We’re quite the bookworms here at Bulldog – if you approach one of us and ask what we’ve read today, you’ll get a list full of awesome articles that are worth the read. Besides, we wouldn’t publish blog roundups every month if we weren’t so passionate about reading, would we?
Anyway, if you’re looking to get your hands on the best business and marketing books of 2019, then you’re in the right place. All of the books in this guide have been passed around the office a fair few times and have got awesome responses. If you’re a skim-reader, check out the list. If you want an in-depth description, check out the section below the list. Enjoy!
What’s on our bookshelf?
1. The rules of management
2. What the most successful people do before breakfast
3. Only the paranoid survive
4. Do it! Or ditch it
5. All marketers are liars
6. Be obsessed or be average
7. Building a storybrand
8. Start with why
Tell me more!
Need some more convincing? No problem. Below, we will explain the ins and outs of each book so that you can make an informative decision as to whether they will be worth your precious time (spoiler alert – they’re all worth your precious time).
The rules of management: a definitive code for managerial success – Richard Templar
First off, we’re starting with a book which will switch your business brain on and get your management hat sitting comfortably. Whether you’re in charge of one person or a whole team, this book will set you off in the right direction for managerial success. If you constantly find yourself in envy of the managers who seem to make their job look so easy, then this book will definitely act as a brand new holy grail.
This book will provide you with golden rules which will inspire your team to perform to the best of their ability with guidance from you. For managing in a way which gets results, The Rules of Management is a guide worth reading.
What the most successful people do before breakfast – Laura Vanderkam
A lot of us groggily wake up and plod downstairs to get some breakfast. Some of us don’t even have time for breakfast. But – what do the most successful people do before breakfast? They don’t run around in a hurry with an empty stomach, right?
Right.
Ever had the thought in the back of your mind that doing nothing is actually really exhausting? This book is all about spending your time wisely and making every hour count, with help from tips and tricks from Laura Vanderkam that will be sure to make you rethink your morning routine and kickstart your day the right way.
You can use the research in this book to boost your work performance and make greater decisions on a clearer mind.
Only the paranoid survive – Andrew S. Grove
Another great book for those looking to boost their managerial skills is ‘only the paranoid survive’ by Andrew S. Grove, the president and CEO of Intel. It’s safe to say that Grove has had a lot of success with Intel under his leadership, so he’s in a pretty comfortable position to share his tips with all of us budding managers.
The truth is that all managers need to understand that change within their business is just around the corner; you can’t plain sail and expect everything to go smoothly. With the help from this book, you’ll learn leadership skills that will help you to embrace and adapt to the inevitable changes approaching.
Do it! Or ditch it – Bev James
At some point in our working lives, we will feel pressured into making a quick decision, even if it may not provide the best results. However, when it comes to decisions which can’t afford to be left to chance, it’s important to make them with a clear mind and positive outlook. This can be difficult to achieve without some guidance, which is why entrepreneur and businesswoman Bev James wrote this book.
This book is the ultimate go-to for all things organisation, and with the help from eight simple steps, you’ll be taught how to make clear decisions which will benefit you every step of the way.
All marketers are liars – Seth Godin
Marketers have one important job: to convince consumers that their product/service is the best. Now, unfortunately, this means that some blackhat marketers have ruined it for us honest marketers, but with the help from Seth Godin and his book ‘all marketers are liars’, we can fight back and learn how to market products successfully, with quality.
Seth is famous for teaching thousands of marketers the art of marketing successfully, so it’s safe to say that his book has some valuable tips worth learning. It’s all about telling a story rather than simply highlighting benefits of the product/service – but we’ll let the book explain that more.
Be obsessed or be average – Grant Cardone
Who wants to say no to a book which has a man riding a plane on the front cover? We certainly don’t.
Grant Cardone has had a rollercoaster of life; always having big dreams but being told he should keep them on the down-low and focus on more realistic goals instead. His experiences from broke and jobless at rock bottom helped him to build an empire and become a millionaire.
The concept behind this book is quite simple – either be obsessed with your goals and eventually hit them or live an average life with nothing to show. No matter what situation you are in right now, Grant’s brutally honest book will be sure to motivate you to become whatever you want to be. All you need to have is faith in yourself.
Building a storybrand – Donald Miller
The tone which you set for your business will have a huge influence on the kind of relationship you have with your customers. ‘Building a storybrand’ by Donald Miller picks this apart, enlightening you on just what it takes to give your business a competitive advantage and deal with customers in the right way.
If you’re a fan of reading about the psychology behind why people behave in the way they do, then you’ll love this book. We can guarantee that your behaviour will positively change after giving this a read, and you’ll soon transform the way you talk about who you are and what you do. It’s time to bring unique value to the table.
Start with why: how great leaders inspire everyone to take action – Simon Sinek
Yep – you’ve guessed it, another book which will help you boost your managerial skills. We just can’t get enough of them! This book is the ultimate go-to for anyone who is looking for inspiration and wants to share their inspiration with others, too.
At the end of the day, in business, it all comes down to WHY you do something, not what you do. This book carries this tone throughout, analysing some of the greatest leaders on this planet who all begun with ‘why?’. If you want an inspirational business, then this book holds all of the secrets.
Happy reading!
Well, these books should keep you busy for quite some time, whether it’s on your commute to work or on a lunch break. We can guarantee that you won’t be able to stay away! Have you got a favourite book which hasn’t been mentioned in this guide? Let us know! 📖