10 Books That Will Make You Productive and Profitable Creator

Summary

In this video, the creator discusses their other YouTube channel, 'Hey Creator,' which offers advice on growing a content-based business. They highlight 10 essential books for content creators, categorized into mindset, business, and process. These books, featuring insights from experts like Steven Pressfield and Ryan Holiday, aim to inspire and guide creators to build successful businesses. The video also promotes 'People Magic,' a resource for community-building and business growth.

Takeaways

• 📺 The video was originally published on the creator's other YouTube channel called 'hey Creator', which focuses on starting and growing a creator business.
• 🔗 The 'hey Creator' channel features interviews and advice on email marketing, course creation, and inspiration for new creators.
• 📚 The video shares a list of top 10 books for creators, categorized into mindset, business, and process to help improve their content creation and business skills.
• 💡 The importance of committing to action is emphasized; success in the creator's journey is attributed to 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.
• 📖 'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield is recommended for understanding and overcoming the 'resistance' that hinders creative work.
• 🛤️ 'The Pathless Path' by Paul Millard encourages following unconventional paths and listening to one's inner calling for fulfillment.
• 🐦 'Bird by Bird' by Anne Lamott offers advice on writing and life, emphasizing the importance of showing up and working consistently.
• 🧠 'Peral Seller' by Ryan Holiday discusses creating work that lasts and stands the test of time, blending business and creative strategies.
• 🎯 'Awesome' by April Dunford focuses on the importance of positioning in business, helping creators connect with their audience effectively.
• 💰 'Dotcom Secrets' by Russell Brunson provides a tactical framework for selling products and services through email marketing and funnels.
• ⏰ 'Free Time' by Jenny Blake helps creators streamline their processes, automate tasks, and gain more time for creative work.
• 🧠 'Building a Second Brain' by Tiago Forte introduces frameworks for organizing information and ideas to enhance creative output.

Q & A

What is the name of the speaker's other YouTube channel?

The name of the speaker's other YouTube channel is 'hey Creator'.

What type of content can be found on the 'hey Creator' channel?

The 'hey Creator' channel is filled with videos and interviews about how to start and grow a Creator business based on content creation, including email marketing, course creation advice, and interviews with inspiring figures.

What is the main message the speaker wants to convey about books for content creators?

The speaker emphasizes that books can greatly benefit content creators by providing wisdom and experience from successful individuals. However, they stress the importance of taking action and applying the lessons learned from these books to one's own content and business.

What is the significance of the book 'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield?

The book 'The War of Art' is significant because it introduces the concept of 'resistance', which is the inner voice or feeling that tries to prevent creators from working on their projects. It's a tool for understanding and overcoming the mental barriers to creativity.

What does the book 'The Pathless Path' by Paul Millard discuss?

The book 'The Pathless Path' discusses the idea of following unconventional paths and the pursuit of personal callings over traditional career paths, aiming to inspire creators who feel a desire for a different approach to their work and life.

What advice does Anne Lamott give in her book 'Bird by Bird' that resonates with creators?

In 'Bird by Bird', Anne Lamott advises creators to embrace the concept of 'shitty first drafts', encouraging them to start with imperfect work and refine it over time, which is a practical approach to overcoming the pressure to produce perfect work from the outset.

Why does the speaker recommend 'Perennial Seller' by Ryan Holiday?

The speaker recommends 'Perennial Seller' because it teaches creators how to create work that has lasting value and impact, rather than being a fleeting trend, which is crucial for building a sustainable creative business.

What is the focus of 'Awesome' by April Dunford in relation to content creation?

'Awesome' by April Dunford focuses on the importance of positioning in content creation, teaching creators how to effectively position their content, products, and services to connect with their audience and stand out from the competition.

How does 'DotCom Secrets' by Russell Brunson apply to content creators?

'DotCom Secrets' provides a tactical and framework-driven approach to selling products and services, which can be applied by content creators to improve their email marketing, funnel creation, and overall sales strategies.

What is the key takeaway from 'Free Time' by Jenny Blake for creators?

The key takeaway from 'Free Time' is the importance of implementing systems, processes, and automations to reduce busy work and free up more time for creators to focus on their creative work and grow their business.

How does 'Building a Second Brain' by Thiago Forte assist content creators?

