The 79 Best Books For Publication Founders [2024]
A great book can change your outlook on your business.
After interviewing thousands of founders, we put together a list of the most popular books for Publication founders.
Here they are:
1. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
- Written by: Timothy Ferriss
- Link: Amazon
How to reconstruct your life so it's not all about work.
Forget the old concept of retirement and the rest of the deferred-life plan - there is no need to wait and every reason not to, especially in unpredictable economic times.
This new updated and expanded edition includes: More than 50 practical tips and case studies from readers (including families) who have doubled their income, overcome common sticking points, and reinvented themselves using the original book as a starting point * Real-world templates you can copy for eliminating email, negotiating with bosses and clients, or getting a private chef for less than £5 a meal * How lifestyle design principles can be suited to unpredictable economic times * The latest tools and tricks, as well as high-tech shortcuts, for living like a diplomat or millionaire without being either.
Founders that read this book:
130 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss helped me get out of the mindset of work for work’s sake.
— Cesar Quintero, Fit2Go ($130K/month). Read the full interview ➜
The 4 Hour Work Week is a convicting read because it challenges you to stop just doing “work for work’s sake” or just working to make a lot of money. It encourages you to build a business that serves your life, not the other way around.
— Graham Cochrane, The Recording Revolution LLC ($100K/month). Read the full interview ➜
2. Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business
- Written by: Gino Wickman
- Link: Amazon
Don't let common problems run you and your business.
Get a grip and gain control with the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).
Based on years of real-world implementation, the EOS is a practical method for achieving the business success you have always envisioned.
Founders that read this book:
60 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
For those who have some ‘lift’ in your business, I strongly suggest the book Traction (Gino Wickman) to organize your business and its components as it grows in complexity. It’s an “entrepreneurial operating system” and what’s great is it helps you with some very practical tools that will help your team and processes be sustainable. Tip: the book is great, but don’t be afraid to customize/adjust the advice to suit your own needs.
— Andy Hayes, Plum Deluxe Tea ($75K/month). Read the full interview ➜
I would also recommend for anyone looking to move beyond just starting out to either get Traction by Gino Wickman or Scaling Up by Verne Harnish. These are very good roadmaps to running a successful business.
— Logan Christopher, Lost Empire Herbs ($320K/month). Read the full interview ➜
3. How to Win Friends & Influence People
- Written by: Dale Carnegie
- Link: Amazon
'How to Win Friends and Influence People' is one of the first best-selling self-help books ever published.
Just after publishing, it quickly exploded into an overnight success, eventually selling more than 15 million copies worldwide, and pioneering an entire genre of self-help and personal success books.
This classic book will turn your relationships around and improve your interactions with everyone in your life.
Founders that read this book:
76 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
This is the staple of entrepreneur handbooks.
— Adam Hascall, Dick At Your Door ($125K/month). Read the full interview ➜
One of my favorite books of all time. We got to where we are a lot of the time from networking, meeting people, and getting connected with others, and I think if you can learn the art of becoming a person that others connect with, you will open up yourself to a lot more opportunities in life and business.
— Braydon Moreno, Robo 3D ($150K/month). Read the full interview ➜
4. Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
- Written by: Robert T. Kiyosaki
- Link: Amazon
In Rich Dad Poor Dad, the #1 Personal Finance book of all time, Robert Kiyosaki shares the story of his two dad: his real father, whom he calls his poor dad,’ and the father of his best friend, the man who became his mentor and his rich dad.’ One man was well educated and an employee all his life, the other’s education was street smarts” over traditional classroom education and he took the path of entrepreneurship a road that led him to become one of the wealthiest men in Hawaii.
Robert’s poor dad struggled financially all his life, and these two dads these very different points of view of money, investing, and employment shaped Robert’s thinking about money.Robert has challenged and changed the way tens of millions of people, around the world, think about money and investing and he has become a global advocate for financial education and the path to financial freedom.
Rich Dad Poor Dad (and the Rich Dad series it spawned) has sold over 36 million copies in English and translated editions around the world.Rich Dad Poor Dad will explode the myth that you need to earn a high income to become rich challenge the belief that your house is an asset show parents why they can’t rely on the school system to teach their kidsabout money define, once and for all, an asset and a liability explain the difference between good debt and bad debt teach you to see the world of money from different perspectives discuss the shift in mindset that can put you on the road to financial freedom
Founders that read this book:
53 successful founders have read this book ➜
5. Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
- Written by: Peter Thiel
- Link: Amazon
If you want to build a better future, you must believe in secrets.
The great secret of our time is that there are still uncharted frontiers to explore and new inventions to create.
Zero to One presents at once an optimistic view of the future of progress in America and a new way of thinking about innovation: it starts by learning to ask the questions that lead you to find value in unexpected places.
Founders that read this book:
78 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
I would recommend Zero to One by Peter Thiel to any entrepreneur who’s starting out. I could not put this book down and have re-read it several times.
— Eddie Huai, Flyby ($200K/month). Read the full interview ➜
6. The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses
- Written by: Eric Ries
- Link: Amazon
Most startups fail.
But many of those failures are preventable.
Ries provides a scientific approach to creating and managing successful startups in a age when companies need to innovate more than ever.
