I was asked by the team at Coventry University to come up with my summer reading suggestions. These were published on the School of Management Blog along with some other great suggestions from team members and I thought I would republish here.
Very timely, in light of Friday 19 July IT meltdown, This is How They Tell Me The World Ends by Nicole Perlroth delves into the world of cyberwarfare. “If you’re running a business and want to understand the importance of digital security, this book will certainly open your eyes to the scale of the threat. If nothing else, you might just improve your password security and consider two-factor authentication (2FA) as being essential not an annoyance. Or it might just make you decide to move off-grid to a remote island in Scotland!”
The second book is The E Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber. “A classic, perhaps, but still to me essential reading for anyone considering starting a business. Too many business owners are working for the world’s worst boss – themselves. The challenge so many business owners face is that they are experts in what they do but not experts in running a business. This book really helps you think through, in a practical way, what’s necessary to build a scalable business which you work on rather than in.
The third title Ian suggests is The Art of Explanation by Ros Atkins. “For a business to be successful it has to be able to clearly communicate its Unique Selling Proposition, and how it will improve the potential customer’s life. Or maybe you need investment, why should a potential investor choose you over many others vying for their cash. Are you attending a networking event but dread the “60-second elevator pitch” and just mumble your way through it saying something instantly forgettable? This book, written by Ros Atkins of BBC explainer video fame, takes you through a seven-step process to create succinct and compelling presentations and deliver value to your audience. I use this when planning everything from my next YouTube video to designing pitches to clients or speaking to government ministers on small business issues.”
Last but not least is The Scotsman Who Saved America’s Wild Places by John Muir. “This is something completely different,” Ian admits. “A biography of someone who’s entrepreneurial but created not new businesses but was the reason we are still able to enjoy wild places in America, the UK and around the world. His story is one of just what can be achieved if you live by your passion. He took an American president on a wild camping trip and is the founding father of the National Parks of America. I visited his birthplace in Dunbar, Scotland and have been inspired by his story ever since.”