7
Business Books That Changed My Life
Not
long ago, a business major asked me to recommend business books that had changed my life.
I can name plenty of great books,
but books that changed my life? Those had to make a lasting impact on how I
think and act, which makes the list much shorter.
Each of the following books meets
that standard. In certain situations, I immediately flash back to a particular
book and think, "I know exactly what to do."
And
isn't that a great definition of "changed my life"?
1. The Talent Code, by Daniel Coyle
We're
all trying to learn new skills and improve old skills, and Coyle uses the
science of performance to provide a great blueprint for getting really good at,
well, anything.
Every
time I try to learn something new, I follow his REPS approach: Reaching and repeating; Engagement;
Purposefulness; Strong and speedy feedback. It works. Every time. And more
quickly than any other approach I've tried.
Successfully
try new things, and you'll try even more new things--and your life will be
infinitely richer, whether professionally or personally.
2. Devil in the Grove, by Gilbert King
Two
things to know: This isn't a business book, and I'm a white boy who was born in
the South in 1960.
Now.
I've been to diversity seminars. I've been through diversity training. I've
even conducted diversity training. But nothing changed the way I think about
people who are different from me, whether in race, religion, background, or
simply how they look or act, like King's book.
I
thought I was reasonably enlightened. I wasn't. A fascinating,
heartbreaking, gut-wrenching story that should be required reading for
everyone.
3. So Good They Can't Ignore You, by Cal Newport
We
all want to find our passions. Newport argues we often get it backward: passion
follows from skill and expertise, because the better we get at something, the
more we like it.
That's
because of a cool feedback loop. When you improve, you feel satisfied and
fulfilled. That feeling motivates you to keep trying to improve, and when you
improve more, you feel satisfied and fulfilled. So you keep working and
improving.
And
in the process, you can learn to enjoy and sometimes even love doing just about
anything. You just have to try.
Some
years ago, I needed to get back in shape. Bad knees made running impossible, so
I--very grudgingly--started riding a bike. At first, I hated it. Then I got in
a little better shape and could ride a little faster and farther, which made me
feel (relatively) good about myself. That feeling motivated me to keep riding.
Over time, I kept getting faster, kept getting fitter, and now I love cycling.
The
same is true with speaking. I hated it at first. As I got better, I liked it
more. Now I really enjoy it. All I had to do was get that feedback loop
going. You don't have to find your passion. When you try--and really try
to get better--passion is very likely to find you.
4. Confidence, by Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic
I'm
shy and insecure. For a long time, I tried to overcome that by trying to change
my personality and somehow will myself to be more confident.
You
can guess how that worked out.
Chamorro-Premuzic
takes a different approach. He shows how confidence is built through success
through another cool feedback loop. Improvement builds confidence. Competence
builds confidence. Success builds confidence.
So
forget the "self talk." Admit your failings and work hard to improve
them. In time, knowing you've been there/done that/done it well creates genuine
confidence. That's the kind of confidence you really want. Genuine
confidence can never be taken away, because you've earned it.
5. The Effortless Experience, by Dixon, Toman and
Delisi
No
matter what our role, market, or industry, we're all in the customer service
business.
Instead
of tossing out theories and platitudes, Toman and Delisi provide dozens of
practical tips. There's definitely an art to customer service, but there's also
a science--and The Effortless Experience provides testable and
repeatable ways to improve the most important function of any business.
6. The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg
We
are what we do, and what we do is based on our habits. Duhigg shows how to take
bad habits and turn them into good ones--and how organizations can change their
habits, too.
Want
to be happy? Change your habits. It's that simple. (And, of course, that
complicated.) Changing a habit really can change your life.
7. In Search of Excellence, by Tom Peters
I
worked in manufacturing for a Fortune 500 company
in the 1980s and '90s, and this book was my competitive advantage within the
company.
How? I didn't have to rely solely on
internal training or mentors. Peters gave me a different way of thinking. Even
today, although some of the companies described in the book have since failed,
that's OK--the lessons are still relevant. If you're feeling adrift and
overwhelmed and feel the urge to get back to basics--and who doesn't from time
to time--In Search of Excellence is your book.
Quick note: This book changed your
life, too. If you've ever benefited from advice by Collins, Drucker, Blanchard,
Deming, or any other management thought leader, tip your hat to Peters. He
arguably ushered in the era of the modern management guru.
BY Jeff Haden
http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/7-business-books-that-changed-my-life.htm
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