Founders that read this book:
91 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
We are big fans of the Lean Startup, which aims to eliminate market risk before technical risk. It basically says that the question is not "Can this product be built?" Instead, the question is "Should this product be built?". It’s right in the principles.
— Auston Bunsen, CBlocks.io ($32K/month). Read the full interview ➜
We learned quickly not to create or source a lot of any one thing before testing to see if it would sell. We love the lean startup approach. Fail fast and go bigger only on the products we know will succeed. That allows us to minimize losses and maximize revenue.
— David Dennis, Ventana Surfboards & Supplies ($8K/month). Read the full interview ➜
7. Shoe Dog
- Written by: Phil Knight
- Link: Amazon
In this instant and tenacious New York Times bestseller, Nike founder and board chairman Phil Knight “offers a rare and revealing look at the notoriously media-shy man behind the swoosh” (Booklist, starred review), illuminating his company’s early days as an intrepid start-up and its evolution into one of the world’s most iconic, game-changing, and profitable brands.
Bill Gates named Shoe Dog one of his five favorite books of 2016 and called it “an amazing tale, a refreshingly honest reminder of what the path to business success really looks like.
Together, harnessing the electrifying power of a bold vision and a shared belief in the transformative power of sports, they created a brand—and a culture—that changed everything.
Founders that read this book:
60 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
Books like The Alchemist, Creativity Inc., Shoe Dog, and Blitzscaling have been incredibly insightful because they analyze the challenges founders and people have faced and how they overcome them.
— Joel Montaniel, SevenRooms ($/month). Read the full interview ➜
This book taught me that if you want to go far, you must focus on building a team.
— Dane Jensen, Sock Club ($1M/month). Read the full interview ➜
8. Think and Grow Rich
- Written by: Napoleon Hill
- Link: Amazon
This book contains money-making secrets that can change your life.
Think and Grow Rich, based on the author’s famed Law of Success, represents the distilled wisdom of distinguished men of great wealth and achievement.
If you learn and apply the simple basic techniques revealed here, you will have mastered the secret of true and lasting success—and you may have whatever you want in life!
Founders that read this book:
45 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
A book I have referenced and re-read over the past 30 years. I prefer non-fiction and stories of successful people and their journey to success. I have spent most of my reading time devoted to books on famous scientists and how they were able to make important discoveries but most importantly how they learned from the mistakes and unsuccessful experiments to pivot, design new experiments to get to answers to important biological questions.
— Nathan S. Bryan, Pneuma Nitric Oxide ($0/month). Read the full interview ➜
This book is amazing for way too many reasons to explain, but if you're an entrepreneur and you want to be amazing it's just a must-read period.
— Mitchel Matthews, Adrenaline Offroad ($45K/month). Read the full interview ➜
9. You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth
- Written by: Jen Sincero
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
9 successful founders have read this book ➜
10. The 4-Hour Workweek
- Written by: Timothy Ferriss
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
6 successful founders have read this book ➜
11. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
- Written by: James Clear
- Link: Amazon
The instant New York Times bestseller.
Over 1 million copies sold! Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day.
Atomic Habits will reshape the way you think about progress and success, and give you the tools and strategies you need to transform your habits--whether you are a team looking to win a championship, an organization hoping to redefine an industry, or simply an individual who wishes to quit smoking, lose weight, reduce stress, or achieve any other goal.
Founders that read this book:
44 successful founders have read this book ➜
12. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
- Written by: Simon Sinek
- Link: Amazon
Why are some people and organizations more innovative, more influential, and more profitable than others? Why do some command greater loyalty from customers and employees alike? Even among the successful, why are so few able to repeat their success over and over?
People like Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, and the Wright Brothers might have little in common, but they all started with why.
It was their natural ability to start with why that enabled them to inspire those around them and to achieve remarkable things.
In studying the leaders who've had the greatest influence in the world, Simon Sinek discovered that they all think, act, and communicate in the exact same way—and it's the complete opposite of what everyone else does.
And it all starts with WHY.
Founders that read this book:
47 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
We just had the team read Start With Why. I think it help us hone our mission and brand vision and get everyone on the same page. I tend to read online articles on specific business or e-commerce topics.
— Mike Scully, Lever Gear ($42K/month). Read the full interview ➜
This book provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY.
— DShawn Russell, Southern Elegance Candle Company ($140K/month). Read the full interview ➜
13. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
- Written by: Malcolm Gladwell
- Link: Amazon
Discover Malcolm Gladwell's breakthrough debut and explore the science behind viral trends in business, marketing, and human behavior.
The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.
This widely acclaimed bestseller, in which Malcolm Gladwell explores and brilliantly illuminates the tipping point phenomenon, is already changing the way people throughout the world think about selling products and disseminating ideas.
Founders that read this book:
9 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
This book is truly insightful at helping you understand the powers of balance and how to identify that “tipping point” where your decisions, your direction you choose, will make or break your project.
— Linda Gonzalez, Gloria's Cake & Candy Supplies ($20K/month). Read the full interview ➜
14. DotCom Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company Online
- Written by: Russell Brunson
- Link: Amazon
If you are currently struggling with getting traffic to your website, or converting that traffic when it shows up, you may think you've got a traffic or conversion problem.
