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Five books and their takeaways

For those of us who didn’t go to business school but will go into business for ourselves in the future, the importance of books is undeniable. Luckily, we have loads to choose from!

Every time I read a new book on business and leadership, I wonder if life would be different had I read the book 10 years ago. Reading is an investment in your education. And, there’s never going to be a better time to do it than right now. Even if you don’t ever plan on having your own business, the tenets of time management, mind set and anxiety relief, are valuable to everyday life.

Reading is an investment in your education.

Photo by Kari Shea on Unsplash

Here are five books I read in the recent past and a key principle to implement from each:

Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes

Chet recommends a time management concept that, so far, has worked flawlessly. What happens to the stuff you were expected to do if everyone in the office keeps disturbing you? Break down the highest priority items of the day into 6-hour increments. Be as accurate as possible while giving each item a time limit and remember to only ‘touch it once’. Do not leave the item until it is absolutely done.

Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday

When the world outside is going crazy, it is important to remain ‘still’. Subjecting our minds to 24/7 sound bites, news or gossip from social media, is more likely to leave us in a reactive, unpleasant mood. This book does not tell us to ignore the world outside. On the contrary, if we are to help create solutions to problems, it asks us to give our minds the quiet, thinking time it deserves. This means, reducing consumption of news.

Photo by Özgür Akman on Unsplash

Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday

Do you sometimes feel paralyzed by thoughts of what everyone will say about you when you are giving a presentation? Or when someone attacks you for voicing your opinion on something that matters? Try to remind yourself then, ‘this is not about me, this is not about my ego, this is about the work’. The focus must always be on the work; about the impact the work will bring about, and not the personal benefit it will bring to you. This kind of thinking helps us understand what we should really focus on.

‘This is not about me, this is not about my ego, this is about the work.’

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson

When something gets your worked up, try saying to yourself ‘oh here I go again, my soap opera is starting’. This will make you laugh and you will find yourself relaxing! The idea is to not take yourself too seriously all the time. Only a mind that is calm can make good decisions for the future. So, having the ability to laugh at ourselves is well worth the effort.   

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Setting the Table: the Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Danny Meyer

Hire more for optimism, positivity and personality, and less for experience and skills. This is because happy people are inherently trainable, are a joy to be associated with, and give off positive vibes. They are also better in problem solving, caring for upset customers, and thinking on their feet!

Looking for more book recommendation? Find them here.

Did you read any books in the past few months that you loved? Let me know in a comment below!

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