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Today's blog post is a quick recap of some of the books I have read recently that are focused on leadership practices and/or career development. One of my favorite things about reading is getting to read a variety of books about different topics and ideas, not just novel after novel. These 7 books range from old classics to newfound favorites and each one of them is inspiring in their own way. With my degree in environmental sciences and a minor in entrepreneurship and leadership, I am always thinking about ways we can make the world better and love hearing stories from people who are active in the field. Without further ado, let's get on with the list!
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
I read this book a few years ago after it was gifted to me and I really enjoyed this classic! If you are familiar with business books, you most likely have read or heard of this one. Carnegie provides great advice for working with others, committing to understanding others' points of view, and general business savvy. It's been a while since I have picked this book up again, but I love having it on my shelf to reference.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
The 7 Habits is such an interesting read! This book really delves into some great ideas about making yourself not only efficient, but effective as well. Covey recommends spending time refueling your mind and body, creating a personal mission statement, and also talks about effective communication. I loved how this book is broken into 7 digestible habits, and though the book takes a little while to get through, I think it is well worth the read. This book also captured my attention because Covey addresses the broader concept of spirituality at parts, and I find it fascinating how many messages of religion / the Bible are re-purposed as business and leadership advice. It is my general understanding that many of the individuals who write such novels have very robust spiritual lives, and that in turn helps to make them better leaders. So interesting! (If you are curious about this topic, let me know and I'd love to share more of my thoughts on it in a separate post) My last comment about The 7 Habits is that it comes with fun quizzes and workshops to help test your personal effectiveness. I took the online quiz to see how I stack up, and I definitely need to work on a few of these habits. The book also has encouraged me to develop a personal mission statement. Should I do a more in-depth post on that as well?
The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer
This is another digestible leadership book that I found really fascinating! The entire paradigm for this book is focused on being above or below an imaginary line, which is so easy to put into practice in daily life. This book was also the foundation of my independent study during my senior spring, for which I created a marketing plan for a lecture at my university with the author, Jim Dethmer. In a surprising turn of events, I found out that Dethmer had previously worked in religion, which explains why he also references ideas such as loving-kindness. He and Covey both share unique perspectives by combining everyday business advice with the importance of mindful, or even spiritual, behavior.
The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman
This is my most recently finished book, and I loved all the advice this book had to share! The authors provided unique insight to some of the biological, genetic, and psychological reasons why confidence is much harder to come by in women than in men, and they share great anecdotes and interview key players in understanding how to give women a confidence boost in the workplace and in life.
Leave Your Mark by Aliza Licht
Written by the creator of anonymous Internet personality DKNY PR GIRL, this book shares the story of how Licht thought outside the box to utilize social media in a new way for fashion companies. She shares great career building advice and information on creating a personal brand. This was such a fun read and made me wish that the DKNY PR GIRL account was still active!
How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas by David Bornstein
This read tells the story of so many amazing people who are making a difference in the world. I actually first stumbled upon this book when it was assigned as the textbook for my social entrepreneurship class in Denmark, and though I didn't read it cover to cover at the time, I knew that I wanted to give it a second look. Each chapter tells the story of a different social entrepreneur, the problem he/she wanted to solve, and the challenges that came along with starting their business. If you are interested in starting a business or in learning about companies with unique missions, this is a great read!
The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World by Jacqueline Novogratz
I haven't finished this book yet, but so far I am really enjoying it! Novogratz's autobiographical story talks about how she quit her comfortable job working for Chase bank to pursue her passion in Africa. With her financial savvy, Novogratz helps analyze the opportunity for microloan banks for females and started her own incredible business out of it. Not only does this book discuss the importance of social enterprises, it also explains the public health concept that educating females and giving them opportunity is one of the most effective ways to relieve poverty in developing nations.
Do you have a favorite business or career book I should read? I am always adding to my Goodreads list!
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