I won’t lie.
I’m not one of those people who reads a couple of books per week. More like a book every 2 to 3 months.
Typically, I like audio books because you can fly through the book and listen to is at 1.5x speed. And if an idea catches my attention, or I find the book is full of wisbits, I will then pick up the book and read it because I’m kinda nerdy this way. I like to devour the ideas and concepts.
But even though I don’t make time to read as much as I should, there are many books on business mindsets and marketing that are useful for freelance voiceover artist to read.
The problem? There’s too many. And many don’t know where to start.
So, I have compiled 6 business marketing and mindset books that would be beneficial for those looking to build their own business and be their own boss.
Because I think we can agree that as voiceover artists, we spend a vast amount of time on business development and marketing. And overwhelmingly, many who are fresh in their freelance voiceover careers struggle to get enough paying clients.
And the majority of these voiceover artists don’t read books on business mindsets, client attraction or marketing.
Here’s the thing, you can be amazing at voiceover but if you don’t know how to market yourself, you’re unable to get clients. And let’s face it – a big part of success is your ability to market yourself.
Being a great voiceover talent is just the icing on the cake. This is what is expected of you from the onset. What differentiates you is to know how to market yourself.
Thus, today I’m sharing with you some of the best books I have read that can help you think with a business mindset and help you succeed.
They are really easy, quick reads that you can definitely finish a book during the holiday downtime.
In no particular order, check em’ out and DM me on IG@thehovoiceover and let me know your thoughts
1. Influence by Robert Cialdini
This book is a classic and had recently been rewritten with added expanded research in 2021 with a wealth of new information.
It shares with you the many practical tactics to influence human behaviours and why and how it works, not only in business and sales but in everyday life. It’ll change how you interact with people day-to-day personally and professionally.
Trust me! It’s an easy and fascinating read.
Get it and thank me later.
2. This is Marketing by Seth Godin
Seth Godin is the King of Marketing. He has written countless books to help people build a thriving business and dives into various tactics to help drive certain marketing principles home.
In Purple Cow, the main theme was to help you understand the need to stand out
Tribes emphasis was on the need to focus on smaller number of followers who love you and engages with you – the quality vs the quantity.
And All Marketers are Liars teaches you the significance of storytelling.
This book? It wraps everything together and gives you a general understanding of marketing and how when it is done right, it changes your game. If you were to pick one book to read about marketing, pick This is Marketing.
3. Choose Yourself – James Altucher
A life coach introduced the idea of choosing yourself to me awhile back. At that time, I was going through some things and was working through my issues of being a people pleaser.
I was so resentful of everything and everyone. I thought if I gave more, did more for others, and morphed myself to others’ expectation, I should receive more and get what I needed from others. Boy was I wrong.
My life coach asked me one day, have you ever thought of just doing what you want? and to give without expecting to receive?
At first, I was confused. What do you mean?
He then continued, Have you ever thought of choosing yourself. Doing things because you want to do them, not because you should or ought to or else you’ll feel guilty, but doing things because you want to. Or, being you and not how you think someone else wants you to be?
Long uncomfortable silence…. my mind was percolating..
This way you are giving your time and energy to something you want to do, or don’t mind doing ‘choosing yourself’, and the expectation of not receiving anything back will not matter as much.
And finally, a light bulb went off.
This book played a part of my people pleasing recovery journey. James Altucher talks about how the world is constantly changing and, often times instead of thinking you need to rely on other’s opinion to validate you and your worth.
Start to choose yourself and find ways to create the things you want in life. Learn how to navigate and adapt to the cards that are thrown at you. Which to this day, I find it more and more prevalent. Especially in an industry where you are rejected a lot because of this or that.
You cannot try and mold to yourself to every opinion, every feedback you get. And the concept of having a middlemen decide whether or not you are ‘castable’ is outdated. (Yes, I understand sometimes we still need to play charades) but as the world is slowly shifting, the middlemen is just one part of the puzzle.
You decide how small or big you are going to let this piece of puzzle to be.
So create your own opportunities, instead of putting all your energy in playing the game of charades. Be yourself, continue to up-level your skills, mastering your craft. Diversify the way you find work, choose to do things that resonates with you that works for you to chart your own path to a successful voiceover career (whatever that looks like to you).
4. Start with Why – Simon Sinek
If you haven’t watched Simon Sinek’s TED Talk on the concept of Why. Watch it!
When you get clear on your “why” it’ll help you speak directly to your tribe – the people who share and believe in the same values as you.
As Simon Sinek says: People buy why you do, not what you do.
This is what people respond to. People like to do business with people who believe what they believe in.
Knowing your Why also will help stay on track and hold you accountable to show up for your vision and for your clients consistently.
Why do you do what you do.
Gain clarity on why you want to be a freelance voiceover artist.
5. Who Not How – Dan Sullivan
Are you the type to focus on saving money, doing everything yourself, and then end up procrastinating?
I was certainly this way. And yes, I sometimes still default to this. But this book has helped me become more self-aware when this mindset block occur.
When this happens now, I remind myself it’s not sustainable to grow my voiceover business alone.
It’s changed my way of thinking. I’ve now outsource help when I need it.
This has been lifechanging and has helped me to be more productive, focused and motivated to succeed as a freelance voiceover artist.
So don’t hesitate to read this book. It’ll shift your perspective, make your life better, so that you can focus on making your future bigger.
It’s a quick and easy read that will help elevate your hard work and help you work smarter.
6. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
There are those days when we feel insecure and come across challenges that makes us pause and rethink if we really have the qualities and skills of what it takes to succeed.
This is a book that will help you battle those days and in dealing with self-doubt.
Angela is an acclaimed psychologist, professor and researcher and in this book she talks about how your talent and intelligence is secondary, if you want to success the one trait you need is, grit.
Photo by: Susan Q Yin
