As a startup Founder or CEO, one of your key roles is to INSPIRE others. Keep them inspired, motivated and cultivate a sense of belief in what they are doing. What about inspiring yourself?
That’s almost a self responsibility and one that is extremely important. Nearly every one of us needs a dose of inspiration wherever we can find it and that’s what fuels the drive of entrepreneur to succeed and make the next day a step ahead from the last.
We look for inspiration in news, blogs, stories of other entrepreneurs, discussions and interactions with others. It’s a process we use to “take something valuable” in the form of a new learning, a confidence boost or something that can help do better for ourselves. In all practicality, we can learn something or take away something of value 
from just about every other person around us whether a colleague, friend, acquaintance or mentor.
When it comes to inspiration, despite all the sources we can now source it from, books hold a very special place in the journey’s of many start-ups and entrepreneurs. Some books, more than others because the imprint they have left was so deep their influence made a difference. Some of these books impart valuable lessons, others may point out something you were doing wrong while still others may simply be so motivating, that it carried with your work. Nearly everyone of us has had a book (or a few books) that really had an impact on you and make you think differently about yourself professionally and personally.
So the question this brings up and the question we’d like to put out there for you is:
What are the books that had the biggest impact on the India Grow VC member community and you?
Hopefully, by sharing the books and resources that really influenced you, we can create a pool of books that others should really consider giving a read because these are books that can change a lot.
So what is (/are) your book?
Please share your favorite books in the comments section.
Tags: books, business, entrepreneurs, favorite, influential, inspire, inspiring, most, motivation, startups, succeed
“Personality Not Included” by Rohit Bharagava really struck a chord with me as a marketer and has in some ways laid the foundation for my start-ups direction as a new media marketing startup. I think he’s really identified the change in not just marketing but how consumers today have also changed. “Getting Real” by 37 Signals is another startup bible of sorts for me and really brought out what is important. It’s so simple and still wakes you up to some of the most important lessons of managing a startup. I think these are two must reads.
For me, personally – its been ‘Business Stripped Bare’ by Richard Branson – a very practical guide into resolving the challenges while walking on your entrepreneurial journey and an insight into Sir Richard’s personal experiences and learnings.
The other one is ‘Straight from the Gut’ by the legendary Jack Welch : a highly inspirational read.
my favorite is “Connect the dots” by Rashi bansal