda mindless like putting in some laundry or emptying the dishwasher. Use waiting time at a medical office or sitting in line to pick up the kids.

• Use a Notebook or App: Jot down insights, ideas, and actions you want to take. When I read, I start a Notes page on my phone with anything I want to remember. These notes become gold nuggets of inspiration later.

• Apply What You Learn: Try to take at least one action from each book. Whether it's a new marketing tactic or a way to inspire your team, applying knowledge is where the real magic happens.

Benefits of Reading for Small Business Owners

When you become intentional with your time, you start to realize that you can't afford NOT to read! Learning from others that have gone before you is imperative to taking the fast-track in your journey so you can sidestep any catastrophes someone else has already figured out how to avoid. The benefits of reading these books aren’t just for your business; they’re for your personal growth too. At The Sunburst Strategies Collaborative, we believe in looking at the whole person, not just the business person. Now more than ever, your personal life affects your biz and your biz affects your personal life. Diving into reads like these is going to kill two birds with one stone by not only sharpening your biz skills, but your life skills too.

• Gain New Skills: Personal development books can teach you new skills, from effective communication to mastering the art of negotiation. These are not just skills, but stepping stones to both personal and business growth.

• Boost Confidence: Reading stories of others' successes can boost your self-confidence. It's reassuring to know that others have faced similar challenges and emerged victorious.

• Sharpen Critical Thinking: Books that focus on critical thinking and problem-solving can sharpen your ability to analyze situations. Reading can introduce you to different decision-making models, helping you choose the best course of action.

• Learn from Mistakes: By reading about others' mistakes, you can avoid making them yourself. It's like having a front row seat to the show of trials and triumphs of other business owners.

• Understand Market Trends: Staying informed about the latest industry trends is crucial. Books that cover market insights and economic forecasts help you stay ahead of the curve.

• Inspire Innovation: When you expose yourself to new ideas, it sparks innovation. It's like planting seeds that might flourish into your next big idea.

I mean, you could say these are biz specific advantages, but we see these as whole person advantages. So no matter your specific industry or time constraints, reading is going to be nothing but a good thing that’s going to help you learn & grow!

Now onto answering the question of where to start this journey. 

Must-Read Books for Entrepreneurs

Here are some of our favorite books that we think every entrepreneur should consider adding to their shelf. They are packed with lessons that can help drive your business forward:

1. Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters
   If you happen to have a “right-hand man or woman” this book is a MUST for both of you to read. Rocket Fuel explores the dynamic partnership between Visionaries (that’s probably you) and Integrators (that’s probably the other person) in organizations, emphasizing that their complementary roles are essential for driving business success. The book provides insights on how these roles can work together to innovate and efficiently execute strategies, ultimately propelling a company's growth.
   
   

2. Traction by Gino Wickman
   If you’re a small business owner and organizing the organization isn’t quite your thing, YOU’VE GOT TO READ THIS BOOK. Do it now, and do it fast. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did! Traction introduces the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a practical framework designed to help business leaders gain control and clarity within their organizations. The book offers actionable tools and strategies to strengthen essential components of any business, fostering growth and yielding tangible results. We use this system here at The Sunburst Strategies Collaborative and let me tell you, we’d be lost without it.
   
   

3. Powerful By Patty McCord
   As an entrepreneur and small business owner, it’s YOUR job to create the type of culture you want in your organization. Don’t leave it up to chance! In Powerful, Patty McCord shares insights from her time as Chief Talent Officer at Netflix, advocating for a revolutionary approach to company culture and management. This book challenges traditional HR practices, promoting a culture of freedom and responsibility to empower employees and drive high-performance outcomes.
   
   

4. 80/20 Sales and Marketing by Perry Marshall
   If you’re anything like me, I’ve got a to-do list a mile long and I really want to check off every single box. As satisfying as that may feel, time is finite and we’ve got to focus on the most important things to move the needle forward! This book talks about that principle. Focusing on the most important 20% of efforts can yield 80% of results. 80/20 Sales & Marketing offers strategic insights and techniques to effectively leverage this principle, optimizing time and resources for maximum profitability. And who doesn’t want that?!

By consistently doing this one thing (reading), I've discovered strategies that help refine my personal AND biz goals, inspire innovative thinking and lead my team to the success we're all striving for. Learn more about how focusing on the ONE THING can really make waves.

The bookshelf is open for exploration! You’ll be amazed at how even a few pages a day can reshape your mindset and refresh your entrepreneurial spirit.

Need help pinpointing where to put reading into your busy schedule? Check this out.

So, now what? The biggest factor in achieving your big, lofty biz goals is creating a foundation from which you can jump to the heights of your version of success. We’ve got a few FREE tools for you to help make that happen!

Money makes the world go ‘round, right? We’ve got you covered on making an organized plan, sticking to it and giving each dollar a name in your business. We’re talking FLOW OF MONEY so you know where each dollar should go and how to pay yourself, figuring out your MONTHLY FIXED INCOME + EXPENSES and how to track them, combing through your year to discover your NON FIXED EXPENSES so they aren’t a surprise, plus an ANNUAL BUDGET WORKSHEET to map out all the aforementioned pieces to finish off your Biz Budget Template puzzle.

The great work you’re doing doesn’t matter if no one knows about it, right? LET’S TELL THE WORLD! But let’s be strategic about it, ok? (After all, “strategies” is in our name!) Enter stage right, the Content Calendar Template. This is where all that hard work of yours gets to put on a show for your audience and open the doors to new audience members. In this free download, we have the entire year built out for you. Whether your creation starts from a blog, a social media post, a podcast episode, a pin on Pinterest, or an email to your community, we’ve got you covered on organizing all of your content. Each week across all of your marketing channels is going to be strategically scheduled to save you time and create a beautiful cohesiveness that your audience will love, no matter what platform they find you on. We know you and we know that there’s always a method to the madness; so put that madness to work and get organized around putting your content out in the world!

Ahhhhh, your cozy spot on the internet…. Where the colors are your favorite, the pictures make you smile and the words on the pages are your voice speaking to your kinda people. We’re talking about your website, of course! Whether it’s intricately designed, a single landing page or somewhere in between, we’ve got you covered on allllllll the things you should pay special attention to. This free downloadable checklist includes reminders & reviews like link checking; UX design; category, page title and image alt text optimization; brand cohesion; and lead generation & SEO integrations. Whether you’re wearing the website designer hat in your business, or want to make sure your web developer is doing everything they’re supposed to, the Website Audit Checklist is for you!