20 Career Books For The Future #GirlBoss In You!
I’m usually not a fan of self-help books because a lot of them tend to be preachy and, well…really slow. But when a writer makes an effort to highlight everyday experiences that are relatable, humorous and engaging, I don’t mind giving the book a shot. I’m currently pursuing a Master’s degree in English while I intern at Hauterfly, so naturally, I’m open to getting some tried and tested guidance on how to navigate the professional arena post college. So I began my search for some great books on the subject, and if I’m being completely honest, I was surprised to find that there are SO MANY books doling out career advice.
Women in India are no longer restricted to their homes and have come a long way in the workplace, but they’re still expected to juggle a million responsibilities of the home and hearth. Frankly, it can be completely overwhelming at times. So who better than an iconic personality — who has managed both exceptionally well and come out at the top of her game — to give you some life truths that you can be inspired by and learn from?
Here are 20 books that you should check out for inspiration:
1. You Are A Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness And Start Living An Awesome Life
This book — for a change — does not ask you to change yourself or turn into a completely different person at the end of it. Instead, it talks about how there could be things that you can’t change, so you need to embrace them and work around them. Jen Sincero, who is an outstanding author and motivational speaker, writes in a casual, talking-to-your-best-friend manner and has hilarious stories, quick exercises, and suggestions that will inspire you.
2. Give And Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success
“Give and you shall eventually receive” is a phrase that my parents swear by. I remember always thinking that it didn’t make sense; you give and the only result is that you wait forever to receive. But then Adam Grant’s advice is that success is definitely dependent on the way you interact with the people around you. He highlights inspirational stories and shows you how networking and negotiation has helped successful entrepreneurs, as well as paying forward everything you’ve learned from others.
3. Wired To Create: Unraveling The Mysteries Of The Creative Mind
You’re an artist but are experiencing a creative dry spell? Here’ss the perfect book to get you back to your A-Game. Carolyn Gregoire’s 18 Things Highly Creative People Do Differently post on Huffington Post was the source of this book. Psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman teamed up with her and magnified the ideas from the post to create this masterpiece. It draws examples from inspirational artists and points out what they did right.
Having watched Oprah Winfrey’s talk show every afternoon after school, this one is special for me. A compilation of her monthly columns in O: The Oprah Magazine, What I Know For Sure talks about gratitude, fluidity and curiosity. This book is a journey to finding yourself, and the iconic woman also shares her experiences and challenges along the way.
5. #GIRLBOSS
Sophia Amoruso, the founder and creative director of cult brand Nasty Gal, writes down guidelines on how it is necessary to make your voice heard and how you should do it. She advises young women to never ditch their individuality and says, “I have three pieces of advice I want you to remember: Don’t ever grow up. Don’t become a bore. Don’t let The Man get to you. OK? Cool. Then let’s do this.”
6. Nice Girls Don’t Get The Corner Office
Dr. Lois Frankel writes how the lessons you learned as a little girl on how to behave will come back to haunt you. Why? Because they will never help you. She lists down 101 nice-girl-things that women tend to do that might be sabotaging their careers. Read this one if you’re wondering how to get exactly what you want without being apologetic about it.
7. The Sleep Revolution: Transforming Your Life, One Night At A Time
The next time your mum advises you to sleep early and rise early, you need to know that Arianna Huffington also wants to you tell you the same thing. What’s more, she has scientific back-ups if you have an argument to make. She points out how sleep deprivation can mess up your productivity, affecting you professionally and personally. So get this one if you think you’ve been working too hard and transform your life one night at a time.
8. BThe Business Of Design: Balancing Creativity And Profitability
Ever thought you’re doing what you love, you can’t find any financial success? The Business of Design breaks this notion for you. If you are doing what you are passionate about, it should only make it possible for you to create something that is genuine, one of a kind, and nothing else. If you have created something that is this exceptional, you deserve to be appreciated for it. Pick up this book to know how to approach and deal with money issues.
9. I Am That Girl: How To Speak Your Truth, Discover Your Purpose & #bethatgirl
Nobody has the time to go through boring self-help guides that preach mighty goals. Here is one that will try to speak and connect with you like it has known you forever. I Am That Girl shows how awesome you are and how no exterior elements should have the right to mess with that belief.
10. Lean In: Women, Work, And The Will To Lead
You probably know this book already. It has been the go-to guide for super-women who are balancing work and home, and is for any woman who is struggling to fit in to office hierarchy. Facebook CEO Sheryl Sanberg weighs the practical conditions and gives out advise keeping those realities in mind. You need to grab this for the future girl boss in you.
11. Grit: The Power Of Passion And Perseverance
You know the struggle of being surrounded by super intelligent people and acting like you’ve got it all together, Familiar, right? Well, the author of Grit sure understands it as she herself was born into a family of geniuses with a special mention of a scientist for a father. Feeling better about yourself now? She talks about how it’s not this excellence that matters but loads of perseverance and passion.
Like I said earlier, self-help books can be a tad boring. Follow Every Rainbow by Rashmi Bansal is an interesting read as she narrates 25 stories of women from different backgrounds. She has named the chapters Laxmi, Durga and Saraswati (I wish the book cover was an illustration of them!) each telling stories of women juggling various duties in their lives like these goddesses. If you need to take notes on patience and hard work, you need to order this now.
13. Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It In Your Career. Rock Social Media.
Aliza Licht is like the cool girl from high school who has everything figured out. In her book, she talks about her own experiences and guides women who are just beginning their careers. Like the title suggests, it’s all about leaving your mark, something that is unique, something that is you.
14. Subliminal: How Your Unconscious Mind Rules Your Behavior
Leonard Mlodinow tries to explain how our unconscious mind has a lot to do with how we behave and perceive things around us. Don’t worry, no uncomfortable Freudian sexual analysis here. The subliminal mind affects the way we live and he shows us how. Check this out if you are into psychological studies.
15. The Power Of A Positive No: How to Say No & Still Get To Yes
This book is a complete lesson on how to say a “positive no”. Get to know how not to disappoint or lose a client because you can’t do something. Learn how to say it convincingly, which will eventually work for your benefit. William Ury will show you how.
16. The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building A Business When There Are No Easy Answers
This one is apt for those of you thinking about starting up a new business. It discusses problems you can expect along the way, how to deal with them, and also how to deal with nasty jobs (firing an employee is not an easy task!). This book needs to be by your side if you dream of running your own business someday.
17. Damn Good Advice (For People With Talent!)
Read the disclaimer in the title and pick it up only if you think you have what it takes to be successful. Damn Good Advice is the Bible for anyone looking for inspiration on creativity, business, and success. George Lois jots down pointers in a very convincing and clear manner making it an interesting read.
18. What Color Is Your Parachute? A Practical Manual For Job-Hunters and Career-Changers
Just done with college and looking for a job? Bored of what you are doing and need to start afresh? Go get a copy of this, and you will know exactly what to do. It is a manual by career expert Richard N. Bolles who lays down directions on how to have effective networking powers, work on interview skills, and also negotiate the best salary.
19. It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be
If you are into visually appealing books, then this one by Paul Arden is full of quotes, pictures, and facts. He talks about all kinds of issues one can face today, both personal or professional. It is easy to follow as he has paid great attention in creating a book which is not just driven by text but also visual elements.
20. Originals: How Non-Conformists Move The World
Another book by Adam M. Grant, this one has real-life examples of extraordinary individuals who used completely different and unusual tactics that worked in their business. Understanding the right path and standing up for yourself throughout that journey is what this book will teach you.
