Five Fantastic Books That Will Help You Grow While You Stay at Home | Recommended Reading
Updated: Jan 24, 2022
Most of us suddenly have a TON of time on our hands. If you’re like me, you probably already have a stack of TBR’s sitting on the shelf. But, I’m about to introduce you to five more titles that I think are definitely worth checking out, especially if your goal is to focus on personal growth during this time.
1. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Who should read this book?
Emerging adults, Millennials, Gen Z, Entrepreneurs, College Students, Anyone Looking for a Reality Check
Why I like it:
I'm a big fan of Mark Manson's blog and Instagram. The Subtle Are of Not Giving a F*ck takes all of that great content and brings it together in one place, then expands on it. He validated so many thoughts and beliefs I had expressed, but seemed unpopular in today's society. "Positive thinking is the way to a happy life." Uh, no. Mark and I both agree that "positivity" on it's own is useless in achieving real happiness, true joy.
It's defining your core set values and living according to them that will create a fulfilled life.
He points out that most people are living according to values that suck, and so comes shallow living, or discontentment, or resentment, etc etc.
Do you know what you value? Like, could you list your top 5 or 10 values in your life right now, in a list? No? Let's work on that.
2. Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
Who should read this book?
Managers, Parents, Supervisors, Non-Profit Staff, Business Owners, Graduate Students, College Students, Entrepreneurs, Leadership Educators, Fundraisers
Why I like it:
My biggest takeaway from this book was the lesson of how vital trust is in a team. And while the book comes from a business perspective, it's easy to apply the lessons to any team - a staff, a family unit, a civic organization, a volunteer group, a student organization, etc. When leaders create an organizational culture of trust with a team, it's proven that the team will work harder, show loyalty, and be more fulfilled. Incentivization - whether rewards or reprimands - do not work as well as building a culture of trust.
Are you ready to take your team to the next level? Do you want to shift your organizational culture? Do you as an employer, leader, employee, or team member want to be more fulfilled in your role? This is a great place to explore those possibilities.
3. The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
Who should read this book?
Literally everyone on the planet. Anyone who plans on being with two or more people for any purpose at any point in their lives.
Why I like it:
When 3 or more people come together for a common purpose, that is a gathering. Everything from dinner parties, to conferences, to funerals, to birthday celebrations, graduations, TV show watch parties, happy hours, to dog training classes - as humans we gather constantly. And yet so many of our gatherings are mediocre, or defined by some unwritten event formula, or fall short of expectations.
Priya brilliantly talks about how we can easily improve any and every gathering we host or are part of. This book has been a game changer for me as an event manager, a people manager, a speaker, and a person who loves to host and entertain. It has also influenced the way I think about interacting with people in my everyday life.
Are you looking for a book that can transform your way of thinking? Do you want to easily and brilliantly be the best host or group leader people know? Are you willing to rethink what society has taught you about what certain events are "supposed" to look like? Are you planning on being with two or more people for the same purpose at any point in your future? Then you absolutely need this book.
4. Strengths Based Leadership by Barrie Conchie & Tom Rath
Who should read this book?
Students, Educators, Parents, Significant Others/Spouses, Business Owners, Civic Organizations, Non-Profits, Leadership Groups. Anyone looking for increased self-awareness.
Why I like it:
This book isn't a "normal" book in that it is actually a companion to the StrengthsQuest program. The majority of the book dives into each of the 34 Clifton Strengths. Each book comes with a unique code which is used to take an online assessment. This personal inventory assessment (a higher level "personality test") is my absolute favorite of all the personal inventories I have worked with. I firmly believe in many of the tenants of StrengthsQuest including:
We should learn about and focus on developing our strengths rather than our weaknesses. No matter how much you work on them, it will always take you twice as much time and effort to get half the results when working in an area of weakness. So instead, use half the time and energy and get twice the results from focusing on your strengths
All characteristics can be strengths as they manifest differently in different people.
People don't change. but through experiences and learning more about themselves, they become more of who they already had the capacity to be.
One of the most popular interview questions is "tell about your strengths and weaknesses." Do you have a clear, succinct answer to that question? Do you have the language around your strengths to be able to truly understand and explain them? Do you want to take your personal and professional development to the next level? This is the program for you!
5. Social Excellence: We Dare You by Jessica Gendron Williams, Josh Orendi, and Matthew Mattson
Who should read this book?
Students, Educators, Parents, Speakers/Facilitators, Civic Organizations, Volunteer Groups, Religious Groups, Friend Groups, Non-Profits, Business Staffs, People who work in public-facing jobs. Anyone who wants to challenge themselves to live a more fulfilled life.
Why I like it:
I recently did an entire Instagram series on the Four Pillars of Social Excellence, so if you want a quick taste of this book be sure to visit my Instagram highlights!
This is a fun, entertaining, and interactive book written very conversationally. It's a call to action, and the book reflects that in nearly every other page issuing a challenge or a reflection opportunity. It takes really complex, deep ideas like "vulnerability" and "authenticity" and makes them manageable and actionable. This is a lesson on how to live a successful, beautiful, fulfilled life. It's a mindset and a way of living that can move us toward being the best citizens of our community.
Do you want to create stronger connections in your life? Do you want to challenge yourself? Move out of your comfort zone and be more authentic and vulnerable? If you want to incorporate small, simple, but powerful skills in your life to be more curious, generous, authentic, and vulnerable this book is for you.
Of course, these books are just a few of many, many other great resources for personal growth. I hope that you find one that really speaks to you. If you or your organization would like to dive even deeper into some of these concepts, don’t hesitate to reach out. I would love to work with you to develop some FABULOUS personalized training.
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