'Building a Second Brain' assists content creators by providing a framework for organizing, storing, and retrieving information efficiently, which can significantly improve their creative output and the management of their ideas and research.

Outlines

00:00

📢 Introduction to Creator's Resources and Book Recommendations

The speaker introduces the video by revealing that it was originally published on their other YouTube channel, 'Hey Creator,' which focuses on content creation and business advice for creators. They encourage viewers to subscribe and participate in the community by commenting. The main topic of the video is whether books can enhance one's content creation skills, increase income, and attract clients. The speaker affirms that books can be beneficial but emphasizes the importance of taking action based on what is learned. They introduce a list of top 10 books for creators, categorizing them into mindset, business, and process, and provide a brief overview of each book's relevance to content creators.

05:01

📚 Book Recommendations for Mindset and Business Growth

The speaker delves into the first category of books, focusing on mindset, which they consider crucial for creators due to the inevitable challenges faced in the creative journey. They recommend 'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield, highlighting the concept of 'resistance' and its impact on creativity. 'The Pathless Path' by Paul Millard is the next recommendation, discussing the pursuit of unconventional paths and the search for fulfillment beyond traditional success metrics. 'Bird by Bird' by Anne Lamott is also mentioned, with a focus on the importance of perseverance and the reality of the creative process, including the idea of 'shitty first drafts.' The speaker then transitions to discuss the importance of community in business and promotes a masterclass and podcast called 'People Magic' by Mighty Networks, which offers resources for creators looking to build and manage communities.

10:03

💼 Business Books for Creators: Marketing and Sales Strategies

Moving on to the business category, the speaker recommends 'Peral Seller' by Ryan Holiday, which discusses creating work that has lasting value and impact. 'Awesome' by April Dunford is highlighted for its insights on positioning, a critical aspect of marketing that creators often overlook. 'Dotcom Secrets' by Russell Brunson is praised for its tactical approach to sales funnels and email marketing, providing actionable steps for creators to increase their sales. '$100 Million Leads' by Alex Hormozi complements the previous book by focusing on generating traffic and leads, essential for a successful sales process. The speaker emphasizes the practicality of these books, suggesting that they can significantly boost a creator's sales and income.

15:03

⏱️ Process Books for Streamlining Creativity and Efficiency

In the final category, the speaker focuses on process, asserting that an efficient workflow is essential for creators to maximize their output and minimize wasted time and energy. 'The Art and Business of Online Writing' by Nicholas Cole is recommended for its modern take on writing for digital platforms and monetization strategies. 'Free Time' by Jenny Blake offers advice on automating tasks and streamlining processes to love one's business and reduce busy work. Lastly, 'Building a Second Brain' by Thiago Forte is introduced for its frameworks that organize and distill creative information, helping creators overcome the challenge of the 'blank page' and enhance their expression. The speaker shares personal experiences with these books, testifying to their transformative impact on the creative process.

Keywords

💡Creator

A 'Creator' in the context of the video refers to an individual who generates original content, often as a business or personal endeavor. The video is centered around empowering creators to enhance their content creation and business growth. The term is used throughout the script to address the audience, who are likely content creators looking for advice on improving their craft and business strategies.

💡YouTube channel

A 'YouTube channel' is a platform on YouTube where users can upload, manage, and share their video content. The script mentions the creator's other channel, 'hey Creator,' which is dedicated to providing advice and interviews about starting and growing a creator business. This highlights the importance of leveraging online platforms for content distribution and community building.

💡Content creation

Content creation refers to the process of producing various forms of content such as videos, articles, podcasts, etc. The video emphasizes the importance of content creation for building a business and reaching an audience. It is a core theme as the script provides recommendations for books that can help creators improve their content creation skills and strategies.

💡Email marketing

Email marketing is a method of advertising where a company sends messages directly to people's email inboxes to market products or services. The video mentions email marketing as one of the topics covered in the 'hey Creator' channel, suggesting that it is a crucial strategy for creators to engage with their audience and promote their content or products.

💡Mindset

Mindset refers to a set of attitudes and beliefs that shape a person's approach to situations. In the video, the creator discusses books that help build a strong mindset for creators, emphasizing the importance of mental resilience and the right attitude for overcoming challenges in the creative process. 'The War of Art' and 'Bird by Bird' are examples of books mentioned that address the creator's mindset.

