If you want to be an entrepreneur, you need to live like one. That means working your butt off to start your business, but it's more than that. You also need to educate yourself on all the aspects of running a business. Watching shows and documentaries and reading books can help you do that. Then, you can build your business and watch the success roll in.
Shark Tank
Shark Tank is the perfect television show for every aspiring or new entrepreneur. You can see a variety of products and services and how investors react. Whenever a new entrepreneur walks in and makes a pitch, take notes on what works and what doesn't. Think about their past success or failures and how you can learn from them. And if they make a deal, pay attention to why the investors (called sharks) invest in a Shark Tank keto product or other businesses.
The Profit
A similar show to Shark Tank, The Profit centers on Marcus Lemonis, an investor who looks at failing businesses. If he's interested in a particular company, he can offer an investment that the business owner can accept or reject. Lemonis will provide feedback about the business and how the owner can improve. Since this show also works with real businesses, it can be an excellent way to learn what works and what doesn't. Be sure to pay special attention to businesses in your industry.
Undercover Boss
If you have a larger company with multiple locations and hundreds of employees, you should watch Undercover Boss. Each episode focuses on a different company with one executive going undercover to discover problems in the company. The boss uses a disguise, and the show pretends they're filming for another show. Then, the boss goes through some sort of training with an employee at each location. Most bosses learn a lot, and they end the episode with financial rewards and other changes based on the employees.
The 4-Hour Workweek
When it comes to entrepreneurial books, almost everyone will think of The 4-Hour Workweek by Time Ferriss. The book talks about how to live wherever you want and get out of the traditional work schedule. It's perfect for workaholics and anyone who wants some inspiration on how to build a business and the life you love. The book also includes information about working remotely and planning for retirement, which can appeal to anyone, not just entrepreneurs.
Girlboss
Girlboss is a book written by Sophia Amoruso, the founder of Nasty Gal. The book is especially great for female entrepreneurs who want to read about a woman in business. But any entrepreneur can benefit from the autobiography of someone who has had many jobs and ventures in her life. If you want to learn how she found success, read Girlboss, and you can apply the concepts to your business.
The Young Entrepreneur's Guide to Starting and Running a Business
The book by Steve Mariotti covers everything from starting a business to the daily operations. If you're in the beginning stages of your business, you need to know what to expect as an entrepreneur. If you know what administrative tasks you'll need to do, you can plan for that in your schedule. Then, you can use that time to understand how your business works. Whenever you need to bring on an investor, you can show them the numbers and how your business functions.
An Entrepreneur in Your Industry
Whether you want to read a book or watch a show or video series, you should find one by someone in your industry. Sure, you can apply certain topics to any job. But if you work in digital media, you should find a book or video from someone who offers the same products and services. Then, you can see what works. You don't want to copy what that business does, but you should know the basics.
Being an entrepreneur is easy, but being successful takes work and discipline. Educating yourself can help set you and your business up for success.
