?? My Five Must-Read Books ??

?? Five Books I Think Everyone Should Read! ??

In no particular order. Full disclosure: these are affiliate links because why not..?

1) The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck - Mark Manson

?? Why I Think It's Great ??

Confidence is a hard thing to teach, especially in a book. What Mark does in this book is something quite remarkable. He gives actionable insight as to how to really stop caring what other people think. Give it a shot!

?? Amazon Description ??

Manson makes the argument, backed by both academic research and well-timed poop jokes, that improving our lives hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade but on learning to stomach lemons better. Human beings are flawed and limited - "not everybody can be extraordinary; there are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault". Manson advises us to get to know our limitations and accept them. Once we embrace our fears, faults, and uncertainties, once we stop running and avoiding and start confronting painful truths, we can begin to find the courage, perseverance, honesty, responsibility, curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.?

There are only so many things we can give a f*ck about, so we need to figure out which ones really matter, Manson makes clear. While money is nice, caring about what you do with your life is better, because true wealth is about experience. A much-needed grab-you-by-the-shoulders-and-look-you-in-the-eye moment of real talk, filled with entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor,?The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck?is a refreshing slap for a generation to help them lead contented, grounded lives.?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2) Mindset The New Psychology of Success - Carol Dweck

?? Why I Think It's Great ??

Honestly, this book helped inspire the Failure Guy podcast. The discussion between Growth vs Fixed mindset is so huge that I am envious of those of you who haven't yet read it. Check it out, it changed my life.

?? Amazon Description ??

World-renowned Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck, in decades of research on achievement and success, has discovered a truly groundbreaking idea-the power of our mindset.

Dweck explains why it's not just our abilities and talent that bring us success-but whether we approach them with a fixed or growth mindset. She makes clear why praising intelligence and ability doesn't foster self-esteem and lead to accomplishment, but may actually jeopardize success. With the right mindset, we can motivate our kids and help them to raise their grades, as well as reach our own goals-personal and professional. Dweck reveals what all great parents, teachers, CEOs, and athletes already know: how a simple idea about the brain can create a love of learning and a resilience that is the basis of great accomplishment in every area.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3) The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann

?? Why I Think It's Great ??

In today's society, we are usually taught to think about 'Numero Uno' aka ourselves. I've never really jived with that, but didn't see any way around it in Corporate America. Until this book...

?? Amazon Description ??

Imparted with wit and grace,?The Go-Giver?is a classic best seller that brings to life the old proverb "give and you shall receive." Nearly a decade since its original publication, the term "go-giver" has become shorthand for a defining set of values embraced by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Today, this timeless story continues to help its readers and listeners find fulfillment and greater success in business, in their personal lives, and in their communities. This expanded edition includes the text of the original business parable, a new introduction, a discussion guide, and Q&A with the authors.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4) This Is Marketing - Seth Godin

?? Why I Think It's Great ??

Seth Godin is one of my favorite authors and I highly recommend Purple Cow, The Practice, The Dip, Tribes, The Icarus Deception, and his Akimbo podcast. In 'This Is Marketing' he really opened my eyes as to what it truly means to think like a marketer, especially in the changing world we live in.

?? Amazon Description ??

Great marketers don't use consumers to solve their company's problem; they use marketing to solve other people's problems. They don't just make noise; they make the world better. Truly powerful marketing is grounded in empathy, generosity, and emotional labour.

It's time for marketers to stop lying, spamming, and feeling guilty about their work. It's time to stop confusing social media metrics with true connections. It's time to stop wasting money on stolen attention that won't pay off in the long run.?This is Marketing?offers a better approach that will still apply for decades to come, no matter how the tactics of marketing continue to evolve... "You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn To See"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5) Ten Percent Happier - Dan Harris

?? Why I Think It's Great:

I was REALLY resistant to meditation at first. Honestly, I didn't even want to read this book. But Dan Harris' approach to not only writing but letting us inside his head to hear the voice we all have but rarely acknowledge. Through his amazing story, you'll be convinced that giving Meditation a try might get you somewhere like 10% happier...

?? Amazon Description:

Subtitle: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found a Self-Help That Actually Works!

We all have a voice in our heads. It's what has us losing our temper unnecessarily, checking our email compulsively, eating when we're not hungry, and fixating on the past and the future at the expense of the present. Most of us would assume we're stuck with this voice that there's nothing we can do to rein it in but Harris stumbled upon an effective way to do just that. It's a far cry from the miracle cures peddled by the self-help swamis he met; instead, it's something he always assumed to be either impossible or useless: meditation. After learning about research that suggests meditation can do everything from lower your blood pressure to essentially rewire your brain, Harris took a deep dive into the underreported world of CEOs, scientists, and even marines who are now using it for increased calm, focus, and happiness.

10% Happier?takes listeners on a ride from the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news to the bizarre fringes of America's spiritual scene, and leaves them with a takeaway that could actually change their lives.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

?? Now on to the Failure Guy podcast updates! ??

TWO NEW EPISODES!

?? #55 - "I Killed Betty White" - Mark Reid (Zen Sammich Podcast) ??

Zen comes in many forms, some unexpected.?That's certainly the case with Mark Reid, an American ex-pat living in Japan.?Previously a lawyer in the States, he's given that up for a life of being a Japanese paper maker or some such nonsense.?Listen in for a peek behind the scenes as he shares the misadventures that brought him to where he is today.?Please welcome, Zen Sammich host Mark Reid!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

?? #56 - Social Capital: The Power of Connection - Ved Rasic (Lead Delta) ??

I've been looking forward to chatting with Ved for such a long time. He's developed one of my favorite SAAS tools as of late, which is Lead Delta, a CRM for LinkedIn.?Despite being on it for 15 years, I've only recently started really digging into it.?Our conversation is equal parts insightful and juvenile. We talk entirely too long about Arnold Schwarzenegger, and not long enough about why Ved is so scared of hosting a new podcast with me. Enjoy

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

?? Share Your Failures on the Failure Guy Podcast!!! ??

Leave an audio message with your own failure and I'll play it on the show with a guest so we can discuss it! I have yet to have any submissions and I can't wait to try it out.

Stay Classy everyone, and don't forget to Fail It Till You Nail It!

- 'World's #1 Failure' Ben Currier