Little Black Book by Otegha Uwagba Summary

Little Black Book is a practical guide for women navigating creative careers, offering actionable strategies for productivity, personal branding, financial management, and overcoming workplace challenges. It covers freelancing tips, networking tactics, and resilience-building frameworks, with a focus on self-empowerment in industries like design, media, and content creation.

The book targets women in creative fields (bloggers, designers, freelancers) during the first 10 years of their careers. It’s especially relevant for UK-based professionals but includes globally applicable advice on negotiating pay, managing irregular income, and building a personal brand.

Yes—it’s praised for its no-nonsense, actionable advice on taboo topics like self-advocacy and burnout. Endorsed by Elle and Sunday Times, it’s ideal for creatives seeking concise, tactical guidance rather than theoretical concepts.

• Power Hour: Dedicate the first hour to priority tasks without distractions.
• Work Blocks: Schedule focused 90-minute sessions with breaks.
• Single-Tasking: Avoid multitasking to reduce mental exhaustion.

Uwagba recommends seeking inspiration outside your niche (e.g., art exhibitions), collaborating for fresh perspectives, simplifying tasks into micro-goals, and changing workspaces to spark innovation.

Key strategies include:

• Defining a unique selling point (USP) tied to skills/values.
• Maintaining consistent aesthetics across portfolios/social media.
• Using LinkedIn and Instagram to showcase expertise authentically.

It provides templates for invoicing, advises on setting tiered pricing based on client budgets, and emphasizes negotiating retainers for income stability. Uwagba also discusses navigating late payments tactfully.

• “Know your worth—then add tax” (negotiation mindset).
• “Burnout isn’t a badge of honor” (prioritizing mental health).
• “Your network is your safety net” (relationship-building).

While Slay in Your Lane focuses on systemic barriers for Black British women, Little Black Book offers industry-agnostic tactics for freelancers and creatives. Both emphasize self-advocacy but differ in scope.

With remote work and AI reshaping creative jobs, its frameworks for adaptability, digital branding, and gig economy navigation remain critical. Updated editions include AI tool recommendations for content creators.

Some reviewers note the advice leans basic for seasoned professionals and overly London-centric. However, its concise format is praised for accessibility.

Chapter 4 outlines techniques like breath control, audience engagement scripting, and reframing nerves as excitement—tailored for introverted creatives.