Oldies but Goodies - 5 Great Books You Must Have Read by Now We are regularly bombarded with new ideas, and while it is good to be open to possibility, there are already a large number of excellent ideas available that could be of use to you right now! Winter is a great time to grab a Milo and snuggle up with a good book.  Below are five books that are worth revisiting, or if you haven't come across them before, introduce yourself today...  The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Steven R Covey (Simon & Schuster) Learn how to achieve the best with your life This is one of my favourite books.  Stephen Covey provides a great framework for living your life to the fullest, whatever your passions.  From Habit 1 - "Begin with the End in Mind" to Habit 7 - "Sharpen the Saw", this book is jam-packed with gems of wisdom.  One of the things I love most about this book is its universal application.  Covey's 7 habits are as applicable at home with your family as they are in the boardroom at work. The E-Myth Michael Gerber (Harper Business) Learn how to build a real business Undeniably a classic that has proliferated into many "E-Myth" books and even a franchise consultancy, the underlying premise is that many people in business are not actually business people, but technicians. Gerber is absolutely correct when he states many people in business have only really created themselves a job.  Because they are technically expert at what they do, whether mechanic, designer or florist, they get a lot of work as they do a good job.  Ironically this is where the trouble starts!  As they lack the business intention and skills to manage this growth and create something independent of themselves, they struggle to cope. The E-Myth outlines what the technician requires to become a business person with a real business.  If you struggle with the issue of "have I got a business or a job?" then this is a great book for you. (Yes, we have to admit we're a little biased on this one, it being what we do for a living.  But, really, it's essential reading for every business owner.) Rich Dad, Poor Dad Robert Kiyosaki (Warner Books) What is it that the rich do, that the poor don't? Robert Kiyosaki answers this question quite simply.  The rich invest in things that will earn money and increase in value over time (e.g. shares, investment property), whereas the poor spend their money on things that will lose value and cost money over time (e.g. cars, furniture and gadgets). While a little frustrating to read, as Kiyosaki isn't the world's best writer (goodness, he doesn't have to be, does he?!) it is worth the effort, as his explanation of these major differences between the rich and the poor empower us to make better choices. Kiyosaki is strongly critical of how our education system does not teach us the important things we need to know to be successful.  His book goes a long way to rectify this.  Kiyosaki has written a kazillion books since this one, introducing a new concept each time.  Rich Dad, Poor Dad, however, is a great place to start.  Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway Susan Jeffers (Arrow Books) How to overcome your fears and achieve all you want. While we are each frightened by different things, the feeling of fear is something we can all relate to.  How does fear affect us?  For some, it just spurs us to try harder.  But for many, it can stop us dead in our tracks.  Susan Jeffers gets to the bottom of fear pretty quickly; stating that underneath each and every fear is the major concern of "I can't cope".  It's not actually what we worry might happen that frightens us;  it is our feeling that we might not be able to cope with what might happen that terrifies us the most.  This is a liberating thought, as once we reassure ourselves that actually we have the resources and ability to cope with the possibilities, we are freer to tackle what initially stopped us in our tracks.  Her small book is full of great ideas on how to "feel the fear and do it anyway!". Live the Life you Love and Stop Just Getting By Barbara Sher (Hodder) Live your best life I really enjoy Barbara Sher - she's like a best friend in our back pocket.  Based on realistic expectations and practical ideas, she makes you feel OK about your struggles and offers real assistance. While she's written many books, this one focuses on understanding what motivates you, what you specifically want to achieve and how to set things up to support yourself to ensure you achieve it. Grab the book and make a new friend today. Do something! As with anything, ideas are only that until  you take action.  Different results require different behaviour.  What new things can you achieve by heeding the wisdom of others? First published in the August 2006 HerBusiness magazine. More about business development... What do you want to achieve?  Where to start... Can your business really be a pimply teenager? 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