4 Books That Shifted My Mindset As a Business Owner
…and might just be the nudge you need to start your own
I remember the exact moment I started building my business.
Not the day I registered the LLC or made my first dollar.
But the moment something inside me said, “This is possible. I can do this.”
That moment didn’t come from a Zoom call or a mastermind.
It came from a book.
On my nightstand.
Read between nap times and client deadlines.
Dog-eared and highlighted like it held the map to a new life— because, honestly, it kind of did.
Books have always been my quiet mentors..
They gave me words for the things I was craving, clarity when I felt stuck, and courage when I was scared sh*tless to take the leap.
If you’re a high-achieving corporate marketer sitting in meetings thinking, “There has to be more than this,” this list is for you.
Here are 4 books that cracked something open in me—and might just do the same for you:
1. Tiny Experiments by Anne-Laure Le Cunff
Big lesson: Stop waiting for the perfect plan…
This one helped me stop overthinking and start taking action.
As a marketing director, I was used to strategies and timelines and data-driven decisions. But building something for yourself? It’s messier. And scarier. And, honestly, way more freeing when you let it be an experiment instead of a performance.
Tiny Experiments taught me that I didn’t need to have it all figured out to start.
I just needed to start small, test fast, and adjust as I go.
That mindset is exactly how I launched Muse Groupe—and, eventually, Muse Marketing Academy.
Want to leave your job? Try writing content for one dream client.
Thinking about your niche? Talk to three people you’d love to help.
It’s all an experiment. And that’s a good thing.
2. Two Weeks Notice by Amy Porterfield
Big lesson: Your exit plan doesn’t have to be chaotic.
This book is like a permission slip and a game plan in one.
Amy doesn’t just teach you how to leave your 9–5—she walks you through how to do it smart.
Reading this felt like sitting down with a mentor who gets what it’s like to feel pulled toward something more… but also terrified to give up the steady paycheck.
If you’ve been thinking, “I want to start something, but I don’t even know where to begin,” start here.
She’ll show you how to build a bridge—not just burn one.
I used Amy’s frameworks when I pivoted from running a full-service agency to building a scalable, education-based brand.
Her method works.
3. 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan & Benjamin Hardy
Big lesson: Do less. Better.
This one challenged everything I thought I knew about growth.
As women, especially in corporate, we’re taught to succeed by doing more—more hours, more meetings, more proving ourselves.
But this book flips the script. It says: What if growth actually means letting go of 80% of what you’re doing… and doubling down on your true genius?
The first time I read that, I cried. (No shame.)
It was the validation I didn’t know I needed:
That it’s not just okay to build your business around your zone of brilliance—it’s essential.
Stacy, if you’re already stretched thin, this book will remind you that working more isn’t the way. Working in alignment is.
4. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Big lesson: Joy fuels creativity.
Okay, hear me out—this isn’t a business book.
It’s a romantic comedy. But it made the list because it reminded me that rest matters.
It’s easy to believe we have to hustle every hour to make our dream work.
But creativity needs whitespace. Inspiration needs slowness.
Book Lovers made me laugh, swoon, and remember that joy is productive too.
So if you’ve been stuck in serious mode, grab this and let yourself breathe.
I dare you to read it and not fall in love—with the story, and maybe with your own life again.
What’s On Your Bookshelf?
I’d love to know—have you read any of these? What’s one book that changed something for you?
DM me on Instagram at @anastasiia_mann or Linkedin. I’m always building my next stack.
And if you’re ready to start writing your next chapter—the one where you finally build the business you’ve been dreaming about—I’ve got you.
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