Kathleen Shannon Books
Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson are creative entrepreneurs and co-founders of the Being Boss podcast and community.
Known for: Being Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own Terms
Books by Kathleen Shannon
Being Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own Terms
Being Boss is a practical and empowering guide for creative entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent thinkers who want more than just a successful business—they want a life that feels intentional, sustainable, and fully their own. Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson argue that being a “boss” is not only about making money or becoming your own manager. It is about taking responsibility for your mindset, your choices, your time, and the way your work fits into the life you actually want to live. Drawing on the lessons they developed through their widely followed Being Boss podcast and creative business community, the authors combine personal insight with grounded business advice. They explore the inner work behind entrepreneurship—beliefs, fears, identity, and confidence—alongside the practical foundations of routines, branding, money, collaboration, and decision-making. What makes this book matter is its refusal to separate ambition from well-being. Shannon and Thompson speak directly to people building careers around creativity, where freedom is often the goal but burnout is the reality. Their message is clear: you can build a business with purpose, protect your energy, and define success on your own terms.
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Mindset Shapes Every Business Decision
Every business problem is partly a mindset problem. Before pricing your work, launching an offer, or pitching a client, you are already acting from a set of beliefs about what you deserve, what is possible, and whether you are capable. Shannon and Thompson begin here because so many creative entrepr...
From Being Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own Terms
Intentions Create Aligned Success
Not every goal leads to a satisfying life. One of the book’s most valuable distinctions is between chasing goals for their own sake and setting intentions that align with who you want to be. Goals are often external and measurable: earn a certain amount, sign a set number of clients, launch a produc...
From Being Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own Terms
Routines Turn Creativity Into Reliability
Creative freedom is often romanticized, but without structure it can quickly turn into chaos. Shannon and Thompson make the case that routines and habits are not enemies of creativity—they are what allow creativity to flourish consistently. Inspiration is unpredictable; a sustainable business cannot...
From Being Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own Terms
Boundaries Protect Your Energy and Vision
If you do not set boundaries, other people will set them for you. One of the central lessons in Being Boss is that freedom in business is not created by flexibility alone; it is created by clear limits. Many entrepreneurs, especially in service-based and creative fields, begin their business seeking...
From Being Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own Terms
A Healthy Money Mindset Enables Growth
Many creative people want financial stability but feel uneasy talking about money. Shannon and Thompson challenge this discomfort directly. They argue that money is not a distraction from meaningful work; it is what makes meaningful work sustainable. If you underprice, avoid bookkeeping, or treat in...
From Being Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own Terms
Branding Begins With Identity and Trust
A strong brand is not just a logo, color palette, or polished website. Shannon and Thompson emphasize that branding starts with identity: who you are, what you stand for, and how people consistently experience your work. For creative entrepreneurs, this matters because your brand is often the bridge...
From Being Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own Terms
About Kathleen Shannon
Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson are creative entrepreneurs and co-founders of the Being Boss podcast and community.
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Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson are creative entrepreneurs and co-founders of the Being Boss podcast and community.
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