Time to Reflect: A Reading List for Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
With everything on your plate, if you’ve neglected your business reading lately but are keen to restart, this list might give you some inspiration. It starts with recommendations from spend management leaders. Then there’s a section on must-read classics and finally one to lift your spirits.
The Recommended Reads of Spend Management Pros
Bhart Sarin, Director, Procurement Operations, Corporate and North America at Ingredion Incorporated, recommends When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing by Daniel H. Pink. The book draws on research from psychology, biology and economics to reveal how best to live, work and succeed. Bhart says it gave him some great ideas: “This is an easy read that dives into the science as to how we can maximise our productivity and life balance by understanding our personal characteristics and applying them to generate positive outcomes.”
Jeffrey Bastings, Senior Manager – Accounts Payable, Employee Business Expense & Corporate Card at Verizon, recommends The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Ken Robinson with Lou Aronica. It shares the stories of people like Vidal Sassoon, Arianna Huffington and Matt Groening and looks at the point at which natural talent meets personal passion. Jeffrey says: “I often tried to separate my work life from my home life until I read this book and realised I could use my passion and talents within the workplace. It sparked more creative ideas, which led to innovative conversations.”
Kate Rilling, Senior Manager, Global Travel & Expense at Service Now, says Gung Ho! Turn on the People in Any Organization by Ken Blachard and Sheldon Bowles is a must-read because it reveals a sure-fire strategy for boosting employee enthusiasm, productivity and performance. She says: “I read this early in my career, which has had a consistent impact on myself and presumably the teams around me. Coming in with an enthusiastic, purpose-driven attitude every day helps us keep our eye on the objective and go home feeling rewarded.”
If you’d like to see all the recommendations from T&E pros, download Reading List for 2020: The Books Visionaries in Travel, Expense, and Spend Management Recommend Most.
Must-Read Business Classics
It goes without saying that there are classics that everybody wants to have read (but we often don't find the time to read!). Which of these three books have you read?
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey shares a step-by-step approach to living with fairness, integrity, honesty and human dignity – principles that he argues give us the security to adapt to change, and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates. A timely read, perhaps?
Start with Why by Simon Sinek argues that in business it doesn't matter what you do, it matters why you do it. He says that organisations that start with why are more inventive, pioneering and successful than others. This has achieved classic status incredibly quickly, so if you haven’t already read it, now’s the time to see what all the fuss has been about.
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie was first published in 1936. But when people such as Warren Buffett say it changed their lives, you can be confident it’s still got something useful to say today. As the blurb says: “This book will turn around your relationships and improve your dealings with all the people in your life.”
One to Lift Your Spirits
Finally, Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Tim Ferriss is a great book to share with friends and family. It has inspirational ‘short stories’ from CEOs, athletes, artists, entrepreneurs and others share their wisdom. A key takeaway from the book is to trust your instincts and keep pursuing what you believe in.
What is Your Recommended Read?
Which business book has challenged your thinking or given you a new perspective? Let us know by sharing this article using the social buttons on this page or email me at lara.edwards@sap.com.