Goodreads asked the question in a public forum “what books should everyone read this year?” As authors and readers chimed in, here’s a list of 41 extracted. They include classics to recently released books in different genres.
Don’t worry if you can’t get through them all. Just keep the list as a yearly reference
Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.”
Stephen Covey
The concept to sharpen the saw highlights the point that when you have been going, going, and going …and you can’t seem to see any results. Acknowledge that it’s time to stop. It’s time to refresh. It’s time for a break to get the rest you need to start thinking so you can be productive again.
I went to the grocery store that’s been in the same locale for more than 10 years. As I stepped in, the Traditional Fragrance of the familiar faces was missing. Confused, I enquired, where are they? I was told that the owners sold the business and had moved to a different location for a bigger and better venture.
I felt cheated. Immediately I decided I’d go find them for… how could they do that to ‘me’?!
Then I started thinking about my own passion. Daily I encourage individuals to take the leap…, go do what you have always wanted to do. Yet here I was–feeling cheated. How dare me?
Has that ever happened to you? We love the familiar. The thing that so Harmonizes and makes us comfortable. Safe. Tranquil. At peace. When it’s gone, we feel a hollow in our life…in our soul. I reflect on the…
Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing. When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.
Billy Graham
I was a sprinter. I ran the 100 meter dash; 200 meter and 4 x 100 meter races. This was my thing. When I was called upon, I was ready. It was a desire to achieve not for me but for the wider team’s goal. That’s one of the memories held dear throughout my childhood into adulthood where I participated in events well into my late 20’s.
As I reflect, I am taken aback by the same habits that I used which has stuck with me even today. Here I share.
7 Habits Of A Highly Effective Athlete
1.Discipline
Here it is not about being forced to do something. It is about maintaining daily habits to achieve good or satisfactory outcomes. My dad was a boxing champion who fought for the land of my birth. He was a winner. I would rise early mornings and go running with him before daybreak. Then in the evenings after school I would go practice with fellow athletes. This daily mantra improved my abilities. It was not for personal gratification but for helping the team to win; whether it was school, church camps, or organizational competitive games to come out on top.
Determination means the ability to do something even when the odds are against you. My natural prowess slowed in recent years because I became latent. I sit at the computer all day working without hardly ever getting up to stretch. So after discussion with a personal coach, I decided to start working out. On my second class, I had to drive a 4-hour return trip. I was 5 minutes late for the class due to traffic and was turned away. I had missed the warm-up and didn’t know much. I was disappointed. But through my determination, I decided to make sure it never happened again. I have been attending and haven’t been late again. In this case, my health goals are too important to miss.
3.Drive To Succeed
This trait has driven me to go after my goals, dreams and aspirations. My studies and organizational leadership prowess has helped me to manage business operations with a desire to see others succeed. My published books on Success, leadership, career development and motivation are solid proof.
4.Never Give Up
In the first course I did after I left high school, a teacher lost the end of term paperwork I submitted. She searched and couldn’t find it. This was not submitted online but in person. Talk about being disappointed. I was devastated but I was determined to graduate. So I took a deep breath, asked to redo the major assignment and turned it in again. Yes, I graduated and found that my early training to never give up has stayed with me throughout life’s ups and downs. That experience helped build my strength of character.
5.Commitment
This quality is one that many organizations desire in people. It is a pledge or an agreement to do something. The problem is, we have to strike that balance. Overcommitment, especially for workaholics, can lead to restricted work/life balance or self-care.
The more committed you are, the more work you get….yikes! Certainly the goal you planned (smile)
6.Planning
One thing an athlete must do is plan. No plan easily translates into failure with missed deadlines, priorities and more. A friend shared the woes of a politician who was busy working in the community trying to attract votes. He was successful at that but later discovered that he had missed the application deadline. After all he had done, he was left off the ballot.
7.Teamwork & Care For Others
Teamwork means working together with a group of people to achieve a common goal. Running a relay is never easy. Sometimes teammates become injured, tired, fall behind, or become overworked and the rest of the team must collaborate to build and eliminate the gap. This is not an easy feat but the effort is always well worth it and provides the reward. That’s what I did all those years. Collaborate.
Today, caring for others is my mantra. It goes deep within my inner being and provides that lasting satisfaction when as a professional leadership coach, I help individuals achieve their goals.
