The holidays are quickly approaching. More often then not we don’t know what to get so here are 10 gift ideas that might just change a life. Because I don’t feel that stuff (TVs, Movies, clothes, etc.) is really all that life changing, I’m recommending books. Great books, by great authors have the potential to bring your life in places you never thought possible…if you’re just willing to do what the books suggest.
10 books I feel can really have an impact (they have had on me)
End Malaria by Michael Bungay Stanier
End Malaria
It can be an extremely dangerous book if you let it.
My Book review: [Book review] End Malaria
Get the book now!
Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? by Seth Godin
Linchpin
Get the book now!
Poke the Box by Seth Godin
From what I recall, this was the first book launched by Seth Godin’s Domino Project and is a follow-up to Linchpin in a couple ways: It’s actually the next book he wrote and it’s a call to action. If this book doesn’t help you quiet your “lizard brain” nothing much will…
If you feel books aren’t for you, then you’re in luck. Think of this as being more of a manifesto. It’s a really short read.
My book review: [Book review] Poke the Box by Seth Godin
Get the book now!
The Flinch by Julien Smith
The flinch reaction is what happens when you’re face-to-face with danger, like a bear. In many ways it’s what triggers the flight reaction. In a real situation of danger it’s life saving. The problem is we’ve adopted this flinch reaction to pretty much any situation that’s different…public speaking, proposing new business ideas, meeting new people, speaking to the boss about a promotion or raise, quitting a job, etc. Evidently, these situations are not dangerous so the flinch reaction doesn’t save you…it forces you into a rut. This book is for everyone who’s afraid:
- Afraid to get a new job,
- Afraid to make a sale,
- Afraid to ask someone on a date…
The short book is powerful and comes with easy (on the surface) exercises. And did I mention it’s free? So what are you waiting for? Order a copy, take a cold shower and learn to tame the flinch…
Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion by Gary Vaynerchuk
This is Gary’s first book. Crush It!
Get the book now!
His second book, The Thank You Economy
Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith
The book was written a little while back and just as important. Chris Brogan and Julien Smith explore the online world and how you can use the web to build influence and trust. A lot (all) the concepts work outside of the business world as well. If you’re still trying to figure out how to use social media to move the needle, this is a book you should consider. It’s not a how-to, but the concepts will help and educate you…
The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World by Chris Guillebeau /
The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content by Tim Ferriss
I’m putting these two books together because they’re both about breaking away from the 9 to 5 life. They just have differing takes on it. The 4-Hour Workweek
If you know me, I’m still very much living a 9 to 5 life. So why am I recommending these books? Because they’ve both helped me change my frame of mind about work, my thoughts on relying on my employer as a single-source of income and think about about life’s priorities. They are also very dangerous books if you let them.
Get The 4-Hour Workweek now!
Get The Art of Non-Conformity now! (Affiliate link)
On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
Why is this book going to change your life? Because in today’s world of user-generated web, communication is king (no pun intended). This book will teach you the fundamentals of writing which you can then apply to blogging, videos, audio and even photography. It’s written for the budding novelist, but the tips, tricks and advice are very much applicable to other forms of communication if you’re willing to look at the broader concepts such as practice and perseverance amongst others…
My book review: [Book review] On Writing by Stephen King
Get the book now!
And feel free to throw in Content Rules
Social Marketing to the Business Customer: Listen to Your B2B Market, Generate Major Account Leads, and Build Client Relationships by Paul Gillin and Eric Schwartzman
This is a niche book. It’s for that special someone you know that works in a business-to-business (B2B) company. It’s all about why and how B2B companies need to adopt social media to survive and grow. Yes, even B2B companies need to adopt social media. Even if you’re not looking to get your whole company to adopt social media, if you just want to know more about it for you (to generate leads, recruit employees, etc.) , this book is a must.
WARNING: If B2B employees actually implement some of the stuff in the book (for themselves or the company)…it might just get them promoted!
My book review: [Book review] Social marketing to the business customer
Get the book now!
Marketing White Belt: Basics For the Digital Marketer by Christopher S. Penn
Another niche book (niche is awesome by the way). It’s the perfect gift for the marketer in your life. It’s a book that goes over the basics of marketing, from objectives, to ROI, tactics and SWOTs… even if you’ve been doing marketing for years, this book is a must (refreshers are always important).
It’s a really short book with some easy-to-implement exercises that will make you rethink your marketing.
A couple extras just for fun
Change By Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation by Tim Brown
Change by Design
Get the book now!
The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Sir Ken Robinson
If you don’t know Sir Ken Robinson, please take some time to view his two very powerful TED Talks: Schools kill creativity and Bring on the learning revolution! Do it right now…
The Element
Two packages
Can’t choose which books to pick-up? Here are two packages…
Change a life package
The “Change your life” package includes:
- Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?
- Poke the Box
- Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion
- The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World
- The 4-Hour Workweek, Expanded and Updated: Expanded and Updated, With Over 100 New Pages of Cutting-Edge Content
- On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft
- The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything
Change a business package
The “Change your business” package includes:
- End Malaria
- Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust
- The Thank You Economy
- Content Rules
- Social Marketing to the Business Customer: Listen to Your B2B Market, Generate Major Account Leads, and Build Client Relationships
- Change By Design: How Design Thinking Transforms Organizations and Inspires Innovation
What other suggestions would you have?
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