If you're looking to grow your Christmas or Permanent Lighting business, what books should be on your reading list? There are certain seminal titles that every entrepreneur and leader should read for inspiration, key insights and practical strategies.

I've compiled reviews of 38 highly-recommended business books to provide an ultimate reading guide. From classics like Think and Grow Rich to newer game-changers like Traction, these books deliver value across leadership, marketing, sales, negotiation, team-building and more.

Read on for an overview of each book and why it deserves a glowing spot in your professional library! Whether you specialize in Christmas Lights installation, Permanent Lighting or pressure washing, continuing education is critical for excellence in this fast-moving field. Let these books illuminate your path towards mastering both the technical expertise and entrepreneurial savvy needed to shine bright.

Mindset and Personal Development:

1. Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert Kiyosaki

Starting with "Rich Dad Poor Dad," this book lays the foundational mindset necessary for financial independence. Kiyosaki's contrasting stories of his biological father (the 'poor dad') and the father of his best friend (the 'rich dad') provide a stark comparison in attitudes towards money and investing, emphasizing the importance of generating passive income and financial literacy.

2. The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure by Grant Cardone

Grant Cardone's "The 10X Rule" takes the momentum built from understanding personal finance to the next level, advocating for massive action. This book challenges readers to rethink their goals and efforts, proposing that to achieve true success, one must work ten times harder than they previously thought necessary.

3. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Napoleon Hill's classic, "Think and Grow Rich," delves into the psychological aspects of success. Hill's principles of desire, faith, and persistence are as relevant today as they were when the book was first published, guiding readers to cultivate a success-oriented mindset.

4. How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie

Dale Carnegie's timeless advice on building relationships is crucial for personal and professional growth. How to Win Friends & Influence People teaches the art of communication and how to navigate human relations, skills indispensable for any entrepreneur.

5. Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential by Barbara Oakley

"Mindshift" takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and adaptation. Oakley provides strategies for changing our perceptions and habits, enabling us to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

6. The Law of Success: The Master Wealth-Builder's Complete and Original Lesson Plan for Achieving Your Dreams by Napoleon Hill

Another entry from Hill, "The Laws of Success," distills decades of research into principles of personal achievement. Hill's philosophy is not just about accumulating wealth but achieving success in all areas of life.

7. The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

Norman Vincent Peale's "The Power of Positive Thinking" offers a blueprint for overcoming obstacles through faith and optimism. This book teaches readers how to break the cycle of worry and fear to achieve their goals.

8. Outwitting the Devil: The Secrets to Freedom and Success by Napoleon Hill

In "Outwitting the Devil," Hill reveals his interview with the devil, exposing the psychological barriers that hold us back. This book is a profound exploration of fear, procrastination, and the power of our own minds to liberate or imprison us.

9. The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz

David J. Schwartz's "The Magic of Thinking Big" asserts that the size of your success is determined by the size of your thinking. This book encourages readers to set ambitious goals and overcome the mental barriers that limit potential.

10. The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers' Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success by Dan Sullivan

"The Gap and the Gain" focuses on the mindset of success, teaching readers to assess their progress not by what's lacking (the gap) but by the achievements made (the gain). This perspective shift is crucial for sustained motivation and satisfaction.

Financial Management

11. Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz

Transitioning into the specifics of running a business, "Profit First" introduces a revolutionary accounting strategy that ensures profitability from the get-go. Michalowicz's system flips the traditional sales-expenses=profit equation on its head, arguing for a sales-profit=expenses model instead.

12. Tax-Free Wealth: How to Build Massive Wealth by Permanently Lowering Your Taxes by Tom Wheelwright

"Tax-Free Wealth" is about building wealth through smart tax planning. Wheelwright demystifies the tax code, showing entrepreneurs how to use it to their advantage to reduce their tax burden legally.

13. Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire by Dan Martell

Time management is crucial for entrepreneurs, and "Buy Back Your Time" provides actionable advice for reclaiming your time. Martell emphasizes the importance of delegation and focusing on high-impact activities.

Sales and Marketing:

14. The Ultimate Sales Machine: Turbocharge Your Business with Relentless Focus on 12 Key Strategies by Chet Holmes

Sales growth is at the heart of "The Ultimate Sales Machine." Holmes offers strategies to improve sales efficiency and effectiveness, emphasizing the importance of focus, training, and discipline to turn any business into a sales powerhouse.

15. They Ask, You Answer: A Revolutionary Approach to Inbound Sales, Content Marketing, and Today's Digital Consumer by Marcus Sheridan

Content marketing is revolutionized in "They Ask, You Answer." Sheridan's approach is straightforward yet powerful: listen to your customers' questions and be the best at answering them. This strategy builds trust and authority, drawing customers to you.

16. Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin

Innovation and marketing take center stage in "Purple Cow." Godin challenges businesses to become remarkable—to create products and services so exceptional that they stand out like a purple cow in a field of monochrome Holsteins.

17. Expert Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Converting Your Online Visitors into Lifelong Customers by Russell Brunson

Russell Brunson's "Expert Secrets" is about positioning oneself as a leader in your niche. This book is a guide to building a loyal community by sharing your expertise and leading with value.