In Russell Brunson's experience, after working with thousands of businesses, he has found that's rarely the case.
DotComSecrets will give you the marketing funnels and the sales scripts you need to be able to turn on a flood of new leads into your business.
Founders that read this book:
7 successful founders have read this book ➜
15. The End of Jobs: Money, Meaning and Freedom Without the 9-to-5
- Written by: Taylor Pearson
- Link: Amazon
The rapid development of technology and globalization has changed the leverage points in the world of work.
Those that don't adapt will be trapped in a downward spiral of working harder and earning less.
Entrepreneurs that understand the new paradigm, have created unprecedented wealth in their lives and the lives of those they love.
Founders that read this book:
3 successful founders have read this book ➜
16. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Revised Edition
- Written by: Robert B. Cialdini
- Link: Amazon
Influence, the classic book on persuasion, explains the psychology of why people say "yes"—and how to apply these understandings.
Dr.
Perfect for people in all walks of life, the principles of Influence will move you toward profound personal change and act as a driving force for your success.
Founders that read this book:
24 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
According to Robert Cialdini, who studied the principle of social proof in-depth in his book, “we view a behavior as more correct in a given situation to the degree that we see others performing it”. So for example, if you’re uncertain about purchasing this one product but then you see that “insert famous celebrity name who you really like” posts something it, this would transfer the positive attributes they see in these “celebrities” to the product.
— Eddie Huai, Flyby ($200K/month). Read the full interview ➜
I’m a really big fan of Psychology and how the human brain works, which is probably why I love marketing and advertising so much, as I’m able to position things in a way that will make someone want to do something by touching on specific queues that will trigger certain actions and responses. Here, Cialdini talks about the seven key influencers of persuasion (which are based on 35 years of evidence-based research). I highly recommend this book to anyone that is interested in what influences people to make the decisions they make.
— Luis Camacho, Fantôm Agency ($25K/month). Read the full interview ➜
17. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen: Donald Miller
- Written by: Donald Miller
- Link: Amazon
Donald Miller’s StoryBrand process is a proven solution to the struggle business leaders face when talking about their businesses.
This revolutionary method for connecting with customers provides readers with the ultimate competitive advantage, revealing the secret for helping their customers understand the compelling benefits of using their products, ideas, or services.
Whether you are the marketing director of a multibillion dollar company, the owner of a small business, a politician running for office, or the lead singer of a rock band, Building a StoryBrand will forever transform the way you talk about who you are, what you do, and the unique value you bring to your customers.
Founders that read this book:
27 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
Learn how to make a powerful impact in your marketing messages, and learn how to structure them. Hint: You & your product aren’t the heroes. Your customer is.
— Tyler Robertson, Diesel Laptops ($4.2M/month). Read the full interview ➜
Before I read StoryBrand, we talked about how amazing we were and why customers should pick us. I was clueless to the reality that our job is not to be the hero of our customers’ stories. We are supposed to be the guide who helps them achieve their own goals. As a result, we’ve completely changed how we communicate with our customers.
— Robert Kaplinsky, Grassroots Workshops ($/month). Read the full interview ➜
18. The Success Principles(TM) - 10th Anniversary Edition: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
- Written by: Jack Canfield
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
3 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
This book will help you transform your mindset and take responsibility - and control - of your own life, so that you can get from where you are right now to where you really want to be.
— Stephen Somers, Marketplace SuperHeroes ($350K/month). Read the full interview ➜
19. 10x Marketing Formula: Your Blueprint for Creating 'Competition-Free Content' That Stands Out and Gets Results
- Written by: Garrett Moon
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
3 successful founders have read this book ➜
20. The Compound Effect
- Written by: Darren Hardy
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
7 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
This book has had a major influence over the progression of my business for it’s the choices you make every day that add up to your waistline, wallet, and relationships.
— Khoa Bui, You Be Relentless ($4K/month). Read the full interview ➜
21. Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It
- Written by: Chris Voss
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
18 successful founders have read this book ➜
22. The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon
- Written by: Brad Stone
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
10 successful founders have read this book ➜
23. Contagious: Why Things Catch On
- Written by: Jonah Berger
- Link: Amazon
What makes things popular? Why do people talk about certain products and ideas more than others? Why are some stories and rumors more infectious? And what makes online content go viral?
If you said advertising, think again.
People don't listen to advertisements, they listen to their peers.
But why do people talk about certain products and ideas more than others? Why are some stories and rumors more infectious? And what makes online content go viral?
Founders that read this book:
10 successful founders have read this book ➜
24. This Is Marketing: You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn to See
- Written by: Seth Godin
- Link: Amazon
Godin offers the core of his marketing wisdom in one accessible, timeless package.
At the heart of his approach is a big idea: Great marketers don't use consumers to solve their company's problem; they use marketing to solve other people's problems.
Truly powerful marketing is grounded in empathy, generosity, and emotional labour.
This book teaches you how to identify your smallest viable audience; draw on the right signals and signs to position your offering; build trust and permission with your target market; speak to the narratives your audience tells themselves about status, affiliation, and dominance; spot opportunities to create and release tension; and give people the tools to achieve their goals.
