How to have continuous learning along the entrepreneurial journey

Knowledge is not static. It constantly expands. Each day always brings something new to the table, which is why growth and learning are essential parts of human nature. Continuous development builds up a person, and many leaders and entrepreneurs get to where they are right now because of their thirst for learning.

How do you keep on upskilling yourself and expanding your knowledge while on the entrepreneurial journey? There are plenty of ways to consistently expose yourself to new things and widen your understanding of various concepts and information. 

Read books and other materials

There are multitudes of reading materials that can provide you with pointers, tips and insights on improving yourself. Business leaders and visionaries have also written countless books that can give you a peek into their minds and experiences. Apart from books, there are magazines and online posts that give additional information and remind us of already acquired knowledge that we can take with us to our day-to-day lives and into our business.

We had shared several lists of books on this site. There are books recommended by EO members, biographies of known business leaders, books on persuasion and negotiation, books by women business leaders, crisis management books, and books written by EO members.

Listen to podcasts

Podcasts that cater to the needs of entrepreneurs are a great resource of information and inspiration. There are plenty of known podcasts online and we’ve compiled 20 of them that can be helpful to entrepreneurs. Apart from this list, there are also some amazing podcasts by EO that feature different entrepreneurs and business leaders and covers various topics across many industries.

Attend seminars, workshops and learning events

What better way to learn from the more experienced and the experts than to have first-hand interaction with them? When you attend seminars and learning events you get the opportunity not only to listen to them but also to ask questions and clarify things. Among the benefits that entrepreneurs get when they join EO is access to opportunities, events and executive education programmes. 

EO members share some of the learning events that they find have helped them in their professional growth. John Anderton, Founder and CEO of Butterfly, found that he learned a lot from “the whole-day sessions on elements from Scaling Up, e.g., People,” referring to EO’s Accelerator Learning Days, which includes workshops and pre-work, such as readings from Verne Harnish’s book, Scaling Up.

There are EO learning events that stood out for Anthony Holdstock, Director and Owner of Sharp & Carter, and he cited them, “I really liked Warren Rustand’s event on raising high-performing families and I enjoyed the Gabby Leibovich session (Catch of the Decade).” Warren Rustand’s event was attended by the families of EO members, which made it even more meaningful.

Whilst for Mark Calabro, Co-Founder of HungryHungry, the event that he found helpful to his journey was the "Battlescars of Business" with Gus Balbontin. “He was fantastic, and he really stretched my mind with the way I think about education and the world,” Mark shared.

Experience things

They say there’s no better teacher than experience itself. It’s even more exciting when the things you’ve read and heard are put into practical use and you even learn more along the way. Many entrepreneurs and business leaders learn from their experiences, taking into account their strengths, weaknesses, limits and capabilities that can often emerge in a particular situation. Even institutions that provide formal education acknowledge the importance of experience, which is why practicum and internships are included in courses and school programs.

Observe and reflect

Learning is often as simple as using the five senses. Be conscious of things you encounter each day. There are instances wherein you may not be in the thick of things, but you can observe and learn from the things and happenings around you. You can watch how someone you look up to does things in their business or listen to the experience shares and tips from your mentor. Whether you experienced something yourself or somebody did and you only witnessed it, follow it through by reflecting, filtering the things that you’ve seen or heard, and picking out the lessons that you can take with you on your entrepreneurial journey.

Think about the best way on how you can further hone your skills, talents and capabilities. Don’t be afraid to acknowledge your weaknesses so that you can expand your learning and improve yourself. How do you make sure that you continuously develop yourself as a person, entrepreneur, and business leader? Share with us your tips below.

5 books every entrepreneur should read

Crowd Culture Director Blake Brunne and Orange & Green Founder and Executive Director Rudi van der Vlies share the books that have helped them navigate through the business space and understand their market better.

According to Blake, “There are a lot of books about Marketing and Entrepreneurship out there at the moment but for me, the two that have stuck out the most for me are The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss and Purple Cow by Seth Godin.”

As to why he chose these books, “Both of these books gave me some great insights and learnings when I was getting Crowd Culture off the ground in 2016 and a lot of which I still use today. The books itself isn’t too long and are easy to digest especially in Audio Book form, which makes it a great starting point for any busy entrepreneur,” Blake explained.

