For the most part, I like to read fiction novels and poetry, but on occasion, I find a great book on freelance writing that really inspires me to get back to work.And I think the same feeling applies to anyone who's pursuing a dream—when you know what you want to do, you start looking for resources to educate yourself on the topic. Now, there's no shortcut to becoming a successful freelancer, but there are stories and other insights out there to get you going down a pathway toward success.Whether you're a freelance web designer, an artist, a filmmaker, or a writer like myself, these 4 books should definitely be on your to-read list:
At first, abandoning the idea of 9-to-5 office life can be tough, which is why you need to read a book that opens up your mind to the possibility of remote work."Remote: Office Not Required" gives you an inside look into the mindset of founders who specialize in creating a positive culture around remote work. And with learning about a range of successful companies who embrace working from home, you also have the opportunity to understand what it means to work with remote teams—using everyone's skill set to work toward a common goal.Working full-time in an office can create dissatisfaction for employees, but "Remote" lends insight into the benefits of remote work and how to help workers thrive by doing so.
If there was ever a dedicated guide to quitting your full-time job and transitioning to a work-life of professional freedom, this book is the blueprint you need. Ferriss made the transition himself—going from a $40k annual salary, working 80 hours a week, the same salary only working 4 hours a week. Pretty crazy, right? But really, the whole book is centered around outsourcing your life to others who can do the work for you at a much cheaper rate. Plus, you get to travel the world while you curate your new lifestyle—incredible hacks that get lost when you're bogged down by a traditional job. Ferriss offers a lot to learn with practical examples of how to apply it, so don't miss out!
In the midst of the Great Depression, Napolean Hill was commissioned by Andrew Carnegie (the richest man in the world at the time) to write a book about what makes a winner. After spending years putting together the philosophy of success, "Think and Grow Rich" was published in 1937 and has continued to be a tremendous wellspring of information for those looking to have a better life.Hill interviews and chronicles the stories of some of the world's greatest inventors and entrepreneurs—Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Andrew Carnegie, etc. Essentially, each one offers their own secret recipe for success, and by gaining insight from each person, one can begin to piece together a holistic approach that creates a roadmap to follow. At a time of financial turmoil and grave misfortune, Hill wrote a life-saving book that makes the reader believe it's possible to overcome adversity and accomplish your dreams.
Stephen R. Covey's teachings are still widely used today for lots of working professionals. However, his philosophy goes way beyond simple habits of how to achieve success.For me, one of the biggest takeaways of his book is the idea of being proactive. Proactivity means that you anticipate the potential for problems and outcomes of a situation, and you immediately establish a way to circumnavigate that hindrance before it causes issues. Like if you had a client who always wants a certain style of writing to be used for email copy, but one day, you decide to try out a new template to spruce things up. Now, knowing that your client may hate the new idea, you can easily craft a second email blast that follows the same format, but then also present a refreshed version to pitch to them and see what they think. Immediately, you've taken a "proactive" mindset and you're actually controlling the situation, rather than presenting a new idea, getting turned down, and complaining about the outcome—which signifies a "reactive" mindset.This is just one example of interesting ideas that Covey presents in his book. But trust me, if you get a copy and keep reading, you'll walk away with tons of useful information to make your life easier.
The one thing all of these books have in common is that they help you create the kind of life you want. You have to believe that a life with professional freedom and personal fulfillment is possible, and with Fiverr's help, your dreams are even closer in reach.Read these books and then use their information to offer gig packages to clients, or you can outsource your own work to freelancers who are ready to help! Fiverr creates opportunities on both sides of the spectrum, so don't waste time—or your life—sitting in some cubicle doing less than what you're meant to achieve.
