I Failed At My Main Goal In 2019...But Here's What I Learned Anyway

I went into 2019 with a lofty goal. I wanted to read 100 books in a year.

Now, I've always enjoyed reading. It can be enlightening, thought provoking and has even helped me sleep better. Reading opens doors to new places, triggers ideas and reminds you just how big the world is. Unfortunately, reading takes time. A LOT OF IT.

Nowadays, it seems like we are in a constant fight for our time. Whether it is prioritizing family, or work/life balance, the many facets of life that occupy our waking hours have continued to grow at a breakneck pace. Despite their still being only 24 hours in a day, I find myself constantly in a battle for what exactly it is I'm trying to accomplish each day.

The question then becomes, how to we prioritize our most valuable asset? How do we maximize the one resource that we can't refill? What do we focus on?

Starting in January of last year, I had my answer. I was going to read.

Now, the problem with most New Year's resolutions is that by February, most of us have given up on them. We try, life gets in the way, and we push them aside. So, I needed a goal. A number to strive for. A reason to keep pushing.

So, after some quick math (52 weeks in a year, two books a week...ish) I settled on 100 books for 2019. As crazy as that may sound now, at the time, it felt totally reasonable. I'd read an entire book in one sitting before, so surely I could read two a week, right?

Boy, was I wrong. ??

In the end, I only read 40 books. But, despite falling WAY short of my goal, I still learned so much along the way. There were books that made me cry, others that astonished me, and some were so bad I wished I'd never read them.

As I reflect on the journey a year later, I'm so glad I took on the challenge. Despite not reaching the pinnacle of what I'd hoped for, this past year was a reminder that we are all capable of doing things that aren't easy, and that the extra push for trying is totally worth it.

That said, here's my list of nuggets from a year spent reading. Hopefully one of these can provide value for you in the coming year.

-- Thanks to Shonda Rimes (A Year Of Yes), I will NEVER say no to my kid's requests for me to play with them. As she correctly points out, most times the "playing" never lasts more than 15 minutes, and the sound of no can linger so much longer. Say yes to the people that matter.

-- As Americans, we often don't realize how good we have it. I was reminded of that while reading Trevor Noah's 'Born A Crime'. The horrors of what he thought were normal life are a stark reminder of what so many outside of this country have to deal with. That he could come through all that and be where he is today is a testament to the strong will we all can show in the face of adversity. Because, trust me, our adversity will never be as bad as his.

-- When it comes to leadership, sometimes there isn't much difference in a decorated war hero and a radical terrorist. In 'Leaders: Myth and Reality', General Stanley McChrystal paints a vivid picture of how certain leaders used their power for perceived good, and others for personal gain (at the expense of everyone else). Fascinating comparisons throughout history.

-- I hope to one day be able to manage people the way Joe Maddon does. In 'The Cubs Way' (Tom Verducci), Maddon takes center stage, using out of the box thinking to push the Chicago Cubs to their first World Series win in over 100 years. He put his people first, always kept them on their toes, and communicated concisely to everyone all the time. He was never off. We can all wish for that consistency.

-- I learned how one mistake can last lifetimes. James Garfield wasn't President long, but the man who tried to care for him will live in infamy forever. After Garfield was shot in an assassination attempt just months into his term, his physician, Dr. Samuel Bliss, made a litany of errors in his treatment, causing the then President to die months later. If you've ever heard the term "Ignorance Is Bliss", now you know why.

-- I could never imagine being a member of the First Family. However, thanks to Michelle Obama's riveting memoir (Becoming), I now feel like I have a pretty good idea. Her lifelong battle with identity and understanding her role in life was fascinating, and something all of us will experience at some point. Also, as a bonus, I learned that the President is charged for guests he brings to the White House to stay with his family. Blew my mind.

-- We never seem to realize how big of an effect our actions can have on others. I finally got to reach Mitch Albom's famous '5 People You Meet In Heaven' book, and I was struck by how the smallest things can have the most impact. So often, we don't focus on the day to day minutiae in our lives. But in those solitary moments, so much of who we are to others can be decided.

-- Very little gets in the way of a well-crafted narrative. In 'Bad Blood' and 'A Higher Loyalty', I was reminded of how storytelling plays such a big part in how we perceive the world around us. Both Elizabeth Holmes and James Comey were far from what the public thought, but still, even to this day, that narrative still holds.

-- I've learned that great organizations don't just happen, they are setup for their success. In 'Raving Fans' and 'Creativity, Inc.' I was able to see firsthand how Pixar re-invented itself in the face of dire consequences. In order to that, you need to make your customers fans, and because of that book I'll never look at store bathrooms the same ever again.

-- Pain is often hiding in plain sight. With both 'In Pieces' (Sally Field) and 'The Real Lolita' (Sarah Weinman), I was astonished to see that success (both in real life and literary) were masking so much sorrow. We can all do a better job of showing empathy when it is needed.

My entire book list (and my review) is below. I ranked them out of 10, with 10 being the highest. Here's to 2020. Happy reading everyone!

Becoming (9/10)

Gridiron Genius (7/10)

The Life: Michael Jordan (8/10)

The Five People You Meet In Heaven (9/10)

Liars Poker (5/10)

Leaders: Myth and Reality (7/10)

No Easy Day (7/10)

The Cubs Way (7/10)

Tipping Point (6/10)

Bad Blood (9/10)

The Professor, the Banker and the Suicide King (9/10)

A Higher Loyalty (6/10)

A Year Of Yes (8/10)

13 Days In Ferguson (6/10)

The Big Deal (4/10)

Astroball (6/10)

Whitey Bulger (6/10)

The Daily Show: Oral History (7/10)

Girl, Wash Your Face (7/10)

The Rocket That Fell To Earth (6/10)

The Red Sox Years (8/10)

11 Rings (7/10)

Boom Town (9/10)

To Hate Like This Is To Love Forever (7/10)

Destiny of the Republic (9/10)

Washington’s Spies (5/10)

The Blood of Emmett Till (8/10)

Talking to Strangers (7/10)

Forged In Crisis (8/10)

Born A Crime (10/10)

Creativity, Inc. (8/10)

Raving Fans (8/10)

Directorate S (4/10)

In Pieces (6/10)

The Real Lolita (7/10)

Above The Line (6/10)

The Big Short (8/10)

Angry Optimist (8/10)

Powerhouse (8/10)

American Desperado (9/10)