6 Resources to Spark New Ideas & Boost Your Business
Isn't it funny how no matter how much we may love our work—Friday never stops feeling just a little more exciting than most of the other days? 😉 This weekend, I've got plans for a Friday night gig followed by 2 days out in the country visiting Danny's mom, who has been graciously watching our pup while I ran around Disney World last weekend. Hope you're in high spirits as well!
For the sake of having a little Friday fun, I wanted to try something different in this post. As online business owners, we spend SO much time online. We’re constantly bombarded with new information and content… and while a lot of it is total garbage, there’s also a lot of really good stuff that sometimes slips through the cracks.
So this week, I'm sharing with you a few recent favorites. And I’m hoping to hear from you about some “favorite things” you’ve been reading/listening to/consuming recently as well! Sound like a deal?
This week, these are a few of my favorite…
BOOKS
NONFICTION > Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
I read this a few years back but pulled it off the shelf recently for a re-read…and somehow, it’s even MORE powerful the second time around. In it, the brilliant Elizabeth Gilbert (author of a little book you may have heard of called Eat, Pray, Love) explores “creative living beyond fear.” She discusses creativity as something sacred, spiritual, magical—but also a bit fickle, tiresome, and even crushing at times.
This is the book that perhaps best captures what it feels like to exist as a “creative person”, in my opinion at least. From thinking about what ideas even are and how we can spark more of them—to thinking about the ways creativity is both “a terrible chore and a wonderful privilege”, Big Magic is a never-ending source of both inspiration and validation. If you’re a creative and haven’t read this yet, move it to the top of your list
FICTION > Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
As much as I LOVE reading fiction, I struggle sometimes to find contemporary novels I can really sink my teeth into. In the busyness of everyday life, it’s easy for novels to sort of slide to the back burner over and over again. However, I recently had a weekend where I woke up with a conviction to finish a book before heading back into the work week… Which led me here.
I’d never heard of Eleanor Oliphant or Gail Honeyman before stumbling across a friend’s Goodreads recommendation for this book. It’s worth noting that this novel is quite a bit darker than you’ll expect it to be. However, Honeyman’s approach to character development is charming and unique in a way that somehow both balances out and adds to the horrors faced by the quirky, deadpan protagonist.
PODCASTS
MINDSET > Mindset First With Linda Perry
Mindset work is one of those things that all business owners KNOW is important. However, it can be hard to prioritize this important work on a week-to-week basis—and even harder still to find a mindset mentor who we really click with.
This is exactly why I’ve been loving Linda Perry’s podcast, Mindset First. From finance to finding fulfillment, Linda offers a practical, actionable approach to all things mindset. As her podcast intro says, “If you’re looking for more affirmations, mantras, and positive thinking, you’re in the wrong place. Want real solutions to your real business struggles? Then it’s time to get started with Mindset First.”
MONEY > Financial Feminist
Brought to you by Her First 100K & the remarkable Tori Dunlap, Financial Feminist offers a fresh perspective on making, saving, and doing good in the world with your money. Actionable and empathetic, this is one of my favorite resources for financial education right now.
Whereas a lot of financial podcasts can be dry or leave you feeling shame/stress around money, Financial Feminist offers a fun, 20-something-female-friendly lens. With subjects ranging from getting out of debt and creating your first financial plan, to investing intentionally and exposing predatory practices, I’m pretty much always amazed at how much I learn when I hit play on one of Tori’s episodes.
EDUCATORS
OFFER CREATION > The Offer Intensive With Becky Keen
Real talk: Nailing down the perfect offer can be a HUGE challenge for visionary entrepreneurs. If you’re like me, you’ve probably struggled with having wayyyy too many ideas, feeling the need to people please while crafting your packages, and knowing how to price your offers in a way that feels both expansive and fair.
Over the past 4 weeks, I’ve been going through The Offer Intensive, and it’s completely changed the way I’m thinking about my offer suite. Becky’s teaching style is both delightfully down-to-earth, curiosity-driven, and expansive. The Offer Intensive provides real, tangible strategies for creating irresistible offers—with a heaping scoop of ‘challenging you to create the business you truly desire’ on the side.
Expect to see some exciting changes around here soon based on what I’ve learned… and if creating stronger offers is on your to-do list, get yourself on the waitlist for her next round!
INCLUSIVITY > Jenny Jay at Just Ask Jenny
Jenny has been such a joy to follow for the past year or so. An “ethical storyteller”, Jenny provides education and resources around creating more inclusive spaces in our business and beyond.
Learning about inclusivity and changing the way we create based can be challenging—no one likes to admit when we’ve f***ed up, and yet our desire to create a more loving, more inclusive world demands that we examine our own shortcomings and do better. Jenny is a master at calling you forward, shining a light on subjects you may not have considered before, and challenging business owners to think more critically about the language we use and actions we take on a daily basis.
Your turn! I’m incredibly nosy (erm, a lifetime learner) and would loooove to know what you’ve been into lately. Leave me a comment with 2-3 favorite resources you’ve uncovered in the past month!
(NOTE: Some of the links to resources list above may be affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase through one of my links, I’ll make a tiny commission on your sale. Using affiliate links doesn’t impact your buying experience in any way, and they’re an easy way for you to support the content creators you love to learn from.)