Meet Your New Favourite Business Books
Have you ever looked at a brand’s visual identity and thought: if only I could hire their designer, then I’d be confident! Or been completely and utterly stuck staring at a blank caption box because you have no idea what will spark connection with your right people? Or maybe you just can’t seem to see yourself running a successful business… I mean, what would that even look like?!
I’ve been there. In fact, I might still be there if it wasn’t for these 3 incredibly impactful reads.
So, let me save you some time and introduce you to your new favourite business books.
Building a Storybrand
- Donald Miller
During my bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography, I spent so much time nose-deep in novels that I earned an unofficial minor in English Literature. Why am I telling you this? Because everyone (I repeat: Every. Single. Person.) loves a good story. It’s what we turn to when our lives are hijacked by to-do lists, work, family, errands...and you know, a pandemic lock-down or two.
But every story isn’t created equal. Some are more noise than music. What makes a good story? One that entices the viewer to go deeper? A hero that isn’t you.
When it comes to your brand’s story, your customer is the hero. Which means you get to be the guide! In the words of Donald Miller “...your audience is Luke Skywalker. You get to be Yoda.”
Small but powerful shift it is, hmm?
Through his seven-point StoryBrand Framework, Miller demonstrates how to position your brand as a guide in your hero’s journey. The guide who will help them overcome life’s obstacles and give them the resources they need to defeat their own personal “dark side.”
If you’ve ever fumbled when describing what you do, who you do it for, or the unique value your brand brings to the table, this book will get you there. Think of Building a StoryBrand as your marketing roadmap to a refined message that will transform the way you do business.
How To Style Your Brand - Fiona Humberstone
If you are only going to buy one book for your business, this is it. Fiona Humerstone, aka @thebrand_stylist, has condensed everything you need to know about creating (or elevating!) a strong brand identity into one gorgeously designed book. From colour psychology, to typography, moodboards, and workbook-style clairity questions, this book is your step-by-step guide to building something that truly reflects the heart of you and your business.
I’m going to level with you. this isn’t a lazy Sunday read. How to Style Your Brand is going to ask a lot of you.
Like a lot, a lot. It took me months to work my way through it from cover to cover! But, if you follow Humberstone’s advice and carve out the time to work through her prompts, I promise that you will walk away with a brand vision that overwhelmingly connects you with your right people. A vision you can DIY, or hand directly to your designer, website developer, content creator, or brand photographer (wink, wink) to be turned into something breathtaking.
The only thing better than having this book on your shelf, would be to have Humberstone herself perched there cheering you on!
In The Company Of Women
- By Grade Bonney
My copy of this best seller is chock-full of colour-coded sticky tabs, so I can find my favourite quotes, business advice, and portraits in a flash. Which has proven incredibly helpful on days where my motivation is, well... let’s call it lack-lustre.
While my previous recommendations require a lot of considered effort to work through, In the Company of Women isn’t focused on sorting out your brand and biz. It’s about seeing yourself in its pages and realizing that you, fellow hustler, are not alone. It’s about finding inspiration through the successes and failures of other strong women.
Women who have pushed to achieve their goals. Most of all, this bite-sized read is about celebrating all types of women, over one-hundred to be exact.
Reading through each interview (which pulls from the same list of questions in varying order) I’m struck by the unique answers and universal messages. Every woman confidently describes success on her own terms (hell yes!). But when asked the ‘number one sacrifice to running your own business’ the answer is the same: personal time. Running a business is hard work. Amongst the sweat and tears, you lose yourself for a while. It sucks (it so, so sucks!). But this lack of personal time isn't an error in your ability or judgement. It’s the price we all pay to create the life of our dreams. Knowing that makes a difference.
Wherever you are in your journey, this book is sure to offer you a nugget (if not a treasure trove!) of gold that will help you along the way.
Photography by Jacey Kendall Photography, edited by me!
