Every entrepreneur has a toolkit. For me, certain books have stayed with me over the years. These are the books I return to year after year when I need perspective, motivation, or just a reminder of why I started this path in the first place.
The last one is extra important right now, make sure to check it out!
Whether you’re a small business owner, creative, or consultant, something on this list will give you motivation and inspiration. And if you’re one of my clients, feel free to reach out if you’d like to borrow a copy. Mine are well worn, full of sticky notes, and shared with love.
1. Getting Things Done by David Allen
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This was the very first productivity book I discovered, and I was only 18 at the time. I was starting college and already feeling overwhelmed with everything I needed to juggle. I remember reading it in a moment when I felt out of control, and it gave me such a strong sense of structure and possibility.
Even though I didn’t go on to major in business (due to college and calculus not being an easy recipe for me), this book planted the seed that organization could be a vital service. Just a few years later, I veered back in that direction to help business owners and teams get their tech tools and systems in order, and it all ties back to the mindset this book introduced to me.
This is a guide to clearing mental clutter and creating a system you can trust. Get everything out of your head to see it from a better view.
Perfect for: Anyone who feels overwhelmed and doesn’t know where to start. This book shows you how to get organized without guilt.
2. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
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This one came into my life at a time when I was caring way too much about all the wrong things. As a business owner, there are so many voices in your head and in the world telling you what you should do, how you should feel, and what you should care about. This book helped me sort through that noise and focus on what actually matters to me.
It’s written in a bold and irreverent tone, but beneath the cheeky title is a deep lesson about values. The swearing only lasts the first chapter or so. It also ended up helping me with my flight anxiety, which was an unexpected but very appreciated surprise.
Perfect for: Entrepreneurs and creatives who overthink, overcommit, or just need permission to care less about things that don’t serve them.
3. Stop Doing That Sh*t by Gary John Bishop
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From the titles I gravitate toward, you’d think I’m someone who swears a lot. I don’t, but there’s something about this no-nonsense tone that helps me snap back to what’s real.
This book is especially powerful for those of us who tend to self-sabotage. And that’s more of us than we think. As a business owner, there are moments when fear of failure shows up quietly in your behavior. Other times, it’s actually fear of success that causes hesitation. This book helped me notice those patterns in myself and meet them head-on with compassion and action.
Perfect for: Anyone who’s tired of repeating the same old patterns and is ready to change the story they’re telling themselves.
4. Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte
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This book helped reinforce one of the most important lessons I ever learned from the first book on my list (by David Allen):
“Your brain is for having ideas, not for storing them.”
In a world where we’re expected to remember everything and be everywhere, building an external system of trust is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself.
I love helping clients create their own version of a second brain, whether that’s in Notion, Google Docs, or another system that suits their workflow. The clarity that comes from knowing where everything lives and that you don’t have to carry it all in your head is profound.
Perfect for: Creators, entrepreneurs, or anyone with lots of ideas and nowhere to put them. This book shows you how to stop feeling scattered and start building a digital space that supports you.
5. Mojo: How to Get It, How to Keep It, How to Get It Back If You Lose It by Marshall Goldsmith
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This one is special. Marshall is a family friend and one of the world’s most respected executive coaches. His work has helped thousands of leaders, and his voice in this book feels like wise encouragement from someone who truly gets what it means to lose your spark and find it again.
Running a business can be deeply fulfilling, but it can also be exhausting. There are seasons where we drift from our purpose or lose the joy we once felt. This book helps bring you back to center.
Perfect for: Business owners who’ve hit a rut or simply want to reconnect with the energy and meaning behind their work.
6. Become an Idea Machine by Claudia Altucher
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This book changed how I think about creativity. It’s simple, but the impact is real. Once you start training your brain to come up with ten ideas a day, you build a kind of confidence that spills into everything. Not all the ideas will be great, and that’s the point.
I tell people often (including my siblings recently):
“I love coming up with bad ideas, because they lead me to the good ones.”
Most people never practice their creative muscle, so when they need it, it feels weak. This book offers a gentle and joyful way to get that muscle working again.
Perfect for: Anyone who feels stuck, uninspired, or wants to rediscover the fun of dreaming up new things just because.
7. The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu
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This one isn’t a business book, but it might be the most important one on this list. When the world feels heavy, this book reminds me how to hold onto lightness. It’s a conversation between two wise and compassionate leaders about how to find joy in a world that often feels uncertain.
It reminds me that joy isn’t passive. It’s a practice. It’s something we choose, nurture, and share. And the more we recognize it, the more of it we create for ourselves and others.
Perfect for: Everyone. Especially during tough seasons. This book is a gentle reminder to keep noticing joy, even when it feels far away.
If any of these titles speak to you, I hope you’ll give one a read or a listen. These aren’t just productivity manuals or business advice books. They’re the heartbeats behind how I work and how I try to show up for my clients, for my community, and for myself.
And if you’re a current client and want to borrow one of these from my shelf, let me know. I’m always happy to share.