After my interview with Cory Miller for my freelance business book I saw that he offered a bunch of free resources on his site.

Some of the books are available for free and a few require you need to sign up for his email list, but it’s a small price to pay for all the free goodness.

I’m going to bring up 3 books from Cory today that I think everybody should read. Even if you don’t think you’re ever going to run a business, you need to read these so you have your priorities set straight.

They aren’t long, you can read them in an evening if you’re a fast reader or a Saturday if you are a slow reader.

However long it takes you. Read them. Answer the questions he presents and get ready to start living a life that is way better than you are living now.

The Entrepreneurial Adventure: Is it for you?

Successful entrepreneurs have a compelling vision and dream that stirs them and keeps them up at night. They have forward motion, an unmatched drive and initiative for life in the pursuit of their bold goals.

Framed in mountain climbing metaphor this is a great book to get you off the ground as you think about going in to business for yourself.

Not only does it tell you about how awesome running your own business can be, it talks about some of the ‘issues’ that can happen. Caution is the key to approaching the business (and steps of caution are provided) but once you’re in you are all in.

The appendix alone is worth the download for the awesome list of further reading material.

Entrepreneurship is the hardest job I’ve ever had. Wusses need not apply.

Purposeful Paychecks: How to find lasting career happiness

Work that pays the bills but also frees us to be fulfilled and happy in our jobs. We should pursue work that not only meets our physical needs, but also meets our emotional and spiritual needs as well. You’re going to spend a vast chunk of your life at work, it might as well be work that matters.

That’s what I call a purposeful paycheck.

This is a wicked read if you’re in a job you don’t like and think that getting out on your own will be the thing that fulfills you. It might not be.

Cory walks through 6 principles of career happiness. There are a bunch of action steps in the chapters to help you apply the principles to your life.

The second half of the book starts by helping you define your WHY’s (which I wrote a bit about recently). It then continues by helping you walk through finding possible careers then great job fits for you.

Getting Paid Well To Do What You Love

This is not about pricing your services, it’s about being good at what you love to do. If you are awesome and continue to try and learn and work to mentor people and find mentors and keep learning you will get paid well to do what you love.

Sounds like a lot of work, but when it’s something you love it never feels like that much work.