Key Takeaways:
Expand your library of business and motivational resources so you can grow your know-how and gain the inspiration you need to thrive as a business owner.
Is your summer reading list dwindling? Could you use some resources to reignite your motivation and grow your business know-how? For the month of August, TTG is taking some time to reflect on “lessons in laziness”. Take a breather before summer ends and curl up with a good business book or your favorite mobile device. To help you unwind and learn, the TTG team has curated 12 of our top resources for you to dive into.
Jennifer Shaheen’s Picks
Start with Why by Simon Sinek
This book gives great insight on how the best leaders and organizations prioritize their purpose and mission rather than focusing only on what they do. Understanding your “why” inspires others to gravitate toward your cause and it informs everything, from marketing campaigns to the verbiage you use on your website and socials.
“Understanding your ‘why’ inspires others to gravitate toward your cause and it informs everything you do, from marketing campaigns to the verbiage you use on your website and socials.”
– Jennifer Shaheen, founder and president, Technology Therapy® Group
Decisions over Decimals: Striking the Balance Between Intuition and Information by Christopher Frank, Paul Magnone, and Oded Netzer
Jennifer is a data geek. So, it’s no surprise that this book is about how to interpret data to make better decisions. As a business owner, walking the line between intuition and information is the key to success. Read this book if you need help getting unstuck from data paralysis or need to break free from the bad habit of making slow (or no) decisions for your brand.
“As a business owner, it’s so easy to second guess yourself. It’s only in retrospect that you realize you made the best choice you could.”
– Jennifer Shaheen, founder and president, Technology Therapy® Group
Thinking in Bets: Making Smarter Decisions When You Don’t Have All the Facts by Annie Duke
Author Annie Duke shares how the decisions we make are like playing poker—from the seat you’re in, to the cards you’re dealt. As a business owner, it’s so easy to second guess yourself. It’s only in retrospect that you realize you made the best choice you could. It’s important to know & challenge yourself, so you can correct behaviors. Get a copy of this book to gain a new perspective on growth. (It just might be the perspective shift you’ve been needing to push your business forward!)
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do and How to Change by Charles Duhigg
This book explores how the concept of habits can be used to improve your personal life and your business. Woven throughout the book are examples of people and companies that have successfully changed their habits to change their outcomes and yield greater success. Definitely a must-read if you need encouragement to make small changes and cultivate positive habits for your business.
TTG Staff Picks
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
This book is one of our staff’s favorite resources, because learning to communicate with people and building relationships is extremely important in and out of business. It does an amazing job of teaching principles that are simple, easy to apply, and effective.
The Paradox of Choice by Barry Schwartz
Although some of the references from the turn of the millennium are a bit outdated, the lessons in this book are timeless. Schwartz skillfully demonstrates how, when presented with too many choices, people become frustrated, overwhelmed, and sometimes paralyzed by indecision. It’s a great book for anyone starting a business or even existing business owners evaluating their business model and offerings.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
This resource offers a unique perspective on money and wealth, challenging conventional wisdom about financial success. After reading this book, we guarantee you’ll think differently about how you earn, spend, and invest your money.
“Lessons From an Award-Winning Chef on Life, Business & the Power of Resilience” by Lori Milner
In this article, Lori Milner shares lessons from a chef’s resilience, business acumen, and personal growth. The “mise en place” concept she highlights is one of the most versatile philosophies that business owners can adopt. It refers to the “putting in place” process where chefs organize and prep before they start cooking. (And we’re all about planning before executing here at TTG!)
“The New Try Guys” Video
TheTry Guys’ YouTube video announcing the shift in their business model was a master class in adapting without alienating the portion of your audience that doesn’t want you to change. In this shift, they launched their own paid streaming platform and announced that it would have exclusive and early-access content but also made it clear that their core content on YouTube would not be going anywhere. A few key takeaways for business owners include: the value of being transparent, the importance of influencing your audience’s perspective, and having the boldness to ask for help when you need it.
“The False Tradeoff” Podcast and Newsletter
Find support and guidance as a working parent when you catch the podcast or subscribe to the newsletter The False Tradeoff. Podcast host, Allison Whalen, first started these two resources after returning to work after taking leave to have her first child and personally experiencing the unique challenges, biases, and discrimination that working parents face. It’s a great resource if you need a little bit of encouragement as you balance running a business with caring for your family.
MonsterInsights Training Resources
One of our team’s favorite WordPress plugins, MonsterInsights is more than just an intuitive and effective GA4 plugin. This organization has some great blogs and tutorials to help you tap into the power of metrics for your business, especially with regards to Google Analytics and SEO Insights. Check out their blogs and training videos when you can.
Olivia Hanlon (Girls in Marketing)
Though only in her 20s, Oliva Hanlon is a motivational marketing expert to follow on social. She’s built a reputation as founder of Girls in Marketing and podcast host and has been ranked on “Forbes 30 Under 30” list for 2024. Her posts include a well-rounded mix of humorous marketing memes, informational trainings, transparent “business owner life” posts, and social media update roundups.
Words of Wisdom to Grow Your Biz
Searching for more insights and inspiration to guide your business’s journey? Browse the TTG blog!
