31 must read books for struggling musicians

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Well, put Brian Tracy. <a href="http://www.briantracy.com/">Brian Tracy</a> is a multi-millionaire entrepreneur that has trained many in different industries. Listen to this guy he’s done it all Reading is not the only way to educate yourself. You can take courses, seminars, webinars, audiobooks, or the school of hard knocks. In the last 4 years, I have read easily over 300 books on music, business, marketing, autobiographies, investing, finance, etc. My knowledge has doubled. Jumbo Jim the bass player for the Nerdy Baristas was very ambitious with his career with his band and wanted to just take over the world with his music. Like all musicians, there’s always a wall that gets hit and gigs start to plateau and diminish. Jumbo Jim had to look for freelance gigs because his band stopped touring for a while and because their booking manager took another gig with a more established act so the band had to fend for their own. Jim had no idea how to book a gig, let alone keep it sustaining. There was also finances. Jim always had a bookkeeper managing his finances. Soon his income began to disappear because he had no clue how to manage it. After one frustrating gig, he ran into his old friend Fred from Berklee School of Music who was an amazing guitarist. Turns out Fred came out to the gig to reacquaint with Jim and hangout. Fred and Jim started rapping about their careers and lives. Fred heard the heartaches and woes about Jim’s frustration with the music business. Fred was in the same boat as Jim, but the only difference was that Fred… Was still landing gigs and his income just kept increasing. Jim was dumbfounded at how Fred kept afloat in all the music industries chaos. Fred gave Jim the secret to his success. “Okay bro tell me what your amazing secret is.” Jim sarcastically said. “One-word bro…READ!” Fred emphasized. “Read?? Haha, are you serious man?”, Jim laughed. “All the secrets you need are in books written by those who have researched and have been in the game before you and have failed and succeeded,” Fred said. “Hmmm.. I guess that makes sense.” Jim said. “Gimme your email, I’m gonna send a list of the books that helped shape my mind, career, and pocketbook. But…remember reading the books itself won’t create the success you have to put them into action. If not, then the books are worthless ink and paper. Action is the key bro.” Fred said. “Okay man, send them to me and I’ll check it out. By the way, to tell your sister I said, “hi!” Jim responded. “In your dreams bro. Lol.” Fred responded. Here is the list that Fred sent to Jim. <h2 style="text-align: justify;">31 must-read books for struggling musicians.</h2> Soak it up, baby! <ol style="text-align: justify;"> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Landmark-Bestseller/dp/1585424331/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426199921&sr=1-1&keywords=Think+and+Grow+Rich">Think and Grow Rich</a> by Napolean Hill</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Fastlane-Crack-Wealth-Lifetime/dp/0984358102/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426199855&sr=1-1&keywords=Millionaire+Fast+Lane">Millionaire Fast Lane</a> by MJ Demarco</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rich-Dad-Poor-Teach-Middle/dp/1612680011/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426199823&sr=1-1&keywords=Rich+Dad+Poor+Dad">Rich Dad Poor Dad</a> by Robert Kiyosaki</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Success-Not-Accident-Change-Choices/dp/141431311X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426199786&sr=1-1&keywords=Success+is+not+an+Accident">Success is not an Accident</a> by Tommy Newberry</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426199720&sr=1-1&keywords=How+to+win+Friends+and+Influence+People">How to Win Friends and Influence People</a> by Dale Carnegie</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eat-That-Frog-Great-Procrastinating/dp/1576754227/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426199755&sr=1-1&keywords=Eat+that+Frog">Eat that Frog</a> Brian Tracy</li> <li>Book of Proverbs by King Solomon</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Irrefutable-Laws-Leadership-Anniversary/dp/0785288376/ref=pd_sim_b_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0GCS9KR7R2EF1A879R8V">21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership</a> by John Maxwell</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Essential-Qualities-Team-Player/dp/0785288813/ref=pd_sim_b_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0GCS9KR7R2EF1A879R8V">17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player </a>by John Maxwell</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-17-Indisputable-Laws-Teamwork/dp/0785274340/ref=pd_sim_b_10?ie=UTF8&refRID=038Z66SNQK2ANMXTVW6X">17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork</a> by John Maxwell</li> <li><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-21-Indispensable-Qualities-Leader/dp/0785289046/ref=pd_sim_b_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1W1FD4FDV9QWRB8FF2E7">21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader</a> by John Maxwell</li> <li><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Rich-Dads-CASHFLOW-Quadrant-Financial/dp/1612680054/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426199985&sr=1-1&keywords=Cash+Flow+Quadrant">Cash Flow Quadrant</a> by Robert Kiyosaki</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rich-Dads-Increase-Your-Financial/dp/0446509361/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200085&sr=1-1&keywords=Financial+IQ">Financial IQ</a> by Robert Kiyosaki</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jab-Right-Hook-Story-Social/dp/006227306X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200116&sr=1-1&keywords=Jab+jab+jab+right+hook">Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook</a> by Gary Vaynerchuck</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Total-Money-Makeover-Classic-Financial/dp/1595555277/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200200&sr=1-1&keywords=Total+Money+Makeover">Total