10 Books I Believe Will Help You Grow a Lasting Business After reading over 100 books this year, I've selected these as the ones I believe will give your business a boost.

By Steve Eakin Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

graphicstock

Chances are, every core problem that you're going to face in your business has been dealt with by someone before. "There's nothing new under the sun," as people say. But, in truth, that can actually be a good thing.

Related: 17 Business Books Everyone Will Be Reading in 2018

The reason? Someone's solved "your" problem already, and that solution could help you a lot if the solver only showed you how he or she did it.

So, while a personal, one-on-one interaction may not be available, you can still get this person's invaluable perspective. Because it's probably all written down in a book somewhere. The lessons learned, the trials overcome, the roadblocks you're going to hit are all there for you to discover before it happens to you personally.

And a cool bonus is that not all good business books are about business! They may have underlying themes that you can apply, or are biographies and autobiographies of people who have tackled your problem before you.

In no particular order, here are the ten best books to help you build and grow a lasting business.

1. Rich20Something by Daniel DiPiazza

Rich20Something is DiPiazza's debut work and an absolutely incredible "how-to" on ditching your boring job to build a modern lifestyle business. It highlights the magic of authenticity and opportunity, and will show you how to trade your unique skills for an incredible income.

Related: 28 Top Business Books to Get Ahead In 2018

2. The Power Of Myth by Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers

If you want to communicate effectively, you need to know how to tell a good story. People are naturally drawn to good story. The Power Of Myth is Moyers interviewing Campbell and taking a deep dive into why certain mythical structures have stood the test of time.

In running a business, you need to sell your own story. This can get you sales, app downloads, website traffic and more. You just have to start with a good story.

3. Deep Work by Cal Newport

We have a tendency to let shallow, meaningless work dominate our days. Deep Work is a terrific book that will guide you into the world of "deep work," where you can make major progress in a short time frame. I think that it will blow your mind.

4. On Writing by Stephen King

This dude can write. He's published about 100 books, which is more than most craftsmen (and women) can dream of producing in a lifetime, and he's still going strong.

On Writing is a look into why King writes, but more importantly, how he writes.

If you want to hone your craft, whatever it may be, like a true master, King will show you how.

5. The Power Of Habit by Charles Duhigg

In The Power Of Habit Duhigg gives us an incredible journey into how much habit dominates our lives. It can be a force for good, or bad in our lives -- and if you want your business to grow, you really need to understand it.

6. Zombie Loyalists by Peter Shankman

In this incredibly loud world that we live in, it's hard for companies to cut through it all and connect with their audience. If you manage to do that, you still have to overcome the hurdle of keeping them loyal.

Zombie Loyalists is Shankman's blueprint for how to be authentic and keep your audience as loyal as a pack of, well, zombies.

7. Deskbound by Kelly Starrett

It's been proven a thousand times over that good health helps your productivity and success. What most people don't realize is just how awful it is for the human body to sit all day.

Unfortunately, in modern business, we do lots and lots of sitting. And it's killing us.

Deskbound helps you undo years of damage rather quickly, and gives you the tools you need to remain as healthy as you are productive.

8. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist is a simple, fun story about being who you really are and going on an adventure. It's a reminder about the importance of taking a risk every now and again, and how to handle yourself if things don't work out as you planned.

9. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai was shot in the face for the "crime" of being a woman in Pakistan and loving learning. Now try to complain about something not going so well for you. Yeah, perspective helps.

I Am Malala is the story of one of the bravest human beings of our time (and most honored; Yousafzai is a Nobel laureate). Her book is about the passion for learning, the passion for growth and the passion for speaking out against injustice -- no matter what the consequences.

10. Money: Master The Game by Tony Robbins

A huge part of success is mastering your finances. In Money: Master The Game, Robbins sits down with some of the most successful investors out there and lays out for all of them the exact blueprint that made their fortunes. If you want to manage your money, and help it grow, this is how.

The bottom line is, the more you read, the better prepared you'll be for building your business. It doesn't matter if it's a tech startup or an app, retail, hospitality or manufacturing. You're always best off if you're prepared.

And when your choices are to learn from those who have solved the problem you're about to face, or to face them on your own, the decision is simple.

Related: 10 Books Tim Ferriss Thinks Every Entrepreneur Should Read

So, go take advantage of your personal coach ... between the bookends.

Steve Eakin

Founder of Startup Black Belt

Steve Eakin is a speaker, investor, startup advisor and the founder of Startup Black Belt, where he helps tech startups launch, grow and scale.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

This 29-Year-Old's Side Hustle Brought People 'to the Dark Green Side.' It Made $10,000 Within 2 Days and Sees 6 Figures a Month.

Nikki Seaman began work on her business when the pandemic led to grocery store shutdowns.

Side Hustle

How to Build Endless Passive Income With This Simple Online Hustle

Autopilot stores aren't just income streams. They are passports to freedom, flexibility and finally working and living on your own terms.

Business News

Elon Musk's xAI Is Hiring Engineers for Its Anime 'AI Companions' — With Salaries Up to $440,000 a Year

xAI launched a set of "AI companions" earlier this week, with a third on the way.

Marketing

Why Most Startups Fail to Get National Press — and What To Do Instead

Tech startups often struggle to gain national news coverage. Here's how startups can achieve that elusive national media attention.

Business News

Here's How the CEO of the Biggest Bank in the U.S. Spends His Downtime: 'This Gives Me Purpose in Life'

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, 69, recently said that his top three priorities are his family, his country, and his purpose, which is working at the bank — in that order.

Health & Wellness

This Is the Newest Real Estate Trend You Can't Miss — and It's Worth $438 Billion

A rapidly emerging new trend is sweeping the global real estate sector, powered by humanity's collective desire for longer lives and healthier lifestyles. Here's what entrepreneurs should pay attention to to capture the new market.