Summer Book Club: #BooksForGrowthAndGrins

Summer officially kicks off this week, and if you’re like me, that means summer reading. I love a great “beach book,” but I also love books that help me grow. So, throughout the summer, I’m going to be sharing books that have inspired or energized me.

I hope some of them make your summer reading list – and that you’ll share your thoughts in the comments below! Here’s the first one…

You Are a Badass?: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, by Jen Sincero

I believe so strongly that the stories we tell ourselves have a powerful impact on how we find success. What I love about You Are a Badass is that it shows this in such a frank and funny way. It’s full of great stories and challenging questions that help you recognize how your beliefs are determining the life you have – and how they could affect getting the life you want. It’s a great, sassy, empowering read to get your summer started.

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, by Brené Brown

If you know me, you know I’m a huge Brené Brown fan. I watched her talk “The Power of Vulnerability” at a critical point in my life, and it transformed how I viewed myself and my career. But my admiration for this book goes beyond personal experience. I’ve recommended it many times and seen it help so many. It’s a book about courage – the courage to show your vulnerability, embrace what’s uncomfortable, and walk toward what we fear the most. I can’t recommend it enough.

The Resilience Factor: 7 Keys to Finding Your Inner Strength and Overcoming Life's Hurdles, by Karen Reivich, Ph.D. and Andrew Shatté, Ph.D.

No career is without challenges, just like no life is. But what this book conveys so wonderfully is that you can find a way to rise above. It's not just about what's happening outside of you, but the resilience you develop inside that helps you weather the toughest storms. And the book gives you tools to help build that resilience - like how to cope with anxiety and the importance of taking chances. I found this book when I was facing some adversity in my career, and it really helped me find my way through. I recommend it for anyone, but particularly if you’re going through a challenge. 

Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person, by Shonda Rhimes

After being challenged by her older sister on saying "no" to new experiences, Rhimes took a close look at what led to that choice. She realized that, too often, it was fear. She was missing countless opportunities because they fell outside her comfort zone. This book is the funny, insightful and inspiring story of her decision to say "yes" to everything for a year. Say "yes" to this book! You won't regret it.

Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

Do you ever find yourself apologizing even if you haven't done anything that requires it? Maybe you're sharing a contrary opinion in a meeting or drawing reasonable boundaries in your personal life. But too many of us start with "sorry" even when we have something important to share. In this book, Hollis explains why this tendency toward shame holds us back, and how owning who we are and what we want can be freeing. I hope you'll check it out - you won't be “sorry” you read it! 

Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose, by Jean Case

What I love about this book is its message on courage. If you know me, you know that's a trait I think we all need to develop. I wrote about it here. I believe we all can go further if we can step outside of our comfort zone. That's what Case found, too, when she explored the core traits of people who really make a big impact. They're those who take bold risks and learn from failures, so they keep growing. This book has great stories and tips on how to embrace courage in your own life. I think you'll find it quite inspiring.

The Alter Ego Effect: The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life, by Todd Herman

This book gives an interesting take on courage and resilience by sharing a way to think about your strengths and bring them to the surface. I like how it emphasizes the fact that we all have superpowers. By finding a way to surface them when we need them, we can lean forward where we're insecure and prove (to others AND to ourselves) the important value we contribute. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it, and how you convince yourself to take a leap even when you might be feeling a little insecure!

The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are, by Brené Brown

 What I love about this book is that, with great kindness and heart, it challenges you to accept an important truth: that none of us is perfect. It can be hard to admit this. It was for me personally. But once I started sharing with my team the areas where I wasn't as strong, my vulnerability invited a deeper connection. The transformation, for all of us, was incredible. As the book explains, when we redefine what it means to be a success or be worthy, we start embracing who we really are and all we can do. I hope you find this book as inspiring as I did.

 And, please comment below and keep sharing your best book finds! I love the chance to keep reading, learning and growing together.