It’s the time of year when we start looking for Christmas (or Hanukkah) gifts for family, friends and associates. While I can’t help you choose something for everyone, I can help you by making some suggestions for the business owners in your life. Being the knowledge hungry creatures that we are, books written by people that have already achieved what we’re trying to achieve are always a good choice, so below are some recommendations:

School’s Out: A Real World Guide to Marketing Your Business from A to Z

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make Competition Irrelevant

Little Black Book of Connections: 6.5 Assets for Networking Your Way to Rich Relationships

Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money–That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!

When you look at ultra-successful people, you’ll see a few common traits. One of these traits is that they are always marketing themselves and their companies, and you should be doing the same thing.

This doesn’t mean you have to work 24-7 but it does mean that you should always be ready to effectively promote your company. At the most basic level this mean looking presentable where ever you go, always having a stack of business cards handy and being incredibly passionate about what you do. To take it to the next level though, you can do a number of fairly simple things. For example, have your vehicle wrapped so that it acts as a mobile billboard where ever you go. You could also get involved in charity or volunteer work, both to give back to your community and to expand your network. Another option is to write a book which will establish your credibility and help to promote you even when you’re not on the clock.

The idea is to always be ready to market your company should the opportunity arise, but also to put in place a number of channels to market your company that will continue to work without any further effort on your part.

If you’ve been thinking about starting a business but haven’t quite worked up the nerve to take the plunge yet, quit sitting on your hands and just do it! Invest a little time to watch The Big Idea on CNBC and you’ll see what kind of success so many other people have had by doing just that. The show is full of the kind of information you need to start and run your own company along with a healthy does of inspiration.