**Getting Things Done by Allen, David
This book is on managing your time and becoming more productive. Allen writes in a practice, easy to read manner and I learnt a lot from this book and the book below. It is a book on de-stressing!
*The Power Of Focus by Canfield, Jack et al
A great book on how to focus and what you can get out of it. It is a very easy reading book with lots of useful tips and stories that make it very interesting reading. The authors also give you access to a number of other downloads that are useful. This is a book that you can read and take action of your aim is to improve your focus.
The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
I really enjoyed this easy to read and down to earth book. It takes away the pressure of feeling like you have to do so many things at once.
It provides evidence that the more you try to do at the same time, the less effective you become. Also, the more you allow yourself to get distracted, the more inefficient you become.
A highly recommend book for those who feel compelled to cram too much into their day.
Choose To Win by Tom Ziglar
This is an extremely easy book to read. As I was reading it I thought how useful it would be as a recommended book for your patients.
There is enormous power in the concept of changing your life with one simple choice at a time. Rather than feeling over-whelmed by the seemingly numerous choices that need to be made when facing illness or injury, encourage the patient to focus on only one choice each day that will make a difference.
This concept can be used for anyone wanting to transform their lives
*7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Covey, Stephen R.
A classic text on personal change. It will help and guide you through change if that is what you want to do. Covey reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, honesty and human dignity. These are the principles that can be adapted into everyday life and gives us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates.
Everyday Greatness by Covey, Stephen R.
Another of Covey’s books on the choices we have, values, dream creation and overcoming adversity. Written in a consistent style that is easy to follow. Everyday Greatness will inspire you with moving and timeless stories of lives lived to the fullest, often through adversity and challenge. This book will have the reader taking charge of their life, going within to elicit integrity, humility and gratitude and then creating a dream based on his or her vision for their future.
The Breakthrough Experience by Demartini, Dr. John F.
An easy to read book on personal change covering all areas of life. It is about breaking through the barriers that keep you from experiencing your true nature as light. It contains an inspiring combination of science and philosophy. The Breakthrough Experience is and extremely real and practical manual for understanding why you live the way you do, and how to transform your life into your highest vision. It can be read as a manual with guidance on what to do next to achieve the changes you want in life.
*Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Gallo, Carmine
A great biography on a man who believed he could change the way we interact with technology, and did it. A memorable read and one that I am grateful to have in my library. It is an inspiring roadmap for anyone who wants to live a life of passion and purpose. Whenever I feel like giving up I will read this book again.
**Switch: How to change things when change is hard by Heath, Chip & Dan
Why is it so hard to make lasting changes in our companies, in our communities, and in our own lives? The primary obstacle is a conflict that’s built into our brains, say Chip and Dan Heath, authors of the critically acclaimed bestseller Made to Stick. Psychologists have discovered that our minds are ruled by two different systems—the rational mind and the emotional mind—that compete for control. The rational mind wants a great beach body; the emotional mind wants that Oreo cookie. The rational mind wants to change something at work; the emotional mind loves the comfort of the existing routine. This tension can doom a change effort—but if it is overcome, change can come quickly. In a compelling, story-driven narrative, the Heaths bring together decades of counterintuitive research in psychology, sociology, and other fields to shed new light on how we can effect transformative change. Switch shows that successful changes follow a pattern, a pattern you can use to make the changes that matter to you, whether your interest is in changing the world or changing your waistline.
*The Power of Full Engagement by Loehr, Jim & Schwartz, Tony
A wonderful and very useful CD on personal accountability and change. I have listened to this audio CD many times and continue to learn something new. This book or CD is about managing energy and not time which they feel is the key to enduring high performance as well as health, happiness and life balance. It is a practical and scientific guide to managing your energy. It also available in book form.
*Awaken the Giant Within by Robbins, Anthony
Another of Anthony Robbins books on personal change. This is a book on how to take control of your mental, emotional, physical and financial destiny. It is a fascinating presentation on this topic by one of the world’s leading personal coached. I didn’t find this book is not as easy to read as some of the other books on personal change but for those who are well on this road it is well worth getting.
Peaks and Valleys. Making Good And Bad Times Work For You- At Work And In Life by Spencer, Johnson, M.D.
A parable based on the highs and lows of life. It is a story of a man who lives unhappily in a valley until he meets an old man who lives on a peak, and it changes his work and life forever. By the end of the story he comes to understand the principles and tools that can be used through good and bad times, which help him become more calm and successful himself. A book that can be read in a day and has the potential to change the way you experience the ups and downs of life.
Focal Point by Tracey, Brian
This is a book on achieving your goals as well as managing your time. To become an ultimate achiever, you must habitually focus on the one crucial action that will lead you to your goal. You must identify your focal point and this book is about teaching how to do this in order to attain maximum results in your life. Brian Tracey writes easy to read, informative books and this is no different.
**Goals: Setting and Achieving Them on Schedule. Audio CD by Ziglar, Zig
A great audio CD set on personal change. As always Zig Ziglar is an entertaining speaker and it comes through in this CD. You will laugh as well as be challenged. You will listen to this CD set many times and always be entertained.
