I've been a die-hard reader pretty much my whole life, and I firmly believe that reading is one of the best ways to spend your time. Since I started my freelance writing business, I've made it a point to read personal development and business books.
Why?
Because knowledge truly is power. Reading books written by experts is an excellent way to take your skills to the next level and scale your business — and who doesn't want that?
In this post, I'm sharing 9 of my most recommended books and why I think they're worth the read. But, before we get into it, let me just say this:
As a busy freelancer myself, I know how hard it can be to carve out time to read. Sometimes, the thought of adding one more thing to your to-do list has you breaking out in a cold sweat. I get it!
The good news is that there's a solution.
If you're too busy to sit down and read, I highly suggest checking out the audiobook versions of these (or any) books. That way you can soak up all their knowledge while tackling all the things on your list, whether invoicing clients or folding the laundry.
Now, let's dive in!
01. Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
There's a good chance you've heard of Marie Forleo, but if not, prepare to be in awe. Not only has she been named a thought leader by Oprah, but she is a bestselling author, host of an award-winning online show and podcast, and an online educator. Forleo has accomplished a lot in life, but she started out broke and constantly feeling pulled in different directions by multiple passions. But, she figured it out, because as the title of this book suggests, everything is figureoutable.
These three words have been a guiding light since her mother first shared them with her as a child. They've helped her overcome a lot and achieve things many people thought were impossible, including becoming a Nike elite athlete for dance — without having any formal training whatsoever. In Everything is Figureoutable, Forleo shares strategies for finding solutions to problems that hold you back from achieving your dreams, overcoming a lack of time and money, and how to deal with feelings of imposter syndrome.
02. One Million Followers by Brendan Kane
This book is a great resource for anyone looking to build their presence online. Brendan Kane has an impressive background in growth hacking. He's worked with big brands and celebrities, including Taylor Swift, Sketchers, IKEA, and Katie Couric. In One Million Followers, Kane is doling out actionable tips that have immediate results in growing your online community and influence. The book also features case studies that help bring the concepts to life, which you can use as a starting point for your own social campaigns.
What I really appreciate is the transparency Kane offers readers. All of the strategies he teaches in One Million Followers he's actually applied to growing his own online presence. Before experimenting with these growth hacks, he didn't have an online presence or following — that is, until he applied the tips and tricks inside this book. It's such a good read if you want to get more eyes on your brand or business and cultivate a following.
✰ One Million Followers: How I Built a Massive Social Following in 30 Days
03. Invested by Danielle Town
While there are many benefits to freelancing, the financial side of things can be a little bit messy. Over the last year, I've made it a priority to be smarter about how I manage money as a freelancer, including investing and saving for retirement. So, I've been reading a lot of financial-based articles and books. When I came across Invested, I was immediately intrigued and I'm so happy I picked it up.
Although she grew up with a father that was both a successful investor and a financial author father, Danielle Town had very little interest in investing and money management. That is, until her career as a lawyer left her feeling out of control when it came to her finances. Invested details Town's journey to learn how to master investment strategies and make sound financial decisions.
I will be the first to admit that I have very limited knowledge of the stock marketing and investing money. Not only that, but it can be very intimidating! Town does such an amazing job of taking this complex topic and transforming it into straightforward lessons and strategies that are easy to understand. Since reading it, I've become more confident about making decisions regarding investing. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to do the same!
✰ Invested: How I Learned How to Master My Mind, My Fears, and My Money to Achieve Financial Freedom and Live a More Authentic Life (Read for free with KindleUnlimited)
04. The Money Book by Joseph D'Agnese & Denise Kiernan
The Money Book was another book I picked up during my quest to be better at managing money. This one drew me in because it's geared entirely toward freelancers and answered some of the burning questions I had about saving money, dealing with debt, planning for retirement and taxes, and bookkeeping. Many of the financial books I've read have been written for people with regular paychecks, but as a freelancer, money can ebb and flow. The Money Book provides practical advice and strategies for those of us who not only get paid irregularly but have to account for taxes, retirement savings, and paying out of pocket for things like health insurance.
✰ The Money Book for Freelancer's, Part-Timers, and the Self-Employed
05. Atomic Habits by James Clear
This is a great book for freelancers because it helps you develop the habits/systems that can help you be more productive and successful. Atomic Habits teaches readers how to tackle the seemingly insignificant behaviors that add up to form bad habits and transform them into good habits. This book provides insight into the science behind how habits are formed and teaches practical strategies for forming habits aligned with your goals.
✰ Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones
06. You Are a Badass At Making Money by Jen Sincero
After reading You Are a Badass, I couldn't wait to get my hands on You Are a Badass at Making Money. Let me tell you, this book did not disappoint! Whether you're just getting started as a freelancer or you've been at it a while, this is a must-read.
After all, we all want to make more money, right?
You Are a Badass at Making Money echos some of the ideas in Sincero's first book but strives to eliminate the complicated feelings many of us have about money by developing a money mindset. If you want to change your relationship with money and achieve your financial goals, whether business or personal, this book can help you do it.
✰ You Are a Badass: Master the Mindset of Wealth
07. The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
What I really love about The Slight Edge is how practical the advice is. Improving your life and making smart decisions doesn't require huge mindset shifts. You can easily make significant changes by being intentional and making the decision to DO instead of excuses to NOT DO.
Want to write a book? Make a commitment to write 1,000 words every day and stick to it. Eventually, you'll have a completed manuscript. Want to learn something new? Make it a point to read at least 10 pages of a nonfiction book every day. By the end of 30 days, you'll have finished an entire book.
✰ The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines Into Massive Success and Happiness
08. Burnout by Emily Nagoski, PhD & Ameilia Nagoski, DMA
One of the most common side effects of the hustle culture many freelancers face is burnout. At some point or another, we all find ourselves struggling with symptoms of burnout. From fatigue to reduced productivity; headaches and muscle pains; burnout is no joke. I stumbled upon Burnout by complete accident but I'm so glad I did.
This book takes a deep dive into common day-to-day stressors women face and how to overcome them by completing the natural stress cycle. It was totally eye-opening in terms of how stress can affect your body, emotions, and mindset. The science behind it and the way the sisters presented it was so interesting, and I highly recommend Burnout if you're looking for a healthy way to deal with stress and anxiety.
✰ Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
09. The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
There's a reason so many people swear by morning routines. A-listers and successful people like Jennifer Aniston, Oprah Winfrey, and Barack Obama start their day with a routine that puts them in the right mindset to tackle the day. In The Miracle Morning, Hal Elrod teaches readers how a morning routine can transform their lives by starting each day with more energy, focus, and motivation.
Elrod has written several variations of The Miracle Morning to fit a range of lifestyles, including one geared toward entrepreneurs. Regardless of which copy you pick up, this book has some great tips for achieving your goals.
✰ The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Read for free with KindleUnlimited)
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