So after reading ShoeMoney’s post about Books That Have Changed My Business I decided to put my own list also into the action of books that have really helped me take things to a new level. You will notice that none of them are specifically about you can make more money, or the latest technique for some new industry.
The reason for this is simple, you will have far more success working on your personal mindset and advancing yourself then you ever will reading the latest manual on how to do xyz. If you feel lost, pickup something that is going to help you break through your barriers, I can certainly tell you that you will not find that (or very rarely) find it in the latest offering anywhere within the IM industry.
Getting Things Done - The Art Of Stress Free Productivity
Getting things done by David Allen was originally recommended to me by Mark Ling over at the Affilorama Blog. It has to be one of the best books I have read in quite a while and one that has personally given me the largest increase in management and productivity in a very long time. I am not sure if that is because my focus skills are that of a 10 year old ADHD child on crack. But whatever it is this book has helped me in a massive way.
I could not recommend it strongly enough for anyone to read. When we implemented the entire system into our office the amount of stress it takes away from your mind is incredible, and not to mention the productivity increase we found in our staffing was also huge.
In short if you are trying to keep track of multiple projects or just run your business & your life more effectively this is a must have in your library.
How To Win Friends & Influence People
I first read this only in 2005 when I was still in the Royal Australian Navy and doing my advanced course and studying for my CCNA (Cisco Network). It is a very challenging book to adhere to strictly, but has reaped its rewards with me substantially. What makes it a challenging book is actually trying to stick to what it teaches. Essentially trying to understand that everyone has problems and being an ass about something that comes your way is not the way you should act.
Obviously it goes much further in-depth then that, but if you can seriously give a good shot at remaining true to this book then you will notice your ability at handling different situations is greatly increased. I have it in my list of books to read again and will be re-reading it shortly.
Written by the retired CEO of General Electrics this book is mainly about winning & success strategies of a business and the main management crisis’s that you will encounter in doing so. From how to manage employee’s, hire & fire right through to making major company wide changes.
I am not through this entire book yet am about 2/3 through and so far and will be putting it straight back into the bottom of my to read pile of books as I really think it deserves a second read to gain full benefit from it.
I am sure Daniel will have his own list of books to add into here later on or his own post to make, I swear that man has read an obscene amount of books for his age and all to do with self-help and growing yourself. You could call me a newbie on the topic if you will (even after reading and advancing my mindset for 5 years or so, I still have not even scratched the surface.)
So if you have a spare $20 or so for christmas, do yourself a favor and pick up a couple of these great reads.
I am also thinking of adding Tipping point to my to read list after seeing ShoeMoney’s write up on it.
Regards
Marc
“To Fail & Learn Is A Success - To Fail & Not Learn Is A True Failure”
Popularity: 40% [?]
I laughed when I read your self-description as a “10 year old ADHD child on crack” because I’m the same way. So much so that I BOUGHT “Getting Things Done” about 6 months ago and haven’t read it. And yet every day I bemoan my lack of organization and time management.
Thanks for the reminder - I just pulled the book off the shelf and am starting it today!
How true it is though, for me organization is a daily habit I need to habitually work towards. If I let it slip for just one second then the problem compounds.
I am extremely lucky my business parnter’s strengths are my weakness and vice versa
If you can implement “Getting Things Done” either fully or at least start partially, then you are miles ahead of the game.
Regards
Marc
the new Zen to Done ebook amalgamates Steven Covey’s 7 Habits with David Allen’s Getting Things Done….It’s a good read…..and it breaks the actions down into very simple steps!
Otherwise it would be Gladwell’s the Tipping Point and Made to Stick by the Heath boys.
Confession first - Not really a teen - just a plug for a new website.
Am 100% tubby, tho!!
How does “Getting Things Done” compare with Mark Joyner’s “Simpleology 101″? S101 was free when I got it and as far as I know that hasn’t changed.
Simpleology was a revelation to me - if I had access to it years ago I’m sure my life would be radically different now. If “Getting Things Done” is anything like as effective then it’s worth more than all your other tools and books combined.
Steve1943
http://StevenHenderson.com
I extreamly like the boo “how to make friends”.
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