Though it isn’t always possible to take a refresher course in business or to pursue your MBA, you can – and should—continue learning. Sometimes, it’s a matter of shifting your perspective and other times, it’s a matter of learning about a new method that will help your business.

Resources Aplenty

There are some great books available that can motivate, inspire, and teach you. Reading one or all these titles just might make a hill of difference when it comes to walking an easy path to success versus a rough trail full of hard-knocks.

Far from an exhaustive list, the following are entertaining and relevant business books that will give you fresh insights into management, strategy, and methods for running your business (sometimes, a kernel of knowledge turns into a whole new way to think, and these moments of revelation can become breakthroughs that take your business to the next level):

The Art Of War, by Sun Tzu. Not all business books are about business. In this ancient book written in the 6th Century B.C., you’ll find a treatise on human nature and conflict that will guide you through any meeting. The Art of War gives you timeless knowledge about practicing strategy to win that still matters and applies to the world at large but much more specifically to the business world of today.

The Goal, by Eliyahu M. Goldratt. An influential and timeless tome for the business world, this book delves into The Theory of Constraint and will change your thinking about the goal of your organization.

The Goal: A Business Graphic Novel, by Dwight Jon Zimmerman. The ultimate comic for a professional, this graphic novel brings the concepts of The Goal to life in story-form, demonstrating the management paradigm in a fresh, captivating format.

Switch, by Chip & Dan Heath. The one constant in life is change, yet it’s a struggle for most people to accept and react accordingly. What causes obstacles to change? How can you navigate change in your life but more importantly, in your business? Switch combines thought provoking tales with a step-by-step method for managing change in your organization and beyond.

An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth: What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything, by Chris Hadfield. As inspirational texts go, this one certainly provides new perspective beyond the 30,000-foot view! Lessons of life and work from Hadfield’s career translate to any situation, particularly for a small business owner who is attempting their own launch sequence to get a business off the ground.

Taking advantage of these resources will make the process of entrepreneurship easier. Gain wisdom from those who’ve gone before you, learned the ropes, and took notes so that you can follow suit.