by Sunny Simon
Full disclosure: I am an addict. Truth be told, I am addicted to self-help books. Probably no surprise as most coaches have a habit of studying change, how to embrace change and how to help others change. Recently I finished Mel Robbins book, “Stop Saying You’re Fine: The No BS Guide to Getting What You Want.” Robbins delivers straight-forward sharp advice that will probably leave you inspired and ready to make changes where you’ve been in limbo dragging your feet. The best part of the book is a roadmap. Mel not only obliterates those excuses you peddle, by assigning practical homework she shows us how to stay the course.
M.J. Ryan is another executive coach I admire. Each January I take a run through her book, “This Year I Will: How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution, or Make a Dream Come True. In this book you’ll find ten tips for making changes and a variety of powerful techniques. Ryan claims her “tools help you tip the scale in your favor.”
Let’s not forget about Brené Brown, Ph.D., L.M.S.W., author and research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington Endowed Chair. Yeah…I wasn’t sure what that meant either, but apparently in 2016 The Huffington Foundation pledged $2 million over four years to help expand the reach of her research and work.
Brown’s groundbreaking New York Times best seller is “The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You’re Suppose to Be and Embrace Who You Are,” in which Brené shares ten guideposts on the power of what she terms, “wholehearted living.”
Okay, what’s my point other than providing you with a recommended reading list? I believe in peppering our reading lists with books that inspire and give us a firm boot out of our comfort zones. There are volumes of non-fiction books that act as a wing-man guiding, teaching, prompting us to be the best version of ourselves.
Of course burying our heads in self-help tomes only sets the stage for act one. At some point, we must back away from our reading nook and take action. Maya Angelou nailed it in this simple sentence, “Nothing will work unless you do.”
So this year, look for an inspirational guide, devote time to learning new strategies that move you to the goal line. I promise, if you begin by studying and then do the work, you can make 2018 your BEST year yet. Sunny Simon is the owner of Raise the Bar High Life and Career Coaching. More about Sunny at www.raisethebarhigh.com
