A Curated List of Biz and Self Improvements Books With ❤️ From SOCO
For Success To Be Unavoidable, Growth Is Required 🎯
I’m a student of growth. I’m not talking about “hockey stick scalable growth strategies”. 🤮. I don’t really subscribe to that kind of growth. I’m talking about sustainable, repeatable and regular growth on all fronts: personal, relational, physical, and yes professional/entrepreneurial. Because let’s face it…that’s the reality for 99% of us who have decided on a different path for our lives. It’s slow, it’s messy and it’s littered with obstacles and distractions. But, regardless of your path, learning from yourself and others along the way is REQUIRED.
This Is The Year ❤️
Personal growth doesn’t happen by accident. So, if this is the year that you’ve decided to up your personal growth game and/or transform your business (bonus points if you set a reading goal for the year), then this post is for you. The team at SOCO put this list of our favorite business books together with contributions from SOCO members as well.
25 Books for 2025 đź“–
These books cover a wide range of topics from business models and systems to mindset and culture. We picked some luminaries and world class thought leaders as well as some lesser known, but rising folks taking a really interesting spin on common business topics. Some of these are absolute classics (worthy of a re-read) and some might not be on your radar. All are worth your investment of time. And you are worth the investment.Â
Which are your favorites? Hit us up on LinkedIn if we missed any that need to make the list.
#1: “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey
About: Transform your life and business with Covey’s powerful principles for personal growth, leadership, and productivity—building lasting success from the inside out.
The Big Lesson: You’re in the driver’s seat. Take proactive control of your life by focusing on personal growth, prioritizing what matters most, and maintaining integrity.
#2: “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz
About: Michalowicz flips traditional accounting on its head, urging businesses to prioritize profits first, ensuring sustainable growth and financial health in any economy.
The Big Lesson: Flip the script on the “bottom line” and make it the most important thing in your company. The top of the priority list.
#3: “Clockwork” by Mike Michalowicz
About: This one is a STAPLE in our peer groups at SOCO. So, so good. Streamline your business by making it run like clockwork. Michalowicz shows how to create systems that free you from daily chaos and build lasting success.
The Big Lesson: Your business isn’t a real business until it can run without you. Get to it.
#4: “Outliers: The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell
About: Gladwell uncovers the hidden factors behind extraordinary success, emphasizing hard work, timing, and opportunity over raw talent for achieving greatness.
The Big Lesson: Put in the work. It’s much more valuable than your talents.
#5: “The One Thing” by Jay Papasan
About: Achieve massive results by focusing on what truly matters. Papasan reveals the power of prioritizing one key objective for productivity and success.
The Big Lesson: Want to win? Focus your efforts and maximize your impact.
#6: “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu
About: What the what? This book was written nearly 2,500 years ago and is still making top 10 lists today. Sun Tzu’s timeless strategies on leadership, conflict, and competition offer deep insights for business leaders seeking tactical advantages in an ever-changing market.
The Big Lesson: Strategic success in business, like warfare, requires careful planning, adaptability, and the wise use of resources to outmaneuver competition.
#7: “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki
About: This book changed our founder’s life 25 years ago. Kiyosaki challenges traditional views on wealth, stressing financial literacy and the importance of investing, entrepreneurship, and owning assets to create lasting financial independence.
The Big Lesson: Investing in assets, rather than relying on a paycheck, is the key to building long-term wealth and financial freedom.
#8: “Buy Back Your Time” by Dan Martell
About: Martell provides a blueprint to reclaim your time, overcome burnout, and scale your business effectively, empowering entrepreneurs to work smarter, not harder.
The Big Lesson: The key lesson is that time is your most valuable asset— know what you cost your company and delegate tasks to others so you can focus on high-value activities that propel your business forward.
#9: “Four Hour Work Week” by Tim Ferris
About: Ferris teaches how to design a life of freedom, automate business processes, and outsource tasks, giving you more time and less stress while achieving greater success.
The Big Lesson: Can you actually only work 4 hours a week and be successful? Probably not. But, you should try.
#10: “Atomic Habits” by James Clear
About: Clear shows how tiny, incremental changes lead to extraordinary results. Master the art of habit-building to create lasting success in business and life.
The Big Lesson: I love this take on “1% Every Day” and think this is actually the way big changes are made. A great book to help you develop some of those “atomic” habits. Â
#11: “10x Is Easier Than 2X” by Dan Sullivan
About: Sullivan argues that aiming for 10x growth forces you to think and act radically differently, making it easier to achieve extraordinary success than small improvements.
Why We Like It: We can get caught up in small thinking. Sometimes, it’s better to step away, cast a wide wide vision and go for something bigger than you ever have before.
