books

As you probably know, most business books are AWFUL. Do you want to read INCREDIBLE business books that change the way you work? Check these out:

shipIt’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy
By Michael Abrashoff. This is a great book on leadership — Abrashoff does an excellent job making his Navy experience relevant to business. Met Michael a number of years ago — a powerful person.

carrot

The Carrot Principle: How the Best Managers Use Recognition to Engage Their Employees, Retain Talent, and Drive Performance
By Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton. This book makes a compelling case for more recognition in organizations. It is very creative, with lots of real-world examples. It really stimulated my thinking.

assholeThe No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t
By Robert I. Sutton. Okay, I get that the title is a little raw. Get over it. You need this book. It’s honestly one of the best books I’ve read this year. Honest, practical, and inspiring.

daleHow to Win Friends & Influence People
By Dale Carnegie. This is the bible — buy it and live it. This grandfather of all people-skills books was first published in 1937. It was an overnight hit, eventually selling 15 million copies. How to Win Friends and Influence People is just as useful today as it was when it was first published, because Dale Carnegie had an understanding of human nature that will never be outdated.

presentationzenPresentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery
By Garr Reynolds. This is the book that first taught me that when it comes to presentations, less is more. You should read this book before you make another presentation to anyone. Then you should buy a copy for each of your employees!

pink2A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future
By Daniel Pink. Lawyers. Accountants. Radiologists. Software engineers. That’s what our parents encouraged us to become when we grew up. But Mom and Dad were wrong. The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind.

brag1Brag! The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It
By Peggy Klaus. Brag! is a whip smart tool kit — one that tampers with our beliefs about humility by defining bragging as an act of authenticity. Peggy Klaus, a Fortune 500 communication coach, sharpened her strategies in Hollywood, “the bragging capitol of the world,” where she learned the art of tooting your horn, without blowing it.

bigThe Magic of Thinking Big
By David Schwartz. Long regarded as one of the foremost experts on motivation, Schwartz will help you manage better, earn more money, and — most important of all — find greater happiness and peace of mind. He proves that you don’t need to have an innate talent to attain great success — but you do need to learn and understand the habit of thinking and behaving in ways that will get you there.

charisma4Executive Charisma: Six Steps to Mastering the Art of Leadership
By D.A. Benton. A proven six-step process for acquiring the style, flair, and credibility needed to make it to the top. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, managers who do not exude an all encompassing self-confidence, style, poise, and energy, in short, “executive presence,” are highly unlikely to make it to the corner office.

nevereatNever Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
By Keith Ferrazzi. “Never Eat Alone” is a terrific guide to building and nurturing value-added relationships. The book combines tangible suggestions for improvement with reinforcing and inspirational stories of Keith’s own experiences. I went through this book so quickly, I was sad that it was over — a rarity in business book-land!

4hourThe 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
By Tim Ferriss. Ferriss gives some great ideas about starting your own business even if you don’t have or desire an MBA. He provides lists of free and paid resources to help you along the way. There is a simple roadmap for freeing yourself from the 9-5 grind. Is it attainable? I hope so.

successThe Secret Language of Success: Using Body Language to Get What You Want
By David Lewis. The jewel of my library. Have you ever felt that you could walk into a room without being noticed and leave and not be missed? Your inability to make your presence felt has probably made you frustrated on more than one occasion. This book teaches you the secret language of silent speech and body language.