5 Game-Changing Books Every New Entrepreneur Must Read

Entrepreneurship is challenging, and there’s no shortage of content out there. We live in a time where one person says, “Do A, B, and C,” while another insists that A, B, and C are completely wrong. It can be overwhelming, especially when all you’re trying to do is gain the skills needed to bring your vision to life.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I do know that certain books have been instrumental in my journey of building a business. In today’s article, I’ll share five books, provide a summary of each, and explain what I learned from them. 

💡I suggest buying these used on eBay, as they are very budget-friendly.

Keep in mind that my takeaways are just my perspective—you may read these books and walk away with completely different insights, and that’s perfectly fine. But let me be clear: just because I’m giving you an overview doesn’t mean you’re off the hook from reading them yourself. There are no shortcuts in entrepreneurship, and success isn’t something you can microwave. Don’t fall into the habit of looking for quick fixes—if you want real growth, you’ll need to put in the work and actually read the books.

With that said, here are five books I believe every new entrepreneur should read.

5) The Magic of Thinking Big – David J. Schwartz

Henry Ford once famously said, “He who says he can and he who says he can’t are both usually right. ” If you were a ’90s kid like me, your teachers probably drilled into you the phrase, “If you can believe it, you can achieve it.”  Even King Solomon, the wealthiest man who ever lived, wrote in Proverbs, “As a man thinketh, so is he.”

What do all of these have in common with this book? They all emphasize that a person's actions and outcomes are a direct reflection of their thoughts. Our mindset shapes our behavior, decisions, and ultimately, our success.

When I started my entrepreneurial journey, I didn’t have a lot of resources. There were people around me who were probably more qualified, but the difference? I believed I could do it. If nothing else, I relied on sheer willpower and a refusal to quit. But this wasn’t an innate trait—it was something I learned, and The Magic of Thinking Big played a huge role in shaping that mindset.

At its core, this book teaches that the human brain is designed to be a powerful, self-operating, solution-generating machine. Think about it—who taught you how to breathe? How did you learn to chew, swallow, or drink? These are automatic functions. The author suggests that our brains naturally lead us toward our goals, but only if we give them clear, confident directions. Vague ambitions like “make more money” or “be comfortable” won’t cut it. Instead, we need to think big, be specific, and set precise targets.

Consider the game of golf—there’s a vast amount of land, but the player is aiming for a precise target. Likewise, in entrepreneurship, success isn’t about wandering in the right direction; it’s about aiming with intent.

This book is ultimately about confidence—one of the most critical assets you’ll need at the start of your journey. The early years will be tough, filled with setbacks and uncertainty, but confidence isn’t just about believing in yourself. It grows through action. The more you push forward, take risks, and learn from failures, the stronger your belief in yourself will become.

I highly recommend The Magic of Thinking Big to any new entrepreneur. It will challenge you to set bigger goals, think without limitations, and trust that your brain will find a way to get you there—confidently, without second-guessing or disqualifying yourself before you even start.

4) Secrets Of The Millionaire Mind – T. Harv Eker 

There’s a reason I put these books in a specific order. If you’ve read The Magic of Thinking Big, you’ve started shifting how you think about yourself and your potential. Now, it’s time to change how you think about money.

I’ve read plenty of personal finance books—Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Richest Man in Babylon, and many others. They all have value, but if I had to recommend just one book to new entrepreneurs, it would be Secrets of the Millionaire Mind.

Let me explain why.

Imagine a house with a thermostat set to 75 degrees. No matter what happens—whether it’s freezing outside or scorching hot—the thermostat will adjust the heating or cooling to bring the house back to that set temperature. It considers the weather, the structure of the house, the furniture inside—everything—to maintain that balance.

Your financial mindset works the same way. We all have a “financial thermostat” set by our upbringing, peers, and environment. It determines the amount of money we subconsciously believe we deserve or are capable of handling.

I’ve seen this play out in real life. Watching financial media, I noticed how some entrepreneurs and business owners could lose everything—yet somehow rebuild and find themselves back at their previous financial level. On the flip side, growing up in an impoverished community, I saw how many people, no matter their circumstances—job loss, unexpected expenses, or even temporary windfalls—would always end up back at the same financial status.

Why? Because their financial thermostat was set at a certain level, and just like a real thermostat, they instinctively made decisions (whether conscious or not) to return to that setting.

Once you’ve read The Magic of Thinking Big and set your goals, the next step is not just raising your financial thermostat but also mastering the skills, techniques, and philosophies needed to sustain a new level of success.

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind  teaches you how to reset your mindset, and reprogram yourself for the long-term. I’ve discovered that making more money isn’t just about luck or chance—it’s about recognizing patterns, making strategic decisions, and shaping your financial habits based on a deeper understanding of how money actually works. This book was instrumental in helping me shift my perspective and develop the mindset necessary for lasting financial growth.

3) How To Win Friends and Influence People- Dale Carnegie

Now that you’ve reshaped your views on yourself and money with the previous books, the next step is adjusting how you see and interact with people.

As of this writing, we live in an interesting cultural shift in America—one where people are becoming increasingly withdrawn from others. Phrases like “protecting my energy” and “I don’t like people” dominate social spaces, promoting a more self-centered approach to life. While setting boundaries is important, if entrepreneurship is your goal, people skills aren’t optional—they’re essential.

The reality is, whether you need a team or you’re a solo act relying on customers, your ability to connect with people will be a determining factor in your success. Here’s a harsh but necessary truth about entrepreneurship: most ideas aren’t new. You will have competition. And in most cases, people choose to work with or buy from those they like and trust.

