Just in time for the new year, here are five books to consider for inspiration or a gentle push toward your goals. One is brand-new, and the others are from my bookshelf.
"The Happiness Advantage" by Shawn Achor (Crown Publishing Group, 2010, $25). Is the tail end of a recession a good time to discuss happiness as it relates to the workplace? Author Shawn Achor believes the most stressful times are precisely when a positive attitude is most needed. Calling happiness a work ethic, he cites studies demonstrating that simply making the effort to cultivate positive habits during times of stress can provide a buffer against depression, low energy and low productivity.
Achor believes that waiting to be happy limits our brain’s potential for success, whereas cultivating a positive mindset makes us more motivated, resilient and productive. Further, Achor claims that a brain that is positive significantly outperforms a brain that is negative, neutral or stressed.
To move this philosophy from platitude to action, Achor provides seven strategies.
"Your Next Big Thing" by Ben Michaelis (Adams Media, 2013, $24,95). What if you struggle to build a positive mindset because you're stuck in a rut? And how do you know if you're stuck? That one is easy — take the quiz offered by clinical psychologist Ben Michaelis and you'll find out if you're "running in place" in your work or personal lives or both.
Built like a fast-paced series of therapy sessions, this book focuses the reader on a two-pronged strategy of self-discovery and small action steps to correct course. The experienced reader of self-help books will recognize familiar topics such as overcoming procrastination and discovering purpose. Luckily, Michaelis’ stories, quizzes and exercises keep the information fresh as you work toward building the life of play and purpose that Michaelis envisions.
"You Already Know How to Be Great" by Alan Fine (Penguin Books, 2010, $25.95). If you're ready to move from the theoretical to the concrete, Fine wants to take you there. In his first career as a sports coach, Fine began honing a concept he calls the "Inside-Out Paradigm." Rooted in the GROW model that he and two others developed in the 1980s, Inside Out focuses on removing the internal blocks we all create to interfere with our own success. Fine now uses the concept with teams and organizations, as well as individuals who want to improve performance.
Although this book is not difficult to read, I would say it is best-suited for someone who is serious about tackling and resolving a performance issue.
"The Compound Effect" by Darren Hardy (Vanguard Press, 2010, $14.99). We're used to thinking about the compounding effects of interest when we stow our money in a retirement fund — but what about the compounded effects of other smart decisions we make on a daily basis? Hardy's goal is to raise our awareness of how small steps compounded daily can either lead us toward or away from our true goals. Chapters on breaking bad habits, choosing our influences and building momentum will be particularly helpful to those wishing a fresh start in the new year.
"Make Every Second Count" by Robert Bly (Career Press, 2010, $14.99). This is an update of an earlier release by Bly, with new chapters on topics such as networking online and saving time when traveling. Although I don't subscribe to all of his tips, I keep Bly's book for one simple reason: This guy gets stuff done. As the author of more than 75 books, he has overcome every possible time-waster and achieved fantastic productivity along the way.
Sometimes I reread a chapter to kick myself back in line, and other times just to remind myself that more is possible if I’m willing to pay the price for efficiency. If using time well is a concern of yours, this book will help.
