Secret #6: Be a Bookworm

Read, read, read! Books, newspapers, online news, blogs, magazines, and newsletters can provide you with a wealth of information on starting and growing a business. You may find that gem of advice, resulting in doubling your income from one of the least expected places. The more you read, the more exposure you have to new ideas, tools and practices that you may benefit from in your business.

Not to mention there is tremendous value in staying current on news and technology so you can talk to your clients about events that may have an impact on them and their businesses. Knowing what's going on will also help you tailor your service offerings to address a new need that current and future clients are looking for help with.

Here is a collection of some of my favorite online reading material:

• AllBusiness
• Bizwomen
• Duct Tape Marketing
• Fast Company
• IVAACast (PDF), Publication of the International Virtual Assistants Association
• MarketingSherpa
• Mashable
• The Wall Street Journal

And if you're ready to do some serious reading, here are some of the best business books available as recommended in VA Secrets Revealed! An Insider's Guide to Being a Successful Virtual Assistant:

• The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich, Timothy Ferriss 
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey
• The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It, Michael E. Gerber
• Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, David Allen
• Gravitational Marketing: The Science of Attracting Customers, Jimmy Vee, Travis Miller and Joel Bauer
• How to Succeed as a Small Business Owner...and Still Have a Life, Bill Collier
• Off The Wall Marketing Ideas: Jumpstart Your Sales without Busting Your Budget, Nancy Michaels and Debbi J. Karpowicz
• The Savvy Gal's Guide to Online Networking (Or What Would Jane Austen Do?), Diane K. Danielson with Lindsey Pollak

Have any favorites to add to the list? Share in the comments below!

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This post is expanded from Chapter 6: My Top 20 Secrets to Success in the book, VA Secrets Revealed! An Insider's Guide to Being a Successful Virtual Assistant. Grab a copy and follow along as I blog chapter-by-chapter!