I’ve had a lot of conversations lately with folks in various stages of starting their own business. This fact staring most right in the face is so simple: starting something is hard.

Whatever it is — a sports team, a class, an exercise program, and especially a business — the start is the hard part. In no particular order, here are 7 books, podcasts, and thinkers you may find helpful if you’re starting something:

Book: Art of the Start 2.0: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anything

Guy Kawasaki’s writing is punchy and inspirational. This book, in its 1.0 form, planted the seed for me starting my own consulting business when I was a graduate student many years ago.

Book (Audible Edition): 10x Is Easier than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less

I’m currently working through this book, and love the stories, questions, and wisdom shared by entrepreneur coaches Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. The audiobook is special, as each chapter has a brief podcast-style interview between Dr. Hardy and Dan Sullivan, which are just as great to listen to as the book itself.

Book: Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business

This is one of the first resources I turned to when launching 500THz. While the title may seem in direct conflict with the previous recommendation of going 10x, the principles included will help you grow to 10x in smart ways. Each chapter ends with thoughtful questions, which makes the book more of a living/breathing experience than just a simple read.

Book: Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job & Your Dream Job

Jon Acuff encourages readers to look at the time “in-between” a full-time gig and your own gig as precious time to plan, cast a vision, and prepare for future success. His writing is funny and thought-provoking at the same time.

Book: Escape from Cubicle Nation: From Corporate Prisoner to Thriving Entrepreneur

I probably should not have bought this book while I was literally working in a cubicle, which probably planted seeds of starting something before they were really ready to blossom… but, in the end I’m thankful for Pamela Slim and Sandra Burr’s masterpiece on entrepreneurship.

Website/Email Newsletter: David A. Fields Consulting Group

David A. Fields has one of the best newsletters on independent consulting, which help with topics ranging from how to price proposals to how to handle being ghosted by clients.

Podcast: Melisa Liberman’s Grow Your Independent Consulting Business

I started listening to Melisa Liberman on the recommendation of a friend about a year ago, starting with the archives / episode 1. Melisa’s positive attitude, thoughtful questions, and topics have been so helpful – much of my current processes are based on ideas heard on her podcast.

Lastly, I’ll end with some incredible lyrics from TobyMac: