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In the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, women are increasingly making their mark, defying stereotypes and breaking barriers. However, navigating the world of business can still present unique challenges for women entrepreneurs. Fortunately, there's a wealth of knowledge available in the form of books that offer invaluable insights on personal growth, strategies, and inspiration tailored to their needs. Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your established business to new heights, here's a curated list of the best business books for women entrepreneurs.
Let me just say a quick note about Audible. I have always had a hard time staying awake and keeping my attention while reading. As a long time female business owner, Audible has transformed my reading immensely and given me countless different perspectives. I LOVE listening to books and am truly now a book lover. Of course nothing beats the peaceful feel of a quiet bookstore or the invigorating smell of a new book. I will always visit bookstores to get my fix! But to me, the single biggest impact on creating a better life that includes improving mental health, changing bad habits, personal finances, and business success... is Audible.
Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook, presents a compelling manifesto for women to lean into their ambitions and overcome the internal and external barriers that hold them back. Through personal anecdotes and research-backed insights, Sandberg explores topics like imposter syndrome, negotiation tactics, and the importance of mentorship, offering practical advice for women striving to achieve their professional goals. She offers multiple case studies to show how all of society can benefit from female entrepreneurs building their own business and becoming a business leader.
In this empowering book, Rachel Hollis encourages women to unapologetically pursue their dreams and own their worth. Through a combination of motivational storytelling and actionable advice, she challenges women to identify their goals, silence their inner critic, and take bold steps towards success. Whether you're launching a business or seeking career advancement, "Girl, Stop Apologizing" provides the roadmap for unbridled ambition.
Confidence is often cited as a key factor in entrepreneurial success, yet it's an area where many women struggle. Katty Kay and Claire Shipman delve into the science behind confidence and offer practical strategies for cultivating it in their book, "The Confidence Code." Drawing from interviews with successful women and research in psychology and neuroscience, this book equips women with the tools to harness their inner confidence and thrive in the competitive business world.
Jen Sincero's irreverent and humorous style makes personal finance and wealth-building accessible to all, including women entrepreneurs. In "You Are a Badass at Making Money," Sincero challenges limiting beliefs about money and offers mindset shifts to attract abundance and financial success. She is the ultimate money mindset mentor. With practical exercises and inspirational anecdotes, this book empowers women to step into their financial power and create the wealth they desire.
This is one of my personal favorite of the leadership books. Corcoran is one of the most powerful women who is also relatable and fun. Coming from humble backgrounds, she shares her own experience in building a business from the ground up. From hiring and firing to dealing with men in the corporate world, "Shark Tales" is one of my favorite books about professional life and offers a practical guide on how to become a successful entrepreneur.
In the competitive world of business, the ability to exude presence and confidence can make all the difference. Amy Cuddy's book, "Presence," explores how body language, mindset, and self-assurance shape our interactions and outcomes. Drawing from her research in social psychology, Cuddy offers practical techniques to harness the power of presence and command attention in any situation, making it essential reading for women entrepreneurs looking to make their mark.
Effective leadership is crucial for women entrepreneurs, and Brené Brown's "Dare to Lead" provides a roadmap for cultivating courage and authenticity in leadership roles. Through vulnerability, empathy, and resilience, Brown explores how leaders can create cultures of trust and innovation within their organizations. With actionable strategies and real-world examples, this book empowers women to lead with confidence and compassion.
In my opinion, this is one of the best books on how to actually make money blogging. Whether you are just starting out or have been writing a blog for years, "How to Blog for Profit" is the exact right book to add to your reading list if you are in need of a mindset shift. Change your business plan to include how exactly you are going to make money from your blog and follow Soukup's practical guide with simple steps to implement today.
As one of the world's great women leaders, Huffington takes us through her own personal transformation with all the different challenges of running large corporations and being a mom. From time management to team management, this book gives an alternative look at what defines much success and how to right our own rules. Huffington offers the latest groundbreaking research on what our bodies can and can't handle while running giant and small businesses. The full title is "Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder". Who doesn't want all that? Strong women like the author of this book should definitely be added to your list of books to read this year.
Fempire Founder Marnie LeFevre has given us a wonderful book on starting our own business and how to actually market them. This is a must-read for every mompreneur looking to build her business from the "closet" to a global Fempire! LeFevre used to work for Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Records, Virgin Atlantic and recent spaceflight participant for Virgin Galactic. She then went on to build many different business. With practical experience, this book lays out marketing and planning advice for every mompreneur to help grow their business.
Bonus Business Books by Men
Although I prefer supporting women authors and women business owners, the following books are important works that can really change your perspective as a female entrepreneur. I find it hard to listen to male authors talk about the corporate world and how to navigate it when their path is sooooo very different from ours as women (save that thought for a later post). But I do think these classic books offer good ideas that we can implement as well. After all, don't we want to know the rules of the game before we jump in the ring?
This classic business book literally changed my life. Sitting at my daughter's ballet class listening to this book, I finally understood what it meant to get my money working for me. We are all more than just a paycheck and one of the only ways to build actual wealth is to think beyond just being employed. Such a powerful mind shift that will forever change the way I think about earning money. "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" is the single book every human should read. I plan to have my kids read it in high school.
For women seeking to cultivate the mindset of successful entrepreneurs, Kevin D. Johnson's book provides invaluable insights. "The Entrepreneur Mind" breaks down the essential beliefs, characteristics, and habits that distinguish top entrepreneurs, offering a blueprint for success. From embracing failure to cultivating resilience, Johnson's book provides actionable strategies for women to adopt as they navigate the entrepreneurial journey.
This surprising book really helped me visualize making money. Opening my mind to a possibility of wealth. Pira describes his personal journey and "The 18 Principles of Wealth Attraction and Creating Unlimited Opportunity" that helped him create thriving businesses. He offers current research and helpful case studies to show you what is possible in the business world.
The Best Business Books for Women Entrepreneurs
I love that women are taking back their power and going from being a stay-at-home mother to being both business boss and children mayhem manager. It is so possible and so inspiring to see other moms create their own future. I strongly believe we have gone from being invisible women to being empire tycoons in our own right. Nice girls can finish first with a positive mindset and a plan of attack. It is important to learn from those that have gone before us as well as help pave the way for future female entrepreneurs. These business book recommendations can help break historic thought patterns and open up possibilities for women business owners everywhere. With a specific focus and our own self-love, together we can do anything.
As women continue to shatter the glass ceiling and redefine success in the entrepreneurial sphere, these business books serve as invaluable resources for guidance, inspiration, and empowerment. Whether you're seeking to overcome self-doubt, master the art of negotiation, or cultivate leadership skills, the wisdom contained within these pages will propel you forward on your entrepreneurial journey. Embrace the knowledge, harness your strengths, and dare to achieve your boldest aspirations. The world is waiting for your business woman brilliance.
Written in collaboration with artificial intelligence (ChatGPT-3.5). Edited by a human.
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Comment below with your favorite business books for women. I'd love to hear your recommendations.