Life-Changing Books

I try to read at least a book a month.  It started as a resolution years ago and stuck  with me.  Every so often, I come along one that seriously impacts my life in a very positive way.  I encourage you to check them out as well and see what they can do for you.

When Work and Family Collide: Keeping Your Job from Cheating Your Family – Andy Stanley

• Let’s face it. With all the demands of the workplace and all the details of a family it’s only a matter of time before one bumps into the other. And many of us end up cheating our families when the commitments of both collide. In this practical book, Andy Stanley will help you. . .

  – establish priorities and boundaries to protect what you value most.
  – learn the difference between saying your family is your priority and actually making them your priority.
  – discover tested strategies for easing tensions at home and at work.

  Watch as this powerful book transforms your life from time-crunching craziness to life-changing success.

Strengths Finder 2.0 – Tom Rath

• This is both a book and an online assessment (I love!) that identifies your top five strengths and then defines them for you so that you have a better understanding as to how to use them.  It only provide you with your top five so that you can play up your strengths rather than focus on improving your, well, not strengths.  It also provides you with information that you can share with your friends/family/colleagues so that they to can benefit from your strengths.

The One Minute Manager – Kenneth Blanchard, Ph.D. & Spencer Johnson, M.D.

• Incredibly easy to read, The One Minute Manager provides you with key tips as to how you can encourage others in a positive way to do their best.  One thing that I love about this book is that it is so practical for both home and work.  I have actually implemented these tips with my children.  The impact is amazing and immediate!  The book also includes a portion on how to do a one-minute discipline so that you are acknowledging when someone makes a mistake, but you identify it, express your feelings, and then move on.  It seems so simple because it is.

Eat Move Sleep – Tom Rath

• I cannot express how much I love this book.  This as well includes an online assessment and is very easy to read.  (Notice a pattern?)  Here, Rath investigated (rigorously!) the best ways to lengthen your life.  These good habits can be placed into one of three categories: Eat, Move, and Sleep.  Literally, eating right, moving often, and sleeping soundly increases your energy, gives you a more positive outlook to your day, and provides you with more focus.  Rath includes several tips that you can download from your assessment and incorporate into your day-to-day life.  Another thing I love is that Rath is realistic.  He outright states that you will not do everything in the book, but if you are able to include a few new good habits into your day, you are taking positive steps to a healthier lifestyle.

The Total Money Makeover – Dave Ramsey

• This book is full of practical ways to save and invest in your future.  Ramsey debunks the many myths of money (exposing the dangers of cash advance, rent-to-own, debt consolidation) and attacks the illusions and downright deceptions of the American dream, which encourages nothing but overspending and massive amounts of debt. “Don’t even consider keeping up with the Joneses,” Ramsey declares in his typically candid style. “They’re broke!”

Miserly Moms – Jonni McCoy

• I fell in love with Miserly Moms years ago when adding our first little Trudden to our family.  A theme in the books I love, McCoy offers straight-forward, practical ways that you can save money today rather than in five years.  Along with this, she teaches you ways of managing your funds in a fun, inviting way that makes saving fun!