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Believe it or not books are still some of the best places to find really really good inspiration. Here are our best picks.

The Art of War Book Cover

The Art of War

By Sun Tzu

Strategy Leadership Classics

Written over 2,500 years ago, Sun Tzu's masterpiece on military strategy has become an essential text for business leaders worldwide. Its principles on strategic planning, tactical positioning, and gaining competitive advantage apply seamlessly to modern business challenges. The Art of War teaches timeless wisdom about understanding your competition, managing resources effectively, and achieving victory without unnecessary conflict—all concepts directly applicable to building and growing a successful business or agency today.

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The Art of War Book Cover

The Art of War

By Sun Tzu

Strategy Leadership Classics Philosophy Business

Why We Recommend This Book

"The Art of War" may be the oldest book on our recommended list, but its insights remain profoundly relevant for today's agency owners and business leaders. Written in the 5th century BCE, Sun Tzu's strategic principles have guided military leaders, politicians, and business executives for centuries.

For agency owners and entrepreneurs, this classic offers timeless wisdom on:

  • Developing effective competitive strategies in crowded markets
  • Understanding your strengths and weaknesses versus the competition
  • Winning through strategic positioning rather than brute force
  • Adapting to changing market conditions with flexibility
  • Leading teams through challenging situations with wisdom and foresight

Key Takeaways

The brilliance of "The Art of War" lies in its concise, profound statements that apply to any competitive environment. Sun Tzu's famous assertion that "the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting" translates perfectly to business: the most successful agencies don't just outcompete others—they position themselves so distinctly that direct competition becomes irrelevant.

The book emphasizes knowing yourself and your competition intimately, which is essential for strategic positioning in today's market. As Sun Tzu states, "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles." For agency owners, this means clearly understanding your unique strengths and your competitors' weaknesses to develop offerings that stand apart.

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These are not affiliate links. We recommend this book purely based on its value to agency owners and business professionals.

In today's TikTok generation, quick soundbites might seem appealing, but true expertise requires deeper learning. To be at the top of your field, you need to invest in substantial knowledge.

Read these recommended books or don't—it's entirely up to you. But remember: expertise isn't built on shortcuts.

$100M Leads Book Cover

$100M Leads

By Alex Hormozi

Lead Generation Marketing Sales

Discover how Alex Hormozi and 8 entrepreneurs generated over $100 million in leads for Acquisition.com. This book reveals actionable strategies for scaling your lead generation without relying on referrals or word-of-mouth. Hormozi breaks down his proven systems for attracting high-quality prospects, crafting irresistible offers, and converting cold traffic into qualified leads. Unlike theoretical marketing books, $100M Leads provides practical frameworks that any business can implement immediately to generate consistent, reliable lead flow at scale.

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$100M Leads Book Cover

$100M Leads

By Alex Hormozi

Lead Generation Marketing Sales Business Growth Acquisition

Why We Recommend This Book

"$100M Leads" is a must-read for agency owners and entrepreneurs who want to scale their business through systematic lead generation. Alex Hormozi shares the specific strategies that he and 8 other entrepreneurs used to generate over $100 million in leads for Acquisition.com.

Unlike many marketing books that focus on theory, this book provides practical, actionable advice that you can implement immediately:

  • Discover proven lead generation strategies that don't rely on personal networks or referrals
  • Learn how to craft offers that attract high-quality prospects at scale
  • Understand the exact frameworks for converting cold traffic into qualified leads
  • Implement systematic processes that consistently bring in new business
  • Scale your lead generation efforts across multiple channels

Key Takeaways

Hormozi's approach to lead generation is refreshingly practical. Rather than focusing on trendy tactics, he emphasizes building systems that reliably attract prospects who are ready to buy. The book walks through the entire process of identifying your ideal client, creating compelling offers, and implementing lead generation strategies that work.

What makes this book particularly valuable is that it doesn't just present one person's perspective. By featuring the strategies of 8 different successful entrepreneurs, it provides multiple proven pathways to success, allowing you to choose the approach that best fits your business model and industry.

View on Amazon
These are not affiliate links. We recommend this book purely based on its value to agency owners and business professionals.

In today's TikTok generation, quick soundbites might seem appealing, but true expertise requires deeper learning. To be at the top of your field, you need to invest in substantial knowledge.

Read these recommended books or don't—it's entirely up to you. But remember: expertise isn't built on shortcuts.

$100M Offers Book Cover

$100M Offers

By Alex Hormozi

Marketing Sales Offers

Learn how to craft irresistible offers that transform your business in this groundbreaking book by Alex Hormozi. Discover the exact blueprint for creating high-converting offers that make it "stupid" for customers to say no. Hormozi distills years of experience growing multiple businesses to $100M+ valuations into a practical system for creating offers so good that prospects feel they're stealing from you. This isn't theoretical—it's a step-by-step guide to increasing your prices, conversion rates, and profit margins simultaneously through strategic offer design. It's the closest thing to a "business cheat code" you'll ever find.