💡Business

The term 'business' in the video refers to the commercial aspect of being a creator, including selling products, services, and building a brand. The script highlights the importance of understanding business principles for creators to monetize their work effectively. Books like 'Peral Seller' and '$100 Million Leads' are recommended for insights into the business side of content creation.

💡Process

Process in this context refers to the systematic series of actions or steps taken to create content efficiently. The video discusses the importance of having a good process to avoid wasting time and energy. Books such as 'Free Time' and 'Building a Second Brain' are recommended to help creators improve their workflow and content production process.

💡Action

Action in the video script refers to the practical steps that creators need to take after gaining inspiration or knowledge from books or other resources. The creator challenges the audience to not just consume information but to actively apply it to their work, emphasizing that success comes from a combination of inspiration and hard work.

💡Community

Community in the video refers to a group of people who share common interests and engage with each other. The creator talks about the importance of community for creators, as it provides support, collaboration, and a sense of belonging. The video mentions 'Mighty Networks' as a platform that helps creators build and manage their communities more effectively.

💡Inspiration

Inspiration in the video is mentioned as the spark or motivation that drives creators to start their work. However, the creator also points out that while inspiration is important, it's the consistent application of effort ('perspiration') that leads to success. The video encourages creators to balance the inspiration they gain from resources like books with the hard work needed to achieve their goals.

💡Resistance

Resistance in the video is used to describe the internal or external obstacles that creators face, which can hinder their creative process. The term is specifically mentioned in relation to 'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield, where it refers to the mental and emotional barriers that can prevent creators from starting or completing their work. Understanding and overcoming resistance is crucial for creators to stay productive and successful.

Highlights

Introduction to the creator's other YouTube channel, 'hey Creator', focused on growing a creator business.

The channel features interviews and advice on email marketing, course creation, and inspiration for new creators.

A challenge is presented to commit to taking action from the knowledge gained, emphasizing the importance of application over mere inspiration.

The video is structured to review top 10 books for creators, categorized into mindset, business, and process.

Mindset is emphasized as crucial for creators due to the inevitable challenges and periods of struggle.

The first book recommended for mindset is 'The War of Art' by Steven Pressfield, focusing on overcoming 'resistance'.

'The Path' by Paul Millard is highlighted for its discussion on unconventional paths and following one's own calling.

'Bird by Bird' by Anne Lamott is praised for its chapter on 'shitty first drafts', encouraging perseverance in creative work.

A brief mention of 'People Magic', a masterclass and podcast by Mighty Networks, for community building strategies.

The business category starts with 'Peral Seller' by Ryan Holiday, teaching how to create work that lasts.

'Awesome' by April Dunford is recommended for its framework on positioning oneself effectively in the market.

'Dotcom Secrets' by Russell Brunson provides a tactical framework for selling products through email marketing.

'$100 Million Leads' by Alex Hormozi complements 'Dotcom Secrets' by focusing on generating leads for one's offers.

The process category begins with 'The Art and Business of Online Writing' by Nicholas Cole, updating writing practices for the digital age.

'Free Time' by Jenny Blake offers actionable advice on streamlining business processes to save time and effort.

'Building a Second Brain' by Thiago Forte is highlighted for its frameworks to improve creative output and information management.

Encouragement for viewers to share their favorite creator books in the comments or on social media.

Transcripts

hey I wanted to let you know that this

video was originally published on my

other YouTube channel did you even know

that I have another YouTube channel you

probably didn't because I haven't been

talking about it that much but that's

going to change the name of this other

channel is hey Creator and it's filled

with videos and interviews about how to

start and grow a Creator business based

on content we've already got over a

dozen interviews and 50 videos about

email marketing course creation advice

for new creators the Mount Rushmore of

people who've inspired us as creators

all kinds of different things that you

can learn about building a business you

love based on content that you create

click the link in the description below

or the uh you know the card that's up

here I'd love to see you there subscribe

if you like it and say hey in one of the

comments so I can know you came over

from this channel thanks so much and now

back to the video can books make you a

better content creator can they make you

more money and help you get more clients

well yes and also no let me explain in

this video I'm going to share my top 10

books for creators if you're running a

business based on content you're going

to learn more from these books than any

business school in these books you'll

find the collected wisdom and experience

from people like Steven pressfield Alex

horos and LaMont and many others but I

have a challenge for you to keep in mind

when you're reading these books it's

what keeps a Creator from building a

business that they love and also makes

them a lot of money you have to commit

to taking action from these experts

success is 10% inspiration and 90%

perspiration so don't stay stuck on the

pages apply these lessons to your own

content and business if you have a

favorite Creator book share it in the

comments I'd love to see it now let's

begin

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all of these are going to be really

