#4 Lose the Busy Work: Deep Dive into Jenny Blake's "Free Time"

#5 Do You Have a Monkey on Your Back? Lessons from HBR's "On Managing Yourself"

Jacq and Michelle discuss Harvard Business Review's 10 Must Reads, "On Managing Yourself," exploring how to double down on strengths, manage energy, find work-life symbiosis, and avoid babysitting other people's "monkeys."  We sat down for a candid, unscripted conversation about the book HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself. We were a little surprised by the enduring wisdom in these classic articles (many are almost 20 years old!) and how the advice applies to freelancers and solopreneurs in 2026. Our conversation covers key concepts that reach beyond the business world, from authors like Peter Drucker. We think you'll appreciate how this book focuses on the whole person — far beyond their professional life, covering mind, body, and spirit.  In this episode, discover: * Why doubling down on your natural strengths is more effective than trying to achieve mediocrity in areas of low competence. * The difference between managing your time and managing your energy (physical, mental, and spiritual). * The life-changing mindset shift from "work-life balance" (a zero-sum game) to work-life symbiosis or harmony.  * Applying the "Four Wins" concept to your whole self to define success on your terms: Work, Family, Community, Self. * How to avoid caring for other people's "monkeys" (their work and emergencies) so you can focus on your "gorilla" (your real work). * Why the world is more accepting of second (and third, and even fifth) careers now. What Book is Next? We're reading A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload by Cal Newport, next. Care to join us? Links from this episode: * HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself [https://store.hbr.org/product/hbr-s-10-must-reads-on-managing-yourself-with-bonus-article-how-will-you-measure-your-life-by-clayton-m-christensen/12572] * A World Without Email: Reimagining Work in an Age of Communication Overload by Cal Newport [https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-world-without-email-reimagining-work-in-an-age-of-communication-overload-cal-newport/48ed3e93dd7035eb?ean=9780525536550&next=t&next=t&affiliate=2186&prhc=PRHE006BC4556] * Business Book Exchange Website [https://www.businessbookexchange.com/] * Jacq's Out of Office Email Replies (Get them free when you sign up to Jacq's Substack: Energy-First Writing [https://jacquelinefisch.substack.com/]) Meet your hosts: Jacqueline Fisch is a 3-time author, intuitive writing coach, and the founder of The Intuitive Writing School. Jacqueline Fisch Website [https://theintuitivewritingschool.com/] Michelle Guiliano is a podiatrist-turned-indexer and founder of Indexer Index, a directory website for working with freelance book indexers. Michelle Guiliano Website [https://linebylineindexing.com/]

#4 Lose the Busy Work: Deep Dive into Jenny Blake's "Free Time"

For freelancers and business owners: Learn to free up your time by applying Jenny Blake's Align, Design, Assign framework to eliminate busy work and love your business again.  In this episode of the Business Book Exchange, we explore Free Time: Lose the Busy Work, Love Your Business by Jenny Blake. On the front cover, Cal Newport said that Blake's book is "[a]n important vision of entrepreneurship." Is Blake's book also an important vision of "freelancership"? Listen in to hear us discuss: * What is "free time" anyway?  * Why it's essential to protect your focus time as a freelancer   * How Jenny's Align, Design, and Assign framework offers solopreneurs and solo freelancers a clear roadmap for streamlining their businesses * How to identify (and refuse) other people's "monkeys" so they don't take over your office Key Links: * Book Discussed: Free Time: Lose the Busy Work, Love Your Business [https://itsfreetime.com/book] by Jenny Blake * Mentioned Book: Pivot [https://www.pivotmethod.com/] by Jenny Blake * Podcast: Jenny Blake's Free Time podcast [https://www.pivotmethod.com/podcast] and Jacq's episode with Jenny [https://itsfreetime.com/episodes/179]. * Hybrid Publisher: Idea Press [https://www.ideapresspublishing.com/] * Book Cover Quote: Cal Newport [https://calnewport.com/] * Podcast on freelancer vs. entrepreneur: Seth Godin's Akimbo podcast  [https://shows.acast.com/akimbo/episodes/freelancers] Next month's book: On Managing Yourself  [https://store.hbr.org/product/hbr-s-10-must-reads-on-managing-yourself-with-bonus-article-how-will-you-measure-your-life-by-clayton-m-christensen/12572]from Harvard Business Review HBR's 10 Must Reads series  NOTE: We're reading HBR's 2011 edition–not the updated and expanded 2025 version. Meet your hosts: Jacqueline Fisch is a 3-time author, intuitive writing coach, and the founder of The Intuitive Writing School. Jacqueline Fisch Website [https://theintuitivewritingschool.com/] Michelle Guiliano is a podiatrist-turned-indexer and founder of Indexer Index, a directory website for working with freelance book indexers. Michelle Guiliano Website [https://linebylineindexing.com/]