1. Purple Cow by Seth Godin

Blake shares what he has learned from the book. “Purple Cow was the book that gave me early insights on how to understand my customer better. Although my business has changed a lot since 2016 when I read it for the first time, my key takeaway from the book remains the same: Passion. In the book, Godin writes 'If you make something that you’re passionate about, it’s sure to be remarkable; if you create something that others are passionate about, it’s sure to have a market. Passion is key.’ I feel if that even you don’t read any more of the book, then you would have still learnt a valuable lesson from this.”

“We all want to do something we are passionate about or that we find a sense of joy in, and for a lot of us that could be the reason we became entrepreneurs. But for the majority of us, eventually, we are going to have to work on something that we are not passionate about. Godin writes 'you still need to project an air of passion, even if it’s not real.’ It sounds straightforward, but for me, it isn’t that simple. I was hell-bent on finding a way to do something I was passionate about, and I hadn’t thought about the fact that if I only did things I was passionate about, then I was leaving a whole heap of clients and markets left untapped,” Blake shared.

Blake has learned since and has adjusted his mindset. “It took a while and I still need to work at it today, but when I speak to clients about their event now I can show genuine excitement and share in their passion. In my game, that means a better solution for my clients and could be the difference between winning and losing the job.”

2. The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss

Tim Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9–5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich tackles lifestyle design. Citing several case studies, the book presents examples of those who have multiplied their income, shortened their work time and enjoyed their life due to wise decisions, practical solutions and smart adjustments in their work regimen.

One doesn’t have to work round-the-clock, wear themselves out and wait for retirement when they can start to enjoy life. In his book, Ferriss shows that people can work smart enough to be able to attain financial freedom, location independence and frequent vacations or what he refers to as ‘mini-retirements’ while continuing their business journey.

And while Blake has gained considerable tips and advice from these two books, Rudi, on the other hand, believes that good business leaders should have the following three books at the front of their mind so that they can always act and manage accordingly. These books have presented mind-blowing concepts that have guided many entrepreneurs and helped them attain the success they were aiming for. They have also helped business owners reach their goals at an accelerated rate.

3. Scaling Up by Verne Harnish

If you want to master the four major decision areas of your business: People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash, then Verne Harnish’s Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It…and Why the Rest Don’t is a must-read.

The book contains practical tools, techniques and approaches that have been tried and tested by various companies and businesses. It also includes one-page tools that readers can use in scaling up their ventures. Entrepreneurs can learn from this book on how to grow a business that can dominate an industry without killing it.

Aside from authoring books, Verne Harnish is also the Founder and CEO of Gazelles, a global education and coaching company, and also the Founder of EO.

4. Good to Great by Jim Collins

“Good is the enemy of great” is a famous line of Jim Collins in his book Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't. The question that this book wishes to address is ‘can a good company become a great company, and if so, how?’ Based on the five-year research on various companies, the book presented several findings: the Level 5 Leadership; First Who, Then What; Culture of Discipline; Hedgehog Concept; Technology Accelerators; and The Flywheel and the Doom Loop.

It’s a great read that reveals significant thoughts from the data and examples of companies cited in the book. The concepts are helpful tools for entrepreneurs that can challenge their mindset and motivate them to aim for better results.

5. The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni

Jeff Shanley is a leader who tried to save his uncle’s business by bringing back the commitment of the organization towards teamwork. He needs to find out the virtues that team players must have so that he can hire and build the team based on such virtues. His story is the central point in Patrick Lencioni’s book, The Ideal Team Player.

Apart from the story, Lencioni includes in the book a powerful framework and actionable tools that can be used in recognising, employing and fostering ideal team players. Since good human resource is an important factor in the success of a company or enterprise, the book is a valuable guide to business leaders in developing and nurturing an ideal team that can help them drive their ventures towards their goals.

This is a good list that you can take with you on your entrepreneurial journey and growth as a business leader. What books have you read that have helped you face the challenges of entrepreneurship? Tell us your recommended books in the comment section below.

