Recommended Reading for Personal and Professional Success
My Recommendations for October
“The difference between where you are today and where you’ll be five years from now will be found in the quality of books you’ve read.” – Jim Rohn
I started thinking the other day about the books that I read and recommend, and how they’ve changed my life and the lives of others. With October just around the corner, I decided that I’m going to start putting forth a monthly, recommended-reading list now and then.I recommend a lot of books. The books I read, and subsequently recommend to others, are those that have been informative, educational, motivational and inspiring to me as a person, a friend, a father, a husband, a mentor, an entrepreneur and a businessman.
My success is not reflected only in my bank account; it is reflected in the nature of my life’s journey, my relationships, my business ventures and, yes, even the outcome of my “failures”.
There is no better investment that you can make than that of your education. Most people think of education simply as a means to success in business; education, however, extends to the soul, as well. When you work to improve yourself, as well as your business acumen, you can’t help succeed in every area of your life.
I hear a lot of people say things like “ I don’t have time to read”; I’m here to tell you that you don’t have time NOT to read. Others say things like, “I hate reading” or “ I just can’t stay focused”. First of all, stop saying those things; we manifest what we think about. But there are also a few tips and tricks to get you moving through the library of life.
For those who have difficulty with focus, I recommend audio books; you can listen while running the treadmill, driving to your next meeting or before you fall asleep at night.
Can’t find it in audio? Digest it in small bites. Set a 15-minute timer and read just a few pages each night before you go to bed or use a highlighter and highlight as you go along. I also recommend checking out this short pdf called How To Read A Book by Paul N. Edwards; it will help you learn how to get the most out of a book or other piece of material when you are reading for information rather than pleasure.
Collect a library of books that will grow your world. It will be the best investment you ever made in yourself.
Here are some of my favorite reading recommendations to get you going in October:
Go Givers Sell More by Bob Burg and John David Mann
Burg and Man demonstrate that cultivating trusting relationships, creating value for others, giving back and giving more is far more productive and satisfying than typical strategies that sales people employ. Pulling from a broad range of real life examples from salespeople who have prospered by giving more, Burg and Man offer up strategies that any sales person can begin applying to their day to day process.
E-Squared: Nine Do-It-Yourself Energy Experiments That Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality by Pam Grout
Entertaining, easy, quick and light reading, E-Squared is all about the power of intention, quantum physics and spirituality but delivered with a funny, lighthearted and pragmatic touch. Highly recommended, even for those doubters among us.
The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business by Josh Kaufman
Kaufman posits that earning an MBS is nothing more than a “very expensive social signal”. When making a decision about whether or not to go to business school, he did some numbers and decided that it was simply not a sound investment. Basically he bootstrapped his own business education by reading hundreds of business books on his own. Full of valuable, action oriented content, The Personal MBA is a must read for any entrepreneur or business executive who is looking to increase his or her business success. Kaufman also shares his extensive library of recommended reading for self-improvement, business management, creativity, communication, motivation, productivity and more.
The Art of Exceptional Living by Jim Rohn
One of the most unique business speakers of his day, Jim Rohn has inspired many. Presenting ideas and inspiration that will lead to progress, Rohn reveasl contemporary success secrets that are accessible and practical
The Shift: Taking Your Life From Ambition to Meaning by Dr. Dwayne Dyer
A Companion book to the documentary film of the same name, The Shift illustrates how a shift in our thinking can eliminate feelings of disconnectedness and moves us from the ego-centric “morning” into the “afternoon” of life where all is primarily influenced by purpose.
Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk
Vaynerchuk teaches us how to cash in on our passion in this best selling manifesto about how to making a killing doing what you love. Crush It is the “ultimate drivers manual for modern business”.
The Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T.Harv Eker
Eker has helped millions of people move closer to their goal of financial freedom. In Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, Eker reveals the illusive connection between merely wanting success and achieving it.
