12 Books Every Freelancer Must Read Immediately
As with every profession, it is important that freelancers continue to grow both in their career and in their personal life. With that in mind, several of us at The Freelancer’s Life decided to create a list of 12 books that every freelancer should read (perhaps read one book a month for a year?). The final product is a list that runs the gambit from time management to self-improvement to how to be a better blogger.
We hope that you find a few books that help elevate your freelance career and improve your life. So, without further ado, here is our list of 15 books that we think have immense value for those pursuing The Freelancer’s Life.
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Ryan Lilly’s Picks:
1. The Freelancer’s Bible by Sara Horowitz
The Freelancer’s Bible by Sara Horowitz is a “how-to” for freelancers that not only tells you how to get gigs but also covers how to set up your environment, what tools to use, how to get health insurance, and so much more. Per the book cover, it really is “Everything you need to know to have the career of your dreams – on your terms.”
Horowitz is the founder and executive director of Freelancers Union and CEO of Freelancers Insurance Company. A MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Fellow, Sara was named one of Forbes’s Top 30 Social Entrepreneurs, Esquire magazine’s 50 Best and Brightest, and the World Economic Forum’s 100 Global Leaders for Tomorrow.
It is our opinion that if you can only get one book to improve your freelance career, this is the one to get.
2. The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss
Tim’s personal journey into working anywhere, anytime is an inspiring one. It is a step-by-step guide to designing a luxury lifestyle where you decide when to work and how to work.
The 4-Hour Workweek shows you how to make the transition from a 9 to 5 work set up to one where you work less, work smarter, and pursue a life that you really enjoy.
Tim Ferriss is a New York Times bestselling author has packed this book with practical tips and case studies that will provide a lot of insight that will help you create a life on your terms.
3. Rework by Jason Fried & David Heinemeier Hansson
The authors’ give straight no-nonsense advice for succeeding at work on your own. It explains that today anyone can be in business because the technology exists that is readily accessible to all.
“Rework is the perfect playbook for anyone who’s ever dreamed of doing it on their own. Hardcore entrepreneurs, small-business owners, people stuck in day jobs who want to get out, and artists who don’t want to starve anymore will all find valuable inspiration and guidance in these pages.”
About the Author: Ryan Lilly is a speaker and author on personal development and entrepreneurship. He is the author of three books including, “Ecosystem Hacking: How to Help Entrepreneurs and Grow Your Local Economy” (Available on Amazon). Ryan has worked with over 1,500 entrepreneurs in 3 U.S. states over the last 11 years. He has spoken at TEDx and other similar events, recordings of which are available on YouTube. Ryan lives with his wife and daughter in Ocala, FL. More at www.RyanLilly.com
Brenda Keller’s Picks:
4. Company of One by Paul Jarvis
This book cemented some of my beliefs about working for myself. It focused on building a business that is just as big as it needs to be. It emphasized that the size of a business does not determine its success.
One of the reasons I wanted to work for myself is that I wanted to control what I did and when. I also wanted to control the quality and quantity of my work. Bootstrapping helps me keep control of these aspects.
When you take on investors, you lose some of that control because you have to answer them. They expect your business to make them money, not you. And they usually want a return on their investment quickly.
These constraints can impact the control you have over when you do things and how much time you can spend on tasks. This may negatively impact the quality of your work.
Even though the book is called Company of One, don’t let that fool you that the author believes you need to do everything on your own. The author states that “A company of one is simply a business that questions growth.” Paul also states that you should “Start small, define growth, and keep learning.”
The book also talks about focusing on servicing the customers you already have instead of placing all your attention on trying to attract new customers. It’s estimated that it costs five times more to add a new customer than to keep an existing customer. If you serve your current customers well, they’ll be more inclined to purchase from you in the future and tell others about you.
Throughout the book, there are lots of ideas about how to keep your business small, and the author gives background about his own business as proof that it works.
5. The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Although this book is more strictly geared towards those pursuing a creative activity, the concepts within it can be applied to any career or growth activity. The concepts covered in the book can help motivate you to do the things you need to do.
