It’s been said that improving your personal character will improve your business or career, but not the other way around.
I for one 100% agree with that sentiment. I have seen it echoed enough in numerous texts over the years to know it certainly holds merit with others too.

Improving yourself; your mindset, your energy levels, your dealing with other people, your management of state, these are all traits that can’t help but improve your business. After all, business is people. Improve yourself, improve your business. Simple.

But perhaps not so simple in practice. 

How many millions upon millions of books, courses, seminars and workshops have been touted over the years as the ultimate self-improvement tools. Granted, many of them are on the right track, but the messaging is slightly off and application lacking. How on earth do we narrow down what we should be reading, what is right for our particular situation?

This is the only way I’ve found I get any benefit from reading self-improvement type books. It’s a 3 step process.

1. Find a book that covers an issue/struggle that I’m looking to deal with and overcome. Ensure it’s a book with plenty of positive reviews that has been around for a few years.
2. Read the book thoroughly, until I come across a section that is directly relevant to my life. Pay particular attention and focus to that chapter.
3. Take that knowledge and apply it immediately. Don’t keep reading the book. Don’t just bookmark it and move on. Figure out how I can apply and test that piece of knowledge to my life.

 

Then Repeat…

This formula can be (and has) applied to practically any pain point that’s experienced; be it time management, productivity, dealing with other people, managing finances, cultivating ideas, setting goals and practically anything else. The most important part is to apply what you’ve learnt. Perhaps even more important is to learn from the right people..

 

Biographies are the way

If you’re looking to learn something or improve something in your own life, the first point of call should be to identify 1 or 2 people who have done it exceptionally well. Ideally it’s best to learn from the best. Would you take financial advice on how to become a millionaire from a bum? From a toddler? From your neighbor who’s $50k in debt? Of course you wouldn’t. They’ve never done it. So why would you take advice from a young guy or girl on Instagram who’s probably never reached the goal themselves either? Or someone holding a seminar down the road who you’ve never heard of and can’t (or won’t) prove they’ve achieved tremendous success in the area themselves. Sure, they may appear knowledgeable on the subject, but anyone who’s done a bit of research can be. It’s not the knowledge that counts, it’s the execution. And biographies show you exactly what that execution looks like and that it’s possible.

If you’re looking to make money or get rich, why even learn from a millionaire? You have access to the greatest wealth creators on the planet at your fingertips. Ray Dalio, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos.. they’ve all got 2 things in common. They’re all multi billionaires and they’ve all got biographies they’ve either written or contributed to. You’ve got access to the exact method they’ve used to make money, their mindsets and the struggles and setbacks they’ve overcome.

A book doesn’t have to be a biography to teach you something of course. It’s always important in my mind though, that the author has achieved what they’re teaching at the highest level. That they actually demonstrate this in the text and show you exactly how it was done. Humans do thrive on stories after all. It’s how we’ve learnt and passed down knowledge for thousands of years.

So, without further ado, here’s a list of the books I’ve read that I’ve found most profound in the aspect of personal growth as a whole, with a lean towards the business and career side of life.

 

 

9 Books for Personal Growth That Will Improve Your Business

 

Atomic Habits by James Clear

I’ve always been one to focus on the vision, on the multi-year goals and figured the in-between would take care of itself, so long as I stayed the course. The day to day tasks weren’t the key but simply bits and pieces you had to try and put together here and there to reach your goal. After reading this book by James Clear, I couldn’t disagree with my previous mentality more…

It seems quite obvious to be now that the habits are the most important aspect of any accomplishment. Set the course for where you want to go (vision and goals) and then figure out the habits you need to achieve each day to get you there.

After reading this book I immediately downloaded an app called Habit Bull and have been keeping it updated every day since.

 

Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashley Vance

Anyone in business should read the story of Elon Musk and the mentality he brings to the table. If you’re not inspired to get out and start achieving monumental things after reading this one I’d be rather surprised. 

Elon certainly has a unique way of approaching the world, it’s problems and creating companies to solve them. You’ll almost certainly get a few takeaways you can apply to your own business.

