In a recent LinkedIn post, Noemi Kis✨ shares a curated list of 12 books she recommends for non-technical founders, emphasizing that these resources could have saved her significant time and money. She frames the list as a way to “save yourself the detour,” highlighting that she spent approximately $20,000 on coaches before discovering many of these foundational texts.
Foundational Mindset and Business Principles
Noemi Kis✨ begins her recommendations by underscoring the importance of mindset, placing Carol Dweck’s “Mindset” at the top of her list. As Noemi Kis✨ notes, the core idea is that
“Growth starts with what you believe you can learn.”
This foundational principle, according to Noemi Kis✨, is crucial for founders who may face inevitable challenges.
Further emphasizing practical approaches for entrepreneurs without extensive technical backgrounds or initial funding, Noemi Kis✨ points to Chris Guillebeau’s “The $100 Startup.” She highlights its value in demonstrating
“you can start without funding or tech skills.”
This resonates with the current entrepreneurial landscape where lean beginnings are common.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
A significant portion of Noemi Kis✨’s recommendations focus on avoiding common entrepreneurial mistakes. She includes Rob Fitzpatrick’s “The Mom Test,” advocating for better questioning techniques to gain honest feedback. Noemi Kis✨ states,
“Stop collecting polite lies. Ask better questions.”
This advice is critical for founders seeking genuine market validation.
The distinction between technical proficiency and business ownership is also a key theme. Noemi Kis✨ references Michael Gerber’s “The E-Myth Revisited,” asserting that
“Technical skill does not make you a business owner.”
This classic business insight is presented as essential reading for anyone transitioning from an expert role to leading a company.
Strategic Growth and Financial Acumen
For founders focused on building sustainable businesses, Noemi Kis✨ includes “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries, advocating for rapid testing and waste reduction. She also highlights Mike Michalowicz’s “Profit First,” a strategy aimed at ensuring profitability from the outset, with Noemi Kis✨ stressing that
“Revenue is not profit. Fix that early.”
The concept of growth is also addressed with a counter-narrative. Paul Jarvis’s “Company of One” is recommended for those who believe scaling is the only path to success. Noemi Kis✨ champions the idea that
“Scale is optional. Stay small, agile, and profitable.”
This perspective challenges conventional wisdom and offers an alternative model for sustainable business.
Offer Crafting, Negotiation, and Financial Literacy
In the realm of sales and customer acquisition, Noemi Kis✨ points to Alex Hormozi’s “$100M Offers,” explaining that
“Strong offers remove price resistance.”
This is vital for founders looking to differentiate themselves in competitive markets.
Negotiation skills are also deemed critical, with Chris Voss’s “Never Split the Difference” making the list. Noemi Kis✨ summarizes its core premise:
“Every conversation is a negotiation.”
Finally, the importance of financial literacy is underscored by the inclusion of “Financial Intelligence” by Berman and Knight, reminding founders to
“Know your numbers or pay for it later.”
Rounding out the list is “The Big Leap” by Gay Hendricks, which Noemi Kis✨ suggests helps founders overcome internal barriers, and “Competing in the Age of AI” by Iansiti and Lakhani, offering AI strategy for non-coders. Noemi Kis✨ concludes by engaging her audience, asking which book they plan to start with.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Noemi Kis✨ on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on April 22, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →