in no particular order
Building a Story Brand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen
I’ve learned so much from it that it already boosted my business before I implemented everything it suggests. Just changing the way I think about my business makes my interactions better! It’s how I got my first ever paying photography client (and I had my business license for 6 months with no clients until I read this book and tried some of the simple tips). It made the biggest difference in my photography business almost overnight. I don’t often read books twice, but I immediately wanted to read this one again so I could apply it even more. It was simple, straightforward, and it WORKED.
I'm currently reading How to Grow Your Small Business by the same author, and it's already earned a place on this list! It really spells things out for you and walks you through it step-by-step in a way that makes sense and gets you excited about your mission!
This is another book I wish I'd read sooner! If you know anyone with a small business or who wants to start one or even someone who is a freelancer or contract worker, tell them about this book!!! I listened to the audio version, and it was so fun and interesting. Most of all it was life-changing. For me, it just gave me a sigh of relief and sense of clarity. But I shared it with my sister who has a family band, and I've never seen her finances change so fast. She now knows exactly how much money she has for her personal life and for her business at all times. And she knows exactly what she's using it all for. Her husband was also instantly on board with the plan, which I know makes a huge difference. She even started another side business to make ends meet until their next paycheck. It's been over a month now, and they are still sticking with it!
Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results
I accidentally listened to only the summary of this book because I thought it was the full book. Yet, just the summary had me changing my habits in impactful ways! I was super motivated, so I finally bought the full version to read the entire thing. This one has been #1 on Amazon for like a year. And so much of having a business is about building and maintaining good habits and quitting bad ones.
The Compound Effect: Multiply Your Success One Simple Step at a Time. When my friend (Heather Parady) said she makes this book required reading for students in one of her courses, I knew I had to read it. She’s read it multiple times, and you can tell! This book blew me away and was refreshing to hear that you don’t have to make these big, huge changes all at once in order to change your life significantly.
Everything is Figureoutable is on my list of top 10 books I read in 2019. This one isn’t for everyone. It’s got quite a few swear words scattered throughout, but the content is gold and life-changing, especially for people who get worked up about problems that arise.
How to Fail at Almost Anything & Still Win Big: Kind of the Story of My Life definitely made me want to read it because I feel like I fail all. the. time. But people somehow don’t view me as a failure. A small part of each thing I try does end up succeeding, and it adds up to a lot in the end because I try so many things. This was a fun, valuable, encouraging read! The chapters are short and light, except one in the middle called The Math of Success. It was still interesting and broken into shorter sections but was a lot to get through. Then it went back to more of the 3-page, storytelling chapters. It’s also by the guy behind the Dilbert cartoon strips and has nearly 2,000 ratings.
I had Tribe of Mentors on my Kindle for a year before reading it. Someone mentioned the line about asking yourself how much you would pay to relive your current moment, and I remember thinking, That is genius, I need to read that book. I haven’t stopped having those thoughts since I read it. One morning I picked it up and read for at least 30 minutes. I tried closing it but just had to know the answer to the next question…and the next. In a way, it’s just a series of incredible interviews. The questions are so good, I’ve started asking them to people I know. My husband actually gave a really good answer to the billboard question. First he said, “Don’t be stupid.” Then he said, “Think about tomorrow before you act today,” which in a way is basically his recipe for not being stupid.
I read Essentialism around the time I started my 6-month decluttering plan. It gave me great insight into ways to feel confident in my decisions and enjoy my one life more. Might be time for me to read it again!
168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think is about how we all have the same amount of hours in a week, but some people somehow get more done. Or they at least do more of what they want to do. There were so many great examples that really had me inspired! Spending less time on my phone really showed me how much more time I have, too!
Throughout the year as I'm building my new YouTube channel, I'll be sharing ways I'm implementing the ideas in these books as well as other tips for running a business and working from home. Sign up for my Sunday Funday emails so you don't miss one! Plus you'll get a weekly book recommendation.
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