6 Books You Need to Read If You Want to Be a Girl Boss
Okay, so first of all – I know the term ‘girl boss’ isn’t for everyone. Recently it’s come under fire for being deemed anti-feminist, infantalising women and implying that it is something “special” for women to reach ‘boss’ status. That’s not how I see it though – for me, being a girl boss is all about powerful women working for themselves.
What it means to be a Girl Boss
Over the past few years I have seen countless female entrepreneurs succeeding, and to me, they are the ultimate girl bosses. People like Victoria McGrath (inthefrow), Vix Meldrew, Lydia Millen and Hannah Gale – they all inspire me so much to be my very own ‘girl boss’. Maybe it’s just because of the media I consume, but I don’t really hear much about so many men branching out and creating exciting businesses. To me, it’s a female-dominated space (particularly for influencers, copywriters and coaches) and I love that so many girl bosses are killing it right now.
From Hobby to Side Hustle
My blog went from being my beloved hobby to my beloved side hustle – a transition I still sometimes find difficult to get my head around. I still see my blog as a space to write whatever I want, to my heart’s content, but I know in order to grow and succeed I need to put my business head on and think about things strategically. I can’t simply post this and that and hope for the best. I have to think about my social strategy, different income streams, SEO, scheduling content ahead of time, blocking out time to work on creating content, editing photos, keeping track of everything on a spreadsheet. I found it really difficult to begin with and I remember seeing other bloggers discussing rate cards and media kits and me being completely bewildered by it all. Over the years I’ve come to understand it a lot better, but a few books have really helped me along the way.
I think that if you’re thinking of going self-employed, launching your own business or turning your blog into your side hustle (or full-time job!), I totally recommend the following books…
#GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso
Obviously, I couldn’t write this post without mentioning the woman who first coined the phrase ‘girl boss’, Sophia Amoruso. Her book sparked off a wave of female entrepreneurs writing memoirs, setting up podcasts and launching blogs. Founder and former-CEO of Nasty Gal, Sophia calls herself an ‘accidental entrepreneur’ and runs through the highs and lows of setting up her own business, from back when she was selling clothes from her bedroom on eBay to running one of the fastest-growing retail businesses in the world. ‘#GirlBoss’ by Sophia Amoruso is a book all about female empowerment and striving for what you want, and a total must-read if you have dreams of running your own business one day.
How To Be An Overnight Success by Maria Hatzistefanis
Written by founder of Rodial and NIP+FAB (two fave brands of mine), ‘How to Be an Overnight Success’ by Maria Hatzistefanis is all about Maria’s 18-year slog to build her company from nothing up to the powerhouse it is today. Despite being sacked from her first job, Maria proves that failure isn’t always the end and in many ways, it’s just the beginning. I found this book a really empowering read and totally admire Maria’s tenacious attitude. I also found it fascinating learning all about how she creates her own products and the science behind building her own personal brand.
Get Your Sh*t Together by Sarah Knight
I had to include this book because I love everything Sarah Knight does and I feel like if you’re considering running your own business, the first thing you need to do is get your shit together. The book is funny yet forceful – Sarah takes no prisoners and her writing is filled with home truths about how you can gain control of your life. If you’re a big one for self-sabotage or procrastination (aren’t we all?) then ‘Get Your Sh*t Together’ by Sarah Knight is for you.
Little Black Book by Otegha Uwagba
Short but sweet, ‘Little Black Book’ by Otegha Uwagba is perfect for busy women wanting to branch out and build their own empire. It is full to the brim with exciting ideas, from networking tips to beating creative blocks. It also has tips on freelancing, public speaking and features insights from some seriously successful female entrepreneurs. I really enjoyed this book and think it’s a good one to always have in your handbag to keep you motivated on your career journey.
The Multi-Hyphen Method by Emma Gannon
I’m an avid listener of Emma’s podcast, Ctrl Alt Delete. I’ve also always been quietly envious of her multi-hyphenate career, so as soon as I saw she was writing a book all about it it went to the top of my ‘to read’ list. ‘The Multi-Hyphen Method’ by Emma Gannon is perfect if you’re thinking of venturing into the world of self-employment but are worried about how you’re going to make it work. Emma runs through everything from side hustles to full-time freelancing and explores the many different income streams you can discover through being a multi-hyphenate. I also love how the book is shining a light on new ways of working – we’re waving goodbye to the nine to five and more of us are working from home, working flexible hours or simply working smarter, not harder. Emma runs through it all perfectly with lots of evidence to back up why this new way of working is so much more beneficial.
Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht
‘Leave Your Mark’ by Aliza Licht is a great read if you’re looking at building a business which involves fashion, PR and/or social media. Aliza shares a lot about her life in the world of fashion and how she climbed the career ladder. While the book focuses a lot on how to succeed in your career, from writing CVs to attending interviews, it’s also a great guide for female entrepreneurs on utilising social media and how you can build your brand on the internet.
Have you read any of these girl boss books? Let me know if you have any recommendations of your own!