The reading list for January / February 2018 | Charlotte O'Hara

One of my big goals for 2018 is to read more and actually log those books.

I know, I know. How unoriginal! But hear me out.

Reading is something that I love doing and, for the most part, I have no problem powering through the latest thriller or mystery. I am a fiction junkie and once I find an author or series that I enjoy, there’s no stopping me.

Over the pat few months, however, I haven’t put aside as much time as I’d like to read non-fiction books that will help my business, mindset and continuing education. And that’s a damn shame because I enjoy those books too!

One of my favourite things about business/lifestyle books is that I basically get full access to someone’s brain and I can learn so much from them by reading their stories and implementing their advice. As I mentioned in a previous book recommendation post, “It would be nearly impossible to get a multi-hour meeting with some of these people but when you read their book, it's basically a masterclass in their teachings.”

I'm doing things a little differently this year and as such, I’m putting it out into the universe that over the next four weeks I will read the following three books. Accountability, is that you?

You'll notice that none of these books directly cover web design/development but rest assured that the lessons are applicable to nearly every industry. I've linked to the books on Amazon (not affiliate links) but I'm positive you could find almost all of them at your local library/bookstore/garage sale as well.

If you're looking for books to read over the next few weeks that will positively impact your business, I hope these recommendations tickle your fancy! Side note : colour coordinated book covers was entirely unexpected but is very much enjoyed!

Let's take a look.

1. 7 habits of highly effective people - Stephen R Covey

This is one of those “I can’t believe I haven’t read this yet” books that I’ve got queued and ready to go on my Kindle. Corvey's book is a classic and I’m really looking forward to seeing for myself what takeaways I can implement in my own life. It’s funny going into a book knowing what to expect because there’s so much hype around the classic, yet still being excited for all the ways it’s going to surprise me! I’m very much into the idea of getting intentional with my time and work and I know that setting up the right habits will help me get there.

2. How to win friends and influence people - Dale Carnegie

In the spirit of honestly, I have to admit that I’m going for a re-read here. I first read this (amazing) book in 2015 while I was on a solo trip around South East Asia and bummed a tattered old copy off a guy on a train (true story). I loved that although the book was written decades ago, the information holds up and is totally applicable today!

I’m particularly interested in re-reading the sections on professional communication because duh, there’s always room for improvement.

3. The ONE Thing - Gary Keller

The whole premise of this book is focusing on what matters most in your personal life and in business, and that is something I can enthusiastically get behind. I’ve been thinking a lot about working smarter, not harder, and zeroing in on the “one thing” that needs to get done first is a huge part of that. I'm guilty of letting my to-do list run a mile long and that ends up just stressing me out even more! This book has come up in conversation a few times over the past couple of months so I’m taking it as a sign that I need the info Keller presents.

Final Thoughts

These books should keep me busy over the next few weeks and I can’t wait to dive in, take notes, and implement changes. It goes without saying that there are so many incredible books out there and these three are just the tip of the ice berg, but it should kick my year off on the right start! I’m hoping they have a positive impact on my life AND my business and that the takeaways stay with me for years to come.

Now it’s your turn to tell me, have you read any of these books? Did you like them? Do they live up to the hype? Are there any other books that you’re reading that I should add to my list? I’d love to know so leave me a note in the comments below!

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