quick reviews only a minute to a minute

and a half each and they're all time

stamp below if so you want to jump

around to a particular book that looks

interesting to you that you've been

curious about go ahead and do that I

divided these books into three

categories mindset business and process

we're going to start with mindset

because I believe you really have to

have a strong mindset in order to be a

Creator because for a long time things

just might not work out for you and even

if things work out for you for a long

time there's going to be a stretch in

any Creator's Journey where things just

don't seem to be working anymore so the

mindset that you cultivate the belief

that you have in yourself is always

going to matter so here are three books

that are going to help you build a rock

solid mindset as a Creator the very

first book is the war of art from Steven

pressfield and this is probably the

number one book that maybe you've

already read before but if you haven't

read war of art then I highly recommend

it even if you have read war of art

before then I would recommend rereading

it I read this book if not every year

every couple of years because pressfield

coined the term of the resistance that

inner voice that inner feeling of like

ah you don't have to do this right now

or maybe you could try it tomorrow or

you're not quite ready for this or

you're not good enough you're not

prepared enough All These Little

Resistance feelings and what I love

about the war of art is even though he

talks about it from his own creative

process it's so applicable to many areas

of life I think he talks also about like

his weight loss journey and how like Hey

Stephen you know you don't have to get

off the couch today like hey why don't

you and what's tricky about the

resistance is that can use multiple good

things against you be like Hey Stephen

really crushing it on this book right

now you don't have to go out and like do

your run or go to your weight training

session these are things this is like

how tricky the resistance is so just

seeing it calling it out and knowing

that the resistance is after you in this

way really powerful really valuable

number one on the list the war of art

the path path by my friend Paul Millard

is one of my favorite books that I've

read over the past few years and I think

it's a really great book for the modern

Creator because really what Paul is

talking about are unconventional paths

like uh Paul was a high-powered uh you

know MBA worked at a Consulting I think

he worked at McKenzie it doesn't say on

here because I don't think that he he

needs to like say that anymore but in

his early 30s Paul Millard had

everything he wanted a high-paying job

working with CEOs yet instead of feeling

fulfilled he sent something was wrong

and so this is Paul's story of following

his own pathless path of looking for and

following the callings that he had that

led him to write this bestselling book

to building a community of people who

are kind of like burnt out on more

traditional beliefs of what work has to

be like and what kind of jobs you have

to have so if you're feeling kind of

that tug on your heart and on your mind

about like I think I want something

different I'm not quite sure what it is

that's exactly what the pathless path is

about this feeling of I know I want

something different I know I'm going in

a particular direction but I don't know

what it is that is the pathless path and

really if you'll allow me a little

smuggle it's also something that uh Boyd

vardy talks about in The Lion tracker's

Guide to Life he talks about this first

track mindset where he says if I can

just get the first track of the lion

then I can follow it to the next track

but I don't have to know every single

step of the journey that's what the

pathless path is so check this book out

bird by Bird by Ann Lamont is one of my

alltime favorite Creator books and one

of the reasons I love it is this chapter

called shitty first drafts and it's a

chapter that I've come back to over and

over again it's probably a chapter in a

Creator book that I've read more than

any other because she is saying that

even these people that you look up to

she you know count count an lamon and

this she's like we don't wake up every

single day feeling incredibly fulfilled

and ready to work and just with like

Words streaming out of our fingertips

this is something that has to be

cultivated this has to be something that

at times you have to fight against

that's you know about Steven pressfield

and the resistance and the war of art

these are the same ideas when you're

cultivating this mindset and so Bird by

bird is something where an lont is

giving her Reflections on writing and

life and uh creative work and it's

something that if you read it and if you

apply these lessons this mindset to the

type of work that you do and an ability

to just show up and keep doing the

things Bird by bird is something that's

going to teach you a lot about how to do

this creative work over and over again

for the rest of your life I've talked

about Community a lot on the channel

this year and it's because it's such a

big part part of what I'm doing for work

and what I believe in in terms of

connection and how uh people get

together and we'll continue to do so in

really meaningful ways and that's why

I'm excited to tell you about how Mighty

networks is making that easier and

easier for creators for people who want

