The Resolution All Entrepreneurs Should Make

For 2013, I made a resolution to teach the world about finance. Finance has been my passion for the past 20 years, and I felt it was my duty to impart wisdom on the topic. In 2013, I wrote a book, developed an online course, and hosted a monthly Spreecast titled, Lean Finance for Startups.

You can watch the latest broadcast below:

For 2014, my resolution is to become the student and learn from other thought leaders. I've made it a point to read one book per month.

Below you will find the books that I read over the past two months (I like to start my resolutions early), as well as the lesson I learned from each book:

Cold Calling

As a young entrepreneur, you will need to make connections with people you don't know. Afraid of cold calling? Get Big Fast and Do More Good by Ido Leffler and Lance Kalish will show you how to do it.

One mistake I see entrepreneurs make is failing to work on themselves, while they are working on their companies. Get Big Fast and Do More Good gives great examples of how entrepreneurs can break out of their comfort zone and secure meetings with key partners.

Boards

As you start to raise capital, you will be faced with the dreaded board of directors. In Startup Boards: Getting the Most Out of Your Board of Directors by Brad Feld, entrepreneurs get a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at board mechanics.

Most entrepreneurs fail to understand the purpose of their board of directors. Many entrepreneurs fear their board, instead of using this valuable resource for guidance. Once you understand the mechanics of your board, you will understand how to work toward the same goals.

Have you read a book that has helped you learn? Leave a comment below!