If you know me, you’ll know that I love to read. Our house is a reading house, where a really fun family day consists of the three of us sitting side by side with our books and tea as we each read quietly. My daughter is a very active 8-year-old who loves to climb and sing and build with legos but her absolute favorite is to snuggle up next to me and read Harry Potter books. I love fantasy and sci-fi, but I also love to read non-fiction books that inspire. I’ve been reading a lot of articles and blogs, as well as listening to podcasts and watching TED talks lately, and one client remarked that I always seem to know just the right resource to recommend for whatever part of her journey she’s working through. So I have compiled my favorites for you, gentle reader.
Here is my recommended reading, watching, and listening list for a successful 2019, all of which I plan to visit (or re-visit) in the coming year.
Inspiring Books
1. Dare to Lead, by Brené Brown
Brené Brown Photo by Maile Wilson
I have a hard-core girl crush on Brené Brown. Every time I read one of her books, I feel like she’s speaking directly to my inner soul and I think, “man, I wish I wrote this!” We read her last offering – Braving the Wilderness – together in the Books That Light Our Fire group, and many times I heard “I wish there was more about how to do these things.” Dare to Lead is the answer to that yearning, and has many ideas and exercises on how to create a work culture that actually allows for everyone to show up fully and authentically. It is my sincere hope that every leader, corporate or otherwise, reads and IMPLEMENTS the ideas in this book. We’d all be happier for it.
2. Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert
This book is more about inspiration and understanding that my fears and frustrations are not unique, but to go ahead and create anyway. I’ve been using this as a pick-me-up when I feel writer’s block or question whether I should keep creating long-form content in a tweet filled world.
Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you?
Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic
3. Burning Woman, by Lucy H. Pearce
It’s time for me to re-read this book. The first time I read it, I was in a dark place in my life and career, with no idea how to get myself out. This book lit a fire under me and my passion to see women helping women rise higher, claim their power, and change the world for the better. If you’re feeling checked-out of life, demoralized by the crushing weight of the patriarchy, this book will help you breathe life into that spark within.
This book is for you, dearest woman if you long to be more powerful and courageous, and know that now is the time to be seen.
Lucy H. Pearce, Burning Woman
4. The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
This one doesn’t come out until June, but it’s already on my list. The mindset he talks about is one that is a shift from this top-down patriarchal model into one of connection and seeing competitors as rivals who help you to get better, with no winners or losers. Another book that I’m sure will have me thinking “I wish I wrote this!”. Check out a video of Simon talking about the concepts of infinite leadership here.
5. Becoming, by Michelle Obama
No matter your politics, you can’t deny that Michelle Obama is an incredibly intelligent and inspiring woman. I just unwrapped this book, a gift for the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóðið (which I highly recommend). Her ability to balance career, being a very active First Lady, with being a kickass mom to two amazing girls is definitely on my list of #momgoals.
Failure is a feeling long before it becomes an actual result. It’s vulnerability that breeds with self-doubt and then is escalated, often deliberately, by fear.
Michelle Obama, Becoming
6. The Art of Asking, by Amanda Palmer
I’ve listened to the audiobook at least three times in the past year. I will listen to it again, I am sure. It’s the perfect blend of vulnerability, story, and inspiration for my own journey and working through fears that I return to whenever I need to feel like someone out there “gets me”. Plus the audiobook is sprinkled with actual songs by Amanda, so it makes a great book for breaking up the morning commute. Be sure to check out the TED talk too, though the book is definitely more about stepping into your true self and not solely geared toward artists.
7. Tools of Titans, by Tim Ferriss
This one is a tome, so if you have issues with wrist strength consider the ebook version! More of a reference than something to read cover to cover, it’s filled with the best ideas and morning rituals of thought leaders in a variety of industries. Artists, CEOs, authors, and philosophers share their habits and tips for success. It’s interesting to see the patterns that emerge among the people I admire like Arianna Huffington, Amanda Palmer, Brené Brown, Gabby Reece and dozens more. (80% of these leaders and influencers have mindfulness such as a morning meditation ritual).
Articles and Quick Reads
Don’t like audiobooks and don’t have time to read a novel? Check out these articles:
8. The Year of Women Helping Women, by Innovation Women
A call to action with data from studies showing the power of women working to elevate one another. Includes some concrete ideas like posting an Amazon review for a female author whose book inspired you (like the women on this list!). We have so much to offer each other, and we are stronger together. From a great site for women speakers, “Innovation Women was founded by women and is designed to help women find success through increased visibility, particularly through speaking engagements.” I highly recommend checking them out if you have a desire to speak at conferences or on panels in your industry.
9. Five Tech Trends Being Driven by Women in 2019, by Tracy Welson-Rossman for forbes.com
Greater access to technology on a global scale is changing the way the world works, from politics to education. Tracy’s article summarizes the insights of five leading women in the tech industry and their predictions for 2019.
10. Companies Can Immediately Overcome One Core Obstacle to Gender Equity in the Workplace, by Prudy Gorguechon for forbes.com
This article breaks down one of the insights from the 2018 Women in the Workplace Report which showed the negative impact of being the ONLY woman in a leadership position. (Only female board member, only woman in the c-suite, etc), and is particularly draining for women of color and queer women who carry multiple “only” statuses.
These experiences create a constant role strain and emotional drain that companies should be aware of, lest they lose valuable talent—talented women who finally feel it’s just not worth the constant fight.
Prudy Gorguechon, forbes.com
11. This is the Secret to Avoiding Burnout According to Google’s In-House Productivity Coach, by Jessica Stillman for inc.com
One recent Gallup poll found nearly a quarter of employees claim they’re constantly burnt out, while a massive 44 percent reported feeling sometimes burnt out. All that exhaustion costs something like $125 billion to $190 billion in health-care spending a year.
Jessica Stillman, inc.com
Includes interesting approaches to balance and resilience. A quick article, but good food for thought.
Videos and Podcasts
Yes, I sometimes watch videos! I also love podcasts and listen to them pretty much anytime I am driving somewhere. This is what’s in my queue for 2019:
12. How Do We Grow Compassion? – Leah Weiss for TEDx
Compassion is the desire to alleviate the suffering of others. When we tap into this powerful emotion, it has an incredible impact on our work as well as our personal relationships.
For us to make the greatest impact at our jobs — and also feel the greatest satisfaction — we need to tap into work’s deeper meaning.
Leah Weiss
15. The Golden Mic with Marc Cordon (youtube)
Marc Cordon is one of those people you instantly want to be friends with. When I need to smile, I turn to his interviews – he is a positive psychologist with an infectious attitude. Watch one and you’ll instantly see why! He seriously needs to find a way to bottle his enthusiasm and energy. Interviews with coaches, authors, and content creators that inspire and motivate.
13. So Money Podcast – Farnoosh Torabi
Truth time – I have a terrible money story and spent most of my life trying not to think about money. Sitting down with a financial planner only happened because my BFF became a planner and needed to practice with someone. It took wine and many deep breaths to look at finances together. This was at the age of 39! I realized that I need to start getting more comfortable with money issues, and found this great podcast. Farnoosh is a mom, and super relatable. She does real talk about investments, saving, and planning and somehow manages to make it easy to access without “dumbing down”.
14. She Geeks Out Podcast – Rachel Murray & Felicia Jadczak
Free form discussions on whatever these girls “geek out” about. It’s a fun listen with women in leadership roles in tech, or almost any industry. It feels like a fun get together with friends on the couch, and reminds me that we’re all human.
15. How to Break Bad Management Habits Before They Reach the Next Generation of Leaders – Elizabeth Lyle for TED
“This is the way it’s always been done.” The epitaph of every company that’s too old to change, and a surefire way to push my mood into the red. Elizabeth’s TED talk is a call to action to nurture leaders that will be responsive to change by breaking the rules with support.
16. Why the Secret to Success is Setting the Right Goals – John Doerr for TED
Set audacious goals that align with your mission and purpose. Use clear objectives and key results to focus and make it happen. John explains the power of combining WHY with the WHAT and HOW. His checklist includes items that we don’t see often in corporations – inspirational, significant. It blows SMART goals out of the water.
Reading for Fun
My reward to myself this year, as I build my business and take steps toward my goals, is to read for fun. While I do enjoy reading non-fiction and inspiring books like the ones above, sometimes I like to indulge my need for fantasy. Here’s what’s in my list of library holds:
17. A Darker Shade of Magic, by V.E. Schwab
Duelling mages, pirates, romance, political intrigue and characters you care about: this is a trilogy that you will devour – the story pulls you right in with a compelling and flawed main character from a world where magic reigns, and a kickass woman from Victorian London who is nobody’s sidekick. I could live in Kell’s world(s) forever, and explore the seas with Delilah Bard and never get bored.
18. The Tangled Lands, by Paolo Baciagaluppi and Tobias Buckell
I have not read this, but am a huge fan of Paolo’s work. If you haven’t read The Windup Girl or The Water Knife, get thee to a bookstore ASAP! This one looks like fantasy, which is a departure for him (typically sci-fi) but I’m psyched to see how this turns out. It’s a set of four interconnected stories about a land where the use of magic has turned toxic to the environment. I haven’t read anything by Tobias, but I hear that he is great too.
19. Artificial Condition, by Martha Wells
I just finished the first book in the Murderbot Diaries – All Systems Red- and it was a fun read. Imagine if Data from ST:TNG had been a combat droid, ignored by the crew while carrying on a sarcastic inner monologue. I’m interested to know more about this world with its strange ethics regarding sentient robots. I have a love of anything that touches on “what makes someone alive“, ever since I read Neuromancer many many years ago.
Phew! I made it through all 19, which turned out to be quite a lot longer than I realized when I started. I think these selections will keep me busy at least through April. Got a recommendation to share? Comment below, or send me an email, anytime.