#3 The Artist's Way: Creative Tools for Every Business Owner

Dive into the classic creativity guide, "The Artist's Way," by Julia Cameron, through a freelance business owner's lens.   This book might sound like it's just for artists, but we think it's required reading for every human. (We're all creative!)  For freelancers and business owners looking to build confidence and creative flow in their writing, work, and business, this book is a helpful guide, offering deep reflection and excavating limiting stories around fear and perfectionism — often the top blocks to building a thriving business. Listen in to hear us discuss: * Why creativity isn't limited to traditional artists but is relevant for everyone, especially business owners and freelancers * Key takeaways on morning pages as a useful daily tool to clear your mind, identify subconscious patterns, and let go of negativity * Practical ways to keep your creative spirit alive, no matter how busy you get * What's really behind creative blocks (and how to get through them) * A spacious way to engage with the book outside of the 12-week recommendation Key Links: * The Artist's Way [https://juliacameronlive.com/book/the-artists-way-a-spiritual-path-to-higher-creativity/], Julia Cameron * The Artist's Way for Parents [https://juliacameronlive.com/book/the-artists-way-for-parents/], Julia Cameron * Jacq's blog: "The Artist’s Way": A Book Review for Creative Entrepreneurs Who Write [https://theintuitivewritingschool.com/blog/the-artists-way-a-book-review-for-creative-entrepreneurs-who-write] Meet your hosts: Jacqueline Fisch is a 3-time author, intuitive writing coach, and the founder of The Intuitive Writing School. Jacqueline Fisch Website [https://theintuitivewritingschool.com/] Michelle Guiliano is a podiatrist-turned-indexer and founder of Indexer Index, a directory website for working with freelance book indexers. Michelle Guiliano Website [https://linebylineindexing.com/]

#1 Tim Ferriss's "The 4-Hour Workweek" Review: Lessons for Today's Entrepreneur

Is Tim Ferriss's "The 4-Hour Workweek," still relevant almost 20 years later? Discover the classic's timeless principles and how they apply to modern freelance work and life.  Show Notes: In this inaugural episode, we dive into Tim Ferriss’s classic book, The 4-Hour Workweek.  Each of us re-read this book on our own and then came together to share our biggest takeaways and what still resonates with us today as two freelance entrepreneurs. We share our initial experience with the book when we discovered it in 2008 and 2009 — before either of us had begun our freelance journeys.  The book's premise of remote work was revolutionary then, and now, post-2020, it's the norm. Jacqueline shares how she tested out some of the recommendations in her corporate life—some unsuccessfully. And Michelle shares her experience of discovering the book later in her career, after leaving medicine, and how some of its automation principles were already something she and her husband had implemented in their medical practice years ago. In short, this book is still mostly relevant in 2025. Here's what we cover: * Top takeaways, including the powerful truism, "Doing something unimportant well does not make it important."  * How the concept of a "low-information diet" and the benefits of being selective about the information we consume make for more efficient work and a happier life.  * The effectiveness of batching tasks, especially emails and content creation, as a time and energy-saving strategy that we both practice in our current work. * The enduring message that you don't need millions to live the life you want, and how the book encourages a "new rich" lifestyle that prioritizes freedom and experiences over traditional retirement. * Why we'll both keep this book in our respective libraries (and share it with our high schoolers and college-age kids) Key Links: * Business Book Exchange Website * Buy 4-Hour Work Week [https://tim.blog/tim-ferriss-books/?_ga=2.13650167.1985111309.1753810285-1052295504.1753810285](and see more from Tim Ferriss) * Tim Ferriss's blog post [https://tim.blog/2025/01/13/the-no-book/?utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=convertkit&utm_campaign=5bf#content]about "The No Book" What We're Reading Next: Derek Sivers's Anything You Want [https://sive.rs/a](This is NOT an affiliate link.) Meet your hosts: Jacqueline Fisch is a 3-time author, intuitive writing coach, and the founder of The Intuitive Writing School. Jacqueline Fisch Website [https://theintuitivewritingschool.com/] Michelle Guiliano is a podiatrist-turned-indexer and founder of Indexer Index, a directory website for working with freelance book indexers. Michelle Guiliano Website [https://linebylineindexing.com/]

#2 Beyond the Business Book: "Anything You Want" and the Art of Entrepreneurship

Explore "Anything You Want" by Derek Sivers to discover timeless lessons on entrepreneurship, customer service, and building a business you love.  What kind of business do you actually WANT to build?  Derek Sivers answers this important question in an elegant, humorous, and brief way in his manifesto/book, Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur. This book is a quick read that packs a powerful punch, filled with insights for rethinking your business approach. We appreciate Derek's honest accounts of the early days of what turned out to be a massively successful business. Listen in to hear us discuss: * Why Derek Sivers wrote this book and details about his unique publishing model. * The book's minimalist style and its effectiveness without filler (brevity works really well, especially here). * Key takeaways on excellence in customer service, generosity, and authenticity in business. * How the lessons in the book apply to various business models, including freelancing. * The book's timeless principles in 2025. Key Links: Buy Anything You Want [https://sive.rs/a] directly from Derek Sivers (and see his unique approach to publishing in action). This is NOT an affiliate link. What We're Reading Next: Julia Cameron's  The Artist's Way [https://juliacameronlive.com/book/the-artists-way-a-spiritual-path-to-higher-creativity/]. This is NOT an affiliate link. Meet your hosts: Jacqueline Fisch is a 3-time author, intuitive writing coach, and the founder of The Intuitive Writing School. Jacqueline Fisch Website [https://theintuitivewritingschool.com/] Michelle Guiliano is a podiatrist-turned-indexer and founder of Indexer Index, a directory website for working with freelance book indexers. Michelle Guiliano Website [https://linebylineindexing.com/]