KEEP LEARNING
As a product of a liberal arts education, I believe learning is the stuff of life. If you're here, you probably agree. Here are some of the resources I've found valuable along the way and often recommend to friends and clients, as well as some of the things I'm working on now. Some have links to a book, but others like "Quiet" have a link to their community site where you can keep learning.
(By the way, please send me a note to let me know what you find helpful, with any questions or with your own recommendations. I'm always looking for more.)
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking
Susan Cain
This is a priceless book that helped me understand relationships in a whole new way. Quiet is a well researched and insightful exploration of how personality shapes our lives and our society. My big takeaway was an increase of how to understand myself as in introvert functioning in an extroverted world.
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work...
Michael E. Gerber
I require each new business owner client to read this book. The most common response I've gotten is, “How did they know?” The E-Myth, written about 20 years ago, shatters the myths surrounding starting your own business and shows how commonplace assumptions can get in the way of running a business.
Yoga
I practice and teach it.
The art of yoga and the art of business uniquely overlap for me. Thirty-two years of practicing yoga have taught me skills that translate to success in business; flexibility, groundedness, presence, balance, patience and finding your own edge. I can't imagine my life without yoga.
The Middle Finger Project
Ash Ambirge
Ash Ambirge’s snarky and edgy blog is totally unique. Her primary audience is women in their thirties, who often sell themselves short in the business world, yet I enjoy it's humor and insightfulness. Her content is well thought out and applicable to everyone who needs to communicate more effectively in business (and in life, for that matter).
How Great Leaders Inspire Action: TED-talk
Simon Sinek
I was blown away by Simon Sinek’s insight in to how great leaders move us to action and how you can motivate your prospects to buy. He explores how we intuitively make decisions as be buy products, services, and choose our leaders. Check out his message to see how it will apply to your life. I have listened to it a dozen times.
The ManKind Project International
I'm a facilitator and group leader.
Mankind Project’s tagline is “Changing the world, one man at a time.” This amazing international organization which I've been closely involved with for 11 years is dedicated to “building and supporting the emotionally mature, accountable, and compassionate male role models that our communities need.” If reading these two quotes inspires you in any way, call me. I’d love to talk to you about it.
Good to Great
Jim Collins
What continually speaks to me in this book is the leadership it takes to make business work for the long haul. My biggest frustration with business is leading quarter by quarter, and Good to Great addresses that. Focus on the one thing you are great at.
Getting Things Done
David Allen
My dad taught me early on that anticipation and preparation are critical to making business work. I have seen that without those disciplines business owners fight fires all day long. Allen’s methods have shown me how to maintain control of my inbox, my papers and my life, and the book has become a classic.
The Alchemist
Paulo Coehlo
The Alchemist is a novel of “the hero’s journey.” It’s a call to find our truth though listening deeply to our dreams and fully living a full life. Because many of my clients are men on a path of personal growth I find this novel helps open the channel to the hero’s journey inside each of us.
Action Selling: How to Sell Like a Professional Even If You Think You Are One
Duane Sparks
This is great book for those who are new to sales as a process or struggling to makes sales work. It's an approachable, guide to a clear structure leading to sales success. At the heart of it all is the idea that “It’s not what you say, it’s what you ask.” I also love the quote “to gain $50,000 commitment you need a $50,000 relationship.”