The new year is off to a busy start, but it’s vital to remember to keep learning and exploring new ideas that can help you improve your business. Below, some DevPro Journal readers share their recommendations for business books for software developers that are worth making time for.
Ken Underhill, Master Instructor at Cybrary, who has educated more than 2 million people in cybersecurity and business in 2019 and is the SC Media Reboot Leadership Award Winner as Outstanding Educator, recommends these five business books for software developers:
1. Business of Software by Eric Sink
Underhill says this book is older than his other recommendations; it was first published in 2006. He comments, however, that the content still holds up, offering good insights for people starting their own software companies. Topics include choosing your product, finances and funding, building your team, marketing, and sales.
2. Cybersecurity Leadership: Powering the Modern Organization by Mansur Hasib
Dr. Hasib, an internationally recognized and award-winning cybersecurity expert, says Underhill, “provides a holistic view of cybersecurity that isn’t limited to technologies. A main theme of this book is how cybersecurity now drives the mission of the modern organization and is not just an afterthought.” Cybersecurity Leadership sheds light on the roles of CIO and CISO, risk management and compliance, and tech adoption in specific verticals, including healthcare and education.
3. Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz
“I recommend this one from a marketing standpoint,” Underhill states. “This book focuses on helping you tap into your subconscious mind. Understanding the concepts in this book can help you better understand your customers and ways to ‘encourage’ them to buy from you.”
Psycho-Cybernetics unpacks the “success mechanism,” how to use the power of rational thinking, and how to make the “failure mechanism” work for you, not against you.
4. Cyber Risk Leaders by Shamane Tan
“Whether developers like it or not, security needs to be integrated into everything a company does,” Underhill points out. “Cyber Risk Leaders helps non-security professionals understand how security decisions are made in the organization.”
Content includes a comprehensive view of cybersecurity at the CISO level, including common challenges faced and different leadership styles. You can also gain insights that will help you effectively communicate with these professionals.
5. Dream 100 by Dana Derricks
Underhill recommends this business book for ISV marketers. Derricks’ book is focused on a single concept called the “Dream 100” list. “Instead of advertising to the masses and hoping for sales, this book teaches you to identify the influencers in your space or a complementary space, so you can tap into their existing following and save your marketing dollars,” he says.
This book provides insights into affiliate marketing, planning and deploying your campaigns and lead generation.
Jeb Banner, founder and CEO of Boardable, a nonprofit board management software provider, recommends:
6. The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals by Chris McChesney
Banner says, “Unlike most business books that address culture, strategy, and innovation, 4DX cuts right to execution. How do I actually improve my team’s performance, set and hit goals? This book is a highly practical, step-by-step playbook for getting your team aligned around a WIG (Wildly Important Goal), which drives leading measures (outcomes you can influence) creating a scoreboard (visualizing progress) and reinforced with a system of accountability. We are using it at Boardable, and it is creating clarity and results.”
What Business Books for Software Developers Are You Reading?
If there are books that have had a positive influence on your business or professional growth, we want to share those business book recommendations with our audience. Contact DevPro Journal to share.