Founders that read this book:
19 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
Another book that I suggest to read - regardless of the kind of business you have or want to start - is “This is Marketing” by Seth Godin. It is an essential reading for everyone who is involved in marketing!
— Nicholas Figoli, EatTiamo ($10K/month). Read the full interview ➜
A great book for startups.
— Ben Keene, Rebel Book Club ($13K/month). Read the full interview ➜
25. Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World
- Written by: Cal Newport
- Link: Amazon
Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task.
It's a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time.
He then presents a rigorous training regimen, presented as a series of four "rules," for transforming your mind and habits to support this skill.
Founders that read this book:
12 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
This book has really helped me as I now use this technique on a daily basis. Since a lot of my time is spent on writing tutorials/articles, this helps me a lot.
— Sumit Bansal, TrumpExcel.com ($10K/month). Read the full interview ➜
26. Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days
- Written by: Chris Guillebeau
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
6 successful founders have read this book ➜
27. Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
- Written by: Gary Vaynerchuk
- Link: Amazon
In Crush It!, online marketing trailblazer Gary Vaynerchuk tells business owners what they need to do to boost their sales using the internet—just as he has done to build his family’s wine store from a $4 million business to a $60 million one.
Crush It! will show readers how to find their passion, then step by step how to turn it into a flourishing, monetized business..
Crush It! will show readers how to find their passion, then step by step how to turn it into a flourishing, monetized business.
Founders that read this book:
8 successful founders have read this book ➜
28. The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers
- Written by: Ben Horowitz
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
9 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
This book is a good option for aspiring entrepreneurs. It offers essential advice on building and running a startup.
— Thomas Oppong, Content Intelligence Media ($10K/month). Read the full interview ➜
This book didn’t just provide advice but helped me understand that it’s ok to fumble and get it wrong! It’s also just a fantastic read.
— Louise Hendon, CoBionic ($8K/month). Read the full interview ➜
29. Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth
- Written by: Gabriel Weinberg
- Link: Amazon
Founders and employees fail to spend time thinking about (and working on) traction in the same way they work on building a product.
This shortsighted approach has startups trying random tactics - some ads, a blog post or two - in an unstructured way that's guaranteed to fail.
This book changes that.
It allows you to think about which marketing channels make sense for you, given your industry and company stage.
Founders that read this book:
19 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
When it comes to marketing books, I really like Traction by Gabriel Weinberg. It gives you a bunch of marketing ideas, but more importantly, it shows you the mindset you need to test these different ideas.
— Dennis Moons, Apes In Space ($1.34K/month). Read the full interview ➜
Traction was great for helping me wrap my head around customer acquisition channels. I expect to continue to lean on that book for inspiration as I grow.
— Joe Stech, Compelling Science Press ($0/month). Read the full interview ➜
30. Outliers: The Story of Success
- Written by: Malcolm Gladwell
- Link: Amazon
Learn what sets high achievers apart -- from Bill Gates to the Beatles -- in this #1 bestseller from "a singular talent" (New York Times Book Review).
In this stunning book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers"--the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful.
Brilliant and entertaining, Outliers is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.
Founders that read this book:
19 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
Malcolm Gladwell has a great way of presenting ideas and methodology that translate well into my business.
— Adam Hascall, Dick At Your Door ($125K/month). Read the full interview ➜
31. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth
- Written by: T. Harv Eker
- Link: Amazon
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind reveals the missing link between wanting success and achieving it! Have you ever wondered why some people seem to get rich easily, while others are destined for a life of financial struggle? Is the difference found in their education, intelligence, skills, timing, work habits, contacts, luck, or their choice of jobs, businesses, or investments? The shocking answer is: None of the above! In his groundbreaking Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, T.
Harv Eker states: "Give me five minutes, and I can predict your financial future for the rest of your life!" Eker does this by identifying your "money and success blueprint." We all have a personal money blueprint ingrained in our subconscious minds, and it is this blueprint, more than anything, that will determine our financial lives.
If you think like rich people think and do what rich people do, chances are you'll get rich too!
Founders that read this book:
7 successful founders have read this book ➜
32. The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results
- Written by: Gary Keller
- Link: Amazon
The One Thing explains the success habit to overcome the six lies that block our success, beat the seven thieves that steal time, and leverage the laws of purpose, priority, and productivity.
A non-fiction, self-help book written by authors and real estate entrepreneurs, Gary W.
Keller and Jay Papasan.
The book discusses the value of simplifying one's workload by focusing on the one most important task in any given project.
Founders that read this book:
26 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
Other marketing and advertising efforts haven’t been as successful for me so for now I am not worrying about them. I read The One Thing and realized that multitasking just means you are doing a lot of things poorly. It is better to wholeheartedly do one thing that works.
— Jackie Burke, Tini Lux ($22K/month). Read the full interview ➜
When I was trying to do a bunch of things at once and was having trouble deciding what to focus on, this book helped a lot.
— Zach Katz, Framed Tweets (Now its Sticker Mule) ($9.5K/month). Read the full interview ➜
33. Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal
- Written by: Oren Klaff
- Link: Amazon
Gold Medal Winner--Tops Sales World's Best Sales and Marketing Book “Fast, fun and immensely practical.” —JOE SULLIVAN, Founder, Flextronics “Move over Neil Strauss and game theory.
