Favorites

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Books

Currently Reading

Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People, by Vanessa Van Edwards - I heard Vanessa speak at the 2020 Global Leadership Summit and was instantly, well, captivated. In her book, Vanessa calls herself a recovering awkward person, and she writes in a tone that is both fun and smart. She teaches you how to make a good first impression, as well as how to level up your relationships, backing it all up with science and research.

Recently Finished

Rejection Proof, by Jia Jiang - I heard Jiang speak at the Global Leadership Summit in 2019, and was immediately drawn to his very relatable journey in dealing with rejection. In this book, Jiang shares what he learned through an experiment where he sought out 100 days of rejection. He writes with humor and insight, self-reflection that will make you think, and he shares the valuable lessons he learned about getting a no. If you have ever felt like giving up or afraid to even try, please read this book!

Influencer, by Kerry Patterson et al - Patterson and team wrote one of my favorite books, Crucial Conversations, so I was reasonably certain I would like Influencer…and I was right! This book is full to the brim with insight on how to bring about change by looking for vital behaviors, using storytelling and experiences, modifying the environment to ensure success, and using rewards the right way to reinforce the change. The authors use powerful examples of changes that were brought about against the odds, including eradicating a deadly parasite in a third world country, turning former convicts into responsible employees, and getting an always-behind-schedule organization to start meeting deadlines. Anyone who wants to influence change should read this book!

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath - In this book, the Heath brothers use the imagery of an elephant and one riding the elephant to illustrate the pull between the emotional (elephant) and logical (rider) self. Most people think they are controlled by their rider, whereas the Heath brothers explain that is often not the case. In order to bring about change, you must direct the rider and motivate the elephant. You will learn helpful methods and tools such as finding bright spots, shaping the path, and shrinking the change, all while soaking up lots of meaningful stories and examples.

Podcasts

Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast - Pretty much everything he says is leadership gold. Plus, the episodes are usually pretty short so they are easy to fit in. Don't miss the downloadable leader guides for each episode!

The Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast - Relevant, meaningful, and easy-to-digest content on leadership and organizational strength. Most of the episodes are short enough to listen to as you are getting ready in the morning or on your commute to work.

The Global Leadership Summit Podcast - Lots of content from a variety of dynamic and well-recognized leadership experts who have spoken at the summit events over the years.

Other

Websites and Email Lists

The Black Swan Group - Led by Chris Voss, the author of Never Split the Difference and a former FBI hostage negotiator, this website offers downloadable resources and worthwhile content through their email subscription on the topic of negotiation best practices. A definite must for anyone in sales or anyone who wants to sharpen their negotiating edge!

James Clear - On his website, James offers a detailed list of his favorite resources (you might just find your next great read or podcast!), as well as a weekly, thought-provoking newsletter. I have never once thought that reading one of his newsletters was a waste of time. Check it out for yourself!