There are a couple of central concepts in the book. The first main concept was around Resistance. The author felt so strongly about this word that he capitalizes it throughout the book. The first step to fighting Resistance is awareness. Once you realize that Resistance is constantly working against you, you can fight it by just acting.
Some quotes from the book about Resistance that had the most meaning for me included:
“The more important a call or action is to our soul’s evolution, the more Resistance we will feel towards pursuing it.”
“The danger [of Resistance] is greatest when the finish line is in sight.”
To beat Resistance, just sit down and do your work.
“Rationalization is Resistance’s right hand man.”
“[Resistance] uses fear of rejection to paralyze us and prevent us, if not from doing our work, then from exposing it to the public.”
One of the other main focuses of the book (and the main focus of some of Steven Pressfield’s other books) was the difference between a professional and an amateur.
Professionals stretch themselves and take on projects that help them grow. The professional just does the work for the point of doing the work, not for a reward.
Professionals don’t accept excuses, they take action even when they’re afraid, and they dedicate themselves to mastering their skills, among many other things.
If you’re feeling stuck either in your work or in some creative endeavor, The War of Art may be just what you need to get unstuck.
6. The Money Tree by Chris Guillebeau
This book had me hooked, right from the start, by using a story to get across its concepts. It’s all about seeing the opportunities around us and understanding that we can do more than we think we can (this is actually the mantra the author repeats throughout the book).
The author uses the story of Jake, who has quite a few obstacles in his life that he isn’t sure how to get past. Jake’s girlfriend left him, he’s getting kicked out of his apartment, his student loans are coming due, and things aren’t going very well for him at work. But Jake is introduced to a group called the Third Way. The people in the group are taking control of their lives through various projects and activities. The group and its leader help Jake see the opportunities around him to help him get things resolved and try to turn his life around.
The book can help you develop ideas about how to make money from the things you currently own and the skills you currently have.
Like Company of One, this book reinforced some of my thoughts about freelancing or working for myself. Bootstrapping, instead of taking on investors, getting only as big as you need to get, and not being indebted to others.
Some of the concepts in the book that I highlighted included:
“…learn how to make money while helping people in a meaningful way.” If you create a business that helps others transform their lives, you’re sure to be successful.
“The hardest part is starting.” This reminds me of some of the key concepts in The War of Art, dealing with Resistance.
What I liked most about the book is that it wasn’t just a bunch of concepts. It was a story that showed how the concepts were applied. Read the book to find out what happens to Jake and learn some interesting things about making money and using what you have to get ahead.
Brenda Keller is a software coach who helps people feel comfortable with and learn how to use software. She has been an Excel user since it was first introduced in 1985 and has taught the program in various settings. Her new Microsoft Excel: Quick Start course was designed to help those new to Excel or those wanting a refresher to get a handle on Excel’s key features quickly. Check out her course on Udemy here or view her YouTube channel here to get more help with Excel. To learn more about Brenda Keller, check out her official website here.
Jessi Joachim’s Picks:
7. Influencer by Brittany Hennessy
Influencer: Building Your Personal Brand in the Age of Social Media is perfect for the freelancer wanting to know more about influencer marketing. “Whether you’re just starting out or you’re ready for bigger campaigns, Hennessy guides you through core influencer principles. From creating content worth double tapping and using hashtags to get discovered, to understanding FTC rules and delivering metrics, she’ll show you how to elevate your profile, embrace your edge, and make money – all while doing what you love.”
This book covers how to build an audience and keep them engaged; how to package your brand and pitch your favorite companies; how to monetize your influence and figure out how much to charge.
It also has tips on landing an agent; getting on the radar of your favorite sites; praising a brand without alienating their competitors and so much more.
8. Traffic Secrets by Russell Brunson
Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers is great for learning how to generate targeted traffic for clients and your own website.
Traffic Secrets was written to help you get your message out to the world about your products and services and Russell Brunson is the man to teach you how. He started his first online company while he was wrestling in college. Within a year of graduation, he had sold over a million dollars of his own products and services from his basement.
9. Read Fiction
My next pick is not one book but the fact to just read fiction, whatever genre you like, because we can take so much from the prose of fiction writers and get ideas in places we may not expect.