Money Makeover</a> by Dave Ramsey</li> <li><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="https://amzn.to/2JulAIp">Positioning</a> by Al Ries and Jack Trout</li> <li><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="https://amzn.to/2JAc3Dd">The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing</a> by Al Ries and Jack Trout</li> <li><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="https://amzn.to/2sRRmbt">Blue Ocean Strategy</a> by W. Chan Kim</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Purple-Cow-New-Transform-Remarkable--/dp/1591843170/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200227&sr=1-1&keywords=Purple+Cow">Purple Cow </a>by Seth Godin</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Permission-Marketing-Turning-Strangers-Customers/dp/0684856360/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200251&sr=1-1&keywords=Permission+Marketing">Permission Marketing</a> by Seth Godin</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tribes-We-Need-You-Lead/dp/1591842336/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200276&sr=1-1&keywords=Tribes">Tribes</a> by Seth Godin</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Welcome-Music-Business-Youre-ked/dp/0979731313/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200302&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=Welcome+to+the+music+business+you%27re+fcked">Welcome to the Music Business: You’re f**cked</a> by Marty<a class="K6Mv5553U0S xqtlqEHgr" style="z-index: 2147483647;" title="Click to Continue > by Advertise" href="#7097087"> </a>Atkins</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tour-Smart-And-Break-Band/dp/0979731305/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y">Tour:Smart: And Break the Band</a> by Marty Atkins</li> <li><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Six-Figure-Musician-People-Business-Marketing/dp/1608423344/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200531&sr=1-1&keywords=Six+Figure+Musician">Six Figure Musician</a> by David Hooper</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Anywhere-Expanded-Updated/dp/0307465357/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200625&sr=1-1&keywords=4+Hour+Work+Week">4 Hour Work Week</a> by Tim Ferris</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Next-Door-Surprising-Americas/dp/1589795474/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200692&sr=1-1&keywords=Millionaire+Next+Door">Millionaire Next Door</a> by Thomas Stanley</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Millionaire-Mind-Thomas-J-Stanley/dp/0740718584/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200716&sr=1-1&keywords=Millionaire+Mind">Millionaire Mind</a> by Thomas Stanley</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/E-Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200758&sr=1-1&keywords=E+Myth">E Myth</a> by Michael Gerber</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Need-Know-About-Music-Business/dp/1451682468/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200787&sr=1-1&keywords=All+you+need+to+know+about+the+music+business">All You Need to Know About the Music Business</a> by Donald Passman</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-Lesson-Spiritual-Search-Through/dp/0425220931/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200904&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=The+Lesson+victor+wootem">The Music Lesson</a> by Victor Wooten</li> <li><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Effortless-Mastery-Liberating-Master-Musician/dp/156224003X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426200963&sr=1-1&keywords=Effortless+Mastery">Effortless Mastery</a> by Kenny Werner</li> <li>PLUS 4 More books.</li> <li><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Jaco-Extraordinary-Tragic-Life-Pastorius/dp/0879308591/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426201017&sr=1-2&keywords=jaco">Jaco</a> by Bill Milkowski</li> <li><a style="color: #ff0000;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Miles-Davis/dp/1451643187/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426201068&sr=1-1&keywords=Miles">Miles</a> by Miles Davis</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Total-Recall-Unbelievably-True-Story/dp/1451662440/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426201117&sr=1-1&keywords=total+recall">Total Recall</a> by Arnold Schwarzenegger</li> <li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Outliers-Story-Success-Malcolm-Gladwell/dp/0316017930/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426201229&sr=1-1&keywords=Outliers">Outliers: The Story of Success</a> by Malcolm Gladwell</li> </ol> Yes, there is a book about the Terminator, believe me, it’s a great read and will inspire you. Many of the other books deal with business, marketing, leadership, inspiration, etc. These books are a must for any musician looking to start a career in music. Time will only tell if Jumbo Jim is serious enough to take the time and dedication to feed his mind with these delicious books. Mmmmm! <h2 style="text-align: justify;">The Lesson</h2> <ol style="text-align: justify;"> <li>Read about your industry.</li> <li>Read biographies.</li> <li>Read about how to improve your body, mind, and spirit.</li> <li>Read about how to improve your skills.</li> <li>Read about sales and marketing.</li> <li>Read about leadership.</li> <li>Read about business.</li> <li>Read about networking.</li> <li>Take action.</li> <li>Fail.</li> <li>Read again.</li> <li>Take action again.</li> <li>Fail again.</li> <li>Repeat this process until you reach your goal.</li> </ol> Take it one step at a time with your music career, weigh your steps, and take action. <blockquote> “Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”– Stephen King, author </blockquote> <h3 style="text-align: justify;">Do you have a book that you’d like to share with the community?</h3> Please share it in the comment section below.