The Best Business + Marketing Books to Read on Holiday Break
The Anti-Beach Read
The holiday break is one of my favorite times of year to recharge and refocus—and yes, part of that means curling up with a good business book. (Am I a nerd? Absolutely, and proud of it!) These books are the kind of resource that leave a lasting impact on how you approach your work and life.
If you’re looking for some inspiration to kick off your new year, here are five business books that have truly shaped my thinking, along with a bit more about why each one is worth your time. These are the ones that I refer back to over and over again.
If You’re Looking to Understand What Marketing Even Is: This is Marketing by Seth Godin
Seth Godin, one of the best minds we have today in the field of marketing, is notorious for saying that modern marketing boils down to the stories we tell, and the defining belief that, “People like us do things like this.” What that means is that you get people to buy what you are selling—like your interior design services—through empathy and telling true stories that resonate with your ideal customers. Creating a marketing strategy for your interior design business doesn’t need to feel overwhelming, but it does require that you dig in deep to understand the people you wish to serve and know what problem you are solving for them.
If You’re Looking to Go Beyond Your Limits: The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
Why do we sabotage ourselves when things start going well? Gay Hendricks calls this the “upper limit problem,” and The Big Leap is all about breaking through that ceiling. Hendricks combines psychology and personal growth to help you identify where you’re holding yourself back and what it would take to truly thrive. Whether you’re running a business, navigating a career change, or just dreaming bigger for your life, this book will make you re-evaluate your limits, and help you figure out your Zone of Genius, a phrase I have come to adopt!
If You’re Looking to Change How Your Website Converts Clients: Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller
Your website isn’t just a digital brochure; it’s your best salesperson. In Building a StoryBrand, Donald Miller lays out a simple but transformative framework for communicating your message clearly and effectively. He teaches you how to position your clients as the heroes of the story while your business plays the role of the guide. This book is a game-changer for anyone who wants their website to actually convert browsers into buyers.
If You’re Looking to Say More with Less: Smart Brevity by Jim VandeHei, Mike Allen, and Roy Schwartz
We live in a world where attention spans are shrinking by the second. Smart Brevity is the antidote to information overload, teaching you how to communicate with impact by getting straight to the point. Written by the founders of Axios, this book is packed with tips on how to write emails, social posts, and even presentations that cut through the noise. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to get their ideas across without losing their audience along the way.
If You’re Looking to Design Your Business to Run Itself: Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz
What would it take for your business to thrive without you being involved in every single detail? That’s the question Mike Michalowicz answers in Clockwork. He breaks down how to build systems, empower your team, and create a business that doesn’t depend entirely on you. If you’ve ever felt like you’re the bottleneck in your own business, this book offers actionable strategies to fix it. I have used this to help expand my team and figure out how I can delegate more.
Each of these books offers something unique, and together they cover a lot of ground—from big-picture vision to tactical execution. Whether you’re setting ambitious goals or just trying to work smarter in the new year, one (or all!) of these books could be the nudge you need.
