12 books I recently read which amplified my life
Let me start by saying, I hated reading! I never enjoyed reading during school or even after my school years. However, this changed about 6 years ago, age 26. I started reading business and self-improvement books and man it was tough in the beginning to get through a whole book, especially when it is non-fiction but I was determined to learn new things and expand my knowledge and one way of doing this in my spare time — was reading.
I received my first book by a work colleague called Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin — and I actually enjoyed reading it. It was a short read but at the end I found myself feeling somewhat accomplished. This sparked the inspiration to read more.
Through my journey of self-discovery, learning and self-development there was one thing or habit I started to notice that ultra-successful people had in common…
They read A LOT.
When Warren Buffett was once asked about the key to success, he pointed to a stack of nearby books and said, “Read 500 pages like this every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will do it.”
Mr. Buffett doesn’t take this lightly he would read between 600 and 1000 pages per day.
Bill Gates, Mark Cuban, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Oprah Winfrey, to name a few would read at a minimum one book per month — some would even push the limits of reading four to five books per month.
Would you make a goal for yourself to read fifty books per year? I guess this is something to think about.
So why am I telling you this and why is this important?
Successful people don’t just read anything, they are very selective about what they read. They choose education over entertainment as they believe this is the gateway to learning and knowledge.
Reading is important because it can help you;
- Cultivate creativity
- Develop and expand your thinking
- Improve your writing skills
- Build Business acumen and your mindset
- Teaches you to be self-motivated and disciplined
So what are the books which led me to a better way of working, an improved mindset, and overall a better life?
Here are the twelve books I recently read — in no particular order:
Best Self: Be You, Only Better — by Life Coach Mike Bayer
When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing — by Daniel H. Pink
Mind Your Business: A Workbook to Grow Your Creative Passion Into a Full-time Gig — by Ilana Griffo
Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen — by Donald Miller
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action — by Simon Sinek
Time to Think: Listening to Ignite the Human Mind — by Nancy Kline
The Compound Effect: Multiply Your Success One Simple Step at a Time — by Darren Hardy
Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds — by David Goggins
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business — by Gino Wickman
Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence-and How You Can, Too — by Gary Vaynerchuk
Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers — by Russell Brunson
Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be — by Rachel Hollis
*Yes I know it can be for the ladies but this one was a super interesting read and I just dig Rachel Hollis and her Entrepreneurial journey!
The next batch of books on my list are:
The Greatest You: Face Reality, Release Negativity, and Live Your Purpose — by Trent Shelton
High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way — by Brendon Burchard
Un#@%! Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life — by Gary John Bishop
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet — by Jesse Itzler
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance — by Angela Duckworth
Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t — by Simon Sinek
Connected to Goodness: Manifest Everything You Desire in Business and Life — by David Meltzer
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life — by Mark Manson
Mindset: The Phsycology of Success — by Carol S. Dweck
Unnecessary endings — by Henry Cloud
Who — by Geoff Smart
So if you aren’t currently reading business or self-improvement books but you looking to expand your knowledge, skills and creativity. I have two words for you — GET READING.
Pop me a message at hello@jamiewindell.com and let me know which books you are currently reading that’s not on the above list — I would love to know!
Keep learning, keep growing and keep going!
With optimism & creativity, Jimbo
Hint — the cage is not locked, feel free to connect with me or visit jamiewindell.com :)
