business resources

Great Reading for Independent Business Thinkers

Need some business inspiration? Life inspiration? Just want to kill some time reading something interesting? I have compiled an interesting mix of voices speaking about small business, life, and a little travel.

Independent Business Voices

1. The Art of Non-Conformity - Unconventional strategies for life work and travel - by Chris Guillebeau - My favorite site about building a life and a business. You must include it in your reading list.

2. IttyBiz - Sharp tongued advice on how to start an online business and not f**k it up. Naomi is much better at swearing in print than I am. Her skills make me jealous.

3. Trendwatching -  An independent and opinionated consumer trends firm. Trendwatching publishes one in-depth consumer trend article per month. Very much worth a look.

4. Monday Morning Memo - Provocative series of well-crafted thoughts about the life of business and the business of life. I look forward to each post which arrives in my inbox just as you would guess - on Monday morning.

5. Small Biz Survival - The rural and small town business resource. Focused on the special challenges of small town businesses. How to be a hometown hero.

6. The Global Small Business Blog - The definitive blog for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.It’s a big world getting smaller every day.

7. Chris Brogan - Well known social media guy. I really like his attitude towards dealing with people, very down-to-earth.

8. Soc Media 101 - For those of you new to social media: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and the hundreds of other options you have to connect. Real world tips and how-to’s for using social media without all of the hype.

9. Entrepreneur’s Breakfast - Marketing over easy. Great ideas for freelance copywriters.

Brain Food

10. Knife Gun Pen - Robert Bruce is one of the most read, linked, loved and reviled poets working on the web. You can’t read business stuff all the time! Try some poetry for a fresh perspective.

11. Writing Roads - The intersection of business and life written by uber-talented online businesswoman, Julie Roads. Here is where I give props to Julie. She helped me launch Curious Business. Thanks!

12. Terry Starbucker - Ramblings from a glass half full.

13. The Lazy Way to Success - Success comes the cleverly avoiding work but still getting the job done. The site hasn’t been updated recently, but you will still find lots of reading to get your mind looking at our notions of work differently.

14. How I Changed the World Today - Changing the world one day at a time.

Inspiring Travel

Travel opens the mind to inspiration. When I can’t travel myself, I read about other people’s amazing travels. Here are some favorites.

15. Everything Everywhere - Gary Arndt sold his business and is now traveling the world until he is finished. One day I will do the same.

16. Trans-Americas - The mother of all road trips. Karen Catchpole (writer) and Eric Mohl (photographer) left their jobs and apartment in New York City and embarked on the Trans-Americas Journey, a three-four-year, 150,000+ mile cross-country and cross-continental drive. They just passed through Puerto Vallarta where I currently live.

17. Soul Travelers 3 - A family of three on an open ended round the world journey.

Doing Some Good in the World

18. Kiva.org - Loans that change lives. Person-to-person micro-loans for entrepreneurs. I lend on Kiva. You can see my lender profile here.

More Great Business Sites

I started with 18 sites but more needed to be added.

19. Mixergy - Events and interviews for web visionaries - Video interviews with successful web entrepreneurs: Neil Patel, Seth Godin, Tim Ferriss, Andrew Warner. Tons of useful insights and inspiration!

If you have any favorite sites to share leave a comment. Thanks! Happy reading!

Photo: Stuart Pilbrow

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