Creative leaders Tara Hurster and Sarah Gross share the books they recommend most often to clients. Whether you’re looking to level up your mornings, rethink your relationship with money, or tell a stronger brand story, these titles offer practical wisdom (and a good laugh or two) for anyone chasing success without burning out.
If you’ve ever googled “books that lead to success” and found yourself staring at a pile of jargon-heavy titles that promise to “10x your life,” we get it. You’re not looking for another productivity cult. You’re looking for something that meets you where you are: creative, driven, sometimes overwhelmed, and trying to make something meaningful without burning out.
We spoke to two brilliant minds who know exactly what that feels like:
They’ve both worked with creatives and leaders navigating big dreams, messy realities, and the pressure to keep all the plates spinning. Here’s what they recommend reading if you want to grow in a way that actually feels good.
Tara starts with a book that challenged her to rethink mornings. Not in a "sunrise yoga" way, but in a "what if the start of your day wasn’t a complete scramble?" way.
📘 The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
"This is the first book I ever told to go f*ck itself," she says. Why? Because it told her to get up even earlier than 5am. (Yes, really.) But—stick with it. Tara admits that once she made it to the end, the whole picture clicked into place.
Read it all the way through, she says. Then reread it. That’s when the magic happens.
Money mindset might sound fluffy, but it’s often the thing standing between creatives and stability. Tara swears by these two:
📗 You're a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
Not to be confused with the yellow one. This one’s green, and it’s packed with sharp insights, hilarious honesty, and practical exercises that’ll shift how you think about earning (and deserving) more.
📙 The Barefoot Investor by Scott Pape
Simple. Actionable. And, as Tara puts it: “If you want money in your bank account, do this.”
When it comes to business, the way you tell your story matters just as much as what you're selling. These two books dig into the “why” behind your work—and how to share it with the world.
📘 Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller
“This book changed my business life,” says Tara. From writing web copy to nailing a pitch, it’s full of tools that help you explain your value—without sounding like a robot.
Plus, Miller uses an analogy involving a cat, a rat, and a windchime factory. If that’s not reason enough to give it a go, we don’t know what is.
📘 Start with Why by Simon Sinek
Sarah recommends this for anyone feeling a bit lost in the “what” and “how” of their business. Starting with why grounds your work in meaning—and makes it a whole lot easier to stay motivated.
If you’re building a team or leading a business, these next picks will help you do it with more clarity and less chaos.
📘 Predictable Success by Les McKeown
A roadmap for understanding the messy, human journey of growing something from idea to established business. Tara calls it a must-read for anyone in leadership.
📘 No Rules Rules (Netflix culture book)
An inside look at how Netflix built a culture that prioritised trust, freedom, and innovation. Even if you don’t run a global company, the lessons translate.
Here are a few more favourites from Tara’s shelf:
Success isn’t a one-size-fits-all checklist. And sometimes, the books that push your buttons are the ones you need most. (Looking at you, 5am wake-up calls.)
The truth is, thriving in a creative career is less about grinding harder and more about getting aligned—with your energy, your goals, and your values. The right books can help. These ones come with real-world advice, genuine humour, and no pyramid schemes.
So whether you’re rethinking your mornings, unravelling your money stories, or trying to build a business that doesn’t eat your life, there’s something in here for you.
Your future self might just thank you for it.
Creative Director and Partner at Storyfolk, a Melbourne and Torquay branding studio. Blends strategy, design, art direction and copy to craft bold, meaningful brands. Believes in design as a force for good.
Psychologist & founder of The TARA Clinic, helping high-achievers overcome addiction without shame. Focused on practical, flexible solutions like on-demand courses to support lasting change.
Founder of Never Not Creative, CEO of Streamtime & co-chair of Mentally Healthy, driven to make the creative industry fairer & more human. Believes great work should never cost wellbeing.
