Ok, so these books aren’t specifically on Personal Training Business.
But these are the very first books that Pat, Nick and I read when we decided to go into business for ourselves.
I read The E-Myth by Michael Gerber.
Pat read The Wizard of Ads by Roy H. Williams
And Nick read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
They made a world of difference in our lives. What about you? What is the FIRST business book you read?
Yours in prosperity,
Jim Labadie
I started with “Unleashing the Ideavirus” by Seth Godin.
Got me started, at least!
The very first business book I read was, Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
Then the list started to grow, because I realized that in order to run a business rather than work in a business I needed to take action and start implementing ways for other people to work for me. It all comes back to systems.
Now it looks like I have two more books to read. Thanks guys!
I needed lot of motivational help…
I listened to a lot of Jim Rohn on CD
Read Your Best Life Now by Joel Osteen
Most recently:
Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill
Gorilla Marketing – Jay Conrad Levinson
The Millionaire Mind – T Harv Eker
The Four Hour Work Week – Timothy Ferris
My first book of influence was “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. I still have it. The second was, “In Search of Excellence” by Tom Peters (and now he’s broke!)
My recent reads were/are: “The Tipping Point” (re-read) by Malcolm Gladwell, “Jump Start Your Business Brain” by Doug Hall, “When Character Was King” by Peggy Noonan (not a business book per se but awesome context regarding Ronald Reagan way of doing things), I am getting on a plane to Portland, OR and will re-read “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell
I think the first business book I read was Business @ the Speed of Thought by Bill Gates. The E-Myth is a great book! E-Myth Revisted takes it to another level.
And Rich Dad, Poor Dad is another must read…everyone should be required to read it…especially in school, but maybe not…it kinda defeats the purpose that most schools serve…LOL. Another great post… this is what many people need to hear. Self education is a required pillar to success.
My first book was “Rich Dad Poor Dad”.
It changed my life forever. I always hated reading and I started that book when I was 23 ( now 28) and I read it in my car on my work breaks. I never realized how important it really is. Reading is a MUST.
Pat Nick and Jim you guys are awesome!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t know if “How to Win Friends.. was the first but it is the first one I tell people to read. Next I send them to Stephan Covey’s Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. It’s like a literature class, everyone should read the classics.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. I see some of you loved the book just like I did. And Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker. They are the books that changed my life. They changed my mind set into finally becoming an entrepreneur and getting away from the crappy way we were treated in a corporate world. I also bought the audios off iTunes to both AFTER reading the books. Now, I listen to them all the time.
The first business book I read was “Legal Aspects of Personal Fitness Training”, back in 1990. It was more of a technical book, but the one that had the biggest impact on my thinking was “The E Myth”.
One of my favorites is Patton on Leadership. I love the references as to how leadership is leadership, regardless of whether it is a CEO or a general.
I can’t remember what my first one was but this year Ihave read Mastering the Rockefeller Habits-Verne Harnish and Flip – Peter Sheehan and both have been invaluable for creating rhythm in your business and seizing new ideas.
Thanks for the new reads!
One of the most importnat books I have ever read about money, not just business is Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey. It taught me how to live debt-free.
Another very important one for me is The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles.
I’m not sure if it was the first business book that I read, but in 1991 I read Tony Robbins-Awaken The Giant Within.
I like Pat read around 5 books at a time. Whatever mood I’m in decides on what book to read at that time.
HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE IS A PERSONAL FAVORITE BUT ANOTHER IS “THE PSYCHOLOGY OF WINNING” BY DENNIS WAITLEY. PUTS SUCCESS INTO TWO CATEGORIES WINNERS AND LOSERS.
I’ve read all of these and the two other Wizard of ads books Secret Formulas and Magical Worlds.
Another GREAT biz book is called Jump Start Your Business Brain by Doug Hall.
All of Seth Godin’s books are must reads.
Good to Great and Built to Last by Jim Collins are exceptional reads.
Trump’s Think Big and Kick Ass is also interesting. Not great, but it has good elements.
There are so many others but these are the better one in my opinion.
The first business book I read was Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi, which I followed up with How to Win Friends…
If I had to do it again, I’d start off with Dale Carnegie’s book first then read NEA…having re-read NEA, I found that I I was better able to sue the info after having read How to Win Friends…
Good to Great by Jim Collins got it done for me! What’s your seat on the bus, and where are the best seats for your colleagues? If you’re in a seat you want to be in, but the bus isn’t moving, changes must be made!!
In my opinion, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” is a must-read.
I also read the “E-Myth”, then “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. Both of these are must have for everyone.
First two were “How to Win Friends” and “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”. As noted above, both great reads… Right now I’m reading “How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less” by Nicholas Boothman… In the mold of How to Win Friends, it’s a solid read.
Great books! Two that really did it for me was “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey and Rich Dad’s “Cash Flow Quadrant”.
Thanks I really needed something like this
Think and Grow Rich is a must read. You learn why ‘wealth’ is more than little green pieces of paper with dead presidents. Same goes for Rich Dad Poor Dad which was my first.
First book on business I read?
The Little Engine That Could
Gotta Hustle like Gary V. says
My first book, not really a business book but a get in tough with what you want book, was Maximaize the Moment by T.D. Jakes (spritiual read)
Now reading The Little Platinum Book of Cha-Ching! by Jeffrey Gitomer.
I’m skimming through INFLUENCE, The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini.
I have nothing but educational CD’s in my car (no music), so everytime I drive somewhere I have and educational moment about sales, marketing, life etc. Ryan Lee called it a University on Wheels.
Thanks for this post. Lots a great books listed in the comments here.
