30 Books That Transformed My Business and Investments in 2024
Hey Everyone,
2024 has come to a close, and I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what has been one of the most transformative years of my professional life. A big part of that growth—both personally and in my business and investments—came from one simple but powerful habit: reading.
In 2024, I set out to read 30 books focused on business, real estate, investing, leadership, and personal development. Looking back, I can confidently say that these books played a major role in helping me scale my lending business, grow my portfolio, and sharpen my mindset.
Why Reading Was My Secret Weapon in 2024
When I started this year, I knew I wanted to take my private lending company, 42 Solutions, to the next level while also pushing myself to be a better leader, investor, and entrepreneur. What I didn’t realize was how much reading would shape my approach to strategy, systems, and execution.
Every book I read gave me insights into one of these key areas:
• Business Growth: Books like Scaling Smart and The Hard Thing About Hard Things helped me develop better frameworks for scaling while navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship.
• Investing Smarter: Titles like The Private Equity Playbook and Invest Like a Bank provided actionable strategies for raising capital, structuring deals, and optimizing returns.
• Real Estate Mastery: Real Estate Deal Maker, ABCs of Buying Rental Property, and Raising Private Capital added more tools to my toolkit for expanding my portfolio and helping my clients do the same.
• Mindset and Leadership: Discipline is Destiny and Adversity for Sale reminded me that discipline, grit, and adaptability are non-negotiables if you want to win in business.
Key Lessons That Stood Out
1. Build Systems, Not Chaos.
• Scaling Smart and The Pumpkin Plan showed me how to create self-managing systems in my business so I can grow without being involved in every detail.
2. Play Bigger, Think Bigger.
• 10X is Easier Than 2X reinforced the importance of stretching my vision and being bold about growth. That mindset led me to set bigger goals for 42 Solutions, and we’re already seeing the results.
3. Money Needs to Work for You.
• Books like Die With Zero and Invest Like a Bank shifted how I view money. It’s not just about earning and saving—it’s about deploying capital strategically to create passive income and freedom.
4. Raise Capital and Close Deals Confidently.
• Whether it was Raising Private Capital or The Insider’s Guide to Private Lending, I walked away with practical strategies for raising funds, structuring loans, and mitigating risks. These tools allowed me to confidently scale my lending business this year.
5. Balance Growth and Time Freedom.
• Buy Back Your Time helped me rethink my schedule and delegate tasks that don’t require my direct attention. That freed me up to focus on the high-impact moves that drive my business forward.
How Reading Created Real Results
This year, 42 Solutions:
• Funded over $6 million in loans while maintaining a 0% default rate.
• Expanded our investor network and raised private capital to fuel faster growth.
• Built out systems and hired key team members to improve operations and scale efficiently.
• Focused on Arizona real estate, increasing deal flow and strengthening local partnerships.
On the personal side, I’ve also grown as a leader, father, and husband—thanks in part to books like Fit for Life and Discipline is Destiny, which reminded me to stay committed to health and intentionality in all areas of my life.
My Challenge for You in 2025
As we look ahead to 2025, I want to challenge you to prioritize learning and growth in your own life—whether it’s through books, podcasts, or mastermind groups. Knowledge truly compounds, and the insights I gained this year made me a better investor, leader, and decision-maker.
If you’re serious about growing your business or investments, here are 3 books I highly recommend starting with:
1. Scaling Smart – Perfect for entrepreneurs looking to grow without burning out.
2. The Private Equity Playbook – A must-read for anyone raising capital or structuring deals.
3. Invest Like a Bank – Learn how to think like a lender and make your money work harder.
Final Thoughts
This list represents more than just books—it represents lessons, habits, and strategies that fueled one of my most productive years yet. I hope it inspires you to keep investing in yourself and your future.
Let’s make 2025 even bigger and better.
To growth and freedom,
DK 💰
P.S. – I’d love to hear what books made an impact on you this year! Hit reply and share your top reads—or let me know what topics you’d like me to cover in next year’s newsletters.
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