Growing a Business

I read Cialdini years ago because Joel Spolsky recommended it here: http://www.joelonsoftware.com/navLinks/fog0000000262.html From that list, I also highly recommend: * Peopleware (get your cofounders to read it too) * Godel Escher Bach * A Pattern Language (but don't bother reading it straight through) * Growing A Business

Three of my favorites are How Much Should I Charge Don't remember the author, but she reinforces the point that most small businesses are undercharging for their product/service and shows how to solve the problem. The E-Myth Revisited kinda starts where the above one ends in that it points out the tragic flaw in many entrepreneurs: they want to practice their "craft" to the detriment of the actual business. Growing A Business my copy of this disappeared over 10 years ago, but I still consider it one of the most important business books I've ever read. And pick up one of the many editions of The Portable MBA at a used bookstore. Good, basic foundations in Finance, Accounting, Marketing and HR.

Growing a Business by Paul Hawken

"Growing a Business" by Paul Hawken - hands down one of the best books on starting a business I have read. Don't let yourself be scared away by the release date 1988, the advice in there is timeless. Lots of the author's advice can still be found in other books on that topic. http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Business-Paul-Hawken/dp/067167... (http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Business-Paul-Hawken/dp/0671671642/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241895162&sr=8-1) You might also think the title sounds "treehuggerish", I found the book not to be like that at all but very inspiring and useful.

Those last three are great suggestions (I don't know #1). #2 is a classic, but I've read it a couple of times. #3 I've been meaning to read for years. #4 I'm actually in the middle of right now (I think because tptacek recommended it here) and unlike the vast majority of business books, it's superb. It's also older (pre-internet) which is actually a good thing as it focuses one's attention on fundamentals.