Best Reads, Links & Podcasts

After 20,000+ hours with individuals and groups, I'm always filtering ideas for that which is true and real and
in line with what I know about how people are wired. My best resources fall into the following eight categories . . .

For a great 14 minute vacation, check out this little video called Validation, and smile.

On the Subject of Leadership, Motivation, Winning and Making Yourself Essential . . .

A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix. Edwin Friedman. It's not your command of data, or technique or communication skills. It's your ability to stay calmly yourself, clear about your values and vision while staying connected. The first chapter is a fascinating study of what happened in the fifty years following the events of 1492.

Leadership and Self-Deception. The Arbinger Institute. If you're a new manager or new in a leadership job, the big idea in this book will trump everything else you read about changing others, trying to "cope", communication strategies and/or and fabulous new skills and techniques. I read it in one sitting thinking that this is as close as it gets to a "magic bullet."

Good to Great; Built to Last; How the Mighty Fall. Jim Collins. Three great reads for individuals and organizations who are finding and keeping their niche of greatest relevance, contribution and satisfaction.

A Whole New Mind. Daniel Pink. Does it feel to you like the world has changed a lot in the past ten years? I love the way this book explains what's happening--especially appreciated the pointers about using, and respecting, both "halves" of our amazing minds. Loved this book.

On the Subject of Creativity . . .

A Whole New Mind. Daniel Pink. Does it feel to you like the world has changed a lot in the past ten years? I love the way this book explains what's happening--especially appreciated the pointers about using, and respecting, both "halves" of our amazing minds. Loved this book.

Creating You & Co.: Learn to Think Like the CEO of Your Own Career. William Bridges. This is the latest from my favorite teacher on the subject of transition and career change. I'm using it a lot with clients these days.

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. Malcolm Gladwell. This book, from the author of The Tipping Point, is about neuroscience and decision-making. You know when your intuition, a first impression, a snap judgment or a hunch kicks in and the resulting decision is amazingly on target? That's what this book is about. How do we tend to extract the most important info first? How do we create the conditions for successful spontaneity? Does a longer process bring increased accuracy or just increased confidence? And when does a longer process pay off?

The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life. Twyla Tharp. The great dancer and choreographer talks about the life habits that create the conditions for her amazing creativity.

On the Subject of True Success in One's Calling . . .

Drive. The latest from Dan Pink. What motivates us? "Autonomy, mastery and purpose." Here's the video announcement.

God and Guinness. Stephen Mansfield. Much of the great 250-year history of Guinness beer is a story in which wealth is gained through faith-inspired excellence and then used to serve others. (This is not just my personal justification for drinking great beer!)

(A quick video) Two Questions that Can Change Your Life. Dan Pink

My Favorite Temperament Assessments . . .

"The VIA Survey of Character" This will link you to a free, well-researched (but long) questionnaire that will help you to identify your integrated top five (of twenty-four) "Character Strengths". You will be asked to register so they can send you results. You won't receive other mail. After you've registered, click on the button next to "I want to take the VIA Survey of Character (VIA-IS)" and then on "I don't have a code. I'm just here to to take the survey." We'll use the free "basic report" so not your top "character strengths". (No need to purchase the $40 "interpretive report" unless you want to.)This is part of research being done at the University of Pennsylvania related to the emerging field of positivity/strengths-based coaching.

"The Enneagram" This is another temperament assessment that I really like.
Lots of information about potential next steps in your spiritual and emotional growth. Once you're at the site, click on "Free RHETI Sampler" for the shorter test or the "Full RHETI Enneagram Test" for $10.

"Caring for Your Introvert" An article that became a book about "the habits and needs of a little-understood group." Made me smile.

And a more recent audio book review on Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking.

And I use other assessments that can be useful to your personal and career growth and reinvention. As we work together, I'll make recommendations.

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SeattleCoach "Best Reads" at Amazon

On the Subject of Change and Reinvention . . .

Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career. Herminia Ibarra. "Career transition is not a straight path toward some predetermined identity, but a crooked journey along which we try on the 'possible selves' we might become." Good stories.

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard. Chip Heath. "The Elephant, the rider and the path."

The Way of Transition. William Bridges. My favorite writer on the subject recaps his theory in his most poignant book yet. A great and supportive read for life's toughest--and most unchosen--changes.

Creating You and Co. William Bridges.

Changing for Good. James Prochaska. A great way of thinking about creating and sustaining change (and overcoming addictions and bad habits). For my summary, click here.

Seth's Blog. One of my daily reads. Great stuff on character, branding and making yourself essential in life.

On the Subject of Culture and Reality . . .

The Secret Knowledge. David Mamet. The acclaimed playwright and student of the human heart has written a personal and profound story of his journey from the contemporary progressive pov to a more classically liberal respect for individual learning, reality, freedom and effort. (A confession: I'm a free-market entrepreneur in this very progressive town.)

Outliers. Malcom Gladwell. I loved this book that asks the question: how do you explain success? Bill Gates, The Beatles, Asian math students, some (but not all) geniuses? Turns out every one of them found opportunities that were buried in setbacks. Every one of them had help. Every one of them spent (or spends) thousands of hours practicing their craft before anyone noticed. The bullet points: * find meaningful work, * find complex work, * work hard at it, * discover the links between your work and reward, * as much as possible, control your own destiny.

On the Subject of Relationships . . .

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love. Dr. Sue Johnson. I think this is simply the definitive book about the healing and creative power of adult love and attachment. When you're tackling life, having a secure relationship in which your partner is available and responsive to you makes all the difference. I suggest reading this one with your significant other. Click here to read about the big idea in a briefer article.

What Got You Here Won't Get You There. Marshall Goldsmith. Seems like every gifted and accomplished leader has skills and habits that have gotten them this far but now prevent them from going further. This great coach details twenty career-damaging interpersonal habits that hold leaders back. Then he gives direction about how to get honest feedback from wary colleagues, and then make specific changes.

On the Subject of Life Fitness . . .

The Balance Within: The Science of Connecting Health and Emotions. Esther M. Sternberg, MD. An engrossing book for professionals who live in the convergence of stress, mood and their own physical reactions. This is a challenging and useful explanation of our mind-body connections, and it's not too woo-woo, and not too medical.

The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight and Eating Great. Pam Anderson, former executive editor of Cook's Illustrated. A book that's more about simple, satisfying and life-long fitness than it is about dieting. Good recipes too. The introduction is worth the price of the book: "Send a clear daily message to your body, 'Don't worry, I'm paying attention!'"

"The Body Blues" To help her many patients with the Body Blues, Dr. Brown and her colleagues at the University of Washington designed and developed the LEVITY Program, a program based on three simple activities, each one proven to boost women's mood and energy or tame their appetites.

Dave Ramsey My favorite no-nonsense adviser on managing money.

After 20,000+ hours with individuals and groups, I'm always filtering ideas for that which is true and real and in line with what I know about how people are wired. My best resources fall into the following eight categories . . .