At the beginning of 2018, I created a list of all the books, both biz-related and fiction, that I wanted to dive into in the months ahead. And now that we’re already in February, I’ve got some progress to share on what I’ve been reading this past month, what some of my biggest takeaways from these books were, and what’s up next on my book list. (In case you missed the full list of what I’m reading in 2018, you can check that out here!)

Now, I’ll be totally honest here — I thought I’d have way more time to devote to reading in January! Between our London trip that ended up taking longer than expected, exciting new client projects, and making progress on some professional goals of my own, I totally let reading take the back burner. But rather than beating myself up about not reaching my book goals for January, I’m choosing to acknowledge that every season of life this year will look different. Some months maybe I’ll get to read a ton! Others I might not even crack open one book. And there’s no right or wrong scenario here. I’m reading for my own personal enjoyment and enrichment, so there’s zero judgement on my end!

But let’s dive into what I did read in January which happened to be a ton of business books for all my boss ladies out there.

First up, I read Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek. If you’ve been a b is for bonnie reader for a while now or you’re a past branding client, you know just how much I love Sinek and his wise insight into the business world! So when I stumbled across this book of his last year, I knew it needed to go on my reading list ASAP. This is such a great book to read for anyone who is interested in growing a team, has a team and wants to learn to be a better leader, or someone who is really interested in the inner-workings of professional team dynamics!

Personally, I wanted to dive into this book to learn how to be a more compassionate, caring leader as I grow my team in 2018. What I loved most about Leaders Eat Last is that Sinek doesn’t just tell you what you need to do to be a better leader or what qualities great teams all have in common. He teaches you why some teams pull together when others fail and what qualities are required for leaders to empower their co-workers and team members to be the best they can be. He has a knack for pulling in great stories that aptly illustrate his points and make what could feel like an abstract business concept feel more real and relatable.

If the topic of this book resonates with you, I’d highly recommend it! Grab your copy here.

The second book I started last month actually wasn’t on my list at all. I was chatting with my marketing strategist, Amber, about the launch strategy we’re creating for my upcoming course launch and she recommend this book immediately. Naturally, I ordered it the second we got off our call!

Expert Secrets by Russel Brunson is a must-read for you content creators out there who are looking to educate your audiences through free and paid trainings. From courses to webinars to digital products, Brunson walks you through the best ways he’s found to get your message out to your people in the most strategic way possible. I technically still have a few chapters to finish but I’m far enough along to feel confident to recommend it to y’all without any doubts.

As I’ve been reading this book with a specific launch in mind, I’ve been spending half of my time reading and the other half jotting down notes or writing out responses to prompts Brunson shares. His writing style is incredibly approachable and easy to digest so you don’t need to dedicate hours of free time to one chapter. With lots of real world experience and personal stories woven throughout, it’s actually a pretty quick read! Snag yours right here.

Up next: We are All Weird by Seth Godin. This was the second book I originally intended to read in January but that got pushed off the top of the list thanks to Expert Secrets! I still plan on diving into this quick little book this month and I can’t wait to share my biggest takeaways with y’all soon. If you’d like to get in on the fun, order a copy here.

What books have you been reading lately, friend? I’d love to know in the comments below!