Pitch Anything reveals the next big thing in social dynamics: game for business.” —JOSH WHITFORD, Founder, Echelon Media “What do supermodels and venture capitalists have in common? They hear hundreds of pitches a year.
Apply the tactics and strategies outlined in Pitch Anything to engage and persuade your audience—and you’ll have more funding and support than you ever thought possible.
Founders that read this book:
3 successful founders have read this book ➜
34. Expert Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Creating a Mass Movement of People Who Will Pay for Your Advice
- Written by: Russell Brunson
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
7 successful founders have read this book ➜
35. Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder (Incerto)
- Written by: Nassim Nicholas Taleb
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
12 successful founders have read this book ➜
36. Think and Grow Rich (Think and Grow Rich Series)
- Written by: Napoleon Hill
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
8 successful founders have read this book ➜
37. What It Takes: Lessons In The Pursuit Of
- Written by: ****
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
38. Man's Search for Meaning
- Written by: Viktor E. Frankl
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
6 successful founders have read this book ➜
39. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
- Written by: Carol S. Dweck
- Link: Amazon
The updated edition of the book that has changed millions of lives with its insights into the growth mindset.
After decades of research, world-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol S.
as well as for those who would like to increase their own feelings of success and fulfillment.”—Library Journal (starred review) “Everyone should read this book.”—Chip Heath and Dan Heath, authors of Made to Stick “One of the most influential books ever about motivation.”—Po Bronson, author of NurtureShock “If you manage people or are a parent (which is a form of managing people), drop everything and read Mindset.”—Guy Kawasaki, author of The Art of the Start 2.0
Founders that read this book:
14 successful founders have read this book ➜
40. The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime!
- Written by: MJ DeMarco
- Link: Amazon
Is the financial plan of mediocrity -- a dream-stealing, soul-sucking dogma known as "The Slowlane" your plan for creating wealth? You know how it goes; it sounds a lil something like this: "Go to school, get a good job, save 10% of your paycheck, buy a used car, cancel the movie channels, quit drinking expensive Starbucks mocha lattes, save and penny-pinch your life away, trust your life-savings to the stock market, and one day, when you are oh, say, 65 years old, you can retire rich." The mainstream financial gurus have sold you blindly down the river to a great financial gamble: You've been hoodwinked to believe that wealth can be created by recklessly trusting in the uncontrollable and unpredictable markets: the housing market, the stock market, and the job market.
This impotent financial gamble dubiously promises wealth in a wheelchair -- sacrifice your adult life for a financial plan that reaps dividends in the twilight of life.
Hit the Fastlane, crack the code to wealth, and find out how to live rich for a lifetime.
Founders that read this book:
15 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
This book is aimed at people who want to break out of the 9 to 5 world, but I’d recommend it solely because it made me completely rethink wealth, and what it takes to become rich.
— Zach Katz, Framed Tweets (Now its Sticker Mule) ($9.5K/month). Read the full interview ➜
I talk about the rules and lessons from this great classic a LOT. It’s a little uncomfortable to read but it’s a serious punch in the face. It’s not for everyone, but if you’ve got a bit of a sense that the ‘traditional path’ isn’t leading to wealth and happiness, then this could be the wakeup call you to need.
— Stephen Somers, Marketplace SuperHeroes ($350K/month). Read the full interview ➜
41. The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less
- Written by: Richard Koch
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
6 successful founders have read this book ➜
42. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
- Written by: Mark Manson
- Link: Amazon
A generation-defining self-help guide, a superstar blogger cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be "positive" all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people.
For decades, we’ve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life.
A much-needed grab-you-by-the-shoulders-and-look-you-in-the-eye moment of real-talk, filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives.
Founders that read this book:
15 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
I don’t really read business books anymore. I think it’s a lot more important to focus on the mental health and personal development side of things. For that, I recommend Mark Manson’s The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck.
— Benjamin Hebert, Natural Stacks ($200K/month). Read the full interview ➜
43. The Celebrity Black Book 2019 (Deluxe Edition): Over 56,000+ Verified Celebrity Addresses for Autographs & Memorabilia, Nonprofit Fundraising, ... Small Business Sales/Marketing & More! (2019)
- Written by: ****
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
44. Mastery
- Written by: Robert Greene
- Link: Amazon
Evaluates the tactics employed by great historical figures to offer insight into how to gain control over one's own life and destiny, challenging cultural myths to demonstrate how anyone can tap the power of a love for doing something well to achieve high levels of success..
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Evaluates the tactics employed by great historical figures to offer insight into how to gain control over one's own life and destiny, challenging cultural myths to demonstrate how anyone can tap the power of a love for doing something well to achieve high levels of success.
Founders that read this book:
2 successful founders have read this book ➜
45. Six Billion Shoppers: The Companies Winning the Global E-Commerce Boom
- Written by: Porter Erisman
- Link: Amazon
An insightful, practical guide to e-commerce in emerging markets--and how to profit from their explosive boom.
From China to India to Nigeria, e-commerce is entering a golden era in countries that were long left out of the e-commerce gold rush experienced in the West.
With e-commerce in emerging markets entering a rapid period of expansion, Six Billion Shoppers explains how to seize the massive opportunity created by emerging market consumers and provides practical advice on how to ride this new business trend.
