Author provides a 'smorgasbord of choices' to start or build a business

For every business problem there are books with solutions, and I read so much nonfiction that I have to be wary of becoming a "book-pusher."

However, I have no qualms about saying that if you're serious about being or becoming an entrepreneur, you must read "Entrepreneurial You: Monetize Your Expertise, Create Multiple Income Streams, and Thrive" by Dorie Clark.

A prolific writer and social media guru, Clark spills the secrets of her success and she doesn't spare us any details or drama. She generously gives us an inside peek into the very strategic and time-consuming steps she has made to building her business, one email, column and blog post at a time. She also shares delicious stories from her high-profile colleagues and clients.

Clark gives a positive yet pragmatic overview of how it is to "work for yourself."

Yes, there are great benefits to diversifying your (work) portfolio so you aren't the victim of one employer's downsizing. But she also manages to impress on the reader the sobriety required for making this decision, a decision that we entrepreneurs know is not for the faint of heart. The move to create and build a sustainable business and all that implies requires relentless marketing, strategic branding and a commitment to, not "working for yourself" but rather working for the people we serve.

"What matters most," she writes, "is focus and execution."

"Entrepreneurial You" has every ingredient, including spice, in the recipe of success for the self-employed. If you are building a practice or a side business, this book is for you. Don't be dismayed if you can't do everything she recommends: no one can, even the author herself. Instead, Clark provides a smorgasbord of choices to help us build a thriving business that brings us joy - and revenue.

• Vickie Austin is a business and career coach, professional speaker and author of Circles of Gold: Honoring Your Network for Business and Career Success. She hosts "Biz Books Review" the third Tuesday of every month at the Wheaton Public Library. You can reach her at choicesworldwide.com, (312) 213-1795, and you can connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter (@Vickie_Austin).