8 Crisis management books to help your business

Whether it is in the form of a natural disaster, an armed conflict, a stock market crash or a pandemic, a crisis is bound to happen, and often when we less expect it. Rather than be caught off guard, such as how other businesses were during the recent events, it is better to familiarise yourself with various scenarios and know the strategies on how to cope and survive them.

There are many resources on crisis management and leadership that can guide you on how to navigate through the crunch. You can get some insights from crisis management books, which are aplenty. Here are eight of them to start you off.

Crisis Management Leadership: Training to Survive the Critical Moment by Kenneth A Lipshy, MD FACS

Kenneth Lipshy, a surgical leader, put together in his book snippets of crisis leadership styles and advice from leadership professionals belonging in the fields of medicine, aviation, military, wilderness rescue, police and fire. He also shares about his experiences in his medical practice and learnings on human cognitive errors, their causes and how to prevent and mitigate them.

Cultural Competency for Emergency and Crisis Management: Concepts, Theories and Case Studies by Claire Connolly Knox and Brittany "Brie" Haupt

While disasters and tragedies happen in various parts of the world, responding to them should also consider culturally competent practices. The book highlights the need for an in-depth understanding of cultural competence for emergency preparedness. It also provides a guide, case studies and some exercises for individual and group discussion and assignments for crisis management.

Crisis Management: The Art of Success & Failure: 30 Case Studies in Business & Politics by Yunus D. Saleh

With 30 case studies compiled, Yunus Saleh’s book provides a tool to evaluate various scenarios and for readers to understand and learn how to tackle crises when they happen. The examples present fruitful and futile approaches in managing a crisis, where one can draw lessons from such events.

Crisis Managemen: How to develop a powerful program by Regina Phelps 

Crises are inevitable. They can happen in various ways and different degrees. But even before they come knocking at your doorsteps, the crucial question is “what should I do?” The answers may be in the pages of this book as Regina Phelps step-by-step tips on how to develop a powerful crisis management program.

Crisis Management: Responding from the Heart by Kristin S. Harper, Brent G. Paterson, Eugene L. Zdziarski II 

This manuscript provides a different angle on how to approach crisis management. Apart from drafting procedures in preparation for a crisis, responders can also learn to do the right thing. It infuses feelings into the whole process of crisis response by responding from the heart.

Crisis Management: Planning for the Inevitable by Steven Fink

Compiling some case studies and the things that happen behind them, the book provides scenarios, practical tips and advice on how to respond to a crisis, avoiding its drawbacks while traversing out of it. This has become a significant resource among small and medium businesses, governments, large companies, and educational institutions.

Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin

By studying four US presidents namely, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson, Doris Kearns Goodwin presents their respective journeys in their public life. It shows how they dealt with their leadership positions despite the challenges and hardships they experienced. The book also gives insights on how these leaders battled their internal and external predicaments. It also provides a road map on leadership based on the stories of the four leaders.

Crisis Management: Resilience and Change by Sarah Kovoor-Misra

Mismanaging a crisis may cost companies and communities resources and lives. Sarah Kovoor-Misra uses her transformative crisis management framework as well as presents factors to successful crisis management like leadership, systems, communication and stakeholder perspective. It also incorporates the ethical, emotional, change and global facets of crisis communication. These allow companies or organisations undergoing a crisis to be resilient, proactive, adaptable and ethical.

10 Biographies to Inspire Your Entrepreneurial Journey

If you’ve got some “me” time or when you’re stuck indoors for some reason, why not spend it by poring yourself on reading materials that will inspire and energise you to keep going in your entrepreneurial journey? A good start is to look into the life stories of business leaders who withstood adversities and exhibited determination and persistence in achieving their dreams.

These individuals have become powerful forces in their respective companies and industries. One may wonder, “how did they do it?” The answer may lie between the pages of those books that journal their lives and business experiences. We have listed 10 biographies that you can start reading and then you can work your way towards finding books that are related to your business or industry.

Shoe Dog by Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight

The book chronicles the early days of Nike in the eyes of its co-founder, Phil Knight. He also narrates his youth and how he faced the risks and challenges in getting close to his dreams. Did you know that this global footwear giant started being sold from the trunk of Knight’s car? But look where it is now. Get behind the story of the iconic swoosh and pick up the lessons you can apply in your enterprise.

