A business colleague of mine sent out a request to my national industry group this past week to “Chime In” and asked “What is your favorite BOOK?” She asked the group to… “Share one: One that you’ve read again and again, or that had a profound impact in your life and/or your business“… “Or share many of your favorites.”
a. The book that most impacted your business.
b. The book that most impacted you personally.
c. The book that inspired you spiritually.
I am non-fiction reader. I love to learn. It was tough to choose just one. The group started to reply…The Bible… Who Stole My Cheese … Blue Ocean Strategy… Traction… the list went on. I had read some of the ones mentioned by the group like: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, The Goal, and The Art of War. I had read a number that were not shared like: Tuesdays with Morrie, Good to Great, The Power of Moments, Multipliers, Life is Magic, Bring Yourself, The Fred Factor, Brilliantly Resilient and I Dare Me by LuAnn Cahn – my inspiration for my book A Leap Year of Firsts. I’m sure I have forgotten some autobiographies (EG. Eric Clapton, George Washington, Keith Richards, etc…) and other non-fiction books I have read over time (EG. The Fire Next Time, Appolo 13, Band of Brothers, As Warren Buffet shared with me and other Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small business alumni via zoom on November 17th, 2020 … “You can get to know Ben Franklin, or anyone else by picking up a book and reading about them.” He went on to say… “knowledge is something no one can take away from you or tax – it is yours.”
I will show my age, but the business book that was my reply, that started it all for me back in the day, was In Search of Excellence by Bob Waterman & Tom Peters. My reply to the question posed was:
Business: The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack & Mastering the Rockefeller Habits by Verne Harnish
Personal: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Spiritual: The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware
Then one reply came through from a valued friend of mine that said… “Here it is. For business, personal, and philosophical. Easy. The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff.” I had never heard of it. I was intrigued. Three for one! So, I downloaded the audiobook version to listen to. The next day as I went out for my 5-mile old man morning walk I strapped my IPhone onto my arm and hit play. I had never listened to an audio book on my walks before. A first opportunity? Normally I try to just listen to the birds or the crickets and take in the scenery around me. I have listened to tunes before, but never an audio book. Always in a pursuit of firsts, I thought I’d give it a try. With each step I became engrossed in each sentence. The book took 2 hours and 46 minutes to finish. As I neared the end of my walk, I still had a half hour to go in order to finish. So, I found a bench in the middle of a meadow on my route home and sat and finish my listen. While listening I watched a bluebird making conversation in the tree above me and gazed at the purple wildflowers with an occasional butterfly drifting by. Peaceful.
I finished and texted my friend who had suggested the read of the first I had just completed. The text came back … “Excellent! So, which is the way?” To which I replied … “The way is my Thursdays with Luke (my first grandson) where I spend the day just hanging out and playing with him. I don’t go to work. I don’t do work. I don’t think of work, or of anything else except being with him, whatever we do or don’t do. It is my old man morning walks. I’ve returned to the beginning. I’ve become a child again in these moments. I’m a child who knows.” He let me know that … “on Thursdays, you are a Pooh for sure. Yes. Brilliant. Love it! Luke will show you. The uncarved block.” He does! What an inspiring first🙂
I hope this helps. Please share any suggestions of books that you loved or that have influenced you.