Resources

Resources I Use and Recommend

People are often curious as to what resources I used to build this site, as well as what other resources I’d recommend. I compiled this list to share several of my favorite products and written materials.

Note: Some of these resources are free, and some aren’t. Some of the paid resources are affiliate products or services, meaning if you buy them, I get a commission at no extra cost to you. Please know that I have personal experience with all of the following. If you do choose to buy something through any of these links, I thank you for supporting me and this site.

Books to Read

Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?: This insightful book by Seth Godin is excellent. In it, he explains what makes employees remarkable, and how you can become the crucial team member or “linchpin” who is never in danger of being fired.

Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us: Here’s another book from Mr. Godin that I love. In Tribes, Seth explains how leaders can thrive in the modern marketplace. He’ll inspire you to want to lead us.

Writing to Change the World: In this powerful book, Mary Pipher discusses the awesome transformative power of words, sharing various anecdotes of writers who have made an impact. She’ll expand your mind and invigorate you.

Blogging and Website Tools

WordPress:  This is the blogging software that I use and recommend. It’s simply brilliant. Oh, and it’s free.

Genesis Framework: Awesome WordPress framework designed by the StudioPress team. With built-in Search Engine Optimization and a huge variety of beautiful Child theme templates to create a professional web design, Genesis is incredible.

Conversion Child Theme: The blog theme I use. Great for capturing emails and making the content shine. Only works with the Genesis framework for WordPress.

Mail Chimp: If you’re a blogger, you need to build an e-mail list. Mail Chimp is the e-mail marketing service I use. It’s slick and free for your first 2,000 subscribers. It’s what I use.

Bluehost: If you need to host a website, Bluehost is a good, cheap option. For as low as 4.95 per month, you get a ton of services and support with Bluehost. I’ve used Bluehost for almost two years, and it’s been solid.

Flickr Creative Commons: If you want to post images on your website but are worried about copyrighting laws, look no further. Here you’ll find millions of photos that you are free to use as long as you give credit to the photographer.

Novels

The Alchemist: One of my favorites by Paulo Coelho. If ever an inspirational story were written, this would be it.

The Beautiful and Damned: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s second novel, and the one I like best of his four. It’s a vividly imagined and meticulously written story of two lovers’ eventual destruction.

On the Road: Jack Kerouac captured the essence of the Beat generation in this famous novel. This book is an absolute gem.

Frankenstein: Mary Shelley’s acclaimed horror story is best read in its original version. It’s a tale of hope, heartbreak, and human nature. I relished this novel.

Slaughterhouse-Five: Kurt Vonnegut. Enough said. Reading this masterpiece will leave an impact on you.

A Clockwork Orange: Anthony Burgess proves in this novel that he knows how to imagine the awful. This one will leave you pondering many of life’s most fundamental questions.

Blogs I Read

Zenhabits: Probably my favorite blog of all time. Leo Babauta has created a resource of enormous value with this blog about developing great habits.

Copyblogger: Another one of my top blogs. Copyblogger has been providing thousands of readers with advice on blogging, copywriting, and entrepreneurship for years now.

Goins Writer: In about a year, Jeff Goins went from a no-name blogger to the editor-in-chief of one of the most popular blogs about writing on the Internet. He accomplished this through a combination of savvy marketing and stellar writing. His pithy writing style and consistently valuable advice will win you over.