Five must have books for the aspiring entrepreneur

1. Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways For Creating Work That You Love By Barbara J. Winter

This wonderful book is one of the first books I ever read about working for yourself. It left such an impression on me that several years later when I was making my ’100+ things to do before I die’ list, meet Barbara Winter was listed at #69. There are so many ideas and suggestions to get you started in this book I recommend that you read it with a highlighter, pen and notebook near by. It is filled with interesting and inspiring stories with hundreds of ideas, as well as, action steps you can immediately take to begin your entrepreneurial journey. This is resource book you will come back to again and again, year after year. Keep it in a special place. (By the way, I crossed #69 off my list in 2008.)

2. This Time I Dance!: Creating the Work You Love By Tama J. Kieves

This Time I Dance! is a story of personal growth and discovery. When a friend asked her “If you’re this successful doing work you DON”T love, what could you do with work you DO love?”, it changed her life and it changed mine. This book is not just for the want-to-be writer or artist, it is for anyone seeking deeper meaning in their life and work.

3. Career Renegade: How to Make a Great Living Doing What You Love By Jonathan Fields

Career Renegade is filled with ideas and information to help you create your own life doing the things you love to do. Each chapter has numerous resources you can instantly access via the web and read more about. This book is more than just stories, ideas and resources. It is a spark that ignites your own creative thought process and begins to build a raging fire of ideas built from your own passions, and desires. I recommend that you have a pen and paper handy while you read. Career Renegade is a resource you cannot do without.

4. Refuse to Choose!: Use All of Your Interests, Passions, and Hobbies to Create the Life and Career of Your Dreams By Barbara Sher

Do you have so many ideas, interests and passions that you don’t know where to start? Are you paralyzed by indecision, feeling like you have to choose one idea, one passion over another? If you do, you may be a ‘scanner’. Barbara Sher shows you how to handle both of these issues. She gives you the tools to build your life incorporating ALL that you love. This is a must have for every entrepreneur who feels like they have more ideas than lifetimes.

5. Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow: Discovering Your Right Livelihood By Marsha Sinetar

Although the title of this book is similar to others in this category, Marsha Sinetar takes a more cerebral approach. This books is not only about doing what you love, but also discovering who you are, what you want and how to build a life from that self-knowledge. As with any good book, this books has numerous stories to inspire.