The 3 Books That Changed My Life, Episode 278

The 3 Books That Changed the Way I Work, Earn, and Think

They’re short, powerful, and actually useful—no fluff involved.

A few weeks ago, a member asked me:  “What are the most impactful books you’ve read for personal and business growth?”

It’s a great question—and it got me thinking. Because there are books I’ve liked… books that were smart… and books that looked good on my shelf.

But there are only a few I return to over and over. Books that actually changed how I think, how I work, and how I make decisions in my business.

In this post, I’m sharing the three books I can’t stop recommending—and why I believe every ecommerce store owner should read them (maybe more than once).

1. The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan

If you’ve ever felt pulled in a million directions, this one’s for you.

I reread The One Thing every year between Christmas and New Year’s. It’s how I reset and get focused. Because it’s really easy to stay busy in your business—and totally miss the one thing that would actually move you forward.

This book helped me start asking better questions:

• What’s the one thing I could do today that would make everything else easier?
  
• What’s actually worth my time?
  
• What am I saying yes to that’s pulling me away from what matters most? 

“Time is your most precious resource… if we were as careful about how we spend our time as we are with our money, your business would grow faster.” 

This is the book that reminds me to stop chasing shiny objects. It helps me stay focused on building a real business—not just reacting to tasks.

2. Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

This book changed the way I look at money—and took away a ton of stress in the process.

Back when I was running my retail store and scaling to seven figures, I felt the weight of it every single day. I had money coming in… but somehow, I was never getting paid. It was exhausting.

When I bought my ecommerce store (We Squeak), I decided to do things differently. I followed the Profit First method from day one—and it worked.

I had a system. I paid myself. I knew exactly what I could spend. And most importantly, I didn’t feel like I was guessing anymore.

 

“I spent many sleepless nights with that seven-figure business on my back, worrying about cash flow… after I read Profit First, I realized it didn’t have to be that way.”

 

If you’ve ever felt like your business is making sales but not creating income—you need this book.

(And if you carry inventory, I highly recommend pairing it with Inventory Genius by Ciara Stockeland.)

3. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

This one is new to my list—but it hit me hard in the best way.

I’ve always been someone who wants to control things. I want to make everything better. I want everyone to feel good. And that sometimes means I take on stress that isn’t mine to carry.

The Let Them Theory reminded me to pause. To ask: Is this mine to fix? Is this true? Do I really need to react?

 

“If things don’t feel like they’re going the way I want them to, I’m probably the common denominator. Let me go back and manage myself in a way that gets me the result I want.”

 

It’s not about letting people walk all over you. It’s about staying in control of yourself, your boundaries, and your energy—especially in business.

 

Final Thoughts: These Books Aren’t Just Smart. They’re Useful.

None of these are long reads. But each one gives me something different:

• The One Thing helps me focus.
  
• Profit First keeps my business financially healthy.
  
• The Let Them Theory brings me back to a peaceful, grounded mindset. 

These are the books I come back to year after year—and I think they’ll do the same for you.

 

Here’s where to find them:

📘 The One Thing
📗 Profit First
📕 The Let Them Theory