I’m a high school dropout.
But I’m also a 7-figure business owner.
You might be wondering how that’s possible, and the answer might surprise you. Sure, hard work, mentorship, and a little bit of luck played a role, but do you know what the single, most important factor in my success was? Yep, you guessed it. Books.
Books have been my post-secondary education. They are what have allowed a high school dropout like me, and so many others in situations both similar and very different from my own, to create an amazing life and business.
When you read, you are able to glean knowledge and wisdom from others and couple that with your own insights. In a way, I guess you could say you are masterminding with the author!
When you #read, you are able to glean knowledge and wisdom from others and couple that with your own insights. In a way, you are #masterminding with the #author! Click To TweetBut don’t just take it from me. Below I have listed 20 of the most impactful books that 7-figure business women recommend and swear by!
Let’s Start With 8 Books Recommended by Female Entrepreneurs in My Network
1. Radical Candor by Kim Scott
Recommended by: Penny Bauder (Entrepreneur, speaker, environmental scientist, Founder & CEO of Green Kid Crafts, and columnist for Thrive Global and Authority Magazine covering STEAM Education).
“I love this book for so many reasons and all because she addresses my own management mistakes as well as triumphs. Her approach to radical candor feedback and being truly transparent and balanced alongside caring for your team is a very modern approach to dynamics.”
2. What Your Customers Want and Can’t Tell You by Melina Palmer
Recommended by: Emily Countryman (Co-Founder of ShiftSetGo CEO Ideal Wellness)
This book explains the neuroscience of consumer behaviour. Learn exactly why people buy―and how to use that knowledge to improve pricing, increase sales, create better “brain-friendly” brand messaging, and be a more effective leader.
“Her stuff is excellent – highly recommend.”
3. No Rules Rules by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer
Recommended by: Tanya Dalton (Best-Selling Author of The Joy of Missing Out, CEO at inkWELL Press Productivity Co., Host of The Intentional Advantage Podcast, and Productivity Expert & Speaker)
“I really loved No Rules Rules by Reed Hastings—it’s a great read about leading with feedback and candor.”
4. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle 
Recommended by: Margy Feldhuhn (Chief Executive Officer at Interview Connections)
Much more than simple principles and platitudes, this book takes readers on an inspiring spiritual journey to find their true and deepest self and reach the ultimate in personal growth and spirituality: the discovery of truth and light.
5. Good to Great by Jim Collins 
Recommended by: Sigrun Gudjonsdottir (Award-Winning Business Coach, International Speaker, and Top Podcaster: Want to fast-track your online business to 7 figures?)
“One of the best business books I’ve read is Good to Great. Why do I love it? The book is easy to read and has a concrete, memorable conclusion. It is built on extensive research and data instead of someone’s opinion. And the author sprinkles it with stories that make it fun and interesting to read. I will never forget the phrases “Get the right people on the bus,” “The right people matter more than the right strategy,” and finally, “The CEO matters whether you like it or not.”
6. The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Riso and Russ Hudson 
Recommended by: Christine Kane (Author of Bestselling Book “The Soul-Sourced™ Entrepreneur,” Founder & CEO of Uplevel You, and business strategy & soul coach)
“Above and beyond all the great principles and strategies of business and success, I see self-awareness as a crucial piece of the puzzle. That’s because not everyone has the same strengths, desires or styles. So cookie-cutter business strategies just do not work.
Your business is a training ground for your own personal and soul growth. So, if you want to know who you are and what is driving you (and your clients and all people in your life) then the Enneagram is a powerful tool for self-understanding.”
7. Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan
Recommended by: Lisa Larter
“This book speaks clearly to the reason why so many business owners get stuck in overwhelm and cannot get things accomplished in their business. If you don’t have the right people to help you execute in your business, nothing will change. Who Not How teaches you to think differently about who you engage to help and why. As the leader of a business, you need strong, capable and competent “Who’s” to help you along the way.”
8. Atomic Habits by James Clear 
Recommended by: Lisa Larter
“This is NOT another one of those super tactical how-to habit books. The very beginning of this book ties into your identity and how your identity, and the identity you wish to have play a huge role in our ability to form new habits. As someone who is always on the quest to be a better version of myself, this new approach really resonated with me, and I think it will with you too.”
12 More Impactful Books to Add to Your List
For more of my favourite business books, tune in to episode 15 of She Talks Business! Click here to listen now!
Want help making more time to read? Join Thought Readers, the online Books and Business Club for like-minded entrepreneurs and business owners. We read 12 books in 12 months, network, discuss, get special author interviews, and more!
