Top 15 Creative Entrepreneurship Books for Achieving Success

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 6 June 2023 11 min read

Are you looking for the best creative entrepreneurship books for success? Look no further! This blog features the top 15 books that will help you excel in your creative business endeavors. Whether you need inspiration, business strategy, marketing techniques, productivity tips, or financial management, we've got you covered. Let's dig into our top picks and start your journey towards creative entrepreneurship success.

1. Selecting the Best Creative Entrepreneurship Books for Success

Selecting the perfect book to guide you on your journey can be a bit overwhelming. With so many options out there, how do you choose the right one for you? We've broken down the criteria for selecting the best creative entrepreneurship books for success into three main categories to make the decision process a bit easier.

Criteria for Choosing the Best Books

When picking the right book, consider the following factors:

Author expertise: Look for books written by successful entrepreneurs, industry experts, or thought leaders in the creative business world.
Practical advice: Opt for books that offer actionable steps, real-world examples, and hands-on exercises you can apply to your own creative business.
Engaging writing: Choose books that are well-written, easy to understand, and enjoyable to read.

Relevance to Your Creative Business Endeavors

Not every book will be relevant to your specific creative business. As you review potential books, think about:

Your industry and target audience
Your current stage of business development
Your specific challenges and goals

Select books that align with your unique situation and offer insights tailored to your needs.

Reader Recommendations and Reviews

Don't just take our word for it! Check out recommendations and reviews from other readers who have found success using these resources. Look for books with high ratings and positive testimonials from fellow creative entrepreneurs. By selecting books that have already helped others succeed, you'll be well on your way to achieving success in your own creative business endeavors.

2. Books for Inspiration and Creativity

Now that you know how to choose the best creative entrepreneurship books for success, let's dive into some specific titles that can help spark your inspiration and unleash your creativity. These books will guide you through various aspects of creative thinking, innovative idea generation, and overcoming creative blocks.

Boosting Your Creative Thinking

One of the key aspects of running a successful creative business is the ability to think creatively. As an entrepreneur, you'll need to come up with unique solutions to problems, develop innovative products or services, and constantly evolve. Some of the best creative entrepreneurship books for success in this area include:

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert — This book can help you overcome self-doubt, perfectionism, and fear, while embracing curiosity, joy, and the creative process.
Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by Austin Kleon — Learn how to unlock your creativity by discovering and combining influences from various sources.

Generating Innovative Ideas

As a creative entrepreneur, your ability to come up with innovative ideas can set you apart from the competition. To help you stay ahead of the curve, consider reading the following books:

The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield — This book offers practical advice on how to overcome resistance, defeat procrastination, and tap into your creative potential.
The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp — This book provides insights and exercises on how to develop a daily creative routine and generate a constant flow of ideas.

Overcoming Creative Blocks

Even the most talented and accomplished entrepreneurs can encounter creative blocks. When you hit a wall, it's essential to find ways to push through and regain your momentum. Some of the best creative entrepreneurship books for success in overcoming these obstacles include:

The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron — This 12-week program is designed to help you reconnect with your creativity and overcome any blocks you may be facing.
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott — While primarily geared towards writers, this book offers valuable insights and practical advice on overcoming creative challenges for entrepreneurs in any creative field.

By reading these books, you'll be better equipped to harness your creativity and generate innovative ideas that can drive your business forward. So, grab a book and get inspired!

3. Books for Developing a Winning Business Strategy

Now that we've covered books to inspire your creativity, it's time to focus on another crucial aspect of your creative business: strategy. Having a solid business strategy can help you navigate the competitive landscape, make informed decisions, and ultimately achieve success. In this section, we'll explore some of the best creative entrepreneurship books for success in developing a winning business strategy.

Strategic Planning for Creative Entrepreneurs

Effective strategic planning is vital for any business, including creative enterprises. It helps you set clear goals, allocate resources efficiently, and establish a roadmap for success. To enhance your strategic planning skills, consider the following books:

Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters by Richard Rumelt — This book offers a practical framework for developing a powerful strategy, along with examples of both good and bad strategies in action.
Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant by W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne — Learn how to identify and seize new market opportunities by creating unique value propositions that set you apart from the competition.

