In Brazil, we have a popular saying “An empty head is the devil’s office”. Not sure if it is the same in English, but this popular saying has been with me my whole life, especially after I moved to New York City. In the beginning, when I had no friends or things to do on the weekends, I had to find a way to pass the time without thinking about BS or how much I miss my family. One of my favorite things to do is watch TV, but after some time, even TV can get boring, so books became a great way to pass the time and to help me focus on my path.
This is not a regular IMMIGRANT SERIES blog post. I never wrote about books before, but since books were super helpful to me and my journey, here I am sharing with you some of my favorite ones.
1. This is marketing - by Seth Godin
Seth Godin is a damn genius in marketing and we all know that he is not only awesome at it, but he is also good when it comes to teaching marketing and breaking down the most important pillars of a successful marketing strategy.
A lot of the marketing strategies that I use in my business and my job come from this book. And no, this book is not only about marketing, it is also about how you (as a person) handle your daily decisions and helps you understand what leads us to make certain choices.
This book made me realize that people don’t buy products or services, people buy stories and the story you are telling is going to directly affect the type of customers and your brand’s image.
Seth Godin also gives a great inside about a business plan focused on marketing. He breaks down an entire business plan with marketing strategies which can be more effective than a regular business plan with a particular business model.
2. You are a badass at making money - by Jen Sincero
I started reading this book last year when I was in a bad moment, but also not making any changes in my life. Do you know when you are not happy, but also living in your comfort zone? That was me at that moment.
In this book, Jen Sincero says “you can have your dreams or you can have your ego” and that was a game-changer for me!
She literally speaks to your heart and makes you rethink your life choices. She talks about her own life experiences and how she completely changed her life. From being super broke to becoming an NYC best-seller author, she dives into each step you should take and habits you should change to get out of your comfort zone and become a badass at making money and at your career.
3. Unfu*k Yourself - by Gary John Bishop
4. Stop doing that shit - by Gary John Bishop
5. Do the work - by Gary John Bishop
6. Wise as fuck - by Gary John Bishop
Ok, I am going to talk about these three books at the same time.
First, you need to know that this is a sequence, so you have to read all of them (in order) to understand the point that the author is trying to make.
These books are more of a self-reflection analysis, but the author has a way of talking to you that makes you realize changing your life is not complicated and it doesn’t take that much work. He points out unnoticed things that we do daily, but are affecting our entire existence and the reason why changing seems hard sometimes.
Also, if you like the “heart to heart” kind of talk, he is the perfect author for you. Everything he says feels, sometimes, like a slap in the face and that is why I think it is so effective.
7. If you have to cry go outside. And other things your mother never told you - by Kelly Cutrone
I saved the best for last! This is not only one of my favorite books of all time, but also the history of this author is something that I totally relate to.
Coming to the big apple, starting from scratch, enjoying the NYC nightlife scene, getting lost in it, and then learning how to rebuild yourself better and better.
In the beginning, when I first started my career in New York, I used to put a lot of emotion into my work. Not just emotions related to work, because I always give myself a hard time and want to be the best, but also private emotions, like missing my family or being too stressed with school and three jobs at the same time. Something she taught me in this book? NOBODY CARES!
Literally, nobody cares if you are overwhelmed, if you want to do your best or if someone in your family died and you are sad. If you have to cry, go outside and do your thing, but in a work environment, there is no space for emotions, ego, or mistakes. You get your shit together, you keep learning, you fix your mistakes, and make yourself better.
It feels like these authors spoke to me and my soul in moments of need, so I hope they are as helpful to you as they were to me.
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