to develop communities do that in a very

like strategic but also natural way and

the place where you can find a ton of

resources and helpful lessons on this is

their new masterclass and podcast called

people magic if you go to Mighty

networks.com magic you're going to be

able to sign up for their Master Class

you're going to get videos you're going

to get lessons and there are three types

of people that this is going to be a

huge help for number one if you're just

starting out as an entrepreneur and

eager to avoid mistakes number two

you're struggling to sell courses or

membership that's also something we talk

about a lot in hate Creator or number

three you've seen some success but

you're ready to level up into a seven or

eight figure business that's kind of

where I find myself right now I want to

make this bigger and better and what

people magic does and what Mighty

networks their entire business is

featured around is helping you grow a

million dooll membership community so if

you want to see what people magic is

like I've talked about it a few times on

other videos if you want to go through

this master class if you want to get the

Companion podcast if you want to see uh

how Mighty can help you do that but I

want to I want to be clear that you can

go through all of this no matter what

you're doing you're going to get a ton

of actionable takeaways ways that you

can build your business ways that you

can connect better with your audience

just by going through the people magic

content you're going to see all the

great things that Mighty can do as well

but but I highly encourage you to go

check this out just go to Mighty

networks.com magic to learn more and

sign up the next category is business

because as my friend Jeff going says

real artists Don't Starve and by the way

little extra bonus book recommendation

for you there uh it's a great one but I

see a lot in my own experience as a

Creator the past 10 years with the

people in the hey Creator Community the

clients that we work with that there's a

lot of hesitation often around selling

around marketing around like the

business side of being a Creator but if

you don't pay attention to this and you

don't get good at it then you will not

be in business very long as a Creator

it'll just be a hobby it'll just be like

a little thing that you do from time to

time if we're talking about building a

Creator business these four books are

going to help you peral seller by Ryan

holiday is one that you may not realize

he wrote Because bestselling author he's

mainly writing about stoic philosophy

these days but several years ago he

wrote this book about the art of making

and marketing work that lasts and what I

love about this is it is a business book

and it's also Creator book so it's a

nice overlap there but so what perennial

seller teaches you how to do is how to

create work that isn't just a Flash and

a pan how to create work that doesn't

just lasts for a month or a season or

even a year but how do you create

something that stands the test of time

how do you create something that is

going to like be around and something

that you're going to be able to refer to

day after day week after week month

after month and year after year that's

what pral seller is about highly

recommended obviously Awesome by April

Dunford is a book that you may not

initially think about for creators but

it covers something that I don't see

creators talk about a whole lot and that

is positioning and when you effectively

position yourself your content your

products your courses your coaching your

community that gives you such an

advantage over the competition I got so

much out of this book from April she has

a framework on the five components of

positioning and how to use that position

to instantly connect with your audience

because they become your product your

offer your service becomes the obvious

choice for them because it's so well

positioned to fit their needs and solve

their problems Doom Secrets by Russell

Brunson is a book I read about eight or

nine years ago you see it even has like

coffee stains on it from the time that I

spilled a lot of coffee on this book

this is probably the most underlined

book that I have and it's also one that

you're going to want to like sit with a

notepad or sit with your your email

marketing uh tool open with your courses

open with notion open whatever it is

because you're going to take a lot of

notes in this this is a book that is the

most tactical and the most like

framework driven if you want to be able

to sell more of your products with a

great offer and be able to like do that

through an email marketing tool like

convertkit if you have like a course

platform or if you have a community

platform like Mighty networks this is a

book that is going to teach you exactly

how to do that so uhom Secrets by

Russell Brunson is one that I've read

probably three or four times it is

incredibly actionable this is the one of

all the books that I'm recommending that

if you go through this and follow the

steps you're going to make more money

$100 million leads by Alex hor mosy is a

book that is a great companion piece

tocom Secrets because while Secrets

shows you how to define your offer and

then how to sell it through email

marketing and funnels what1 million

leads shows you how to do is create more

traffic and more interest and more

perspective buyers to that offer that

you're selling now hormozi also has a

