Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, reads over 50 books annually. He is joined in his avid reading habits by the likes of Tesla’s founder Elon Musk and Warren Buffet. Across industries and generations, the world’s most successful people have one thing in common: they are continuously learning because of books. So, if you’re ready to jumpstart your professional success, pull out your Kindle or go to your local bookstore. Here are 7 great books you should read to succeed:
Published in 1936, this is a professional development classic and one of the best-selling books of all time. The book focuses on ways to improve your interpersonal skills and become more successful in professional and personal relationships. Different sections of the book focus on persuasion, leadership, and making people like you.
In this best-selling self improvement book, Covey identifies seven habits to use in order to boost effectiveness. These habits include being proactive, sharpening your mind (Covey also suggests reading!) and establishing goals. Covey recommends starting off each week by creating a 2×2 matrix, to help you identify those tasks that are important for long term goals.
For recent graduates on the hunt for a job, this should be at the top of your read to succeed list. Bolles’ book focuses on strategies for finding jobs or changing careers. With advice on everything from writing resumes and cover letters to acing interviews and networking like a pro, you will be ready for job applications.
An international bestseller, this book focuses on ways to overcome your insecurities and weaknesses to master your full potential. The personal development steps outlined are equally important for personal fulfillment and professional success. Peale focuses on improving personal and professional relationships, taking control of situations, and also believing in yourself and your abilities.
If you’re looking to improve your networking skills, this is the book for you. The author lays out specific steps you can take to connect better with people in order to create a strong and meaningful network. Ferrazzi argues that networking is about finding out how to make other people successful, and emphasizes the importance of finding mentors.
Author Charles Duhigg is an award-winning reporter, formerly based at the New York Times where he covered business. Duhigg specializes in what he calls “The Science of Productivity,” and provides explanations for why habits exist, and how they can be changed. If we understand our habits and how they either help or hurt us Duhigg says, we can transform our professional and personal lives.
The Chicken Soup series are a great read to succeed. Focused on a specific theme, the book is a compilation of short stories by a variety of authors. In Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur’s Soul, entrepreneurs share their personal stories of success and failure and give advice. Furthermore, stories focus on the inspiring journey behind the world’s greatest companies, and how their success came to be. The book is organized by the type of advice given in each story. There are stories that encourage you to “follow your gut”, and “escape the box.”
Sources:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-merle/the-reading-habits-of-ult_b_9688130.html
http://www.businessinsider.com/30-business-books-to-read-before-turning-30-2015-4
Photos:
1. based on MG_0080, by Pedist, CC-by-2.0
2. based on Reading Book Meridian Hill Park, by Elvert Barnes, CC BY-SA 2.0
3. based on Reading Kindle, by John Jones, CC-by-2.0