“If you want to be successful, you have to stay teachable.”
This is one of the most important sayings you might ever hear. It’s simple and true. I’ve long believed that if you’re always the smartest person in the room, there’s a big problem. You’re not challenging yourself to grow into a better person.
Success doesn’t just happen, it’s learned. Who better to learn success from than those who have already achieved it and then some? That’s how you grow into a better version of yourself. I’ve spent the last 13 years learning how to be successful from others. And I have no intention to stop learning, or to stop being successful. Neither should you.
Ask any uber-successful person, and you will probably find that they are voracious readers in their spare time. Reading the experiences, thoughts and work of others is one of the best ways to learn. Former President George W. Bush used to engage colleagues in reading challenges; he read almost 100 books a year during his time in office. Warren Buffet is far from shy when it comes to acknowledging his ever-growing reading list. Taking the time to read is a key ingredient in becoming a more successful person in life and business.
These 10 picks from the Jarred Bunch bookshelf helped us inch closer to success and can do the same for you:
Rich Dad Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki. This real-life tale compares the author’s biological father (the poor dad) against the father of his childhood best friend (the rich dad). It will open your eyes to the divide among those who live in scarcity mode, as opposed to those who live with an abundance mindset. Two fundamental concepts will come to you from this book: An abundance mindset and an attitude cultivated in fearless entrepreneurship.
L.E.A.P: Lifetime Economic Acceleration Process, by Robert Castiglione. A big influencer in the financial industry for almost 30 years, Castiglione created a blueprint for how to accelerate wealth building and sustain it for life. The cornerstone of this book lies in his quest to morph traditional financial planning into something better for the new age. You’ll uncover several foundation elements for reaching your full financial potential here.
The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life, by Alice Schroeder. At 10 years old, Buffett was already visiting Wall Street, engaging a senior partner at Goldman Sachs in a conversation that resulted in the partner asking Buffett which stock he liked. Even if you not an entrepreneur, Buffett’s biography has applicable insight. Appropriately titled “The Snowball,” Schroeder depicts how Buffett never quit striving for success; he worked tirelessly to make things for himself bigger and better. It winds between tales of lessons learned, goals crushed and immense respect earned.
Crush It, by Gary Vaynerchuk. Vaynerchuk is the CEO of VaynerMedia, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author and up-and-coming digital marketing mogul. Crush It will teach you the three golden rules to success: 1) Love your family, 2) Work incredibly hard, 3) Live your passion. Instead of measuring success based on how big your business is or how much money you have, you’ll learn to measure it based on how happy you are, and how satisfied you feel with what you’re doing every day.
Start With Why, by Simon Sinek. As Sinek points out, there is a distinct difference between leaders and those who lead. Leaders have found their “why,” their way of thinking, acting and communicating that enables them to inspire those around them. He explores the effect of motivating people through inspiration rather than manipulating people into action. Try your hand at becoming an inspirational leader by starting with your “why,” not “how” or “what.”
The Random Walk Guide to Investing, by Burton G. Malkiel. Based on the previous literary hit, A Random Walk Down Wall Street, Malkiel introduces his ten-point plan for success. This concise guide aims to take the mystery out of personal finance, and cuts through the thick jargon to make for an easy to read and follow piece. Confidence and knowledge to make better investment decisions are both by-products you’ll experience thanks to this book.
The Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson. If you’re looking to gain the extra edge in life, Olson’s book is a great addition to your library. He centers the book on your own personal philosophy and how you think, exploring the difference between entitled and value-driven attitudes. You’ll find a greater appreciation for the three gifts in life: 1) Love, 2) Money, 3) Wisdom. And you’ll gain a deeper understanding of why wisdom is the hardest gift to earn.
The Elements of Investing, by Charles D. Ellis & Burton G. Malkiel. Despite what the title may indicate, you won’t find much in the way of specific investment advice in this book. That’s one of the reasons why I like it. What you will find are the foundational elements you need to have in place in order to make good investment choices, along with a few general principles on how to invest. The book is simple and concise, but powerful in helping you understand the importance of building a sound foundation before you start investing.
The Compound Effect, by Darren Hardy. There are two key lessons you’ll learn from Hardy: You can reap huge rewards from small, seemingly insignificant actions and always take 100% responsibility for everything that happens to you. He also demonstrates the importance of aligning your values with your actions and goals, and why you need to design the life you want first, and the business you want second.
Thinking Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman. If you’re a fast thinker, Kahneman would say that the “automatic” part of your brain is winning the fight for control against its “conscious” counterpart. Kahneman explores this struggle, and teaches the many ways in which this can lead to errors in memory, judgement and decisions. While you may always think fast, this book can help you learn how to successfully balance the art of thinking slow for improved cognitive functioning.
Younger Next Year, by Henry Lodge, M.D. and Chris Crowley. This co-authored book by doctor and patient creates a framework that explains why the things we all know we should do (eat right, exercise, etc.) are mandated by the laws of biology. You should make it point to live a healthy lifestyle as part of a successful lifestyle, according to Lodge and Crowley. The co-authors demonstrate why regular activity – now and especially when you’re older – is a demand of human evolution, not the fitness industry.