Donovan “DFitnessguy” Owens
I am not sure of the first but some of my favorites are “How to Win Friends and Influence People” “Think and Grow Rich” “Jesus Ceo” “Wealth Beyond Reason” “Dave Ramsey Books” “Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway” “The Psychology of persuasion” “The experience” “The four hour work week” and “Predictably Irrrational” and more.
The richest man that ever lived by Steven Scott based on Solomon and the book of Proverbs. This is truly the book that will bring you success in life, not just in your business
I think one of the first business/motivational type books I read was about 6 years ago called Awaken The Giant Within by Tony Robbins. I then read another one of his books Unlimited Power.
Also 7 Habits Of Highly Successful People, 4 Hour Work Week, Ziglar On Selling, No BS Guide For Entrepreneurs by Dan Kennedy, Think and Grow Rich. The book that changed my life to become a fitness entrepreneur was The Millionaire Workout by Ryan Lee, which I read last summer on a plane ride back from a conference.
Right now I’m reading How to Win Friends and Influence People. And I can’t wait to add some of the other great books mentioned.
It’s amazing to think that you have all of this knowledge at your fingertips and all you have to do is pick up a book and read! Great post guys!
@Dave Whitley, SRKC -
Dave Ramsey’s book is on my night stand now. If you have any debt at all, then you need to read this, just as the Irontamer mandates.
The E-Myth was one of my first business books that propelled me into what I’m doing now. The 4 hour work week is another great one. Who moved my cheese helped me out when making the transition into boot camps.
One book that I read over and over is The Alchemist. It kind explains in detail what I’m going through as I keep growing.
The Greatness Guide by Robin Sharma was my 1st business book. Currently reading Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi. Great book thus far.
“Maximized Manhood” was probably the first book of this type that I read…either that or “The Richest Man in Babylon” Quite frankly, it’s been so long ago I cannot remember.
“Treasure” by Edwin Louis Cole is a wonderful book on principles and business.
“The Big Moo” by Godin was one of my all-time favorites.
well, i think my first book was 7 habits highly effective people…but the first things first is great- talks about managing your time and how to use it wisely!
has anyone read the purple cow? just wondered if that is any good. Not sure about rich dad, poor dad– anyone tell me about that.
i have read lot of books that was mentioned above..but…
i have read think and grow rich like 3 times and every time i read that book, i missed something that i did not catch and how could i miss that. it is like educational thing to me.
I really enjoyed the go getter– a must read— awesome!! the next is intergrity- by dr henry cloud!!! Incredible!
can anyone please tell me what is never eat alone— or should it called never go alone..ha ha. just kidding!
A cracker to get you started it Book Yourself Solid by Michale Port. It is written for service professionals like us and is a great guide to getting booked solid.
I have a whole list of great ones here too… http://ptbusinesssuccess.com/learning.html
Great question guys…
My first business related book was ‘Coversations with Millionaires’ by Mike Litman – I highly recommend it!
dr seuss, oh the places you will go, then i read who moved my cheese, both are a must read
Man reading all of this is quite inspirational hence me feeling “compelled” to share and buy!
I’ve just brought online “How to Win Friends and Influence People” so will be here next week!! If shyt (which I don’t ever believe it will be) Mike Boyle owes me lunch
Some of my own most influential books for life/business are;
Rich Dad Poor Dad
Tried to read it about 10yrs ago, didn’t happen wasn’t ready for it! Read it last year, loved it so much got coaching from Rich Dad company!
Science of Getting Rich
The Alchemist
7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Think and Grow Rich
The Power of Now
A new Earth
The way of the Peaceful Warrior
The Ultra Marathon Man
Thresholds of the Mind – Bill Harris
Some of these have NOTHING to do with business but EVERYTHING to do with life and how you think, so at some level they have impacted me enough to look at my thinking which ultimately changes my business!
Okay I’ll get off the box now and lift some tin!
I read “How to Win Friends..” several times in college (Had the same business prof three semesters in a row) but the first one that got my attention was “The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You’re At to Where You Want to Be” by Jack Canfield.
I read the “E-Myth” after I had already opened my business but it definitely motivated me to do things differently.
My first book was Think and Grow Rich, then it was the E Myth Revisited. Both great books. After that I went on to The Four Hour Workweek, and the Starbucks Experience.
My first was Unlimited Power by Anthony Robbins . Thick Face Black Heart by Chin-Ning Chu is a must read along with The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.
Like some said above…Stephen Covey…anything by him especially First Things First. The Book of Proverbs is another great read listed above. Many successful business practices and success coaches use principles from Proverbs (in the Bible).
I’ve been reading the E-Myth Mastery by Michael Gerber and I just received three books today. One called “Influence” The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini. And two by Dan Kennedy, “The Ultimate Marketing Plan” and “The Ultimate Sales Letter”. I have heard you guys talk about Dan Kennedy a lot so I figured he must have something good to say.
Plus that I got three more books coming. I got a lot reading to do guys.
Never Eat Alone was my first as well.
A lot of the books you guys listed were the “first” books I read but I have to mention one of the books I loved that carries over to so many aspects of life and business, Dave Tate’s Under The Bar.
A must read for everyone….
Wow! This is awesome. My reading list just got longer. Thanks guys.
Boy, I’ve got a lot of reading to do. I read a lot of these books a long time ago before I started my own business, but didnt make real use of the info in them. Now I see it’s time to get them back out and reread them. Thanks everyone.
Jo
“Guerrilla Marketing Excellence” by Jay Conrad Levinson. Got it a Goodwill for a buck, but it’s value has been priceless.
I have been reading The Ultimate Marketing Plan by Dan Kennedy. It’s a great read so far, next up is it’s companion book The Ultimate Sales Letter, hopefully I can come out an improved fitness marketer. Thanks goes to Jim, Pat,and Nick and the other fitness pros for providing everyone with some direction in life.
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