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$100M Offers Book Cover

$100M Offers

By Alex Hormozi

Marketing Sales Offers Business Strategy Pricing

Why We Recommend This Book

"$100M Offers" is essential reading for agency owners and entrepreneurs who want to dramatically increase their close rates and profitability. Alex Hormozi removes the mystery from offer creation and provides a clear framework for designing offers that are virtually impossible for prospects to refuse.

This book stands out because it's intensely practical and results-focused:

  • Master the "Value Equation" that makes prospects feel they're getting far more value than they're paying for
  • Learn how to stack value in your offers to eliminate comparison shopping
  • Understand how to increase prices while simultaneously increasing conversion rates
  • Discover how to identify and eliminate "risk reversal" to remove buying friction
  • Create a systematic approach to crafting offers that attract your ideal customers

Key Takeaways

The genius of Hormozi's approach is that it focuses on the fundamental unit of business success: the offer. By improving your offer, you improve every marketing and sales metric downstream. The book provides concrete frameworks for "Grand Slam Offers" that address the four core customer problems: maximize their likelihood of achieving their desired outcome, minimize the time to achieve it, minimize effort/sacrifice, and minimize risk.

Particularly valuable is Hormozi's formula for quantifying the value of your offer, allowing you to clearly articulate to prospects why your solution is worth many times what you're charging. This approach has helped countless businesses transform their sales conversations from price-focused to value-focused.

View on Amazon
These are not affiliate links. We recommend this book purely based on its value to agency owners and business professionals.

In today's TikTok generation, quick soundbites might seem appealing, but true expertise requires deeper learning. To be at the top of your field, you need to invest in substantial knowledge.

Read these recommended books or don't—it's entirely up to you. But remember: expertise isn't built on shortcuts.

Building a StoryBrand 2.0 Book Cover

Building a StoryBrand 2.0

By Donald Miller

Marketing Branding Business

Donald Miller's framework helps businesses clarify their messaging by using storytelling principles. The book teaches you how to position your customer as the hero, your brand as the guide, and create messaging that actually converts by following a proven seven-part framework. Miller shows how to create a simple yet powerful BrandScript that eliminates confusion in your marketing, helps customers understand your value, and positions your business for growth. This updated 2.0 version includes new insights and strategies that reflect today's marketing challenges.

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Building a StoryBrand 2.0 Book Cover

Building a StoryBrand 2.0

By Donald Miller

Marketing Branding Business Communication

Why We Recommend This Book

"Building a StoryBrand 2.0" by Donald Miller provides a transformative framework that helps business owners clarify their message so customers will listen. In today's noisy marketplace, this book teaches how to leverage the power of story to create messaging that truly resonates.

For agency owners and business leaders, this book is essential reading that will help you:

  • Craft a clear, compelling message that cuts through the noise
  • Position your customer as the hero of the story, not your brand
  • Create websites, emails, and sales copy that actually convert
  • Build a simplified brand script that all team members can use

Key Takeaways

The StoryBrand framework is built on timeless storytelling principles that have captivated human attention for centuries. By following this framework, you'll learn to structure your messaging in a way that speaks directly to your customers' desires and challenges.

Miller's approach helps you cut through confusion in your marketing and create clarity. When customers can quickly understand what you offer and how it helps them, they're much more likely to engage and convert.

View on Amazon
These are not affiliate links. We recommend this book purely based on its value to agency owners and business professionals.

In today's TikTok generation, quick soundbites might seem appealing, but true expertise requires deeper learning. To be at the top of your field, you need to invest in substantial knowledge.

Read these recommended books or don't—it's entirely up to you. But remember: expertise isn't built on shortcuts.

Good to Great Book Cover

Good to Great

By Jim Collins

Leadership Business Management

Jim Collins and his research team spent five years examining why some companies make the leap from being merely good to truly great. The findings, based on extensive data analysis rather than theory, reveal the key factors that allow good companies to achieve extraordinary results over time. Discover the traits of "Level 5 Leadership," the power of the Hedgehog Concept, and why disciplined people taking disciplined action is the cornerstone of sustained excellence. This business classic provides a roadmap for agency owners looking to build lasting, exceptional organizations.

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Good to Great Book Cover

Good to Great

By Jim Collins

Leadership Business Management Strategy Corporate Culture

Why We Recommend This Book

"Good to Great" is a landmark study that has become one of the most influential business books of all time. Jim Collins and his research team spent five years examining why some companies make the leap from being good companies to great ones while others don't.

For agency owners and business leaders, this book is essential reading that will help you:

  • Understand the characteristics of "Level 5 Leadership" that drives transformative companies
  • Adopt the principle of "First Who, Then What" - getting the right people on your team
  • Confront the brutal facts of your current reality while maintaining faith in your ultimate success
  • Develop a "Hedgehog Concept" - understanding what you can be best at in the world
  • Create a culture of discipline combined with an ethic of entrepreneurship

Key Takeaways

Collins introduces several groundbreaking concepts that have since become fundamental to business thinking. The "Flywheel Effect" teaches how sustained, consistent effort in one direction creates unstoppable momentum. The "Technology Accelerators" principle shows how great companies use technology not as the primary means of transformation but as an accelerator of momentum.