I look back and reflect on these traits and with renewed fervor and realize that they made me who I am today. What about you? Did any of the characteristics resonate? Any you would add? Do share, we would love to hear.
No matter who you are, no matter what you did, no matter where you’ve come from, you can always change, become a better version of yourself.
~Madonna
Longing to pursue a Dream? Experiencing a Strong desire to pursue that career change? Are you a New leader lacking confidence? So many of us experience one or more of these 5 Signs yet stay stuck for years.
You feel Stuck
Wanting to pursue a lifelong dream
Long to become your best self
Career Advancement and Personal Growth
Desiring to feel confident
As a Certified Master Coach, let’s get you or someone you know unstuck today. Ask me how and make this your best year yet.
Overcoming writer’s block isn’t always easy, but it helps to keep a pen and paper at the ready for when inspiration strikes.
Unknown
Many complain of experiencing writer’s block. It refers that time when writers attempt to write and nothing comes. Some complain that it last days, weeks, months. Others say it may even last years. The question came up in an authors’ forum. Here I share 13 tips recommended.
Take a day off from writing
Work on two different books at the same time. If you have trouble with one, move to the other. It helps with the creative process
If you don’t know what you’re going to write there’s no point in sitting down. What you can do is think during the day what the next few pages are going to be like (when writing fiction). So when you sit you know exactly what’s coming
Only it seems to me that once in your life before you die you ought to see a country where they don’t talk in English and don’t even want to. ~Thornton Wilder
I ordered a coffee and a little something to eat and savored the warmth and dryness. Somewhere in the background Nat King Cole sang a perky tune. I watched the rain beat down on the road outside and told myself that one day this would be twenty years ago. ~Bill Bryson
What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.
Jane Goodall
Nancy got the promotion! Yessss! Now what should she do? It was exciting when she Ditched her Job for a new and better opportunity. When Nancy learnt that she got the new role that came with higher salary and perks, she could hardly retain her joy. But as she began thinking deeply about her new role, she found herself nervous because she was new to management. She asked herself, what if I fail? What if they don’t like me? What if they realize I am a fraud? Tons of questions but the truth is to get out of this rump, there are things Nancy can do.
These three simple tips will help Nancy overcome her fear. At the minimum, she should be able to manage the jitters. In addition, there are books that deals with the art of managing for the new leader. Angela Robinson shared 12 Books for New Managers. Below I recommend 7. Take a look at the list below and choose one, two or a few that will help you grow in your new role.
7 Books Every New Manager Should Read
Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work For: A Guide for New Leaders by William A. Gentry Ph.D.
The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter by Michael Watkins
Welcome to Management: How to Grow From Top Performer to Excellent Leader by Ryan Hawk
The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You by Julie Zhuo
The First-Time Manager by Jim McCormick, Loren B. Belker, Gary S. Topchik
Everyone Deserves a Great Manager: The 6 Critical Practices for Leading a Team by Scott Jeffrey Miller and Todd Davis
Everyone Deserves a Great Manager: The 6 Critical Practices for Leading a Team by Scott Jeffrey Miller and Todd Davis
From the list, which do you like the most? Would you read and/or recommend to others? Do share. We would love to hear!
The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.
Oprah Winfrey
Change is hard. Changing a habit especially one that has been a habit for a lifetime is no small feat. Recently, the question was asked “how does one make change stick?” Great question especially with the holidays on the horizon when many are swamped with resolutions. Here are 7 easy to do strategies to help you progress.
Focus on your Why
Set Deadlines and Stick to it
Make Changes manageable
Celebrate Small Wins
Take small steps. Increase as you Progress
Get an Accountability Partner
Track your Progress
What has worked for you? Do share, we would love to hear.
Spending time alone is one of my absolute pleasures. I’m sure I’m not alone. You may also like to do that as well. A few years ago I shared that I had some planning to do and decided on a whim to jump into my car and drive to the beach. A few hours later, I had mapped out plans for my top goals for the rest of the year! yea! I left feeling totally satisfied to get things done! What seemed like an drilling exercise turned out to be quite productive, in a serene atmosphere.
Self-Care
Jo Chunyan shared a list of things do alone. I decided to pull my top 15 to share.
Journal. Write up a list of things you would love to do. Declare your dreams and intentions or simply empty out all your thoughts into your notebook.
Tough Nickel 
