During a recent live Google Hangout event to celebrate the re-launch of Twitter Brilliance, I gave away a few celebratory prizes.

They included a copy of my self paced Facebook training, From Likes to Quality Leads, a free strategy session with me, and one of my favourite business books.

Cool or what? (If you missed the event *sniff* you should come along next time – you’ll learn loads and there may be more prizes!)

The book give-away sparked some requests for a rundown of my very favourite reads that have helped, inspired and taught me over the past few years.

And, here they are… (perfect gifts for any solo-worker or small business owner, including you!)

 

1. Unmarketing: Stop Marketing, Start Engaging ~ Scott Stratten

“If you believe business is built on relationships, make building them your business.”

That’s what this book is about. It’s not about marketing in the traditional sense, but adopting a natural, authentic way of communicating with your community that is part of your everyday.

And, in this Digital Age that means using online and social media to do so.

Scott explains how to bring the unmarketing principles into your small business with hilarious cutting humour and honesty. Using the stories of companies who get it really right and very wrong…

A demonstration in unmarketing itself, the book is written in a relaxed, easy-to-follow conversational style (plus, it’s recently been updated!)

More on Unmarketing and Scott’s other books here.

 

2. A book About Innocent: Our Story And Some Things We’ve Learned ~ Dan Germain

Get the inside story about our favourite smoothie friends, Innocent, who introduced healthy drinks to the UK masses in the noughties, and have dominated the market ever since.

This book tells their story from the very beginning, explaining how they managed their massive growth to build one of the strongest brands around.

They did it while keeping customers happy, staying true to their values, and keeping staff and suppliers merrily working towards their collective, big dream. Awesome!

It’s jam packed with healthy business advice and pure inspirational goodness. And, as we’ve come to expect from our fave drinks brand, it’s funny and jargon free. Not like your average business book at all.

Get involved in Innocent’s The Big Knit here and discover more about the book here.

 

3. Start With Why ~ Simon Sinek

This is the book my lucky prize winner won. Like me, Start With Why had been on her reading list for a long time – so it was a pleasure to send her a copy.

I wonder if, like me, the moment she finished it she wanted to read it over again..?

In it, Simon Sinek asks

‘why do some leaders and innovators have more success than others (who are just as experienced and capable), and are able to repeat that success again and again?’

The answer is that they all think the same way:

It doesn’t matter what you do, it matters WHY you do it.

Simon demonstrates his Golden Circle principle using case studies including Martin Luther King and Steve Jobs to help explain the importance of moving past WHAT we do (we know that, right?) to HOW and most importantly, WHY so that we can inspire communities to take action.

>Watch his legendary TED talk video here and pick up the book here.

 

4. Uncertainty – Turning Fear and Doubt into Fuel for Brilliance ~ Jonathan Fields

As small business owners we all get struck by fear at some point, and some let that get in the way of ever achieving the business and life they dream of. That sucks.

This book provides the answers for moving through that fear and self doubt so that you can succeed. In it Jonathan explains daily practices (that anyone can implement), inspirational stories, plus other enlightening insights.

And, who better that to learn from than an ex-lawyer who walked away from his 6 figure income to work as a personal trainer earning just $12 an hour! Then, signed a lease to open a yoga studio in New York City – the day before 9/11. He went on not just to succeed but to become an acclaimed author, speaker and serial entrepreneur.

Oh and, Jonathan is one of my all time favourite bloggers. I’ve got his Good Life Project Living Creed pinned to my desk (grab a copy for yourself – it’s free!)

More about the book Uncertainty here.

 

5. Anything You Want: 40 lessons for a new kind of entrepreneur

I read Anything You Want in 90 minutes one night curled up in bed. It’s Derek’s story of building CDBaby.com – a business he started by accident and sold for $22 million 10 years later.

Derek openly shares the good, the bad, why he chose his OWN path; following his heart + common sense rather than conventional business advice.

He got it right (most of the time) and the lessons he shares about his experiences are golden. I won’t say any more other than: read it.

“Even if you want to be big someday, remember that you never need to act like a big boring company”

More on Anything You Want here
 

What About You?

Have you got any business must reads on your list that would make the perfect gift? Share your recommendations in the comments below. Or let us know what’s next on your own reading list…