The habit of reading a good book will act like an exercise for your mind and keep you mentally fit. If you have never given it a try then remember that it’s never too late to start a new habit.
When I was a kid, I used to hate reading books. Then something changed over the years and now I try to read on daily basis. (Maybe I needed some extra motivation while starting my own business.)
Here are few books I would recommend you read in 2016.
1 – WeCommerce Book (by Billee Howard)
In WECommerce book, marketing strategist Billee Howard lays out her plan for a new vision of success and long-term, purposeful profitability in the new global, sharing economy.
Today, the most successful businesses and entrepreneurs thrive through connectivity, socialization, and sharing. It is an age of WE-Commerce, an economy centered on the power of “we” instead of “me,” focused on the needs of the many over the few. Booming companies such as Uber and Airbnb leverage technology to create platforms that rely largely on social media and community feedback to facilitate people’s ability to collaborate with one another.
Instead of traditional business strategies, companies must now inspire belief and trust in their communities; collaborate with their customers; create business models that are socially and environmentally responsible; find opportunities for creative collaboration with large, global markets; and become a new generation of innovators—“artists of business.”
Key Takeaway:
We live in the era of engagement and storytelling. If we want to grow our business in the long term, we have to put people first and engage with them on a deeper level.
2 – The School Of Greatness (By Lewis Howes)
I am a big fan of Lewis Howes’s podcast and just finished reading his book. In The School of Greatness, Howes shares the key tips and habits he gathered in interviewing “the greats” on his wildly popular podcast of the same name. Lewis persevered through his struggles and obstacles and became stronger through them. He does a great job of sharing the insight he gained from other leaders who have created great success through overcoming their own adversities.
In discussion with people like Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson and Pencils of Promise CEO Adam Braun, Howes figured out that greatness is unearthed and cultivated from within. The masters of greatness are not successful because they got lucky or are innately more talented, but because they applied specific habits and tools to embrace and overcome adversity in their lives.
Key Takeaway:
Everybody has the potential to be great. This book is full of great stories and simple exercises. Complete these exercises and create you own path towards greatness.
3 – Everybody Writes (By Ann Handley)
If you want to get better at publishing content, this is the book you want to read. It’s your go-to guide to creating and publishing the content that will make your business thrive. According to Ann, “Our writing can make us look smart or it can make us look stupid. It can make us seem fun, or warm, or competent, or trustworthy. But it can also make us seem humdrum or discombobulated or flat-out boring.”
Key Takeaway:
Every brand (business or personal) must be able to share its unique story. To get better at storytelling, you need to get better at writing. Start with reading this book.
4 – Book of You!
This book has not been written yet.
This year, I want you to write your own book.
I am not a writer either but who cares? We all have stories. Let’s share our stories with the world and produce engaging content.
The basis of this content will not be sales but usefulness.
It doesn’t even have to be a 200 page book. How about blog content that helps people in a meaningful way?
Now over to you. What book would you add to this list?