Bookmark Website  | Free Registration  | The Team
The Lounge  | Champions  | The Wire |  Schedule |  Audio  |  Arcade  |  The Top Ten  |  Historical  |  Email  |  Video

Recommendations for the Best Personal Growth Books


I can't stress this enough: You've got to motivate yourself in order to motivate your team. You don't motivate people, they motivate themselves (or they don't). If you model motivated behavior, so will your team! Read on for a few suggestions on books to help you make it great!

You Can Experience...A Purposeful LifeJames Emery White

I recently finished this book, and I strongly recommend it. Pastor White does a fantastic job of reminding us that our call to serve the Lord can come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. I think the biggest thing I learned from this book is that you don't have to be a pastor to serve the Lord and make a difference in the world. By focusing on serving the Lord, you can, as the title says, experience a purposeful life. I know it's definitely helped me re-focus my energies on the right things, instead of just things.

21 Indispensable Qualities of Leadership: Becoming the Leader Others Will FollowJohn C. Maxwell

From Amazon.com's review:Why do some people consistently inspire others to follow their lead? In The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, Maxwell identifies these top traits as character, charisma, commitment, communication, competence, courage, discernment, focus, generosity, initiative, listening, passion, positive attitude, problem-solving, relationships, responsibility, security, self-discipline, servanthood, teachability, and vision--and then defines them in ways that readers can absorb and utilize.

I can't say it much better than that. The way Maxwell breaks down leadership qualities into easy to understand character qualities is absolutely fantastic. Character is what defines a leader, and these traits are what people of character have. A must-read for leaders in any position.

Now, Discover Your Strengths Marcus Buckingham

It's great to read a book that helps you find what you're strong in and encourages you to work to make those stronger, instead of working against what you know you're good at. You have to buy this book to take the personal survey. A great follow-up to First Break All the Rules, and one I encourage anyone who isn't sure where her/his strengths are. I would encourage you to even buy a copy for each of your team, so they can take the StrengthsFinder test.

Five Patterns of Extraordinary Careers Spencer Stuart

A remarkable book about how to stand out from your peers and have a better career. My favorite lesson: It's better to ask for forgiveness after the fact than it is to ask for permission ahead of time.

Who Moved My Cheese? Spencer Johnson

Of course, what book list would be complete without this book all about CHANGE (or is it just about cheese?) Another book that is well worth the listen, but also worth reading.

7 Habits of Highly Effective PeopleSteven Covey

Another must have in your leadership library. If you read a lot of books, you're practicing one of Covey's habits, "sharpening the saw." I'm also looking forward to reading about the 8th Habit but I haven't picked it up yet.

How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci Discover Your Genius: How to Think Like History's Ten Most Revolutionary Minds Michael Gelb

I've met Michael, and he is so on the mark with his writings. Learn how to think more creatively and be more artistic (yes, that is important no matter what your position, or what you family or bosses tell you)

The Brand You 50Re-imaginePursuit of Wow!Tom Peters

Tom Peters is a new favorite author of mine, and one who is has motivated me to work on many new projects in 2005.

What Should I Do With My Life?Po Bronson

A book that tells us that it's okay NOT to know what you want to do, and that even the people we think are completely happy may not be, but also that we make our own happiness, it all depends on how you deal with it. Buy the paperback because it has 7 new stories!

Rhinoceros SuccessScott Alexander

This was recommended to me by my last manager, and is an incredibly quick read. It's all about leading, and how sometimes you have to do the unpopular (change usually) to make a difference and stand out as a leader. Be a rhino!

Advanced RhinocerologyScott Alexander

This books is a nice sequel to Rhinocerous Success and I enjoyed it a great deal. A few things it reminded me of is that leaders are often under attack from all sides, and it's important to watch your own back because often nobody else will.

Phil Gerbyshak leads a team of IT help desk professionals in Milwaukee, WI, and finds that sharing his knowledge is a crucial component in his success as a leader and as a person. Phil's personal philosophy is paraphrased from Tim Sanders' fantastic book Love is the Killer App: "Share your knowledge, your network, and your love. The rest will follow." Read more of Phil's musings at http://makeitgreat.blogspot.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Washington Post

Facing Raiders on national TV will serve as motivation Thursday
San Diego Union Tribune, CA - 41 minutes ago
And while they technically do, they also are searching for other reasons to be up for Thursday night's game against Oakland (and the three that follow it), ...
CHARGERS NOTES: LT calls on teammates to finish strong North County Times
Matchups: Falcons at Chargers SportingNews.com
Five things to watch: Falcons-Chargers San Diego Union Tribune
all 638 news articles


Dawgs digging deep to find last-game motivation
Seattle Post Intelligencer - Dec 1, 2008
Finding motivation figures to be a challenge for a squad coming off a 16-13 double-overtime loss in its rivalry game. Willingham insisted he won't use his ...
UW to get close look at Jeff Tedford Seattle Times
all 17 news articles


Thousands descend on Austin Convention Center for motivation seminar
KVUE, TX - 10 hours ago
By QUITA CULPEPPER Organizers say it's a way to get inspired and find the secret to your success, while hearing from a dream team of successful politicians ...


Telegraph.co.uk

Barry reveals England motivation
SkySports - 17 hours ago
By Chris Burton Last updated: 2nd December 2008 Gareth Barry admits that four years in the international wilderness made him all the more determined to earn ...
BARRY: WILDERNESS IS MOTIVATION Sportinglife.com
all 652 news articles


Boston Globe

OPEC Cuts: A Barrel Of Laughs
Forbes, NY - Dec 1, 2008
"The major motivation for sellers is the discounting of the OPEC decision," said Mike Fitzpatrick, vice president of MF Global, in a report, "but motivation ...
Oil prices dive after OPEC holds output unchanged AFP
all 2,626 news articles


5ones

If Ever There Was Motivation Not to Finish College…
5ones, CA - 6 hours ago
Albi Sole, program co-ordinator for Public Avalanche Awareness Programs at the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre, has just put the finishing touches on ...


Overflow crowds come to Downtown Austin to get motivated
CBS 42, TX - 3 hours ago
We’re officially in a recession and in this kind of economy people need motivation and skills more than ever before,” said the Executive VP of “Get ...
Get Motivated keeps price low in tough economy Austin American-Statesman
Get Motivated seminar, not your ordinary pep talk News 8 Austin
Heavy downtown traffic possible Tuesday morning News 8 Austin
all 6 news articles


Examiner.com

Movement Fuels Motivation
Examiner.com - 15 hours ago
by KT Erwin, Tampa Bay Weight Loss Examiner Motivation and movement are the dynamic duo of weight loss and healthy living. Getting back to the Times Turkey ...


Aerosmith’s Dream On is Raghu Dixit’s mantra for motivation
Indian Express, India - 17 hours ago
For me, a classic is something like Aerosmith’s Dream On. It’s been over 15 years since I first heard the track when my friends got me to listen to it. ...


News 8 Austin

Thousands of locals look to 'Get Motivated'
News 8 Austin, TX - 1 hour ago
Finding the motivation to excel in times like these can be tough, but Central Texan Lucia Cordoba, along with more than 20000 people, hoped to find ...

Motivation - Google News


Advertisement



Section Site Map - Submit News - Feedback - Comments - Advertise with Us

Copyright © 2006 Luminati Inc. All rights reserved.