The best books for developing an entrepreneurial "growth" mindset

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m the founder of Purposeful Group, an author, and a multi-award-winning entrepreneur who has started multiple businesses from scratch. I believe that when you have the right mindset, positive things will flow from this. As the designer of programmes for entrepreneurs and digital learners, I have recommended books that I hope will give readers a great foundation to build on to achieve their entrepreneurial goals. From a personal perspective, they have kept me on track, and helped me build a framework of “success behaviours.”


I wrote...

Don't Hire a Software Developer Until You Read this Book

By K.N. Kukoyi,

Book cover of Don't Hire a Software Developer Until You Read this Book

What is my book about?

Do you have an idea for a web or mobile app? If you do, but you’re unsure how to transform your business idea into a technical product, then this practical “software survival guide” is for you!

This is the second of 5 books I have published for entrepreneurs, designed to show you how to build your software application the smart way! As a qualified tech professional and software delivery specialist, I mentor tech startups and entrepreneurs from around the world, explaining how to get digital businesses off the ground step by step. Understanding the do’s and don’ts involved in getting started helps founders to avoid the common mistakes and pitfalls experienced by aspiring tech entrepreneurs. Having led and worked in teams creating multi-million-pound digital products from scratch, I share insider knowledge about how to create a quality digital product quickly, efficiently, and economically.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Think and Grow Rich

K.N. Kukoyi Why did I love this book?

As “ancient” as this book is, the messages in it are both evergreen and priceless.

If you adopt the philosophies in this book, you will become more confident, more focused, and successful!

At times it can be easy to become distracted by unimportant things, and caught up in vicious cycles of procrastination and negative self-talk. This will affect your productivity, and your ability to make progress.

I used the advice in this book as motivation, and to benchmark the author’s instruction against my current behaviours and ways of thinking. I really enjoyed spending time reflecting on the guidance offered in this book, then taking action to implement my identified “upgrades and adjustments”!

By Napoleon Hill,

Why should I read it?

12 authors picked Think and Grow Rich as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is one of the bestselling motivational books of all-time. Inspired by a suggestion from industrialist Andrew Carnegie, Hill explains the philosophy that helped the wealthiest and most accomplished members of society succeed.


Book cover of Rich Dad Poor Dad

K.N. Kukoyi Why did I love this book?

A friend recommended this book to me. At the time I was looking to expand my thinking about business and also started delving into the world of financial education.

Rich Dad Poor Dad aims to help the reader to consider their thoughts and actions and the path which they are on and offers an alternative to what the "herd" is doing, with a move towards very strategic activities when it comes to lifestyle, money and how you think about and use it. Reading this book led me to discover Kiyosaki’s Cashflow Quadrant.

The idea is to move beyond the left side of the quadrant which includes being an Employee (E), or Self-employed (S) across to the right side of the quadrant, towards being a Business Owner (B) and Investor, (I) for greater freedom and control over life through more focus on activities which can be game changers!

By Robert T. Kiyosaki,

Why should I read it?

10 authors picked Rich Dad Poor Dad as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

It's been nearly 25 years since Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad first made waves in the Personal Finance arena.
It has since become the #1 Personal Finance book of all time... translated into dozens of languages and sold around the world.

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…


Book cover of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

K.N. Kukoyi Why did I love this book?

This is another classic! I've tried to pick books that will stand the test of time and I think this is another one...

“Start with the end in mind” is an example of one of the 7 habits that Covey explores in this book, encouraging us to visualise our desired end result, and work backwards to achieve it.

It’s amazing how different we all are. Some don’t know what they want, others can picture what they want, but find it difficult to break that down into actionable steps or to formulate a strategy to get them where they want to go. Others are great with planning and attention to detail, but can get overly focused on details and as a result can lose sight of “the big picture”. Those who can both visualise and execute have got it made.

By Stephen R. Covey,

Why should I read it?

