Its the first year of a new decade, and there’s no better time to create a new habit like reading books! I have shared some of my favourite books over the years on the blog. Some of my favourite types of books include ones that help you grow as a person or in business. Over the years I have grown into a completely different person from what I have learned from reading books. They have helped me in so many ways with personal and professional growth, from learning to say no to identifying character traits in others. It’s amazing when you start paying attention to how things are happening so you can start making changes.

I often hear people say I just don’t have time to sit down and read a book. The thing is you do have the time, you just need to make the time for yourself. Whether it’s a chapter a day or a new book every week, the pace is up to you!

Stop Doing That Sh*t (End Self-Sabotage and Demand Your Life Back) – Gary John Bishop

Do you feel stuck? If you are wanting to make a change with your life you need to first come to the realization of why you do the things you do. We all get caught up in patterns of behavior, sometimes without even realizing it. Gary John Bishop has an in your face style of writing (I also highly recommend his book Unfu*k Yourself) that works for me. His two books have helped me identify my behaviour patterns and self sabotage. I’m working on changing my ways since reading them both.

“If you can’t save money, if you keep ending up in the same types of toxic relationships, if you feel unloved, don’t fit in, not enough or any one of the myriad of ways that a human being trashes an otherwise good life, this is the book for you.”

Never Eat Alone (And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship At a Time) – Keith Ferrazzi, Tahl Raz

I don’t typically pick up large books like this, but this one captivated me from start to finish! Many of us have a long list of contacts, yet so many people don’t ever do anything with them. Ferrazzi talks about helping others with connecting them to those they need to be connected to. Instead of selfishly keeping those connections in case you might need them one day, use them. The basis is around helping others which in turn helps you in business.

I’ve always been known as the connector. Over the years I have connected so many people in business to other contacts. You shouldn’t be thinking you can only do something for others if they do something for you in return. Ferrazzi shares his system of reaching out to people in practical, proven principles including:

“Don’t keep score: It’s never simply about getting what you want. It’s about getting what you want and making sure that the people who are important to you get what they want, too.
“Ping” constantly: The ins and outs of reaching out to those in your circle of contacts all the time—not just when you need something.
Never Eat Alone: The dynamics of status are the same whether you’re working at a corporation or attending a social event—“invisibility” is a fate worse than failure.
Become the “King of Content”: How to use social media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to make meaningful connections, spark engagement, and curate a network of people who can help you with your interests and goals.”

the life-changing magic of NOT GIVING A F*CK (how to stop spending time you don’t have with people you don’t like doing things you don’t want to do) – Sarah Knight

If you are feeling stressed, overbooked and unhappy than this is the book for you. It covers letting go of drama with friends and family by simply saying no to those events. Stay out of opinionated conversations with co workers, and stop beating yourself up about that bikini body you might never have. I love her style of writing and have read many of her titles over the past couple of years. The swearing in her titles are what interested me in her first book. From there I quickly learned I love everything she has to say. The older I get the more I stand up for myself and say no to things that don’t bring me joy. When you say no to those things it allows you time to do the things you really enjoy! Make this the year that you stop trying to please everyone around you and start living your own life!

Getting to YES (negotiating agreement without giving in) – Roger Fisher and William Ury

This book was a little dry for me but the lesson was something I was looking to learn more about. Almost everything in life is up for negotiation, and this book gives you plenty of examples of situations where negotiations have taken place. Whether it’s a business deal or a divorce, Getting to YES offers step by step strategy for getting to a mutual agreement in any sort of conflict. One of my biggest takeaways that helped me was having the courage to negotiate more, what’s the worst they can say? No? Well at least you tried! And having the courage to do this has opened me up to more experiences, things and money (we all love more money)!

The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and your children will be glad they did) – Philippa Perry

Although we all parent in different ways, it’s nice to read a perspective from others every once in a while. Perry is a renowned psychotherapist that shares stories and views on the do’s and don’ts of parenting with a big picture look of the elements that lead to good parent child relationships.

“This refreshing, judgement-free book will help you to:

· Understand how your own upbringing may affect your parenting
· Accept that you will make mistakes and learn what you can do about them
· Break negative cycles and patterns
· Handle your own and your child’s feelings
· Understand what different behaviours communicate”