Founders that read this book:
2 successful founders have read this book ➜
46. Get Rich Click!: The Ultimate Guide to Making Money on the Internet
- Written by: Marc Ostrofsky
- Link: Amazon
A mainstream release of a previously self-published best-seller, written by a successful internet traffic developer best known for his record-breaking sale of the Business.com domain name, shares a wealth of insights, tips and strategies for using online resources to build wealth rapidly..
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A mainstream release of a previously self-published best-seller, written by a successful internet traffic developer best known for his record-breaking sale of the Business.com domain name, shares a wealth of insights, tips and strategies for using online resources to build wealth rapidly.
Founders that read this book:
2 successful founders have read this book ➜
47. Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide To Creating Ridiculously Good Content
- Written by: ****
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
48. The Long Tail: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More
- Written by: Chris Anderson
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
4 successful founders have read this book ➜
49. Principles: Life and Work
- Written by: Ray Dalio
- Link: Amazon
1 New York Times Bestseller “Significant...The book is both instructive and surprisingly moving.” —The New York Times Ray Dalio, one of the world’s most successful investors and entrepreneurs, shares the unconventional principles that he’s developed, refined, and used over the past forty years to create unique results in both life and business—and which any person or organization can adopt to help achieve their goals.
In 1975, Ray Dalio founded an investment firm, Bridgewater Associates, out of his two-bedroom apartment in New York City.
Here, from a man who has been called both “the Steve Jobs of investing” and “the philosopher king of the financial universe” (CIO magazine), is a rare opportunity to gain proven advice unlike anything you’ll find in the conventional business press.
Founders that read this book:
13 successful founders have read this book ➜
50. The One Hour Content Plan: The Solopreneur’s Guide to a Year’s Worth of Blog Post Ideas in 60 Minutes and Creating Content That Hooks and Sells
- Written by: ****
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
2 successful founders have read this book ➜
51. Oversubscribed: How to Get People Lining Up to Do Business with You
- Written by: Daniel Priestley
- Link: Amazon
Don't fight for customers, let them fight over you! Have you ever queued for a restaurant? Pre-ordered something months in advance? Fought for tickets that sell out in a day? Had a hairdresser with a six-month waiting list? There are people who don't chase clients, clients chase them.
In a world of endless choices, why does this happen? Why do people queue up? Why do they pay more? Why will they book months in advance? Why are these people and products in such high demand? And how can you get a slice of that action? In Oversubscribed, entrepreneur and bestselling author Daniel Priestley explains why...and, most importantly, how.
Oversubscribed: Shows leaders, marketers, and entrepreneurs how they can get customers queuing up to use their services and products while competitors are forced to fight for business Explains how to become oversubscribed, even in a crowded marketplace Is full of practical tips alongside inspiring examples to alter our mindsets and get us bursting with ideas Is written by a successful entrepreneur who's used these ideas to excel in the ventures he has launched
Founders that read this book:
2 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
It’s been a great read - lots of actionable examples and it’s easy to pick up and get into.
— Druce, Stacked ($60K/month). Read the full interview ➜
52. High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way
- Written by: Brendon Burchard
- Link: Amazon
THESE HABITS WILL MAKE YOU EXTRAORDINARY.
Twenty years ago, author Brendon Burchard became obsessed with answering three questions: 1.
A link to a free professional assessment is included in the book.
Founders that read this book:
6 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
This book is teaching me valuable lessons about the habits of the most successful people on the planet and how to go about implementing those in my own life.
— Sarah Wolfer, Girl Boss Sports ($4.76K/month). Read the full interview ➜
53. Company of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business
- Written by: Paul Jarvis
- Link: Amazon
What if the real key to a richer and more fulfilling career was not to create and scale a new start-up, but rather, to be able to work for yourself, determine your own hours, and become a (highly profitable) and sustainable company of one? Suppose the better—and smarter—solution is simply to remain small? This book explains how to do just that.
Company of One is a refreshingly new approach centered on staying small and avoiding growth, for any size business.
In Company of One, Jarvis explains how you can find the right pathway to do the same, including planning how to set up your shop, determining your desired revenues, dealing with unexpected crises, keeping your key clients happy, and of course, doing all of this on your own.
Founders that read this book:
14 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
This book really changed my perspective on how I wanted to grow my business, but more importantly why.
— Bobby Hoyt, Millennial Money Man ($150K/month). Read the full interview ➜
54. The Talent Code: Greatness Isn't Born. It's Grown. Here's How.
- Written by: Daniel Coyle
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
2 successful founders have read this book ➜
55. Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't
- Written by: Jim Collins
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
56 successful founders have read this book ➜
56. Leaders Eat Last
- Written by: Simon Sinek
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
4 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
This book does a great job explaining our neurochemicals Dopamine, Endorphins, Serotonin and Oxytocin and how they apply to food and any other source of pleasure. It really makes you understand why we do what we do.
— Andrei Calinescu, One Life Meals ($130K/month). Read the full interview ➜
57. The Alchemist
- Written by: Paulo Coelho
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
12 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
This book is important to me at various stages of my life journey and helped me understand more about the world around me.
