Are you a Leader?

Incredible book about Phil “Buck” Knight the founder of Nike. The story of shoe giant Nike is one of humble beginnings and “crazy” ideas. The company’s rise to world fame goes to show that if you believe in your ideas, think outside the box and stay true to your values, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish. A little luck can help, but commitment is essential. 

For 20 years, author Brown has studied vulnerability. Dare to Lead brings her extensive research around shame and its cure, empathy. When we open ourselves up to vulnerability, we open ourselves up to courage and creativity. When we let go of our perfectionist tendencies and our fear of failure, we find the bravery to improve ourselves and to have difficult, important conversations with our colleagues. In other words, we need all our emotions on board if we’re going to become daring leaders. Without being vulnerable, we will stop growing as a leader. 

Peak Performance is a life-changing book in which listeners will learn how to enhance their performance via myriad ways. Improving your performance isn’t a simple matter of working as hard as you can. In fact, to truly be as productive as possible, and avoid burning out in the process, you’ve got to take care of yourself, focus on one task at a time, identify your purpose and know what truly compels you. Assisting other people activates the reward and pleasure centers of your brain. In other words, lending someone a hand will not only make you feel better; it will also help you associate positive emotions with this act of generosity. So try giving back – and see how it positively impacts your energy and motivation.

The Airbnb Story is a wonderful close-up and a very revealing look into one of the most famous startups in the world. Essentially a giant case study of Airbnb and its founders–Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk–which documents the evolution of their initial concept through its unprecedented growth. Airbnb’s business is fundamentally about leveraging a network effect: the more people who list, the more appealing it is to travelers. The more travelers who use it, the more appealing it is to hosts. 

One of the great books on personal finance I’ve read. Tony began building this book by interviewing a litany of investment titans — Warren Buffett, Charles Schwab, Carl Icahn, Ray Dalio — pretty much the entire investing all-star team. Most of us would never get the chance to gain access to any of these masters’ knowledge, but Tony used his conversations with all of them to synthesize a money manifesto. Particularly important is the “goal setting” so you know how much money you’re really shooting for. Anyone can reach financial freedom if they're dedicated, willing to save and ready to follow the necessary steps. So, keep at it, even if your progress is slow at first. Diversify your investments, seek advice you can trust, prepare for different financial “seasons” and get yourself insured. If you work hard, you can become the master of your money and live the life you really want.