I’m proud to be a lifelong learner.
Over the years, I’ve read dozens of business books. These 9 books transformed how I run my business, manage my time, and build wealth.
I’m breaking them down for you—no fluff, just actionable takeaways.
Let’s get ready to make 2025 the best year yet
BTW you can watch my complete breakdown of these books on YouTube
No 1: Atomic Habits by James Clear
Big takeaway: Small, consistent habits lead to massive long-term results.
Success isn’t just about big strategic moves—it’s incremental improvements every day that are driven by habits
If you build new habits into your routine, growth slowly starts to compound.
These small, repeatable actions will push your business forward without relying on bursts of effort or inspiration.
Once habits are ingrained, they free up your mental energy, allowing you to focus on the next level
No 2: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
Big takeaway: Harness the ridiculous power of intentional thinking.
Running a business is as much a mental game as it is a practical one.
Hill’s talks about having a crystal-clear vision of what success looks like for you.
Is it a certain revenue milestone? A lifestyle where you’re free to work from anywhere?
Whatever it is, get specific, write it down, and be intentional with taking actions that work towards that goal
No 3: 10X Is Easier Than 2X by Ben Hardy & Dan Sullivan
Big takeaway: Achieving a huge 10X goal is actually easier than a small 2X goal because fewer paths lead to that level of success.
Ask yourself, “What’s the ONE thing that could multiply my results if I focused on it?”
You can’t just do more of the same.
10X is easier is because it forces clarity.
By doing less but aiming bigger, you’ll create a business that grows dramatically with fewer moving parts.
No 4. Scaling Up by Verne Harnish
Big takeaway: Building structured systems for predictable, sustainable growth.
The biggest thing that separates business owners who buy themselves a job to those who build massive businesses is their inability to replaces themselves
Focus on finding the right people who align with your business vision, ensuring your strategy is laser-focused, tightening your execution by measuring performance, and managing cash flow with discipline.
Systems allow you to grow without losing control.
No 5. Who Not How by Dan Sullivan
Big takeaway: Focus on building the right team rather than trying to do everything yourself.
Almost every business is in the people business. You MUST build a team in order to build a business that gives you freedom.
Start by identifying the areas where you’re weakest or spending the most time. Sales, operations, marketing, bookkeeping, etc.
Shift your mindset to value PROGRESS over PERFECTION.
No 6. The Power of One More by Ed Mylett
Big takeaway: Pushing yourself just a little further can make the difference between good and great.
There will be times when you feel like you’ve done all you can.
But that one more call, one more email, one more post could change the game.
This extra push builds discipline. It proves to yourself that you can do whatever it takes to win.
This becomes extremely powerful when coupled with the vision from Think and Grow Rich, aligned with your 10X goal and the new routine of daily Atomic Habits.
No 7. Am I Being Too Subtle? by Sam Zell
Big takeaway: Take calculated risks and recognize undervalued opportunities.
Sometimes the biggest opportunities are in places others are overlooking.
By being bold and taking calculated risks in undervalued areas, you can seize opportunities others might miss.
Over the years, I’ve acquired multiple franchises from struggling owners.
In my best deal, we bought a single franchise for just $50k down that has made over $2M in profit since then.
Identify where you have an unfair advantage and exploit it — in a good way.
That’s how Sam became one of the best investors ever and I’ve built a successful business operating franchises.
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No 8. Profit First by Mike Mccalowitz
Big takeaway: It’s easy to prioritize profit from day one but becomes more a challenge as your business grows.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of chasing revenue and expanding expenses, thinking you’ll figure out profit later.
Profit First teaches that profit should come first—literally. Every time revenue comes in, allocate a percentage to profit before paying any expenses.
By keeping profit front of mind, you’ll avoid the cash flow crunch that derails many growing businesses and ensure long-term financial stability, no matter how fast you expand.
No 9. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
Big takeaway: Simplify your investments so they don’t distract you from growing your business.
Once your business starts making money, it’s tempting to spread your wealth across multiple investments—stocks, real estate, side ventures, private deals, etc.
But each investment takes up mental space, time, and energy that could be better spent growing your business.
Housel’s lesson is simple: don’t overcomplicate it. Focus on simple, automated investment strategies like dollar-cost averaging into low-cost index funds.
The incremental gains you might get from trying to outsmart the market are peanuts compared to the returns you’ll generate by spending that energy on growing your business.
Keep your investment strategy simple.
Your Turn
The real magic happens when you take these lessons and apply them to your own journey.
So, now it’s your turn—I want to hear from you.
What books should I be reading in 2025? (reply here)
Cheers!
P.S. If you’re looking to buy your first franchise book a free call with my team. We can help you find the best opportunity.
P.S.S. If you’re looking to scale your existing franchise checkout my community for driven franchisees.
