Here are my top business books published in 2023 in no particular order (with no affiliate links):
“The Same as Ever”- Morgan Housel. We are told in small business that the only constant is change. Well that’s true, but this book also shows us that we can make our decisions based on things that never change. Morgan describes how we can use the unchanging to see around corners, not by squinting harder through the uncertain landscape of what may be ahead, but by looking backwards, being more broad-sighted, and focusing instead on what is permanently true.
“Good Awkward: How to Embrace the Embarrassing and Celebrate the Cringe to Become The Bravest” by Henna Pryor. Awkwardness is not something to fix but instead the greatest asset for small business owner. In a time of false realities and filtered faces on the Internet, Henna says that embracing your awkwardness may seem counterintuitive, but it is essential to becoming bolder, boosting your confidence, and taking the necessary professional risks at work that help you meet your true potential
“You Will Own Nothing Your War with a New Financial World Order and How to Fight Back” by Carol Roth. While Carol and I don’t always agree, we believe that everyone must stand up and take notice of this trend before it’s too late. When Carol Roth first heard that one of the World Economic Forum’s predictions for 2030 was “You will own nothing, and be happy,” she thought it was a fantasy. Then, she researched it; From declines in home and vehicle ownership to global inflation and government spending, many of these trends reveal that a new world order that is emerging where by choice or by circumstance, people increasingly do not own possessions or accumulate wealth.
“101 Dumb Financial Mistakes Owners Make” by Ruth King. I have made all these at least once. Ruth’s book helps small business owners prevent these mistakes before it is too late, and they find themselves in the middle of a financial crisis that can doom their business. Common mistakes include pricing, cash flow, profit and loss statement issues to theft and balance sheet mistakes.
“Creating Superfans: How To Turn Your Customers Into Lifelong Advocates” By Brittany Hodak. What if your customers loved your company brand the way “Swifties” love Taylor Swift? In this book, Brittany shows how to define, understand, and share your own unique brand story; Capture, understand, and utilize customer feedback and connect your brand’s story to your individual customers’ stories.
“Hangry: A Startup Journey” By Mike Evans. GrubHub founder Mike Evans reveals the inside story of how he grew a multibillion-dollar from his kitchen table to an IPO. Armed with a $140 check from his first customer and ignoring his crushing college debt, he quit his job. Over the next decade, Mike grew his little delivery guide into the world’s premier online ordering website. He is one of the elite entrepreneurs to take a startup from an idea all the way to an IPO.
Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World By Sally Susman. The list has to include a book about what happened during COVID. Pfizer’s trailblazing communications leader, Sally Susman, shows how we can break through the noise to get our message across and make positive change in the world using what her company did as an example with the vaccine rollout.