Miracles Happen by Mary Kay Cosmetics Founder Mary Kay Ash

Mary Kay Ash started her company at the age of 45. Yet, it was not without some heartbreaks in her personal and professional life. However, she held on to her principles that were her beacon of light in her journey. She established her company not only to make her dreams become a reality but also to help women attain their dreams, too, by believing that miracles happen.

I Love Capitalism by Home Depot Co-founder Ken Langone

Regarding himself as the epitome of the American Dream, Ken Langone shares through his memoir that poverty did not impede his ambition of making it big. He worked his way to get an education, build a career and establish businesses. The book is a peek to his life and a testament on how capitalism has helped him achieve the success he now enjoys.

By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop by Gilt Co-founders Alexis Maybank and Alexandra Wilkis Wilson

Changing the way millions of people shop was something that Alexis Maybank, Alexandra Wilkis Wilson and their co-founders in Gilt never imagined they would achieve by putting up their online store. But the recession, the shopping culture of the market and conflicting needs of their suppliers were hurdles they had to surpass to save the company from impending death.

The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and The Age of Amazon by Brad Stone

American journalist Brad Stone interviewed several Amazon executives, including former employees, to tell the story of Amazon to his readers. Although the Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, declined an interview, he allowed Stone access to people around him to document how this modest online bookseller grew to become what it is now, offering many items beyond books and topping the online selling space.

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg

In this book, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, who is also one of the Most Powerful Women in Business by Fortune magazine, puts the spotlight on women. Backed by research and based on her personal experience, Sandberg touches on the challenges on women with the realities they face at work, in the community and at home. She also provided some practical tips and useful advice for women on how to build their careers and empower themselves.

Bloomberg by Bloomberg by Michael Bloomberg

Bloomberg Co-founder Michael Bloomberg fuses his personal stories, business insights and management lessons in this book that he penned himself. Readers get an overview of his struggles during his youth and onto his career and how he bested industry giants. He also shared his foray into public service and philanthropy.

Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built by Duncan Clark

Being an early advisor to Alibaba, investor Duncan Clark has a first-hand view of how Alibaba has grown and how its founder, Jack Ma, has accomplished massive success. From being a teacher to becoming a worldwide business phenomenon, Ma has shown that nothing is impossible. Regardless of background and location, he has managed to grow his business and pit it out against industry titans.

Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography by Walter Isaacson

Writer-historian Walter Isaacson has written the biographies of Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin. He added another feather on his cap by writing the biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Jobs had granted Isaacson various exclusive interviews, sharing his thoughts and experiences to the author. Isaacson also spoke to the countless people surrounding Jobs to present his story coming from all angles. From Jobs’ childhood to his youth and career life, Isaacson presented the inspiring story of Steve Jobs, including his character, values and lessons.

Grinding It Out by Ray Kroc of McDonald’s

As the first partner of the McDonald brothers, Ray Kroc revolutionised the fast-food industry through franchising, automation, training and advertising that helped shape McDonald’s as a global leader in its business space. In his autobiography, Kroc shares his journey from being a salesman and how he became a huge success. It was a steep climb and full of twists and turns, producing many valuable lessons and insights that will inspire his readers.

10 Books by Women Business Leaders

The business space is no longer just a man’s world. Many women entrepreneurs have already entered the scene, although the path is still a challenging one. There are those who have paved the way can guide other women who are contemplating going through the entrepreneurial journey.

Apart from encountering gender bias in their respective industries, women also have to juggle various responsibilities, such as homemaking, parenting and running a business. Good thing there are resources available where you can gather insights from female business leaders on how to brave the business world. We have listed 10 books by women leaders in the business field where you can take inspiration from and help you chart your own path.

Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 Into a Billion Dollar Business 

by Barbara Corcoran - Founder, The Corcoran Group

At 23, Barabara already worked in 20 or more jobs. Borrowing $1,000 from her boyfriend then, she left her waitressing post and founded a real estate firm in New York City. The rest, as they say, is history. But the part between establishing her real estate company and growing it into a billion-dollar business is what most people are curious about. Her book is the key to finding that phase of her career that catapulted her to a Shark Tank star. She turned the lessons she gathered from her mother into strategies, adding common sense, determination and creativity into the equation.

