Reading has always been a passion of mine. Books are excellent for helping you with your business and personal development so I wanted to share some of my favorite books that have helped me along my journey.
My Top 5 Favorite Business Books
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1. Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port- I first heard about this book in Amy Schmittauer’s coaching group Social Authority when Matthew Kimberley did training on it. This book covers everything you need to set up your business, how to set yourself apart, your red-velvet rope policy, first business steps, and your sales funnel (to name a few topics).
A little about Michael Port- he is a bestselling author, marketing guru, and public speaking coach. He has coached some of my favorite mentors including the fabulous Sue B Zimmerman and he hosts a podcast called Steal The Show to help empower listeners to become great public speakers.
2. Jab Jab Jab Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk- I will be first to admit that I didn’t start out a huge Gary Vee fan. I’m not a big fan of people who use profanity a lot and so when my husband started talking about this Gary Vee guy I totally didn’t pay attention for a long time. This book covers social media marketing and why it’s important to know what platforms you are posting to and why. This book has had a huge influence on my current content marketing and I find myself referring to it constantly.
A little about Gary Vaynerchuk- He is also the best selling author and marketing guru. He is a venture capitalist who has an eye for the next big thing. He is an angel investor in companies like Facebook, Twitter, and most recently Snapchat. You can watch the #AskGaryVee show here.
3. Duct Tape Marketing by John Jantsch- Currently reading this book and loving every moment of it. This book really focuses on developing a marketing plan for your business. I would say it has really helped me begin to set up systems where I am more engaged with my blog community. It has encouraged me to reach out more to other bloggers and begin building relationships with them for future collaborations. I will update more as I finish this book.
A little about John Jantsch- he is known as the world’s most practical small business expert and is known as a leading resource online for entrepreneurs. You can visit his blog here .
4. Girl Code by Cara Alwill Leyba- I have covered this book before on the blog here but here’s why I love this book- I can get caught up in feeling like I’m in constant competition with other people whether it’s on blogging, business or otherwise. Cara breaks all of this down and talks about why we should celebrate each other as women and our successes vs. it being a competition. She interviews a bunch of kick-butt women who are making their mark in the world in their own way and gets their take on what a girl code means to them. I think this book is excellent for anyone looking for a positive book to get you in the right mindset to rock 2016.
A little about Cara Alwill Leyba- she is a certified Master Life Coach and best selling author who encourages her readers to live the “Champagne Life”. She is a frequent contributor to Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Shape magazine.
5. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert- I just got this book after seeing it recommended basically everywhere! This book is all about living life creatively and without fear. I hadn’t ever read an Elizabeth Gilbert book before but I saw some of her quotes on Pinterest which inspired me to go ahead and get the book. I’m one of those people who like reading 2 books at once so I’m currently reading this and John Jantsch but I think this book is great for those of us who have goals we want to achieve but maybe feel a little intimidated in the process.
A little about Elizabeth Gilbert- she is a best selling author, probably best known for the book Eat Pray Love . She is an accomplished journalist and writer who has been published in the New York Times and Esquire magazine.
So tell me in the comments- have you read any of these books? What books helped shaped your business or desire to start a business?