5 Books Every Content Creator Should Read (And Implement)
One of the best things I did during Covid in 2020 was get back into reading.
I thought I had given content creation a shot, but had yet to realize I had not put everything into it quite yet. Over the past few years, I've read many books (admittedly, fewer than I should have) centered around content, business, and self improvement. Many of these books have helped reshape how I think about content and online business.
5 books stand out as must reads for every content creator who is serious about implementing change in their online business.
Book 1: Show Your Work by Austin Kleon
Show Your Work helped me understand the importance of showing the messy building, not just the finished product.
As Makers, most of us show build clips anyway, but it also changed how I thought about the business side that I hadn't been sharing. Audiences don't just want to know the beginning and the end, but all the parts that go into it.
Book 2: The Thank You Economy by Gary Vaynerchuk
The Thank You Economy gave me a new lens to think about my audience.
Online creators would be nowhere without their audiences, so they should be our focus in everything we do (same for paying customers). Instead of trying trends and tactics to grow, show how much you care about whether the audiences solves their problem, and mean it.
Book 3: The Art And Business Of Online Writing by Nicolas Cole
Before reading The Art And Business Of Online Writing, I had never thought about writing online and it was a new arena for me to learn.
95% of how I think about my online business changed thanks to this book from Cole, as well as his other books and online courses (which I have purchased several of). Every content creator needs to write and there are few other ways to effectively iterate on ideas than writing.
Book 4: Building A Second Brain by Tiago Forte
Entrepreneurs have so many ideas, so many things that need to get done, so many conflicting priorities, that no one can possibly keep it all in their head.
While I had heard about different methods of taking notes and keeping to-do lists, Building A Second Brain was the first time I read about creating a digital structure to house everything. Plus, the struture has helped me continue to have ways of adding more things as needed and removing old ideas that didn't work from everyday sight.
Book 5: Start With Why by Simon Sinek
Most businesses focus on what they do and how they do it, but Simon advocates, as the book is titled, to Start With Why.
After reading the book, I took a look at my own business ideas and realized that I had no clue what my Why was beyond "because I think I can." Digging deep to understand my Why led me on the journey that resulted in the shift from building things to helping Makers build their businesses.
