Wow! It’s the end of the year and a perfect time to make those New Year Resolutions to improve your leadership skills. What better way to do that than through reading?
As always, I’m bringing you five great books to take your leadership to the next level. They may even take your relationships up a notch or two.
Discover the books below!
Photo by Sylvia Yang on Unsplash
5 Books To Read In January 2025
1. A Bushel of Beans and a Peck of Tomatoes: The Life and Times of “The Funniest Man in America” by James Gregory:
James Gregory is more than the funniest man in America. He’s also experienced time as a successful salesperson, world traveler, and public performer. These actions set him up for a full life.
In A Bushel Of Beans And A Peck Of Tomatoes, Gregory shares stories from his times traveling, selling, and cracking jokes. One of the biggest takeaways from the book may be a quote that’s on the description of the book:
Take care of yourself so nobody has to take care of you.
At first blush, that may seem selfish. Yet, it’s not. Think about when you fly. What do they tell you to do in case of emergency? Put your oxygen mask on first, then help others.
Discover more insightful and powerful lessons in the book.
2. Habits for Action: How to Stop the Excuses and Do What You Know You Should by Dr. Tim Sharp:
Dr. Tim Sharp, also known as Dr. Happy, helps readers uncover the habits that will make them take action. Listening to Dr. Sharp read his book, I was fully engrossed.
In Habits For Action, Dr. Sharp shares 15 excuses you may give yourself for not taking action. They range from the mundane to sometimes serious. And I think we’ve all used at least one or two of these excuses.
If you want to get off the excuse bus, Habits For Action is the book that can help you do it.
3. The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage into Self-Mastery by Brianna West:
I’m covering a few books about self-sabotage and getting yourself to take action. This is the second book this month that will help you get out of your self-imposed rut.
Brianna West shares how our behaviors can coexist within us but cause us to self-sabotage our lives. Imagine if we could eliminate those behaviors or make them work in our favor. What would happen then?
West tells us that the biggest obstacle in our lives isn’t our boss, the organization we work for, or family members. The obstacle, or mountain, is ourselves.
Learn how to stop self-sabotaging and overcome your personal mountain.
4. The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson To Create Positive Change by Jon Gordon:
Long-time readers know I love a good story, especially when it’s a parable about leadership and personal growth. Jon Gordon is the master of telling these stories.
Gordon tells another story, this time. He tells the story of Abe. Abe’s filled with stress, fear, and angst. He’s not a happy fellow. Yet, Abe discovers a powerful truth. He can be a vessel of change for the environment around him.
5. The Bible:
There’s no book that’s going to be more life-changing than the Bible. In 2024, I decided to go through the Bible in a year. I chose a great plan to follow and made it through.
There’s so much wisdom, affirmation, and history stored within the pages of the Bible. It’s hard to argue it may be the best book you’ll ever read.
If you haven’t purchased a Bible yet, I highly recommend you do this year and choose to read through the whole thing. If you need suggestions on great Bible-reading plans, send me an email.
BONUS:
MasterClass:
MasterClass is an excellent tool for you to use in the new year if you want to improve your leadership skills and other skills such as cooking, relationships, and writing. They’ve assembled world-class experts to share their insights with MasterClass members. You can check out all their courses by going here.