— Michael Moloney, FilterGrade ($30K/month). Read the full interview ➜
I read this back in high school and it’s still one of my favorite non-fiction books. It’s perfect for anyone who is looking to start a business. There’s a lot of wisdom and golden nuggets to be gained from this book.
— Gilberto Rosas, Maverick Media Lab ($10K/month). Read the full interview ➜
58. Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business
- Written by: ****
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
3 successful founders have read this book ➜
59. #GIRLBOSS
- Written by: Sophia Amoruso
- Link: Amazon
The New York Times bestseller Sophia Amoruso spent her teens hitchhiking, committing petty theft, and dumpster diving.
By twenty-two, she had resigned herself to employment, but was still broke, directionless, and working a mediocre day job she'd taken for the health insurance.
Rather, success is about trusting your instincts and following your gut, knowing which rules to follow and which to break.
Founders that read this book:
2 successful founders have read this book ➜
60. Who
- Written by: Geoff Smart
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
7 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
The best book I’ve read on hiring good people. As such a key part of building a business, learning how to find the right people is critical.
— David Rubie-Todd, Sticker it ($200K/month). Read the full interview ➜
61. Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture
- Written by: David Kushner
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
5 successful founders have read this book ➜
62. The Gulag Archipelago
- Written by: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
- Link: Amazon
Describes individual escapes and attempted escapes from Stalin's camps.
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Describes individual escapes and attempted escapes from Stalin's camps
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
63. The Revolt of The Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium
- Written by: Martin Gurri
- Link: Amazon
Riding a tsunami of information, the public has trampled on the temples of authority in every domain of human activity, everywhere.
The Revolt of the Public tells the story of how ordinary people, gifted amateurs networked in communities of interest, have swarmed over the hierarchies of accredited professionals, questioned their methods, and shouted their failures from the digital rooftops.
A major theme of the book is whether democratic institutions can survive the assaults of a public that at times appears to be at war with any form of organization, if not with history itself.
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
64. How Asia Works: Success and Failure In the World's Most Dynamic Region
- Written by: Joe Studwell
- Link: Amazon
“A good read for anyone who wants to understand what actually determines whether a developing economy will succeed” (Bill Gates, “Top 5 Books of the Year”).
An Economist Best Book of the Year from a reporter who has spent two decades in the region, and who The Financial Times said “should be named chief myth-buster for Asian business.” In How Asia Works, Joe Studwell distills his extensive research into the economies of nine countries—Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and China—into an accessible, readable narrative that debunks Western misconceptions, shows what really happened in Asia and why, and for once makes clear why some countries have boomed while others have languished.
A lively mix of scholarship, reporting and polemic.” —The Economist
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
65. The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
- Written by: Robert A. Caro
- Link: Amazon
Moses is pictured as idealist reformer, and political manipulator as his rise to power and eventual domination of New York State politics is documented.
.
Moses is pictured as idealist reformer, and political manipulator as his rise to power and eventual domination of New York State politics is documented
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
66. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
- Written by: Jared M. Diamond
- Link: Amazon
"Fascinating....
Lays a foundation for understanding human history."—Bill Gates In this "artful, informative, and delightful" (William H.
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science, the Rhone-Poulenc Prize, and the Commonwealth club of California's Gold Medal.
Founders that read this book:
2 successful founders have read this book ➜
67. Wait But Why Year One: We finally figured out how to put a blog onto an e-reader
- Written by: Tim Urban
- Link: Amazon
Matt Mochary coaches the CEOs of many of the fastest-scaling technology companies in Silicon Valley.
With The Great CEO Within, he shares his highly effective leadership and business-operating tools with any CEO or manager in the world.
Now you have the guidance you need in one book.
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
68. Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products
- Written by: Nir Eyal
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
18 successful founders have read this book ➜
69. Rich Dad Poor Dad
- Written by: Robert T. Kiyosaki
- Link: Amazon
Rich Dad Poor Dad is Robert's story of growing up with two dads — his real father and the father of his best friend, his "rich dad" — and the ways in which both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing.
The book explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you..
The book explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you.
Founders that read this book:
17 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad taught me that we are the owners of our destiny and that working for others was not for me. It also realigned me on the benefits of creating passive income.
— Cesar Quintero, Fit2Go ($130K/month). Read the full interview ➜
Rich Dad Poor Dad convinced me that I was definitely on the right track when I picked up entrepreneurship as a passion. But it also showed me the need to create passive income and avoid depending on only one source of income.
— Justin Anyanwu, Lazy Jar ($250/month). Read the full interview ➜
70. All Marketers are Liars: The Underground Classic That Explains How Marketing Really Works--and Why Authenticity Is the Best Marketing of All
- Written by: Seth Godin
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
4 successful founders have read this book ➜
71. The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness
- Written by: Jeff Olson
- Link: Amazon
The Slight Edge is a way of thinking, a way of processing information that enables you to make the daily choices that will lead you to the success and happiness you desire.
Learn why some people make dream after dream come true, while others just continue dreaming and spend their lives building dreams for someone else.
The Slight Edge is “the key” that will make all the other how-to books and self-help information that you read, watch and hear actually work.