13 authors picked The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

New York Times bestseller - over 25 million copies sold
The No. 1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century

"[Thirty] years after it first appeared, the wisdom of The 7 Habits is more relevant than ever. On an individual level people are burning out, and on a collective level we are burning up the planet. So Dr. Covey's emphasis on self-renewal and his understanding that leadership and creativity require us to tap into our own physical, mental, and spiritual resources are exactly what we need now." Arianna Huffington

One of the most inspiring and impactful books ever written,…


Book cover of The E-Myth Revisited

K.N. Kukoyi Why did I love this book?

In this book, Gerber outlines some of the business mistakes that plague small business owners and restrict their ability to grow their ventures.

As a business mentor to entrepreneurs this hits very close to home. It’s something that I talk to founders about, and need to be aware of myself as a business owner.

Coming from a corporate tech background I feel very strongly that small businesses shouldn’t be chaotic, and that intelligent systems can be put in place to help any business to scale and run efficiently. The E-Myth Revisited demonstrates the power of systems to revolutionise businesses using vivid examples. He also breaks down the 3 directions that entrepreneurs get pulled in and the challenges they face as a result. You’ll have to read the book to find out more!

By Michael E. Gerber,

Why should I read it?

5 authors picked The E-Myth Revisited as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

E-Myth \ 'e-,'mith\ n 1: the entrepreneurial myth: the myth that most people who start small businesses are entrepreneurs 2: the fatal assumption that an individual who understands the technical work of a business can successfully run a business that does that technical work Voted #1 business book by Inc. 500 CEOs. 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. Gerber, with sharp insight gained from years of experience, points out how common assumptions, expectations, and even technical expertise can get…


Book cover of Key Person of Influence

K.N. Kukoyi Why did I love this book?

Key Person of Influence (KPI) is a system which helps entrepreneurs to develop their businesses through 5 key principles, or methods - Pitch, Publish, Product, Profile and Partner.

Priestley talks about the importance of a number of business activities, including developing your entrepreneurial pitch and refining the way that you position your business in order to make an impact. Visibility and credibility are also critical for building trust with prospective customers, and through partnering and building relationships with other business owners, an organisation can accelerate its results.

At Purposeful Group, we have our own system, the App Map 2.0 model designed to help aspiring tech startup founders to create digital products from scratch via our Tech Startup Academy programme.

By Daniel Priestley,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Key Person of Influence as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Every industry revolves around Key People of Influence. Their names come up in conversation. They attract opportunities. They earn more money. Many people think it takes decades of hard work, academic qualifications and a generous measure of good luck to become a Key Person of Influence.

This audiobook shows you that there is a five-step strategy for fast-tracking your way to the inner circle of the industry you love. Your ability to succeed depends on your ability to influence. Start now by listening to this audiobook.


You might also like...

The Managing People Practice Manual

By Neil Thompson,

Book cover of The Managing People Practice Manual

Neil Thompson Author Of The Managing People Practice Manual

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Writer Educator Adviser

Neil's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

This manual addresses the need to ensure that people are at the centre of the organisation. There has never been a timelier reminder of the need to ensure that leading, supporting and developing staff are critical aspects of creating the right organisational culture to grow and develop. Written with sensitivity, it brings together essential learning and underpinning theoretical knowledge and frameworks to promote effective practice.

This is an essential handbook for managers and leaders who want to develop the full potential of their people. It not only covers the fundamental issues of human resource management, but also highlights important topics that organisations find difficult to address, such as empowerment, stress management, mental health, equality, diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of well-being at work.

The Managing People Practice Manual

By Neil Thompson,

What is this book about?

It is refreshing to come across an HR book that bridges the gap perfectly between the academic theory and the practicality of ‘how to do it'. Dr Neil Thompson takes us on a humanistic journey that genuinely captures the human dimension of people management. This is an extremely helpful manual full of important and practical information about promoting well-being to achieve the best outcome for various everyday people management issues. The easy-to-understand inclusive language of this book calls to anyone interested in people management, meaning this is a perfect book for students, HR leaders, and practitioners. I know I will…


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