Early-stage entrepreneurship is almost entirely relationship-based. I’ve been fortunate to have a natural gift for people skills and charisma, but I know that’s not the case for everyone. If connecting with others doesn’t come easily to you, this book will equip you with techniques and soft skills to build meaningful relationships and expand your influence in business. A significant portion of the book delves into the psychology behind human behavior—why people think, react, and make decisions the way they do. Understanding this will give you a massive advantage in building both your business and your network.

Now, let me be clear: the goal of this book isn’t to teach you how to be fake or put up a facade. I firmly believe that every human is a people person at their core. These traits are in us from birth. Have you ever seen babies or young kids? I have yet to meet a child who lacks the ability to make friends. They approach others with curiosity, enthusiasm, and openness. The idea that some people just “aren’t good with people” is a myth—one that we were taught as adults and accepted because it’s easier to throw up our hands in frustration and blame a lack of relationship skills.

The truth is, building relationships is a skill like any other, and it can be developed. You weren’t born bad at connecting with others—you were just never taught how to do it effectively. This book will help you unlearn the myths and give you the tools to master one of the most critical skills in business: winning with people.

2) Million Dollar Weekend – Noah Kagan

If you’ve made it this far, congrats! You’ve reshaped the way you think about money, people, and yourself. Now, you’ll need all of that as we dive into this next must-read.

Can I tell you the number one reason, in my opinion, why new entrepreneurs fail? They don’t sell—at least not effectively. They don’t sell themselves, their company, or their product with enough conviction. Most entrepreneurs take the easy route: they post a Facebook status, ask their friends to share, and sit back, hoping that’s enough. It’s comfortable. It’s safe. And sure, no one in your inner circle is going to tell you your product sucks. But strangers will. And that’s exactly who you need to sell to.

The harsh truth? You will never build a million-dollar business or scale a new venture until you become completely comfortable with strangers telling you “no” over and over again. Sales is hard, and in the beginning, you probably won’t be able to afford a salesperson. That means you—as the founder, CEO, or sole proprietor—will be your business’s first and most important salesperson. Because if you don’t believe in your product enough to confidently sell it to strangers every single day, why should I? 

Million Dollar Weekend provides practical exercises, techniques, and strategies to help you step outside your comfort zone, grab that metaphorical megaphone, and start talking about your offering. But here’s the reality check: you will get turned down a lot. The national sales average shows that you’ll be told “no” about 97% of the time. That means, on average, you need to face around 30 rejections just to land one customer.

And let’s be honest—rejection stings. As entrepreneurs, our business is our baby. When someone dismisses your offer, it feels personal. You want people to see your product the way you see it, and when they don’t, it can take a serious toll on your confidence and mental health. The human nervous system is wired to avoid pain, so it makes complete sense that people naturally want to avoid sales.

But here’s the thing—you have to go through it. Think of it like doing push-ups. At first, they hurt. The next day, they still hurt. But if you keep doing them, you build strength, and eventually, you push through the discomfort. Sales is the same way.

This book will teach you how to reframe rejection, understand its value, and most importantly—get comfortable with it. Because the sooner you embrace “no,” the faster you’ll get to “yes.”

1) The Holy Bible (Modern English Version) – Various Authors

Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve read hundreds of books, with hundreds more on my to-do list. But out of all of them, The Holy Bible is, and always will be, the most impactful.

One of the greatest revelations I’ve had is that we, as a society, often fail to give God the credit He deserves as the Creator of all things. Even more so, many people overlook the practicality of Jesus’ teachings. The Bible has unfairly earned a reputation as a book of mystical stories or outdated traditions, but in reality, it is a divine instructional manual from the Creator Himself—guiding us on how to live life to the fullest, including in business.

Our God is a God of systems and wisdom. He is not random or vague—He is precise and intentional. We see this in Job 38, where God speaks of the foundations and measurements of the universe, asking,
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?" (Job 38:4-5).

This shows that God is deeply methodical. Nothing He creates is by chance—He designs everything with purpose, detail, and order. The same applies to business.

Look at Noah’s Ark—God didn’t tell Noah to just “build something that floats.” Instead, He gave specific measurements and clear instructions:
"Make yourself an ark of gopher wood… The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits." (Genesis 6:14-16)

There was no magic wand involved. Noah followed a structured, detailed plan to accomplish what God called him to do.

And the good news? You can do the same. God has given us the ability to seek Him for wisdom. James 1:5 tells us:
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

This means you don’t have to navigate business—or life—alone. You can pray for wisdom, and God, in His faithfulness, will give you clear direction. He is not a God of confusion but of clarity and strategy.

Furthermore The Bible is filled with examples of people who walked with God and excelled in leadership, business, and finance.

• Solomon – Known as the wisest and richest man in history, Solomon sought God’s wisdom first before wealth. As a result, his kingdom flourished beyond measure (1 Kings 3:9-13).
• David – Before becoming king, David was a shepherd, musician, and military strategist. He used his skills and leadership to build one of the most powerful kingdoms in history, and despite his flaws, he always sought after God’s heart.
• Paul – One of the greatest apostles of all time, Paul wasn’t just a preacher—he was also a businessman. He owned a tent-making business (Acts 18:3), which allowed him to fund his ministry while traveling and spreading the Gospel.

What does this tell us? That business and faith are not separate. God has always been involved in the success of those who build with Him.

Business, at its core, is a tool for service. The skills and talents God placed within you are meant to serve others—it’s why Jesus commanded us to love and serve one another. A tree does not eat its own fruit; its purpose is to provide for others. In the same way, what you have—your gifts, ideas, and innovations—are meant to meet someone else’s need.

You were created in the image of a Holy God. And for many of us, He has shared a portion of His ability to create. Take heart, lean into God, and walk forward in faith—because with Him, you can do this.