5 Must-Read Books For Every Entrepreneur

Originally posted on Entrepreneur.com by MATTHEW TOREN

Malcolm X once said, “My alma mater was books at a good library…I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity.” And he is right. There is no better way to continue your education and enhance your life than to begin in the pages of a great book.

Even entrepreneurs starting on a shoestring budget can have access to some of the greatest teachers and leaders of today, as well as lessons from the past, by simply picking a book. No formal education required.

Related: 4 Books Every Entrepreneur Must Read

That said, the whole process can be overwhelming. If you look in the business section of your local library, bookstore or the Amazon storefront it can feel a bit much and can be difficult to sort through all the clutter in order to get to the heart of texts that will truly impact your life.

From classics to new releases, here are five great additions to any entrepreneur’s reading list.

21 Inspirational Movies For Young Entrepreneurs

From the Big Screen to Your Living Room – These 21 Movies Will Inspire Many Young Entrepreneurs…

Entrepreneurs with that creative genius will find inspiration anywhere and everywhere they look. Book may be the fuel behind every entrepreneur, but it shouldn’t stop there. Sometimes we just need to kick back on a Saturday night and enjoy ourselves. Many turn to the television only to be disappointed with all the useless garbage that broadcast. You now have a guide to quench your thirst for inspiration!This is a list of 21 films created over the past 25 years that will not only entertain you, but have the capability to impact you with the powerful messages behind them. The majority these films have personally inspired me along my journey including a few nominations from other friends and entrepreneurs in my social network.

New Study: America Needs More Entrepreneurial Role Models

New research out of the Kauffman Foundation reveals shocking numbers of Americans have never heard of your entrepreneurial heroes.

Given just how obsessed the media is with Silicon Valley titans, you could be forgiven for thinking that entrepreneurship is plenty glamorized at the moment. Surveys show young people aspire to start their own thing and just everyone thinks being a founder beats being an executive.

But according to a new study out from the Kauffman Foundation, startup mania actually hasn’t spread that broadly in the population. Sure kids in Mountain View and New York may worship Steve Jobs for his entrepreneurial accomplishments, but take a wider sample of Americans and something surprising happens, nearly half haven’t even heard of the guy, Kauffman reports:

The poll asked 1,000 Americans aged 18 and older if they have heard of five extremely prominent entrepreneurs. The results are likely to shock you:

The findings reveal not only moderate to low awareness of entrepreneurial figures, but in some cases differing perceptions of who is an entrepreneur to begin with.

Among survey respondents, Steve Jobs was the most recognized, with 52.8 percent overall awareness; Oprah Winfrey was next at 38.9 percent, followed by Walmart founder Sam Walton (38.1 percent) and Thomas Edison (33.3 percent).

Elon Musk, CEO of growth companies SpaceX and Tesla Motors, was recognized by only 12.9 percent of respondents – less than the 24.7 percent who had heard of “none of the above.”

For comparison, 96 percent know who Marilyn Monroe is. Given the outsized impact of these people on the U.S. economy, this relative lack of awareness is troubling, according to Paul Kedrosky, Kauffman Foundation senior fellow. “Because entrepreneurs in general, and particularly ‘growth’ entrepreneurs whose ventures create the most jobs, are so important to the economy, these findings point to a need for role models that encourage entrepreneurship among both genders,” he said.

What else can the readership of Inc.com take away from this research? Perhaps the findings should serve as a healthy reminder of just how easy it is to work within an echo chamber. If you’re an entrepreneur who often socializes with fellow founders and reads regularly on business issues, of course you’re going to have business ownership on the brain. But that doesn’t mean most people out there have the same obsessions. Entrepreneurs have to be more thoughtful about promoting their work — and their products — and not get lulled by the hype in their immediate circles.

Did these findings surprise you?

Originally posted on Inc.com by  JESSICA STILLMAN, a freelance writer based in London with interests in unconventional career paths, generational differences, and the future of work. She has blogged for CBS MoneyWatch, GigaOM, and Brazen Careerist. @EntryLevelRebel

The Entrepreneur’s Gratitude Prayer

Originally posted in INC by Dave Kerpen

I am grateful for my customers, who give me feedback to build a better company.
I am grateful for my prospects, who ask smart questions to make my sales team  get better.
I am grateful for my vendors and partners, who help our company do things we couldn’t do well on our own.
I am grateful for my management team, who leads the company through good times and bad.
I am grateful for all of our employees, who work hard everyday to accomplish our mission.
I am grateful for our advisors and investors, who give me the guidance and cash necessary to grow.
I am grateful for the media, both the kind that still prints on paper and the kind that has has a lot of Twitter followers, for helping get the word out about what we do.
I am grateful for my fellow entrepreneurs, who teach me though their experiences and insights.
I am grateful for my friends, who understand the sacrifices I make with my time.
I am grateful for my family, who loves me and supports me unconditionally.
I am grateful for God, or whatever higher power exists, for guiding me on the right path.
Today, and every day, I am a grateful entrepreneur.