You know what they say about those who read? They lead.
In one of my previous articles, “The 21 Best Real Estate Books for Investors,” I talked about all my favorite real estate books and the impact they have had on my life. However, I believe a great real estate investor should read just as many business books as real estate books—if not more.
So I made a concentrated effort to read more business books to help me improve my investing and business life.
The following are the five books that have made a big impact on my life. I think they could dramatically change yours, too. Please let me know in the comments below this post your thoughts on these books and any other book recommendations you think I should check out! I’m always looking for a new book.
The 5 Business Books That Changed My Life
1. Pitch Anything by Oren Klaff
As a real estate investor, your funds will eventually run out.
Bummer.
As I talk a lot about in my book The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down, there are likely just too many opportunities and not enough money in your bank account. Therefore, as you progress in your investing business, you’ll need to rely more and more on other people’s money to grow your business.
Whether it’s a bank, a hard money lender, a private lender, a partner, or another source of money, you will eventually need to pitch your project or business to someone who has the money. This is where Pitch Anything comes in so handy.
Pitch Anything, written by master negotiator Oren Klaff, will teach you just that—to pitch anything to anyone, successfully. The tips and tactics that Klaff teaches are borderline genius, and I’ve already seen huge improvements in my personal life and business life based on the lessons learned from this book. You’ll learn how the pitch begins before a single word is said, how to set up and dominate “a frame” so your target will hear every word you say, and how to overcome objections before they ever materialize.
Definitely put this incredibly actionable book on your reading list!
Click here to get it from Amazon!
2. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
I read this book, and then I had to re-read it again because it was just so good. Although The Lean Startup was primarily written for those trying to build a Silicon Valley tech company, I believe the lessons can be painted across the entire canvas of entrepreneurship.
The Lean Startup, written by Eric Ries, is all about starting small and focusing on what the customer/client wants, rather than what youthink they might want. It’s about asking questions and continually improving. It’s about letting data speak for the direction of your business rather than letting emotion and opinion drive it.
If you consider yourself an entrepreneur, this is one book you can’t afford not to include in your collection.
Click here to check it out on Amazon.
3. The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone
The 10X Rule was recommended to me by Anson Young.I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
Although not a real estate book, The 10X Rule was written by a real estate investor and sales coach named Grant Cardone, who encourages the reader to think bigger to achieve far more than you ever thought possible.
Essentially, here’s the idea: If your goal is to make $100,000 in your business this year, the mindset you have and the actions you take will probably get you there—or close. Fact of life. However, if you multiply that goal by 10 (hence the name “The 10X Rule”) and set a goal of $1,000,000 in your business, your mindset and actions change to try and achieve that goal.
The best part is, if you fall short and only hit 50 percent of your goal… you still achieved 5x more than you would have originally with your goal of $100,000! Seems like a great idea to me!
This concept is just one of many that I found life-changing in this book, and I highly recommend you pick up a copy of this one today.
Get the 10X Rule now on Amazon!
4. The Miracle Morning byHal Elrod
I’m not a “morning person.” If I could, I would sleep in every day. However, one trait that nearly all successful business owners have is their desire to get up early.
I was turned onto this book by my bud Pat Flynn over at SmartPassiveIncome.com, and was so excited to read it.
If mornings are a struggle for you, and you want launch your business to new places, I highly recommend The Miracle Morning. When I finished this book, I was so excited to put into practice the methodology that was outlined. I don’t want to wake up each morning with sleepiness, boredom, and grumpiness. I want to pop out of bed each day excited to tackle the world. If you want that feeling also, pick up a copy of The Miracle Morning today!
Click here to buy it on Amazon!
5. The One Thing by Gary Keller
Ah, The One Thing. Hands down the most life-changing book on this list.
Yes, this is the same Gary Keller that brought usThe Millionaire Real Estate Agent,The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, Flip, Hold, and Shift. However, unlike those great books, The One Thingdoesn’t even mention real estate.
This is bigger than real estate!
After being told by several podcast guests to read this book, I finally picked up a copy and read through it on a plane ride. And for the first time in my life, when I hit the last page of the book, I closed it, sat silent for a moment, and flipped the book over to page one and began reading it for a second time. It was so impactful I had to read it twice just to take it in!
It’s hard to describe exactly why it affected me so much other than to say “it gave me clarity.” Here’s the gist: succeeding at anything in life is like lining up dominoes that get progressively larger. Each domino can knock over the next larger domino until you are knocking over dominos that are thousands of feet tall—and it starts with just tipping over the small domino in front of you.
By tackling business in this matter—focusing 100 percent of your efforts on the “one thing” that is next in your row of dominoes—you are able to quickly and effectively scale your business to amazing new heights.
I can’t say it enough: This book was simply awesome. Do yourself, your family, your business, and your world a favor and pick up this book today, read it twice like I did, and get ready to conquer the world.
Click here to pick up The One Thingon Amazon!
So what about you? What books changed your life this year? Have any thoughts on the books above?
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.
