My Top 6 Business Reads for Mindset, Creativity + Branding

I have really benefitted from spending time continuing to learn and grow my mindset and creativity in my business. The books that follow have helped me to understand myself and my ideal clients better and have also given me excitement and insight into the creative and branding process. These books together have worked to shape me into a better designer and service provider. I hope you find support and encouragement in them as well!

FOR MINDSET

1. Mindset by Carol Dweck, this book is wonderful as both a physical and an audiobook and it will have you looking deeper into your own tendencies for mindset and how you look at the world. I think this is foundational for any business owner in further understanding their own perspective on the world and looking for strategies to positively change their mindset. 
    

2. Essentialism by Greg McKeown, this book is all about setting your priorities straight and it is so good in combination with Mindset. While Mindset helps you assess your own perspective on the world, Essentialism helps you to focus on your priorities and start committing focus to the things that will actually move you and your business forward.  
    

3. Atomic Habits by James Clear, combine this book with Mindset and Essentialism to really take things to the next level. You've assessed your mindset and looked at your priorities and this book will help you focus on making progress toward your goals by creating reliable and repeatable habits.
   
   BONUS READ: Grit by Angela Duckworth, I really felt like this book helped to make sense of and support the work of all three previous books, it's almost like it tied it all together with this idea of grit (passion + perseverance).

FOR CREATIVITY + BRANDING

1. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, I love this book about creativity and its expression. It is a lovely book weaving stories about the experience of different creatives and their experience and relation to their own creativity including Elizabeth Gilbert's own experiences. This ties in really well with Mindset, just with a creative focus. 
    

2. Obsessed by Emily Heyward,this book makes the case for taking the time to showcase your own brand's personal story to create a connection with your ideal client and audience, because people buy from connection and love, even obsession - not a list of features.  
    

3. Building a Brand Story by Donald Miller, takes the idea of personal connection a step further this book gives you a step-by-step guide (and free resources) to start building the story of your own brand. Again this book makes the point that people purchase because of personal connection and because they can see themselves and be the hero in the story you craft for your brand (you're the wise guide, they are the hero on a mission). 
   
   BONUS LISTEN: The Professional Creative with Bonnie Christine, this podcast just recently launched from one of my favorite surface pattern designers and it's wonderful inspiration if you're a creative but it also has just really practical and sound business advice, like creating step-by-step plan to reach your goals and making continual, small daily progress. 

I would so love to hear your own favorite business reads or listen! Just send an email to lindsay@lindsaywilliamsdesign.com - I can’t wait to hear from you!