I haven’t done a book review in a while. The last one was in May 2017 when I read Build Your Dream Network by J. Kelly Hoey. Since then, I’ve read many other books. But when I read Entrepreneurial You by Dorie Clark in November, it struck an unusual nerve that I just had to share with you guys.

What Entrepreneurship Means to Me

I have a confession to make. I never ever thought entrepreneurship was for me. It’s strange. Maybe it’s my upbringing, my culture, my familiar influence… I never gravitated toward the idea of owning my own business or being my own boss. In my young adult years, I thought I was going to become a scientist, medical professional, or a regular 9-5er. I guess I turned out to be a 9-5er, just not so regular! Ha. I always say my marketing career found me, I didn’t find it. I guess in the same way, entrepreneurship found me, and I didn’t even realize that until recently.

Why I Started Reading Entrepreneurial You and Couldn’t Put It Down

But this is not entirely why I am recommending this book on entrepreneurship today.  I’m recommending this book because I realized outside of being your own boss and being financially independent, becoming an entrepreneur makes you acquire many other life skills. These life skills are highly transferable even when you are still working in the corporate world. So, whether your plan is to climb the corporate ladder or start your own business one day, there are incredible things to learn from this book to maximize your career.

Who Should Read Entrepreneurial You

This book is written by marketing and brand guru Dorie Clark (fyi she writes for Harvard Business Review). She’s got a series of book written for people that are either aspiring entrepreneurs or others who are already in the trenches with their entrepreneurial endeavor. Her other books Reinventing You and Stand Out are also on my bookshelf. I intend to read them before the end of 2017.

Three books written by Dorie Clark: (from the left) Stand Out, Entrepreneurial You, and Reinventing You

Here is who the book is intended for:

• ALL BLOGGERS – especially micro-influencers and aspiring bloggers who are just starting out
• Business owners – if you have an on-going business, check your business plan against Dorie’s recommendation to see if you’re on track; if you’re about to take on the challenge of starting a new business, this is the perfect timing to read Entrepreneurial You.
• Everyone who wants to turn your side-hustle into a full-time gig – this is probably a group of people combining the two categories above. If you aspire to become a full-time blogger, a full-time Etsy shop owner, a full-time Poshmark business owner, you should read Entrepreneurial You.

So why should you read Entrepreneurial You? I’ve made it really simple for you:

Thinking about quitting your corporate job to pursue a side hustle full time?

Here’s a roadmap for you to start earning a sustainable income. The point is to do it before you leave your financial safety net. There are many ways to experiment and build an income stream before plunging into the freelancer/entrepreneurial world.

Struggling to maintain a profit with your blog/small business?

This book provides a detailed tactical plan to develop multiple income streams so your business isn’t dependent on the success one individual thing. This is a good reference to check if you are doing the right things in your business.

Feeling anxious about your corporate career and want to explore building some career insurance?

Maybe you’re an HR expert and have a ton of interview/resume expertise to share. Maybe you’re a marketing guru that has very marketable skills as a consultant. Maybe you’re a graphic designer with working experience in large companies that small business owners would covet. The professional norm of a 30-year career with the same company is no longer. In fact, 41% of millennials when surveyed, say that they will stay at their current jobs for 2 years or less (Job Application Center). What would you do if one day your 9-5 job disappeared? This book is a great resource to help you build an insurance plan for a side hustle.

Conclusion

I never wanted my profession to define my life and my legacy. That’s why I devote a lot of my time developing hobbies, and trying out new interest. I believe the path to true career bliss involves both financial independence and a satisfying trade that you find joy in doing. What are YOU doing to maximize your potential?

Giveaway ending Wednesday 12/6/2017 7 pm PST

Leave a comment with your name under the post and tell me how your life would benefit from this book. I will pick a winner on the night of 12/6 and ship a copy of Entrepreneurial You to you within the week! Only US residents are eligible.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I was given a free press copy of Entrepreneurial You to review.

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse