When people think of what it takes to start a business, words like "struggle" and "stressful" come to mind. But it was rewriting this narrative that allowed me to achieve success as an entrepreneur.
I was always a shy and anxious person. But in 2020, I made an effort to rewire my mindset and started my Excel training side hustle, Miss Excel, by posting a TikTok video of me dancing in front of an Excel sheet.
My passion for teaching people how to use Excel shined through — and by February 2021, I was making enough money to quit my 9-to-5 job and grow my business full-time.
Since leveraging Miss Excel into a software training business, I've brought in more than $1 million in revenue. Ninety-five percent of that is in passive income course sales. At>1. "Dot Com Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Growing Your Company>2. "You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life"
By Jen Sincero
Written by success coach Jen Sincero, this book helped me identify my self-limiting beliefs, so I could deconstruct them and build my confidence up enough to run my own business.
The fun bite-sized chapters of relatable stories, sage advice and simple exercises left me feeling motivated and inspired.
3. "Twelve and a Half: Leveraging the Emotional Ingredients Necessary for Business Success"
By Gary Vaynerchuk
With honesty and humility, bestselling author, Resy co-founder, and investor Gary Vaynerchuk maps out the most important skills in business and includes practical tips>4. "Quantum Success: 7 Essential Laws for a Thriving, Joyful, and Prosperous Relationship with Work and Money"
By Christy Whitman
Life coach Christy Whitman shares a 10-step plan for how to establish strong inner relationships with professional contacts, create a culture of appreciation for those in your network, and magnetize future relationships and opportunities.
Applying the principles from this book helped me attract opportunities — from press spots to corporate sponsorships — and grow my business with inbound leads instead of paying for publicity.
5. "Think and Grow Rich"
By Napoleon Hill
This book is an inspirational classic that has sold over 100 million copies. It shares wisdom from more than 500 of America's most successful individuals, grouped into 13 principles of success.
The case studies in this book gave me the inspiration I needed to chase my dream, while the mindset advice gave me the tools.
