Looking for some summer reading? If you’re thinking about becoming self-employed, it’s crucial that you do as much research as possible before taking the leap – and this includes reading all you can about business.
So, to help you on your journey to self-employment, we’re curating a list of start-up and business books that can both inspire you and help you switch careers. Take a look.
“Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” by Simon Sinek
For people looking to build their own business or set up a company, the book “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action”, written by Simon Sinek, can be a great choice. The author is known for sparking a movement to get people more inspired at work, as well as for his TED Talk on the subject, which drew in over 28 million views.
He aims to look at the why behind successful companies like Apple, and to show people interested in creating their own business how great leaders influence everyone around them – and the world.
This is a book that will help you analyse what makes certain companies so successful and why others fail, so that you can learn to become more influential as well.
“Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success” by John C Maxwell
Famous USA author, John C Maxwell, believes people can transform their beliefs about failure in order to turn it into positive changes, be it in their personal lives or business.
After all, failure is a lot more common than success, so it’s important that you also prepare for it – and learn how to bounce back stronger. The way you respond to failure can be the difference between running a successful business or giving up, for example. He also believes people should understand failure instead of fear it, so that they can use it to keep moving forward.
If this is one of your biggest concerns or you’re experiencing failure and struggling to move past it, then this book is for you. Start getting ready to be your own boss today!
“How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be” by Katy Milkman
Another book that can inspire you on your self-employment journey is “How to Change”, as the author specialises in the study of behaviour change. This book is designed to help you understand what’s standing in your way and to help you find the best solution for those barriers, so that you can be successful in everything you do, including your business.
The obstacles holding you back from success can be anything from procrastination to impulsivity, so the book aims to help you understand how timing is important when making changes and how you can transform your attitudes and behaviours.
“Happy Sexy Millionaire: Unexpected Truths about Fulfilment, Love and Success” by Steven Bartlett
Steven Bartlett wanted to be a millionaire by 25 years old. He actually became a multi-millionaire by that age, and now he’s looking to share his knowledge and expertise to people looking for a way to be happy and successful.
Even after achieving so much at such a young age, Steven still didn’t feel fulfilled, despite believing he would. So, in his “Happy Sexy Millionaire” book, he’s looking at some of the most popular lies about happiness and help readers to analyse exactly what drives them so they can live a more fulfilled life.
Mental health is a crucial element for success, so you shouldn’t underestimate the role it plays as you’re trying to build or grow your business. If you’re tired or unhappy, for instance, it’s a lot harder to be productive or to feel motivated, which will have an impact in your business.
“The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You” by Julie Zhuo
It’s a great feeling when your business has grown so much that you now need to hire staff, but it can also be daunting. Most people have no training when it comes to managing people, just like Julie Zhuo when she was first asked to lead a team.
She’s now helping others in the same situation. Once you have people reporting to you, it’s crucial that you have the right resources on hand to help, so that you can be successful at it from the get-go.
This book includes advice Julie believes is useful to everyone who wants to lead people or is already managing employees, such as making sure problems are dealt with immediately and the proper way to offer feedback.
As limited company accountants, we understand how hard it can be to become a boss and manage a team overnight, so we’re here to make the whole process easier too. We can help you with making sure you’re paying the right rates and with your employment contract, for example, as well as provide you a contractors’ guide for new employers.
Talk to us if you have any questions about hiring staff.
“Getting to Yes: Negotiating an Agreement Without Giving In” by Roger Fisher
An oldie but a goldie. Whether you’re negotiating a contract, a higher rate or even a deadline, learning how to get that ‘yes’ requires skill. Not everyone will know how to negotiate intuitively, but don’t let that hold you back.
You can become a great negotiator and get exactly what you want out of a discussion with a client or potential client, so it’s never too late to start learning about it.
This classic book, which has sold millions of copies, is a fantastic guide on how to get ‘win-win’ deals that work for both parties, so it teaches crucial lessons such as never bargaining over positions and separating the people from the problem.
Give it a try if you’re keen to improve the way you communicate and negotiate – and, in the meantime, check out our article, “11 Sure-Fire Negotiation Tips Every Contractor Should Know”, designed to help you improve your skills.
“The Lean Startup: How Constant Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses” by Eric Ries
This one is a must for anyone who’s just starting up. While many businesses fail, “The Lean Startup” discusses how these failures are often preventable and what people can do to ensure the success of the business.
As a brand-new business, it’s only natural to struggle with business decisions and to wonder how best to approach a product launch, for example. With the ‘lean startup’ approach, you can better understand when the right time to make changes to the business is and how to ensure that you’re delivering a product people actually want to buy.
We’re sole trader accountants, so we’re used to working with startups and small businesses. If you’re thinking about becoming self-employed, choosing this business structure can be the best option for your venture.
It comes with a lot less admin and responsibilities when compared to limited companies, so you can more easily see if being your own boss is really for you. And, if you want to incorporate later on, we can help you to set up a limited company too, ensuring all documentation is filed correctly and that you register with Companies House as well.
Gorilla Accounting Can Help
Instead of spending time learning all about accountancy instead of business and leadership books – something that can help you to become more successful – why not let us handle that side of your business?
As small business accountants, we know that growing your venture occupies your every thought, especially if you’re a start-up, so we’ll manage your accounts, handle your returns and help you to maximise the tax-efficiency of your business.
The UK tax system is not just complex but also constantly changing, and our expert accountants are always up to date with the latest legislation, so speak to us to see how we can help.
