5 Life Changing Books you Need to Check Out to Build a Strong LinkedIn Following!

Hi friend! This is a continuation of my post on the 5 Life Changing Podcasts You NEED to Check Out to Build a Strong Linkedin Following. 

My life was forever changed six months ago when a box from Amazon arrived at my doorstep, filled to the brim with books that transformed my career. The books were sent by a kind stranger on LinkedIn who saw greatness in me at a time when even climbing out of my duvet was a struggle.

I'll never forget that box and that moment, and made two promises to myself: 

1) I was going to use the knowledge gifted to me to take back control of my life. 

2) When I got back on my feet, I was going to treat every stranger the way that I had been treated in a moment when I needed it the most. 

I read constantly, but these are the 5 books that have changed my life the most profoundly!

1. UnMarketing, by Scott Stratten 

Scott is the one that sent me that transformative box of books, so naturally, I had to include his book first!

Scott is a stellar writer, and I would highly recommend checking out some of his others as well (I particularly like UnSelling: The New Customer Experience and The Book of Business Awesome: How Engaging Your Customers and Employees Can Make Your Business Thrive), but UnMarketing is a great starting point. 

I'll be talking about UnMarketing on the Cut The Crap podcast tomorrow, so I don't want to give too much away, but I will say this, I've used Scott's advice for building a platform, and the dude knows his stuff. 

As a marketer myself, I hate to even say this, but there are loads of marketing folks that are complete weenies. It makes it tough to distinguish between people that can actually drive results versus those that are just fluent in weenguistics. 

But Scott has ACTUALLY created viral content and has been able to reproduce his results, and his advice for building momentum is absolutely spot on. Scott is also one of those rare influencers that leads by example, he's a real life practitioner of relationship building. 

Buy UnMarketing on Amazon. 

2) Everybody Writes, by Ann Handley

Ann Handley is the reason that my article views skyrocketed overnight. 

Her book, Everybody Writes, Ann dispels the myth that writing is a talent. She contends that good writing is more of a science that can be taught.

At the time that I read her book, I was writing consistently, but I was writing for myself, which is a problem that loads of people make on Linkedin. If you're having trouble having people engaging with your articles, I can almost guarantee that it's because you are not writing for your audience, you're writing at them. 

Ann's formula for creating killer content is useful x empathy x inspired, and believe me when I say, it's a solid blueprint for success. Ann's book is one that I refer back to again and again.

Buy Everybody Writes on Amazon. 

3) Contagious, by Jonah Berger

I have praised this book plenty of times over the past several months, for good reason!

The work that Jonah has been doing at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is nothing short of fascinating. Jonah is an expert on social influence and viral marketing, and he has a rare ability to make his research applicable, by using real world examples and his STEPPS formula for success. 

It's a must read if you want to build an engaging personal or corporate brand, period. 

Buy Contagious on Amazon. 

4) The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin 

Before I could take back control of my life, I had to change my mindset. I was being dragged down by feelings of resentment, anxiety, jealousy, and bitterness. 

The Happiness Project was exactly what I needed to read to begin the healing process.  

Happiness comes from perspective, reflection, and mindfulness, and I think Gretchen did a fabulous job illustrating that with her yearlong project. 

In my own life, I've created my personal commandments, I've learned to playfully experiment with ways to increase my own happiness, and become more mindful of "happiness stumbling blocks". 

Buy The Happiness Project on Amazon. 

5) The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz

I had to include this classic, although, I will warn you, this is nothing like the rest of the recommendations listed. That said, give it a shot! I've found it to be incredibly empowering.

The Four Agreements included in the book are: Be Impeccable With Your Word, Don't Take Anything Personally, Don't Make Assumptions, Always Do Your Best.

The Agreements are less important, however, than the over arching message, which is that self-limiting beliefs rob us of happiness and cause unnecessary pain. I recently listened to an episode of Lewis Howe's School of Greatness with Don Miguel Ruiz Jr., and I think he articulates the Toltec teachings in a more accessible way than his father did, so make sure to check out that episode as well! 

Buy The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom on Amazon. 

I'm always on the look out for new book, so if you have a recommendation, or have read one of the books listed, share your voice and comment below! 

Share this article with your friends, family and colleagues so that they can check out my favourite books as well!