Are you ready to change the course of your life forever? Okay, that’s a big corny, but the right book at the right time can really help you get on track.
Something as simple as reading a $10 book can change your entire outlook on things and help you in ways you never imagined.
Readers and friends often ask me to recommend books because I’ve read many books on personal finance and entrepreneurship-related topics. I’m going to share the 5 books that really changed my perspective on life and business..
These are books that should all be mandatory reading in college/high school/at the workplace.
And yes as much as I hate statements like that, it’s true. These books have really shaped the way I view business, money, and life.
What are five books that changed my life and how I view life, business, and money?
The 4-Hour Workweek- Escape 9-5, live anywhere, and join the new rich by Timothy Ferriss.
I read this book in early-2010 while in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and changed my views on business, life, and money forever.
People either love this book or they hate it. The title can throw many off.
This book introduced me to mini-retirements, traveling the world, and becoming great at time management (I’m not great– yet!).
You have to read this book with an open-mind. You also have to learn how to filter out the stuff that doesn’t resonate with you. There’s lots of stuff in this book that doesn’t apply to me at all. I just breezed over it and went on to the parts that really got me thinking.
The whole section on, “L is for Liberation,” really got my juices flowing and I think I read it like 4 times now.
One tip from this book that I still apply to my life on a daily basis is:
“It is imperative that you learn to ignore or redirect all information and interruptions that are irrelevant, unimportant, or unactionable. Most are all three.”
To further elaborate on information…
“Most information is time-consuming, negative, irrelevant to your goals, and outside of your influence.”
So yes, this means no conspiracy theories and watching the news all day every day. I subscribe to that logic 100%. I don’t worry about keeping up with the news or sports or most things for that matter. I focus on what’s important to me and I’m always pretty happy.
What about productivity?
“Put a post-it on your computer screen or set an Outlook reminder to alert you at least three times daily with the question: Are you inventing things to do to avoid the important?”
I did this many years ago and that note is still there. I’m constantly reminded to not avoid doing the important.
If you’re ready to change how you view the world and how you approach business, this is the book that you need to grab. I wish that this was recommended reading in college.
Crush It!… Why Now Is the Time To Cash In On Your Passion by Gary Vaynerchuk.
Are you feeling stuck? Hopeless?
If this book doesn’t leave you feeling extremely motivated, then I don’t know what will. If you’re “too busy” to read, then you have no excuse to not read this book. It’s one of the tiniest books I’ve ever read (only 142 pages!). This has to be the simplest and most effective book out there on following your passions to make money.
The true gems of this book are:
“Know yourself. Choose the right medium, choose the right topic, create awesome content, and you can make a lot of money being happy.”
It really is that simple. Why do we over-analyze everything?
“Creating community –that’s where the bulk of your hustle is going to go and where the bulk of your success will be determined.”
You need to accept this. Business is all about community!
I have nothing else to add.
Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi.
This is the best book out there on networking and meeting people. How this book isn’t mandatory reading for all students is beyond me.
If you’re still in high school, you need to read this book. If you’re a college student, you need to read this book. If you’re trying to figure out what to do after college, you need to read this book.
Long story short: you need to read this book!
I’ve literally forced a few of my friends to read this book. This book changed my life because it forced me to take a different approach to building relationships. The book flows well and you never get bored while reading it.
This book covers topics that are crucial to young people and getting ahead in life. It takes you from making connections, to staying in touch, all the way to building life-long relationships.
Mentoring:
“Successful people in nearly every field know that they can’t be their best unless they have good coach in their corner.”
Networking events:
“The average attendees are often unemployed and too quick to pass on their resumes to anyone with a free hand — usually the hand of someone else who is unemployed and looking to pass on his resume.”
Hit the nail on the head with both. Stop wasting your time with networking events. Find a mentor in your field, do awesome work, make plenty of friends, and care about others. You’ll get ahead further this way than trying to get the world to care about you.
Career Renegade by Jonathan Fields.
I love this book because there’s no BS in it. There are case studies on real people with real results. No fictional characters and no nonsense cheer leading.
The case studies outline exactly how regular people were able to turn hobbies into a full-time income. You see how you can start an online business or sell crafts for huge profits. It’s brilliant!
If you want to see how you can quit your job and make money with your own skills, you need to grab this book. I don’t know what else to say about it.
I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi
This is the book that you need to read if you’re clueless about money. Period.
An exceptional overview and simplification of some of the most complex financial issues.
This book features credit cards in a unique light, a no-BS approach to real estate, and a plethora of negotiation tactics on every possible issue.
The book comes with scripts that you can use when it comes to dealing with credit card companies and banks. After reading the scripts you won’t feel intimated at all because you’ll now be loaded with insights that these major companies don’t want you to have.
A quote that will stick with me forever from this book is:
“I have to emphasize that buying a house is not just a natural step in getting older.”
This book will help you with every possible financial issue. The small investment in this book will pay off within minutes. I’ve saved thousands of dollars because of this book. You would be a fool if you don’t read this book.
What books have greatly influenced you? Please share a few more titles with us.
The 4HWW by Tim Ferriss is pretty spectacular. It’s the only one of the above I’ve read. ‘I Will Teach You To Be Rich’ is now added to my list. Right now I’m reading ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ and ‘Think and Grow Rich’.
Excellent reading list you have there Will. Do you have any highlights from how to win friends that you could share with us all here?
I really enjoyed IWTYTBR! Ramit’s writing style is hilarious, hard-hitting, and blunt – just how I like it!
Have you read the other books?