Ask HN: What books helped you in your entrepreneurship journey?

#1

Post by Gooblebrai » Wed, Mar 15, 2023, 2:16 PM UTC

Leaving aside the fact that nothing can beat actual experience. What books helped you in your entrepreneurship journey?

Re: Ask HN: What books helped you in your entrepreneurship journey?

#2

Post by joshmanders » Wed, Mar 15, 2023, 2:41 PM UTC

Start Small, Stay Small by Rob Walling

Company of One by Paul Jarvis

Re: Ask HN: What books helped you in your entrepreneurship journey?

#3

Post by surprisetalk » Wed, Mar 15, 2023, 2:44 PM UTC

Anything You Want by Derek Sivers

Re: Ask HN: What books helped you in your entrepreneurship journey?

#4

Post by theflyingkiwi42 » Wed, Mar 15, 2023, 2:45 PM UTC

e-myth, get a grip

Re: Ask HN: What books helped you in your entrepreneurship journey?

#5

Post by avemuri » Wed, Mar 15, 2023, 2:45 PM UTC

High output management

Re: Ask HN: What books helped you in your entrepreneurship journey?

#6

Post by dmkirwan » Wed, Mar 15, 2023, 2:47 PM UTC

I assume you're not interested in hearing the obvious ones (zero to one, lean startup, etc., etc.) so I'll recommend two.

At the early stages when you're defining your strategy? "Good strategy/bad strategy" by Richard P. Rumelt. "Strategy" is thrown around a whole lot in business, often by somebody who is talking about a goal, as opposed to how to reach it. This book can get a little repetitive but the overarching teachings are valuable and will serve you well throughout your entrepreneurship journey.

After the startup phase (growth/acquisition)? I recommend "The messy middle" by Scott Belsky.

Re: Ask HN: What books helped you in your entrepreneurship journey?

#7

Post by collin128 » Wed, Mar 15, 2023, 2:47 PM UTC

Steve Blank's blog (not a book, I know) + The Startup Owners Manual also by Steve Blank.

Lean Product Playbook by Dan Olsen.

The two helped me understand what it meant to 'get out of the building'.

7 Powers + Good Strategy Bad Strategy helped me think long term about the business model and evolution of the company.

Re: Ask HN: What books helped you in your entrepreneurship journey?

#8

Post by erybodyknows » Wed, Mar 15, 2023, 2:48 PM UTC

‘The Millionaire Fastlane’ by MJ DeMarco. Laughable title aside, the content is life changing.

Re: Ask HN: What books helped you in your entrepreneurship journey?

#9

Post by collin128 » Wed, Mar 15, 2023, 2:49 PM UTC

dmkirwan wrote: post #6

I assume you're not interested in hearing the obvious ones (zero to one, lean startup, etc., etc.) so I'll recommend two. At the early stages when you're defining your strategy? "Good strategy/bad strategy" by Richard P. Rumelt. "Strategy" is thrown around a whole lot in business, often by somebody who is talking about a goal, as opposed to how to reach it. This book can get a little repetitive but the overarching te…

The messy middle was fantastic. Only reason I didn't list it in my comment below was that I read it recently and I'm 11 years in.

Highly recommend the book.

Re: Ask HN: What books helped you in your entrepreneurship journey?

#10

Post by im_down_w_otp » Wed, Mar 15, 2023, 2:49 PM UTC

The Divine Comedy and The Prince. Not joking.