Learnings you need before starting startup

Starting a new business can be a thrilling and gratifying experience, but it is also fraught with challenges and hazards. Learning from the experiences of people who have gone through the process before you is one of the finest methods to boost one's chances of success. While blogs, podcasts, and online courses provide much guidance, books remain a useful source of information for entrepreneurs. In this article, we will look at some of the most popular yet diverse startup-related books that will provide entrepreneurs with the proper viewpoint when confronted with obstacles that are comparable to those faced by other renowned entrepreneurs or business builders.

Ben Horowitz's "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" is one such book that provides a candid and practical approach to developing and operating a successful startup. Ben Horowitz is a cofounder and general partner of the well-known venture capital (VC) company Andreessen Horowitz. The best feature of this book is that the author describes real-life stories that he faced that entrepreneurs can relate to and shares his views in an open and honest manner.  On top of it, it is relatively easy to read and understand. 

The next one is Eric Ries' book "The Lean Startup" which presents a model for building and managing companies. The book highlights the value of ongoing innovation, experimentation, and consumer feedback, as well as practical guidance for testing and improving business ideas. The Lean Startup methodology emphasises the need for companies to be nimble and adaptive, as well as focus on delivering value for customers. The book has become a startup staple, and it has been recognised for assisting entrepreneurs in building successful enterprises across a wide range of industries.

If an entrepreneur wants to protect oneself against future pitfalls and make better choices that will probably safeguard the startup, he/she should read, "The Founder's Dilemmas" by Noam Wasserman's. Wasserman uses considerable research to identify frequent concerns including as ownership splits, CEO succession, and team chemistry, and then offers practical advice for overcoming these obstacles. The book gives insights into the decisions that can make or break a startup.

Another book is "Creativity, Inc." written by Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar Animation Studios, which was co-founded by Steve Jobs. It is about managing creativity and fostering a culture of innovation. Catmull shares stories from his experiences at Pixar and working with Steve Jobs shares the importance of and ways to create an environment where people feel safe to take risks and make mistakes in pursuit of creative excellence.

The next book is related to getting the best out of one's talented team. The book "High Output Management" by Andrew S. Grove, former CEO of Intel, presents management ideas for obtaining high productivity in any firm. Goal-setting, team dynamics, communication, and decision-making are among the subjects covered in the book.

Another startup stable is "Zero to One" by entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel  which provides a unique viewpoint on entrepreneurship. Thiel contends that true innovation entails developing something new and worthwhile, as opposed to simply improving on existing products or ideas. He advises entrepreneurs to focus on establishing monopolies by developing items that are 10 times better than everything else on the market. Thiel also discusses startup culture, the value of sales and marketing, and the role of technology in influencing the future.

The writer is an avid reader and a startup enthusiast. She is studying BBA at BRAC University. [email protected]