 

 

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

The old classic. This one has probably graced practically every list imaginable over the decades and I was hesitant to include it on this list due to that fact. It’s become almost a cliche but it is still so valuable.

The lessons presented are all common sense and quite obvious. However when you really examine yourself and your actions, how often to you actually follow these rules? I would hazzard a guess and say not often. Either that or you’re not as self aware as you may believe. Reading this every year or two can keep these principles fresh and allow you to capitalise on your day to day interactions. The most important I believe, is to simply put yourself in the other persons shoes. Do that and you’ll do well, in life and in business.

 

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Not your typical business or even self-improvement book. There’s no particular advice or strategy to success contained in this one. If you’re looking for a journey of personal growth however, you won’t find a better practitioner. The life of Malcolm X was in a constant state of reformation, of change and of personal growth.

From life as a career criminal on a path to destruction, to a key figure in the Muslim Brotherhood movement to a less militant civil rights activist towards the end of his life. It was clear that Malcolm X was not afraid to admit his previous ideologies were not congruent with the way the world is. Or at least weren’t going to improve the state of the world in the way he had imagined.

Something we can all apply to our own lives.

 

Influence: The Power of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

Influence or be influenced. Cialdini takes us through the science behind why we are influenced to do the things we do and how we can use these strategies in our own lives.

These kinds of books with the words influence, persuasion etc.. often get a bad rap. We hear so often of the negative outcomes of these skills, from dodgy dealers and shifty salesman who may not have the other persons best interests at heart. The fact is however, we all need to be able to influence at some point in our lives, usually with positive intentions. It’s best then, for us to understand how to achieve our goal and get a win-win outcome for all parties involved. It also pays to know how we are being influenced ourselves and avoid falling pray to the wrong sort.

 

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

The story of the shoe giant Nike and it’s rise to global empire from very humble beginnings. This is a perfect hero’s business journey, overcoming every obstacle imaginable in creating an enduring company and a legacy. Turning a prototype for modified running shoes into one of the worlds most recognised and respected brands. I’m sure every business owner will get something out of this one.

 

Losing my Virginity by Richard Branson

The ultimate entrepreneur. Branson is the stereotypical brash, risk taking, publicity seeking maverick that have come to encapsulate the entrepreneurial spirit in public imagination.

From struggles in school due to his un-diagnosed dyslexia, to starting a music empire to what is undoubtedly his most famous venture, Virgin Airlines, Richard Branson has lived one hell of life. This is not to mention partying with rockstars, breaking world records in a hot air balloon and owning a 30 hectare island in the Carribean.

In this biography, he’ll walk you through his life, the key decisions and pivotal moments that were made in turning the Virgin name into one of the largest private companies on Earth. Well worth your time, particularly if you’re looking to start a business.

 

 

Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday

I find this is a particularly useful read in this day and age. Where Social Media rules and peoples thoughts are generally focused on how they can make themselves look better or stand out, this book lays out an important reminder: keep your ego in check.

This goes so far beyond business and into the depths of personal development; developing our character, maintaining our emotional state, not allowing others words and actions to pierce but merely to graze the surface.

“When we remove ego, we’re left with what is real. What replaces ego is humility, yes—but rock-hard humility and confidence. Whereas ego is artificial, this type of confidence can hold weight. Ego is stolen. Confidence is earned. Ego is self-anointed, its swagger is artifice. One is girding yourself, the other gaslighting. It’s the difference between potent and poisonous.” 

 

 

Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl

What list could possibly be complete without this classic from Victor Frankl. You probably already know the contents of this book or can do a quick Google Search to find a million in-depth studies and resources if not. Either way, it pays to read this one again and keep it’s message in mind. No matter what our conditions in life, no matter what external adversity we are faced with, it’s entirely upto us to choose our response. That is always within our grasp. Remember that and choose your response wisely and after consideration. Follow the light that Victor has lit.

 

*An honourable mention of a book for personal growth goes to Principles by Ray Dahlio- a book which I can already see will be highly influential in my own life but which I haven’t quite finished yet.