Has a Book Ever Changed Your Life? This One Changed Mine

Have any of you ever read a book that changed your thoughts on the world?

Made you question everything?

Has a book ever changed who you are as a person?

I’m very into self-help books at the minute, influential books that will inspire me to be the best version of myself and prove that where you’re from, or even your circumstances, shouldn’t stop you from chasing your dreams and wanting to make a difference in the world.

If any of you have been following my blog, or if this is your first time visiting my blog (hi there!), you should know how much I admire Sophia Amoruso and her #GirlBoss book.

It’s basically my bible.

Sophia started out with nothing, selling one piece of clothing she found in a thrift store on eBay to realising she could make a living out of selling vintage clothing online – alas, Nasty Gal was born.

Sophia’s success came thick and fast and grew from a one woman company in her apartment to a globally recognised brand.

A present from Santa

A spark ignited in me over the Christmas holidays and I was fuelled with motivation and determination to succeed.

Successes soon came, followed by opportunities met with a lot of hard work.

I received Sophia’s #GirlBoss book as a gift not really knowing much about her only that she was the woman behind Nasty Gal; an online clothing store.

I didn’t know it at the time, but this book was about to change my life.

This book was the kick-up-the-ass I had been waiting for. Apologies for the profanities.

I started making lists of my goals and was more determined than ever to achieve them.

I wanted to be like Sophia. I wanted success and I knew that the only person who could make that happen, was me.

I’m not exaggerating when I say this book was a life changer.

I started to get up early in the mornings.

I was productive.

I knew what I wanted and I planned on how I was going to get it.

It was not a random occurrence that I had more blog views in the first week of January than I had from the four months of September to December combined.

The bible of motivation

I was starting to work on myself and my blog and it was working. Sophia’s word was gospel.

“Abandon anything about your life and habits that might be holding you back. Learn to create your own opportunities. Know that there is no finish line; fortune favours action. Race balls-out toward the extraordinary life that you’ve always dreamed of, or still haven’t had time to dream up. And prepare to have a hell of a lot of fun along the way.” 

I was bold. I emailed people for advice who I thought would never even read the subject line.

But much to my surprise, they replied.

Where do you think I got the inspiration for my #GirlBossMonday series?

I wanted to learn from as many #GirlBosses as I could, and I still do.

“Fortune favours action” has always stuck with me and it’s a quote that I know to be true.

The harder I work, the more successful I am.

If I didn’t take any action, I would still be sat floating through life waiting to ‘grow-up’ before I took any responsibility.

Adulthood

But the truth is we never ‘grow-up’ – we only grow older. There is no pin-point age when we become an adult.

Some say it’s 21, some 18 and others when they get their first full-time job.

When you become an adult is your decision.

If you want a successful career and amazing future, you’ll start as soon as you can.

Partying every night, sleeping in until 3pm, spending entire days watching Netflix (I still do this) may be ok once in a while, but all the time?

What if you used that time to work on yourself? Earn some money? Develop your brand?

Maybe it’s because I’ve had a job since I was 16 years old and know nothing else, but I couldn’t imagine days on end where I have nothing to do.

How does that benefit your future? Your self-development?

Being busy doesn’t always equal being productive. But being busy is a lot better than being lazy.

Sophia on screen

Last Friday, #GirlBoss the TV series aired on Netflix. Even though I had two 2,500 word reports due in on Monday I still managed to finish the series in two days.

It was everything I expected and more.

I’m just hoping I don’t have to wait two years for the next series.

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I also finished my second year of university on Monday! I can’t believe how fast that year has flew in and thankfully I’m going on my placement year, because the thought of going into my final year is so… final. Out of education. Forever.

I have 18 months of full-time work ahead of me but I think it may just be the best year ever.

London, see you in two months!