From Bunny Slippers to Business Plans
I’ve already written in the past about the importance of being prepared. A huge part of that for me has been the greedy consumption of books: how-tos, self-helps, career guides, etc.
I’ve read so many that I think it’s about time for a roundup. After the jump, the 20 books that helped me build my freelance life…and that could very well help you too!
It’s been a few months since a book got me really fired-up about my career.
Despite gaining momentum in the writing realm, with assignments from TONY, Babble, Lemondrop, and Nerve, I’ve had other career-related plans on the back burner for months, with no clue as to how I could possibly move forward with them.
Then, Jonathan Fields‘s Career Renegade got me excited, and thinking that it was time to take another risk.
After the jump, the 4 reasons I loved Career Renegade.
Reading Timothy Ferriss‘s The 4-Hour Workweek was like being on an emotional roller coaster.
I’d read a line like “Most people will choose unhappiness over uncertainty” and think Man! This guy knows where it’s at! Then I’d read about his empty and meaningless kickboxing win due to manipulated technicalities, or his distaste for reading, and want to throttle him.
Is he a genius? Or is he just plain ridiculous? Perhaps a bit of both. After the jump, I explore the aspects of his book that made me think.
Check out this book my husband bought me for Christmas!
(I decided not interpret it is as a commentary on the fact that he’s supporting me, as it was on my Amazon Wish List.)
Allison Hemming — founder of the Hired Guns — wrote Work It! as an antidote to the times…times in which an increasing amount of people are losing their jobs, or are at least worrying about the possibility.
While the majority of the content in her book is aimed at those in the full-time, corporate work force, I found that the lessons therein — especially as they pertained to resumes, networking, and correspondence — were applicable to anyone looking to make money.
And the number one lesson I learned from reading Work It!? It’s never too late to review the basics.
In the midst of blogging, Christmas shopping, and tree trimming, I’ve been sneaking away all week to steal some alone time with My So-Called Freelance Life, the most recent freelance survival guide from alt-work guru Michelle Goodman. And let me tell you. It is good.
Which is why I’m taking a break from our usual Thursday interview to introduce you to a true source of infinite wisdom, in paperback form.
Honestly? This is the book I wish I had a year ago.
I’ve been using MediaBistro since, like, forever so, when they put out a book for freelancers (and for freelance writing in particular), I totally jumped on that. That was a couple years ago, and it still maintains an important spot on my resource shelf. After the jump, my 5 favorite things about Margit Feury Ragland’s Get a Freelance Life.
Seal Press is a goldmine (I swear, they’re all I’ve been posting about lately) and, though the press is aimed toward women, many of their how-tos and handbooks are relevant to men as well. Which is why I don’t mind bringing up another one of their books, Lauren Bacon and Emira Mears’s The Boss of You.
After reading this book, I feel prepared to rethink and re-tackle the way the way I went about starting up my at-home business and, after reading the 7 things I love about this book, you’ll see why:
I feel as if I’ve been writing a lot lately on the importance of money matters. To that end, I’d like to tell you all about The Money Therapi$t by Marcia Brixey, another how-to from the always-awesome Seal Press. Not necessarily geared toward freelancers in particular, it does take you step-by-step down the path of financial soundness, an always-necessary foundation for a healthy business. Check it:
I read a ton of books in my personal journey toward freelancedom, but I have to admit, the one that provided the impetus to my actually leaving my 9-to-5 was Michelle Goodman’s The Anti 9 to 5 Guide. In fact, my copy is so dog-eared that I couldn’t stop at just listing my five favorites:
Okay. So David Cottrell’s Monday Morning Choices isn’t exactly a freelance-specific book, but I have a weakness for the self-help genre. I find that — like a good session with my shrink — self-help books inspire me to be the best version of myself.
As people who have willingly given up benefits and a regular salary to go it alone, I can’t help but feel that we’re all trying to find a career that’s in tune with the very best version of ourselves. After the jump, some things to keep in mind if you want to maintain a winning attitude:
