10 Must-Read Books to Uncover Your Passion and Live Your Dreams

Posted on August 12, 2012 Written by 27 Comments
Career books to uncover your passion

If you ever listen to the Eventual Millionaire podcast or read interviews from millionaires, the most common piece of advice you’ll hear them talk about, is how many non-fiction books they read each year (and how little TV they watch).

Depending on their business niche or what they’re passionate about, those are the kind of books millionaires read. And for me it’s a no brainer to start following their advice.

So, I made a New Year’s Resolution to read at least 12 books in 2012 and once I started, it was hard to stop! Here’s my top 10 must-read career books (and ebooks) for dreamers, freelancers and entrepreneurs. These are all books I’ve read or am currently reading and they’ve helped inspire me and my business ventures.

1. Dream Save Do: Stop Dreaming and Start Living by Betsy & Warren Talbot

The reason this ebook is #1 on my list is because it contains practical advice for actually turning your dream a reality.

This husband and wife team provide step-by-step instructions for not only defining your dream job or dream career, but creating a financial game plan to make it happen.

They cover everything from creating “Dream Porn” to calculating the cost of your dream, to revising personal spending habits. They share their journey and all their travel adventures on the blog, Married With Luggage.

2. Live Off Your Passion: An Unconventional Guide to Finding Passion and Building a Career Around Work You Love by Scott Dinsmore

If you’re still unsure what you want to do with your life and haven’t quite discovered your passion yet (or even if you have) this ebook is for you!

Scott believes everyone deserves to do meaningful work that they are actually good at. And in order to have a chance at finding it, you have to dedicate yourself to learning, improving and experimenting with all kinds of stuff. This book is a culmination of his blog, Live Your Legend.

3. $100 Startup: Reinvent The Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love and Create a New Future by Chris Guillebeau

Among the amazing things Chris Guillebeau has done, his latest book is one of the most inspiring. And unlike most authors, he talks very little about himself and his accomplishments.

Instead, everything in the book is made up of other people’s startup stories and business experiences. From a bicycle mattress delivery service to an Evernote guide that sold over 12,000 copies, this book has tons of amazing stories straight from the lives of people living them.

If you’re thinking of starting your own small business or microbusiness, this book can show you how. You can follow more of Chris’ story or buy his other books/guides at ChrisGuillebeau.com.

4. Quitter: Closing The Gap Between Your Day Job and Your Dream Job by Jon Acuff

Quitter is actually the book that started it all for me this year, and I even wrote up a full page review about what I learned. I wasn’t quite ready to take the leap to full time self-employment (and I’m not sure if I will be now either) but that’s why this book was so inspiring.

It taught me some great tips on how to become better at both my full time job and freelance biz. Once the time is right, I can fully recover what I’m passionate about and follow my dreams.

5. Turn Your Side Hustle Into a Full-Time Business by Alexis Grant

I love reading stories of how people quit their jobs and start their own successful freelancing businesses on the side. After all that’s what I’m striving to do one day!

Alexis shares very helpful advice for those of us looking to branch out in our careers. From everything to crushing your fear, creating a solid financial plan and leveraging the power of outsourcing, you’ll learn the tools and skills it takes to transition to freedom.

This ebook is one of many awesome ebooks she offers on her blog, AlexisGrant.com along with inspiring blog posts and a weekly newsletter.

6. Start a Freedom Business by Colin Wright

As the name implies, this book is about getting started as an entrepreneur and creating a Freedom Business. The concept is about building an asset or set of assets (your business, or other small ventures) that help you get closer to your ideal lifestyle.

I read this entire ebook in one sitting while on a 4 hour plane ride – yes it’s that good! Colin shares advice on finding money to fund your Freedom Business and how you can leverage your work to create the lifestyle you want. Plus it’s only $0.99 on the Amazon Kindle Store! Read more of Colin’s books and his adventures on his blog, Exile Lifestyle.

7. The Work Revolution by Julie Clow

This is one of those books I’ve been obsessed with ever since it came out. When anyone asks me what’s one of the top career books I recommend, I say “The Work Revolution”.

Each chapter was full of many enlightening moments and I even experienced several epiphanies of my own. This book is just the beginning of a wonderful movement (if nothing else at least a mindset change) for young adults and aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere.

Whether you work for yourself or another boss, there’s a TON of advice on increasing productivity and focusing on the right/important things.

8. The 4-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris

The 4-Hour Work Week has become a phenomena among entrepreneurs and people every where who want to work less and live more.

Forget the concept of retirement and waiting the rest of your life to actually enjoy living. This books teaches us, that there’s no need to wait and every reason not to, especially in unpredictable economic times.

Whether your dream is escaping the rat race or experiencing high-end world travel and becoming part of the New Rich (NR), this book is the blueprint to make life happen.

9. Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur by Pam Slim

One of the scariest moments an employee can face is when you realize you want to stop working for the man and start running your own show. In this book, the author shares practical yet inspiring advice on overcoming your fears and making a successful leap into living your dream.

You don’t need to be an expert to excel in your career field or to start a freelance business of your own. I’ve learned a ton from reading this book and it’s something I’ll keep referring to, for inspiration, in the future.

10. Click Millionaires: Work Less, Live More With An Internet Business You Love by Scott Fox

I’m currently reading this book after hearing an interview with him on a podcast, and it’s awesome!

Freelancing as an independent contractor is a lifestyle strategy that can help you reinvent your career, and make money from fun, flexible project work online while doing it. Which is something I’m working hard towards accomplishing in my life right now.

So this book is perfect timing for me! So far I’ve learned all the benefits of working online as a freelancer, like how it’s very low risk compared to other types of online income.

BONUS: Honorable Mention

Discover Your Passion: A Step-by-Step Course for Creating the Life of Your Dreams by Barrie Davenport

While this isn’t a book or ebook, all of Barrie’s work has been very instrumental in keeping me going these past few months. Especially while I’m trying to balance work, life and my passions (like traveling). In this course, she offers modules, worksheets and templates to help you discover your passion and live the life of your dreams.

Her blog, Live Bold and Bloom is one the few blogs I read on a consistent basis. And for these reasons, I had to mention her course as part of this list.

Can you think of any other inspiring books (or courses) to add to the list? What’s one of your favorite books about career or finding your passion?

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Filed Under: Books & Reviews, Featured, Motivation Tagged: , ,
  • http://www.modestmoney.com/ Modest Money

    Thanks for sharing this awesome list Carrie. I admit I have never read any career/life books. I am making the shift to reading non-fiction books though. I’m just finishing up a book about Warren Buffet’s investment strategies. I’m definitely going to keep reading more non-fiction and might look into some of these choices a bit more.

    • http://carefulcents.com/ Carrie Smith

      Oh Warren Buffet’s strategies should be on my list of books too. Let me know if you come across any other good ones. :) I’m always on the lookout for good/inspiring books to read.

  • http://twitter.com/MarriedWithDebt John | MarriedW/Debt

    This is a great list. I’ve read a few of these, and a few are on my must-read list. Now that I have an e-reader, my consumption is picking up. Methinks I know what’s on your mind this year :)

    • http://carefulcents.com/ Carrie Smith

      Good call @twitter-428488679:disqus :) While I don’t plan to quit my FT job anytime soon (since I love it) I might want to become more location independent in a few years. I guess once you get bit by the travel bug, it’s hard to stay in one place.

  • http://www.thinkentrepreneurship.com/ Pete Sveen

    Nice list Carrie. I’m always looking for more books to pick up. I just started Steve Jobs biography last week and it is really good as well. Thanks for the recommendations!

  • http://twitter.com/moneyaftergrad Bridget

    Of this the only one I’ve read so far is the 4-hour work week… and I didn’t even finish! Might be time to pick up the rest…

  • http://twitter.com/WorkSaveLive WorkSaveLive

    I loved Quitter and I really wish I could get around to the 4-Hour WW. Another book that really helped guide me was ’48 Days to the Work You Love’ by Dan Miller

    • http://carefulcents.com/ Carrie Smith

      Oh yes! That’s a great suggestion Jason. I’ve heard it recommended a lot – so I need to add it to my reading list. Thanks!

  • http://www.momoneymohouses.com/ Mo’ Money Mo’ Houses

    I think the only book I’ve read on that list is the 4-Hour Work Week. I guess I’ve got some reading to do!

  • http://www.mymoneydesign.com/ MyMoneyDesign

    Read and loved No. 8, Could not get into No. 3, and would love to pickup No. 10 for my upcoming travels. Thanks for the list – I can always use suggestions!

  • http://twitter.com/brightblur777 Robb

    I’ll be 100% honest, I really like what I do for a living so unlike a lot of the premises put forth in some of these books I’m not waking up hating the idea I have to go to work. I’m only 5 years into my career though so I really only have snippet to reflect on and I do often wonder if it will always be this way, I don’t know. Will I wake up one day and be like “You know, I’d really like to be a chef!” That is why I find this concept of taking control of your own destiny real appealing but I’m still trying to sort of wrap my mind around it.
    My big mental block in this area is I think I’m still thinking about my job and my career in a manner similar to how my dad worked when I was growing up, Monday-Friday, leave at 8, get home at 6 repeat. The funny thing is he now works from home in an office over in the corner of my parent’s house, but it is the same profession as before but now on his terms. In the last 150 years it seems like every generation’s career path is massively different from the last as the US went from an agrarian economy, to an industrial one, to a post industrial, to digital, and now information. This is also reflected in where wealth comes from. I remember hearing a talk by George Will where he pointed out how we went from land being primary source of wealth, to fixed capital (railroads, factories, etc), and now finally people who can harness the power of ideas are the ones becoming the new millionaires. It is stunning really that if you come up with an idea that clicks in the mind of a large enough of group you could become a millionaire in less than a year.
    I think this paradigm of being your own boss and chasing what you really feel is your calling will become easier and easier as work becomes more decentralized and the concept of the virtual office more prevalent. I work in software development and I’ve done work with people I’ve never met in person, just emailed or video conferenced with, and it doesn’t affect the work getting done at all. I feel like I’m watching the information based economy sort of come into existence in front of my face and I largely credit you with this Carrie, wondering how to jump into that arena.
    The other thing is even if you aren’t directly trying to make a place in the information field the internet still serves as this great equalizer where someone who does sewing as a hobby can start their own business selling stuff to people who want handmade stuff. Like I said before I think one of the biggest hurdles is just – to use a massively overused life coach phrase – changing your thought paradigm, and also be willing to take some risks.
    The cool thing is that if you are your own boss or are working in a decentralized way that gives you a lot more freedom with your life than you had previously. One example of this is that parents who were originally gone all day at the office, leaving their kids in daycare, now are working from home and can be with their kids. I think it would be awesome for families to snatch back some of that turf that was lost in the 1980s and 1990s in terms of family time.
    Lastly, over the last year I’ve nothing but non-fiction books on a variety of topics: finance, economics, philosophy, theology, and history. That said I really miss reading fiction books and I’m trying to find some to add to my reading list, so just want to throw a little counter point to the non-fiction love ;-) . (Also my humble apologies for the novella I was attempting to write here.)

