Not all action is created equal. Setting goals and achieving them creates momentum. But not all momentum is valuable. Undirected momentum is reckless. Setting intentional goals and directing momentum – now that is rocket fuel – Candy Valentino in “The 9% Edge”
As you think about how to allocate your holiday shopping money, consider investing in self-improvement books for yourself or other career-mind high achievers on your gift list. From 2024, here are five excellent reads for career growth and leadership skills:
To Be Happier: The Happiness Formula by Alphonsus Obayuwana
A successful life does not necessarily mean a happy life. The former is full of accomplishments, whereas the latter is full of hope. – Alphonsus Obayuwana in “The Happiness Formula”
Dr. Alphonsus Obayuwana is a retired professor of medicine (including teaching at John Hopkins University) and has spent over three decades studying happiness. He is the founder and CEO of the Triple H Project. The three H’s represent his equation for happiness: Hope divided by Hunger = Happiness. In other words, happiness rises when hope is high and hunger is low.
The book includes numerous recommendations for increasing hope, lowering hunger and therefore improving overall happiness. It’s an elegant paradigm to put structure around the elusive and amorphous feeling of happiness. Dr. Obayuwana’s many tips and strategies give the joy seeker specific marching orders.
To Get Inspired: Let’s Do Launch by Harry Abrams
Like it or not, you are a brand. And since every single person you encounter in life – in person and online – is a potential employer, employee or customer, you need to provide a brand experience that makes people want to hire you, work for you or buy from you. Now, that doesn’t mean everyone is going to end up in one of those categories. Most won’t. But they might. And because they might, you must build your brand accordingly. – Harry Abrams in “Let’s Do Launch”
The above quote is about branding, but this book covers multiple aspects of career and is an excellent source of motivation when you want to improve your grit and hustle. Harry Abrams is the founder of Abrams Artists Agency and has represented numerous Hollywood celebrities, including Jennifer Lopez, Jerry Seinfeld, Liam Neeson, and Michael B. Jordan. The book chronicles his story from first job to starting and growing his company, and you can’t help but get inspired (and get ideas for yourself) about networking, negotiation, and yes, branding.
To Improve Your Communication Skills: Best Story Wins By Mark Edwards
The logical argument approach often fails miserably, and in these cases storytelling can be much more effective. That’s because building a logical argument pushes people away from us, whereas storytelling draws them closer. Building a logical argument encourages your audience to disagree with you. – Mark Edwards in “Best Story Wins”
Mark Edwards is a former journalist, now business coach who shares his SUPERB paradigm for telling better stories and therefore becoming a clearer, more compelling communicator. Edwards’ writing background shows in this exceptional book. It is well-structured with lots of supporting examples and use cases for the workplace and everyday life.
The SUPERB model for communicating persuasively stands for: Shared experiences; Ultimate triumph; Problem definition; Explore options and objections; Real (i.e., crystal clear); Best of both worlds. Read the book to go deeper on each of these, and get helpful examples that will show you how to improve your own communication. You’ll also never forget to include a “save the cat” moment.
To Master Your Money: Trailblazers, Heroes & Crooks By Stephen R. Foerster
Have a plan in place, and think before you decide to jump. Often, doing nothing can be a winning strategy, just as it was for Quintus Fabius, Mohammed Ali, and Jack Bogle. – Stephen R. Foerster in “Trailblazers, Heroes & Crooks”
The above quote is from Chapter 2 on Masterly Inactivity. Foerster is a Professor of Finance at Ivey Business School and author of multiple finance books, cases and publications. This book teaches important investment concepts such as masterly inactivity with an example from Mohammed Ali’s rope-a-dope strategy. Foerster uses Cristiano Ronaldo to teach ex-dividend dates and Bobby Bonilla for time value of money. There are examples outside of sports, too, which are still entertaining and accessible.
To Build Your Business: The 9% Edge by Candy Valentino
True growth often requires the courage to let go. In a world obsessed with the constant and relentless pursuit of more, sometimes the path to success lies not in accumulation, but in refinement. – Candy Valentino in “The 9% Edge”
Candy Valentino is a serial entrepreneur and business growth expert. The book title refers to the percentage of small businesses that survive. Valentino looks at what separates the survivors from the failures and shares recommendations for how entrepreneurs can move themselves into that 9%.
This is a comprehensive but accessible business coaching book. Valentino covers sales, marketing, customer care, delegation and especially finances. She provides handy checklists, such as seven common entrepreneur traps, nine ways to boost revenue and profitability and four exits every founder needs to make.
More Book Ideas To Transform Your 2025 Goals
Earlier this year, three new leadership books were featured. The holiday recommendations from 2023 include six professional development books. What are you reading to get ready for your next career move?