The following is a list of books that every aspiring entrepreneur and/or wealth builder must read in order to achieve success in the business world. These books have served as a foundation of a philosophy I have about business, wealth creation and self-empowerment through mental transformation, goal setting achievement, and a commitment to a new economic reality.

1. THINK AND GROW RICH: Released in 1937, this book has served as the Bible for self-help and personal success. Written by Napoleon Hill (naphill.org), this book contains the seventeen principles of the Science of Personal Achievement. It is the first book that addresses the importance of a shift in mindset in order to experience success and wealth.
2. RICH DAD POOR DAD: Robert Kiyosaki created six principles that became the Rich Dad (richdad.com) philosophy. He also turned the business and financial world on its ear by attacking conventional wisdom about money. He also discusses how the rich play by a different set of rules than the poor and middle class.
3. GUERRILLA MARKETING: As an adjunct professor at Cal-Berkeley, the late Jay Conrad Levinson (gmarketing.com) developed a marketing system for small businesses with a limited marketing budget. This marketing philosophy gives a small business an “unfair advantage” because it is “outrageously inexpensive, easy to implement and simple to understand”.
4. THE E-MYTH REVISITED: Michael Gerber (michaelegerbercompanies.com/web) discusses the importance of building a franchise prototype system that operates with the efficiency and consistency of a McDonald’s or SUBWAY. A business should be built as if it were to be sold. Gerber also makes a clear distinction between an entrepreneur and one who is self-employed.
5. INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Considered the godfather of modern business management, Peter F. Drucker’s classic gives a unique perspective on business and entrepreneurship. He argues that one of the critical characteristics of entrepreneurship is being innovative. Being innovative means introducing something into the market that creates a new customer demand or satisfies an existing one.
6. THE BARON SON: The story is of a young boy who loses everything and, through various trials and tribulations, discovers the secret to become the richest and most powerful man on Earth. The Baron reveals eleven “Supreme Principles” to build and expand wealth by using his life experiences to teach the three young men who seek the “secrets” to amassing great wealth.
7. THE ART OF THE START 2.0: This second edition gives the entrepreneur the tools necessary to launch and build a business. Although it is written from the perspective of a venture capitalist, Guy Kawasaki states that entrepreneurship is not a title, but a mindset. He addresses topics such as pitching, crowdfunding and why business plans are obsolete.
8. THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SECRET (Volume 1-3): Former Wu-Tang Clan business manager Cedric Muhammad addresses the entrepreneurial experience from a political, economic, personal and spiritual perspective. He felt there was no one book that encompassed the totality of the entrepreneurial experience. So, this three volume book series tackles those issues.

Every entrepreneur should invest in his success. What you pour into your mind will ultimately reach your wallet. Wealth begins in the mind. Wealth begins as an idea. Everyone has an idea for financial independence once every three months. All that is required is to take that idea, nurture it, cultivate it, protect it and, eventually, you will have riches in bunches.