    • http://carefulcents.com/ Carrie Smith

      Wow! I don’t even know where to start – you shared some excellent points and really got my brain going here. It’s awesome! I too share a lot of your same thinking, especially the part about loving my job. I’m not reading any of these books to quit a job a hate or start a new job in a different industry. I’ve always loved working in finances, whether it’s accounting, taxes, personal finance or consulting.

      The reason I read a lot of these books is to put the world in perspective. Mostly about how I can increase the work I’m doing now – even while “working for the man” – and contribute something worthwhile. I may never fully step out on my own, but at least I’m giving myself that choice.

      That’s the main reason I got out of debt, and now I’m building a backup plan with my career. So I can have a life on MY OWN terms. Not one dictated by the banks, my parents, or my job. The information age is fast becoming the most freedom filled and opportunity driven age – as long as we can take advantage of it. Thanks for the novella @twitter-56905548:disqus I always appreciate your insight.

      • http://twitter.com/brightblur777 Robb

        Thank you @applecsmith:disqus :)
        I am very thankful I’m getting this message this early in the career game when it is a lot easier to adjust course. I’m someone who for most of his life has gone the conventional route in terms of doing things and I regret certain choices. Sometimes I wonder what the outcome would have been if I had passed on going directly to a 4 year college and done a 2 year thing first and seen where things could have gone from there. If I’d done that I’d probably have been debt free years ago instead of still paying student loans off. Although thankfully that should be paid off by next year so it won’t be something I’m still dealing with when I’m 50.

    • http://twitter.com/eemusings eemusings

      Like Robb, I already am doing what I like most, but I do wonder if it’s what I want to do forever – if I want to do something different but still related in the future. And while I don’t want to become a fulltime freelancer, I am in a field where it’s very much possible, and I think it’s good to be be informed and prepared just in case.

  • http://www.moneylicious.org/ Ornella @ Moneylicious

    I’ve got so many books on my reading list. Since I have my mind embedded in behavioral finance and delving more into our psychological decisions behind our finances, I have had a chance to discover other great books to read. I will have to check out one or two of the ones you mentioned.

    • http://carefulcents.com/ Carrie Smith

      I feel like I have a never ending list of books to read, because there are so many good ones out there. As soon as I finish one, I’ve got another 2-3 that takes its place. I love it though!

  • Alexis Grant

    Awesome list! I clicked over to check out your picks and did not even expect my ebook to be on the list — thank you! :)

  • http://twitter.com/eemusings eemusings

    I adore Betsy and Warren’s blog! One of my fave RTW blogs.

    I’ve got The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People to read next.

    • http://carefulcents.com/ Carrie Smith

      I know right?! I love reading their blog too. I even found an article featuring them in the latest Entrepreneur Magazine. Although I don’t think I could travel full time like they do, their work is still super inspiring!

      Great suggestion on the book @twitter-16464309:disqus Will have to add that to the list as well.

  • AverageJoe

    Great books. I think you’d really like the E-Myth, based on these books. It’ll give you a clear direction of how to create your life when you give up the 9-5 by showing you what doesn’t work and why.

    • http://carefulcents.com/ Carrie Smith

      Oh yes, I think I’ve heard you guys mention that book before. I’ll definitely have to add it to the list. Thanks Joe!

  • http://twitter.com/FrugalBeautiful Shannyn

    These are all great picks! I currently feel like I’m suffering from information overload- I have the $100 Startup and haven’t touched it yet… my brain is just all over the place!

  • Cat Alford at Budget Blonde

    Ooh this is definitely a great list. I want to read the click millionaires book for real! My blog friend just sent me the strengths finder book which was really interesting & helpful. I already added a few to my amazon wish list. Maybe Santa will bring them to me. :)

    • http://carefulcents.com/ Carrie Smith

      Oh, that sounds like a great book too. I’m hoping to be super good this year so I get lots of book for xmas :)

  • Jenna from Adaptu

    Wow! What a great reading list. Better get started!

  • http://www.onesmartdollar.com/ Sean @ One Smart Dollar

    Thanks a lot for these recommendations. I am always looking for new books to read

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