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Making the leap from a stay at home mom or 9-5 office worker to an aspiring entrepreneur can be a risky (and scary!) venture. The thing is, entrepreneurs are known for their aversion to risk and their resiliency. They are overcomers who have weathered the storms and coming out on the other side, many want to share their lessons learned with newbies.
Fun Fact: Entrepreneur – This word for “risk-taker” was borrowed into English in the mid–19th century from the French where it literally means “undertaker.
When applied homiletically, it could be regarded as somewhat parallel to the term for ministry, ὑπηρέτης huperetes, the “under-rower” in the galley ships. ↩ – from Khouse.org.
Entrepreneurs are the ones who are pushing things forward by doing what needs to be done to get to where they need to go. If you’re longing to start your own business, check out these books chock full of helpful tips, inspiration, and motivation for women who are willing to go for it.
As an entrepreneur, I’m also seeking out the best advice from successful and unsuccessful others who have gone before me. I particularly am drawn to books written by other women who may be juggling marriages, families and other commitments which take first priority in their lives.
Even if you’re a man, these books by amazing women will hit home and provide much-needed reflections on what it takes to succeed and have some semblance of work-life balance.
Author’s Note – the worldviews of these authors may not reflect my own personal views on entrepreneurship and success. I ultimately think that my purpose as an entrepreneur is to serve others well and give God all the glory for any “successes” I may have in the journey of life. That being said, I trust that my readers have enough discernment to glean from the good and toss out the bad in these selections.
Daring & Disruptive: Unleashing the Entrepreneur by Lisa Messenger
Vibrant, game-changing CEO Lisa Messenger shares an insightful account of her rollercoaster ride as the creator and founder of the globally popularCollective Hub, the hip magazine of inspiration for disrupters and innovators of all stripes—with bold ideas on how you can stay on track and remain true to whatever your passion may be.
The Fire Starter Sessions: A Soulful + Practical Guide To Creating Success On Your Own Terms by Danielle LaPorte
The Fire Starter Sessions is an apathy-kicking, integrity-infusing guide to defining success on your own terms.
“Danielle’s passion leaps off the page, and reading a few chapters of this book will ignite you into action.”
—Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project
“Danielle’s work is jam-packed with keen insights and a force of energy that pushes you in invaluable ways. The content is practical and ignites the mind in ways that could change your career and life.”
—Scott Belsky, author of Making Ideas Happen
She Takes on the World by Natalie MacNeil
Are you ready to create a business and a life you love? Packed with powerful business and life lessons, a savvy plan for success in our digital age, and the engaging real-life experiences of successful women entrepreneurs, She Takes on World: A Guide to Being Your Own Boss, Working Happy, and Living on Purpose is a business book like no other.
Ladies Who Launch: An Innovative Program That Will Help You Get Your Dreams Off the Ground by Victoria Colligan and Beth Schoenfeldt
Ladies Who Launch is the first company to define the feminine approach to launching a business and to make the connection between starting a business and bringing creativity into your life with self-esteem and happiness. The nationally acclaimed Ladies Who Launch program has enabled thousands of women across the country to break out of 9-5 and thrive in entrepreneurial enterprises that reflect their true passions, skills, and desires. Located in more than 40 cities in the United States, the Ladies Who Launch incubators – workshops that give women the support and encouragement they need to embark on making their dreams reality – have inspired women to start businesses, grow existing companies, and tap into their creativity to develop essential services and products and enjoy the lifestyle of their dreams while doing it.
The Entrepreneur Equation: Evaluating the Realities, Risks, and Rewards of Having Your Own Business by Carol Roth
It’s time to drop the rose-colored glasses and face the facts: most new businesses fail, with often devastating consequences for the would-be entrepreneur.
The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestseller The Entrepreneur Equation helps you do the math before you set down the entrepreneurial path so that you can answer more than just “Could I be an entrepreneur?” but rather “Should I be an entrepreneur?”. By understanding what it takes to build a valuable business as well as how to assess the risks and rewards of business ownership based on your personal circumstances, you can learn how to stack the odds of success in your favor and ultimately decide if business ownership is the best possible path for you, now or ever.
Shark Tales: How I Turned $1000 Into a Billion Dollar Business by Barbara Corcoran
The inspiring true story of Shark Tank star Barbara Corcoran–and her best advice for anyone starting a business. After failing at twenty-two jobs, Barbara Corcoran borrowed $1,000 from a boyfriend, quit her job as a diner waitress, and started a tiny real estate office in New York City. Using the unconventional lessons she learned from her homemaker mom, she gradually built it into a $6 billion dollar business. Now Barbara’s even more famous for the no-nonsense wisdom she offers to entrepreneurs on Shark Tank, ABC’s hit reality TV show.
The Chic Entrepreneur: Put Your Business in Higher Heels by Elizabeth W. Gordon
Learn how to take your business from flats to stilettos in this intelligently written, highly practical, and entertaining read. The Chic Entrepreneur teaches women business owners how to get out of the trenches and take their business to new heights by mastering the 9 dimensions of a flourishing business. Elizabeth Gordon, President of Flourishing Business®, a consulting firm that helps stagnant businesses jump-start their growth, shows how to build a business right. Gordon explains how to build an asset of inherent value instead of just a bigger job and points out common mistakes to avoid along the way.
The Accidental Entrepreneur: The 50 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Starting A Business by Susan Urquhart-Brown
Like many business owners, Susan-Urquhart Brown never expected to end up as an entrepreneur. Launching her own business spoke to her passions, but she soon realized there was much more to being a successful owner than she ever expected. In The Accidental Entrepreneur, she takes all the mystery out of going solo. For those who are just beginning to consider starting a venture as well as those who want to take their organization to the next level, she offers advice on what works and what doesn’t. With hard-won wisdom and empathy, she shows readers:
• the 8 questions everyone should ask up front
• the top 10 traits of the successful entrepreneur
• how to obtain a license and sellers permit
• the best way to create a business plan
• 10 simple ways to get referrals
• the 6 secrets of marketing a business
• smart tips for investing and finance
• ways to avoid burnout
• how to avoid the 7 biggest pitfalls in business
Starting one’s own business should be exciting, not scary. This is the one book that will show readers how to create a successful and fulfilling venture they can be proud of.
#GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso
In the New York Times bestseller that the Washington Post called “Lean In for misfits,” Sophia Amoruso shares how she went from dumpster diving to founding one of the fastest-growing retailers in the world.
Make It Happen: Surrender Your Fear, Take The Leap, Live On Purpose by Lara Casey
You were created for a purpose, and it’s time to make it happen.
- women who find themselves worried, anxious, and completely overwhelmed by the constant chase for perfection
- those seeking the courage to jump into a new venture
- working women who are struggling to “do it all”
- weary wives and moms looking for relief from burning the candle at both ends
- anyone who dreams of a life lived not by accident, but on purpose
Your time has come to take a leap of faith. Join me as we surrender our fears, end the chase for perfection, and say yes to cultivating the meaningful lives God desires for us.
These 10 books are more than just a starting point, they will literally change your life. What are you waiting for? Get reading, make a plan, and go for it.
What books have inspired you to take a leap of faith into the entrepreneurial world? Please comment below!