18. Dotcom Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company Online with Sales Funnels by Russell Brunson

Master the science of funnel building to grow your company online with sales funnels in this updated edition of Dotcom Secrets from the $100 million entrepreneur and cofounder of the software company ClickFunnels.   

Marketing and Lead Generation

19. $100M Leads: How to Get Strangers To Want To Buy Your Stuff by Alex Hormozi

Generating leads is crucial for any business, and "100 Million Leads" focuses on strategies to attract a consistent flow of prospects. This book covers the latest techniques in digital`marketing.

20. $100M Offers: How To Make Offers So Good People Feel Stupid Saying No by Alex Hormozi

Following "100 Million Leads," "100 Million Offers" delves into the art of crafting irresistible offers. This book emphasizes the importance of testing and refining your value proposition to maximize conversion rates.

Leadership and Team Building

21. Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Leadership is the focus of "Extreme Ownership." Willink and Babin, former Navy SEALs, share lessons from the battlefield that apply to leading any team. The core message is taking full responsibility for your actions and their outcomes.

22. Developing the Leader Within You 2.0 by John C. Maxwell

John C. Maxwell's "Developing the Leader Within You 2.0" is a modern guide to leadership, emphasizing the importance of influence, vision, and personal development in leading others.

23. Build an A-Team: Play to Their Strengths and Lead Them Up the Learning Curve by Whitney Johnson

"Build an A Team" explores the dynamics of team building and leadership. Johnson provides insights into attracting, nurturing, and retaining top talent, crucial for any organization's success.

24. The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team by Patrick M. Lencioni and Ray Porter

"The 6 Types of Working Genius" helps readers identify their unique strengths and working styles. Understanding your genius type can optimize your productivity and job satisfaction, as well as improve team dynamics.

Strategy and Innovation

25. Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman

Gino Wickman's "Traction" focuses on the operational aspects of business growth, presenting the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) as a comprehensive method to gain control over your business. This book is essential for anyone looking to systematically drive their business forward.

26. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber

"The E-Myth Revisited" tackles the romanticized view of entrepreneurship, revealing the common pitfalls that lead to the failure of most small businesses. Gerber provides insights into the importance of working on your business, not just in it, by systematizing and scaling operations.

27. The Pumpkin Plan: A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field by Mike Michalowicz

Returning to Michalowicz, "The Pumpkin Plan" offers a strategy for growth by focusing on your best customers. Just as farmers nurture their most promising pumpkins to grow them giant, businesses should concentrate their efforts on their most profitable clients.

28. Blue Ocean Strategy, Expanded Edition: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne

"Blue Ocean Strategy" encourages businesses to move beyond competitive markets (red oceans) into new, uncontested spaces (blue oceans). The book provides frameworks for creating unique value propositions and capturing new demand.

29. Choose Your Enemies Wisely: Business Planning for the Audacious Few by Patrick Bet-David

Competitive strategy is at the heart of "Choose Your Enemy Wisely." This book argues for the strategic selection of competitors to catalyze growth, encouraging businesses to compete where they can win.

30. Your Next Five Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy by Patrick Bet-David

Strategic planning is the focus of "Your Next Five Moves." Bet-David teaches readers to think several steps ahead, planning systematically to navigate the complexities of business and life.

31. The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington

"The 12 Week Year" offers a new approach to productivity and goal achievement. By compressing work cycles into 12 weeks, Moran and Lennington show how to achieve more in less time.

32. Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy

Delegation and collaboration are central themes in "Who Not How?" Sullivan and Hardy argue that focusing on who can do the work, rather than how it's done, frees up time and energy for higher-level strategic thinking.

33. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek's "Start With Why" explores the importance of purpose in driving success. By focusing on why your business exists, you can inspire action and loyalty among customers and employees alike.

34. Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss

Negotiation skills are critical, and "Never Split the Difference" provides readers with techniques from a former FBI negotiator. Voss's strategies are applicable in any negotiation scenario, offering insights into human psychology and effective communication.

Biographies and Case Studies

35. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

"Shoe Dog" is a memoir by Nike founder Phil Knight, offering an intimate look at the trials and triumphs of building a global brand. Knight's story is an inspiration for entrepreneurs, emphasizing perseverance, vision, and the importance of culture.

36. American Kingpin by Nick Bilton

"American Kingpin" tells the riveting story of the Silk Road and its founder, offering insights into the digital age's challenges and opportunities. Bilton's narrative provides lessons on innovation, ethics, and the unintended consequences of technology.

Personal Growth and Efficiency

37. The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential by John C. Maxwell

John C. Maxwell returns with "The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth," a guide to personal and professional development. Maxwell's principles are designed to help readers reach their full potential through intentional growth and learning.

38. 10x Is Easier Than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less by Dan Sullivan

Most entrepreneurs strive for incremental growth, exhausting themselves chasing small linear progress. In his transformative work, 10x is Easier Than 2x, Dan Sullivan liberates overextended leaders by outlining how to achieve exponentially greater outcomes through focus.

This recommended reading order starts with foundational concepts in personal finance and mindset, gradually building towards more complex strategies in sales, marketing, and leadership. Each book contributes to a holistic understanding of business and personal success, offering readers a comprehensive toolkit for navigating the entrepreneurial landscape.

Embarking on this reading journey will not only equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary for success but will also inspire you to think bigger, act bolder, and pursue your business and personal goals with unwavering determination.