Perhaps most valuable is the book's research-based approach. Rather than offering personal opinions, Collins and his team systematically analyzed data to identify verifiable patterns of great performance, providing a framework that's stood the test of time. The principles work for businesses of all sizes, from small agencies to large corporations.

View on Amazon
These are not affiliate links. We recommend this book purely based on its value to agency owners and business professionals.

In today's TikTok generation, quick soundbites might seem appealing, but true expertise requires deeper learning. To be at the top of your field, you need to invest in substantial knowledge.

Read these recommended books or don't—it's entirely up to you. But remember: expertise isn't built on shortcuts.

Multipliers Book Cover

Multipliers

By Liz Wiseman

Leadership Management Team Development

Discover how the best leaders make everyone around them smarter and more capable. Based on research with over 150 executives, Liz Wiseman identifies two leadership styles: Multipliers who amplify team intelligence, and Diminishers who drain it. Learn the five disciplines of Multipliers and how to bring out the best in your team rather than commanding their best. This book reveals practical techniques for transforming your leadership approach to get more done with fewer resources—exactly what agency owners need for sustainable growth.

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Multipliers Book Cover

Multipliers

By Liz Wiseman

Leadership Management Team Development Organizational Culture Talent Management

Why We Recommend This Book

"Multipliers" is an essential read for agency owners who want to maximize their team's potential. Liz Wiseman's research reveals how some leaders ("Multipliers") amplify the intelligence and capabilities of people around them, getting twice the results with the same resources, while others ("Diminishers") drain capability and intelligence, leaving talent on the table.

For agency owners looking to scale their impact without increasing headcount, this book provides a practical framework:

  • Master the art of being a Talent Magnet who attracts and optimizes talent
  • Become a Liberator who creates an intense environment that requires people's best thinking
  • Act as a Challenger who defines opportunities that stretch people's capabilities
  • Develop as a Debate Maker who drives sound decisions through rigorous debate
  • Serve as an Investor who instills ownership and accountability

Key Takeaways

The genius of this book is its practical approach to leadership transformation. Wiseman shows that Multipliers aren't just born—they're made through specific practices and mindset shifts. She provides a clear contrast between Multiplier and Diminisher behaviors, helping you identify and correct the "accidental diminisher" tendencies that many well-intentioned leaders unknowingly exhibit.

What makes this book particularly valuable for agency owners is its focus on getting more with less—a critical skill in service businesses where talent is your primary asset. By applying the Multiplier mindset, you can create a culture where people bring their best ideas, take intelligent risks, and deliver exceptional work without constant direction. The result? A more scalable agency that's less dependent on you as the owner.

View on Amazon
These are not affiliate links. We recommend this book purely based on its value to agency owners and business professionals.

In today's TikTok generation, quick soundbites might seem appealing, but true expertise requires deeper learning. To be at the top of your field, you need to invest in substantial knowledge.

Read these recommended books or don't—it's entirely up to you. But remember: expertise isn't built on shortcuts.

Atomic Habits Book Cover

Atomic Habits

By James Clear

Habit Formation Productivity Self-Improvement

Discover how tiny changes can yield remarkable results. James Clear presents a proven framework for improving every day, focusing not on goals but on systems. Learn how small habits compound into life-changing outcomes through practical strategies backed by scientific research. For agency owners seeking sustainable growth and improved team performance, "Atomic Habits" provides actionable techniques to build better habits, break destructive ones, and create the identity that drives lasting success.

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Atomic Habits Book Cover

Atomic Habits

By James Clear

Habit Formation Productivity Self-Improvement Behavior Change Personal Development

Why We Recommend This Book

"Atomic Habits" is essential reading for agency owners looking to create consistent excellence in their business. James Clear delivers a practical system for forming good habits and breaking bad ones through small, incremental changes that compound into remarkable results over time.

For agency leaders seeking to optimize operations, improve client delivery, and build more effective teams, this book provides a comprehensive framework:

  • Master the Four Laws of Behavior Change to create habits that stick
  • Understand how small 1% improvements accumulate into transformative outcomes
  • Learn to focus on systems rather than goals for sustainable success
  • Implement environment design principles that make good habits inevitable
  • Develop identity-based habits that align with your vision of agency excellence

Key Takeaways

The power of this book lies in its science-backed, actionable approach to behavior change. Clear demystifies the habit formation process, showing how tiny, consistent actions can create extraordinary results. He introduces the concept of "atomic habits"—small habits that are part of a larger system—and explains how they work with the surprising power of compound interest.

What makes this particularly valuable for agency owners is its focus on systems rather than goals. By implementing the book's proven four-step model (make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, make it satisfying), you can create agency-wide habits that drive consistent quality, improve client relationships, and build a more efficient operation. Clear's approaches to habit stacking, temptation bundling, and habit tracking provide practical tools to transform your agency's processes and culture one small step at a time.

View on Amazon
These are not affiliate links. We recommend this book purely based on its value to agency owners and business professionals.

In today's TikTok generation, quick soundbites might seem appealing, but true expertise requires deeper learning. To be at the top of your field, you need to invest in substantial knowledge.

Read these recommended books or don't—it's entirely up to you. But remember: expertise isn't built on shortcuts.

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