The Forbes Real Estate Council Expert Panel recently listed 15 books their members believe are essential when starting out in real estate investing.

You can find the entire article here https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2019/11/04/15-essential-books-to-read-before-starting-in-real-estate/#165c8132c021

Listed below are my top five from that list.  The ones which, in my experience, are a “must read” for every aspiring real estate investor, entrepreneur, and anyone who just wants to improve in managing money, investing, business, and to a great degree, overall life.

1. Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money – That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! 

by Robert T. Kiyosaki

This one is the game changer for so many people, especially in real estate investing.  Robert Kiyosaki’s marquis book is literally a paradigm shift in the way many of us think about money, financial management, investing, and business.

Even successful entrepreneurs and professionals who have been in business for years find Kiyosaki’s story of his “Rich Dad” and “Poor Dad” to be an eye-opening mindset into how to not just work for money, but have money work for you to generate income and build wealth.

2. How to Win Friends and Influence People 

by Dale Carnegie

A timeless classic that is so much bigger than just real estate investing or business, but still very directly applicable to everyone who wants to succeed in these areas of life. 

Real estate, particularly, is a relationship business.  It is impossible to succeed alone.  This book offers principles and techniques for how to approach others and successfully manage relationships, which in reading, you find is mostly about how you manage yourself.

3. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

by Daniel Goleman

While it is easily one of the most influential books on organizational leadership every written, Emotional Intelligence is more than just a book, it is an entire field of study.

Managing emotions is one of the most talked about topics in investing and business.  As business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs, we are constantly confronted with major decisions that impact both our own lives as well as those of others.  The ability to be aware of and manage emotions is critical to success.

4. The Millionaire Real Estate Investor

by Gary Keller

Most, if not all, successful entrepreneurs, business leaders, and real estate investors will tell you that a key ingredient in their achievements has been learning from the successes, mistakes, and failures of others who came before them.

In his book, Gary Keller shares such lessons learned from interviews with more than 100 millionaire real estate investors.

5. The E Myth: Why Most Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It

by Michael Gerber

A must read for everyone who aspires to start a business.  But also highly recommended for those who are already in business searching for the path to grow or just do it a better way.

Author Michael Gerber does an excellent job of explaining and demonstrating that being an expert or technician in a particular field and operating a business are two very different things that require different mindsets and skill sets.  Taking the reader through various growth stages of a business, he discusses different perspectives of working, management, and entrepreneurship, and completes it with the importance of systems for a business to grow and ultimately be successful.

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