She Means Business: Turn Your Ideas into Reality and Become a Wildly Successful Entrepreneur

by Carrie Green - Founder, Female Entrepreneur Association

Carrie’s foray into entrepreneurship was an arduous and lonely one when she began her first online business at a young age. To connect with other women and to support each other through inspiring stories and business trips, she formed the Female Entrepreneur Association. She also came up with a digital magazine, She Means Business, which is of the same title of her book. Carrie shares her experience through her book and provides some tips and exercises to hone your entrepreneurial mind.

I Thought it Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame

by Brené Brown - CEO, The Daring Way

Female business leaders can pick a lot of inspiring thoughts and nuggets of wisdom from this book by Brené Brown, a University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work research professor and TED Talks speaker. Her in-depth studies and research enabled Brené to establish The Daring Way, a training and certification program for helping professionals, and write several books, including I Thought it Was Just Me. The book tackles the effects of shame on women and how women can transform these into courage, compassion and connection.

Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder

by Arianna Huffington - Founder, The Huffington Post

People may know Arianna as the name behind The Huffington Post and the Founder and CEO of Thrive Global, yet there is more to her than meets the eye. Regarded as one of the world’s most powerful women, Arianna shares her personal realisations on how the drive for power and money can hold us up temporarily through her book, Thrive. She emphasizes the need for a third metric to redefining success, which is living a life of well-being, wisdom, and wonder.

In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from Over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs

by Grace Bonney - Founder, Design*Sponge

Here’s a book where you will find 100 stories of female entrepreneurs and how they faced various challenges. Design*Sponge founder Grace Bonney has been featuring the creative community and the people behind the designs. Through her encounters of women that embrace the entrepreneurial spirit, she came up with the book, In the Company of Women, which is a rich repository of inspiration from women of diverse background and how they brave the challenges of setting up their own creative businesses.

Girl Code: Unlocking Secrets to Success, Sanity, and Happiness for the Female Entrepreneur

by Cara Alwill Leyba - Creator, Dagmar Rose Vintage and The Champagne Diet

Cara has transformed her passion for fashion and writing into a business, and she has inspired many people through her designs, books, podcasts and workshops. Her book Girl Code is like a blueprint for female entrepreneurs as she shares her stories and life lessons. The book also has practical workbook sections that can help readers reflect on themselves and transform their lives.   

WorkParty: How to Create & Cultivate the Career of Your Dreams 

by Jaclyn Johnson - CEO, Create & Cultivate

Embodying the name of her business, Jaclyn has been at the forefront of women empowerment, encouraging them to create and cultivate their ideas to make a mark for themselves. At 28, she already sold her first business and opened her second company, Create & Cultivate, which is a multi-million dollar business. Apart from that, she invests in startups owned by women. Her book reveals the roller-coaster ride that is her entrepreneurial journey and features other female entrepreneurs who have also overcome adversities in their respective journey.

Body and Soul: Profits With Principles 

by Anita Roddick - Founder, The Body Shop​

Anita founded the global beauty brand, The Body Shop, where she had merged her advocacy for environmental consciousness and ethical consumerism into the products. She has left a legacy, not only for her business but for her activism and philanthropic works. She penned Body and Soul, the story of how she founded The Body Shop and brought it to success, along with her views and stands on various social issues.

#GIRLBOSS 

by Sophia Amoruso​ – Founder, Nasty Gal and Girlboss Media

Named by Forbes as one of the world’s richest self-made women, Sophia went against all odds, did several jobs and created an online eBay store that led to the establishment of Nasty Gal. Later on, she filed for bankruptcy and established Girlboss Media. Sophia realised she’s different, given her problematic background, so she wrote #GIRLBOSS for women like her and how they can still get on track on the road to success.

Broken Open 

by Elizabeth Lesser – Co-Founder, Omega Institute

Elizabeth has been involved in various environmental and social causes. She co-founded Omega Institute, which has been providing training and workshops on various fields and topics, including spirituality, personal growth and women’s empowerment. Her work, Broken Open, has a mix of stories, anecdotes, insights and other tools to guide those who are at the crossroads of their lives to make the right choices amidst the difficulties.

