I am often asked for book recommendations, but before I respond I always ask one simple question, what do you need to learn?
Here are some of the most frequently requested topics, and my favorite book in each category:
1. I have habits I want to break.
Subtitle: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
Author: Charles Duhigg
What it will do for you: If you are truly ready to ditch your bad habits and replace them with ones that accelerate your goals, this book tells great stories about individuals and organizations that have used Duhigg's cue-routine-reward cycle to effectively change habits.
2. I want to boost my creativity.
Subtitle: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
Author: Ed Catmull, Amy Wallace
What it will do for you: Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace takes the wonderful storytelling that has set Pixar apart and brings it to a leadership audience, sharing inspiring stories about ditching conference room tables, shutting down the company for a day just to listen, and much more. You will immediately want to replicate some of Pixar's ideas in your own company.
3. I want to ditch my inner-Eeyore view of the world.
Subtitle: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life
Author: Martin Seligman
What it will do for you: This book will give you the confidence that you can escape pessimism, bounce back from setbacks, take control of your whole life, and inspire your team with practical exercises to enhance your skills at perceiving a brighter side of life.
4. I want to create an endless sales pipeline.
Subtitle: Powerful Strategies to Drive Consistent Growth Year After Year
Author: Colleen Francis
What it will do for you: This book delivers simple but brilliant ideas that turn conventional wisdom on its head. Colleen Francis will help you see that you need to forget your linear sales pipeline, and instead create a 360-degree view of your horizon using your Sales Radar to more quickly turn prospects into customers.
5. I want to rapidly increase my business without spending too much time.
Subtitle: The Simple Art of Growing Your Business by 15% in 15 Minutes Per Day
Author: Alex Goldfayn
What it will do for you: Follow Goldfayn's brilliant advice and you will get an endless supply of customer testimonials, spontaneous referrals, and new business, and it will compel you to buy a beautiful fountain pen and stop obsessing over social media. His advice simply works.
6. I want to launch my own consulting business.
Subtitle: How to Kick-start a Successful Consulting Practice in 90 Days
Author: Alan Weiss
What it will do for you: Many entrepreneurs and executives ask me about rapidly launching a consulting or speaking business. Alan Weiss will take you from talking about your own business to actually becoming a solo entrepreneur. This book is a great summary of many of Alan's 55 books on consulting, providing just the information you need when you need it on how to build your brand, draw prospects to you, and launch you on the road to becoming a million dollar consultant. I found his books so remarkable, I hired him as my own personal coach.
Enjoy these recommendations for my top requested topics. Let me know which subjects you are looking for a book recommendation on in the comments and I will be glad to provide my favorites in a future article.