Gaining a Competitive Advantage

As a creative entrepreneur, you're likely to face fierce competition. To stay ahead, you need to establish a competitive advantage that sets you apart. The following books can help you identify and leverage your unique strengths:

The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries — Discover how to validate and iterate your ideas quickly, reducing the risk of failure and increasing your chances of success.
Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin — Learn how to create products and services that stand out in a crowded marketplace, making your business truly memorable.

Scaling Up Your Creative Business

Once you've established a solid foundation for your creative business, it's time to think about growth. Scaling up can be challenging, but the right strategies can help you avoid common pitfalls and achieve long-term success. Check out these books for valuable insights:

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber — This book explores common mistakes entrepreneurs make when trying to grow their businesses and offers practical solutions for overcoming them.
Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't by Verne Harnish — Learn how to implement proven growth strategies and systems that can help you scale your creative business effectively and sustainably.

By studying these best creative entrepreneurship books for success, you'll be better equipped to develop a winning business strategy that can propel your creative enterprise to new heights. So, grab a book and start strategizing!

4. Books for Mastering Creative Marketing Techniques

Having a well-defined business strategy is great, but it's not enough to guarantee success. Marketing plays a crucial role in getting your creative business noticed and attracting customers. In this section, we'll look at some of the best creative entrepreneurship books for success in mastering creative marketing techniques.

Building a Strong Brand Identity

Creating a strong and memorable brand is key to making your creative business stand out from the competition. These books can help you craft a unique brand identity that resonates with your target audience:

Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller — Miller teaches you how to craft a compelling brand story that connects with customers on an emotional level, making your business unforgettable.
Designing Brand Identity: An Essential Guide for the Whole Branding Team by Alina Wheeler — This comprehensive guide provides practical advice and examples on creating a cohesive brand identity, from logo design to marketing materials.

Social media platforms offer powerful tools for promoting your creative business and engaging with your audience. To make the most of these platforms, consider the following books:

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World by Gary Vaynerchuk — Learn how to create engaging, shareable content that cuts through the noise and speaks to your audience on various social media platforms.
Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence—and How You Can, Too by Gary Vaynerchuk — Find inspiration and practical tips for building a strong online presence and growing your creative business through social media marketing.

Content Marketing Strategies for Success

Content marketing is an effective way to showcase your expertise, build trust with your audience, and drive traffic to your website. Check out these books to up your content marketing game:

Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content by Ann Handley — This book offers practical advice on writing compelling content that connects with your audience and keeps them coming back for more.
Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger — Discover the secret behind viral content and learn how to create content that spreads like wildfire, attracting attention and driving engagement.

By diving into these best creative entrepreneurship books for success in marketing, you'll be well on your way to building a strong brand, mastering social media, and creating content that resonates with your audience. So, grab a book and get ready to take your creative marketing to the next level!

5. Books for Enhancing Productivity and Time Management

Now that you've learned about marketing, it's time to tackle another important aspect of running a creative business: productivity and time management. This section will introduce you to some of the best creative entrepreneurship books for success in these areas. With the right strategies and tools, you'll be able to make the most of your time and get more done, ultimately helping your business grow.

Time Management for Creative Entrepreneurs

As a creative entrepreneur, you're likely juggling many tasks and responsibilities. Here are two books that can help you manage your time more effectively:

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen — Allen's popular productivity system focuses on organizing tasks into actionable steps, allowing you to stay on top of your work without feeling overwhelmed. The book is filled with practical tips and techniques to help you take control of your time.
The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan — This book encourages you to focus on the single most important task at any given moment, helping you achieve more by doing less. It's a game-changer for creative entrepreneurs who want to make the most of their limited time.

