For most of us, summer means vacation or at least a few days away from work, school, stress, and obligations. So, it’s not surprising it can be difficult to transition back to tackling to-do lists or engaging in professional development that rejuvenates your career. Here, 10 books to help motivate as we transition into a productive fall:
1. Lean into your biggest struggles.
Just like gratitude helps build resilience; overcoming obstacles begets empowerment. With humor and candor, Gotch shares the story of her unlikely path to becoming the founder and chief creative officer of the multimillion-dollar lifestyle brand ban.do. She talks about her childhood in Florida — her early struggles with a misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety, and ADD, to her winding career path as a waitress, photographer, and food stylist. Finally, an accidental entrepreneur, she illuminates how embracing her flaws and understanding the influence of mental illness on her creativity led to her greatest successes in business and life.
2. Start the podcast you've been dreaming about.
Everybody Has a Podcast (Except You) by Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, and Griffin McElroy
The New York Times dubbed the McElroys, of the hit podcast My Brother, My Brother, and Me, as "advice-giving brothers who have no business giving advice." But while they may not have the best relationship or workplace advice, they certainly make you laugh, and they know a thing or two about podcasting. Here, they walk podcasters-to-be through the process of deciding on a compelling name, turning an idea into ear candy for legions of fans, and even how to make money. Learn the keys to success and mistakes to avoid — drawn from the vast experiences of three of the funniest and most successful podcasters working today.
3. Learn how to change anyone's mind.
The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone's Mind by Jonah Berger
In The Catalyst, Berger shines a spotlight on barriers to change and offers practical advice on how to remove them. Even though we're all pushing for change, progress often feels slow because we're going about it the wrong way. It's not about pushing harder; actual change comes from catalysts — the people who remove roadblocks and reduce barriers standing in the way of change. Cultivating a growth mindset improves your ability to succeed in all areas of life — creating motivation and productivity — affecting how you lead, manage, and show up in relationships. If you're ready to be the catalyst inspiring real change, this book shows you how.
4. Eliminate workplace injustice and transform your career.
Just Work: Get Sh*t Done, Fast & Fair by Kimberly Scott
Have you ever felt excluded, underestimated, or underutilized in the workplace? Worse, maybe you've seen someone else be overestimated and promoted beyond their level of competence. Just Work can help you recognize, attack, and eliminate workplace injustice, transform your career, and establish an organization in the process. Revealing a practical framework for respecting everyone's individuality and effectively collaborating, this is the essential guide for leaders.
5. Turn your idea into a successful venture.
Based on the highly acclaimed NPR podcast, How I Built This offers priceless insight and inspiration from the world's top entrepreneurs on starting, launching, and building a successful venture. In the book, Guy Raz shares tips for every entrepreneur's journey — from the early days of formulating your idea, to raising money and recruiting employees, to fending off competitors, and finally paying yourself an actual salary. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever dreamed of starting their own business or wondered how trailblazing entrepreneurs made their dreams a reality.
6. Achieve more by doing less.
Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less by Leidy Klotz
It may seem counterintuitive, but doing less may lead to a heightened focus to achieve tangible, commendable results toward your dreams. Blending evidence across science and design, Subtract changes how you optimize your world. As you read, you'll meet subtracting exemplars who removed racism, advanced knowledge, healed the planet, and even told better jokes. Learn how you can revolutionize not just your day-to-day lives but your collective legacy.
7. Fight burnout and build resilience.
How do you manage your stress to avoid burnout, thrive despite your exhaustion, and lift the culture of your organization? Founder and culture consultant Ridley has answers. In this audio course, The Three Happy Habits, she offers a new framework for dealing with workplace stress in the form of mindfulness, gratitude, and investing in new experiences. You don't merely have to cope with burnout — these habits can help you thrive personally and professionally, even in times of high stress.
8. Find fulfillment in a new career.
Maybe all you need to stay motivated is a change of profession. For many years, the only acceptable route to success was a college education. But in a period of skyrocketing student loan debt and an economy in desperate need of skilled tradespeople, many are seeking new paths. Blue-collar trades are a source of pride and that you can find your version of happiness by pursuing an excellent old-fashioned craft. A prescriptive and timely guide to finding success and happiness without a college degree, Blue-Collar Cash celebrates the possibilities and financial opportunities that a blue-collar life can bring.
9. Build your bank account.
This summer, dig deeper into building your bank account and change the way you think. Rodgers offers a breakthrough step-by-step guide for women who want to shift their mindset and work their way to seven figures. She reveals the unique hurdles businesswomen face that their male peers might not—and shows how to overcome them. It's time to focus on earning potential and the ability to generate wealth through leadership, advocacy, and autonomy.
10. Overcome self-doubt.
Believe IT by Jamie Kern Lima
In Believe IT, Lima, founder of IT Cosmetics, shares the wild story of how a once-struggling waitress turned her against-the-grain idea into a bestselling international sensation — eventually selling the company for more than a billion dollars and becoming the first female CEO of a brand in L'Oréal's 100+ year history. Her story reveals what really went down, how she almost didn't make it, and how she learned to trust herself. These are powerful lessons we can use to go from underestimated to unstoppable.
