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“Read an hour every day in your chosen field. This works out to about one book per week, 50 books per year, and will guarantee your success.” Brian Tracy, personal development guru
It’s September again, time to go back to school. My learning goal each year is to read at least 50 non-fiction books – in my mind the “school of success” never goes out of session. This is where I get the ideas to help my financial advisor clients grow their practices. Rather than overwhelming you with all 50+ books, here are the 10 best books I read from September 2022 through August 2023.
Business success
Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect. Successful restaurateur Will Guidara figured out that people just don't want a meal – they want a memorable experience. You can apply this to your business – what extra touches can you do for your staff and clients that will be unforgettable? (This was the best business book I read this past year.)
Untapped Talent: How Second Chance Hiring Works for Your Business and The Community. There is a labor shortage in the U.S. Author Jeffrey Korzenik makes a compelling case for how certain people with criminal records can fill the gap.
Why Motivating People Doesn't Work ... And What Does. My job as a coach is to help people discover their own motivation. This book lets leaders know how to achieve this on an organizational level by promoting choice, connection and competence.
Sales
The Unsold Mindset: Refining What It Means to Sell. Colin Coggins and Garrett Brown offer a refreshing new take on the world's most important profession: sales. They're big on authenticity: Giving yourself permission to be who you are rather than who you think you need to be, or what others want you to be as a salesperson.
Personal finance
The Psychology of Money: Timeless Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness. This is packed with great lessons about how financially successful people get wealthy, stay wealthy, and how much is "enough." If you're a financial advisor, read this book. Then get a copy for your financially anxious clients.
Leadership
The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams. Founding father Thomas Jefferson said if there was any leader of the Revolution, "Samuel Adams was the man." This in-depth bio depicts Adams as the ultimate rabble-rouser for American independence. You'll never again think about the beer company named for him after you read it.
The Chancellor: The Remarkable Odyssey of Angela Merkel. Learn why Angela Merkel, in her 16 years as chancellor of Germany, became the real leader of the free world. It's amazing that she grew up in communist East Germany as an engineering student but quickly became an astute and skilled politician for the good of all, focusing on cooperation among the 27 members of the European Union.
The Confidante: The Untold Story of the Woman Who Helped Win WWII and Shape Modern America. I am surprised that I had never heard of Anna Rosenberg until now. Despite having three strikes against her (immigrant, female, Jewish), Anna accomplished amazing things for our country during the Great Depression, World War II and beyond. She was the first female Assistant Secretary of Defense – her advice was esteemed by FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, LBJ and other political & military heavyweights.
Inspiration
Uncultured. An unflinching memoir from Daniella Mestyanek Young, who survived both the Children of God cult and then the male-dominated U.S. Army. You'll be both horrified and amazed at all she's been through to become the person she is today.
Benjamin Franklin's Last Bet: The Favorite Founder's Divisive Death, Enduring Afterlife, and Blueprint for Prosperity. As if Benjamin Franklin wasn't impressive enough as a founding father, he left in his will $1,000 to both Boston and Philadelphia to be used 200 years after his death. The result? These funds grew to millions of dollars and paid for, among other things, the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology. This established him as the father of American philanthropy.
My hope is that this list will inspire your own reading habit. I’m not a super-speedy reader, but I willingly plowed through these books because absorbing their ideas is a critical part of my coaching job. Audio versions are available on Audible.com but you don’t even have to spend a dime if you have a library card. There’s no shelf room left for more books at my place so each one listed here was borrowed from my local library.
Why wait? While it may seem daunting to begin your own reading habit, know that the journey of a thousand books starts with the first one. You can begin by reading one book a month, which is just 10 pages a day – that wouldn’t be too hard, would it? Whatever reading goal you choose, go back to school today so you can get to the top of your field.
What were the best non- fiction books you read this past year?
Success Skills Coach Jim Rohrbach, "The Personal Fitness Trainer for Your Business," coaches Financial Advisors around the US by phone to help them grow their clientele. To set up a Free Consultation with Jim, go to www.SuccessSkills.com.
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Advisor Perspectives welcomes guest contributions. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of Advisor Perspectives
