Reading is a great way to de-stress! I know most of us girl bosses love to always be in work mode. But what better way to grow and learn in your downtime as well. Today, I have the best Business books of all time to review with you. These 10 must-read books are a great way to educate and grow as a business owner.
GIRL BOSS
For anyone looking to start a business or just struggling to keep one afloat, this book is a great read. It shows that hard work and good ideas can really pay off. Being a business owner is not for the faint of heart, but the rewards far outweigh the sweat equity when it all comes together and is successful. One thing I really enjoyed about the book is the way failure was handled - if Sophia bought something and it didn't sell, she learned from her mistakes and allowed the mistakes to steer her the correct direction. She didn't quit.
The Financial Diet: A Total Beginner's Guide to Getting Good with Money
We loved the structure and how it showed the impact of financial decisions in all aspects of your life. We thought they did a good job at bringing in diverse perspectives and really addressing the elephant in the room of privilege. By far our favorite section of the book was the last one titled Action that talked about dreaming and happiness. The idea of "dream medium" and the happiness starter kit are definitely going to stay with us.
Herding Tigers: Be the Leader That Creative People Need
How do you lead people who live and breathe non-conformity? And, maybe more important, if you've been one of those hyper-creative nonconformists for years, but then have the opportunity to step into a leadership role, how in the world do you make that transition? How do you provide the freedom needed for those in your charge to feel creatively-nourished and fully-expressed, while also creating the constraints needed to meet client demands and flourish as a business?
These are tough questions, and the fundamentals on the ground are changing so fast that age-old answers and approaches no longer get the job done. This book isn't just an education, it's an evolution! It takes you by the hand, and provides a gateway to the next generation of leadership ideas and strategies for a creative culture that is constantly-accelerated and fueled by creativity, purpose and collaboration. Read it, then live it!
DIY Rules for a WTF World: How to Speak Up, Get Creative, and Change the World
This book is a gem! It's so inspiring. The advice is fantastic and the insights are illuminating. If you're feeling stuck, wondering what to do next with your time/creativity, this book could be just the boost you need right now to get you motivated and moving and feeling good about where you are. Sometimes if we're not being productive we beat ourselves up and try to change, but Suh points out what the period of seeming inactivity is and why it's useful as a means of moving back into the flow. It's so well written, full of delightful images and helpful ideas. It's a book I'll re-read for sure.
Work It: Secrets for Success from the Boldest Women in Business
Work It is a fantastic guide for any woman (or man) interested in getting the most out of life! Carrie’s writing style is heartfelt, insightful, warm and funny. She shares personal stories from her own experiences as well as those from a wide range of successful Women. Whether you are interested in advice on a particular topic (how to ask for a raise, how to improve your self confidence) or overall career/life advice you will find it in Work It. Each section ends with easy to follow tips and actionable ideas. Work It is a must read!! Highly recommend!!
By Invitation Only: How We Built Gilt and Changed the Way Millions Shop
I love reading success stories and I have always admired the amazing success that is Gilt. I was curious to see how these two young women and friends were able to break through in the very competitive world of e-commerce and fashion. The story of their rise to the top was engaging and entertaining, where the right idea was executed by the right team at the right time. They wove in business, leadership and entrepreneurial guidelines and checklists throughout their tale.
It's an inspiring read for entrepreneurs and a reminder that this type of success requires a tremendous amount of hustle, persistence, risk taking and passion. The authors, who both displayed strong work ethics from a young age, frequently talked about all nighters, constant travel and working to the point of exhaustion, but also emphasized their absolute love for high fashion and sample sales.
I appreciated this book more for the story behind Gilt than its business insights, and overall thoroughly enjoyed getting to know a bit more about these two remarkable women.
The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance---What Women Should Know
This books is a bit fluffy but an absolute must-read for any lady out there. Why do women not negotiate as well as men? Why are (some) women not taken as seriously as men in the workplace? This book mentioned so many things that I used to do myself and I could see how i'm stacking the deck against myself without even knowing it. I read it before a salary negotiation and as a result, I upped my initial asking number (and they gave it to me!). It's a thin book so you'll finish it in an afternoon or two. Also half of it is fluffy and skim-able. Again, if you're a lady, it's an absolute MUST read.
The Woman I Wanted to Be
Diane von Furstenberg (DVF) is a woman to admire. She credits her mother for her elegance and for training her to be independent. She credits her father for his unconditional love. Then there is that wrap dress she created, which a woman of any shape or size can wear confidently and stylishly. DVF tells the story of how she became the woman she wanted to be. She led a fabulous life, good schools and travel, mingling with the rich and famous and people of accomplishment in the arts. She talks about love and it's importance in an unabashed way. "I have tried not to lie my whole life", she writes, and I believe her. She was introduced into the Jet Set life, married a prince and danced and designed her way to the DVF empire which now has stores world wide. There were setbacks, both financial and health, but she is still standing and smiling. The book was a blast from the past for me, moving through six decades and inspiring all along the way. I ordered a wrap dress which I can't wait to receive and I look forward to what she does next!
Fearless & Fabulous: 10 Powerful Strategies for Getting Anything You Want in Life
I enjoyed reading this book. It was short but extremely informative. I like that there isn't any fluff to distract you from the message of the book. The author adds brief stories of women that directly correspond with the topic discussed in the chapter. Although this information is in many personal development books I was still engaged because of the the angles and fresh ideas on how to make them happen. I will be reading more from Cara!
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
Sheryl does a great job looking at underlying causes and the continuing cultural norms that create the current work environment for women in careers today. There were so many moments when she articulated things I have felt for a long time but hadn't put into words or looked at critically. She also points out blind spots she herself has carried and mistakes she has made supporting her own career and the good of other women she has worked with. This makes her relatable, believable, and gives us permission to see and admit our own mistakes without folding up our flag and going home. Knowing that we are all a part of holding equality back or pushing it forward is empowering and calls us all to action and to answer for our attitudes, actions, and responses to the world we live in today. Neither women or men will truly be free until we each have the same choices and responsibilities.
Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder
I LOVE THIS BOOK! Arianna Huffington's Thrive is a powerful read about redefining success. I love that she talks about stopping the "glorification of busy!" We wear being busy like a badge of honor and try to "one up" each other for who is the busiest. I enjoyed this book very much, not just the information, but Huffington's writing style; which I found warm, friendly, and engaging. This is a terrific book to give as a gift to someone who is chronically busy. It may help them to re-prioritize and shift their focus.
Mistakes I Made at Work: 25 Influential Women Reflect on What They Got Out of Getting It Wrong
I recommended this book to my Facebook friends. I found it to be very comforting and reassuring, as someone who has struggled with feeling like my career path has been less linear and direct than it should have been. I consider the name a bit of a misnomer because many of the "mistakes" don't seem to be mistakes to me. However, I think that emphasizes the subjective nature of the perception of actions as mistakes or as simply part of a journey. This book helped me to reframe my career path as a journey that is just right and perfectly valid as it has been, even it if doesn't exactly fit the ideal of what a high-performing individual should have. I recommend this book for both women and men.
