Hey, friends.
I'm feeling so back-to-school this week. Autumn is coming, I'm wearing fresh kicks, I got my hair did. Plus, last week, we tore it up for the kick-off Berlin date of #TheHumanJukeboxProject. The show went SO well.
I've gotten a couple compliments recently about how I'm brave to be "pursuing my dreams" and how I "seem to have it more together than the rest of us." First, flattered. I mostly just try to be as honest as I can... and also, let's just chalk a lot of that up to my incredible email skills and strong Instagram game. (Also, never underestimate the value of getting yourself a professional headshot. Seriously, that's career-hack number one.)
But then I thought, there are three huge resources in my life that I can pass onto the rest of you.These are the only three books I've ever read more than once. Which surely reveals something, I guess, considering I was an English major.
(1) How To Be A Woman by Caitlin Moran. I so dig Caitlin. This is her self-proclaimed autobiography-come-feminist-manifesto and, for me, it really struck a nerve about how to step into your own powerful-even-if-its-messy persona. Over the last couple years, I've started calling myself a woman and not a girl. I call my friends women, and not girls. This book will help you let go of all notions of successful women as perfect, photoshopped, emotionless creatures. (Note: I sometimes hesitate to recommend this book to Americans, because the humor is *quite* British, but have a stab at it and see how you get on.)
For a taste, watch an interview with Caitlin here.
(2) The Defining Decade by Dr. Meg Jay: Why Your Twenties Matter. This book is often referred to as the bible in my family. Modern-day case studies and thoughts from a psychologist who specializes in twenty-somethings. The underlying rule here: Do something today that your tomorrow self will thank you for... Just read it.
For a taste, watch Dr. Jay's TED talk here.
(3) The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer. I'm re-reading this one right now. Another autobiography, kind of. Amanda Palmer ran the most successful music crowdfunding ever in 2012, raising over $1,000,000 -- without being signed to a label. This book is a great study in making it one day at a time, creating your own unconventional job, fighting imposter syndrome, and letting your community love you. I think this is my favorite book of all time. An incredible story for anyone who likes learning about how wacky creatives "made" it.
For a taste, watch Amanda's TED talk here. (It actually inspired the book. But read the book. It's SO worth it.)
It's getting colder out. Cuddle up with a cup of tea, shut down Netflix for a night, and start reading one of these books. Let me know how you get on. I'll be excited to hear what you think.