Entrepreneurship in the 21st century is more than just business of trading and manufacturing items. It has taken a whole new meaning and being an entrepreneur requires a lot of skills. One can not just start with any business or enterprise without having the necessary knowledge and expect to succeed. So to equip you with right skills and tools, here we are with list of top 15 articles that you must read to become a successful entrepreneur.
1. “Why Should Anyone Be Led by You?”
Leadership is one of the highest valued qualities in the 21st century. Being a leader is not an easy job and it requires a lot of qualities. This Harvard Business Review teaches you the 4 best traits of a business leader and they might not be the qualities you would have thought of. So if you want to take a step back and look at what business leadership means and how to become a leader in the field of business this is the perfect article for you.
2. “Don’t Take It Personally’ Is Terrible Work Advice”
This Harvard Business Review article by Duncan Coombe explains why is it so important for business owners to take the business personally and treat it like that. This article explains how to engage employees in such a way so that they consider the business as their own and take pride in doing the work. This article teaches how this feeling among the employees as well as owners can help to build a successful enterprise.
3. “The Psychological Price of Entrepreneurship”
The 9 to 5 job can be very exhausting and can create stress and pressure on an Individual. On the other hand, being an entrepreneur can be even more exhausting with no fixed working hours and more pressure to handle. In this Forbes article by Kumar Arora, he explains how physically and mentally exhausting being an entrepreneur can be and also give some great pieces of advice to manage life as an entrepreneur.
4. “How to Hire the Right Person”
Compiled from more than 500 interviews, the article “How to Hire the Right Person” by Adam Bryant of The New York Times brings together some of the best hiring advice from CEO’s he’s interviewed. From asking the right questions to paying attention to little details, Bryant reveals all the tips to hire the right person for the job.
5. “8 Mistakes First-Time Founders Make When Starting a Business”
There are many mistakes first time founders can make as entrepreneurs. In this article Mitch Zuklie, the CEO of Orrick Law Firm, and a business and legal advisor pinpoints the top mistakes that entrepreneurs make during their journey like growing too fast, ignoring important advice etc.
7. “A Study of 3,526 Companies Shows 1 Decision Makes Start-ups More Successful. Most Founders Do the Opposite”
Most start-up owners prefer to work with someone in partnership and build a business. But interestingly Research from New York University and the Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania found that sole owners have higher chances of succeeding as an entrepreneur. This article discusses in detail about the parameters taken into consideration to reach this conclusion.
7. “Good Advice: Tips from Successful Small Business Owners”
This article from The Hartford highlights what CEOs wished they knew earlier. It highlights the importance of delegating and trusting employees, keeping a good mental balance and much more in detail.
8. “10 Ways to Evaluate a Market”
This article by Josh Kaufman’s highlights 10 important aspects you should consider before entering a market. If you are starting a new venture you would surely like to tick mark all of them before getting started.
9. “Being a Successful Entrepreneur Isn’t Only About Having the Best Ideas”
The article, published in the Harvard Business Review by Andy Molinsky, highlights the importance of execution in a start-up. More often than not idea is given a lot of importance. But a great idea is just a head start, execution is a long process and accounts for a lot of work.
10. “1,000 True Fans”
The article, published in the Harvard Business Review by Andy Molinsky, explains how a business doesn’t really need millions of customers but 1000 true fans who are loyal to the company. This article teaches the importance of audience building and targeting.
11. “500+ Free Tools to Help You Bootstrap Your Start-up”
As the name suggests, this article published in Neatly.io is a one-stop solution to all business problems. The article has a list divided into categories that provide tools for every business need of yours. From selecting a name for your organisation to coming up with a business plan for your organisation, it has every tool that you need. No other article can provide you with so many tools in one place.
12. “The Brand Called You”
Branding has become an important part of business in today’s world. We can observe how branding has created trust and product differentiation. Be it Apple in the mobile industry or Gucci in the fashion industry, branding has played a huge role in the growth of these companies. Similarly, This Fast Company article published in 1997 by Tom Peters talks about personal branding. How a person can become a brand and have a great influence on everyone. This was among the first few articles that talked about personal branding even when this concept was not so popular back in 1997.
13. “How to Brainstorm like a Googler”
This article by Veronique Lafargue gives an insight into what Google’s brainstorming process looks like. It can help you to generate up to 10 times more ideas even if you are doing the business all alone. It can also teach you to build a prototype.
14. “Meeting the Challenge of Disruptive Change”
This article is written by economics scholar Clayton Christensen and business consultant Michael Overdorf. This article explains when a business needs changes and how to go about making the changes when they’re really needed. The Harvard Business Review has a handful of small business articles that have withstood the test of time, but “Meeting the Challenge of Disruptive Change” is one of them.
15. “Reclaim Your Creative Confidence”
Innovation and Creativity are key for entrepreneurs in today’s world. A recent IBM survey of chief executives around the world shows that it’s the most sought-after trait in a leader. While most of the Harvard Business Articles are related to the management part, this article highlights the need and importance of creativity in any business and market especially in this fast-paced world we are living in.
