One of the most important habits in the life of an entrepreneur is living in constant learning. A big part of being an entrepreneur is taking the initiative autonomously, being self-taught. Whether you are starting out or have been in entrepreneurship for years, nourishing yourself with information will help you guide your project on more than one occasion.

Yet, it can be difficult for an entrepreneur to find time to research the best sources of learning. In a world where we are bombarded by information on a daily basis, filtering what to read/listen to/watch represents a great effort.

To save you that research time, we created Merchant’s Selection of Books for Entrepreneurs. In it, you can find books on strategy, planning, business philosophy, and other topics, which will help you navigate the different stages in the entrepreneur’s journey.

Don’t miss the bonus track of 3 books for businesswomen and entrepreneurs at the end of the selection!

• Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne

Based on a study of 150 strategies, over 100 years, and 30 business sectors, this bestseller comes to install originality as a vital ingredient from success. Its authors, W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne, raise the need to move away from the bloody oceans of wars between competitors. Instead, they encourage migration to the “blue oceans,” which are untapped new market spaces full of opportunities to succeed.

• Start With Why by Simon Sinek

A bestseller and the basis for one of the most viewed TED talks, this book by author Simon Sinek is premised on focusing on why. The essential thing is to know why you do what you do, and not what you do. Sinek’s theory helps you find YOUR own key to success in all your projects by asking yourself the right questions. And it all starts with WHY.

• Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

In this New York Times bestseller, Greg McKeown debuts the mysteries of essentialism. Is it about achieving many things in a short time? No, actually. It’s really about just doing things well done. To achieve this, the author offers concise advice on how to define what is essential, and regain control through the self-discipline of our energy.

• The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

We have all heard the story of how wonderful it is to start a business. However, very few people talk about how hard it is to run one. Ben Horowitz looks at the day-to-day issues leaders grapple with, offering details that he gained through his experience as one of Silicon Valley’s most respected entrepreneurs.

• The 4-hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss

Are you tired of working 40 hours a week and not seeing a profit? Do you feel that shortening your hours will make you lose even more money? Don’t despair, we have the ideal book for you: The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss. In this life-changing guide, you will find the keys to manage your work, allowing you to work less, from anywhere in the world, and for a better salary.

• Give and Take by Adam Grant

For generations, success was based on individual factors that, if done correctly, would not lead to success. Today, this is no longer the case. In a context where “the other” increasingly plays a larger role in our growth, Adam Grant explains what concepts such as “networks”, “collaboration”, “influence”, “negotiation” and “leadership” have in common.

• The Introvert Entrepreneur by Beth Buelow

Did they convince you that you have to be loud and flashy to be successful as an entrepreneur? Pay no attention to them. In The Introvert Entrepreneur, professional coach Beth Buelow teaches how to harness the gifts of introversion (curiosity, independence, and a love of research) and to work through the challenges that arise in the business world (aversion to networking and self-promotion). This essential guide will help you stand out with serenity and independence in a noisy and chaotic world.

• The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

What if the key to generating and maintaining habits is to understand their scientific background? In this book, journalist Charles Duhigg reveals valuable information about the way habits work and how we can take advantage of their procedure. He assures that, by following his technique, you can achieve significant changes in your work and personal life.

• The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick

The premise of The Mom Test is simply innovative: You shouldn’t ask anyone if your business is a good idea. Why? It’s not your client’s job to answer this question honestly, and everyone will lie a bit about it. It is your responsibility to discover the answer, and it is of the utmost importance to do so. With this book, you will learn how customer conversations went wrong, and how you can do better.

• Company of One by Paul Jarvis

Like the Introverted Entrepreneur, Company of One proposes that independence in business and the companies of one person are not only valid scenarios but also convenient ones. Yet, this is easier said than done. Therefore, the author Paul Jarvis explains this business strategy so that they do not see you as a freelancer or an eternal entrepreneur, but as a small business that is deliberately committed to staying that way.

BONUS TRACK: Books for Female Entrepreneurs and Businesswomen

In honor of the brave and strong women leading and fighting in the business world, we bring you a bonus track with books that particularly touch on the theme of being a female entrepreneur and a businesswoman.

• Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

In Lean In, Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook COO, expresses concern about the poor progress of women in business and especially in leadership positions. With this problem as the axis, she encourages women to take risks, find jobs that they really love and never lose connection with the projects that make them happy. That is the key to “success”, whatever its meaning is.

• #Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso

#GirlBoss is not just the story of Sophia Amoruso, CEO of the fashion website Nasty Gal. It is about the misconceptions we have about what will lead us to reach our goals. As Sophia writes, “I have three pieces of advice I want you to remember: Don’t ever grow up. Don’t become a bore. Don’t let The Man get to you. OKAY? Cool. Then let’s do this.”

• Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office by Lois P. Frankel

In Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office, Dr. Lois Frankelhe teaches you how to get rid of the impostor syndrome and stop accumulating, as she puts it, unconscious mistakes that sabotage your career. Learn about the origin of these behaviors that women adopt and how to reverse them, for the sake of your career.

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