Monday Motivation: the key books that could influence your business

3 minute read time.

It’s World Book Day on 5 March, so we’re looking at the top business books that could help you get ahead and change the way you do business.

In the news, it’s estimated that 90% of medium and large businesses aren’t ready for the new FRS 102 accounting standard and the government is cracking down on late payments.

Top news stories

Over 90% of businesses still not ready for FRS 102 accounting standard

Almost a third of the finance directors and chief financial officers questioned were not aware of whether there would be any significant accounting impacts arising for their businesses from FRS 102.

Government cracks down on late payments for public sector suppliers

New rules for the public sector mean contractors and sub-contractors will have to be paid within 30 days. And the government is also working to strengthen the voluntary Prompt Payment Code for other types of business.

Sharp drop in UK business investment

Business investment fell by 1.4% in the fourth quarter from the previous three-month period. That’s the biggest fall since 2009.

UK firms used 1.8m zero-hours contracts, says ONS

Last summer, zero-hours contracts reached their peak, probably due to the number of seasonal industries using these contracts.

UK small businesses ‘don’t care about cyber security’

66% of small businesses don’t think they are vulnerable to cyber attacks, according to a report by Government security initiative Cyber Streetwise. The average cost of a major security breach is £65,000 to £115,000.

Key dates for your diary

This month: Section 56 Data Protection Act 1998 comes into force

This change prohibits an employer from requiring an individual or third party to provide information that they have got from a subject access request under section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998.

This means that you can’t request some records - such as cautions, criminal convictions and certain social security data - as a condition of employment. Requiring people to provide these records is a criminal offence, punishable by a fine.

Access to this data is acceptable if it is in the public domain - the changes only apply to data that would be accessed via section 7 of the Data Protection Act 1998.

World Book Day: our pick of business books

Do you ever take time out of your busy schedule to read up on business matters? It can be hard to find the time but reading business books can change your perspective, help you address any issues or give you a much-needed injection of ideas.

So, whether you’re making time at work or catching up in your spare time, here’s some of the business books on our reading list.

Competition Demystified by Bruce Greenwald and Judd Kahn

Do you struggle to measure your company against your competitors and analyse opportunities? Cutting through the complexity, this book offers a simple way to benchmark your business, find your niche and set your strategy for growth.

Dataclysm: Who We Are (When We Think No One's Looking) by Christian Rudder

Big data is everywhere but what does it actually mean for our world? Using examples, from Google search data to the information we share on Facebook, Christian Rudder looks at what we can learn from the data we share with others.

Key Management Ratios by Ciaran Walsh

If you’re not sure what to measure in your business, this is the book for you. It covers everything from cash flow to ROI, using data from 200 companies as examples. The book shows you how to link these measures together to understand your business and get set for the future.

Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

It’s a bestseller for a reason. This book offers a fascinating insight into how our minds work, what prejudices we have and how to think more clearly and make better decisions. Did you know that there’s more chance we'll believe something if it's in a bold typeface? This book explains why.

Purple Cow by Seth Godin

This book looks at how big businesses thrive and beat their competitors. Seth Godin says it’s because they stand out from the norm, which makes them memorable and a topic for discussion. He suggests that all businesses should be looking to be remarkable in everything they create.

Resonate by Nancy Duarte

Some presentations are inspirational, many are not. If you want to know how to engage and motivate your audience, this book can help. It breaks down the key elements to a successful speech or presentation, using examples from famous people like Steve Jobs and Martin Luther King.