five books that changed my life and my business - a post from megan hunt of princess lasertron
At CAMP we have an ever-growing library of inspirational books that people can curl up with on one of our comfy chairs when they want to take a break. There are five particular books that have been so influential to me that we give them out for free to CAMP visitors who are looking for some motivation. Here are those books and my words about why they are the greatest.
The Martha Rules by Martha Stewart
Martha is truly the original H.B.I.C. and in our modern times one of the true revolutionaries in business. The Martha Rules is a book targeted toward entrepreneurs, but Martha’s wisdom is equally applicable for anybody seeking to identify their passions, turn on their creativity, and live a more beautiful life.
The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau
Chris Guillebeau is a friend to me who inspires me by living an unexpected, unconventional life that brings him joy, happiness, and success. In his book he reminds us that nobody is going to give us permission to live our best lives, and nobody is going to tell us what that life is. The hard part about being happy is that you have to figure out what it is for yourself. But the easy part about process is that nobody else can tell you that you can’t have it. I love the common sense, practical advice, and the friendly voice.
Rework by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
Rework is a great book to pick up when you need a quick espresso shot of motivation, or a reminder of how to do the damn thing after a hard day at work. There are cute ink illustrations that begin each new section, and the table of contents makes it easy to browse through the short chapters. There is a great sense of humor and emphasis on new business axioms like “meetings are toxic” and “the longer something takes, the less likely it is that you’re going to finish it.” It’s a great book to read if you are into working lean and feel yourself being bogged down with day-to-day minutia.
The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
This is the first book I read when I decided to start a business in 2005. It was recommended to me by my creative writing professor who now owns a cat hospital with his wife in Arizona (of all things). The E-Myth is a classic, popular business book that serves as a practical guide to business problem solving and finding your strengths at work. The most important and practical point Gerber makes—the “E-Myth”—is that entrepreneurs often discover that running a business doing what they love is often not what they expected as far as workload and responsibility. Reading The E-Myth helped me consider my business plan realistically before diving in.
Poke the Box by Seth Godin
This is the newest book on my list and it’s all about what has been intuitive to me since I started my business—that we all want to fit in but to be more successful than your wildest dreams you have to do something different. This book addresses your fears and excuses that are keeping you from taking the first step, and then takes your initiative and shows you how to carry through your actions to a meaningful conclusion—hard work and a rewarding life.
If you have any others that you recommend I’d love to hear about them so we can add them to the CAMP library.
xo
meg
Princess Lasertron is a bridal designer, writer, and speaker who works with over 300 brides each year. Visit her studio at CAMP Coworking and follow her at Lasertron on Twitter!