We can take on some of the writing style of fiction writers and make it work for freelance and non-fiction writing as well. Some of my personal favorites are NK Jemisin and Brandon Sanderson because their styles are fantastic and help inspire me to be a better writer.
Jessi Joachim is the owner and content creator at The Coffee Mom.
She runs her family lifestyle focused blog while chasing after her two small kids and working part time at a local digital marketing agency.
Veronica Buhl’s Picks:
10. Problogger by Darren Rowse & Chris Garrett
Regardless of which direction you decide to take in your freelance journey at some point you’re most likely going to want to create a blog. Blogging is something I recommend to every client when it comes to creating their brand and promoting themselves on social media. Having an established blog filled with quality content helps to make you an expert in your field. This is where your clients and customers get to know who you are, what you do, and how you can help them achieve their goals and desires.
Problogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income not only gives you details on how to monetize your blog but it also gives a detailed view on the best ways to set your blog up. You’ll learn how to write content that attracts and holds visitors; learn to market and promote your blogs; learn how to engage followers via Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn; and study the secrets of more than a half-dozen successful blogs.
The content in this book is invaluable to every freelancer who really wants to establish themselves as an expert in their field and attract their ideal clients for their products and services. This book, in my opinion, should be in every freelancer’s bookcase.
11. Awaken The Giant Within by Tony Robbins
I am a firm believer in personal development and when it comes to self-improvement, Tony Robbins is the man you want leading you there. As the person who created the personal development field over 40 years ago, Robbins has gathered more information on how to take control of your mental, emotional, physical, and financial destiny than anyone else alive today.
The fact is, if you want to be successful at anything in life whether it be as a freelance career or as a CEO at a company, you must know how to influence and direct yourself first. Let’s face it, the main reason most of us want to be freelancers is to be in total control of our lives and to live our lives on our own terms. Tony Robbins is all about that and he has resources and techniques that work and the results that last.
This is another book I feel everyone should read because in order to lead and be of service to others, you first need to be able to lead and be of service to yourself.
12. Time Management for the Creative Person by Lee Silber
Time Management for the Creative Person: Right-Brain Strategies for Stopping Procrastination, Getting Control of the Clock and Calendar, and Freeing Up Your Time and Your Life by Lee Silber is a great book for anyone trying to get their time management under control. And for those of you who are saying, “Well, I’m not a creative person so this book isn’t for me.” I bet to differ. If you are reading this, you are most likely a freelancer or contemplating becoming one. If this is so, you are a creative person and therefore need this book.
If you’re not convinced, here’s a look at what the authors say their book will teach you. “Learning to say ‘no’ when your plate is just too full; how to know when a good job, not a great one, is good enough; making “to do” lists that include fun stuff, too – that way you don’t feel overwhelmed by work; time-saving techniques around the house that give you more time to get your work done and more time to spend with your loved ones; the keys to clutter control that will keep your work space and your living space neat.” Do those sound like topics you need to get under control? Yeah, I thought so.
You see, as a freelancer, you’re a unique individual with amazing creative abilities that most likely need some help with time management. It’s all par for the course really. As freelancers, our work schedules and projects can be all over the place and it can be hard to figure out how to balance it all. This book is invaluable for freelancers in all industries and niches, not just the “creative person”.
Conclusion
The importance of continued growth and personal as well as career development as a freelancer cannot be emphasized enough. When we stop growing intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and physically it affects our freelance potential. The antidote is to continually learn and pursue new skills and knowledge. Make it a goal to read a few (or all) of these books and keep your freelance potential and opportunities expanding so you can live your best freelancer’s life.
What are some of your favorite freelance or personal development books and why? Share them with us below.
Veronica Buhl is a freelance social media manager, who has been a writer, editor, proofreader, summary writer, and transcriptionist for some of the top motivational and self-improvement speakers in the world. She has also helped numerous clients develop their websites, blogs, and social media presence in order to promote their businesses, non-profits, and projects. She is the author of the book, Making Your Business A Social Media Superstar, and is co-author of the book, The Massage Disadvantage. Her official website can be found at www.veronicabuhl.com
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