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No matter what stage you’re at on your start-up journey, you can always learn from the experiences of others. And luckily, there’s a wealth of information out there from those who’ve trodden the same entrepreneurial paths. Here we’ve rounded up some of the best podcasts and books for small businesses.
Podcasts
Our pick of the best podcasts for small business. Tips and insights, laughs and some honest truths, we love all of these.
“The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett”
If you’re a fan of the reality television show Dragon’s Den, you’ll need no introduction to serial entrepreneur Steven Bartlett. In this podcast, he interviews a different business mogul each week, getting them to open up about their experiences on the road to success. For listeners, it offers genuine insight into the minds of a diverse selection of industry leaders.
“How to Own the Room”
For many small business owners, learning how to be a confident and persuasive speaker is one of the biggest challenges to overcome. This podcast, hosted by British journalist Viv Groskop, explores ways in which you can take control, learn to love the spotlight — and make it work for you.
“Nothing Ventured”
Nothing Ventured invites you to join conversations with the people who make the start-up world go round. Entrepreneur and Founder Aarish Shah talks to founders, investors, and operators across the tech and venture ecosystem, exploring some lesser-heard stories and challenges they've faced as they try to build the future. Nothing Ventured brings a diverse group of guests from across sectors and provides insights, support, and a sense of community to those in the space.
“How I Built This”
Looking to recreate some of the biggest start-up success stories? On How I Built This, journalist Guy Raz interviews the people behind big hitters such as PayPal and Airbnb to find out more about the highs — and lows — of their business journeys. If you want to learn from the best, it’s a fascinating way to explore how they got where they are today.
“Without Fail”
On the other end of the spectrum, Without Fail focuses on the challenges faced by successful start-ups — and what went wrong along the way. Host Alex Blumberg interviews people from all walks of life, hearing how experts from a variety of different industries have tackled the pitfalls of their careers. If you’ve hit a rough patch, this podcast inspires you to keep going.
“The Best One Yet”
If you want to build a successful SME, you’ll need to keep abreast of all the latest news in the business and finance worlds. But for time-poor entrepreneurs, it can be difficult to fit everything in. On The Best One Yet (previously Snacks Daily), hosts Jack Kramer and Nick Martell condense the day’s most important updates into bite-sized portions, so you can stay up-to-date without sacrificing a large chunk of your day.
“GrowSolo”
We couldn’t do a round-up of the best podcasts and books for small businesses without including our podcast – GrowSolo. Our new podcast is a series of interviews with inspirational solo entrepreneurs, with each episode designed to inspire the next generation. We'll be learning more about our guest's stories, how they're building their audience and how they manage their solo business. We’ve got some excellent guests in the pipeline, so subscribe now.
Catch the first episode with Bee Arnold, GrowSolo podcast.
Books
Our pick of the best books for small businesses is essential reading for anyone looking to make it big!
“The Little Red Book of Selling”
Even the most talented of salespeople can learn something from this book by Jeffrey Gitomer, which takes a deep dive into an oft-maligned world. In its pages, you’ll learn more about what makes a good salesman and find ways to apply these skills to your own business.
“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”
This international bestseller by Stephen Covey often appears on recommended reading lists — and for good reason. One of the most popular nonfiction books of all time, it teaches a simple, seven-step method for living a more effective life. And while it’s not strictly aimed at entrepreneurs, the skills that it covers are essential to success in all walks of life.
“Dare to Lead”
We all know that even the best business owners are nothing without a good team behind them — but many start-up founders will be new to the concept of leading a team. This book by Brene Brown will teach you how to create a positive work environment, bringing out the best in all your employees.
“Big Ideas… For Small Businesses”
If you’re looking for ways to work smarter, not harder, this book by John Lamerton could be just what you need. Seeking to dispel the myth that successful start-ups require 70-hour weeks and backbreaking work, the self-proclaimed ‘lazy entrepreneur’ shares his tips on building a successful lifestyle business, with lots of helpful insights from his career.
“The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Business Don’t Work and What To Do About It”
If anything could ever claim to be the ‘idiot’s guide’ to starting a business, it’s this best-selling book from Michael Gerber. Here you’ll find a simple, step-by-step guide that talks you through the essential steps, warning you of potential pitfalls and problem areas well in advance. For anyone in the early stages of a start-up — or struggling to get back on track — it’s essential reading.
Each of these books and podcasts contains nuggets of wisdom that will help you get your business off the ground — and keep it there. To make things even easier, a GoSolo Business Account will help you manage all your income and outgoings in one place, providing a simple solution for start-ups at any stage.
