17 of the Best Self Help Books for Female Entrepreneurs

Wow. I guess I have read a lot of books over the past few years of learning to be my own boss! I have such a passion in my heart for helping others lead a life they have designed themselves. That of course includes working for themselves if that is where their passion lies. One of the best ways to help keep you on track can be learning from those who have gone before you. That’s why I took a moment to compile this list of must-read self-help books for the female entrepreneur. The majority of these are tested and approved by yours truly, and a select few are still on my to-read list BUT have been recommended over and over again by other trusted lady bosses.

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Dare to Lead

Brene Brown is amazing on every level in my opinion. What she has done in Dare to Lead is combine her other two best-sellers, Daring Greatly and Rising Strong to create a brand-new book designed completely for leaders in the workplace.

You don’t necessarily need to be an entrepreneur for Dare to Lead to apply to you. I also believe you don’t need to be leading a team for this to apply to you. This book dares to challenge all of us to step up, own up to our shortcomings, and not be afraid to lead no matter where we’re at in life.

You Are a Badass at Making Money

So many people (especially women) struggle to have a healthy money mindset. In Jen Sincero’s book, You Are a Badass at Making Money, I was first able to begin to feel OK with wanting more money in my life.

If you grew up believing that greedy people want money, that money doesn’t grow on trees or that you have to work hard to earn money, this is definitely a book worth purchasing!

Girl, Stop Appologizing

I loved Rachel Hollis’s book, Girl, Wash Your Face. It was like it took over the entire internet! Suddenly, this chick was everywhere and after reading the book, it was easy to see why. However, I have to confess, as much as I liked Girl, Wash Your Face, I liked Girl, Stop Apologizing more!

This book is especially applicable if you are a wife, mother and a woman who has anything to do in her life besides run a business. Navigating all of these titles is overwhelming and our pal, Rach, makes it a lot easier to manage with the advice she gives in this book.

Launch

Now the book Launch is specifically for online business owners or businesses whose company has an email list! Want to learn more about making an income online? Click here to get the free training on how to get started!

Rather than self-help guidance, this book gives you the tools to help understand how to help and serve your audience while selling your product in an authentic way.

You will literally get step-by-step email guidance through what to say and how to act when it comes to pitching your products and services.

The 4-Hour Work Week

The 4-Hour Work Week is great when it comes to teaching you how to delegate tasks in your business so you can lighten your workload. However, I want you to keep in mind that if you love what you do, you will most likely be working more than 4 hours per week! The Hard Truth About the 4-Hour Work Week.

So while it is totally possible to have your business run without you, I want to encourage you to love what you do so much that work is something that lights you up inside!

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

If you are anything like me, you might struggle to know how to begin or how to be disciplined in your work. Oftentimes, entrepreneurs are creative types which means we don’t always have that clear cut, analytical approach to things.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People help break down the consistent things that successful people do in order to make their dreams a reality.

Grit

This amazing book takes into account the one thing author Angela Duckworth found that successful people had in common. Grit. Never quitting. Sticking it out.

While this book may lean more on the research side of things, it’s incredibly interesting, has great perspectives, and offers some simple advice that you can follow to become more gritty yourself.

The Power of Habit

People often believe that running a business or becoming successful starts in one swift motion. In reality, the best way to succeed in life or business is to develop healthy habits.

In The Power of Habit, author Charles Duhigg dives into why we form habits, how to use people’s habits when it comes to marketing, and how to change our bad habits effectively!

Strengths Finder 2.0

Do you ever think back to job interviews where they ask you, “What are your top strengths?” Chances are you say the same answers as 90% of other people. “I’m a hard worker.” “I show up on time.” “I’m good at working in groups.” Blah, blah, blah.

What Strengths Finder 2.0 does is help you find your unique strengths…things you didn’t even realize were strengths. Then, it gives you ideas on how to use those strengths in your life and work. Disclaimer: This is a book you can’t share with a friend! Each book has its own code you need to use to login and take your Strengths Finder test online.

The 10 X Rule

Personally, I listened to The 10X Rule on Audible and I almost recommend that you do too. While a lot of audiobooks really feel like they are being read to you, author Grant Cardone basically motivational speaks into your years.

Basically, this book focuses on going above and beyond in your work. Showing up everywhere, going above and beyond and delivering amazing results. While I do think you can easily spill into a life of too-much hustle with this book (I am a fan of slowed down, simple living after all) the message in it is amazing and I believe it can still be done with peace in your heart.

Think and Grow Rich

The book Think and Grow Rich has officially been revamped for the 21st century and contains in it basically everything any other book about money will teach you. That is when it comes to the mindset necessary to have around money.

Not only does this book give you strategies and tips on mindset, but gives you actually tools to produce more money. And they are DEFINITELY not what you’d expect.

Everything is Figureoutable

Confession: I had always kind of heard of Marie Forleo but I had no idea what a powerhouse she really was! My favorite part of her book, Everything is Figureoutable was listening to her failures. Seriously. When you want to live the life of an entrepreneur, it means you want to live a life where you fail…a lot.

Living in the digital age, it is so easy to feel like everyone else is 1 to 18 steps ahead of you. Being reminded of the “don’t quit” attitude from someone as successful as Marie is life-changing and she constantly reminds you that you can figure it out….everything is figureoutable.

Building a StoryBrand

When it comes to all things marketing for your business, Building a StoryBrand was by far my favorite book so far. I’m not an analytical type person and other marketing books always made me feel kind of skeezy (for lack of a better word). I didn’t ever want to feel like I was tricking people into buying from me or to end up talking like an infomercial.

Building a StoryBrand is a cohesive way to talk about your business and your products that is easy to follow and will make sense to your clients.

13 Things Mentally Strong Women Don’t Do

We’ll call this book a “spin-off” of the original 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do. The woman addition. Helping to build your business definitely requires learning how to keep yourself mentally strong, focused and faith-filled. (Faith in yourself.)

The book, 13 Things Mentally Strong Women Don’t Do is designed to help you reclaim your power, face your fears and become a stronger version of yourself.

The Middle Finger Project

This was a book I was so happy to stumble upon at Barnes and Noble one day. Imposter Syndrome — definitely something I have battled. So I gave the book a try. I had no idea it would be so, so amazing.

Yes, you can prepare yourself for some swearing from writer Ash Ambridge. You can also plan on very moving, inspiring, honest, and funny stories throughout the entire book. The Middle Finger Project is so helpful to any woman wanting to leap into the unknown world of entrepreneurship.

The Underdog Advantage

Dean Graziosi is very new to my world and I’m so glad he’s here. As a man who struggled with Dyslexia and bad grades in school, it’s amazing to hear what he has accomplished — and with a big heart!

The Underdog Advantage works to encourage those of us who might feel under-qualified to step into a leadership position, especially when it comes to leading our own business.

The Magnolia Story

Of course, I’m going to mention Chip and Jojo. Remember when this book came out and you had to wait 8 years to get it from the library? No? Just me! Well, spoiler alert, I wound up buying the book and it was totally worth it.

The Magnolia Story is a re-telling of how Chip and Joanna got to where they are. Their own HGTV show, their now-famous Silos and how they have been able to build an empire. It all started with quitting a business. Seriously. This book is filled with setback after setback and what it means to really follow your heart.

If you are a feelings driven person, this book is definitely one you’ll appreciate as an entrepreneur. Don’t believe that a step back is always a step back…it might be the exact opposite.

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