*Making It All Work by Allen, David
Another great book by Allen. It is a follow on from his previous book and is a manual on getting anything and everything on track. I learnt a lot by reading and instigating the suggestions that have been make in both these book. They are a ‘must read’ on time management.
The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
I loved this book for its simplicity. I have tried the concept on numerous occasions when I was struggling to do something. And it worked every time!
It has some brain science behind it but as it is so simple it could be a great recommendation for patients who struggle to get started.
I’d also encourage you to give it a go when you’re struggling to do something you really don’t want to do. Experience the effect and pass it on.
The only downfall of the book, is that it is a bit repetitive towards the end but there is definitely enough benefit to out weight this negative and buy the book.
The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma
This book is full of philosophical principles bound in an interesting story. Some are very challenging but all are worth considering.
Here are a couple from the book that influence me:
“The grade of work you offer the world reflects the strength of the respect you have for yourself.”
“We get in life not what we want, but that which we are.”
“Victims have big TVs. Leaders own large libraries.”
“All shadows of insecurity dissolve in the warm glow of persistency.”
It’s definitely a book worth reading.
*Thick Face Black Heart by Chu, Chin-Ning
A fantastic book written on overcoming adversity and having the courage to stick to one’s convictions through hard work and conviction. It is about succeeding in everyday life and work using the ancient wisdom of the East. Very challenging on many levels but one of those books you will not forget and are likely to read many times over. It is about success and survival.
8th Habit From Effectiveness to Greatness by Covey, Stephen R.
This book builds on the foundations of “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and gives a pattern of life that is passionate, makes a difference and leaves a legacy. It is about finding the reasons you are on this earth and helping others do the same. It is a great book on leadership whether it be in business or in the family.
**First Things First by Covey, Stephen R., Merrill, Roger A. & Merrill, Rebecca R.
A classic read on managing life and time management. First Things First can help you understand why so often our first things aren’t first. It provides a compass so that you begin to understand that where you are heading is more important than how fast you travel there. It will provide you with the mechanisms to help you learn to understand how to enjoy the journey as well as the destination.
You Can Have an Amazing Life in Just 60 Days! by Demartini, Dr. John F.
A very useful book and guide on personal change. This book can be read cover to cover or you can take a specific section and just work on that. In this book you will find 60 inspiring laws that will show you how to live the life you want to if you are prepared to do the work and make changes to what you are doing now. You can choose to do the work in 60 days or take longer as some of the laws may challenge you and it will be best if you make the changes in your own time.
**The Me Myth by Griffiths, Andrew
A wonderful book on personal change. It is easy to read and will have the reader taking the time to stop and look at themselves and how they experience the world. Andrew Griffiths know first-hand the benefits of breaking away from the limiting belief that the world revolves around ‘me’. And now you can discover how to make your life richer too. An entertaining and direct book.
Immunity To Change by Kegan, Robert & Lahey, Lisa Laskow
A recent study showed that when doctors tell heart patients they will die if they don’t change their habits, only one in seven will be able to follow through successfully. Desire and motivation aren’t enough: even when it’s literally a matter of life or death, the ability to change remains maddeningly elusive. Given that the status quo is so potent, how can we change ourselves and our organizations? In Immunity to Change, authors Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey show how our individual beliefs–along with the collective mind-sets in our organizations–combine to create a natural but powerful immunity to change. By revealing how this mechanism holds us back, Kegan and Lahey give us the keys to unlock our potential and finally move forward. And by pinpointing and uprooting our own immunities to change, we can bring our organizations forward with us. This persuasive and practical book, filled with hands-on diagnostics and compelling case studies, delivers the tools you need to overcome the forces of inertia and transform your life and your work.
**The Greatest Salesman in the World by Mandino, Og
A parable written based around being a salesman. We all have to sell ourselves throughout our lives and this book which is written in 2 parts gives us message that is both moving and inspiring. The style of writing is both interesting and ingenious. If you are not interested in reading thick, uninteresting books on salesmanship then this little book is for you. Read both part 1 and 11 and keep them in your library.
Happy for No Reason. 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out by Shimoff, Marci with Kline, Carol
This is a great book on happiness. It is easy to read and very useful in a practical way. There are lots of real-life stories that make this book easy to associate with. Happy for No Reason incorporates the latest findings in positive psychology, powerful tools and techniques, and moving real-life stories into a 7 step program that will raise your ‘happiness set-point’. This book will enable you to experience more unconditional happiness.
***No Excuses The Power of Self-Discipline by Tracy, Brian
A must read on how to stop making excuses. No Excuses! shows you how you can achieve success in the three major areas of life and they are: Your personal goals, your business and money goals and your overall happiness. By the time you have read this book you will be more disciplined and have a “no excuses” attitude to life. Easy to read and very informative. When you are ready to change this is a great book to read. If you are not ready to be accountable then don’t waste your money.
The Art of War. The Denma Translation by Tzu, Sun
A classic text on the Chinese art of war but written in such a way that the lessons you learn can be adapted to your personal, social, family and business life. Sun Tzu teaches that aggression and response in kind can only lead to destruction, we must first learn to work with conflict in a more profound and effective way. This is a book to be read many times over as you will learn something new each time you look at it.
