Reading has always been one of my favorite things to do, ever since I was a little girl. It’s an escape that introduces you to new ideas, new places, new people. It was always my dream to write a book to join the world of authors I so admire—and now that list is a bit longer. Six of my friends just published books themselves and, to celebrate National Read a Book Day (which is today!), I’m giving you a chance to win them all (enter here). They range from essential career and money advice (Beth Comstock, Maxie McCoy, Lindsey Stanberry) to the sociology of self (Jessica Abo, Bill Shapiro) to a can’t-put-down thriller (Kate Sise).
I know it can be hard to find time to read—especially when you don’t have a long commute, are addicted to Netflix docs, or fall asleep in exhaustion after reading one page. But reading can boost your brainpower, make you more empathetic, fight memory loss, and help you relax. I know all too well how a juicy page-turner can let the stress of the world slip away.
It’s back to school season—let’s toast it with a good book!
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TIP / Don't Be Afraid to Be Vulnerable
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I believe all strong leaders possess the ability to be decisive, empathetic, and relatable. You can be strong and vulnerable. The amazing Jaclyn Johnson, founder of Create and Cultivate and author of the newly released Work Party, agrees and said that in this social-media curated world, we need to talk about the hardships and difficulties of our lives as entrepreneurs because it’s not easy. This doesn’t make you weak; rather it proves that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to get where you want to go and motivates your team to follow you there.
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My go-to source for book picks: Instagram. Here are a few of my favorite book feeds (clockwise from top left), including some fun-to-watch startups that I’ve had the pleasure to meet with recently:
I also try to read inspiring books about the future of work, leadership, and personal development, and Heleo's Next Big Idea Club always has interesting recommendations. I'm a part of their community of thinkers, and a group of authors I love and respect, including Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Grant, choose the books so you know they're going to be worth your time. (Learn more about the program here).
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My Refinery 29 Column
“How do I start to network in an industry I have zero contacts in? ”
—Emma, 22, Vermont
One thing I love most about my Refinery29 advice column is hearing what happened next. Emma, a college grad who was having difficulty finding a way into politics, took my advice and reached out to a group of people on LinkedIn. The good news: They all agreed to talk with her. The tricky: She didn’t know how to leverage the conversations so they weren’t just one-off calls. Scroll to the bottom of the article to see the update and how I told her to turn a cold call into an evolving mentor relationship. And if you or someone you know has a career question, please email fran@franhauser.com. |
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And, if you have a friend who would love to join our newsletter circle, tell them to sign up here. If you want a sample of my book, take a listen. And, as always, email me with ideas.
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