Read this post for a list of my favorite books to help you become a better business owner.

If you’ve been following me for a while, then you know my business journey…has definitely been a journey! I was a wedding photographer, then I owned a children’s clothing company. And now I’m a social media expert empowering women to step into their voice on IG. I have learned so much along the way in all of my different businesses, but one thing I have always tried to do is to keep growing & keep learning.

If you want to make sure that your business grows, take time for personal growth, too. Because, friend, you can learn all the business strategies in the world, but if you’re not also working on yourself, you won’t be as successful as you could be. 

It is also incredibly empowering to learn from other successful business owners, which is why I love reading books written to help inspire other entrepreneurs. This is how I keep growing & keep learning! 

And I know what you’re thinking…”Sarah, I don’t have time to brush my hair every day, let alone read a book.” And, friend, I hear you! As a mom and a business owner, ‘free time’ is pretty much nonexistent, but that doesn’t mean I don’t make time for growth! 

I’ll share a little secret with you…listening to books is just as effective as reading them! And that’s how I make time to keep learning. 

I turn on an audiobook when I’m doing laundry or unloading the dishwasher. I listen when I’m exercising or have a spare minute. I promise you can find a way to make learning a priority in your life, and it’s so powerful when you do! I want to share some of my favorite books with you, to help you on your business journey. So, here are the books on my ‘Must-Read List’:

#1 You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life

By: Jen Sincero

This book is so empowering! I loved it because it’s super easy to read (or listen to!). It’s broken up into short, but powerful, chapters that you can pick up whenever you have a spare minute. It’s also funny & so entertaining. Sometimes it’s easy to take yourself & your business too seriously when you’re an entrepreneur and you have big goals you’re trying to achieve. This book was a reminder to also enjoy the journey! 

It also made me realize that so many of the things I considered roadblocks are actually the things that have made me successful and will continue to make me stand out in my business. You’ll feel so motivated after you finish this read — it’s the perfect book if you feel like you want a little help gaining confidence in yourself as a business owner! 

#2 Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.

By: Brené Brown

Friends, this book will leave you feeling like you can take on anything! It’s all about finding your voice as a leader & that is something that is so important when you own a business. It’s about having tough conversations & fully committing yourself to your business so that you can grow. 

It’s scary being a business owner, but this book does such a good job of teaching you skills you can practice to start showing up for yourself in your business. Brené Brown talks to some of the most impressive leaders in business to come up with the lessons in this book, so you get to learn from truly inspiring people! 

#3 The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results

By: Gary Keller & Jay Papasan

If you’re feeling completely overwhelmed in your business, you need to read this! It’s quick, it’s easy to read (or listen to!) and I can’t tell you how much it has helped me put things into perspective. When you’re focused on making more sales, reaching more people, & achieving all your goals, it’s so easy to take on too much at one time. But, I promise you will not see the results you want if you have too many priorities. This book was such an incredible reminder that you’ll be the most effective business owner when you figure out what matters most & focus your attention there instead of trying to do it all! 

#4 Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t

By: Jim Collins

If you love case studies & learning from other successful companies, this is the book for you. Included are so many valuable lessons taken straight from observations of real, growing businesses. But one of the most inspiring things about this book is that all of the companies featured faced struggles & found success anyway. It’s all about how any business can succeed, no matter how much struggle they have faced. Don’t get discouraged if you haven’t seen the growth you want just yet. With the help of this book, you can absolutely achieve your dreams. 

#5 High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way

By: Brendon Burchard

If you’ve ever been intimidated to learn new skills or try a new strategy for your business, I want you to read this book! It’s all about how to develop new skills & build incredibly helpful new habits. This book serves as such a good reminder that when you own a business, you need to take time to nurture other areas of your life in order to see success. You can’t focus on growing only in your business — you’ll be so much more successful if you show up in every area of your life! 

#6 Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going to Do About It

By: Bob Goff

Sometimes, it’s good to have someone tell you that it’s ok to dream big & to have amazing goals. Because you can achieve them — but only if you dream them in the first place! I love how incredibly inspiring Bob Groff is in this book because he helped me figure out what I want for my business so that I can show up as an entrepreneur…and absolutely make that happen!

Tag me @soulfoxliving on Instagram and let me know which book you’re reading first! 

xx, Sarah