6 Must-Read Books For Every Location Independent Freelancer

We’re living in a period in human history characterized by huge advancements in information technology, and many people have come to realize just how unstable and unfulfilling traditional career paths can be. In their search for jobs that offer personal fulfilment, more and more professionals are finding ways to use internet connectivity to work from home or run businesses from anywhere in the world. But you don’t have to fork over a ton of money to a supposed guru to learn how to be your own boss. Reading books is an excellent way to get caught up on the latest developments and advice on the digital nomad lifestyle - and we’ve come up with a list of six that will give you perspective and get you started on your path to location independence.

The Art of Being Brilliant

Andy Cope is a best-selling author, trainer, teacher, and learning junkie. He brings the best of what he knows from the field of positive psychology. In The Art of Being Brilliant, he explains how being brilliant, successful and happy isn’t about changing who you are – It’s about finding out what works for you, and doing more of it! The book is full of advice, case studies, quotes, funny stuff and important questions to get you thinking about your work, relationships and life. To me, this book is a mental warm-up before the race.

Book Yourself Solid

In this book, Michael Port explains how to keep your online business booming and clients coming back for more. You will master a proven strategy for purposeful growth that will maximize the potential of your business through step-by-step techniques for developing your personal brand by controlling the narrative, keeping a selective client list, and earning trust. This is a great book to learn how to generate the traffic and expand your revenue.

Travel While You Work

All around the world, thousands of freelancers are packing up their laptops and setting up shop in Thai cafes and Spanish coworking spaces. Travel While You Work is your guide to how you can make the transition from boring office job to a more flexible way of working and living. This book won't teach you how to start a business, or what your next business venture should be, but, Travel While You Work will give you all the inspiration, resources and practical guidance you need to take an already existing business model and turn it into a location independent success story.

Remote: Office Not Required

Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson, founders of a Basecamp software company, explore the "work from home" phenomenon and show precisely how a remote work setup can be accomplished in Remote. Remote work increases the talent pool, reduces turnover, lessens the real estate footprint, and improves the ability to conduct business across multiple time zones, to name just a few advantages. This book does a great job teaching employers and employees the best practices for being location independent.

The $100 Startup

In The $100 Startup, Chris Guillebeau shows you how to lead a life of adventure, meaning and purpose – and earn a good living while you're at it. In preparation for writing this book, Chris identified 1,500 individuals who have built businesses earning $50,000 or more from a modest investment (in many cases, $100 or less), and from that group he chose 50 of the most intriguing cases to be living testimonies of this phenomenon. This book takes an in-depth look at exactly how many dollars his group of unexpected entrepreneurs needed to get their projects up and running, what these individuals did in the first weeks and months to generate significant cash, some of the key mistakes they made along the way, and the crucial insights that made their businesses stick.

The Suitcase Entrepreneur

Natalie Sisson quit her high-paying job, moved to Canada, started a blog, and co-founded a technology company. After five years, she now runs a six-figure business from her laptop, while living out of a suitcase and teaching entrepreneurs worldwide how to build a business and lifestyle they love. The Suitcase Entrepreneur teaches readers how to package and sell their skills to earn enough money to be able to work and live anywhere, build a profitable online business, and live life on their own terms.