4 ms·

If you have to read 30 more books before starting your business, you aren't an entrepreneur, you're an academic.

by kcl 19y ago

nostrademons 19y ago
That's not really true - most CEOs are voracious readers with personal libraries of thousands of volumes. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/21/business/21libraries.html http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/21/business/21libraries.html. Bill Gates in particular is known as an avid bookworm - every other year, he spends a week doing nothing but reading, often for 18 hours a day. http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2005/scout-050401-inthenews.php http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2005/scout-050401-... 30 books also shouldn't take you too long. If you devote yourself to reading full-time, it should be between 10 days and 2 weeks. If you read them at a more leisurely pace (subway time, before bed, waiting for dinner to cook, other downtime), it might take you 3 months or so. Either way, the benefits - particularly with this set of books - far outweighs the costs. (If anyone cares, I've read 12 out of the 30 on this list, and am hoping to get more out when I visit the library this afternoon.)
- davidw 19y ago
  Hrm... yes, on the other hand, there is definitely a trait that I recognize in other people because I see it in myself, which is that of the "knowledgeable person". We take pride in knowing, in being informed, in reading a lot, but at times are less 'doers'.... Waterhouses and Shaftoes, so to speak. To some degree, I think this trait deals with a desire to have all possible knowledge prior to taking a decision. However, at times, that sort of 'maximizing' behavior is counterproductive when compared with someone who gathers 'enough' information, and plunges ahead.
  - nostrademons 19y ago
    I also tend to lean too far to the "Waterhouse" side of the spectrum. I think a lot of the problem is that people are mentally adding "before you start your startup" to the title, when nobody's actually said so. There's no such thing as "prepared enough" to start a company; you learn what you can and prepare as best you can, then just do it and clean up your messes along the way. The books above will probably help, and some may change how you position your initial idea, but it's not gonna kill you to read them after getting started.
- Harj 19y ago
  "Bill Gates in particular is known as an avid bookworm - every other year, he spends a week doing nothing but reading, often for 18 hours a day." how many weeks do you think he took off to read while microsoft was still a startup?

If you have to read 30 more books before starting your business, you aren't an entrepreneur, you're an academic.

by kcl 19y ago

If you have to read 30 more books before starting your business, you aren't an entrepreneur, you're an academic.

That's not really true - most CEOs are voracious readers with personal libraries of thousands of volumes. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/21/business/21libraries.html http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/21/business/21libraries.html. Bill Gates in particular is known as an avid bookworm - every other year, he spends a week doing nothing but reading, often for 18 hours a day. http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2005/scout-050401-inthenews.php http://scout.wisc.edu/Reports/ScoutReport/2005/scout-050401-... 30 books also shouldn't take you too long. If you devote yourself to reading full-time, it should be between 10 days and 2 weeks. If you read them at a more leisurely pace (subway time, before bed, waiting for dinner to cook, other downtime), it might take you 3 months or so. Either way, the benefits - particularly with this set of books - far outweighs the costs. (If anyone cares, I've read 12 out of the 30 on this list, and am hoping to get more out when I visit the library this afternoon.)

davidw 19y ago
Hrm... yes, on the other hand, there is definitely a trait that I recognize in other people because I see it in myself, which is that of the "knowledgeable person". We take pride in knowing, in being informed, in reading a lot, but at times are less 'doers'.... Waterhouses and Shaftoes, so to speak. To some degree, I think this trait deals with a desire to have all possible knowledge prior to taking a decision. However, at times, that sort of 'maximizing' behavior is counterproductive when compared with someone who gathers 'enough' information, and plunges ahead.
- nostrademons 19y ago
  I also tend to lean too far to the "Waterhouse" side of the spectrum. I think a lot of the problem is that people are mentally adding "before you start your startup" to the title, when nobody's actually said so. There's no such thing as "prepared enough" to start a company; you learn what you can and prepare as best you can, then just do it and clean up your messes along the way. The books above will probably help, and some may change how you position your initial idea, but it's not gonna kill you to read them after getting started.
Harj 19y ago
"Bill Gates in particular is known as an avid bookworm - every other year, he spends a week doing nothing but reading, often for 18 hours a day." how many weeks do you think he took off to read while microsoft was still a startup?