I still remember the day I received my undergraduate degree (in Finance) and my family decided to provide me with the best graduation gift ever – an assortment of new books to read and help me on my life-learning journey ahead. The greatest lesson I received beyond what was in these books was the greater understanding that leaving college is only the beginning of our life learning experience – not the end. As I commonly tell people I interview; your degree tells me above all else that you are capable of learning in a structured environment.
“Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are
readers.” – Harry S Truman
I remember Warren Buffett speaking to my business school and
once stating that the vast majority of his days were spent reading and
learning. Other studies have shown that fully 89% of self-made millionaires dedicate at least 30 minutes each day to self-education and/or self-improvement reading. What better role model than Buffett to teach this valuable lesson from
one of the greatest investors of our time. I have adopted this focus on reading
and learning for myself with my own goal of reading a new book every two weeks.
This has also led me down the road to the publishing of my own
business books over the past few years as well.
So to all the recent college graduates who did not receive a
stack of new books from your family, I would like to help. Here is a list of
the books I would recommend to you moving forward that have enriched my life
and I am sure they will help enrich yours as well. One final note: don’t read
each book by its cover alone. Part of your life journey is to expand your
understanding of life and the world around you and now that you are removed
from the confines of institutional learning and biases that come with it, keep
an open mind and challenge yourself to learning beyond the walls (both
literally and figuratively).
How To Win Friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie
If you ever plan to work daily with other people (welcome to
the real world), you will understand why I tell all people to read this book first
before all others. As the old saying goes; “people may be people” but working
with people creates a whole new dynamic that you need to master in order to be
successful. The principles in the book were written long before you were born
but as you will see, they are evergreen and no matter how much the world
changes around you, people will always remain people and you will have to work
and play well with others in order to succeed.
The Millionaire Next Door – Thomas J. Stanley & William D. Danko
After reading this book it will not surprise you to learn
that the Ford F-150 in your parking lot may be owned by a millionaire while the
Porsche is not. Most people who are self-made millionaires are not who you
think they are and after reading this book, you will have a whole new
understanding about what makes a true self-made millionaire and how you too can
become one by doing the opposite of what many may believe defines “success” in
the world today.
Uncomplicate Business – Howard Farran
The largest employers in America are small businesses so
whether you like it or not, you will most likely work for one or more small
businesses throughout your lifetime. I met Howard Farran at one of his “Dental
MBA” events and although I am not a dentist, the fundamental business knowledge
Howard provides small business owners and employees is both powerful and
applies to any business. If an MBA is not in your future, this is the next best
thing and will cost you a lot less.
Free To Choose – Milton Freedman
Most people have no idea how complicated a free market
economy really is and how truly remarkable freedom and liberty is as the
foundation for progress in the world you live in today. Milton Freedman is
perhaps one of the greatest economists of our time not because many may agree
with him but rather how he is able to explain how the world really works in a
way that most people can truly understand. You will never be able to look at
something as simple and innocuous as a pencil the same way again after reading
this eye-opening book.
Grinding It Out – Ray Kroc
In August of 2016 you will likely watch a new movie starring
Michael Keaton about one of the greatest businesses stories in America that was
first written in this book. If you have ever ate at McDonald’s (almost all of
us have whether you care to admit it or not) or ever bought products or
services from a franchised business (we all have), your life has been impacted
by the story in this book. Only in America could a man nearing early retirement
risk everything on a gamble and a dream that would one day become the
foundation for most new successful small businesses world-wide. You may hate
McDonald’s but you will love the man and his story that brought it into your
life after reading this book.
The Innovator’s Dilemma – Clayton M. Christensen
Hey kids, ever heard of Nortel, Data General, Blackberry,
Polaroid, Blockbuster Video, Kodak, Pam-Am, and Tower Records? If you haven’t
your parents certainly have. These are all companies that were once industry
leaders that have failed into oblivion. Why? Because they all failed to create
sustainable innovation – a problem most large companies suffer from. You are
likely to have one or more jobs with larger companies and for that reason
alone, you need to read this book. The reality is that many of you will be
working for industries and companies in your career that don’t even exist yet
and once you read this book, you will understand why.
Sell Yourself First – Thomas A. Freese
You may think you will never become a salesperson in your
lifetime but the first job for most of you will be to find a job meaning you will
have to learn how to sell yourself first to others for them to want to hire
you. This book is a great way to understand how to better establish yourself as
a brand that will make you more desirable, valuable, and successful in your
career. Warren Buffett always talks about the greatest investment being the one
you make in yourself and this book is a perfect place to start.
The E Myth Revisited – Michael E. Gerber
Most people want to become “something” in their careers and
as our economy matures, people are becoming more specialized in their work.
When you want to be a lawyer, doctor, dentist, accountant, real estate agent,
etc., you are going to learn to become a great practitioner with the dream of
one day running your own business. The problem is all these specialty schools
that teach you how to become great at what you do will teach you little to
nothing about how to do it as a business owner. That is why 80% of small
business fail within 5 years. So don’t become part of this statistic and by
reading this book, you will fully understand why and how to help prevent this
moving forward.
Sell or Be Sold – Grant Cardone
Selling is used every day by everybody for nearly everything
whether you recognize it or not. Need a job, a date, a friend, a business
partner, a product or service? You are either buying or selling all the time so
you might as well get good at it now otherwise instead of selling all your life
you will be sold instead by others who understand this concept better than you.
Even if you never want to be “selling” in your career (heads up – almost all of
you will be in some capacity) you will be at a disadvantage to those who do
unless you read this book. If that is not convincing enough, just think about
the hottest girl or guy you ever wanted to date and now can and if that is not
compelling enough, there is always the priesthood.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dustin Ruge is a an award winning sales and marketing professional with over 20 years of successful sales
and marketing management experience. Dustin’s experience in sales,
marketing and business strategy ranges from technology startups to
Fortune 500 companies. Dustin is frequently referenced by Grant Cardone,
STNTV, and in such publications as INC and Selling Power Magazines and
is a frequent speaker at professional conferences across the nation.
Dustin is also the author of two best-selling books: THE TOP 20%: Why 80% of small businesses fail at sales and marketing and how you can succeed and The Successful Sales Manager: A Sales Manager's Handbook For Building Great Sales Performance. Both books are available today on Amazon.com or on our website at www.thesuccessfulsalesmanager.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dustin is also the author of two best-selling books: THE TOP 20%: Why 80% of small businesses fail at sales and marketing and how you can succeed and The Successful Sales Manager: A Sales Manager's Handbook For Building Great Sales Performance. Both books are available today on Amazon.com or on our website at www.thesuccessfulsalesmanager.com
