5 Books That’ll Expand Your Sense of Possibility
If you’re looking for a book that’ll motivate you, inspire you, and expand your sense of possibility, here are some excellent options! These books have captured my imagination. They’ve helped me effectively move forward in the direction of my dreams. 🙂 All 5 of the books in this blog article are ones that I highly recommend to you:
The Compound Effect: Jumpstart Your Income, Your Life, Your Success
-By Darren Hardy, 2012
“The Compound Effect” focuses on the magic of compounding actions in producing successful results. This intensely motivating book is authored by Darren Hardy, publisher of Success Magazine. He says worthy goals, effective habits, and consistency over time are key to activating the compound effect. Hardy says we can use the compound effect for investing, work, relationships, sports, or any other endeavor. He says the compound effect is all about persistence, patience, and momentum. Hardy explains that the wise efforts you put in each day, that might not look like much, have a way of snowballing to produce big long-term results. This book was suggested to me by my medical sales manager. It’s mathematical wisdom rings true and keeps me coming back for more. I’ve listened to the audiobook, voiced by Hardy, three times already.
How the World Sees You: Discover Your Highest Value Through the Science of Fascination
-By Sally Hogshead, 2014
“How the World Sees You” by Sally Hogshead is a fascinating book about personality types. The book corresponds to an online quiz that reveals how other people see you at your best. The quiz identifies your primary and secondary advantages from 7 possible advantages: Innovation, Passion, Power, Prestige, Trust, Mystique, and Alert. The advantages are combined to identify your Personality Archetype from 42 possibilities. The book explains in detail each of the 42 personality archetypes. I’ve taken the quiz myself. My primary advantage is prestige (focus on excellence), my secondary advantage is passion (focus on interpersonal connection), and my personality archetype is The Connoisseur. My digital launch coach recommended this book and quiz to me. Since then, I’ve encouraged about 10 people I know to take the quiz, and learning other people’s results is a truly fascinating way to learn more about them. I’d recommend the paper book over the audiobook, because the 42 archetype descriptions read like a reference book, so it’s nice to be able to flip to your page of interest.
Persuasion: The Art of Getting What You Want
-By Jeffrey Gitmer, 2005
As a salesperson and a student of life, I love books about persuasion, and this is one of the best. “Persuasion: The Art of Getting What You Want” by Jeffrey Gitmer really speaks to me because it contends that persuasion comes with responsibility. Gitmer says persuasion is best used to create win-win-win scenarios, where the well-being of all involved parties are respected. This book is not about manipulation; it’s about being a positive influence. The book explains a variety of techniques, including “The 6 Tenets of Persuasion,” an array of additional psychological principles, and how to put these persuasion tools into action. I originally found this audiobook on my own while searching through options on the Scribd app. Other great books on persuasion include “Win Bigly” by Scott Adams and “Influence” by Dr. Robert Cialdini.
Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway: Dynamic Techniques for Turning Fear, Indecision, and Anger into Power, Action, and Love
-Susan Jeffers, 1987
“Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” by Susan Jeffers is foremost a book about courage. The author acknowledges we all feel fear, which is a universal human emotion. Jeffers says when we want to do something, but we feel fear, it’s empowering to muster the courage to act, even when we aren’t confident. I totally agree with Jeffers. In sales, and in life, I’ve used this way of thinking long before finding this book. I like to know I’m able to take action even when I’m afraid. Jeffers reminds us we don’t have to be perfect. Sometimes we just have to plow forward, make progress, and course-correct along the way. That’s what this book is all about. My medical sales team book club recently read this book, and we’ll be discussing this book at our next meeting. So this book is very alive in my life right now.
The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal
-Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz, 2005
I often think about productivity and time management. But my digital launch coach suggested that effectiveness is even more important than productivity, and he suggested I read “The Power of Full Engagement” by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. This book is all about how we can effectively use our limited physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual energy. Loehr and Schwartz explain that we cannot achieve optimal performance by going full speed ahead 100% of the time. Instead, the authors suggest that sprints of action, effort, and engagement must be balanced with rest, downtime, and renewal. Makes sense to me. I refer to this book often to remind myself that even while I have big goals, it’s important to rest, recharge, and respect the human machine that is me. It’s a powerful reminder that balance is where it’s at.
All 5 of these books are outstanding in my opinion. I’m sure I’ll read them all again and again. I love any book that propels me to positive action. If you find any of these books intriguing enough to read, I hope you benefit greatly from the words you read. 🙂
Next Week: Persistence & Determination – My Thoughts on the Good Life
Article photo by Paul Schafer on Unsplash
