3 Must Read Books for Female Entrepreneurs
I spent many years as a teacher. And one thing we emphasize in education is being a ‘life-long learner’. If I ever believe I’ve somehow “arrived” and don’t need to keep learning, it’s pretty much over for me.
“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”
― Henry Ford
Learning keeps life interesting. There is always more to know, even in your area of expertise.
So how can you be a life-long learner?
Have a growth mindset. Someone with a growth mindset recognizes that they can always learn and improve. Nothing about them is set in stone.
Hang out with people who are smarter than you. Spend time in many places where you are not the smartest person in the room. And absorb every nugget you can.
Find a mentor. I am a huge fan of working with a mentor. A mentor can help you figure things out faster. They have seen further down the path than you and can help you find your way.
Join or form a mastermind group. I have been in a mastermind group with other holistic practitioners for about a year and a half. I have learned so much from these women. And they have helped me see my blind spots.
Take courses. Online courses are everywhere these days. You can learn to do just about anything in an online course.
Read. This is still my favorite. I enjoy sitting down and reading a kindle book, or taking the time to highlight passages in a paper book. And audiobooks make it possible to read and clean your house at the same time!
I love learning and look to many different methods. As we become more adept at technology, learning methods have evolved. It’s hard to resist a good online course or mentorship.
But, the most cost-effective learning method still remains the same: reading.
So, let’s talk reading. There are a myriad of books out there for female entrepreneurs on everything from marketing to mindset. I’d like to share a few of my favorites.
Good Books For Entrepreneurs
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
In my business, I get to know a lot of female entrepreneurs. I’ve worked with people with thriving businesses, and those just getting started. But one thing they all have in common is fear.
Fear isn’t a bad thing. It’s actually protective. Fear keeps us from walking out in front of the moving bus or putting our hand on the hot stove. But fear can also get in the way.
Fear shows up when you are stepping out of your comfort zone (or even thinking about stepping out of your comfort zone). When we face something unknown, our minds go on high alert. We receive warning bells from our brain urging us to stay where we’re comfortable. Where we’re safe.
Fear shows up when you do something new, when you put yourself out there, and when you take a chance on your business. The fear will be there. And it won’t really go away. The key is learning to move forward anyway.
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway was a life changing book for me. As I was gearing up to start my business as a holistic health copywriter I faced overwhelming fear. What if this doesn’t work? What if I let people down? What if I fail? What will happen to my life and identity if I succeed?
Fear can paralyze. And that’s what was happening to me. So I was grateful to find this gem of a book. It was not a quick read for me. I read it slowly and took the time to do all the exercises and let the knowledge sink in.
I even put reminders on my phone that still pop up everyday. They remind me of 5 key concepts I learned from the book:
As long as I keep moving forward I will feel fear.
I will continue to fear “the thing” until I go out and do “the thing.”
I will feel better about myself once I do “the thing.”
Everyone experiences fear when they are on new ground.
It feels better to push through the fear and do the things that scare you than to let fear dominate your life.
This book made a huge difference in my entrepreneurial journey. If your fear is holding you back, this might be the book for you too!
The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
I had a friend who was an architecture major in college. A huge portion of his final grade at the end of each semester was based on a major design project. He had to design a building, create the blueprints, and build a physical model. So for the last 3 weeks of each semester he would inevitably go without sleep trying to get it all done on time.
I thought he must be overworked. I was actually a little mad at the architecture school. I thought they were being completely unreasonable overloading their students with so much work that they didn’t even have time to sleep.
But then I noticed a pattern. My friend had the whole semester to do his project, but he wouldn’t work on it unless he had a huge block of uninterrupted time. And as we all know, huge blocks of time are a rarity for most everyone.
As I watched him struggle semester after semester, I realized something. If he would use the little bits of time that pop up each day, he could get his projects done without all the stress and sleep-deprivation.
He needed The Slight Edge. This book is a roadmap to productivity. It’s not about productivity hacks. It details what happens if you use those little bits of time with consistency.
It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you repeat a small daily task over and over for a sustained period of time.
This concept doesn’t only apply to huge semester projects. It can apply to anything from personal growth, to business, to relationships. It can help you tackle a years-long to-do list without having to clear full days in your schedule.
Fifteen minutes a day may not seem like much. But it adds up. And over the course of a few months or years, those bits of time can help you reach your goals and realize your dreams.
This book explains why this works and gives practical tips for making the slight edge work for you. I highly recommend it!
Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo
Impossible. Have you ever given up on something you wanted because it seemed impossible?
I am a very logical person with questioner tendencies. So when I consider taking on a project or trying something new, I analyze it to death. I rack my brain, trying to see the whole path before I ever start.
These qualities have served me well, but they’ve also gotten in my way. Sometimes a project is too daunting to figure out from the beginning. Sometimes there are too many unknowns. That’s where the “everything is figureoutable” concept comes into play.
I started saying “everything is figureoutable” months before I actually read the book. I heard it on a podcast and immediately adopted it. Just saying it out loud makes problems seem smaller. I often get stuck in perfectionism and overwhelm. But if I believe that everything really is figureoutable, I can keep moving.
There is nothing I can’t figure out how to do. I can Google or Youtube it. I can read a book or ask a friend. Or I might figure out some new way to do something without any help at all.
This is a pragmatic and inspiring book, filled with practical advice, workbook-style exercises, and inspiring stories. I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend. But I paused at the end of each chapter and sat down and put pen to paper for all the exercises so I could get the full impact.
I’ve made a ton of changes in my life since reading this book. The book doesn’t get all the credit for my courage and outside-the-box thinking, but it certainly helped.
These are all good books for entrepreneurs. But I know there are many more. What are your favorites? I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments.
Are you ready to put these principles to practice to grow your business?
