5 Books That Have Influenced Me on My Journey to Becoming an Agency Owner

Hi friend!

There’s no denying that you can find a wealth of knowledge in books that can help you on the path you choose for yourself. 

Whether you are looking to level up in business, learn about a new subject matter, or get certain aspects of your life in order, you can find incredibly insightful takes on the pages of best-selling books. 

The following books have inspired or educated me in different ways on my journey to starting and running a content marketing agency. I’m sharing these titles with you in today’s newsletter. 

Let’s jump right in! 

Trust Me, I'm Lying by Ryan Holiday

I read Trust Me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator by Ryan Holiday (who is my favorite author, btw) before I started working in content or marketing. 

When I read it, I was in my 20s and in between jobs in the banking industry. At the time, I was also working on my first (failed) startup to create a new stream of income for me before I would jump back into a banking job. The startup failed, but my (already existent) interest in marketing grew from reading this book. 

In Trust Me, I’m Lying, Holiday chronicles his time working in the media as a media strategist for various clients, such as Dov Charney, Robert Greene, and Tucker Max, among others. 

He walks readers through his role as a “media manipulator,” explaining how he influenced stories on blogs that would eventually get picked up by large news organizations like the New York Times, shaping what we read, watch, or see offline. 

Trust Me, I’m Lying is a must-read for any agency owner who’d like to understand how the digital media landscape works from a former director of marketing at American Apparel. 

The Win Without Pitching Manifesto by Blair Enns

If you run a content marketing agency, then you understand how important it is to win new business for your own agency. That’s exactly why I picked up ​​The Win Without Pitching Manifesto by Blair Enns.

The Win Without Pitching Manifesto is a book written to teach owners of independent creative businesses, like advertising agencies and design firms, how to position themselves to make it easier to secure new customers. 

In the book, Enns lets owners of creative businesses in on twelve steps packaged as proclamations that they can master how to pitch and win new business without having to write lengthy proposals. 

Enns’ book is an excellent read for any agency owner! 

The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz

Written by Ben Horowitz, The Hard Thing About Hard Things is effortlessly one of the most impactful books I have consumed. 

I listened to the audiobook version of the book on a long train journey last May and highly recommend you take the time to consume the book as well. 

In the book, Horowitz, who is the co-founder of Andreessen Horowitz and a respected entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, shares practical advice with readers on how to build and run a startup. 

He goes on to share how business owners can manage a business in tough times, something that no business school teaches. His distinction between a “peace-time CEO” and a “war-time CEO” and how their roles differ based on the company's situation is particularly insightful.

Horowitz’s book is hands-down a must-read for anyone who manages or runs their own business. 

Choose Yourself by James Altucher

In the book Choose Yourself, James Altucher shares how he makes his money and provides readers with a new map of how they can navigate the new financial status quo we find ourselves in. 

A hedge fund manager and serial entrepreneur, Altucher’s book is for those who are eager to find new ideas to generate wealth and want to avoid getting stuck playing by the old rules. I enjoyed listening to Altucher’s stories and could relate to many of his ups and downs. 

Choose Yourself is a great book for anyone who wants to generate wealth and achieve financial freedom.

Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller

Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller is a book that explores how business owners and marketers can truly engage with their customers. I loved this book because it taught me a ton about branding as well as storytelling. 

In his book, Miller teaches business owners and marketers about the importance of using storytelling to talk about their companies and improve how they associate with their customers to grow their businesses. 

Building a StoryBrand is a great book for anyone looking to learn more about branding and how to tell your (or your customer’s) brand story. 

The Latest in AI That Agency Owners Should Hear About 🤖

AI is increasingly becoming part of our daily lives, especially if you’re running a marketing agency. Here are the most interesting AI stories I have come across recently.

How to Do SEO for AI Search 🔎

To create content that comes up in AI search, you essentially follow the same best practices as you would for “traditional” SEO to rank on Google. TLDR: Great content backed up by high-quality sources, easy-to-scan structure, and backlinks from high-quality websites.  

Google’s Gemini AI Image Fail 🖼️

Google recently had to issue an apology after the latest version of its AI model, Gemini, failed to show achievements and pictures of white people. Instead, when prompted, the AI tool showed pictures of Asian, Black, and Native American people. Well, that’s a bit odd. 

Nvidia’s Share Price Soars Due to AI Demand 📈

Nvidia’s recently released quarterly financial results showcased how the company’s profits surged ninefold and revenue more than tripled in what the company attributes to the boom in AI and increased demand for its industry-leading AI chips. The company projects that its revenue will continue to surge as demand for AI continues to grow. Nvidia shares outperformed Bitcoin in 2023, so let’s see what this year will bring. 

Hit me up! 👋

When I am not writing the world’s 17,125th-best newsletter in the world, I run a content marketing agency called Rise Up Media, where I help Bitcoin companies reach their growth targets.