Founders that read this book:
5 successful founders have read this book ➜
72. Content Chemistry: The Illustrated Handbook for Content Marketing
- Written by: Andy Crestodina
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
73. Content Machine: Use Content Marketing to Build a 7-figure Business With Zero Advertising
- Written by: Dan Norris
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
2 successful founders have read this book ➜
74. The Go-Giver, Expanded Edition: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea
- Written by: Bob Burg
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
2 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
The Go-Giver is how I run my business. The big idea is simple: the more you give, the more value you offer for free, the more attractive people will be to you and your brand and you will grow. It’s counterintuitive but I’ve seen it work time and time again.
— Graham Cochrane, The Recording Revolution LLC ($100K/month). Read the full interview ➜
75. Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise
- Written by: Anders Ericsson
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
76. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It
- Written by: Michael E. Gerber
- Link: Amazon
An instant classic, this revised and updated edition of the phenomenal bestseller dispels the myths about starting your own business.
Small business consultant and author Michael E.
Most importantly, Gerber draws the vital, often overlooked distinction between working on your business and working in your business.
Founders that read this book:
65 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
Personally, I'm not a huge fan of business books, but if pressed, I’d say one of the most influential is The E-Myth by Michael Gerber because of its ideas about efficiency through processes and systems.
— Parker Garlitz, True Leaf Market ($400K/month). Read the full interview ➜
The E-Myth by Michael Gerber helped me understand the difference between being a technician and an entrepreneur, and that I really wanted to create a business that runs without me.
— Cesar Quintero, Fit2Go ($130K/month). Read the full interview ➜
77. Start Small, Stay Small: A Developer's Guide to Launching a Startup
- Written by: Rob Walling
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
3 successful founders have read this book ➜
78. Business Brilliant: Surprising Lessons from the Greatest Self-Made Business Icons
- Written by: Lewis Schiff
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
79. Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative
- Written by: Austin Kleon
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
4 successful founders have read this book ➜
80. I Can't Make This Up
- Written by: Kevin Hart
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
81. Business Adventures: Twelve Classic Tales from the World of Wall Street
- Written by: John Brooks
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
82. War of Art, The
- Written by: Steven Pressfield
- Link: Amazon
What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece? The War of Art identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success.
The War of Art emphasizes the resolve needed to recognize and overcome the obstacles of ambition and then effectively shows how to reach the highest level of creative discipline.
for yourself.
Founders that read this book:
7 successful founders have read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
I love The War of Art by Steven Pressfield because it focuses on procrastination and what you can do to alleviate it, as a creator/artist.
— Tom, Mandarin Monkey ($1K/month). Read the full interview ➜
83. The Success Principles(TM): How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be
- Written by: Jack Canfield
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
3 successful founders have read this book ➜
84. Launch: An Internet Millionaire's Secret Formula To Sell Almost Anything Online, Build A Business You Love, And Live The Life Of Your Dreams: Jeff Walker
- Written by: Jeff Walker
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
4 successful founders have read this book ➜
85. The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level
- Written by: Gay Hendricks
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
86. Lifestyle Builders: Build Your Business, Quit Your Job, And Live Your Ideal Lifestyle
- Written by: Tom Sylvester
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
87. The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months
- Written by: Brian P. Moran
- Link: Amazon
Update your thinking and avoid complacency with the 12 week year Are you ready to change your life? This hands-on template for implementing advice from the game-changing book The 12 Week Year is a study guide that makes it easy for anyone to apply the 12 week year to their own lives.
Instead of getting bogged down in annualized thinking that produces pitfalls and saps productivity, follow along with this guide to redefine your “year” to be just 12 weeks long.
Learn to: Create your personal and business visions with step-by-step tips Develop your own 12 week plan by applying what you know to what you do Put over 10 years of field-tested content, exercises, and templates to work for you Build a 12 week commitment and apply the system to your own life and business Take back your life, improve your thinking, and advance your business or career by implementing real-world, hands-on methods in The 12 Week Year Study Guide.
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
What founders are saying:
An absolute necessity for me. The best way I have found to keep on track with goals and get things done.
— Paul Dickey, Spuds ($15K/month). Read the full interview ➜
88. Work Less, Make More: The counter-intuitive approach to building a profitable business, and a life you actually love
- Written by: James Schramko
- Link: Amazon
In 2006, whilst working in a full-time job, James Schramko wrote this in a notebook: MY GOALS ...
create automated income so that I am independently wealthy and enjoy my life passionately.Within three years, he'd built his own business and achieved those goals.
It will help ensure the business you're building will work for you, not the other way a
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
89. Mastery
- Written by: Robert Greene
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
90. Principles: Life and Work
- Written by: Ray Dalio
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
6 successful founders have read this book ➜
91. Writing Popular Fiction
- Written by: Dean R. Koontz
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
92. Techniques of the Selling Writer, packaging may vary
- Written by: Dwight V. Swain
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
93. Classy Drinks for Classy People: Easy, Simple Cocktails for the Home Bartender
- Written by: Mason Dixon
- Link: Amazon
Founders that read this book:
1 successful founder has read this book ➜
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- 4,818 founder case studies
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- 8,628 business ideas
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
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- 8,628 business ideas
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
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- 8,628 business ideas
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
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- 8,628 business ideas
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
