Summer Reading | Great Business Books | Ohio CPA Firm

A business owner’s day consists of a million responsibilities and not enough hours in the day. But now that vacation season is upon us, it’s time to disconnect from our Wi-Fi connection and soak up the sun. The work can wait. In the meantime, here is a summer reading list that will make you feel a little bit better about afternoon naps on the beach with the sound of crashing waves in your ears while Out of Office emails defer your workload to later date.

Top 3 Books Business Owners Should Read This Summer

1.Good to Great

A great way to start vacation season is with Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t, written by Jim Collins. This book has become one of the best sellers in the genre with more than three million copies sold and, by many, considered a modern classic in management theory. Collins covers a range of operations, personnel, management and behavioral practices to take a business from good to great with the overall theme being the need to define your business’ objective and build upon its strengths.

It’s available in e-book, paper and audio formats on Amazon.

2.Start With Why

Business owners often find themselves wondering why some people are successful and others fail. Simon Sinek answers this question by showcasing the power of communication and inspiration in his bestselling book, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. Make sure you take time to self-reflect on your management style to see if it lines up with the points outlined throughout this book. Sinek’s ability to show the connected importance of different leadership traits will leave you with new ideas on ways you can improve yourself. This book is sure to inspire you to be a better person, not only for yourself but also your employees.

Start with Why is available in all formats on Amazon. You should also check out the popular TED Talk based on this book.

3.The 4 Disciplines of Execution

Are you tired of seeing a major strategic goal die in your organization? Chris McChesney’s The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals, will change how you operate your business and step you through the simple and proven method for following through on your most significant strategic concerns. This book is the most informative when it comes to strategic planning and it does an excellent job identifying the steps necessary to be successful in each area. This book provides readers with a great foundation upon which to routinely execute strategic goals.

Purchase your copy of the book on Amazon.

These books have proven to be incredibly valuable to business owners and industry leaders everywhere – including here at Rea. And even if you’ve read one or more of these books in the past, consider taking another look this summer – you never know when something new will resonate with you. Then, by the time you return to the office, you will be relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to take on stubborn challenges from a new perspective.

Here at Rea, we are proud to report that we’ve enjoyed success directly attributed to many of the lessons outlined in these books. I actually discuss some of our experiences in episode 31 of unsuitable on Rea Radio, “Bet On Your Business By Scoring Your Success.” Check it out to learn more.

By Jeremy Senften, CPA, CGMA (New Philadelphia office)