Books – One of Your Best Resources!

How many of you just love to read books? I know I do. They open up the world to me and I can get lost in the pages of a book for hours and hours. Business books and autobiographies are my favorite. “People who say they don’t have time to read simply don’t want to.” – Julie Rugg, A Book Addict‘s TreasuryI was quite shocked when I read the statistics in this graphic below! I have always loved books and I have always loved to read. I read somewhere that entrepreneurs who take 30 minutes at the start of each day to read and learn more about business are destined to succeed. It is a habit I have developed and which has served me well. Here is a list of the books I am currently reading and which I highly recommend – some will be familiar to you – others, not so much. Books can be dangerous. The best ones should be labeled “This could change your life.” - Helen Exley1) “HOW TO SUCCEED AT BEING YOURSELF.” – by Joyce Meyer I am reading this book because of all the great lessons I learned from a recent program I took, led by Larry Winget and Suzanne Evans (my coaches). The ‘moral of the story’ in the training was simply ‘be yourself’. For many of us, at a certain age, we have forgotten this powerful lesson – and, as entrepreneurs, it is essential to master this. In this book, Joyce talks about accepting yourself in spite of your weaknesses, how to experience the freedom to develop your gifts and abilities, how to leave the past behind and press forward into a new life and how to live free from any hindrances. In business, there is a lot of competition out there these days – how do you stand out in the crowd – how are you different – why would people want to work with you. It’s all about your story and who you are. Grab this book. It will change your life and change your business! 2) “DRIVE” by Daniel Pink. Yes, I do love to read books about mindset. It’s my field of expertise and I can never get enough. Daniel Pink is a transformational thought leader and writes some of the best books I have ever delved into. In this book, he speaks about the secret to performance and satisfaction being the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world. Pink examines the three elements of true motivation – autonomy, mastery and purpose – and offers smart and surprising techniques for putting these into action. As entrepreneurs, it is critical to be clear about your purpose – it is also essential to become a ‘master’ at what you do. That alone will help you stand out in a crowd. For me, it’s all about mastery and that is one area I am focusing on this year in my business. 3) “The Greatest Salesman in the World” by Og Mandino. I have read, and re-read, many of Mandino’s books. They are amazing. Solid content. Short and to the point (this particular book is only 111 pages and has large print, LOL – love that!). I love reference in Chapter 10 where he talks about the mindset that ‘I will persist until I succeed’. Great tips in this book for any kind of entrepreneur. Chapter 16 talks about the need to take action! You will love this little book. “Be awesome! Be a book nut!” - Dr. Seuss4) “The Anti-Tech Guide for Non-Techies!” by Donna Moyer. I hosted an event in Toronto recently for entrepreneurs. Donna is a colleague of mine and had copies of her new book available to the audience. This book was a winner! It is one of a kind – very unique – written in plain English- and, in my opinion, this is a ‘must read’ for all entrepreneurs. Donna talks about everything from selecting a computer through to getting great tech help through to your online presence. Her advice on page 61 alone will save many entrepreneurs headaches, grey hair, stress and lots of money! Check it out. You’ll be happy you did. (Donna Moyer’s book is only available by contacting her directly) 5) “Boundaries” by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. I love, love, love this book. I have had it for years – it is a book I re-read each winter. The content speaks to the constant challenge of most entrepreneurs which is around time management. But it’s much more than that too – the authors talk about when to say YES, when to say NO, and when to take control of your life. The chapter on creating boundaries with family and friends has powerful content and recommendations. This book should be on the shelf of every entrepreneur! So, my advice to you is to start reading and avoid becoming a statistic! Back away from the TV, surfing the internet, playing video games and so on. Grab a book. Spend some quiet time each day learning and growing – your business will reflect that awesome habit! If there’s a book you really want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it. - Toni Morrison