Setting and Achieving Goals

Effective goal-setting is crucial for success in any creative business. Here are two books that can help you set and achieve your goals:

SMART Goals Made Simple: 10 Steps to Master Your Personal and Career Goals by S.J. Scott — This book guides you through the process of setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. By following these principles, you can set goals that are both challenging and attainable.
The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington — This book introduces a unique approach to goal-setting and productivity by focusing on 12-week cycles instead of annual goals. By breaking your goals into smaller, more manageable chunks, you can make significant progress in a shorter amount of time.

Maintaining a Healthy Work-Life Balance

Finding the right balance between your professional and personal life can be challenging, but it's essential for long-term success. These two books can help you strike that balance:

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss — Ferriss shares his unconventional approach to work-life balance, showing you how to work less, earn more, and enjoy life on your terms. While the concept might seem too good to be true, the book is packed with practical advice and real-life examples of people who've achieved success following this approach.
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown — Essentialism is all about focusing on what truly matters and eliminating everything else. This book will help you identify your priorities, declutter your life, and create a healthier work-life balance.

By exploring these best creative entrepreneurship books for success in productivity and time management, you'll be well-equipped to optimize your daily routine, set achievable goals, and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Remember, it's not just about working harder, but also working smarter!

6. Books for Managing Finances and Growing Your Creative Business

After mastering productivity and time management, the next important aspect of running a successful creative business is managing finances and growth. In this section, we'll explore some of the best creative entrepreneurship books for success in these areas. With the right knowledge and strategies, you'll be able to make informed decisions, manage your finances effectively, and grow your creative business sustainably.

Financial Planning for Creative Entrepreneurs

Understanding and managing your finances is a key factor in the success of your creative business. These two books can help you navigate the world of financial planning:

Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine by Mike Michalowicz — This book introduces a unique and practical approach to managing your business finances by prioritizing profits over expenses. It helps you develop a mindset that focuses on financial health and sustainability, enabling you to make smarter decisions for your business.
Financial Intelligence for Entrepreneurs: What You Really Need to Know About the Numbers by Karen Berman and Joe Knight — This book demystifies financial concepts and terms, providing you with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about your creative business. It covers topics such as cash flow, balance sheets, and income statements, making it an invaluable resource for creative entrepreneurs.

Exploring Funding Options for Your Business

Finding the right funding sources can be a game-changer for your creative business. Check out these two books to learn about different funding options and how to secure them:

The Art of Startup Fundraising: Pitching Investors, Negotiating the Deal, and Everything Else Entrepreneurs Need to Know by Alejandro Cremades — This book offers a step-by-step guide to securing funding for your creative business, covering topics like creating a pitch deck, valuing your company, and negotiating deals. It's a must-read for anyone looking to raise capital for their creative venture.
Creative Capital: Georges Doriot and the Birth of Venture Capital by Spencer E. Ante — This book tells the story of Georges Doriot, the father of venture capital, and provides valuable insights into the world of funding for creative businesses. It's an inspiring and informative read that offers a unique perspective on the possibilities of financing your creative endeavors.

Maximizing Profitability and Sustainability

Ensuring your creative business is both profitable and sustainable is critical for long-term success. Here are two books that can help you achieve this balance:

Scaling Lean: Mastering the Key Metrics for Startup Growth by Ash Maurya — This book teaches you how to measure the right metrics and make data-driven decisions for your creative business. By focusing on lean principles, you'll be able to identify areas of improvement, optimize your operations, and ultimately maximize profitability.
The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries — A classic in the world of entrepreneurship, this book introduces the lean startup methodology, which emphasizes experimentation and iterative development to achieve sustainable growth. It's a must-read for any creative entrepreneur looking to build a successful and enduring business.

By diving into these best creative entrepreneurship books for success in managing finances and growing your business, you'll be well-prepared to make informed financial decisions, explore various funding options, and ensure the long-term profitability and sustainability of your creative venture. Remember, the key to success is not just about being creative, but also being financially savvy!

If you're looking to further expand your knowledge on creative entrepreneurship, don't miss out on the workshop 'Entrepreneurial Tips For Creatives' by Jenny Shlemon. This workshop offers practical advice and tips to help you achieve success in your creative business endeavors.