By Hannah Becker
As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.” Reading business books is a great way to put her advice into action - and level up your entrepreneurial performance.
Business development doesn't just happen; it takes strategic planning, informed decisions, and efficient management. Insights from experienced business leaders who've been on the frontlines of entrepreneurship can be a great way to position your company (or business idea) for a fruitful year.
Here are eight business books for military spouse entrepreneurs to inspire you. Buying the book at Amazon.com? Click here to support the MOAA Scholarship Fund via AmazonSmile (you'll need to log in to your Amazon account).
1. The Lean Startup
Eric Ries' The Lean Startup (Currency, 2011) is a must-read for aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs alike. Ries illustrates the danger of assuming too much overhead and discusses the importance of developing an agile business model. Military spouse entrepreneurs who need to maintain a lean, location-independent operation can learn how capital efficiency can drive creativity and position them to seize opportunity.
2. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Life doesn't always go as planned - a concept most military spouses know well. Learning how to navigate the challenges and obstacles laid before us is key for professional success. Angela Duckworth's book, Grit (Scribner, 2016), highlights the inspirational stories of gritty leaders who overcame less than ideal situations toreach their goals. Discover the characteristics that distinguish resilient business leaders from their peers, and identify ways to incorporate them into your own career.
[RELATED: 8 Free Business Resources Every Military Spouse Entrepreneur Needs]
3. Start Something That Matters
Blake Mycoskie's book on social entrepreneurship peels the curtain back on his own journey growing TOMS shoes and provides the reader with an actionable strategy that can be applied to any business model. If you've ever contemplated how to make a positive difference in the world through your work, Start Something That Matters (Spiegel & Grau, 2011) is for you. It will rekindle your passion for doing good, and provide you with a fresh perspective on business growth.
4. Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-being, Wisdom, and Wonder
Dubbed the work-life balance handbook, Arianna Huffington's book, Thrive (Harmony, 2014), is an essential read for any 21st-century professional feeling drained from the exhaustive pace of the modern workforce. Whether you're looking for effective stress management techniques or seeking insights into achieving balance in our hyper-connected world, Thrive is an enlightening read. Huffington, an incredibly successful entrepreneur and innovator, sheds light on a more sustainable approach to career success (one that doesn't include burnout).
5. The 4-Hour Work Week
Starting and growing a location-independent business is many a military spouse entrepreneur's dream. In The 4-Hour Work Week (Harmony, 2009), Tim Ferriss provides step by step instructions for running a company from pretty much anywhere in the world with a WiFi signal. This best-selling business book outlines everything you need to run a location-independent business - from remote management tips to cost-effective outsourcing strategies.
[RELATED: 3 Ways Military Entrepreneurs Can Build a Business With No Start-up Capital]
6. Modern Military Spouse: The Ultimate Military Life Guide for New Spouses and Significant Others
While not business-specific, Modern Military Spouse (Create Space, 2016) provides insight into the career-related challenges military spouses face, along with resources military spouses can use to turn their entrepreneurial aspirations into reality. Co-written by three popular military spouse bloggers - J.D. Collins, Lauren Tamm, and Jo My Gosh - Modern Military Spouse can help spouses navigate military life and build a career that works with the lifestyle demands of service.
Interested in learning more? Register for the MOAA webinar on how to recruit and retain military spouses.
7. The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future
Have you ever thought starting a business requires a lot of money? In The $100 Startup (Currency, 2012) Chris Guillebeau debunks the idea that entrepreneurship requires millions in startup capital to be successful. He introduces readers to inspirational entrepreneurs that founded successful companies with $100 or less and provides an easy-to-use guide for pursuing entrepreneurship without seeking outside investment or lending.
8. The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business
The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business (Lorena Jones Books, 2018) shows how a "solopreneur" can scale their startup in an economically rewarding way, without investing their life savings or hiring dozens of full-time employees. Elaine Pofeldt encourages readers to build their business around their lifestyle needs and provides actionable strategies for entrepreneurs seeking more balance and more profit. If you're ready to synchronize your career with your lifestyle, The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business can show you how to achieve balance without compromising financial growth.
What business books are on your reading list? Share your business book favorites with us, and with fellow military spouses, at our MOAA and MOAA Spouse Facebook pages.