book called $100 million offers that is

also a great companion piece just didn't

make it into I was only going to put one

hor MOSI book into this list but all of

those will help you create an offer get

more leads to it and sell it effectively

through funnels through follow-up

campaigns through email this is all uh

going to make you more money these two

books in particular i' would say of all

the books that I recommended on this

list secrets and 100 million doll leads

are the two that will help grow your

sales the most the last category is

process because without a good process

you're going to waste a lot of time

energy and ideas so let me give you

three books that will help you improve

your process as a Creator the art and

business of online writing by Nicholas

Cole is a modern book for digital

creators so where the war of Art and

bird by bird were written you know many

years ago and kind of before all this

stuff happened with social media and

online writing what Cole has done I

think is updated a lot of those best

practices and mindsets while also

mashing it together with hey here's how

you can get paid here is how you build

an audience these are things that you're

not going to find in War of art or Bird

by bird but this is where I think that

cole really has his finger on the pulse

of what is happening and I you know

certainly recommend that you follow him

you check out like some of the work that

he's done along with Dicky Bush because

what those guys are thinking about is

how do you build a business and how do

you build an audience in the new modern

digital landscape so the art and

business of online writing by Nicholas

Cole is definitely one to check out the

best process book that I've read for

creators is free time by Jenny Blake I

mean even just the subtitle of it lose

the busy work love your business is one

that I read this I'm like oh yes please

absolutely and what Jenny is really

great at like former Google awesome like

just fantastic person really smart is

she has like systems and processes down

to a te and so when you follow the

advice in this book and it's very

actionable it's very like these are

things that you can do and Implement in

your business in your art in your

creative work right away is it does take

away a lot of those recurring tasks that

you don't necessarily need to be doing

every time talks about automations and

processes and systems ways that you can

free up more time or be able to hand

something off to other people in your

business to be able to potentially hire

an assistant if you read free time then

you're going to be much better set up

for this another thing that you can

potentially do when you read free time

is even if you don't want to like grow

your business really big and you don't

want to hire people it will give you

more free time because maybe something

that used to take you 30 or 40 hours now

only takes you 15 to 20 hours so this

will literally give you time back in

your life in your business in your

creative work building a second brain by

my friend Thiago Forte is one of my

favorite books for Creative work and you

may not think of it for creators because

it's not necessarily specifically

written for creators it's written for

everyone but I noticed that my creative

output the way that I was using and

sourcing and accessing the content that

I was creating and the research that I

was doing became so much easier and

cleaner and faster when I started

implementing second Bane principles and

especially the para framework which

stands for projects areas resources and

archive there's another framework that

Thiago talks about in this book called

The Code framework that is specifically

designed for the output of creative

information the new thing that you can

put together of out of all the ideas and

all the notes and all the research and

all the highlights that you have and

code stands for collect organize distill

and express and as creators it is that

expression piece that we love the thing

that we enjoy doing the thing that you

know in some ways gets get us paid but I

know for myself before I started using

second brain principles before I started

using par and code that pretty much all

I did was like a hazard spur of the

moment what am I inspired by what's

front front of mind right now expression

just like you know what's in front of me

expression and when I started doing more

of this then I noticed that I was

getting much better at accessing old

information I was taking better notes

and I was able to retrieve them easier

so that then that distillation and

expression piece of code was made so

much easier and really I never had to

worry about the blank page anymore and

if you have ever like sat in front of

your computer or you've ever looked into

the eye of the camera or stared at the

podcast mic and wondered what am I going

to talk about what am I going to say

using something like second brain for me

has been a GameChanger because now I

never have the blank page anymore I can

always go find something that can be the

source material for the new thing that I

want to say those are my 10 most

recommended books to strengthen your

mindset build your business and improve

your processes share your favorite

Creator books in the comments on YouTube

or hit me up @ matat Raglin on X threads

or LinkedIn

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me

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