Best Management and Productivity Books For Gifts


Best management and productivity books

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Carefully-chosen books are thoughtful yet inexpensive gift ideas for the entrepreneur or business person on your list.  They also make great choices to put on your own wish list.  Take a look at our choices of best management and productivity books:



Own Your Future: How to Think Like an Entrepreneur and Thrive in an Unpredictable Economy

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When Paul B. Brown first wrote this book, the original title he intended was “Thriving in the Pink Slip Economy.”  Most of his friends saw that as ‘too depressing.’

So he changed it. Now, the title makes you feel in charge, and not a victim.

While mostly geared toward employees, it is also for every business owner wanting to take control of his or her life. We gave it an impressive 4.5 star rating. (Amazon) Read our review.



People Tools for Business

people tools for businessAlan Fox dispenses information such as this quote from the book: “When you receive a trouble letter or email, no matter how aggravated you feel, wait three days before you respond. Often the offending message will lose much of its power and will blend into the background ‘noise’ of your professional life. This will enable you to respond with a clearer head.”

This witty book is perfect for anyone who wants a light and interesting book that can actually change things. (Amazon) Read our review.



The Millionaire Master Plan: Your Personalized Path to Financial Success

6If you’ve always wanted to change someone’s life for the next year, then give them this gift. After all, who doesn’t want to become a millionaire, right?

The Millionaire Master Plan by Roger Hamilton teaches you how to manage your personal wealth and also teaches you how to get to the next level with it.

And since business owners use our own wealth, our business IS our money (and vice versa). (Amazon)



Profit First: A Simple System to Transform Any Business From a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine

7Here’s a twist to your usual business book. This one looks at business in terms of eating well. Yes, eating.

Author Mike Michalowicz discusses tasks as plates. Tasks, he says, should be served in small plates and must be eaten in smaller portions. From here, temptations should be avoided for greater results (productivity).

Your favorite business person will love how the author teaches people to make money.  (Amazon) Read our review.



To Do List Makeover: A Simple Guide to Getting the Most Important Things Done

to do list makeoverThis is not another book telling you to create a “to do” list.  According to the author, to do lists get to be complex and cluttered and become part of the problem, not the solution. The answer is to revamp your “to do” list.

S.J. Scott is one of the top Kindle authors in the personal productivity space.

This compact book of 98 pages is an easy read, even for people intimidated by time management books. Gets an impressive 4.5+ stars by us. (Amazon) Read our review.



The Obstacle is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph

11How many times have you viewed obstacles as threats instead of opportunities? Most of the time people react that way.

But with Ryan Holiday’s book, you’ll know how to work through the pain and turn it into something good. This book is inspiring for business owners having a rough time — or who just a need a positive boost.

Read it and start looking at the bright side.  See every obstacle as an opportunity to change for the better.   (Amazon)   Read our review.



How Do I Keep My Employees Motivated?

How do I keep my Employees Motivated?Ah, that age old question!  This compact book — 181 pages including appendices — is just the right size to help you understand how to get great results from employees.

Author George Langelett advocates that empathy leads to better management of business crises and challenges.

This book will help you understand the causes of employee behavior and what to do about it.   (Amazon)   Read our review.



Virtual Freedom: How to Work with Virtual Staff to Buy More Time, Become More Productive, and Build Your Dream Business

12Have you ever thought of hiring a virtual team for your business? It is now possible to connect with people from all over the world for an online team.

Chris Ducker teaches you how to choose and train virtual staff. Flexible “just in time” workforces are in.

This book is a great solution for those needing an extra hand who aren’t quite ready to hire an employee.  We gave it an impressive 94 stars out of 100.   (Amazon) Read our review.



Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit and Success

Executive PresenceEver wonder what makes someone stand out like a leader and another person not?

While some people may seem as if they were born with “presence” they actually were hewn by their own experiences and efforts, according to author Sylvia Hewlett.

Gravitas (how you act), it turns out, is one of the main factors that creates “presence.”  Read how to develop it for yourself and in others. (Amazon) Read our review.



Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All

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Why is it that some people have creativity and ideas to invent new things.   Yet other people suppress their creativity in exchange for hard work, even though they shouldn’t.

Creativity is something that you choose to practice every day, say the authors, Tom and David Kelly.

This is a book bursting with passion.   (Amazon) Read our review.




e-Library image: Shutterstock

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2 Comments ▼

Ivana Taylor Ivana Taylor is the Book Editor for Small Business Trends. She is responsible for directing the site’s book review program and manages the team of professional book reviewers. She also spearheads the annual Small Business Book Awards. Ivana publishes DIYMarketers, where she shares daily do-it-yourself marketing tips, and is co-author of "Excel for Marketing Managers."

2 Reactions
  1. I have read Creative Confidence and I must say that it is a must-read for all artists and artists-at-heart. After all, I am a firm believer that we are all creatives. We just need an extra push to unleash that power within us.

  2. Own Your Future and The Obstacle is the Way. Those two appeal to me. I might just gift them to myself. 🙂