Words that inspire - Courtesy of Daniel Pink

I thought I'd post something about a business book that inspired me. I can't claim the idea...it came from a client and friend, (Brad Shorr), who suggested a group blogging effort about favorite business books.

My favorite business book is called "Free Agent Nation", by Daniel H. Pink. It's a book that is viewed by many as 'the handbook' on how to start your own business. I found it while walking around in Barnes & Noble one day about three years ago with my toddler daughter. (She led the way, waddling right to the table where it sat, knocking two copies from their perch.) I picked them up, leafed through one and noticed it was endorsed by business guru, Tom Peters ("In Search Of Excellence"), so I had to buy it.

Free Agent Nation details how to take your expertise, (in whatever your field), and go out on your own. Dan's friendly, engaging writing style, (which he honed as a White House speech-writer), glides you effortlesssly through the pages. He covers everything from work ethic, building confidence (important in the formative stages), networking, finding clients and avoiding roadblocks.

There are lots of books that offer direction and expertise. But this was different. Besides imparting valuable advice, the main thing the book did was to get me inspired enough to take action. I'm glad my daughter bumped into it...as it helped get me started on the road to self-employment.

Update:

An interesting & fairly exciting thing happened shortly after reading his book...th author of the above book, Daniel Pink contacted hired me to illustrate his follow-up book, about the increased value of right-brained 'creative types' in the future economy.

 Here's a photo of Dan discussing it at a TED Talk, (in the background is one of my illustrations.)