#12: “The E-Myth Revisited” by Michael E. Gerber
About: An instant classic. Gerber explains why most small businesses fail and how to implement systems that create repeatable success, turning your business into a sustainable, scalable enterprise.
The Big Lesson: Successful businesses are built on systems and processes, not just the entrepreneurial spirit and grit.
#13: “Blue Ocean Strategy” by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne
About: Kim and Mauborgne reveal how to create new market spaces, making competition irrelevant. It’s about innovation, differentiation, and building value where others aren’t looking.
The Big Lesson: Instead of competing in crowded markets, create new, untapped spaces where there are less knuckleheads. 🤣
#14: “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth
About: Duckworth explores how persistence, passion, and resilience are key drivers of success, often more than talent, and how anyone can cultivate “grit” for business success.
The Big Lesson: The most important factor for success is perseverance and passion…especially when the shit hits the fan.
#15: “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill
About: Hill’s classic distills principles for success, emphasizing the power of mindset, goal-setting, and unwavering belief to create wealth and personal achievement.
Why We Love It: 80 years later and Hill’s timeless principals still hit home for us. So much has changed, but his core rules have not…which is why this book is so rad.
#16: “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek
About: Sinek teaches that businesses rooted in purpose and a clear “why” inspire loyalty, attract talent, and create long-term success through a deeper connection to customers.
The Big Lesson: The “golden circle” of why, how and what will drive incredible business success if you can answer those simple questions.
#17: “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us” by Daniel H. Pink
About: Pink debunks traditional motivational tactics, revealing that autonomy, mastery, and purpose drive higher performance and deeper satisfaction in the workplace and beyond.
Why We Love It: It helped me think differently about how to hire, manage and support my team. It also helped me understand my own behaviors better. A must read. Â
#18: “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain
Cain highlights how introverts bring invaluable qualities to business—creativity, strategic thinking, and innovation—offering a fresh perspective on leadership and success.
Why We Love It: About 35% of all people self-identify as introverts. This book flips the script that “to be successful in business, you must be outgoing.” Power to those of us that listen!
#19: “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins
About: “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins encourages readers to release the need to control others, focusing instead on personal growth and well-being. The central lesson is that by allowing people to be themselves, you conserve energy and foster inner peace. Â
The Big Lesson: Just like Morpheus said: “Free. Your. Mind.” Control the controlables and don’t stress about the rest. We could all use a little more of this juice.
#20: “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear” by Elizabeth Gilbert
About: Gilbert inspires you to embrace creativity, conquer fear, and live a bold, meaningful life. Perfect for business leaders seeking fresh, innovative ideas to grow their ventures.
The Big Lesson: Embrace creativity without fear or perfectionism; allow your ideas to flow freely, and you’ll unlock new possibilities for growth and fulfillment. Â
#21: “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie
About: Another absolute classic! Carnegie’s timeless principles of communication, empathy, and persuasion will transform your business relationships, turning acquaintances into allies and clients into loyal customers.
The Big Lesson: Building genuine relationships, showing empathy, and listening actively build a stronger “bridge” to success than anything else you can do.
#22: “Girl, Wash Your Face” by Rachel Hollis
About: Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis is a self-help book that encourages women to take ownership of their lives, overcome self-doubt, and pursue their goals with confidence. The book is a blend of memoir, motivational advice, and practical guidance.
The Big Lesson: Forget the lies we tell ourselves—embrace your potential, take ownership of your life, and pursue your dreams unapologetically. Â
#23: “Rework” by Jason Fried
About: Did you know that our other company, Period Three, was one of 37 Signal’s (Basecamp) first 100 customers? We’re fans. Fried challenges outdated business conventions, offering fresh, practical advice on how to start, grow, and manage a successful business with fewer resources and more innovation.
Why We Love This: Jason Fried is like the “anti-tech bro” tech founder. He goes against the grain and keeps things simple. Simplify business practices, avoid unnecessary complexity, and focus on what truly matters.
#24: “Good To Great” by Jim Collins
About: We’d go to some sort of business jail if we didn’t include Good to Great. Collins identifies the key factors that separate exceptional companies from the merely good, providing invaluable insights on leadership, discipline, and strategic focus for business growth.
The Big Lesson: The most successful companies focus on disciplined action, hire the right people, and maintain a long-term vision while staying true to core values. Â
#25: “Delivering Happiness” by Tony Hsieh
About: Cofound of Zappos, Hsieh (Rest In Peace) reveals how a commitment to happiness—both for customers and employees—can drive innovation, brand loyalty, and company growth, transforming businesses into thriving cultures.
The Big Lesson: Focus on customer and employee happiness along with a thriving culture. Forget everything else.
RIP Tony Hsieh. We miss you. Â
Speaking of Learning & Growth… ⛰️ 🤝🏽 🙌
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