Summertime and the Business Reading is Easy

August 3, 2017

The hazy, lazy days of summer are great for far more than logging beach time and sipping lemonade. Summer is also an excellent time to catch up on reading and to ponder the state of your business. It’s my favorite time of year to binge on books. Here are a few of my must-read picks:

Quiet by Susan Cain

While I’ve decided I’m the quintessential extrovert – I have the civic oration contest plaque, noting my prize-winning public speaking skills, from sixth grade to prove it – I work with many incredible introverts and greatly value the counterbalance they provide to me and my clients. Did you know that at least one-third of people are introverts, including some of the greatest innovators and change makers in the world, including Rosa Parks, Dr. Seuss and Steve Wozniak, among others? Whether you’re an introvert who wants to harness the power of your personality, or a manager who believes better understanding others is the key to unlocking an individual’s potential, this book is a must-read.

Eat that Frog! by Brian Tracy

If you are tired of thinking there’s not enough time in the day to do all you need to do to move your business forward meaningfully, then this short, action-oriented book is right up your alley. Even though I’m far from a procrastinator, I enjoyed some of the tips on taming technology and in learning to be more selective about how I use my time. Also of note was the section on working in concentrated blocks of time. Here’s to better time management and to taking on the hard tasks first.

Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo

I spend plenty of time speaking before groups and delivering presentations, so even though I’ve read this book before, thinking about my fall commitments made me dust this one off for a re-read. If you, like me, are mesmerized by TED talks and in awe of the mastery of experienced speakers who can command an audience with stories that are emotional, novel and memorable, this book deserves a place on your summer shelf.

The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann

I’m a big believer in giving back through a variety of charitable pursuits, whether it’s one-on-one mentoring, speaking engagements, philanthropy or just plain volunteering. This book illustrates, through stories about a series of high achievers, the concept of being a “go-giver” versus simply a “go-getter” interested in only business pursuits. I highly recommend the book if you’d like to amp up your success while helping others.

As we enjoy a welcome respite from the busy pace of life this summer, I hope you’ll take the opportunity to pick up one or more of these terrific business books – or any other book that inspires you to achieve, lead, reflect and succeed.