10 BOOKS FOR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
A must read list for ANYONE who is interested to improve personally and professionally.
Fora anybody that is serious about personal and professional development, books are a great resource as the authors share their experiences and learnings from their journey. It will save you a lot of time, and that’s important because time is a resource you cannot create or replace.
Below is our pick of books that will guide you in areas that are important for anybody that takes their life seriously and want to grow in business and personally.
The list is not in any particular order, select a book that can guide you according to your needs now.
THINK AND GROW RICH
Author: Napoleon Hill
About: This book is about finding true success in life through purpose. Napoleon Hill presents the ways to achieve it through 13 principles which are:
1. Desire
2. Faith
3. Auto Suggestion
4. Specialized Knowledge
5. Imagination
6. Organized Planning
7. Decision
8. Persistence
9. Power of the Master Mind
10. Transmutation
11. The Subconscious Mind
12.The Brain
13. The Sixth Sense
Key points: This book is about programming your subconscious mind and turning your thoughts into reality with a clear direction, acquisition of appropriate knowledge, proper planning and persistence.
Who it is for: People who want to make a connection with their innerselves to achieve success.
THE EFFECTIVE EXECUTIVE
Author: Peter Drucker
About: This book is about ways to be a more effective contributor. Peter Drucker presents his idea in the form of 5 practices which are:
1. Manage our time
2. Focus on results and contribution to the organization
3. Build on strengths (self, others and situation), rather with weaknesses
4. Set priorities and concentrate on the few major areas that will deliver outstanding results
5. Make effective decisions
Key points: Executives are people who contribute to the organization’s goals. Effectiveness can be turned into a habit through practice. Effective people need to recognize strengths, look for opportuntites, be focused and make effective decisions.
Who it is for: People who want to learn to responsibly deliver results through time management and prioritisation. This book is not just for employees, business owners and self-employed people are executives too as they contribute to their own business’ goals.
THE INNOVATOR’S DILEMMA
Author: Clayton Christensen
About: This book talks about how businesses that fail to reinvent themselves will die. The author, Clayton Christensen presents the concept of sustaining technologies vs. disruptive technologies.
Key points: Disruptive technologies means marketing to new customers with new needs. However, most big businesses are reluctant to do so as they prefer to defend their existing products and customer base, which is more profitable. This unwillingness and inflexibility to change fast enough allows new entrants into the market that eventually lead with new solutions to a new and bigger market. Big businesses can opt to invest in these new smaller companies without imposing their existing processes and values to maintain their profitability and position in the market.
Who it is for: People who have been in business for a while and see their business stagnating.
CONSCIOUS CAPITALISM
Author: John Mackey
About: This book is about capitalism that cares. John Mackey presents the concept of conscious capitalism through 4 tenets which are:
1. Higher purpose and core values
2. Stakeholder integration
3. Conscious leadership
4. Conscious culture and management
Key points: A business must have a higher purpose and should benefit all stakeholders which includes the investors, staff, customers, suppliers, communities and environment. The leaders of the business should lead with genuine care instead of profitability, giving rise to a culture where the staff would be happy to think of their contribution to the business and not just having a job.
Who it is for: Business owners and employees of businesses who want to create value.
INFLUENCE
Author: Robert B. Cialdini
About: This book is about why people say ‘yes’, understanding the reasons, and also way to say ‘no’. Robert Cialdini calls these principles ‘Weapons of Influence’ and they are:
1. Reciprocation
2. Commitment & Consistency
3. Social Proof
4. Authority
5. Liking
6. Scarcity
Key points: We’d like to think that we use our rational mind to buy. But often times, our decision to purchase are based on influential tactics.
Who it is for: Everybody, business owners and consumers.
THE COMPOUND EFFECT
Author: Darren Hardy
About: This book talks about how the choices we make in our everyday lives no matter how small affects our business and personal lives in the long run. The author, Darren Hardy, is the publisher and founding editor of SUCCESS magazine.
Key points: Our daily decisions have an impact on our success or failures in life. We need to make good choices and be consistent with our actions. Every successful person tracks their progress and have gratitude.
Who it is for: Anybody who wants to be successful in every aspect of life. This is a personal favourite here at nxtsuccess because we advocate mindful choices and meaningful actions.
GRIT
Author: Angela Duckworth
About: This book talks about developing grit through passion and perseverance. Angela Druckworth presents the ways to develop and grit from inside out, and outside in.
Key points: In the journey of discovering your passion, it can be developed into a tangible skill. With the combination of purpose and hope, your skill can become an achievement. Grit is a stronger predictor of success than intelligence, talent or personality.
Who it is for: Anybody who needs help ‘to stay on the band wagon’ with endurance for their determination and motivation.
RICH DAD POOR DAD
Author: Robert T. Kiyosaki
About: This book is about the perception of money and life. Robert Kiyosaki tells the story from his journey as a young boy and how he learned about money from his friend’s dad – ‘Rich Dad’.
Key points: Understand how money works so you can make money work for you. You do not work for money, money works for you.
Who it is for: This book is for people who need a better relationship with money. To understand that money is not valuable because of the monetary value, but because of what you think about it.
THE POWER OF BROKE
Author: Daymond John
About: This book presents the concept that being broke puts you at an advantage because when you have nothing to lose, you have everything to gain. Daymond John is the owner of the apparel brand FUBU and also one of the sharks in Shark Tank.
Key points: When you lack financial resources, use your innovation and authenticity to look for resources. Hard work and determination is a must, hence the phrase “Rise and Grind”.
Who it is for: People who want to start a business but don’t because they think they lack financial resources.
HOW SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE THINK
Author: John C. Maxwell
About: This book presents the concept that being broke puts you at an advantage because when you have nothing to lose, you have everything to gain. Daymond John is the owner of the apparel brand FUBU and also one of the sharks in Shark Tank.
1. Big Picture Thinking
2. Focused Thinking
3. Creative Thinking
4. Realistic Thinking
5. Strategic Thinking
6. Possibility Thinking
7. Reflective Thinking
8. Popular Thinking (not to!)
9. Shared Thinking
10. Unselfish Thinking
11. Bottom Line Thinking
Key points: The number one point is attitude – you have to think about continuous learning and growing. Shape your mind to value good and constructive thoughts, surround yourself with people and environments that encourage thinking, act on those good thoughts and be creative while thinking of ways to execute those thoughts, and to think about the benefit of others, not just yourself.
Who it is for: It is best suited for people who have self-awareness and is already starting to think about planning their journey for success.
