Has the pandemic made you a bookworm? 5 MSP books that should be on your TBR list

Whether you’ve been promising yourself you’ll read more in 2021, or whether the pandemic has turned you into a book-addict, it’s time to expand your literary horizons!

Warren Buffet said that the key to his success was reading. Pointing at a stack of books, he commented that to be successful in business you need to “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.”

500 pages might seem like a gargantuan task, but any amount of daily reading, even just 15 minutes per day, has been shown to aid decision-making, increase wealth, reduce stress, and improve recall.

Ready for the challenge? here are 5 great books that will help your MSP business

There are so many incredible books out there that can add value to your MSP business. We’re highlighting just 5, but please do add your own in the comments or on social media!

#1: The IT Business Owner’s Survival Guide: How to save time, avoid stress and build a successful IT business, by Richard Tubb

This gem has been around since 2006, but its insights are timeless. In fact, one Amazon reviewer suggested it should have the word Bible in the title! It will teach you about how to run and scale an MSP business, including juggling the different roles that you have to be an expert in, from technical skills, through to bookkeeping, sales, and becoming a social media whiz. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed with everything that it takes to grow your business, and you want to learn how to set boundaries and put practical steps in place to feel more in control – this is the book for you.

#2: MSP Secrets Revealed: 101 gems of inspiration, stories & practical advice for managed service provider owners, by Mark Copeman

Have you read this one yet? This awesome read only came out last year and is an anthology of 85 different business owner experiences, packaged together into everything you need to know about working as an IT professional today. Imagine this book as an invitation to eavesdrop on some of the most successful MSP peer groups out there, from big to small, and from newcomers to the business dealing with on-trend challenges, to those looking for smart ways to exit the industry, achieve personal development, or retire in style. If you want to hear secrets about marketing and sales, supercharge your customer service ethos, improve turnover, and grow intelligently as a business – this is your one-stop-shop.

#3: Mindset: The new psychology of success, by Carol S Dweck

If it’s not practical business tips that are holding you back, have you considered that a shift in mindset could make all the difference? Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck is one of the world-leading experts on achievement and success, and this book is the ultimate guide to moving from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, and changing the negative thought processes that could be holding you back. Aimed at any person who wants to improve their resilience and achieve more, whether that’s in business or in their personal lives. (And is there such a difference, anymore?)

#4: The Absolutely Unbreakable Rules of Service Delivery: How to manage your business to maximize customer service, profit, and employee culture, by Karl Palachuk

If you feel that “the customer is always right” doesn’t fit today’s business – you’re not alone. Karl Palachuk has created a list of rules that works for MSP businesses and service delivery models and allows you to keep your professional and your personal goals aligned, while still making your clients happy at the end of the working day. Many MSPs struggle to build a culture across a growing brand and create boundaries and rules that become the backbone of their business. As a technical consultant and trainer, Karl has heard all the excuses and helped coach thousands of business owners, making this a fantastic read and real support to today’s IT professionals.

#5: Networking Is Not Working: Stop collecting business cards and start making meaningful connections, by Derek Coburn

Long before we ever heard of the Coronavirus, face-to-face networking was losing its sheen. Sure, some people are great at making relationships at a conference or at an ad-hoc meet-up, but this can’t be relied on as a marketing strategy. Derek Coburn gives a how-to for making relationships in today’s MSP age and used these tips to grow his own revenue by 300% in 18 months. If you’re getting nothing out of traditional networking, or you hate networking events and never get value out of them, let us know what you think of this one!

If you have any more books to add to our TBR (to-be-read) pile, let us know! Meanwhile, have you participated in our latest Fireside Chat? We included a fantastic book giveaway during the webinar, join us next time!