As a freelancer and aspiring entrepreneur, you may feel alone in the world, but nothing could be further from the truth. It’s important to pack your kit of freelancer tools with powerful resources that will give you the information and inspiration you need to charge ahead fueled with confidence, knowledge, and excitement.
And one great way to do that is to read and learn from others who have gone before you.
The mark of a smart business person – or an intelligent entrepreneur – is someone who recognizes that their learning and curiosity are is never complete. Take advantage of the information available to you from people who have found success in their own unique pursuits. Even if their business model looks nothing like yours, or their product is completely different than yours, their knowledge and expertise are valuable in helping you push through the difficulties of creating new growth, opportunities and succeeding at business ownership.
Here, you’ll find five outstanding books that belong in any treasure chest of top freelancer tools. These bring many valuable lessons gleaned from real-world experience that other freelancers have learned (often the hard way).
1. Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
Phil Knight’s memoir about his journey to create Nike, one of the world’s most powerful and successful sports and retail brands, is a favorite of Microsoft’s Bill Gates. It chronicles Knight’s humble beginnings, borrowing $50 from his father to set off on his own path as an entrepreneur. From that $50, Knight grew Nike into a multi-billion dollar company. This book will inspire you to take a more unconventional path and will challenge you to be resourceful with your freelancer tools to overcome setbacks and failures as you build your business. Nothing is impossible, and Phil Knight is living proof.
2. The Power of Broke by Daymond John
Shark Tank star and founder of Fubu, Daymond John’s New York Times Bestseller is about the benefits of starting a business with limited resources. John’s belief is that desperation generates inspiration and innovation. With a limited budget, you are better able to tap into the heart and drive needed to grow a successful business. As John began his business venture with only a $40 budget, he has real-world experience in growing something from virtually nothing. His experience as described in his book will teach you that being broke as a startup is an asset. It can force you to use your resources more efficiently and connect more authentically with your market. Learn to leverage the power of broke into a successful business and get inspired along the way.
3. Hustle: The Power to Charge Your Life with Money, Meaning and Momentum by Neil Patel, Patrick Vaskovits, Jonas Koffler
This New York Times bestseller encourages you to abandon the idea that the odds are stacked against you and learn how to manufacture more luck and opportunity every day. Many professionals, whether full-time employees, freelancers or entrepreneurs struggle with feeling as if the system isn’t designed for their success. In fact, a Gallup poll shows that almost 90% of people feel disconnected from their jobs. This book will teach you how to release yourself from the drudgery, take small bite-sized doses of risk, and create your own terms for success. You’ll learn tips and tricks to transform the way you live and work. And you’ll find the power to shake free of outdated models and make your hustle work for you.
4. The Fire Starter Sessions by Danielle LaPorte
In The Fire Starter Sessions, Danielle LaPorte tackles the thoughts behind traditional self-help. Instead of encouraging you to chase after unrealistic ideals, she will inspire you to define success in your own terms. This book tackles the soulful side of entrepreneurship. It offers ways to nurture yourself to make you better equipped to implement practical steps to your success. It will motivate you to chase after the feeling you want for your life, rather than chase after other people’s definitions of success. So, don’t wait for permission, or the perfect scenario to pursue your passion. Start now!
5. The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau
Chris Guillebeau teaches you how to have the best of both worlds. With The $100 Startup, you’ll learn how to live a life that is meaningful, while also earning a good living. It’s all about leveraging natural talent and passion to turn them into a successful business model. So, if you’re on the verge of abandoning traditional employment, this book will help you identify your most powerful internal freelancer tools and turn your ideas into income. It proves that you don’t have to have a trust fund to start a business.
These are just 5 of our favorites of hundreds of books out there for entrepreneurs, teams and freelancers alike. Whether you choose to dive into any of these or find your own books for inspiration, you can never go wrong with committing time to your own self-improvement and personal development. Take advantage of all the great information out there and use it create your own success story. These freelancer tools are powerful assets to inspire you to get your start in the gig economy.
