12 Must Read Books For Success

It seems like the older I get, the more I like to read books. Reading is good for you. It helps to keep you sharp. I want to share 12 must read books for success.

12 Must Read Books For Success

1. 1984 – George Orwell

Before I read this book, I had heard about it for years. It is a story involving a country that is watching its people 24/7. The people are manipulated to believe whatever the government says even though facts previously said otherwise. For most people, free thinking is a thing of the past except for Winston, the main character. I don’t want to give away any more of the plot, so make sure you guys read it for yourselves.

2. Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice – Dennis Kimbro

A fusion of Napoleon Hill’s famous Think and Grow Rich, Dennis Kimbro’s book offers a unique perspective on the concepts introduced in that seminal book and a practicable way to achieve those ends. Dennis Kimbro combines his vast experience in business with Napoleon Hill’s blueprint to give African Americans and others a unique blueprint for success in a highly competitive market.

The book is also filled with insights from Kimbro’s career. Drawing upon case studies of business success in the black community, Kimbro uses stories such as Spike Lee’s and Oprah’s to inspire the next generation of African American leaders. Written as an inspirational work, Kimbro’s central thesis is that your dreams are achievable if they are grounded in a pragmatic reality as well as being clearly defined and spiritually relevant. Beyond simply achieving your dreams and financial goals, Kimbro’s message encourages readers to approach life from a new and vibrant perspective.

Approaching the world with a mindset of abundance and an attitude of graciousness helps smooth the way toward one’s goals and creates a general spirit of deliberate action and conscientious living. Perhaps the foundational concept introduced here is that Kimbro urges readers to believe in themselves and to be their biggest cheerleaders on the path of life. You have to believe that you matter, that your goals are worthwhile, and that you can achieve them through persistence and faith to succeed in multiple avenues in life.

3. The Entrepreneur Mind: 100 Essential Beliefs, Characteristics, and Habits of Elite Entrepreneurs – Kevin Johnson

The Entrepreneur Mind is a solid read. The book is divided into 7 different chapters: Strategy, Education, People, Finance, Marketing & Sales, Leadership, and Motivation. Some of my favorite beliefs in this book are; to make your dreams come true, push beyond your fear, and manage your debt well.

4. How to Win Friends and Influence People – Dale Carnegie

This is a very interesting book that I think most people should read. This book is broken down into several parts. Each part has multiple principles that are discussed in detail. If you want to network better, this is a must-read.

5. DotCom Secrets – Russell Brunson

There is an art and science to selling things online, and DotCom Secrets will teach you the tricks of the trade.

From creating compelling landing pages and funnels to marketing your vision online, Russell Brunson’s perspective on marketing in the digital age is a must-read for professionals looking to take their firm to the next level – or maybe bump up the sales bottom line. While ostensibly drawn from the world of eCommerce and online sales, the tips and knowledge offered in this book could apply to many different fields, and it is written in an accessible style that allows for just that.

6. The 4-Hour Workweek – Timothy Ferriss

I read this book at least once every couple of years. This book discusses living an alternative lifestyle. That lifestyle consists of breaking away from the 9-5 grind and working for yourself for only a fraction of the time. The author describes his life and how he’s gotten to where he is now. Lifestyle design and being location independent is something that I know a lot of people would like to have. This book can help to get you started.

7. Ask Gary Vee – Gary Vaynerchuk

Gary Vaynerchuk is many things, but humility often takes a back seat when you read about him. A proclaimed business and marketing genius, Ask Gary Vee promises to grant readers insights into everything from business to life itself.

Using his established method for planning and executing ideas, Ask Gary Vee gives readers actionable advice that can be put to work immediately. Whether it is the decision process or the decisive act itself, Ask Gary Vee offers a unique perspective on the impact of our choices and how planning and thoughtful strategy can transform our lives.

8. Make a Fortune Promoting Other People’s Stuff Online: How Affiliate Marketing Can Make You Rich – Rosalind Gardner

I’ve read this book twice. If you’ve followed my website, you know that I have been focusing on eliminating my debt. One of the ways that I’ve been making extra money is with affiliate marketing. I am not a guru but make a little bit each month. This book is the truth. It is 15 chapters full of tips, from deciding which products to sell to creating and promoting your site. This should be the 1st book anybody contemplating getting into affiliate marketing should read.

9. The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist is a novel that follows a young man on his journey to Egypt. The young man, Santiago, goes through numerous trials to get to Egypt. He learns a lot about life and himself during his travels.

10. Happy Pocket Full of Money – David Gikandi

What is the meaning of wealth, and how does that tie into the concept of personal fulfillment? Do material things bring happiness?

What path should one take to reach personal success and happiness? David Gikandi discusses wealth from the perspective of the spiritual rewards that conscientious living can bring.

Rather than acquiring more and more stuff, Gikandi urges his readers to focus on the meaning and substance of life that brings about abundance, joy, and an overwhelming appreciation for the world around them. Life isn’t just about living in the moment, it’s also about embracing those moments and utilizing them to achieve goals.

If wealth happens to accrue as a result, then that is a positive end-benefit, but it is not the goal and purpose of life itself, Gikandi argues. This book teaches readers how to develop a motivational mantra to motivate them to keep moving forward and a step-by-step guide on becoming more conscious and “deliberate in thoughts and actions.”

This leads to exploring how to set meaningful goals and plan for them accordingly. Ultimately, the goal is to cultivate a mindset of creativity, gratitude, and a sense of abundance in one’s life.

11. You Only Live Once – Jason Vitug

One of the most common pieces of financial advice out there is that you need to make a budget and stick to it. But has anyone ever explained why, exactly, we need to budget? Jason Vitug explains that concept, and he goes well beyond simple savings and wealth preservation. Drawing upon spiritual concepts and solid planning, Vitug argues that budgeting is only successful if it has a purpose. That means that the “why” behind everything needs to be clear. Understood. Of course, obvious things like rent or mortgage expenses don’t need much explanation to justify them, but other recurrent expenses might do well to go through that audit. The author urges readers to think about time frames and where a person wants to see himself in the future.

This is where the planning aspect of the budget comes into the process. By combining your spiritual wants with the physical constraints of time, Vitug says you can make a workable budget that helps you achieve your deepest-held dreams. Ultimately, this is to craft a sense of control and destiny over the process. This book is much more than a financial self-help book to empower the reader to see his life as a series of choices that can be combined and grouped into a greater plan. It delivers extremely valuable personal maintenance and management information addition.

12. Psycho-Cybernetics – Maxwell Maltz

Despite its name, Maxwell Maltz’s book offers everyday advice for taking control of your thought process and transforming it into a productive force for change and growth in your life.

He outlines exercises for improving one’s mental self-image and how to channel your energies into meaningful goals and activities that uplift, inspire, and move the marker forward. Maltz argues that self-image is perhaps one of the single most salient factors in any person’s ability to achieve their goals and dreams.

Drawing upon scientific research and anecdotal evidence, Maltz’s strategies promise a new day for his readers, and if reviews are any judge, this book often delivers.