Johnny's Summer Reading List: Part 2
Summer is winding down, the kids are headed back to school, and we are all looking to get the most out of our final days of summer. I hope that you and your family have had a fantastic summer season and are looking forward to the rest of the year. But given that we still have some time left (the official end of summer is September 22), I'd like to share part two of my summer reading list with you! Last month, I shared my personal finance book recommendations. This month, I'm going to share my personal development book recommendations. I have read several of the books more than once, and all of them have forced me to think critically. I hope you get a chance to check out at least one of the books below. Enjoy!
"Dale Carnegie's rock-solid, time-tested advice has carried countless people up the ladder of success in their business and personal lives. One of the most groundbreaking and timeless bestsellers of all time, How to Win Friends & Influence People will teach you:
Six ways to make people like you
Twelve ways to win people to your way of thinking
Nine ways to change people without arousing resentment."
Johnny's take: This is one of my all-time favorites, and I have read it multiple times. Carnegie was a master communicator and shares some of his timeless insights in this outstanding read. The biggest lesson I learned from this book was to become genuinely interested in other people in conversation by asking good questions. It has helped me tremendously throughout my life while building relationships.
"Combat, the most intense and dynamic environment imaginable, teaches the toughest leadership lessons, with absolutely everything at stake. Jocko Willink and Leif Babin learned this reality first-hand on the most violent and dangerous battlefield in Iraq. As leaders of SEAL Team Three's Task Unit Bruiser, their mission was one many thought impossible: help U.S. forces secure Ramadi, a violent, insurgent-held city deemed "all but lost." In gripping, firsthand accounts of heroism, tragic loss, and hard-won victories, they learned that leadership - at every level - is the most important factor in whether a team succeeds or fails.
Detailing the resilient mindset and total focus principles that enable SEAL units to accomplish the most difficult combat missions, Extreme Ownership demonstrates how to apply them to any team or organization, in any leadership environment. A compelling narrative with powerful instruction and direct application, Extreme Ownership challenges leaders everywhere to fulfill their ultimate purpose: lead and win."
Johnny's take: Willink and Babin do an outstanding job of sharing timeless principles from the battlefield that can be applied to virtually any situation that we find ourselves in on a daily basis, whether on or off the battlefield. I really enjoyed the audiobook version, as both Navy Seals are the readers. I would recommend this book to anyone looking to improve as a leader and reach their maximum potential in life.
"For David Goggins, childhood was a nightmare - poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse colored his days and haunted his nights. But through self-discipline, mental toughness, and hard work, Goggins transformed himself from a depressed, overweight young man with no future into a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world's top endurance athletes. The only man in history to complete elite training as a Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Air Force Tactical Air Controller, he went on to set records in numerous endurance events, inspiring Outside magazine to name him "The Fittest (Real) Man in America.
In Can't Hurt Me, he shares his astonishing life story and reveals that most of us tap into only 40% of our capabilities. Goggins calls this The 40% Rule, and his story illuminates a path that anyone can follow to push past pain, demolish fear, and reach their full potential."
Johnny's take: David Goggins is one of a kind. He is an example of someone who started with nothing and built himself into one of the most admired Navy SEALs to ever live. Goggins has appeared on many podcasts and has a big following online. He is an absolute stud, and we can all learn valuable lessons from his book, no matter where you are in life.
"For more than two decades, legendary trainer Tim Grover has taken the greats - Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and hundreds of relentless competitors in sports, business, and every walk of life - and made them greater. Now, for the first time ever, he reveals what it takes to achieve total mental and physical dominance, showing you how to be relentless and achieve whatever you desire.
Direct, blunt, and brutally honest, Grover breaks down what it takes to be unstoppable: you keep going when everyone else is giving up, you thrive under pressure, you never let your emotions make you weak. In "The Relentless 13," he details the
essential traits shared by the most intense competitors and achievers in sports, business, and all walks of life. Relentless shows you how to trust your instincts and get in the Zone; how to control and adapt to any situation; how to find your opponent's weakness and attack. Grover gives you the same advice he gives his world-class clients - "don't think" - and shows you that anything is possible. Packed with previously untold stories and unparalleled insight into the psyches of the most successful and accomplished athletes of our time, Relentless shows you how even the best get better…and how you can too.
Every day, you have to do something you don't want to do. Every day. Challenge yourself to be uncomfortable, push past the apathy and laziness and fear."
Johnny's take: If you are looking to become the best version of yourself, look no further than Tim Grover's Relentless. The biggest lesson I learned is that to become the best we can be, we must push ourselves daily. Life begins on the edge of your comfort zone.
"The Way of the Essentialist involves doing less, but better, so you can make the highest possible contribution.
The Way of the Essentialist isn't about getting more done in less time. It's not about getting less done. It's about getting only the right things done. It's about challenging the core assumption of 'we can have it all' and 'I have to do everything' and replacing it with the pursuit of 'the right thing, in the right way, at the right time.' It's about regaining control of our own choices about where to spend our time and energies instead of giving others implicit permission to choose for us."
Johnny's take: As adults, we have countless responsibilities in our lives and only 24 hours in a day. In his book, McKeown does a great job of teaching us how to discern what is truly essential. My biggest takeaway from this read was that we don't need to do everything, and we really should be selective about how we choose to spend our precious days here on this earth.
"In The Power of Habit, award-winning business reporter Charles Duhigg takes us to the thrilling edge of scientific discoveries that explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. Distilling vast amounts of information into engrossing narratives that take us from the boardrooms of Procter & Gamble to the sidelines of the NFL to the front lines of the civil rights movement, Duhigg presents a whole new understanding of human nature and its potential. At its core, The Power of Habit contains an exhilarating argument: The key to exercising regularly, losing weight, being more productive, and achieving success is understanding how habits work. As Duhigg shows, by harnessing this new science, we can transform our businesses, our communities, and our lives."
Johnny's take: This book had a profound impact on me and really taught me why good habits are so key to success in life. No matter the area of our lives, good habits separate the elite from the average. Success in life often comes down to doing the right activities on a consistent basis day after day. Don't overcomplicate things. Keep it simple, execute consistently, and rack up the wins across the board in your life. Carpe Diem!
Sources: Amazon, Greg McKeown, Lifehack