Both male and female entrepreneurs can learn from the writings of these women business leaders. Take inspiration from their experiences and bring the lessons from their entrepreneurial journey to your personal and business growth. Use these as your guide as you move forward towards your goals.

10 Books on Persuasion and Negotiation

We have established that closing sales and winning deals are necessary for business. That’s the art of negotiation. It takes a lot of savvy, skills, training, exposure and insights to hone your competence on persuasion and end with success on your pitches.

To arm you with more learnings and additional knowledge for your negotiation acumen, we listed down ten books on persuasion. You can apply a thing or two (surely, more) from these materials to your sales transactions or other forms of business bargaining. You can even translate them to the day-to-day activities in your personal life.

The Art of Closing Any Deal: How to Be a Master Closer in Everything You Do

by James W. Pickens

Author James W. Pickens, a sales guru, covers in this book concepts like customer attitude, customer objections, closing techniques and closer pressure, among other things. Identifying blocks and obstacles along the way enables you to find means to get around them, break them or turn them to your advantage so that you can achieve your final close.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High

by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler

When you are stuck in crucial situations where an important matter, such as a relationship is at stake, you have to find a way to establish a dialogue with people concerned. It may be a tough hole to escape, but the book will provide you with tools on how to approach such circumstances and achieve appropriate results.

How to Win Friends & Influence People

by Dale Carnegie

Dale Carnegie’s self-help book was first published in 1936 and has become a source of inspiration and advice to readers who want to learn how to win people. It contains topics on how to handle different kinds of people, gain people to subscribe to your way of thinking, become a leader, and make your personal life happier than ever.

Bargaining for Advantage: Negotiation Strategies for Reasonable People

by G. Richard Shell

Professor G. Richard Shell is the director of the world-renowned Wharton Executive Negotiation Workshop, and he shares with professionals his systematic approach to effective negotiation and bargaining. His book enables readers to know their Negotiation I.Q. and learn how cultural disparities and gender can be factors to consider when you enter into a transaction.

Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal

by Oren Klaff

The book discusses Oren’s method, summarised by the acronym STRONG: Setting the Frame; Telling the Story; Revealing the Intrigue; Offering the Prize; Nailing the Hookpoint; Getting a Decision. He incorporates research results from neuroeconomics, which give us an idea of how the brain functions when making a decision and reacting to a pitch. Such information provides readers with insights on how to approach people and situations effectively that can make you win deals.

Getting More: How You Can Negotiate to Succeed in Work and Life

by Stuart Diamond

A New York Times Bestseller, USA Today Business Bestseller and #1 Wall Street Journal, Getting More touches on a new method of interaction that was a result of several years of research in various countries. It encompasses a more realistic approach to human psychology, which involves understanding cultural diversity, emotional intelligence and the perceptions of other people.

Getting Ready to Negotiate: The Getting to Yes Workbook

by Roger Fisher and Danny Ertel

Readers will find informative presentations in this workbook, such as charts, forms, worksheets and case studies where one can personalise and outline his strategies for negotiations. It features seven elements of negotiation, which includes identifying interests of other people and finding alternatives when other parties do not agree during negotiation.

Negotiation Genius: How to Overcome Obstacles and Achieve Brilliant Results at the Bargaining Table and Beyond

by Deepak Malhotra and Max H. Bazerman

A negotiation genius can turn a hopeless situation around and get out of it with success. Through this book, the authors uncover the strategies that geniuses employ during the process of negotiation. It contained stories and scenarios that present how negotiation geniuses approach difficult situations and produce positive results.

Getting Past No: Negotiating in Difficult Situations

by William Ury

For some, getting no for an answer means the end of the road. But not for William Ury. His book identifies barriers to cooperation and how to break them, describes ways of preparing for a negotiation, and illustrates various breakthrough strategies. For him, achieving mutual satisfaction is better than a one-sided victory.

Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade

by Robert B. Cialdini

Robert Cialdini expounds through his book about successful persuasion where influencing minds involve changing the state of mind of other parties. The book reveals new strategies, ideas and research insights in influencing and persuading people.

So, if you need someone to give you a “yes”, get some tips from any of these books on how you can create a win-win solution at the negotiation table. You’ll never know how they can help you turn things around and pave innovations to your business.